Embracing the Shift from High-Performing to High-Impact Teams
High-performing teams have been defined by their ability to achieve goals efficiently, often focusing on measurable outcomes such as productivity and profitability. While these metrics remain important, a shift is emerging towards the concept of high-impact teams.
High-impact teams go beyond performance metrics, focusing on long-term value creation, innovation, and societal contributions. This shift acknowledges the importance of balancing performance with broader organizational, stakeholder, and societal impact.
Research by Deloitte highlights that high-impact teams are purpose-driven, collaborative, and adaptive. These teams contribute not only to business success but also to societal well-being.
Companies like Google and Unilever exemplify this approach. Google’s "Project Aristotle" showed that psychological safety, trust, and meaningful work are crucial for both performance and impact. Similarly, Unilever’s sustainability strategy links team efforts to long-term goals, including reducing environmental footprint and improving social equity, balancing profit with purpose. ?
Microsoft too fosters high-impact teams by promoting a culture of innovation and collaboration while emphasizing societal contributions. Their AI for Good initiative encourages teams to leverage technology to address global challenges such as climate change and accessibility. This not only enhances their market position but also aligns their team objectives with societal needs, demonstrating the potential for technology to drive positive change.
Systemic team coaching nurtures high-impact teams by broadening their focus. It helps teams understand their role within complex systems, promoting awareness of their impact on stakeholders and encouraging reflective practice. This approach fosters collective intelligence, resilience, and innovation. By considering not just what they achieve but how they influence the larger ecosystem, systemic team coaching equips teams to create lasting value that extends beyond immediate performance metrics.