Building Team Identity 101: Establishing the Team’s P.V.V.

Building team identity means tapping unto some things beyond the team itself. These things do not necessarily involve people, but they are connected all the same. 

The first thing towards building a strong team identity is identifying its very purpose. This answers the question as to why it exists. Purpose is a strong motivator for accomplishing tasks and solving problems. It’s the “moving” factor that gets the team from point A to point B. Why else is it important? It allows the team to prioritize and adapt to change of circumstances if it means completing the task at hand. It fosters focus on both short-term and long-term goals. Having a sense of purpose allows the team to be resilient even when faced with setbacks. Hence, a team with strong identity knows why it exists, and strives to achieve its purpose. 

The next thing to consider are the team’s values. A team with strong identity knows what it stands for. Without these values, the team gets lost in doing things for different purposes and intentions. Things get lost in translation. By establishing and developing values, the team is able to identify what is important. Examples of values are accountability, reliability, and staying positive. Values characterize most of what the team is, and allows it to move towards it vision. It sets the tone of the culture and dynamics within a distinct group of people. Therefore, positive values create a positive environment for the team for grow and develop as both professionally and personally. It will even influence the environment and the power around them!

The third thing to remember is the importance of having a vision. A team with a strong identity is united in terms of where it is headed. What does the team want to achieve? This is also a key component that drives the team from point A to point B. It’s the compass that gives the team the sense of purpose and direction—it points the collective effort to where it needs to be. The team’s vision needs to be positive, specific and ambitious. Establishing it is a meaningful and rewarding process. And it’s important to get everyone on board with it—remind old members, and introduce it to new ones. After all, the vision ultimately shows the team the way to what it hopes to achieve.