The 7 things that set high-performing teams apart

There’s no ‘I’ in team. None of us is as smart as all of us. Teamwork makes the dream work. We’ve heard all the sayings about teams in the workplace. And we’ve all experienced the magic that happens when a great group of people work towards the same goal.

But why do some teams perform better than others? That’s a topic we spend a lot of time on at King Price – and what we’ve come to realise is that while it’s super-important to work with ‘lekker’ people, there’s far more to building a high-performing team than just throwing together a group of talented people.

While every team is different, we see 7 characteristics that high-performing teams share.

They’ve identified their ‘mountain’

High-performing teams have a common goal, and they know what they need to do to get there. Table Mountain is 1,086m high, and you can do it in a day. At 5,892m, Kilimanjaro will take more planning and preparation, and will take you 3 or 4 days just to climb. And if you want to summit the 8,848m Everest, you’ll need months, if not years, of preparation and slick teamwork. But the key is to have a shared goal.

They have clearly defined roles and responsibilities

Strong teams avoid duplication and conflict by clearly defining who does what. This removes any doubt over who owns what, and ensures accountability for every part of a project.

They’re credible and trustworthy

The hallmark of high-performing teams is that they get stuff done. They do what they say they will. In the process, they develop an aura of credibility that makes them the go-to teams within an organisation.

They focus on the goal

I love the story of the British rowing team that set itself the crazy goal of winning an Olympic gold medal in two years – and did it. How? Before doing anything, they asked one question: ‘Will it make the boat go faster?’ And that’s what high-performing teams do. If it makes the boat go faster, they do it. If it doesn’t they try something new.

They have high trust levels

You can only do great things when your team is built on a foundation of trust and mutual respect. High-performing teams value each other and trust each person to do their job. People buy into what they co-create. By showing your team members that you hear them, and that their input is valued, you challenge them to be the best they can be.

They communicate openly

High-performing teams communicate clearly and honestly with each other, without ever being negative or disrespectful. It’s quite possible to hold yourself and your teammates accountable without being shouty or rude. Where conflict happens, they deal with it in a healthy and constructive way.

They have a winning mindset

No team ever woke up one day and found they’d suddenly become a high-performing team. High-performing teams see themselves as just that: they’re not a family, or a bunch of work buddies. They embrace a winning mindset, and think they can be the best. That way they set themselves high standards, and achieve them.

Building high-performance teams doesn’t happen by accident, or overnight. It takes time and a clear purpose. But the results are worth it for everyone – the individuals, the team and the business. Now get out there and carpe the diem.