Why Teams Matter
What’s at stake when YOUR team under performs?
A team whose job it is to execute the heart transplant of a beloved public figure probably has more at stake than a team charged with assembling boxes at the local Krispy Kreme.
That said, every team who is relied upon to collectively execute on their company’s strategy has something at stake. It may be someone’s life, or the life of your organization.
Imagine if just one person on the heart transplant team had communication challenges… imagine. Every team is only as effective as its least effective contributor. Now magnify this across an organization.
One hallmark of a high-performing team is the degree to which they can effectively hold each other accountable to each individual’s strength, that is intrinsic to the highest standard of the team. The motivation and possibility to achieve this high standard is made real when we care about each other. We saw this magic at play in this year’s Super Bowl. Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach, Doug Peterson is fond of saying “Play for one another. Play for the guy next to you.” And, I believe this guiding principal played a significant role in the Eagles’ victorious 2017-18 season.
What does high performance look like?
Ask, what can I do to make YOU more successful? That’s the question that members keep at the fore of their thinking on a high-performing team. The law of reciprocation teaches us that by looking out for others, our own needs are invariably met.
Members of high performing teams understand why their team exists, and what they must collectively accomplish. They understand the role that trust and appreciation play in driving success.
High performing teams develop a shared vision for how they want to work together. They focus on key priorities, establish consistent behaviors that support their purpose, and hold each other accountable for clearly defined outcomes.
How does high performance happen?
Performance is about practice, plain and simple. There are no shortcuts to mastery. In order to better understand what you’re achieving, ask yourself what you’re practicing.
Across industries, most work is done in teams. That’s simply the way the world works today. And, those who’ve been part of a successful team understand how satisfying it feels. Beyond job satisfaction, there are valuable benefits that come from contributing to a successful team: once you know what high performance looks and feels like, and understand the key dimensions, you are better able to replicate it in the future. Aiming toward a future leadership role? This may qualify you. In other words, the most effective leaders have also been great contributors.
What will you do today to raise the performance of your team?