9 factors that influence team cohesiveness

Team cohesiveness doesn’t just happen. Multiple factors have to develop first for it to take root, including:

1. Attitudes and values . When you’re among people with similar opinions and beliefs, there’s less friction and more support. The climate is friendlier, and when it comes time to get tasks done, it becomes a matter of proper conduct.
2. Size. The smaller the group, the more likely there are to be face-to-face contacts and better interactions. Cohesiveness in a larger group is tougher to build because interactions among the group aren’t as frequent. There may be more friction when members disagree, and it’s tougher for everyone to agree on common goals.
3. Interdependency. The act of accomplishing tasks that are dependent on each other builds a sense of camaraderie.
4. Low turnover . When group members are continuously leaving, it creates a lack of stability. Team members need to form attachments for cohesion to develop.
5. Time and location. The more time they spend together with enough distance to keep them away from other groups, the better the team has to form cohesiveness.
6. Status. High-status groups breed greater loyalty among their members. Think of prominent societies, such as Phi Beta Kappa and the Skull and Bones society at Yale. These groups have created a strong sense of loyalty among members.
7. Manager behavior. Managers have a direct influence on team cohesiveness. If they choose to foster unhealthy behaviors, such as competition, they can create fractures within the group. The definition of team cohesion is solidarity, and managers need to be caretakers of that dynamic.
8. More difficult to join. The more exclusive a group is, the tighter its members are. Members who have to go through many obstacles to join a group feel a sense of pride in being accepted or chosen.
9. Perceived threat. A 2019 study in the international journal of Social Behavior and Personality demonstrated that team cohesion and commitment were strengthened when there was a perceived threat in the form of competition.

Components of team cohesion

When it comes to understanding how a cohesive team behaves, Patrick Lencioni’s The Five Behaviors® model provides a solid base. From base to the goal:

• They trust one another. When people are able to be vulnerable and share their weaknesses, they build trust. Team members can adjust and provide guidance. Everyone benefits from vulnerability-based trust.
• There’s conflict around ideas. Once trust is built, embracing different points of view becomes a built-in component of the team. The ability to give and absorb valuable feedback becomes a more constructive routine rather than something dangerous and destructive.
• They commit to decisions. Gaining commitment isn’t about getting a consensus, which is more about compromise. Committing means team members are clear about their purpose. When they choose an idea, the team moves forward together.
• Hold each other accountable. This is the most difficult and the most necessary step. Once the previous three steps are firmly established, it eases accountability behavior into the team’s dynamic.
• Focus on getting the necessary results. All of the previous steps build up to this objective. The team exists to achieve certain goals, and that becomes its focus.

9 ways to build team cohesion

1. Create a mission statement . Writing a mission statement is akin to creating an action plan for your team. Just like a mission statement guides an entire company’s vision, a team statement creates unity.
2. Use your staffing model to find the best fit. Finding employees with great skills is one thing. Finding the best fit means finding someone who fulfills your business needs. When pursuing this avenue, make sure you search with diversity in mind. Different viewpoints and experience levels lead to better cohesion.
3. Set goals. Have both individual and team goals in the plan from the beginning. This provides great motivation and engagement.
4. Practice teamwork. Cohesion doesn’t just happen; it must be built. Games and other activities solidify team cohesion. Just as you would incorporate more business-oriented activities that build certain skills, it’s okay to have some fun in the process.
5. Let all members play an active role. When you let all team members bring their talent and expertise to a goal, it shows that you value their thoughts, ideas and contributions. This provides a stronger impetus for them to step up for the group.
6. Evaluate cohesion regularly. It’s all about striving to be a better version of yourself. Taking the time to know what’s working and what’s not, with the help of performance reviews and self-evaluations, gives you a chance to shift or reshuffle for better results.
7. Delegate to keep members engaged. As the guiding force for teams, managers need to empower their members as a way to help them develop. This means adding them as project leads so that they build leadership and communication skills.
8. Resolve conflict immediately to nurture morale. When dealing with different personalities, conflict is inevitable. You can reduce the risks of destructive conflict, but when it does happen, it needs to be handled swiftly.
9. Celebrate your wins. When what you’ve worked hard to achieve happens, reward and recognize the team’s success. This could be with small gifts or a special team lunch.

Team cohesiveness in a remote workplace

Remote teams are becoming a major part of the global workforce landscape. This new normal is refining and redefining how companies create cohesion through a screen. Building a cohesive remote team means:

• Understanding cultural uniqueness. Some team members may be in different countries and time zones. It may not be convenient to have meetings in the morning, shifting the need to later in the afternoon. It’s all about respecting everyone’s time and contribution.
• Embracing different conversation dynamics. Over a video conference platform, people can speak over each other or not engage as much. Its universal practice to provide a three-second wait between statements. Incorporating varied conversation dynamics ensures that people hear your message, but it also gives a cushion for more fluid communication that doesn’t involve speaking over one another.

Taking the time to create a cohesive team translates into unity and improved coordination. You now have a well-oiled dynamic that can accomplish what’s needed when it’s needed. Another benefit is improved employee satisfaction. When employees know they’re valued, they’re more motivated to achieve team goals.