Three Key Leadership Strategies for Building a High-Performing Team
June 01, 2023 | Christy Jones
There is an adage that goes, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” I love this statement because I believe teamwork is a foundational bedrock for organizational development and success. Every organization has a mission that it desires to manifest in the marketplace, and teamwork is one of the essential elements for accomplishing that mission.
Accomplishing an organizational mission takes planning, strategy, resources, finances, evaluation, feedback, and a high-performing team. I believe there are several strategies that leaders need in place to build a high-performing team. Here, I would like to highlight three key leadership strategies that can help every leader build a high-performing team.
Leadership Strategy One: Find a Clear Direction
It is often said that where there is no clear vision, people wander aimlessly and chaos ensues. As leaders, our job is to make sure that we are consistently providing a clear direction for where we are going as a team. Setting a clear direction empowers a leader to set expectations, hold team members accountable, and clarify priorities. When there is clarity, there is acceleration toward the goal.
I want you to think about something for a moment. Picture this: You are in your car, and as you are driving, it becomes completely foggy. You are now unable to see any road signs or headlights in front of you. What are you most likely to do in this situation? Yes, you guessed it! You are going to slow down. The same holds true when there is a lack of clear direction for a team. Things will slow down, tasks will be missed, and miscommunications will be prevalent. The high-performing team that could be functioning at an optimal level is now moving slowly and not accomplishing the mission. It is important for every leader to spend time thinking, planning, and processing so that you can provide clear direction.
Leadership Strategy Two: Communicate
Communication for a high-performing team is about more than just getting things done. Communication is critical between all members of a team regardless of what specific role those members play. Effective communication is important because if team members are not able to communicate openly, honestly, and in a healthy manner, it could damage the team’s integrity, function, and ability to reach their goals. Two or three people working collaboratively on a project is much more effective than a single person spending the whole of their time working on that same project alone. However, if the communication between those two or three people is ineffective, the whole project will suffer.
Teams that engage in failed communication ultimately end up wasting time and energy by doing busy work in place of the major priorities that could move the organization’s goals forward. Communication develops trust in a team. It builds a bond and empowers every team member to actively engage in the team’s work. An astute leader understands that effective communication will drive the organization’s efficiency.
Workplace communication is a powerful tool that will influence the success of the whole organization. If communication is clear, meaningful, open, and accepted by all, team members are more likely to reach out if they get stuck and more likely to “jump in” to help other team members when the need arises. A good leader understands that every organization has flaws, and that communication systems will sometimes break down—but that same good leader understands that their role is to make sure that communication is occurring all the time! Good communication will lead to better work relationships and will increase team morale, engagement, and satisfaction.
Leadership Strategy Three: Cultivate Chemistry
High-performing teams are built of individuals committed to the vision, mission, and core values of the organization. As a leader, it is important to note that teams with good chemistry are generally more productive, efficient, and higher functioning. This is partly because good chemistry on a team happens when each team member brings their strengths and skills to the work as they learn how to support and minimize the weaknesses of other team members. Without good chemistry, a team will dysregulate, become dysfunctional, and participate in unnecessary drama that leads them away from the organization’s mission. Leaders need the appropriate level of skill to cultivate the chemistry of a team.
To cultivate this chemistry, a leader needs to know how to facilitate communication, provide opportunities for growth for each member, and get to know each team member’s story. Leaders need to focus on how to create a psychologically safe environment for team members to grow and enjoy the work that they are doing together. This may look like setting aside a team meeting, abandoning the proposed agenda, and turning it into a time to simply ask each team member what their life’s dream is and giving them the opportunity to share it with the rest of the group. Chemistry maximizes a team’s excitement, effort, and energy, despite personality differences and behavioral preferences. Chemistry aids a high performing team in cooperating more effectively with each other and getting more done!
Building a high-performing team is critical for a leader. When a leader is engaged in the process of team building, they are actively creating space for individuals to work together as one unit, department, or division. This type of strategy includes more than just icebreakers, fun interactive games, and exercises. All these activities have their place, but the real work behind effective team building encompasses clear direction, establishing communication, and cultivating chemistry. These three strategies build relationships and trust between team members. Leaders have a unique role and responsibility. I believe if given the right strategies, building a high-performing team is inevitable!
This article first appeared in the Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health (DELPH) Magazine, Issue 1. Learn more about DELPH’s leadership development initiative by visiting DELPH program page.