A high-performing team is one that’s more than the sum of its parts. It brings the best out of its people and its people bring their best. They share a common purpose, goals and identity. Success isn’t just what they achieve together but how and at what cost.
How do you define a high performing team?
Is a team that achieves results but has dysfunctional internal and external relationships, high performing?
Is a high performing team about squeezing every last drop of juice out of the lemon and focussing purely on output?
Is it a team who cares sincerely about each other and puts dynamics, relationships and cohesion above results and output?
Or is it something else entirely?
We’re not here to tell you what high performance means for your team - that’s going to be different to everyone and for you to define for yours. We are here however to share with you the 5 conditions that allow teams to perform at their best and to help you create them using our signature TEAMS™ framework. Because teams are made up of people and people are what we know best.
The five conditions for high performing teams.
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TRUST & PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY
Do we fundamentally trust each other? Does it feel safe in this team to make mistakes, challenge, take risks & be vulnerable? Are we trustworthy? Do we keep our promises? Do we show respect?
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EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Do we have high levels of awareness? Do we intuitively lead with empathy & compassion? Are we kind & resilient under pressure? Are we humble? Can we adapt to people & situations as needed? Do we celebrate diversity and difference? Are we curious or defensive? Are we human?
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ASSOCIATION & BELONGING
Do we genuinely identify as a team? Do other people see us as a team? Are our collective goals more important than individual ones? Are we playing a team sport? Are we aligned?
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MISSION AND PURPOSE
Do we have a clear common purpose and vision for this team? Am I crystal clear on what’s expected from me and the others in my team to achieve our goals? Does what I do excite me? Is the work that I do meaningful for me beyond salary?
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STANDARDS AND VALUES
Are we clear on what great looks like as a team? What standards do we hold ourselves to in what we do and how we behave? Do we have clear standards of performance, rituals, shared values? Do we hold ourselves accountable - individually & to each other?