Whether you have a team that's encountering problems or one that is newly formed and unaware of each other's strengths, everyone must be clear about the team's goals and each member's role in achieving those goals.

There are no quick fixes or short cuts when it comes to creating a truly effective team. Time needs to be invested. This often brings up the question, "Is it really worth it to have a group of employees put work on hold so they can take part in a team-building program?"

The answer is: Absolutely.

Kim Butler, Caliper's Vice President of Organizational Development Services, explains, "Teams exist to produce results for the organization. Teams that do not function well waste valuable time and resources discussing the wrong issues or revisiting the same problems over and over again. Organizations that invest in Teambuilding mitigate these challenges. I have asked people in organizations of all sizes to describe the characteristics that were present when they were members of successful teams. Time after time the top answers included:

• We had a clear sense of purpose
• We knew—and agreed to—what we needed to do to reach our goals
• We were given tough challenges that stimulated our creativity
• We learned new concepts that challenged how we work with each other
• We talked openly and listened to each other

When a group truly understands each other and knows what needs to be accomplished, success can be achieved much more quickly."

Read more about Caliper's Team Building Services.