How to Optimize Team Potential: A 7-Step Guide for Managers

How to Optimize Team Potential: A 7-Step Guide for Managers
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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.

  1. Get Aligned with a Clear Direction
    We know from organizational alignment research that strategic clarity and alignment accounts for 31% of the difference between high and low performing teams. Teams operate best when they understand, believe in, and commit to a meaningful and shared purpose. To optimize team potential, start by clearly defining the team’s mission, goals, roles, success metrics, interdependencies, and expected outcomes.

    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.

  2. Define Team Norms
    Once your team strategy is clear enough, your next step is to define the team norms, beliefs, business practices, values, decision making models, and ways of working required to best execute the team’s strategy. The goal is to ensure that there is enough team health, transparency, accountability, coordination, and strategic alignment to create the synergies necessary to perform more than just the sum of the individual parts.

    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.

  3. Leverage and Develop Complementary Skills and Personalities
    Once your strategy and culture are aligned enough to set the foundation for high performance, your next step is to purposefully blend the unique talents, experiences, and perspectives of your team members to perform at their peak. High performing teams invest in getting and keeping “the mix” right. They understand and leverage individual strengths relative to the team’s purpose and goals to create synergies that drive results.  They use leadership simulation assessments, people manager assessment centers, and training needs assessments to continuously identify and develop what matters most to team success.

    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.

  1. Foster Psychological Team Safety
    High performing teams require high levels of interdependence, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and willingness to speak up. We know from communication essentials training that honest and open two-way communication is the cornerstone of team trust. Teams perform at their peak when members feel heard, valued, and free enough to engage in constructive debate and effective decision making — especially when the stakes are high.

    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.

  2. Promote Continuous Learning
    Because market realities and strategies shift, high-performing teams are built on a foundation of self-evaluation, continuous learning, improvement, realignment, and growth. Encourage a culture where change agility and learning are prioritized through customized training programs, 1×1 coaching, action learning leadership development, and stretch assignments. By keeping skills sharp and knowledge current, teams can stay ahead of the curve.

    You will know that you are on the right path when the team demonstrates a commitment to feedback, learning, and change.

  1. Encourage Ownership and Accountability
    An ownership mindset fuels engagement, while accountability ensures follow-through. Empower your team by giving them autonomy over their work while setting clear expectations. When individuals feel a sense of ownership, they are more likely to go above and beyond to deliver results.

    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.

  1. Invest in Team Cohesion
    Strong interpersonal relationships within a team lead to better collaboration and conflict resolution. Building trust, connection, and camaraderie among team members can significantly improve team dynamics and performance. That means recognizing achievements, reinforcing desired behaviors and outcomes, and engaging in collaborative interactions that inspire and engage commitment.

    You will know that you are on the right path when everyone can depend on each other and feels fairly rewarded for their contributions.

  1. Recognize and Celebrate Success
    Recognition is a powerful motivator. Celebrating milestones and achievements boosts morale and reinforces desired behaviors. Proportionate acknowledgment of individual and team performance fosters a culture of appreciation and positivity.

    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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