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How Group Norms Enable High-Performing Teams Group norms are the traditions, behavioral standards, and unwritten rules that govern how a team works together. They can be implied or openly acknowledged, but establishing a consistent way the team functions helps the individual members focus less on their own preferences and more on what works best. |
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How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Calm One reason we worry is the belief that worrying has positive effects, such as seeking a better way of handling the thing we’re worried about. That's great for the things you can change, but what about those you can't? In that case, there are ways to reduce worrying and its negative consequences. |
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Can’t We Tear Down More Than One Wall at a Time? Specializations tend to put people in silos, which inhibits communication and collaboration. The agile movement seeks to break down the dividing walls between customers and developers, and now DevOps is dismantling the wall between development and operations. But can't we break down multiple walls at once? |
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Lead Teams that Deliver the Goods Great teams are often the result of great leadership—meaning leadership demonstrated across the team, including the person charged with heading up the team. Leaders have a responsibility to maximize their own potential as well as their team members'. Develop a great team, and you can deliver great products. |
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Not a Fan of Small Talk? Practice Makes Perfect Most people who dislike small talk say it's because it's a waste of time. But sometimes it's necessary—provided you don't want to appear standoffish. One key to making small talk, therefore, is to find ways to turn the trivial banter into something more substantial. Use these suggestions in your next chat. |
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Collaborative, High-Functioning Teams Start with Agile Managers We often assume that management is pure overhead and adds little value. But management is necessary for teams to be successful. Teams sometimes need help creating environments where it’s easier to make the right decisions in a timely manner. A culture of delegation and trust starts with a good manager. |
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What Helps or Hinders Achieving Your Goals? It takes a lot more than the proper frame of mind to reach a goal, but you’re far less likely to reach a goal if you have the wrong frame of mind. So make a plan, establish a deadline, and think about any potential perils and pitfalls that could derail reaching your goal. |
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The Sign of a True Professional: Asking for Help When It’s Needed People worry that asking for assistance will somehow undermine their standing in the eyes of peers or employers. But most successful people are quick to acknowledge what they don’t know and to ask for assistance. Honestly admitting to limitations in your knowledge is the sign of a true professional. |