The HBR Guides Collection (8 Books) (HBR Guide Series)

Build-Up

106

• Disagreements. Team players are bound to come

up with competing solutions as they tackle prob-

lems. Encourage them to vent disagreements in

constructive ways.

• Confi dentiality. Some team issues may be sensi-

tive. Members will discuss them freely only if what

is said within the team stays within the team.

• Action orientation. The purpose of teams is not to

meet and discuss. It’s to act and produce results.

Make that clear from the beginning.

What behavioral norms should your group observe?

That depends on the purpose of the group and the per-

sonalities of its members. But the basics include mutual

respect, a commitment to active listening, and an under-

standing of how to voice concerns and handle confl ict.

To guarantee the free ...