Interpersonal Skills: The Missing Link for Creating Team Synergy

Do you ever wonder why your team just isn't connecting?  Do you wish people could understand each other and just appreciate the strengths each person brings to your team?  Research has indicated that 85% of the reason teams of people struggle when working together is due to interpersonal skills, and only 15% is due to issues of technical competence.

This probably isn't a surprise.  You've experienced the frustration yourself that's caused by poor interpersonal skills and the resulting negative feelings they generate.  But what can you do about it?

1. Recognize we're all different.  We don't have the same work styles and motivations.  We don't like the same things and or want the same things from each other.  In other words, we have different behavioral styles.  The more you understand what your own behavioral style preferences are, and those of your team members, the easier it will be to understand them.
   
2. Understand why we need those differences.  The key thing is to recognize there is great value in the differences each team member brings.  These differences make your team stronger in the long run, but can sometimes be frustrating.  The more you understand behavioral styles in teams, the easier it will be for you to value the diversity.
   
3. Learn to leverage the strengths each team member brings.  Once you've identified the strengths of each unique team member, it makes sense to leverage those strengths and assign projects accordingly.  For example, let your more analytical team members assess your quality control requirements and let your more interactive team members discuss the value of your project over lunch with the client.

Key Point:  You've got to emphasize the need to develop the interpersonal skills of each team member.  It's critically important and doesn't come naturally to many people.  When you do this, your team members will capitalize on the diversity of strengths each team member brings.  As a result, they will enjoy working with each other, be more productive, and move towards higher levels of team synergy.