Michele Lee Occhipinti, Founder of Ack Professional International and World-class Strategist, empowering clients to achieve the maximum level of performance and thrive in an innovative and diverse world.
Working as a team in the business world is crucial to sustaining success. When one person is misaligned or not functioning at their best within the team it can prove detrimental to you and your business’ success.
Just as if you were part of a team cruising across the Atlantic or on a plane flying the friendly skies. Each member of the crew is essential to complete their duties for a safe return. It is not just the captain, he may lead to the destination, but each crew member has a responsibility and needs to be at their best to provide an extraordinary experience. When one team member is lacking it takes from opportunities that customers return in the future.
When your team is not performing its best work, it is vital to examine what is holding them back. The key factors below are for highly functioning teams. They are all connected and often recurrent and when one is weak, it will affect the remaining factors. Working to improve these areas to create a more positive and productive work environment where team members can provide the best results.
The Key Factors for High Functioning Teams:
1. Trust
Trust is the foundation of a strong relationship and is especially important in the workplace. Team members need to trust each other to collaborate effectively and share information openly. When a leader builds trust in their team it creates a healthy work environment, creating certainty in accomplishments and influences their team to be their best.
Trust building is the number-one foundation for building a high-performing team. Numerous studies have shown that trust and engagement have a significant positive impact on a business’ performance.
Trust leads the team to greater breakthroughs. When you are a trusted leader, your employees will feel empowered to share their ideas and opinions even when they may differ from yours. You as the leader hold the decision key. When employees are not afraid to speak up, you will become privy to different perspectives, discovering innovative ideas and solutions for outcomes.
When trust is established, it increases communication, commitment, and loyalty between team members. Without trust you do not have a team. Think about that again. If you are sailing across the Atlantic and you do not trust a member of the crew what can happen…? Now how about the captain...?
2. Joint Accountability
Joint accountability guarantees better performance and excellence in teamwork. If one team member delivers a poor project or service outcome, for instance, one crew member is sick, then all team members are equally accountable for that outcome, not just one team member. Allow successes to be similarly shared among the team.
Hold your team accountable with compassion and not with fear. This will produce a greater outcome in their performance. When your team genuinely cares for one another and has each other’s back it provides psychological security for success.
3. Shared Commitment on Values
The shared combination of values, beliefs, and practices creates an environment where employees thrive. It is the wind that helps sail a team together and keeps everyone motivated and focused on achieving the same goals. Uniting your team around shared values is essential for building a successful business and organization.
By aligning individual and team goals with organizational objectives, you create a shared sense of purpose, enabling your team to work collaboratively and effectively towards common goals.
4. Clear Achievable Goals
Without defined goals and deadlines for the team, members can struggle to find the motivation to work, which affects their performance. Team members need to be committed to the team's goals and decisions, as well as to each other.
When creating goals for the team be sure the team members are clear on the responsibilities for the outcome of the goal, allowing each individual team member to be challenged while also being achievable. Align each person on the team with their greater strengths. Create a space for the team to discuss updates and work through disagreements. This provides opportunities for your team to grow and work together through the challenges they face to provide the best outcome. Building resilience in your team.
5. Clarity of Role and Responsibilities
Clearly assigning and communicating the roles and responsibilities for your team is critical to success. When people are assigned to their roles for the goal and how it connects to the mission it connects them with a sense of significance that the work provided is essential to the overall success of the business.
Many times, leaders will use the strongest link(s) in the team. Consider areas where a team member can use their greatest strengths while also allowing room for growth and trust to build for other team members to bring out their best. Is there an area a team member would like to gain more responsibility for that the stronger link finds easy and can focus on using their greater strengths towards an area they can be challenging for greater outcome.
Once the roles and responsibilities are decided to assure each team member feels their responsibilities are an important part of the team’s success. If one person does not follow through how it can have a detrimental effect on outcome of the goal and the importance for each team member to follow through.
6. A Sence of Purpose
Developing a clear purpose can create a more cohesive and higher performing team by moving everyone toward a common goal. Purpose is the reason for which the outcome exists for a desired result.
High-performing teams have a shared, clear purpose. They not only understand why their team exists, but they use it to guide their decision making.
Knowing the purpose is essential to team success and connecting each individual team member to that purpose.
Consider the importance of the crew’s purpose as the boat arrives on the dock safely. What is the importance of each crew member’s position to complete an extraordinary experience to the mission’s outcome.
7. Clear Standard Processes and Procedures
Goals are to be outlined with a result-oriented approach. Leaders provide their vision for the best outcome and have standard processes and procedures in place while also providing opportunities for your team to include their experience in alternative ways to meet the goal. It can be fascinating hearing some of the feedback received by the team when it comes to providing a chance for a better outcome. It is up to you as the leader to acknowledge or accept it. Provide opportunities for your team to grow, build trust and leave opportunities for them to make the decisions they believe will provide outstanding outcomes while also being resilient in the process to get the best results.
8. Celebrate the Team’s Success
When the results are achieved take the time to celebrate the success your team provided. This allows team members to increase the “good emotions” of dopamine within them knowing they are an important part of the business’ overall success. Dopamine is your achievement hormone. The higher the dopamine levels in your body, the higher is your alertness, focus, creativity, long-term memory, and concentration that they will continue to seek and raise the standards to get that feeling again in future outcomes for the business.
When the yacht arrives at the dock take the time to acknowledge the crew for a job well done. Whatever is within the means of your business. A meal at a local restaurant, gift cards, trips, gifts of appreciation or a simple “thank you” from the leader can go a long way in building the high functioning teams’ future success.
The reasons for creating a high performing team are numerous the business, the leader, the employee(s), the customer, the client, the team. What do you envision in your crew? Is your current team highly functioning or low producing? Evaluate where you are today and decide on the areas of improvement and where you want to be tomorrow.
What will your business lose if you continue to allow it to function at a minimal level? Determine the strategy that is right for you and your team to be successful. Contact a coach that understands what you need to succeed. One that has the experience in today’s world.
Can you remember a time your team was functioning at its best? Healthy high functioning teams are essential for your business’ success. Taking the opportunity to prioritize the time, dedication and attention needed to give employees the core values, you can achieve a successful and efficient dream team that gets results.
Understand what is holding you back from achieving outstanding results. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary discovery session to learn more.
Do not be ordinary. Be extraordinary. Be the best leader you can be in the world.
Be the best version of YOU!
Ack Professional International
High-Performance Cultures are not a Destination, it is a Journey. Enjoy the ride.
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