With remote work a constant of the Covid pandemic, there has been understandable attention devoted to how teams can best function in this new environment.  The latest comes from a study by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), which explored the various factors that go into making an efficient team.

The researchers assessed the performance of over 650 teams that collectively involved nearly 3,200 employees to try and understand what makes teams tick.

“The results show that leadership that tends to be a source of inspiration and motivation for achieving results is essential for driving the team’s perceived performance,” the researchers explain.

Collaborative environments

The study also shows the importance of setting realistic goals, while also providing a collaborative work environment for teams to function in.  The authors believe that such environments are ideal for fostering creativity and innovation, especially when paired with open communication and transparent decision making.

While the study was conducted prior to the pandemic, the authors also believe their results have some insights into the Covid-era workplace.  This is especially so with regards to remote working, which has become widespread during the lockdown measures introduced to curb the spread of the virus.

“Telecommuting is effective for achieving short-term cost reductions or productivity improvements,” the researchers explain. “However, it has also been shown that processes based on creativity or innovation experience greater difficulties in the distance work context.”

Remote working also has benefits in terms of reduced mobility, greater efficiency, and time flexibility, but this has to be placed alongside an often overload of information that can lead to burnout and stress, especially when combined with work-life balance conflicts.

“Within the current work context, under severe pressure from the health crisis, it is important that the team develops mechanisms for coping with potentially stressful environments, accepting challenges and collectively developing creative and innovative ideas,” the researchers continue.

They believe that this is where leaders come into their own, with task-oriented leadership that supports and motivates the team crucial to the effective performance of that team.

“A good fit between each of the team members’ abilities, expectations and needs, and an appropriate balance between work demands and work resources are essential for employees’ well-being,” is crucial, the authors conclude.