b'ARTICLE Effective teams ensure sufficient alignment while embracing differences, recognising that by asking What matters to you? we can understand and respect individual needs, ultimately optimising the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards of teamwork.both shared and specific needs andTo these intrinsic benefits we must also motivations. Effective teams ensure thererecognise the need for extrinsic rewards, is sufficient alignment whilst acceptingsuch as salary, which allow team and exploiting differences, and that themembers to function outside of the team overall goal is understood, agreed, andand live their lives.accepted by all. By asking What mattersOptimal team size will vary with task and to you? we can begin to understand andthe required balance of performance respect individual needs with the teamvs. sustainability. As teams enlarge, the and maybe, where there is insufficientnumber of inter-personal relationships alignment, compassionately recogniseand communication challenges that some individuals will not be effectiveincrease exponentially. Short-term, within that team at that time. Inevitably,high-effort challenges may get the best we may need to subsume individual needsperformance from teams that are a when joining a team and, accordingminimum size for task achievement, and to Rock (2009), as well as the benefitsif individuals can sustain effort until the accrued from the shared purpose, weend of the race when they can recover. can minimise the risks and maximise theFor longer term challenges, sustainability social rewards of being part of a team byis key; the pace needs to slow, and the optimising the SCARF factors: team needs to rotate people through the high demand roles.Statusour relative importance What behaviours, attitudes, knowledge, to others. experiences and skills (BAKES) are Certaintyour ability to predict necessary for your teams effectiveness? the future. These may be technical, managerial, relational, cognitive and political. Teams Autonomyour sense of control which harness a diverse membership are over events. stronger and less likely to have collective Relatednesshow safe we feel blind spots.with others. Many of these questions may beFairnesshow fair we perceive theanswered organically, iteratively, and exchanges between people to be. even unconsciously. At some point, however, you may step back from the 36www.inspiredvet.co.uk'