High Performance Teams
One of the most important concepts in leading your team for optimal performance is to ensure they are inspired – through the company vision, purpose and values. The company vision and purpose should resonate in the hearts of each individual team member, instilling the experience that they are a part of something important – because they are! And the result should be a “unified vision” for the company that creates a momentum of force capable of turning the vision and goals into reality.
Each team member should set out quarterly outcomes that support higher level company goals, and be held accountable through a quarterly scorecard.
I believe it’s highly advantageous to integrate a consistent rhythm of focused short meetings (company-wide or departmentally, depending on company size) to clear out interference, remove obstacles, and maintain focus on key goals and vision.
And finally, the leader should nurture “Team Esteem” by doing the following:
- Create a clear and compelling vision, purpose and goals
- Establish clear priorities that minimize internal competition
- Clarify roles and responsibilities for all members
- Foster an environment where team members feel welcomed and accepted for who they are and what they bring to the team
- Support team members emotionally through thick and thin to demonstrate healthy caring for one another
- Insist that the team routinely invests time to celebrate and recognize its achievements and learning
Understanding the difference between managing and leading is important. Managing is about executing through complexity, which includes planning and budgeting, organizing, staffing, controlling and problem solving. Leading is about navigating through change, which includes setting direction, aligning people, motivating and inspiring. A good executive coach can help leaders enable the important shift from manager to leader as the company matures.
For more information on team coaching to increase team performance, please contact me.