One of the biggest challenges, and opportunities, for achieving success in any organization, is to build a winning team. A poorly performing team can set success back further than even the master plan, but a well working team can move mountains. And here, we’ll drill down into 10 actionable tactics to start building a team that can use collaboration, innovation and success as fuel.
Why High-Performing Teams Matter
But before we explore the strategies, it’s worth getting real about why this occurs. No one like being told ‘nice to have,’ but a high-performing team is essential. Good teams do good work, think well together, and tend to stick around together. On the flip side, poorly managed teams can be money, morale and reputation killers. Sounds serious? That’s because it is.
1. Define Clear Goals and Roles
Start With the ‘Why’
Let’s face it: It’s not fun working in the dark. High-performing teams know exactly what they’re working toward. Whether you want to grow revenue each quarter or release a new groundbreaking product, provide a clear end goal. Don’t just say the “what” but tell me the “why.” When people feel connected to the why of work, they work harder.
Avoid Role Overlaps
Ever been part of a team that just seems like two people working on the same thing? Chaos. It’s important for high performing teams to thrive on clarity. Outline who’s responsible for ‘what.’ Once the task has been agreed and people know their role enacting the task flows smoothly.
2. Foster Open Communication
Create Safe Spaces
Being open to communication isn’t only talking but listening as well. Create a culture where it’s safe for individuals to say what they’re thinking, even if the thoughts might not be very praiseworthy. The same holds true if someone’s scared to point out a potential flaw for fear of people considering them as a ‘deal breaker’ which might cost the whole project later.
Leverage Tools
If you’re remote or hybrid, tools like Slack, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams can really help. Again, don’t just throw a tool at a team and expect it to succeed. Let’s teach people how to use these and avoid miscommunication.
3. Cultivate Trust
Any high performing team is founded on trust.
Explanation:
Any high performing team is built on trust. Without that, then collaboration becomes a contest, and progress is glacial. Here are some quick tips to build trust:
- Be Transparent: Share wins, losses, and everything in between.
- Keep Promises: If you say you’ll follow up on an issue, do it.
- Show Vulnerability: Admit when you’re wrong—it humanizes you as a leader.
4. Encourage Diversity and Inclusion
Why Diversity Matters
Period—Diverse teams perform better. Bringing people from different backgrounds together brings different perspectives of the world that often lead to more innovative solutions. Plus, an inclusive team culture helps make people feel valued and raises morale.
How to Build an Inclusive Team
- Intentionally hire people from underrepresented groups.
We provide training to combat unconscious bias. - Let everyone have a seat at the table and celebrate different perspectives.
5. Invest in Team Development
No one knows everything. Constantly learning and evolving, high performing teams are. Give the team opportunities to grow whether it’s workshops, online courses, or cross functional projects. And while it’s still important to focus on developing job specific skills, soft skills like conflict resolution or emotional intelligence are just as important.
6. Set the Tone With Strong Leadership
Lead by Example
If your team is expected to work hard, to collaborate and to stay motivated, guess what? The trick here is to model that behaviour yourself first. Those who do not ‘walk the talk’ are not respected, and cannot elicit loyalty.
Empower, Don’t Dictate
But micromanaging is the kiss of death to team morale. Rather than dictating every single thing they do on a project, trust them to decide. Be there to offer guidance if they need it, but give them space to impress.
7. Use Metrics to Track Progress
The Power of Data
And high performing teams don’t wing it, they measure their success. Track whatever data matters, whether that’s sales figures, customer satisfaction scores or project timelines. But don’t forget to celebrate those wins, big or small.
Avoid Over-Monitoring
Metrics are important: be sure you don’t go overboard with them. Creativity often gets killed because teams can quickly feel as if they’re under surveillance. Metrics are a tool for your growth, not punishment.
8. Promote Collaboration Over Competition
Collaborate Smarter
Competition can be a good thing—it can motivate, but overdone it can hurt teamwork. Let your team talk freely and work on things together. It’s amazing how much stronger ideas become when people work on them together.
Use Team-Building Activities
Cheesy icebreakers aren’t the only way to build team. It’s about real connections. Fostering collaboration is not all about space and amenities, something as simple as problem solving games, offsite retreats, or even having a casual lunch in the park can be beneficial.
9. Recognize and Reward Achievements
Celebrate Wins
I’m not even including little things, but everyone likes to feel appreciated. Make an effort to recognize the contributions; sometimes it’s a shout out in a team meeting and sometimes it’s a more formal award. Sometimes all you need to say is a simple ‘thank you.’
Be Specific
Such old handshakes of praise like “Good job!” can feel hollow. Instead, a better thing to say might be, “That presentation you had yesterday cleared up the project goals for everyone. Great work!”
10. Adapt and Evolve
Stay Agile
The teams that can adapt to change the best are the best. No matter if it’s an evolution of your company strategy or an unplanned challenge, encourage your team to be flexible.
Seek Feedback Regularly
If you’re not broke, don’t think that everything that’s together is perfect. Make sure to check in with your team regularly to find what’s working and what’s not. You’ll not only know what you need to focus on, but you’ll also prove to your team that their thoughts are important.
Final Thoughts
Creating a high performing team is something that isn’t done in one day, it’s an ongoing process. When you focus on goals that are clear, the communication is open, there is trust, and you are continuously seeking ways to improve, you can create a team that does not only get the job done, but thrives at it. Remember that this isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress.
What’s your first step gonna be then? If you read this, please do not stop there; apply these strategies now.
LekFex 