I have experienced firsthand what it is like to be on an effective team. Unfortunately, I also know what it feels like to be on a team that is not so effective. There are common traits that are present in high-performing teams and missing one or all the traits can be detrimental to the effectiveness of the team. There are things you can do to foster a team that works well together producing great results.
- Set expectations from the beginning.
When you are clear on what is expected, people know what they are working toward. Not only for goals but how you want them to BE at work. Lay the foundation of how you expect your team to behave and then hold them accountable every time they try to lag. Communicate your expectations and hold them capable to the results. Understanding what they are working toward helps guide behaviour.
For example, when a team member comes to you giving up on finding a solution, ask open ended questions to ensure they understand the task but do not take the task back. If you expect your team to be independent thinkers, problem solvers and solution seekers, it is critically important they are given the opportunity to persevere to find the solution on their own and if that means making a mistake or doing it differently than you, so be it. We all learn best by doing. If we continue to find solutions for them, we will keep ourselves in the overwhelm of doing too much rather than developing others to help carry the load. The team will become complacent, and we will end up becoming bitter and resent those around us. But in essence, we created the situation. I am guilty of thinking it’s easier if I just do the task myself. I’ll get it done faster. But in the end, I continue to struggle with not having enough time to do the work that only I can do. Keeping myself accountable to develop those around me will help me save time in the end, plus develop another person.
- Create a culture where it is okay to make mistakes
When people feel safe at work, physically and psychologically, it allows the team to settle in to experiment with best solutions without the fear of reprimand. If intentions are pure to find the best solution, there should be no worry of getting yelled at or belittled. I believe there are no such things as mistakes but only learning opportunities. If something does not work out, it is a learning experience and something not to do again. If however, there is a threat of being yelled at from our boss, that will definitely inhibit us from trying something new to create the best solution. This limits our creative solutions which limits our ability to problem solve. Allowing our team to be creative, to think outside of the box can lead to solutions we may not have thought of before. When we are comfortable at work to bring ideas forward or make mistakes, it builds trust.
- Build the team approach
Have you heard the saying “we win as a team and lose as a team”? What about “we are stronger together”? When we reduce negative competition amongst our team, but rather create positive collaboration, the whole team, and those we serve, wins. Being clear on common goals the entire team is striving for, will instill a sense of belonging. It is a human psychological need to feel connected to others. When we feel connected, the natural tendency is to strive for the common good of the team.
So what’s the secret?
The secret is there is no secret. The underpinning of all these qualities is clear communication, trust and collaboration. High performing teams are based on relationships. Being clear with our communication, creating a psychologically safe work environment, having trust in each other knowing we have each other’s back increases the effectiveness of what we can accomplish. If you want a high-performing team, what are the ways you can help create it?