If you manage your team, you’re aware that the path towards high-performance continues. It’s a rare team that attains high performance and then remains there. In my career, when I’ve led an entire team within an organization or managed my own business, it’s not common to see the same team for more than one year. Members of the team change depending on the demands of the company and their personal career goals. Every time the team’s members of team change and the team have to regroup and reset.
What is a leader in a team to do? Start by focusing on the seven traits of a team that is highly productive (what we call a Total Team here at NetSpeed Leadership):
The Shared Purpose and Direction
Goals to Motivate
Personal and Team Rolls
Multi-Directional Communication
The Authority to Decide or Act
Reliance on a variety of talents
Mutual Support and Trust
The Shared Purpose and Direction
In a team that is highly productive, every member of the team is dedicated to the team’s mission. They are aware of what the reason is that the leader of the team maintains their focus by continually explaining the purpose of the team during team meetings as well as regular updates. The team leader aids each team member to meet their individual needs while also fulfilling the mission of the group.
Motivational Goals
The team leader is responsible for ensuring that every member of the team is aware of the goals and goals. In specific organizations, the departmental goals and strategic goals are set by the senior management. In this case, the team leader is responsible for making sure that the objectives are discussed in a transparent manner. Everyone in the team should be aware of what their roles contribute to the accomplishment of the stated objectives, and, if feasible, they should be able to create personal goals and plans that outline how they can aid in the achievement of the company.
Engagement to Team and Individual Rolls
When working as the Total Team, The members are clearly defined in their expectations. They also know what each role is connected to the other function. Leaders of teams ensure that team members are well-trained on other duties to ensure that they can all help each other out in times of need. The team leader is responsible for ensuring that the individual responsibilities of each job are carried out, but simultaneously they work to assist team members create an understanding of a common language, process, and methods that enable the team to work as a unit.
Multi-Directional Communication
In the most successful teams, the team members work together to solve issues and communicate with one another, as well as keep team leaders informed about current issues or new problems. For teams with low performance, communication is either only one-way (from the leader of the team to the team member) as well as in two ways (between members of the team and the individuals). Highly skilled leaders concentrate on creating multi-directional communication to avoid the mistake of communicating with only individual members of the team.
The Authority to Decide or Act
There is no doubt that new teams will need to gain this authority by proving that they are aware of the mission, process, and goals. However, team leaders who are effective strive to convey the team’s goals to team members. The team members are aware of how and when to obtain approval before making actions, and, in the most ideal of situations, they are tasked with making instantaneous decisions whenever a customer confronts them. In teams that are not performing, members must continuously get approval prior to making any decision, which significantly reduces their effectiveness, and adversely impacts their engagement with the team.
Reliance on diverse talents
Team leaders who are bright focus on helping team members to understand their individual strengths, talents, and weaknesses. Every team member is not able to excel at all things. The most effective team leaders help all team members to build an appreciation for each person’s individual style differentiating characteristics, natural talent, and personal experiences. Team members are asked to speak the words of appreciation and acceptance instead of criticizing and judgment. Leaders of teams are mindful of hiring team members who have different skills as well as a unique experience and various perspectives.
Mutual Support and Trust
The seventh quality could be the most important and, truthfully, it’s probably the most difficult. A team leader cannot make the team confident and supportive. It’s a natural result of shared responsibility, shared success along mutual respect. A high-performing team enjoys trust and support from the fact that they’ve been working together to realize big goals and outcomes. They’ve faced challenges, fought through obstacles, helped each other in good and evil. They have been a team that has stood up for each other in tough times and good. Total Team has earned each the trust of each other.
A high-performing team isn’t an easy feat. If you’re a team leader who can meet the challenges, be sure to focus your attention on establishing these seven traits. Bring them to the next meeting of the team and ask members to assess their own performance. What is the best way to know if each of these traits is present or not on your team? What will your team be willing to do in order to build these characteristics? Ask the members of your team to pledge three to five specific actions they’ll take within the next 60 days. Revisit these commitments often and watch what changes. I assure you of a satisfying journey to achieve high performance.
