All for One, and One for All: Self-Managed TeamWorking in teams as we know it may sound familiar. Many employees in teams do different tasks and work for the same purpose: meeting the company objectives. These traditional teams with an assigned leader or manager at the helm exist now. However, does this have to be the same forever? Can teams in companies of all sizes manage to do without assigned leaders? Do we need to assign a leader to a team or can collective leadership work for a team? In this post, we’ve examined self-managed teams in-depth. The subjects you will read here are how self-managing teams work. We begin with self-managed team definition below and go on straight.What Is a Self-Managed Team?As we briefly mentioned above, self-managed teams consist of a group of employees responsible for the team objective. The difference between self-managed teams from any other team is that an assigned manager or a leader does not direct them. Every team member is accountable for all aspects of the process dedicated to the corporate purpose. There are no higher or lower positions among the team members. Everybody pulls the tasks and executes them as necessary. This against-the-traditional organizational system works quite well when the team members catch the chemistry quickly and properly. Decisions to be made, meetings to be done, and deliverables are done with the contribution of all related members in a synchronization. Therefore, everyone in the group is free to dictate their opinions to provide a fast solution to problems.Advantages of Self-Managed Teams

As self-managed teams consist of open-minded and collaborative individuals, there is an easily-felt chemistry in the group. Greater employee engagement is one of the ideographs of these self-managing teams. They decide together; they act together; they meet together; they eat and drink together. When they reach a solution, they feel the integration strong and dedicate themselves to the team more and more each time. Besides, participation from every other team is always welcome.

Working independently as long as in a group is one of the traits of these teams. Every team member can make their decision and say it out loud. The supervision of a leader or a manager is out of the question. That's why individuals feel free and independent. Self-managed teams don’t have to look for consensus in all their decisions. Instead, using consent-based decision making let them move faster.

The fact that there is no assigned leader, it means that, every member of the team can lead contextually. Whenever the team is discussing about a specific expertise area, it will be usual that the most expert person in the team about the subjected area will take one step forward and others will mostly likely follow her.

Since many heads are involved in Decision-making process, the results can be juicier. Besides, one member may utter a concern that the others couldn't even think of. So, the teams have the chance to solve the problem before it occurs. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Without the hierarchy, team members don't feel the superior-subordinate relationship, which is good for motivation. Self-managed teams are established around a common purpose. Understanding that common purpose, being an active part of that purpose, and ownership for that purpose increases motivation. Motivation is the king in teams like these, where people are responsible for the same purpose without directive guidance.

One of the best things about these groups is that they can fill in for one another during the holiday season ☺ As every member knows the job requirements very well, they can cover up for each other easily.

Share:Publish Date: 25.03.2023