Unlocking the potential of high-performing teams requires a deliberate approach, encompassing what we call "The Six Rights of Talent". Jim Collins' timeless wisdom in Good to Great underscored the importance of getting the right people on the bus. However, there is more than just the mix of skills that leaders must get right if they are wanting to create a truly high-performing team.
1. Skills. Crafting a team with the ideal mix of skills is critical. But how do you know what that mix should be? The answer is found in the team Context and Mission. By aligning skills with the team's operating environment, mission, and goals, we can optimize its effectiveness.
2. Size. Team size impacts its functionality and effectiveness. Striking a balance that is informed by team mission and specialization, is crucial. Both experience and research support the idea that teams over 10 people risk inefficiency with the ideal being closer to 7 or less.
3. Structure. A team's architecture must be tailored to its mission and communication requirements. And while ideal structures vary, certain ones, like matrixed teams, often do more harm than good if you’re trying to create high-performing teams or high-performing culture.
4. Roles. Clarity in roles, responsibilities and accountabilities helps to avoid confusion and duplication of work. Roles can also adapt and change as teams evolve.
5. Followership. Followership refers to the delegation and sharing of responsibilities within a team and can foster collaboration and cohesion. Critically, it includes team members prioritizing the collective interests of the team over their own.
6. Rewards. Aligning rewards with shared outcomes cultivates true teamwork. Leaders must determine the most suitable reward systems for their teams, recognizing the fact that most organizations want “teamwork” but reward individual performance and achievement.
Need help getting the talent right on your team? Contact us and write “R&R” in the subject line for a copy of our Roles & Responsibilities Matrix, “TF” for a copy of our Team Feedforward exercise, or “GoT” for a short slide deck on the Geometry of Teams.
We’re on a mission to help leaders create great teams that get great results. Want to learn more about high performing teams?
Register for our FREE High-Performing Teams Leadership Challenge. You’ll get 4 hours of 1:1 leadership coaching over 4 days in May. A $2000 value, ABSOLUTELY FREE. Learn how to get your team to peak performance faster and with less effort. Specifically, leaders will learn:
• The 8 key elements of high-performing teams.
• How their own team compares against these 8 key elements.
• Concrete actions to significantly improve team performance & results.
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