Workplaces have undergone significant transformation in recent years, with increased cultural diversity and a constant stream of new technology that needs to be integrated into the business, meaning the task of leading a team has never been more complex.

A study performed by Forbes showed that good leaders on average have 71% of their team members willing to go the extra mile at work, while the same metric only is 13% for low-performing managers.Although it would be impossible to evoke full commitment from every team member, getting close to 70% would create a collective attitude of continuous improvement in any group. Such an atmosphere in turn makes the office into a place where people are devoted to performing their best work, guaranteeing strong business results.

This article will outline some useful ways to help those around you reach high-performance states and make your leadership skills stand out amongst your peers. ‍

1. Create common ground in the team‍

Increasing workplace diversity and the recent rise of telecommuting have meant that it is increasingly difficult for employees to share the same values and mindsets about their job. As a result, Us vs Them thinking is commonplace in many workplaces, which describes the situation where certain groups of people create a collective feeling of superiority based on perceived differences and use this to alienate others that they deem inferior. This has negative effects on working environments, with mental health issues being a major issue as people who feel they are treated unfairly take more sick days and tend to stay shorter times at their respective companies.

As a manager, it is your responsibility to clarify which values play a key role in your team and how members are expected to behave as to ensure that everyone is on the same page. However, allow for some flexibility around the defined values and allow your team to find their preferred mode.

For example, if you want a creative working atmosphere, people should be encouraged to be brave and think outside the box. Make sure everyone in the team gives attention to all ideas that are voiced and avoids criticism until all points have been fully described.

Letting the team understand and know why some values are defined a certain way is a good method to create common ground, ensuring that everyone actively partakes in the positive working culture and is creating value for the group. ‍

2. Define positions and responsibilities for key outcomes‍

When taking on an important project, make sure that everyone knows their role and the scope of their responsibility in the team. This includes clearly communicating responsibility for specific tasks, as well as performance expectations, and works to decrease groupthink as each person will feel ownership for their contribution.

In order to further avoid groupthink, it is important to create an environment where the team feels comfortable to question and discuss each other’s work.

Leaders of high-performance teams also need to identify the individuals’ needs, ambitions, and strengths so that each person can be optimally matched with the right tasks in a project.

Talk to your team and find out their goals, and be attentive to their strengths. Doing this ensures that employees will take full responsibility for their assigned tasks and finish their work beyond expectations.

 

3. Provide appropriate supporting functions

Having efficient solutions that lend support to the team plays an important role in boosting effectiveness. This includes maintaining an information platform that operates smoothly and provides the team with the data needed to do the job and an education system that enables further training.

 

Furthermore, if the manager needs to help the team solve problems constantly, it could inhibit their development of problem-solving skills. Creating a system to handle issues internally not only encourages people to work together but also frees up time for the manager to focus on more important things.

 

Such a system could be exemplified as having a group communication platform where messages asking for advice can be sent to everyone on the team, and whoever is able to solve the problem can come and help.

 

While no team can have everything they want at all times, leaders can solve many problems before they occur by taking the time to lay the groundwork for the work before beginning.

 

Managing a high-performance team is no easy task, but by using the tips mentioned above, you will be able to help your team maintain high levels of engagement and productivity and execute your organization’s ambitious goals.

To gain a deeper understanding of these principles and how you can apply them to your specific situation, contact us and learn more about our service offerings for corporate cultures.

 

Also, if you’re interested in learning more about how to take your leadership to the next level, click here to read about How to Appear More Confident in a Professional Setting.