High Performing Team

Is that a business term too often used? Is this what people leaders everywhere strive for? Is it the elusive holy grail of teams? Are we all searching for something that doesn’t exist?

Believe it. Your team has the potential to be great. Whether we blame ourselves for an underperforming team or one ridden with indecision or conflict, or we just throw our arms up in frustration, the simple truth is that the collective mindset and skillset of teams has to be harnessed and channeled.

Actually, the problem is more common than anyone wants to talk or even think about. Truth be told, it’s why I started this service; a service that strictly caters to teams and helps to get them working as a cohesive unit that performs at and above expected levels. And while there are many consultants out there that offer team workshops,there are none as experienced and that specialize inteams who can do more and become known as elite teams in their own organization.

Spotting the Problem

During my twenty-five years-plus of work all over North America as a top leadership coach and training director, I began to notice a phenomenon: certain teams just didn’t have that drive or that fluidity that other, more successful teams possess. The bottom line was that something was stopping them from reaching a higher level of performance. Over the years, I began to formulate some reasons for this condition, of which, some of the most frequent include:

Trust — Lack of trust often leads to a working environment where individuals aren’t looking out for each other, creating mini silos within a team.
Collaboration — This is inability to put team goals above individual goals, resulting in a group of people that work in a disjointed fashion where the objective may be achieved but in a way that is not extraordinary at all.
Communication — Choosing communication content, method and frequency so that all team members understand and believe the messages (then know exactly what to do) continues to baffle even the most experienced team leaders.
Conflict Resolution Skills — When teams cannot resolve conflict or even make active efforts to avoid it, mediocre team performance results due to strained relationships, trust issues and lack of essential team processes, such as group decision making, innovation and creativity.
Engagement — With the demands on teams to perform in a world of more projects, seemingly less time and resources, team members become less interested in excelling. Recent studies suggest employee engagement is at an all time low — things seem to spinning out of control.
Results — High performing teams get results month after month and year after year. In fact, they engage in continuous improvement efforts to maintain this positive momentum. As new team members join, results are never compromised — they just happen.

Differentiate

Just as successful companies need to differentiate themselves from the competition, successful teams need to do the same. As a leader of a team, your goal should not be status quo, rather differentiation through performance and results. Your team needs to stand out and become a role model for the entire organization.

The pressure for results has never been greater. Products and services are increasingly commoditized. The competition is increasingly sharp and aggressive – on organizational and career levels. Technology and distance create an interpersonal chasm. In a frenzied, demanding world, differentiating team performance is vital to getting work done, and done right.

Let's Partner

When is the last time you measured how well your team is doing – really?

Both you and your team (we can even ask others) tell me how well your team is performing using a proprietary team assessment (measuring the team competencies of Trust, Collaboration, Communication, Conflict Resolution Skills, Engagement and Results) that I utilize in tandem with individually customized team training programs that are designed to your shape team into peak condition. Partnering with you at every step of the team performance process means that through your team leadership you have provided the necessary environment, skills, beliefs and processes for your team to reach peak performance in your organization – is this is the exposure and impact you need and want for your team?

Your team is unique - goals, personalities, issues and opportunities and challenges means higher team performance means an intense commitment to the mutual purpose of the team by keeping the following in mind:

To be successful, teams require a clear-cut vision and an extreme sense of purpose that resonates accountability, likeability and trust.
This vision needs to be broken down into significant and distinct performance goals that are tailored for each team member.
This will be accomplished by developing a superior approach to work and procedure, ensuring that each goal is completed both efficiently and effectively.
The common vision will begin to take precedence automatically as each team member shares in the accountability of the team’s success.
In order to meet the challenges that these steps present, a new set of experiences must be built, skills learned and expertise raised.

Your team’s success will be your success – your legacy. Though it may not seem fair at times, your own performance will be measured by how well your team performs. The good news is that you do not have to do this alone. Let me help you and your team reach its full potential.

Dr. Dan Neundorf Team Facilitator and Coach