Characteristics of a cohesive team

Members of cohesive groups tend to have the following characteristics: They have a collective identity; they experience a moral bond and a desire to remain part of the group; they share a sense of purpose, working together on a meaningful task or cause; and they establish a structured pattern of communication.

Although cohesion is a multi-faceted process, it can be broken down into four main components: social relations, task relations, perceived unity, and emotions. Members of strongly cohesive groups are more inclined to participate readily and to stay with the group.

Cohesiveness is the extent to which team members stick together and remain united in the pursuit of a common goal. A team is said to be in a state of cohesion when its members possess bonds linking them to one another and to the team as a whole.

Cohesiveness Definition

Specifically, a group that is tied together by mutual friendship, caring, or personal liking is displaying social cohesiveness. For example, a group of friends may be very cohesive just because they enjoy spending time together, regardless of whether or not they share similar goals.

The five behaviors Lencioni identified will result—if each is maximized—in a team that operates as efficiently and effectively as possible. The characteristics of a cohesive team are Trust, Conflict, Commitment, Accountability, and Results. Each behavior in the model builds upon the previous and supports the others.