Are we succeeding? High-performing teams can answer this question with a resounding, “Yes!” To do so, they need to clearly know what success looks like. Unlike sports teams or military teams, organizational teams do not typically take the time to clearly define and describe what it means to win. And, often, many teams confuse activity with productivity; they equate effort with outcomes.
Ultimately, success can be best defined in the context of team goals and competitors. Do they consistently achieve challenging but realistic goals? Do they consistently outperform similar other teams? Are they consistently in the top quartile of performance across 8 critical components of high-performing teams? Do they continuously improve over time?
I’ve spoken with more than one leader who equates great short-term results with having a high-performing team. And just like a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day, even average teams can achieve great results from time to time. But in many cases, this can be a due to many factors other than sustained team performance. In fact, some teams achieve great results despite their collective performance.
An over-focus on results can lead to decreased engagement, and high rates of burn out and turnover. Team member mental and physical health are sacrificed for achieving results at any cost. This is not the case for high-performing teams. Such teams continuously calibrate on context, ensure team norms are productive, maintain the right talent to achieve their goals, take measures to confirm team buy-in and the motivation to succeed, optimize resources and create an environment where ideas and plans can be respectfully challenged in service of the best possible outcomes.
If teams are the heart of an organization’s performance, then high-performing teams - and leaders who know how to create and sustain such teams - are the differentiator for top performing organizations.
Does your team struggle with achieving sustained top-tier results? We can help. DM me “TS” for a copy of our Team Scorecard, “AP” for a copy of our team Action Plan template, or “OR” for our Operating Rhythm exercise. As a bonus, DM me “ONB” for a copy of our New Team Member Onboarding Checklist.
We’re on a mission to help leaders create great teams that get great results. Want to learn more about high performing teams?
Follow Wayne Ormond for more great information, insights, and materials to help you create a high-performing team.
✍Comment to add your perspective on team results.
♻ Repost or share if your connections might find this valuable.
Comments