12 Aspects Of High-Performing Teams

Aug

There are few things more energising at work than being part of an incredible team – one that works seamlessly together, challenges each other, and delivers outstanding results.

In fact, team effectiveness is one of the most important elements of organisational success.

Connected teams demonstrate a 21% increase in profitability over their less-connected counterparts (Source: Gallup).
Teams that rank in the top 20% for connectedness see 41% less absenteeism, 59% less employee turnover, and a 66% increase in employee wellness (Source: Gallup).
37% of employees said “working with a great team” was their primary reason for staying at an organisation even if they weren’t happy with their job (Source: Gusto)
10% of an employee’s time can be saved through collaboration, equating to 2-4 hours per 40-hour week. For every 100 employees, that is equivalent to an annual benefit of nearly $250K (Source: Forrester)

Qualities of high-performing teams

So what makes a high-performing team? We have identified some of the crucial qualities of a high-performance team which differentiate them from a regular team.

#1 Clear and aligned purpose. High-performance teams have a greater sense of commitment to the company’s purpose and goals. Those teams have a clearly defined mission which is then broken into achievable performance goals for each team member which they are required to pursue.

#2 Clear roles and responsibilities. Every team member knows how to contribute to organisational goals, and understands how all the pieces fit together while individual strengths are leveraged to achieve success. The high-performing teams are motivated for delivering excellence by meeting challenging goals and having a more profound passion for the achievement of the mission collectively.

#3 Build trust through relationships. Everyone is encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. Empathy and compassion are visibly demonstrated. Actions are taken that are always in the best interest of the team/organisation. Apart from being focused on individual roles & accountabilities, the team members acknowledge collective responsibility for the team outcomes whether success or failures.

#4 Shared leadership. Shared leadership invigorates the team members to deliver exceptional outcomes in the workplace and achieve synergies in the results by working collaboratively with the team members.

#5 Communicate frequently and effectively. The members engage in frequent communication for discovering newer or improved ways of reaching the goals, resolving differences by participating in collaborative problem-solving and sharing experiences informally.

#6 Collaborate often. Everyone believes in the power of a group, leverages each other’s strengths, and partners effectively, with larger goals and purpose in mind. High-performance teams usually have multiple and complementary skills with a focus on broader objectives or goals which affect the organisational growth and profitability.

#7 Appreciate and encourage diverse thinking. Everyone acknowledges differing perspectives and opinions as an opportunity for new ways of thinking and eliciting new ideas. Different opinions help expand thinking, develop a wider array of solutions and ideas, and improve deliverables.

#8 Thrive in a consultative and supportive environment. There is a very high level of initiative, sharing of ideas and cohesiveness amongst the team members. Members of a high-performing team act as business partners and they enjoy a higher degree of flexibility to achieve work goals.

#9 Manage conflict constructively. Team members focus on deriving value from the differences and arriving at better decisions. They transform conflicts into opportunities by shifting their focus from the points of variations to the possibilities, which can be tapped by building on the collaborative competencies and resolving the differences.

#10 Learn and adapt. Everyone actively engages in and enjoys exploring new ideas. Curiosity is a skill set and questions, as well as challenges to the status quo, are encouraged. Trying, failing, learning, and adapting are vital parts of the process.

#11 Celebrate success and show appreciation. Everyone celebrates success – individually and as a team. Public appreciation for people is the norm.

#12 Measure outcomes and success. Everyone can tie back the work to organisational purpose and goals in a way that allows people to be seen, heard, and valued. There is a shared understanding of the broader impact made.

Looking at our list above, how would you rate your team?

Building High-performing team

Over the last 10 years, ABN Resource have supported downstream oil organisation’s efforts to build high-performing teams by delivering top performers, who made a real difference in the world of lubricants and fuels. By selecting carefully who to partner with, we take the time to understand your organisational and cultural requirements. This process matched with our award-winning candidate assessment means our placements last 40% longer than the industry average.

12 Aspects Of High-Performing Teams