Elements of High Performing Teams
Last week, the Harvard Business Review published an article by Tom Brady titled “Tom Brady on the Art of Leading Teammates.”
Like most things Tom Brady does, the article is gaining traction. He shares his best thinking on “how to be a good teammate and how to lead fellow teammates.” This is obviously built on his phenomenal career and his vast experience with hundreds of teammates over his 20-year career.
But this article triggered different thoughts of mine. Tom directs his thinking towards teammates but not necessarily teams. It’s one thing to be a good teammate (regardless of the quality of the team). It’s another skill to build a healthy, high-performing team. So, what are the elements of high-performing teams?
Two researchers answered that question in their book, “Teamwork: What Must Go Right/What Can Go Wrong.” Here is a summary of Carl E. Larson and Frank M. J. LaFasto’s three year study:
A Clear, Elevating Goal
Do we have a clear, elevating goal?
How prevalent are politics & power in our team and or other variables that distract us from our mission and purpose?
Results-Driven Structure
Do our structures increase our ability to accomplish our mission?
Have we achieved desired levels of trust, autonomy & clarity?
Competent Team Members
Do we possess the personal & technical competencies to achieve our goal?
Do we foster competition or collaboration amongst team members?
Unified Commitment
How well do we balance individual uniqueness while maintaining collective unity?
How do we handle competition between team goals and individual objectives?
Collaborative Climate
Are we committed to honesty, openness, consistency and respect?
Do we grant one another involvement & autonomy?
Standards of Excellence
What are the standards of excellence that will drive our work?
Do we possess the discipline and accountability to exceed those standards?
External Support & Recognition
Do we have access to the resources we need to get the job done?
How well do we celebrate and reward ourselves for a job well done?
Principled Leadership
Are we creating the kind of change we envision?
Are we developing our people and unleashing their talents?
We need both highly effective teams and highly effective teammates. I cannot speak to the kind of teammate you are (Tom Brady can help you with that), but I can easily help you gauge if the team you are leading or participating in is healthy and highly performing based on these eight elements. Let’s become better teammates while simultaneously building more high-performing teams.
Dig Deep…Keep Going.
Dig deep…keep going.