Teams have the real potential. They can get more innovative solutions to often complex and challenging problems through the process of creativity, support and building on ideas of each team member. At a conceptual level many people understand the value of teams and team working in delivering great results. Translating this from theory into practice is often much more of a challenge. Why is this and what can you do to improve team performance so that they deliver to their true potential?
Tip1: Make Sure They Have A Clear Purpose
Teams need to know what is expected of them, where they are heading and what they are trying to achieve. It does not matter how great you are as a leader if you have vague outcomes specified you get vague results. If you want to improve team performance, give your team specific and clear outcomes. A clear outcome should leave the team in no doubt about what is required. The simpler the better. For example, reducing complaints by 5% is a very clear outcome. The team now what the target is they are aiming for.
Tip 2: Use Team Members Appropriately
Different people on teams have different strengths, weaknesses, areas of specific knowledge and experience. The marketing person might love doing spreadsheets but is this what they do best? If you are seeking to improve team performance, use people appropriately. Whenever you can get them playing to their strengths. Think about it, if you get a group of people playing to their strengths the collective benefit of this is huge.
Tip 3: Be Willing To Take Decisions And Action
If you have ever been part of a team that is essentially a talking shop, where there is a lot of discussion and very little forward movement, you will know just how frustrating this can be. Yes we need to brainstorm, discuss options and then fully evaluate options. At the same time this can easily become a stalling tactic. Waiting for perfect information or the perfect time is pointless because it never comes around. Decisions and action are what counts. Remember there will never be perfect information or a perfect time to act.
Tip 4: Encourage Proactiveness
Sometimes it is good to follow the tried and tested route and at other times you need some different levels of thinking and proactivity. Don't be a leader who stifles this. Remember that any kind of breakthrough will require a degree of risk taking. You need to be comfortable with people tryng and failing to get the ideal results if you want them to be proactive. You can also be proactive yourself and show people the way by example.
Tip 5: Work on Building And Maintaining Trust
Trust takes time to develop and can be destroyed in minutes. Trust is not a destination but an ongoing journey. Get everyone on the team focusing on building and maintaining high levels of trust. Some simple things that you do can build trust. Making sure you follow through when you have asked people to deliver something and they have agreed to do so. Treating everyone equally. Getting people focussed on collaboration and showing it is valued more than competition.
Tip 6: Team Members Listening To Each Other
People love sharing their ideas, results and insights on issues. The trouble is that they are sometimes a lot less effective at listening to each other. Make listening a key communication on your team if you want to improve performance. It not only helps build better solutions but is also the key to more effectively handle conflict on teams.
The Bottom Line: Sometimes it is simple things that yield big improvements in team performance. What actions could you take right now to achieve more success and improve team performance?
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