-It recognizes that teams can be made up of the most skilled team members, but that alone doesn’t lead to successful outcomes.
Cons of this model:
-It doesn’t provide guidance on how leaders and teams can ensure they have each of the five necessary elements in place.
7. The Hackman Model
Use it when: You want a clear definition for what “effectiveness” looks like and how to get there.
Researcher, Harvard professor, and expert on teams, Richard Hackman, looked at all sorts of different teams – from musical ensembles to airplane cockpit crews – when developing his model.
In his 2002 book Leading Teams: Setting the Stage for Great Performances, he shared five conditions that need to be present in order for teams to work well together:
1. Real team: the team has clear tasks and terms and understand their roles
2. Compelling direction: the team has specific goals
3. Enabling structure: the team has thoughtful processes and workflows
4. Supportive context: the team has access to the resources and information they need
5. Expert coaching: the team benefits from leadership, training, and mentoring
Hackman explains that when those five criteria are met, a team is able to reach effectiveness. He even digs into what qualifies a team as “effective,” stating that the team will serve stakeholders well, grow in their capabilities, and find a sense of meaning.
Pros of this model:
-It looks at all aspects of the team, from the individual members to the context the team is operating within.
Cons of this model:
-It doesn’t consider that certain criteria might be more or less motivating for certain teams or team members. For example, individuals with different working styles may not always align on processes or workflows.
Use teamwork models to demystify your collaboration
There isn’t one straightforward answer to what makes for a top-notch team, but teamwork models certainly help to expose some of the elements and behaviors that need to be in place.
So, whether you’re forming a brand new team or want to figure out how to better support the one you already have, refer to these frameworks as your roadmap as you plot your way toward peak performance.