How to build a high-performing team
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. This statement is very true in many aspects of life; working together as a team goes a long way. Just like preparing for a race or competition, a great team is equally relevant in any organization. Therefore, it is important to ensure that you build the most effective team of people to work towards your shared goal! But what does it mean to be a high-performing team? From my own personal experience, I have identified these qualities: Sharing the same goal, efficient, organized and committed. Read more to find out how to achieve them.
Align your goals
The most fundamental step to build a high-performing team is to get every member in sync with the same goals in mind. Hold discussions to establish what is achievable, versus what is considered overly ambitious. Such discussions are always powerful because they inspire the team to put in their 110%. It is good to ensure that everyone holds the same vision, and therefore expects one another to be on the same level of commitment. What better way to motivate everyone to believe that they are going to achieve something great and have a positive impact!
Get organized
Even with goals and objectives laid out, it is not sufficient to ensure that they will be achieved without a proper system in place. How you manage the workflow determines how well the team moves forward. Define action points of things that need to be done, such as fixing a bug, reaching out to a sales lead, or learning a new tool. However, creating a list of action points is only the first step in getting your team organized. To create accountability, use tools to manage those tasks, assign responsibilities, create checklists, and have daily team check-in sessions to share any progress that has been made. Once that is done, set deadlines for completing tasks. This will keep the team on track and keep projects moving forward. Always bear in mind that all of you are running this race together, so be there to support one another.
Ensure team satisfaction
After a team has put in a lot of hard work into a project, it's time to let loose and have fun! This can also be a great opportunity to reflect on the project and take a look at what you achieved and if anything could be improved in the future. When every member feels appreciated or acknowledged for the team’s achievement a team’s energy can be increased. Nonetheless, there is always a reason to celebrate - sealing a deal, hitting a new target, hiring a new employee or even shifting to a new office. When your team finds enjoyment in many aspects of being together, this greatly enhances team pride and spurs one another to work closer and better.
I hope the above suggestions help you get closer to reaching your goals and building a high-performing team, so that you can achieve many great things! Once your team gets it right, all of you will be ready to conquer all future challenges.
With Mentimeter, you can quickly gather feedback from one another. All you need to do is to ask your question and you will receive the responses all at the same time. The best part? They will be presented live on the screen (while staying anonymous), so all of you can get an understanding of what everyone is thinking right away.
Here are some ways (and ready-to-use templates) you can use Mentimeter to achieve qualities of an awesome team!
Is it clear what we are going to achieve by the end of the year?
This question can be posed every quarter to nudge every member to not lose sight of the main goal. It is also a chance to check the understanding of every member if there is a strategy shift.
How do I rate my achievement vs the recognition I get?
The feedback gathered from this question will greatly help you manage and understand your team, and make adjustments if needed to ensure that everyone is happy with their contribution.
How should we celebrate when we reach our goal?
Hype up your team to face any upcoming challenges and get them excited to give in their best for the ultimate reward!
