Have you watched the show, MasterChef? I'm always interested in the team challenges. These are good examples of people suddenly having to come together and within a very short period of time work as one unit to achieve their goals for the challenge.

As the show progressed and the number of contestants decreased due to eliminations, individuals have found it easier to work together at short notice. As time progressed they have been more aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses.

This is a common experience in the workplace where people are required to come together and work on a project – sometimes at short notice.

An essential component …

An essential component in working as part of a high-performing team is to be able to communicate effectively.

To achieve this in the MasterChef challenges, someone has always taken the lead whether they were assigned the role or as in recent shows, with smaller teams, someone has taken on the role. By doing so, the tasks could be delegated and agreed upon.

Other communication skills …

Other communication skills demonstrated by winning teams include:

• Asking relevant questions
• Listening skills
• Clear instructions given by the leader

Another component of effective teams which has been very clear in MasterChef is the leader must be able to make decisions under pressure. In turn, they need to then communicate their decision to the team members in a constructive way.

If the group also provides supportive comments for team members they are encouraged to step up to the challenge and achieve the team's goals. These traits are key components for any effective team.

Does your team demonstrate these communication skills?