Team experts are usually found in Human Resources departments. They build their competence each time they navigate an employee relations situation. They understand workflow and the value of collaboration. They manage countless transitions as employees enter and exit the workplace. They immerse new teammates in organizational culture and assist departing teammates in saving face and landing softly. These are the most traditional team experts.
The new breed of team expert gets trained and certified in the nuances of team dynamics. They can assess the degree of team alignment with mission and values. They can sponsor constructive conflict. They model respect and accountability by empowering workplace norms that encourage healthy connection and communication. They push smart risks and handle the resulting change with poise and adaptability. They understand the cyclical nature of teams and can coach leaders through these transitions.
Who is the team expert in your organization? Not every workplace can boast this skill set in their talent pool. There’s no need to post a job opening if this competitive advantage is not present in your professional peer group. Simply identify the colleague who is best positioned to become the organization’s team expert and surround him or her with the resources and experiences needed to become competent. There are plenty of team effectiveness training and certification programs available.
10,000 repetitions happen pretty fast when you are the steward of effective teaming.
