Building a High-Performing Team: Leadership Strategies for Success

There are a number of different factors and variables that can influence the success of any business or organisation. Arguably one of the most important ones, though, is its people. Behind any high-performing organisation, you will also find a high-performing team – that is, a cohesive and aligned team that has the same vision, goals, and objectives in mind; that drives productivity and performance through collaboration and teamwork; and that does not just meet, but also exceeds, their goals.

Effective leadership plays an important role in creating and maintaining these high-performing teams. In fact, one Harvard Business Review study found that teams with strong leaders achieve 20% higher performance outcomes than teams with weaker leadership.

Here are some effective leadership strategies that you can use to drive business success and create a high-performing team:

• Find the right people: Attracting and recruiting the right people to your organisation, and also retaining them, is one of the major cornerstones to creating a high-performing team. Look for people who possess not just the technical and soft skills required of the role, but who also share your values and vision for success.
• Set clear expectations: From their very first day at your organisation, team members should be completely clear about what is expected from them, in terms of both their behaviour and their performance. This can be achieved by designing and implementing a structured orientation and onboarding program that introduces new team members to your organisation’s culture, values, and expectations. You should also clearly communicate performance expectations and key responsibilities from the outset, including by establishing short-term goals from early on.
• Invest in your team’s growth: Continuous growth, improvement, and learning should be a major priority for any high-performing team. Offer training and professional development opportunities that allow your staff to upskill, and work with your team members to create individual development plans that align with their career aspirations and interests. Is there a particular area that they want to learn more about or grow their skills in? By investing in your team’s growth, not only will you enhance their skills and capabilities, but you will also be showing them that they are valued. In turn, this contributes to greater staff engagement, satisfaction, and retention.
• Create a positive team culture: High-performing teams are built on a foundation of trust, respect, and collaboration, so create a positive team culture that supports this. Focus on creating a workplace where your values are reflected in your organisational culture, open and transparent communication is encouraged, and individual and team accomplishments are recognised and celebrated.

  Also, show your team members that feedback is encouraged and valued through regular performance reviews, one-on-one check-ins, and peer feedback – all of which can be helpful in enhancing not just the performance of individual team members, but that of the organisation as a whole.

• Foster accountability and ownership: Showing your team members that you trust them is key in building engagement and motivation within high-performing teams. This trust can be shown by encouraging team members to take accountability and ownership over how they manage and complete their own work; delegating tasks and allowing team members to take on extra responsibilities; and allowing team members to show initiative, come up with ideas, and make decisions.
• Measure their performance: Use a mixture of qualitative and quantitative metrics to monitor your team’s success. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for each staff member and team, and use these as benchmarks to measure their progress and performance. Schedule regular check-ins and performance reviews to assess progress, and use these as an opportunity to celebrate successes and identify areas for improvement.
• Lead by example: Perhaps most importantly, leaders also need to be leading by example and displaying the qualities and behaviours that they expect the rest of their teams to demonstrate. This means communicating openly and transparently, holding yourself accountable for your actions and decisions, making yourself available to your team members when they need your support, and being approachable and empathetic to your team members’ needs. When you lead by example and role model the desired behaviours, your team members will be more likely to follow suit.

Building a high-performing team relies on effective leadership, which is why so many women’s leadership programs and other leadership programs focus on developing these core competencies in leaders. By fostering a positive team culture and demonstrating effective leadership in other respects, leaders can create high-performing teams that provide a solid foundation for their organisation’s long-term success.

Caroline Kennedy is an award-winning CEO with a track record of leading multinational companies with up to $250 million in revenue. She is also the founder of Empowering Women Leaders: Awaken the Powerful Leader Within – a transformative eight-week program designed to help women master the art of leadership. If you’re ready to unleash your hidden potential and become the leader that you were always meant to be, find out more at https://www.carolinekennedy.com.au/women-leadership-program/.