How to Build a High-Performing Team

Suppose you are assembling a dream team of all-star basketball or football players. You look for skilled, talented individuals and try to make sure they can communicate and work together successfully.   The same holds true in the business world. Cultural fit and team building are the keys to transforming a group of talented individuals into a high-performing team. In my article this month, I am sharing resources to help your business achieve that goal.

Establish Clear Professional Expectations

Forbes cautions against the "family" mentality in the workplace in Fostering Positive Expectations at Work: We Are (n’t) Family. A sense of community is important, but a really successful business team will be diverse and inclusive. "A team composed of individuals with varying perspectives and experiences can foster innovation and problem-solving," as AIHR suggests in How to Conduct an Effective Cultural Fit Assessment.

AIHR acknowledges that assessing cultural fit is more complicated than it looks and recommends making time in the hiring process to:

· Know your company culture so you can determine in an interview if a candidate's working style is compatible.  

·  Introduce the candidate to the team and allow some time for questions.

·  Give candidates a chance for self-assessment through either a short, standardized teamwork assignment or testing.

The Power of Psychological Safety

Korn Ferry highlights the crucial role of psychological safety in team performance in their article, The Secret Sauce of Team Performance. What constitutes psychological safety? "When team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, taking risks, and admitting mistakes without fear of judgment, it creates a positive and productive work environment."

LinkedIn's Jamie Turner emphasizes the importance of shared goals and psychological safety in building effective teams in The Beer Test: Good Intentions-But a Bad Hiring Practice. When team members understand the common business goal and feel comfortable contributing, it leads to engagement, collaboration, and, ultimately, success.  

Non-Cringe Team Building

Science of People reminds us that effective team building goes beyond surface-level activities in 12 Non-Awkward Team Building Activities That Build Trust. Some innovative ideas for activities that can help leaders build a close-knit and productive team include:

·   Ask team members to spend 15 minutes teaching the group a fact unique to their job or about a hobby they enjoy.

·   Start a once-a-month lunchtime book club featuring books related to the business or a lunch-and-learn exchange with other departments.

·    Institute a once-a-quarter training session for shared software.

Wrap Up

Leaders building a high-performing team should prioritize cultural fit, foster psychological safety, and create shared experiences. By investing in these areas, you'll not only improve team performance but also create a positive and engaging work environment that attracts and retains top talent.

CB and Associates, Inc. is a valuable partner who can help you source and build a high-performing team. Would you like to find out more? Please message me with any hiring concerns you would like to discuss.

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