What specific actions are needed to ensure high performing teams? We outline 7 criteria, and the team leader skills required lead effective teams.

1. Debbie Narver, BSc MBA MScIB
Strategic Management Instructor at NMC Strategic Manager
7 Criteria for
Leaders to
Empower High
Performing,
Productive Teams

2. The Value of Effective Teams
Have you ever been on a team that
performed exceptionally well?
- Where everyone contributed fully
- And your results exceed expectations
- Did you want to work with that team
again?

3. Most leaders are aware that an effective team can make
all the difference when it comes to creativity and
innovation. We hope for that synergy, whereby the
team achieves results that are greater than the sum of
what individuals could produce. But it doesn’t always
work that way.
What are the barriers to team effectiveness? And how can we
overcome these?

4. My Research & Experience with Teams
Training and experience leading
teams during my career
During my MBA studies (2008-
2010), I conducted specialized
research on team effectiveness
“How does cultural diversity
impact team performance?”

5. What I learned in
my research
There are many theories,
which at first may seem
contradicting. But I think
my key learning from this
is that there are different
types of teams. And
thus….

7. But there are specific actions you can take
The following framework is based
on a combination of my training,
research and experience in leading
teams for over 20 years.
I now use these methods in working
with diverse and virtual teams.

8. 7 Criteria for Team Leaders to develop high performing teams

9. Be clear on purpose and goals
• J. Hackman, in his 1990 work Groups That Work (and Those That
Don’t), suggests that managers can influence the outcome of
teams by ensuring clear purpose, and by ensuring quality in the
initial design of the teams.
• Why are you forming the team? Is it to deliver a specific project?
Or an ongoing work team in your operations? Promoting
innovation? Or improving efficiency and productivity?
• Knowing the purpose will allow you to “design” and structure the
team to ensure specific outcomes.

10. Structure the Team to achieve your goal
How many people should be on the
team? What expertise and/or roles do
we need?
Don’t consider only ‘technical’ skills and
knowledge, but experience working in a
team environment. Remember that
there can be a learning curve for those
new to group work.

11. Set clear (and positive!) expectations
Give the team a clear understanding of
what must they deliver (and when).
In addition to productivity, you should
also outline behavioural expectation.
This is especially important with diverse
teams.

12. Support Team Building
• Team building isn’t just “nice to have”. Teams need time to
communicate, develop relationships & ultimately, build trust
before they can truly be effective
• Patrick Lencioni, in his 2002 book “Five Dysfunctions of a Team”,
explains that as trust is the foundation of team effectiveness, lack
of trust leads to fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of
accountability and inattention to results
• Learn more about team building ideas in my previous article
Diversity Team Building.

13. Provide Feedback
Your team will need to develop new skills
to learn to work together effectively
So as a team leader, you need to provide
them with feedback to help them
recognize:
 What are they doing well
 What needs to be improved

14. Deal with Difficult Issues
Applying the above criteria will improve positive outcomes, but
there are often time where one or more members are either under
performing, or undermining success of the team through
inappropriate behaviour. Therefore, it is important for you as a
leader to stay aware of what is happening on the team, and
address these issues based on performance management
protocols of your organization. Some of my previous articles
outline how to implement performance management and how to
improve employee performance.

15. Apply appropriate (cooperative versus
competitive) motivation
Take care to apply motivation that promotes
team work & cooperation, rather than
competition. We often single out people that
seem to be “the shining stars”. But this can
alienate those team members that have been
working quietly behind the scenes. In my
course Improve Employee Performance, we
take a deeper look at motivation.

16. Develop Team Leader Skills in your Organization

17. Having the right team members is important, but I’m
sure you can appreciate how important it is to ensure
team leader training.
While some people do seem to have natural leadership
abilities, leading teams is a skill that can be developed
like any other.
Through a combination of training in specific
techniques, work experience and effective coaching,
you can empower great team productivity in your
workplace.

18. Learn about our Strategic Management
Training
Our unique combination of online leadership
training and facilitation can support managers and
team learning from any location. We can design a
program to fit your needs, timeline and budget.
www.nmcstrategicmanager.com