Developing mature teams: Moving beyond team basics

Abstract

Distinguishing between teams in earlier stages of development and teams who have matured, the author presents five strategies that help the mature team maintain or improve its performance, and three pitfalls that can hinder its effectiveness. Members of mature teams must be interdependent and they must have developed a well-functioning working relationship with each other. Based on research of what mature teams actually do, the following strategies and pitfalls are discussed. Strategies include: (1) It's okay to make it hard; (2) Be willing to be influenced; (3) Search the horizons; (4) Who's hot? Who's not?; and (5) Create a positive spiral. Pitfalls include (1) Distractions and energy drains, (2) Working to rule (soldiering), and (3) Promise too much.

Citation

Tompkins, T.C. (2000), "Developing mature teams: Moving beyond team basics", Advances in Interdisciplinary Studies of Work Teams (Advances in Interdisciplinary Studies of Work Teams, Vol. 7), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 207-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1572-0977(00)07013-8