15 Characteristics of High-Performance Teams

Whether we are talking about elite special operations units, winning professional sports teams or high-functioning business organizations, all high-performance teams share similar attributes. They have high levels of internal trust and accountability, navigate change more successfully and have resilient mindsets. They are more sustainable, have higher levels of engagement and therefore efficiency. High-performance business organizations operate under a clear mission narrative, have greater degrees of employee and customer satisfaction and retention, grow more quickly (and intelligently) and are more profitable. 

Drawing from his time in the SEAL Teams, founder and CEO of TakingPoint Leadership, Brent Gleeson, shares 15 attributes for high-performance in any team environment.

1. Servant Leadership

The organization embraces a leadership philosophy in which the main goal of the leader is to serve. They maintain focus on goal achievement while remaining humble and putting the team’s needs before their own.

2. Shared Vision

All team members share and support a common vision that the team is working to achieve. They are emotionally connected to the mission.

3. Time-Oriented

The team operates under specific deadlines for achieving results.

4. Culture of Accountability

The organization not only talks about the importance of accountability but has frameworks in place that align experiences, beliefs, and actions with desired business results.

5. Seamless Communication

Leaders and managers engage in purposeful storytelling through formal and informal mechanisms for sharing information across the organization.

6. Comfort Zone Expansion

The work of the team is beyond the team’s comfort zone. Calculated risks are taken and they are always asking themselves “what if?”

7. Ecosystems, Not Hierarchies

High-performance teams take a more decentralized approach to leadership and decision making. While the planning process typically remains centralized and focused on big-picture strategies, the execution of tasks and duties are decentralized.

8. Proper Planning

The team has proper mechanisms and standard operating procedures for planning and execution. They enlist the feedback and participation of all appropriate team members in the planning process. Everyone’s voice is heard.

9. After Action Reviews

The team stops at appropriate times to check the quality of recent work for the purpose of determining how the process could be improved and what learning can be shared with other members.

10. High Participation

Members work to make certain that everyone is involved. Engagement drives participation.

11. Self-Managed

Team leadership changes according to the expertise required. Team members jump in as weaknesses or gaps are discovered.

12. Trust is Measured

The team understands that trust has a direct impact on productivity, engagement and profitability. Integrity, honesty and transparency are part of the organization’s expected behavioral norms.

13. Guiding Principles

The team operates on a specific and well-defined set of guiding principles that dictate how they behave and communicate. Guiding principles are always considered for talent acquisition, promotion efforts and reward mechanisms.

14. Celebrates Success

High-performance teams celebrate small victories toward goal achievement. Team members work to build each other up.

15. Learning Culture

The organization constantly pursues excellence through learning and development. They are never satisfied with the status quo.

This article was originally published by Brent Gleeson on Forbes.

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