Did you know that a lack of alignment within a team influences the success of a project or task? Teamwork is important within the workplace, and having high-performing teams can be the difference between success and failure.
What does a high-performing team look like? There are various characteristics of high-performing teams that you will find when you look at a team.
If you want to start building high-performing teams, keep reading for the characteristics your teams need.
Content Overview
2. Defined Roles and Responsibilities
6. Achievements Are Recognized
Start Building High Performing Teams
1. Diversity
When discussing diversity, one of the first thoughts you might have is the disability, racial, and ethnic diversity. However, diversity goes beyond that.
Having members of your team that are diverse in every way is important. Cognitively diverse teams, meaning they have different thoughts, values, and priorities, are more innovative.
Having diversity in your team not only helps to fuel innovation, but it helps attract people to your team. Employees look for diversity within the workplace when they are considering jobs.
2. Defined Roles and Responsibilities
A high-performing team establishes roles and responsibilities. Each member of the team will be aware of what their role is and what their responsibility is.
By defining roles and responsibilities, you decrease unnecessary conflict. Defined roles and responsibilities also:
- Prevents confusion about project ownership
- Keeps deadlines and workflows organized
- Provides accountability
When every member of your team knows and understands your role, it helps move your team towards high performance.
3. Trust
Your team needs to have the ability to trust each other. A team cannot perform well if the members of the team don't feel safe within the team.
That feeling of safety comes from a place of trust. There are a few things you will see when there is a sense of trust within your team.
First, they will have positive relationships with each other. They will not blame or accuse each other, and if there is an issue, they will be willing and able to work through it.
This type of team will also enjoy collaborating. They will enjoy gaining perspective from each other and value what understand the unique skills each member of the team brings.
They will then have the ability to use the strengths of the team to get positive results.
Finally, a team that trusts each other will have the ability to give honest and helpful feedback.
When your team can communicate on that level, it helps drive the success of the whole team.
4. Drive
A team with drive has excellent ambition and wants to see not only themselves succeed but see their team succeed. This type of team will have a high level of engagement in their work.
There are a few traits to look for that will help you see drive within a team. If you have a team that has drive, you will see that they set goals that are SMART and establish deadlines.
Teams with the drive also take initiative. If something is needed, someone is willing to step forward and do the task that needs to get completed. You will also see a focus on quality in teams with drive.
In teams without drive, you will often see that the team just wants to get as much done without worrying about the quality. However, a team with drive will value quality over quantity. This means you will ultimately have better results.
5. Confidence
Team members that are confident in their abilities are more assertive, communicate more effectively, and get more done. Because this team is confident in their abilities, they are willing to take on challenges and aren't afraid of taking a risk.
If you want to build a team that portrays this characteristic, there are a few traits you should look for in your team members. These members tend to be risk-takers.
They aren't scared of failing, and when they do fail, they learn from their mistakes because they understand that sometimes if you want success, you need to fail first.
These team members will also be innovators who are willing to take a risk and ask questions.
They're able to accept change and work to brainstorm solutions within change. Confident team members will also be independent.
Independent team members tend to rely less on the leader because they're confident in their ability to handle problems. However, they also can ask for help when they do need it.
Finally, confident team members can display trust. They are confident their team members will support them in all situations.
6. Achievements are Recognized
In a high-performing team, your members will build each other. They will care about the growth and development of their team, and because of that, they will care about celebrating each other's achievements.
Some of the achievements that can get recognized include positive feedback from clients, completing a goal, completing a project, promotions, and more. As a team, your recognition or celebration might look different for various achievements.
However, celebrations can occur with notes, gifts, within meetings, within newsletters, or utilizing other methods that work for your team.
7. Conflict isn't avoided
Whether you're in a digital office or work onsite, conflict within the workplace will happen. It's inevitable.
A high-performing team recognizes the fact that conflict happens. However, instead of avoiding it, they learn to manage it.
There are a few traits you will find in teams that are good at conflict management. This team will have the ability to keep their emotions in check.
If they struggle with keeping emotions in check, they will utilize resources such as moderators to help make sure the conversation around the conflict is handled well. This team will have the ability to confront each other but still be caring.
What you don't want is your team members to be passive-aggressive; this resolves nothing and can escalate the conflict. Your team member needs to recognize that confronting with care allows the individuals involved in the conflict to work through the issue and build a healthier team.
The final trait is that they are good or even excellent problem solvers.
Start Building High-Performing Teams
High-performing teams will help your company realize great results. As you build your team, look to help them build the characteristics discussed above.
Are you ready to build a high-performing team that is engaged in the workplace? Contact us today and let us discuss how we can help.
