How to Optimize Team Potential: A 7-Step Guide for Managers
High performing team managers optimize potential by unlocking their team’s collective capability. They do what it takes to get their team to fire on all cylinders by effectively holding people accountable to clear roles and responsibilities, aligning skills and strengths, closing gaps, and building strong partnerships with key stakeholders. We know from people manager assessment center data and new manager training participants that a team’s potential is rooted in its ability to collaborate effectively, innovate consistently, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Leaders who invest in building cohesive, empowered teams can achieve superior business AND people outcomes.
The Definition of a Team at Work
While many groups are called “teams,” not every working group needs to behave like a team to achieve their objectives. In a working group, there is no collective work product beyond individual accomplishments. For example, the performance of swim, track, golf, and gymnastics teams is a function of what its members do as individuals. Why? Because they can divide and conquer their tasks. Their success does not require interdependency.
In a team, however, performance is measured primarily by the products produced collectively by the team. High performance success requires coordination, communication, and, often, sacrifice. Examples include basketball, football, and soccer teams. And research tells us that teams outperform individuals when performance requires interdependent and multiple skills, judgments, and experiences.
7 Steps to Optimize Team Potential
High performing teams don’t happen by accident. They are intentional, focused, committed, and have a better chance of success together. Transforming from a group of talented people into a team whose collective impact exceeds what is possible for any one individual requires strategic clarity, authentic connection, and the ability to mobilize everyone on the team to propel shared goals forward.
Here’s a research-backed guide to optimizing your team’s potential by driving the motivation required for extra levels of team performance.
You will know you are on the right path when goals and accountabilities are clear to everyone on my team, and each individual can clearly articulate an agreed upon and clear line of sight to contribute to the greater good.
You will know that you are on the right path when the team commits to a common way of working, has a transparent process to hold itself mutually accountable for agreed upon performance and behavior standards, and agrees upon how to share rewards equitably.
You will know that you are on the right path when you explicitly identify, recognize, and value what ensures that individual motivations and contributions align with the team’s goals.
You will know that you are on the right path when employees feel confident giving and receiving constructive feedback, addressing conflict effectively, knowing when and how to escalate, and negotiating actionable next steps when adjustments are necessary.
You will know that you are on the right path when the team demonstrates a commitment to feedback, learning, and change.
You will know that you are on the right path when everyone thinks and acts like owners of the business and is committed to producing top quality work.
You will know that you are on the right path when everyone can depend on each other and feels fairly rewarded for their contributions.
You will know that you are on the right path when people feel recognized for doing the right thing.
The Bottom Line
The ability to optimize team potential requires clarity, discipline, and meaning. For a team to perform at its peak, each team member must buy into where the team is headed, how the team works together, and be confident in what the team is trying to accomplish. Everyone should feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves and hold each other accountable to take on the challenge together for the greater good.
To learn more about how to optimize team potential, download 5 Steps to Align Project Teams to Pull in the Same Direction
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