10 Key Characteristics of High Performing Teams (How to Create, Manage, and Develop Them)
How Do You Define a High Performing Team?
A high-performing team is a group of individuals who work well together to achieve common goals and objectives.
These teams are characterized by a number of key traits, including strong communication and collaboration, a shared sense of purpose and vision, and a commitment to excellence in all that they do.
As a result, they are able to produce high-quality work efficiently and effectively, making them valuable assets to any organization.
What are the 10 characteristics of high performing teams?
1. Unified Vision
High-performing teams have a clear understanding of what they are trying to achieve, and they use this shared understanding to guide their efforts and decisions. This allows team members to work towards a common vision, and it helps to ensure that their efforts are aligned and focused. Finding a sense of purpose in the vision is also important for team effectiveness.
2. High Accountability
Another characteristic of high performing teams is accountability. They hold themselves and each other accountable for their actions and decisions. They take responsibility for their own performance, and they are willing to hold each other accountable for meeting their goals and commitments.
3. Trust and Respect
High-performing teams are built on a foundation of trust and respect. Team members trust each other to do their jobs well and to support one another, and they show each other respect at all times.
This creates a positive and supportive work environment, and it allows team members to feel safe and comfortable taking risks and trying new things. Feeling safe speaking up is part of what is referred to as psychological safety, and is one of the key levers for performance in innovative teams.
4. Clear Communication Channels
Clear communication channels are an important characteristic of high-performing teams because they ensure that everyone on the team has the information and support they need to do their jobs well.
They allow team members to easily share ideas, thoughts, and concerns, and prevent misunderstandings and confusion. Clear communication channels can also help to build trust and rapport among team members and create a positive and supportive work environment.
5. Defined Roles and Responsibilities
Defined roles and responsibilities are another of the characteristics of high performing teams. They create a clear chain of command and ensure that everyone on the team knows what is expected of them.
This allows team members to focus on their specific tasks and responsibilities, and prevents confusion and duplication of effort that can cause potential conflict. When everyone is clear about their role, they are likely to work more efficiently and effectively together.
6. Priority-Based Task Allocation
Priority-based task allocation is an important characteristic of high performing teams because it helps to ensure that the team's efforts are focused on the most important tasks and objectives.
By prioritizing tasks, the team can ensure that it is working on the things that will have the biggest impact and not getting bogged down in less important ones.
It prevents the team from becoming overworked and keeps them focused on reaching their objectives. High-performing teams stay focused and utilize their time and resources more efficiently by allocating tasks based on priority.
7. Strong Culture of Recognition
Another characteristic of high performing teams is a strong culture and recognition.
When team members are recognized and appreciated for their efforts, they are more likely to feel valued, supported, motivated and inspired to continue working hard.
A strong culture of recognition builds morale and fosters a positive work environment, which can be important for keeping team members engaged and committed to the team's goals.
To influence your team to behave in a way that reflects your culture, recognition is crucial. It must be established, and consistency is essential to building a high performing team.
8. Constant Learning & Growth Opportunities
Constant learning and growth opportunities ensure that team members are able to stay current and up-to-date in their fields. By providing ongoing learning and development opportunities, the team can help its members improve their skills and knowledge, and stay ahead of the curve in their areas of expertise.
For example, offering team facilitation training is one way to ensure that team leaders are excelling at leading team meetings.
It keeps team members engaged and motivated to create a culture of continuous improvement. This can be particularly important in industries that are rapidly changing or evolving, where staying current is essential for success.
9. Feedback
Feedback fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the team.
By providing regular, constructive feedback, the team can identify specific areas for improvement and develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
It creates a positive and supportive work environment where team members feel comfortable taking risks and trying new things.
10. Smooth Workflow Channels
Smooth workflow channels allow team members to quickly and easily access the information and resources they need to complete their tasks, and help to prevent bottlenecks and delays that can hinder the team's progress.
It is important to reduce the amount of time that team members spend on administrative and logistical tasks, which can allow them to focus more on the work that is most important to the team's goals.
Understanding your team's workflow and exploiting it to increase productivity is essential. You must have a strong workflow in place that plays to your team's strengths, especially as your team expands.
7 Steps To Help Build A High-Performing Team
1. Lead By Example: Become a High Performing Manager
High-performing teams have strong managers who are able to provide guidance, support, and direction. If you lead by example, you are able to motivate and inspire team members, and they are able to create a vision and a sense of purpose that guide the team's efforts.
As the team begins to work towards its goals, it is important for leaders to provide support to help team members stay on track and meet their objectives.
This might include things like regular check-ins, coaching and mentoring, and offering resources and assistance when needed.
2. Establish a Clear Mission and Vision
The second step in building a high performing team is to define what the team is trying to achieve - a clear vision and mission. This will help to provide direction and focus for the team and ensure that everyone is working towards a common goal.
3. Assign Roles and Responsibilities Clearly
Once the team's goals and objectives have been defined, it is important to develop a clear plan and strategy for achieving those goals. This should include a timeline, a list of tasks and responsibilities, and any other information that will help the team stay on track and meet its objectives.
4. Create Efficient Work Channels
High-performing teams are characterized by strong communication and collaboration.
To build this kind of team, it is important to create efficient work channels where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns, and where everyone is encouraged to work together to achieve the team's goals.
5. Embrace Automation for Repetitive Tasks
Embracing automation for repetitive tasks is an important step in building a high-performing team because it allows the team to work successfully.
By automating repetitive tasks, the team can free up its members to focus on more complex, value-added tasks that require their expertise and creativity.
Automation can also help to reduce errors and improve the accuracy of the team's work, which can increase the team's overall productivity and performance.
Overall, embracing automation for repetitive tasks is a key step in building a high performing team that is able to deliver high-quality results quickly and efficiently.
6. Delegate and Empower Team Members to Make Their Own Decisions
Delegating and empowering team members to make their own decisions fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among team members.
When team members are given the autonomy to make their own decisions, they are more likely to feel invested in the team's success, and motivated to do their best work.
It develops their skills and knowledge and encourages them to grow and learn in their roles.
Most importantly, it builds a team that is empowered and able to conquer any challenges that come their way
7. Spend Time Interacting on Topics Other Than Work
The best teams don't perform better because they work continuously. Instead, they spend time genuinely interacting with others, which leads to stronger connections and improved teamwork in the long run.
According to research, talking about subjects other than work has several benefits. It might cover anything under the sun, including sports, music, interests, friends, and family. It's through personal chats that we discover our common interests, which promotes authentic connection.
FAQs
What is an example of a successful team?
One example of a successful team is the Golden State Warriors basketball team. The team has won six National Basketball Association (NBA) championships, and it has consistently been one of the top teams in the league. The team's success is due in part to its strong leadership, its talented and dedicated players, and its commitment to working together. The team's success has also been driven by its focus on continuous improvement, and its ability to adapt to changing circumstances and challenges.
What qualities make a high-performing team?
There are several qualities that make a high-performing team. These include clear goals and objectives, strong communication and collaboration, trust and respect, effective leadership, flexibility and adaptability, a focus on continuous improvement, strong problem-solving skills, a commitment to excellence, high levels of accountability, and a positive and inclusive work culture. These qualities help to create a positive and supportive work environment where team members can thrive and excel.