Create group flow in your team!!

Posted on August 04, 2022 by Lee Eldridge, One of Thousands of Performance Coaches on Noomii.

Flow is a state of intense absorption in which we lose awareness of ourselves and our surroundings. Most people talk about flow as an individual experience or performance, but flow can also be achieved in a group setting.

Group flow is a fascinating phenomenon that can profoundly impact team performance. When individuals achieve group flow, they become absorbed in the task at hand and work together seamlessly as a unit. This can lead to spectacular results, but achieving group flow is not always easy, even more so when working in hybrid ways.

How often have you had your whole team together in an environment that supports group flow?

As I mentioned in this resource, group flow emerges from several interacting factors, mainly depending on the relationships between group members. According to a leading researcher on the subject Keith Sawyer, the essential elements are: sharing a common goal, spontaneous creati4vity (without conscious deliberation), the blending of egos, equal participation, communication, familiarity, and a feeling of moving forward.

Several key benefits of group flow make it a powerful tool for team performance:

improved communication and collaboration
increased creativity and innovation
enhanced focus and concentration
improved problem-solving ability
I have already discussed the 10 points that will help create group flow; check out the video here, but here is the outline:

SET CLEAR GOALS
CLOSE LISTENING
COMPLETE CONCENTRATION
SENSE OF CONTROL
COMBINING EGOS
EQUAL PARTICIPATION
FAMILIARITY
COMMUNICATION
FORWARD MOMENTUM
FAILURE IS NOT THE OPPOSITE OF SUCCESS
HOW DO WE CREATE GROUP FLOW IN 2022?

Create group flow days.

The group flow day is a new format I am experimenting with where the entire team comes together for a day of focused work. The goal is to create an environment that supports flow and allows everyone to experience it firsthand. Organising times when all the team need to be in the office or at an event will help. Equal participation is vital in experiencing flow together; therefore, arranging these days in advance is essential.

Educate your team about group flow.

Make flow a part of your team’s culture by educating them about what it is and why it matters. The more everyone understands group flow, the easier it will be to create it. Small group focus work meetings are a big help. The key for me is point 3. We need complete concentration, don’t allow team members to check emails, phones etc. Group flow requires attention and recovery after the session, so make sure you build that into the week or day.

Experiment with different methods of group work environments.
There is no one right way to achieve group flow, so experiment with different methods of group work environments until you find what works best for your team. Some team members might prefer working in an office; some enjoy the outdoors, or what about a creative space such as a museum?

SUMMARY

Group flow is a powerful tool for a team performance that can lead to spectacular results. However, achieving group flow is not always easy. Several key benefits of group flow make it a powerful tool for team performance, including improved communication and collaboration, increased creativity and innovation, enhanced focus and concentration, and improved problem-solving ability.

Investing time in this area can and will help team performance. 2022 has created a challenge in teams coming together, but by creating time and the right environment, there can be massive benefits to performance and happiness for all team members.

Creating group flow days in and out of the office will increase the team’s performance.

Interested in group flow or flow states, drop me an email to chat info@cognitiveathlete.co.uk.

Lee

Director and Founder