5 Habits of High-Performing Teams

5 habits of high-performing teams

Here are five key habits that high-performing teams often have. Instill these habits in each team member to optimize team performance and company success.

1. They set and review goals regularly.

How can a team perform well and produce results if it doesn’t know what goals it’s trying to achieve? A team without goals is ineffective — there is no direction, drive or impact. They may be doing good work in terms of quality, quantity or both but is the work adding to the overall vision of the organization?

Goal setting allows the team to know and understand how their work contributes to larger organizational aims and it gives them something to shoot for. Setting goals can be more of an art than a science: The goal has to be large but not unattainable, it has to be meaningful in terms of impact and it has to be measurable. The SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) framework has proven to be effective in guiding people to set motivating and appropriate goals.

What some leaders miss in the goal-setting process is the continual review of those goals. It’s not enough merely to set good goals for your teams; it’s even more important to evaluate them on a regular basis and use those assessments to chart your next course. The continuous reflection helps keep employees motivated and productive.

2. They use effective communication.

The best teams are the ones that communicate often, clearly and constructively. A high frequency of communication ensures each member is aware of new company developments and changes, as well as progress on projects. It’s not enough just to check in at the start and completion of a project. In a high-performing team, there’s a constant flow of information and discussion that connects everyone on the project.

Clear communication ensures there is a lower chance of misunderstandings and that everyone is on the same page when it comes to the next actions to move a project forward. Constructive communication also allows team members to learn from mistakes or mishaps and improve the quality of their output. [Review the most effective apps for internal communication.]

As a leader, set the tone for frequent, clear and constructive communication by doing it yourself — your team will follow your example. Remember that communication is a two-way street, so encourage your team to give feedback regularly on issues that affect their work.

3. They have a problem-solving mindset.

A key quality of a high-performing team is their ability to overcome obstacles. No matter the workplace, nothing is ever smooth sailing. Problems come in many forms. It could be a delay from a supplier, a technical breakdown or an idea that didn’t translate in the real world. Regardless of the nature of a problem, a team with a problem-solving mindset is best equipped to deal with challenges.

What does having a problem-solving mindset entail? It means having an optimistic outlook when something bad happens and the capability to come up with possible solutions to resolve the issue quickly. It involves being resilient when failure occurs and having the fortitude to continue testing different methods to attain the desired outcome.

A team with a problem-solving mindset does not allow obstacles to set them back permanently; instead, they focus on solutions, improvements and coming up with new ways to attack the problem so that negative impacts on productivity are minimal.

4. They share resources and information with other team members and departments.

As the saying goes, there’s no “I” in “team.” The best work is not achieved in isolation. In businesses large and small, collaboration and synergy are crucial to optimize your team’s performance.

Sharing resources and information may seem like an easy thing to do, but the truth is, sometimes we get so caught up in what we know and do individually that it doesn’t occur to us to share that with the rest of our team.

As a leader, you likely have a better grasp of the big picture as key team members report back to you. As such, you can play a more proactive role in encouraging the exchange of information and resources among all levels of the organization.

You can make team meetings more productive by using them as a forum to keep everyone updated on new developments, information or changes that will affect the team’s output. Encourage contributors to share their progress as well as any challenges they’re facing and give room for others to offer help, resources or expertise to resolve those issues to ensure productivity is boosted instead of hampered.

5. They trust their team members.

Too often, we think of our colleagues only in the context of the office — how they present themselves in the workplace, the work they do and whether they’re caffeine addicts who need five cups of coffee to get through the day. But if you look at each employee holistically, you’ll recognize every person has their own values, history and story and they bring those qualities (and more!) to their work.

One way to develop trust between teammates is to foster a genuine relationship with each person that goes beyond workplace matters. Find opportunities to connect with each other as individuals and not just as colleagues.

Scheduling short icebreakers before every meeting is a simple method of getting to know your team. Through these games, you can discover commonalities, such as hobbies, travel experiences or similar family backgrounds. This information can provide a starting point for further conversation and connection. Then, as trust and comfort are built, collaborations will work much more seamlessly, ensuring team performance remains high. 

The impact of employee habits

Employees are often the lifeblood of an organization; as a result, they may ultimately determine the success or failure of your business. Each new hire has the potential to alter the overall productivity, performance and culture of your organization. It’s important to hire employees who are a good culture fit with positive working habits to help your company succeed.

Not only do an employee’s habits impact their specific role, but they can also impact the habits of those around them — positively and negatively.

Here is how positive employee habits can affect the workplace:

• Consistent communication: Regular and clear communication helps team members stay informed, aligned and aware of each other’s progress. An employee with great communication skills can encourage others on their team to provide honest feedback and advice.
• Increased productivity: When employees demonstrate strong work habits, such as time management and attention to detail, it can boost the team’s overall productivity to emulate these habits, leading to a more efficient and effective team.
• Enhanced collaboration: Positive communication and teamwork foster a supportive and collaborative environment. This can lead to better problem-solving, innovation and camaraderie among team members.
• Improved morale: Good habits, such as punctuality, reliability and a positive attitude, can uplift the entire team’s morale. When employees consistently bring positive energy and commitment to their work, it can create a more enjoyable and engaging workplace.
• Skill development: Employees with strong continuous learning and self-improvement habits can inspire their colleagues to develop their skills. This can lead to a culture of ongoing professional development within the team.
• Stress reduction: Positive habits like effective communication, conflict resolution and maintaining a balanced workload can help reduce stress levels among team members. 

Here is how negative employee habits can affect the workplace:

• Decreased morale: Negative behaviors such as constant complaining, gossiping or a poor attitude can create a toxic work environment. This can lead to reduced morale among team members, making it harder for them to stay motivated and engaged.
• Lower productivity: An employee consistently engaging in unproductive habits, such as procrastination or poor time management, can slow down the team’s workflow. Other team members might have to pick up the slack, leading to burnout and frustration.
• Poor communication: Negative habits like being uncommunicative or dismissive during team discussions can hinder effective communication. This can result in misunderstandings, errors and a lack of collaboration, affecting the team’s overall performance.
• Increased stress: A team member’s negative habits, such as frequent tardiness or absenteeism, can increase stress levels among colleagues. They may feel overburdened by having to cover for the absent employee or manage additional tasks, leading to higher stress and potential burnout.
• Erosion of trust: Consistent negative behaviors, such as dishonesty or failing to meet commitments, can erode trust within the team. Trust is crucial for collaboration and teamwork and its absence can lead to a dysfunctional and fragmented team environment.

How to develop good team habits

Don’t panic if your team lacks any of the high-performing habits highlighted above. The good thing about habits is they can be learned! Here are a few strategies to develop good habits within your team.

1. Train managers to have good habits. 

Habits in the workplace often start from the top. A successful business has successful people management in place and your leaders must demonstrate the types of habits you want to reinforce. This shows employees what is and isn’t acceptable in the workplace. For example, if you want your team to engage in open communication, your managers must actively give and ask for employee feedback. This shows your team that questions, concerns, advice and other feedback are welcome and expected.

2. Use team-building activities. 

If your team lacks any of the five habits, participating in team-building activities can be an effective way to develop them. Simply select an activity that focuses on the mindset or skill you’d like to cultivate and then allow your team to experience it through experiential learning.

3. Reinforce good habits. 

Building strong habits in a team takes time and requires a concerted effort on a daily basis. So even after your team has gone through some team-building activities to bring out the desired qualities, it’s important to reinforce them in the workplace. Little things, such as putting team goals up on a wall to remind everyone of what they’re working toward or organizing regular after-work get-togethers to bond with colleagues, can go a long way toward building these five habits for strong teamwork.

It takes time and effort to develop good habits throughout an entire team but the benefits are worth the cost. Work on instilling these habits in your employees and you will be on your way toward high performance and productivity.

Skye Schooley contributed to this article.