Whether in sports or business, teams are an essential tool to producing results. However, many coaches and executives fail to study the important aspects of effective teams. The end result is loss of productivity, frustration, communication failures, and overall stagnation of organizational growth. That being said, what follows are some methods for the creation of teams that produce the results you want-in athletics or in business. The process is the same; only the venue changes.

Method #1: Understand Roles

The most common cause of confusion on teams involves individuals that are not aware of their distinct role within the team structure. This may seem like common sense; however, I continually come across athletes and employees of corporations that have no idea of their niche on their team. "I'm not sure what is expected of me" is the common complaint of the confused team member. "Coach just doesn't understand me" is another. Confusion begets frustration in this regard. To enhance your team's ability to produce results, you need:

1. Understanding with regards to the team's purpose and goals. This entails knowing why the team members are pursuing the goal, as well as their how they plan on achieving it.

2. Knowledge about the individual team members and their respective personalities. Pay particular attention to their strengths-what are they good at? What matters to them? What do they fear?

3. Situational understanding. This means that you understand the immediate context (the "now") as well as the probable future context (the "future"). Once you understand the team's current reality, you can better allow the team members to succeed by envisioning possible obstacles and planning accordingly.

Method #2: Seek "doers"

Inevitably there comes a time in each team's "life" when action must be taken in order to ensure success. In athletics, this may be the fourth quarter of a closely-played football game. In business, this may be the week before the big presentation to a top client is due. In both situations, success follows action. Remarkably few people, however, are able to actually step into the action and contribute when needed. Most individuals either succumb to fear (they believe that their decisions might have negative consequences, and thus they never take action) or to rationalization (they believe that more thought needs to be put into the decision, or more data needs to be gathered prior to taking action). Star athletes and executives act, and do so decisively. They go where the action is. Individuals like this are the fuel for your team's engine, and they propel your productivity forward at crucial junctures.

Method #3: Reduce distracting elements

Distracting elements are the plague of teams. They are found in the following forms:

1. Individuals with unresolved personal issues-personal issues that interfere with group functioning. Perhaps it is the person who has a need to always be right. Or an individual who enjoys recreating the chaos of their personal life for all in their professional life to enjoy. Or, worse yet, an individual who places his or her personal needs above the needs of the team at every chance.

2. Gossip. Gossip is a waste of time, and a waste of communication. Unchecked, it serves to divide teams. Seek to have an open and direct communication style on your team-and gossip will vanish.

3. Vague goals. Have you ever jumped into your car without having first thought about where you were headed? Of course not. Set your destination early, and make it clear to your entire team. Repeat it often.

4. Large team size. The larger the team, the more difficult it will be to manage effectively. It can be done; however, it will entail the need for more leadership, and more training of that leadership. Keep your teams small when possible.