How To Build A High Performance Team
When a team of talented individuals come together seamlessly to strive towards a common goal, magic happens. As a manager, it’s extremely rewarding to watch your team thrive, but getting there isn’t always easy.
In business, we place a lot of emphasis on building high performance teams, and it’s no surprise why. Did you know that 90 per cent of investors think the quality of the management team is the single most important nonfinancial factor when evaluating an IPO?
Remote working and digital technology have reshaped the notion of the workplace and how work gets done. It’s harder than ever to build a top performing team, but that doesn’t mean it’s not achievable. And, the rewards reaped are worthwhile. If there’s more competition in your industry and you are looking for a way to stand out and outperform your competitors, fostering a high performance culture is the way to go.
In this article, we look at what constitutes a high performance team, as well as giving you ways to increase output in your workplace.
Let’s get straight to it.
What is a high performance team?
There is no single way to measure effectiveness in groups, however, there does seem to be common characteristics in teams that exceedingly outperform their competitors. These teams are often made up of a combination of the following: purpose, goals, talent, skills, performance ethics, incentives, motivation, efficacy, leadership, communication, power and empowerment.
Here is how you can foster a high performance culture in your workplace:
Give your team a sense of purpose
High-performance teams are more likely to pull than push. They need your guidance in order to be inspired. It is up to you to give your team a sense of purpose so that they can feel that they are working towards a collective goal. Your team will thrive if they feel as if they are working on something important, so be sure to share the intended results of the collective work being done.
Set ambitious goals
High performance teams go above and beyond. In order to get the most out of your team, stretch goals to create an added level of motivation. What satisfaction would come from accomplishing something any other team could do? When your team accomplishes something extraordinary, they will feel competent and capable. This will result in greater work satisfaction, which will keep them motivated for future goals.
Create accountability
When each team member has accountability for certain tasks, they are more likely to achieve their goals. It is important to make it clear what each person is responsible for and what they contribute to the larger picture. Beyond this, each team member must take accountability for the project as a whole, creating collective accountability.
Diversify your team
Research shows that diversifying your team can boost productivity by 35%. Each individual should bring unique skills and characteristics to their team. While it can be tempting to group together like minded people, it’s important to remember that when like-minded people come together, they come up with similar ideas. When a group of diverse individuals come together, the possibilities are endless.
Build resilience
A high performance team doesn’t allow setbacks to stand in their way. Instead, they anticipate challenges and find ways to overcome them. Preparing your team for disappointment will help them bounce back faster and, the more problems they endure, the better they will get at overcoming them.
Foster trust
If the individuals that make up a team do not trust one another, they will never be able to reach their full potential. Trustbuilding exercises will help your team develop strong professional relationships with one another, built on mutual respect and understanding. Your team must also have faith in one another’s expertise and work ethic. A big part of building trust is to follow through on promises and this needs to be instilled at management level.
How can we help?
We offer courses and programs to help you unlock the strengths of your team. We help you equip your people to lead and adapt to change. Our Leadership courses are specifically crafted to build the strengths of your employees, both now and into the future. The content of our group and eLearning courses can be customised to suit your team, incorporating your organisation’s core values and skills needs.
Get in touch to find out more.