Harmonizing Success: Finding the 'Swift' Beat in High-Performing Teams

After having shared the Swift Lift, which brought $90 million to our region and over a billion dollars in the U.S., is there still more to say? Of course, let's discuss the high-performing teams that deliver the best performances, shows, and experiences that most concert-goers have ever witnessed.

Consider the alignment of vision and mission required to place the Cincinnati region on the map as a "mega-market" venue that hosts top performers from around the world. Also, think about the collaboration and focus on excellence among all entities within the Swift team. The empowerment to make strategic, operational, and tactical decisions and to keep the teams engaged throughout the process. Lastly, the ability to bring innovation to venues designed for sports and to pull off a fabulous show. Kudos to the visionary leaders, the city that collaborated, and the Swift Team for bringing a new level of excellence to Swift fans and to a region that's on the rise.

Let's delve into the culture of high performance in this series, focusing on the four key elements: alignment, collaboration, empowerment, and innovation. These aspects are measured and enhanced through the insights of hundreds of clients who truly represent the best!

To begin, let's highlight the importance of alignment. In an area of momentum, alignment is demonstrated by having a clear understanding of vision, mission, goals, priorities, focus, and results from the Executive Team to front-line leaders. It's estimated that organizations lose up to 50% of leader productivity, and even more with teams, due to being focused on the wrong tasks. Misalignment can stem from various reasons unique to each organization:

The problem: Most Executive and Leadership teams lack the mindsets and skill sets to consider a fully aligned culture as a deliberate strategy for achieving higher organizational performance.

The solution: Embrace the opportunity to enhance leader capacity and capabilities through multi-level team development. This effort aims to create and sustain systems, processes, and people practices that optimize alignment.

Here are some contributing factors:

• Having too many priorities often leads to a lack of focus.
• Functional leaders may have differing and competing priorities.
• Executives may be frustrated that crucial strategic projects are not being completed.
• Leaders at various levels may lack a voice in strategy and goals that impact them.
• Communication may lack essential information needed to operationalize the vision.
• (You might be thinking that I'm describing your team, right?)

Here are some strategies to address these issues:

• Conduct assessments and listen to all contributors about the lack of alignment among leaders.
• Involve multi-level leaders in creating or aligning with the vision and strategic imperatives.
• Develop systems, processes, and capabilities that foster alignment, incorporating input from multi-level leadership.
• Review communication to ensure it promotes alignment.
• Assess available technology enablers.
• Remain committed until all alignment concerns are addressed and clear momentum is established.

"Alignment is the secret sauce of high-performing teams, allowing them to leverage their diverse talents and perspectives for maximum impact." - Hiren Bechara

I invite you to join me next time as we explore collaboration.

"They say the best way out is always through, and I agree with that. I can see no way but through." - Robert Frost

Written by Diane Egbers, Founder and CEO of Leadership Excelleration, Inc. (LEI) and author of The Ascending Leader, engages with clients and guides a consulting team to provide all aspects of executive coaching, organizational consulting, and leadership programs. Diane understands her client’s needs by leveraging her experience by serving more than 250 organizations and her prior role as VP of Human Resources.?