Building a High-Performing Team: Key Traits and Strategies for Leaders

Have you ever watched a sports team and wondered what it would be like to be part of a high performing unit like that? The Brazil male football team, the female USA soccer (football) team, the All Black rugby team - these are the teams that we see in the media, celebrated for their incredible ability to work together and achieve amazing things.

But let's be real, for most of us, being part of such a team is nothing but a distant dream. However, that doesn't mean we can't take the lessons learned from these teams and apply them to our own lives. In fact, it's entirely possible to translate the skills and strategies of high performing sports teams to our everyday lives, and in this newsletter, we'll be exploring just how to do that. So, whether you're a fan of sports or not, you'll discover how you can become part of a high performing team in any area of your life!

When we think about high performing teams, it's easy to assume that it's all about having the most talented individuals. After all, if you have a team of superstars, surely they should be able to achieve incredible things together, right?

Well, not necessarily. The truth is that the success of a team is about much more than just individual talent. A team made up of skilled individuals who aren't able to work together effectively can be just as ineffective as a team of less talented individuals who have a strong sense of collaboration and teamwork.

A story that I love of recent times is the Redeem Team, the USA basketball team that won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. The team was made up of some of the best basketball players in the world, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. These were the best basketball players, in the best league. The reason why this story is so compelling is prior to the 2008 Olympics, the USA basketball team had struggled to live up to expectations in international competition, despite having some of the best individual players in the world. The team lacked a sense of chemistry and teamwork, and as a result, they were repeatedly beaten by teams with less individual talent but stronger teamwork.

To turn things around, the USA basketball team hired coach Mike Krzyzewski, who was known for his ability to build strong teams that worked together effectively. Krzyzewski focused on creating a team culture based on trust, communication, and shared ownership. He emphasised the importance of each player's role on the team, and encouraged the players to put aside their individual egos in order to achieve a common goal.

Improvise, adapt, and overcome. - Mike Krzyzewski

The result was the Redeem Team, a group of highly talented players who were able to work together effectively to win the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. The team's success was due not just to individual talent, but to their ability to work together as a unit and support each other towards a common goal.

This demonstrates that a high performing team is more than just a group of talented individuals. It's about creating a culture of teamwork and collaboration that allows each team member to contribute their unique skills and perspectives towards a common goal. By doing so, leaders can build a team that is greater than the sum of its parts, and capable of achieving incredible things together. To me, it has demonstrates that it doesn’t matter what resources you have. With the right culture, chemistry and communication you can achieve greatness.

The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." - Phil Jackson

This is easy to say, but in real terms it’s incredibly hard to do. Creating a a high performing team culture can take months, possibly years. Time that many leaders are not blessed with, so I hear you ask, how can we create this environment?

When ever I think back to whatever the most successful teams I’ve been in, there has been an energy or a vibe that things are clicking into place. It’s almost like you’re connected on a higher level, all pushing harder and further together. If you follow my posts you can see why I talk so much around team culture. The number one priority for any leader who wants to drive a successful team is to create an environment where people want to be, nothing great happens if your people are not giving you all of their ability.?

Great things in business are never done by one person. They're done by a team of people. - Steve Jobs

When you look at teams that are successful, you'll notice three things they all have in common: they communicate really well, they trust each other deeply, and they take responsibility for their actions. These traits are important because they create a foundation of respect and understanding among team members. For example, when everyone on the team communicates effectively, it ensures that everyone knows what's expected of them and what they need to do to help the team succeed.

When team members trust each other, they feel comfortable relying on each other and working together towards a shared goal. Finally, when each person takes responsibility for their own actions, it helps to create a sense of ownership and motivation. It's kind of like when you know you're responsible for something, you're more likely to do a good job and get it done on time. By focusing on these three things - communication, trust, and accountability - successful teams can work together more easily and achieve their goals

As we've seen with the Redeem Team, a high performing team is not just about individual talent, it's about creating a culture of teamwork and collaboration that allows each team member to contribute their unique skills towards a common goal. By focusing on creating a culture of trust, communication, and accountability, leaders can build a team that is greater than the sum of its parts and capable of achieving incredible things together.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. - Aristole

One tool I find useful within communication is the Tuckman's stages of group development According to this theory, teams go through five stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. In the forming stage, team members are getting to know each other and defining their roles. In the storming stage, conflicts and disagreements may arise as team members jostle for position and challenge each other's ideas. In the norming stage, the team begins to find common ground and establish norms for working together. In the performing stage, the team is highly productive and focused on achieving its goals. Finally, in the adjourning stage, the team disbands after achieving its objectives.

Effective communication is important throughout all stages of group development, but it is especially critical during the storming stage. This is when team members are most likely to experience conflicts and disagreements, and effective communication can help to resolve these issues and establish a sense of trust and collaboration among team members. Communication never stops, it’s a skill we can all improve on but a vital skill so we’re all aligned and working together.

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. - Henry Ford

As a leader, it's important to understand that teams are evolving faster than ever before due to technological advancements, which means that the stages of group development may occur more frequently. Therefore, being prepared to adapt communication styles to suit the changing dynamics of the team is crucial.

Imagine being at work and feeling that you can't express your opinions or ideas without fear of negative consequences. That feeling of being unheard, judged or criticised can be stifling and disheartening.

That's why trust and psychological safety are so crucial in the workplace. Trust means that team members can rely on one another to be honest, reliable, and supportive. Psychological safety means that people feel safe to take risks and speak their minds without fear of negative consequences.

As a leader, it's important to build trust and psychological safety within your team. You can start by setting clear expectations for communication and providing regular opportunities for open and honest feedback. Encourage team members to ask questions, share their ideas, and take calculated risks.

Without psychological safety, there can be no real innovation or learning. - Liz Wiseman

It's also important to model the behaviour you want to see. Be open and honest about your own vulnerabilities and mistakes, and encourage others to do the same. By creating a culture of trust and psychological safety, you can foster a more collaborative and innovative workplace where everyone feels heard and valued.

As a leader, accountability is one of the most important aspects of building a high-performing team. It is not just about taking responsibility for your own actions, but also about creating a culture where everyone is responsible for their work and accountable for the team's overall success.

One of the reasons accountability is so important is that it fosters trust and respect among team members. When everyone is accountable for their actions, there is a sense of transparency and honesty that creates a safe and supportive environment. This, in turn, encourages collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to take risks.

A model or theory that can be used to understand accountability is the "Accountability Ladder" developed by Christopher Avery. According to this model, there are different levels of accountability that individuals can demonstrate, ranging from denial and blame to ownership and responsibility. As a leader, it is important to encourage team members to take ownership and responsibility for their actions, rather than getting stuck in a cycle of blame and denial.

The price of greatness is responsibility - Winston Churchill

Creating a culture of accountability involves setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, and holding team members accountable for their work. It also requires creating a safe space where team members can feel comfortable admitting mistakes and asking for help.

It is also important to remember that being safe is crucial, but accountability is what drives movement and progress. As a leader, it is important to balance the need for safety and support with the need for accountability and progress. This can be done by setting clear goals, establishing metrics to measure success, and holding team members accountable for achieving those goals.

At the end of the day, accountability is all about being human. We all make mistakes, and we all have the ability to take ownership and responsibility for our actions. By fostering a culture of accountability, leaders can help their teams grow and thrive, while also creating a sense of purpose and satisfaction for everyone involved. So, let's embrace accountability, have some fun with it, and watch our teams soar to new heights!

Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to results. - Bob Proctor

In conclusion, being a part of a high performing team is not just about individual talent but about creating a culture of trust, communication, and accountability that allows team members to contribute their unique skills towards a common goal. We can learn a lot from successful sports teams like the Redeem Team who were able to achieve great things by putting aside their individual egos and working together as a unit. To create a high performing team, leaders must focus on creating an environment where people want to be, and this requires a high level of communication, deep trust, and accountability. By following the Tuckman's stages of group development, leaders can guide their teams through the various stages of forming, storming, norming, and performing towards success. Remember that greatness can be achieved with the right culture, chemistry, and communication, so aim to build a team that is greater than the sum of its parts and capable of achieving incredible things together!

Some questions for you around this newsletter to help keep it alive.

1. What are some common traits that successful teams have in common?
2. How can leaders create a culture of collaboration and teamwork that allows their teams to perform at a high level?
3. Why is it important for team members to take responsibility for their actions and how can this be encouraged within a team?

• High performing teams are not just made up of talented individuals, but also require effective teamwork and collaboration.
• A team culture of trust, communication, and accountability is necessary for building a successful team.
• The Redeem Team, the USA basketball team that won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics, was an example of a group of highly talented players who were able to work together effectively to achieve a common goal.
• To create a high performing team culture, leaders should focus on creating an environment where people want to be and where they feel comfortable contributing their unique skills towards a common goal.
• Communication, trust, and accountability are the key traits that underpin a high performing team culture.
• Tuckman's stages of group development (forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning) can be a useful tool to understand the team development process and the different stages that a team goes through on its way to becoming a high performing unit.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.