The secrets of top-performing teams

Whether you are an employer or an employee, working as part of a team will almost certainly be part of your experience. Team leaders and team members alike are responsible for holding together and driving forward the unit that will bring in the expected results. But what does it really mean to be a high-performing team?

Top performers are teams where the unique expertise and strengths of each member are combined in such a way that leads to seamless collaboration and outstanding results. The collective soft and technical skills of the team members allow it to stay agile and productive even in times of uncertainty.

Here are some of the components of such a team:

The right composition. A winning team is a diverse team. This might involve different ethnic backgrounds or gender, but it is also equally important to include diversity of thought into this mix. Such teams allow the members to step up their game and think outside the box, elevating team output.

Complementary skill sets. Successful teams comprise the right combination of skills that balance and enhance each other. Each team member plays to their unique inclinations, and collectively the group benefits from the diversity of competencies.

A ‘fundamental why’. Having a clear definition of why the team exists will lead to a focused action plan. David Allen, creator of the Getting Things Done productivity method, stresses the importance of thinking about the ‘why’ before embarking on any kind of action. Doing so defines success, aligns resources, expands options, and shapes decision-making criteria, among other things.

A culture of psychological safety. Team members feel secure expressing not only ideas, but also concerns. This extends to the way mistakes are perceived and addressed. According to a CIPD report, leaders should encourage a culture where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for learning. Such an environment fosters trust between team members and the hierarchy, leading to better results.

An alternative notion of leadership. In their book Be a Better Team by Friday, authors and business experts Justin Follin and David B. Greenspan point out that within a successful team, leadership must come from every member, and not only those in charge. As team dynamics unfold, team members naturally drift towards the aspects of the work where they can take the lead, based on their skills and expertise. This leadership model utilises the best of everyone, naturally leading to superior outcomes.

Today we have an arsenal of tools at our disposal which can help boost a team’s performance and productivity. Read more about them in this article.

The rise of multicultural teams: how to ensure they are successful

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