Richard Hackman‘s second lens on teams and team performance is about the team getting better at what it does over time.
If you’re leading a team, your evaluation of the team’s performance can’t be based solely on whether you delivered the goods last time. You’ve got a bigger picture to think about, including whether your team is getting better over time.
Team Growth
Team growth is key too: “What happens to the team itself over time? Does it grow in capability? Is it a better performing unit after its completed this project than it was before?
Richard Hackman
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As your team delivers the goods this time, is it getting stronger and better able to deliver the goods next
- Is the team clear about a shared vision what it’s trying to achieve and where it’s going?
- Are your values being strengthened through this project or are they compromised and in danger of withering?
- Are you developing shared standards and practices that will make doing the same jobs easier tomorrow?
- Are team members getting better at their individual roles?
- Are you getting better at communicating, cooperating, helping each other out, having fun while you work?
- Is the wrapper of essential resources and partnerships around the team being strengthened? (think ecosystem, not machine)
I listened to Andy Kaufman interviewing Richard Hackman on the People and Projects Podcast.