Unleashing the Power of Highly Effective Teams: A Journey to Extraordinary Places

Great Leaders, 

Oh the places you'll go when the engine in your team is running well and fueled with the motivation and passion to achieve great results. 

Have you ever witnessed or been part of a well functioning or highly effective team? You know the one where you walk in the room for a team meeting and can feel an energy so great that it makes you want to immediately jump into your work and do the best job possible so that you don't let the rest of the team down? One where team members have strong connections and deep trust, and are not afraid to tackle complex challenges together because they understand the power of tapping into collective intelligence to come out with the best solutions possible? 

I have learned that highly effective teams: 

• Produce great results
• Communicate and collaborate well 
• Are creative and are not afraid to take risks and innovate together
• Are highly engaged 
• Solve problems well together
• Have strong relationships and deep trust
• Are resilient and adaptable during turbulent times
• Are happy and continuously strive for the best 

As leaders, building highly effective teams is an art but when you crack that nut, you'll experience great returns far beyond the time you invested into building these teams. 

How do you build well functioning and highly effective teams? Here are some tips that I have learnt and seen done well in my career: 

1. Establish ways of working or team norms - When we create a "first-team" mindset, we win. What is your north star or the rules you'll live by together as you go about your daily work (or when faced complex decisions)? How will the team collaborate and cooperate to achieve the best for the good of the company and/or the team (versus focusing in on individual needs)?
2. Establish well defined goals and clarity around roles and responsibilities- this is a game-changer. When everyone is rowing in the same direction and understands the role they play (and their responsibilities), you'll move towards your goal faster than you can imagine. It's a powerful step that propels your team towards success.
3. Build trust and psychological safety: Trust and psychological safety are essential for effective teamwork. They create an environment where employees feel safe to speak up, be creative, innovate, fail and learn from their mistakes.
4. Clarity and support pave the path to success:By setting clear expectations for performance, deadlines, and quality, and equipping your team with the necessary training, tools, and resources, you provide them with a roadmap and a toolkit to achieve their goals quickly and effectively. With these important ingredients in place, your team will  soar to greater heights.
5. Celebrate milestones often!In the fast-paced working world, it's easy to overlook the small wins and quickly move on to the “next task”. However, I've discovered that taking the time to celebrate the small wins creates a ripple effect of momentum towards achieving our bigger goals. So, take the time to pause, acknowledge and celebrate every step forward. It will build motivation and drive you towards even greater success.
6. Understand that conflict in inevitable in teams - deal with it quickly! I am someone who is naturally averse to conflict. It makes me feel uncomfortable but I understand that it is inevitable in teams. Why? Because we are all humans. Unique individuals with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. However, when conflict arises, it's critical to address it quickly and constructively. Don't let conflict fester in the team, it will create bigger (unnecessary) problems for you.  Instead, encourage open communication, show respect for each other's perspectives, listen attentively, and work together to find solutions.

Building and nurturing highly effective teams is a journey that leads to incredible destinations. When your team's engine is fueled with motivation and passion, the possibilities are endless. Witnessing or being part of a well-functioning team is an experience that sparks energy and inspires everyone to perform their best. These teams produce great results, communicate and collaborate well, embrace creativity and innovation, and are highly engaged. They excel at problem-solving, build strong relationships and deep trust, and exhibit resilience and adaptability during challenging times. They are driven by a continuous pursuit of excellence and happiness.

As leaders, the art of building such teams requires you to be intentional. Establishing ways of working and team norms that prioritize collaboration over individual needs sets the stage for success. Clear goals and defined roles provide a powerful direction, while trust and psychological safety create an environment for creativity and growth. Providing clarity, support, and celebrating milestones fosters motivation and propels the team forward. Addressing conflict promptly and constructively strengthens relationships and fosters teamwork.

Remember, the investment made in building highly effective teams yields extraordinary returns that far surpass the time and effort invested. So, as you move forward in your day great leaders, embrace the journey of cultivating exceptional teams, and witness the incredible places you'll go together.