Team Performance: What's Involved

Many organizations have "teams," yet High Performing Teams don't just happen.
High performing teams have addressed and implemented
1.

Clear Direction

2.

Sufficient and Appropriate Structure - each member of the

- each member of the team clearly understands its

purpose, what its key outputs will be, and when they are due.

team understands his/her role on the team - the value that he/she brings to
the team - as well as other members' roles; team tasks are delegated to
those on the team with the appropriate knowledge and skill set; all required
resources, tools and job aids needed to deliver the outputs are present;
team member tasks are coordinated for maximum efficiency; a
measurement system is in place for key internal and external deliverables.
3.

Effective Team Processes - team members understand and use

standardized work processes and standardized team processes (those
which best enable members to coordinate their information and activities)

a. Interpersonal Communication
b. Effective Meeting Management
c. Priority Setting
d. Project Management
e. Problem Solving
f. Decision Making
g. Extra Training (internal)
h. Coordination with other work groups
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4.

Trusting / Supportive Team Culture

- each team member

knows that he/she and other team members will do what they say they will
do; differences are understood and appreciated; members know that they
are accepted and are open about what they want/need from others.
Important conversations are characterized by appreciative listening and
questioning to understand; because each team member is focused on the

team results, conflicts that do occur centre on the best path forward and
are characterized by healthy debate. Internal feedback is frequent and
welcome, with each member of the team holding other members of the
team accountable.
5.

Strong and Flexible Leadership

- the formal team leader(s)

sees his or her role as one who guides and supports the team to achieve
its results. He or she ensures that team goals and parameters are correct,
realistic and understood; that all needed resources are made available and
all roadblocks removed, avoided or minimized. The leader ensures that
established team processes are understood and followed, manages
involvement and provides process guidance or facilitation where needed;
he or she models the behaviours expected and ensures both individual and
team achievement. He or she coordinates the team's efforts with other
work groups and is a reliable team advocate to others in the organization.

Real team development focuses on understanding team requirements, team

strengths and team weaknesses, then closes the gap(s) identified with specific
facilitated, coaching or training interventions.

Building the Team Culture

Goal Setting

Planning

Communication

Cooperation

(Appropriate) Risk Taking

Shared Leadership

Trust

Feedback

Continuous Improvement