You need to build unstoppable, high-performing teams to run an effective and successful business. As we discussed last month, your employees are your greatest asset, but there’s an important fact to add – the value of your greatest asset increases when part of a high-performing team. In today’s global economy, teams can comprise different departments, managers, or even companies. This makes things quite complex.
It is challenging enough to lead people in-house, but when companies outsource functions to offsite teams and vendors that span the globe, leaders must approach team-building strategies with an eye on uniting employees and vendors around more than just a shared goal.
So, how do you build unstoppable, high-performing teams that can take your organization to the next level?
Focus on relationships. Relationships are vital to the success of every team, and the most effective ones are built on trust and alignment. To develop these factors, researchers say leaders must consider the degree of “emotional connection” among team members. If teams are close in proximity, relationships are solidified more easily. If they aren’t, leaders must work strategically to ensure teams aren’t falling into an “us versus them” mentality or trying to complete their work with limited information.
Focus on relationships. Relationships are vital to the success of every team, and the most effective ones are built on trust and alignment. To develop these factors, researchers say leaders must consider the degree of “emotional connection” among team members. If teams are close in proximity, relationships are solidified more easily. If they aren’t, leaders must work strategically to ensure teams aren’t falling into an “us versus them” mentality or trying to complete their work with limited information.
To build unstoppable high-performing teams, leaders must focus teams on shared goals and mindsets. Think of them as the ABCs of effective team management.
Alignment: Agreement of “who we are” and “what we do” is critical to building effective teams. When teams see themselves as a cohesive unit with shared goals, there is better alignment which results in stronger relationships among team members. There is also a stronger sense of collaboration which can lead to shared knowledge, which according to HBR, “is the cornerstone of effective collaboration.”
Balance: To ensure high-performing teams, leaders must focus on diversifying the skills, knowledge, and experiences of members that make up specific groups. Researchers suggest that paying attention to the strengths of each team member and ensuring balance will help avoid “groupthink” and offer space for creativity. With the complex challenges facing today’s businesses, having people on your team who are visionaries as well as those who are data and task-driven ensures a more balanced team.Clarity: Your goal as a leader is to inspire your teams – whether they are in-house or involve vendor relationships. Everyone must understand what they are working toward, what success looks like, and how their specific role fits into the overall strategy. To complement strategic elements, research shows that leaders must ensure teams have proper training, access to data, and resources that allow them to properly complete their work.
Clarity: Your goal as a leader is to inspire your teams – whether they are in-house or involve vendor relationships. Everyone must understand what they are working toward, what success looks like, and how their specific role fits into the overall strategy. To complement strategic elements, research shows that leaders must ensure teams have proper training, access to data, and resources that allow them to properly complete their work.
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A reward system that reinforces great performance should be available when teams perform well and meet goals. But compensation is just one part of a larger employee strategy. Employee-related items we touched on in the past include offering competitive pay and exclusive benefits, tracking goals and progress, providing learning opportunities, and promoting inside growth. Teams flourish when these items are solved, which makes them table stakes in this new competitive market.
If you’d like to discuss team challenges – whether in-house or global – or simply want to know more about using technology to navigate the complexities of today’s business world, don’t hesitate to reach out! We would love to share more of our experience in these areas.