Team type and why they matter

Have you ever wondered why some teams thrive while others struggle? It’s not always about individual talent or effort—it’s often about structure and how that structure shapes collaboration. Understanding different types of teams and how they work can illuminate the paths to success, helping organizations tailor their approach to meet unique challenges.

Why Understanding Team Types Matters

What makes one team excel while another flounders? Sometimes, the answer lies in how they’re designed. Temporary or permanent, co-located or virtual, supervisor-led or self-managed—each team type operates differently, and recognizing these distinctions helps leaders provide the right tools and support.

Imagine a project team racing against a product launch deadline. Their needs are entirely different from a service team handling customer interactions daily. Without tailoring the approach to fit the team’s structure and goals, collaboration becomes chaotic, and success is harder to achieve

Temporary or Permanent Teams: Two Ends of the Spectrum

Some teams come together for a short-term purpose and dissolve when the goal is met. Picture a group of engineers racing to fix a major bug before a product launch. Their collaboration is fast-paced, relying on constant communication and clear task ownership. In contrast, permanent teams, like a customer support team, develop rhythms over time, building trust and consistency that improve their performance.

How does this affect collaboration?

Temporary teams often rely on tools and processes that support rapid alignment—think shared dashboards or regular stand-ups. Meanwhile, permanent teams benefit from established systems and spaces, like a central Notion workspace where they can manage projects, track goals, and document institutional knowledge.

The Power of Cross-Functional Collaboration

Cross-functional teams are where the magic often happens. By bringing together people with different expertise—designers, developers, marketers—they create a melting pot of ideas. But let’s be honest: this diversity can also spark friction. Conflicting priorities, varying vocabularies, and different ways of working can slow things down if not handled with care.

So, what makes cross-functional teams successful?

The answer lies in creating a shared language and purpose. When everyone understands the "why" behind the project, it’s easier to navigate the "how." A cross-functional team building a new feature, for example, might use Notion to align their roadmap, centralize feedback, and keep everyone in sync, even when their daily tasks look vastly different.

Leadership and Collaboration Styles

Have you ever wondered how much leadership impacts a team’s ability to work together? A team led by a decisive, top-down manager might execute quickly but miss out on creative input. Meanwhile, a team with a more democratic leader may take longer to make decisions but produce richer, more innovative solutions.

What’s the ideal approach?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right leadership style depends on the team’s purpose and structure. The key is to provide clarity while leaving room for autonomy. For example, a self-organizing team in a startup might use collaborative tools like Notion to track their progress and share updates transparently, reducing the need for micromanagement and fostering a sense of ownership.