Ten Characteristics of High Performing Teams

Ten Characteristics of High Performing Teams
Getting started on building a high performing team can seem like a daunting task. After all, with so many different personalities and ingrained habits, it's hard to determine where to start.
Take a look at the Ten Characteristics of a High Performing Team below. Rate your team, on a 1 to 5 basis on each characteristic. Give the list to each person on your team for rating. Then compile the results and you'll have a good idea of where to get started. Just pick one or two areas to tackle. After you've made progress on those, chose another. In a very short time, you'll find that your environment is changing for the better and your team is moving into a high performance mode.
Servant leadership
The team leader understands how to serve the members of the team and gains influence through understanding and being responsive to their needs. All actions flow from the mission and help shape the organizational culture.
Open communication
Active listening is used to ensure crystal clear understanding. Productive conflict is encouraged so new ideas can be explored. Diverse opinions are welcomed.
Synergistic relationships
In an effective team, members gain strength from one another. They accomplish more together than they could acting individually. In this case, the whole is not only different, but also greater than the sum of its parts.
Personal development
Effective team members continually learn better ways of working together. Individuals take responsibility for improving knowledge to better contribute to the team.
Problem solving methods
The team follows a standardized and shared way of solving problems and conflict. Creativity is encouraged in problem solving.
Mission ready
Team members understand, tangibly support and buy into the organization's mission. It is considered worthwhile and guides the team in all actions. Personal issues do not supersede mission.
Results orientation
Regardless of tightly held beliefs, the team produces its deliverables on time and with high quality. The team members are self-directed and know what is expected of them; they willingly "buckle down" and deliver.
Flexible team structure
High performing teams are flexible, responsive, orderly and directed. They understand the dynamics of how their team operates and are able to easily adapt to a variety of situations.
Mutual support
Members of an effective team develop a distinctive team spirit that encourages mutual respect, support and enjoyment of one another. The team successes and failures impact each member, and the members willingly extend themselves to one another.
Contentment
High performing teams look after their members in more ways than through providing a menu of psychological rewards. Team members actually grow in stature through their membership. Their potential is recognized and developed.
- Lynda Ford
Lynda Ford, author of this article, is a consultant, author and speaker and president of The Ford Group, a management and human resource consulting firm. She can be contacted by e-mail at lynda@fordgroup.com, or by phone at (315) 339-6398.