Building High-Impact Teams

Knowing how to create high-performing teams can be a superpower. Not knowing can create serious problems or even cripple the bottom line.

Read on to learn how to get your competitive edge.

The Core Challenge

Leadership is high-stakes.

The business sits on your shoulders. So does the welfare of everyone inside it.

Every decision has the potential to spark breakthrough success, lead to missed opportunities, or worse.

Working together and executing on the goals and mission of your business are make-or-break. But not all leaders and teams are created equal.

In the face of all that having a high-impact team can be your secret weapon. One that will follow your decisions and execute on the highest level.

It's not about the size of your team, but their ability to work together seamlessly that matters most. It's why a SEAL Team of 6 can outperform a platoon of 50 soldiers.

Strength doesn't come in numbers, it comes with cooperation. It's how well your people execute together that makes your business strong or weak.

Getting everyone lined up and in lockstep is critical.

And the natural move is to push a single point of view. Getting everyone to agree, or act in agreement, with your decision.

Ironically, doing that with an iron fist can make it harder to create your high-impact teams.

Here's why:

It's like jamming puzzle pieces together, instead of strategically figuring out how to fit them into a single picture.

Agreement Versus Support

Here's the thing about getting everyone "in line." People don't like feeling forced.

But that's exactly what agreement does. When we push for agreement, we're psychologically forcing uniformity in thinking and seeing the situation. Everyone has to take the same perspective.

It's like trying to build a house with only wooden two-by-fours instead of using everything from brick and wood to foam insulation and PVC pipes.

Support is a different approach. Instead of trying to get everyone to see and think the same, it's understanding how each viewpoint and role contributes to the goals and mission together.

It's subtle but powerful. Instead of pushing out and wiping away individuality, support pulls together different perspectives and strengths in moving towards common goals.

Trading Up: Swapping Out Agreement for Support

Before we dive into the tactics of making the shift, it's vital to understand the 3 C's—Catch, Correct, and Connect. The 3 C's framework gives you a step-by-step strategic guide to get aligned and operate seamlessly as a team:

1. Catch: Be alert. Notice when you're veering towards seeking agreement. Trying to get people to "say yes." Realize that agreement moves towards conformity and consensus. Remind yourself that all you need is a shared focus and effort to push together toward your shared goal.
2. Correct: Once you notice this, it's time to adjust. This step isn't about self-critique but about tweaking your approach to loosen up on consensus-seeking. Consider different points of view as feedback to help you iterate and sharpen your clarity, strategy, and tactics to maximize your opportunities and success. Spread your own attention like a wide net to catch as many viewpoints as you can.
3. Connect: This step is where magic unfolds. Show that you value each person's input. You'll be surprised how much more engaged and invested people are when they feel heard and valued. Which will show in how deeply they are committed to the overarching mission.

The Gains of the 3 C's Framework

Using the 3 C's lights the way from agreement to support, uncovering the power of inviting input over pushing an agenda.

It's how teams evolve beyond just groups working together. They can become innovation ecosystems, where every suggestion is valued, and every voice adds to collective success.

This shift deepens the sense of belonging and commitment, letting team members see their distinct marks on the results.

Which leads to your people doubling down - putting more of their time, energy, and focus on contributing even more.

Enacting the Shift: Pathways to Success

• Promote Open Dialogue: Urge your team to voice their ideas and worries freely, making room for varied opinions. Every person's point is like another note, and you're the conductor who brings them together to create a symphony.
• Clarify Shared Goals: Make sure everyone sees the big picture. It's about connecting every idea, strategy, and approach to your common goal and vision. Learning to "zoom out" and "zoom in" is a powerful skill to bring your team together in lockstep.
• Appreciate Every Contribution: With clear shared goals, it becomes easier to encourage everyone to contribute their best to the journey. Because it gives you lots to acknowledge them for - their points, ideas, and contributions.
• Lead with Empathy: Grasp the individual drives and hurdles of your team members. Recognize that each of those gives you buttons to push to go faster and further. And obstacles you can see coming so you can move them out of the way. Leading this way paves the road to go top-speed to your finish line.

Reflect on Your Approach

As a quick starting point, ask yourself these questions before meetings and in conversation:

• Am I trying to get people to agree with me here?
• How open am I to other points of view?
• Are people just saying "yes" to agree with me?
• How can I see the situation from other points of view?
• What can I learn and address once I understand the strengths and challenges of each person who reports to me?

The TLDR

Most leaders unconsciously assume that to get everyone marching forward together in lockstep, they have to make everyone think and see exactly what they do.

But it's not often the case. In fact, trying to get everyone to agree with you might actually backfire.

Instead, looking for how the people around you can help you see and approach your business goals and challenges is likely to make them more invested and committed.

People don't want to be robots, they want to feel like their view matters. And seeking it gives you more complete information to make better decisions.

Try it out today, and watch the change unfold.