The word team is usually defined as a group of people working together. The word is typically used without rigour. Working together can mean working in the same location, for the same business, or on the same project. Thus, any group of people working for the same company can be described as a team. There is a deeper and important meaning to team that has to do with alignment. Alignment of common purpose, for common goals, with a common understanding of where we are headed and how we are going to get there. That deeper meaning is consistent with the earliest use of the word, where it was used to describe a pair of horses as a team. In order for horses to perform their work effectively - pulling a cart, wagon or plow - they needed to work together and pull in the same direction at the same time with a common understanding of what it was they were being asked to do, and then give their whole to the endeavour. So, the question again: are your employees a team? Photo by Hannah Troupe on Unsplash
