The secret to developing high-performing teams

If you manage and lead a team, essential skills are needed to be an effective leader. Beyond this, if you are looking to develop and maximise efficiency, strategically implementing the following team development practices will promote team agility, engagement, and innovation within your team.  

Building effective and high-performing teams is a complex process. Successful teams require intentional leaders who can identify strengths within individuals, develop potential, and nurture and retain star talent.   

The skills you need to be an effective leader  

1. Problem-solving   
2. Strong communication   
3. Interpersonal and relationship-building skills   
4. Time management   
5. Active listening and feedback   
6. Goal setting and measurement   
7. Project management   
8. Organisational skills   
9. Growth mindset   
10. Team alignment  

Team development practices  

Identify your leadership style: Reflect on feedback to identify your preferred leadership style and understand the leadership styles that people in your team are most receptive to, adapting your style if necessary.  

Establish clear roles and expectations: Clarity fosters ownership. Ensure team members understand their roles and responsibilities and your expectations as a leader to drive better outcomes.   

Empower decision-making: Delegating responsibilities and encouraging your team to take ownership and make decisions is crucial when developing agile and self-sufficient teams.   

Encourage listening and feedback: Create a culture of open communication and feedback. Employees who feel their opinions are valued are less afraid to voice their concerns and seek to improve.   

Foster belonging: Working towards a shared purpose and facilitating feedback mechanisms can promote belonging. Teams with a sense of belonging typically perform better and are more engaged.   

Encourage a growth mindset: Promote continuous learning and encourage teams to break away from everyday tasks to enable innovation and instil confidence.  

Encourage skill development: Provide formal training, mentorship, job shadowing, and opportunities to attend external events and programmes to allow employees to enhance their abilities.  

By establishing clear expectations, providing feedback, supporting collaboration, and fostering a culture of continuous learning, leaders can help team members unleash their full potential and improve overall team performance. 

Whether you’re currently hiring a new team, a new position within an existing team, or want to develop your team to meet the demands of the business, our recruitment specialists at Henderson Scott are here to provide further advice. Contact our team today.