Here are some interesting findings from the Gallup Management Journal about traits of strong teams they've studied. Similar studies by this organization created the basis for the very useful and often-counterintuitive books First, Break All the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths, which revealed the surprising fact that you (or an organization) will get further by building on strengths than shoring up weaknesses. 1. Conflict doesn't destroy strong teams because strong teams focus on results. Contrary to popular belief, the most successful teams are not the ones in which team members always agree with one another. Instead, they are often characterized by healthy debate -- and at times, heated arguments. What distinguishes strong teams from dysfunctional ones is that debate doesn't cause them to fragment. Instead of becoming more isolated during tough times, these teams actually gain strength and develop cohesion. ... 2. Strong teams prioritize what's best for the organization, then move forward. While competition for resources and divergent points of view exist, the best teams are able to keep the larger goal in view. Members of high-performing teams are consistently able to put what's best for the organization ahead of their own egos. And once a decision is made, these teams are remarkably quick to rally around it. ... 3. Members of strong teams are as committed to their personal lives as they are to their work. The best teams we studied seemed to live a contradiction. Some of the most productive team members work extreme hours and endure amazing levels of responsibility. They sometimes work 60 hours a week and travel frequently. Yet they consider their lives to be in balance. They seem to have enough time to do the things they want to do with their families. As hard as they work for the company, they seem to bring the same level of energy and intensity to their family, social, and community life. ... 4. Strong teams embrace diversity. Our work with the leadership teams of some of the most innovative and successful companies in the world reveals a simple truth: Having a team composed of individuals who look at issues similarly, who have been the product of comparable educational backgrounds, and who have experiences with similar track records and approaches is not a sound basis for success. ... 5. Strong teams are magnets for talent. Another way to spot a strong team is to look for the teams that everyone wants to be on. For some people, it may be hard to understand why anyone would want to join a team that works longer and harder and that comes complete with sky-high expectations. This is especially true when these "it" teams are characterized by intense competition and extreme accountability for results. ... Read the entire article at http://gmj.gallup.com/content/113341/What-Strong-Teams-Common.aspx?CSTS=newsletter&CSTP=html Copyright © 2008 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.