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Mayank is part of the product team. As a product manager, he has to coordinate with external agencies for product development and manage his three-member team. He makes a point to get daily updates from his team so he can stay on top of things.
Every person on his team feels heard and valued. They appreciate the positive work environment Mayank encourages. His team surpasses its goals and targets each quarter.
Mayank’s is one of the high-performing teams in his organization. There are certain characteristics he and his team reflect—effective communication and trust being only the tip of the iceberg.
Let’s explore what creating high-performing teams takes with examples.
What Are High-Performance Teams?
High-performing teams are committed to their goals—both long-term and short-term. Together, they work toward accomplishing organizational objectives in a cost-effective, timely and optimal way. With clearly defined roles and responsibilities, high-performing teams can move seamlessly to achieve results.
Headed by a good leader and manager, high-performing teams set an example in the organization. They’re able to address issues, resolve conflicts and reach an understanding to use their time wisely.
Each member of a high-performing team is accountable for their tasks. If they face a setback, they know exactly what to do, who to reach out and how to solve it with creative solutions.
Each high-performing team works as a cohesive unit. They have certain characteristics that set them apart. Read on to learn more about developing a high-performing team.
Building High-Performing Teams
Managers are tasked with building high-performing teams. Each member brings unique skills, abilities and areas of improvement to the table. It’s the manager’s responsibility to assess how to maximize their skills for the organization’s benefit.
A Skill-Will Matrix is an efficient tool to assign tasks based on the level of skills and willingness of employees. Using this tool will be effective when assigning tasks based on skills.
Here are the characteristics of high-performing teams:
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Timely, High-Quality Deliverables
The most important aspect of your work life is the deliverable. Whether you’re in marketing, finance or product, the deliverable is the culmination of all your efforts. High-performing teams always deliver high-quality work. As a manager, it’s important to set the right processes to ensure an effective quality check is implemented right before delivery.
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Effective Brainstorming
High-performing teams brainstorm innovative, fresh and new ideas to keep abreast of ever-evolving trends and advancements. Effective brainstorming often leads to creative problem solving to help teams overcome challenges. It’s a creative space where every member gets a chance to put their best foot forward. Ideas are invited and heard, leaving no one behind.
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Autonomy To Work
Every high-performing team has the flexibility and autonomy to embrace its own work style. Some teams support independent contribution while others prefer collaboration. The intersection of the two ensures employees can refine and develop their work style. This enables them to work on their skills and polish them.
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Clearly Understood Roles And Responsibilities
Another critical aspect of a high-performing team is clearly defined roles. Managers should check in with their employees from time to time to understand whether they enjoy their roles. If there are employees who want to change roles or expand their scope, they should be able to approach the leadership and discuss their expectations. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis is an effective tool to take this practice forward.
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Open And Honest Communication
Communication isn’t just speaking or listening. It’s about writing effective emails, being succinct and mindful of your body language. Open and honest communication helps teams build meaningful and deep relationships. Managers must communicate openly with their teams, understand any pain points and try to resolve conflicts as soon as possible.
These are important characteristics of high-performing teams. But each team is unique with its own processes, code of conduct and dynamic. How you build an effective team is up to you. What’s important is to check in regularly and be flexible with how you want to run things.
Managing Star Teams
If you want your team to stand out, Harappa’s Managing Teamwork course is the right fit for you. With frameworks like the Skill-Will Matrix, Social Styles Model and the Bruce Tuckman Model, you’ll learn everything there is to know about how to build effective teams. Familiarize yourself with characteristics of an effective team. Learn how to navigate conflict within teams and the art of feedback. Our comprehensive team management course will train you so you’re ready for managerial challenges. Start your learning journey today and become a reliable and trusted manager to your team!
Explore Harappa Diaries to learn more about topics such as All About Building a Team, Different Types Of Teams, Tips To Improve Team Communication and What Is Pygmalion Effect to become a well-rounded professional.
