1. Building a high performance team requires evaluating the team honestly to understand weaknesses, cultivating the right relationships within and outside the team, and embracing the human aspects of the team. 2. Key relationships to focus on include internal team relationships as well as external relationships, and it is important to prioritize these relationships. 3. To embrace the human functionality of the team, the culture must foster a sense of belonging, passion for a higher purpose, trust in leadership, and willingness to change, supported by effective communication.

1. Courage, Relationships, Trust &Windmills
Rick.Martin@highperformanceteams88.com P OBox832,Athens, AL 35612
How to Build a High Performance Team
Overmy career,I’ve beenchallengedwithturningaroundunderperformingoperations;buildinganew
salesorganizationinanothercountry/culture;andcreatingnew growthfroma qualityexisting
organization. Eachof these challengespresentedunique situationsbutasI lookback, eachtime our
successwas insuredbecause we createdhighperformance teamspreparedtogoplacesthatothers
couldnot or wouldnotgo.
Whetheryouare takingovera neworganizationortryingto figure outhow to reachnew levelswithin
an existingorganization,youhave tostopand ask yourself,“whatkindof teamdoI wantto create?”
Regardlessof yourchallenge,itismucheasiertoachieve yourgoalswith“highperformance teams”
than merely“adequate”teams.
My experiencesuggeststhatthere are three critical areasthatneedtobe addressedtobuildahigh
performance teaminanyorganization.
1. The abilityandthe courage tomake an honestandunbiased evaluationof yourteam, determine
the “why’s”that affectthe teamand organization,andthe willingnesstotake actiononyour
findings.
2. The abilitytoidentifyandencourage the right relationships withinandoutsideyourteam.
3. The abilitytoembrace and supportthe “humanfunctionality”of yourteam.
EVALUATION
 Ability
 ‘Why?’
 Willingtotake action
 What do youevaluate?
RELATIONSHIPS
 Whichrelationships?
 Relationshiptools
 Prioritizationmatrix
HUMAN FUCTIONALITY
 Feel
o A sense of belonging
o A passionfora highercalling
o A culture of trust
o Humble leaders
o Relationshipswithinthe team
o A willingnesstochange
o Effective Communication
 Function
o A strongvisionandstrategies
o Effective communication
o Make sure all of the pieces‘fit’
o Tools- “Knivestoa gunfight”
o Mediocrityisnotaccepted
o Scoreboards
o Planfireworksforsuccess
The processfor creating a “HighPerformance Team” is pretty straight forward: Put the right people in
place; make sure they have the right environmentand the right tools;then allow themto succeed.
But highperformance teamsdonotjusthappenaccidentally. Theyrequire alotof thought,care,long
hours,passion,leadershipandjustplainhardwork. Theyrequire theirleaderstobe honest,caringand
courageous. Inthe end,creatinga highperformance teamthatproducesamazingresultsisa ride worth
the cost of the ticket.