5 Characteristics of High-Performing Teams

Good Day, and welcome to The Growth Compass. We are that nice, refreshing jump in the water after a long day in the sun, reminding you to be grateful for the small things and revitalizing your body and mind.

Here’s where we’re headed today:

• Simon Sinek on teams and trust

• A 2016 Google study on high-performing teams

• The winningest coach you have never heard of and how he designed his culture

• Motivating video on the stresses of life

Simon Sinek on Teams and Trust

"A team is not a group of people who work together. It is a group of people who trust each other.”

- Simon Sinek

5 Characteristics of High-Performing Teams

In a 2016 study of 200 high-performing teams by Google, five common factors emerged as crucial contributors to success.

Why It Matters: High-performing teams don’t just appear to be high performing; it takes connection, trust, purpose, and a great culture to get people to perform at their best.

1. Dependability: Trust is the foundation of any successful team. Dependability ensures you can rely on one another to fulfill commitments, meet deadlines, and contribute consistently. This creates a sense of reliability and strengthens your overall team cohesion.

2. Structure and Clarity: Clear roles, well-defined goals, and transparent communication provide a structured framework. When you aren’t confused and feel empowered, you perform better and more efficiently. Structure sets a standard and expectations for everyone.

3. Meaning: People relate to a vision and their WHY. Finding meaning in tasks connects you to a larger purpose.. This connection fuels intrinsic motivation, engagement, and a sense of fulfillment, driving sustained enthusiasm and dedication.

4. Impact: Recognizing the impact of your contributions provides a sense of accomplishment. Knowing you directly influence outcomes encourages you to be proactive, take ownership, and be responsible.

5. Psychological Safety: Creating an environment where all ideas are welcomed without fear of judgment promotes psychological safety. This safety encourages open communication, diverse perspectives, and drives creativity and innovation. Continuous improvement happens when you feel you can try new ideas.

Takeaways:

• Teams excel when built upon trust, clear structures, meaningful work, recognized impact, and a safe space for expression.

• Integrating these factors nurtures collaboration, motivates individuals, and propels teams toward outstanding performance and shared success.

Mount Union Football’s Success and Culture

Larry Kehres is the winningest football coach that you have never heard of. He was the football coach at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. He won 11 NCAA D-III Football National Championships in 20 years from 1993-2012. Unsurprisingly, Larry Kehres designed his culture with specific disciplines to make it successful.

1. Adaptability

   Larry Kehres emphasized problem solving and how you “fix potential problems before they become problems.” In 2005, he brought back his former coach Matt Campbell to install the spread offense because their offense was getting stale…"they had lost a game or two."

2. You’re only as good as your details

   Kehres addressed everything with championship-level detail from recruiting to team travel. He wanted to make sure that they could gain an advantage anywhere and those advantages would be reflected on the field. Development is in the details!

3. Communication stems from knowledge

   Kehres would spend time understanding his team to motivate them. He taught coaches to be specific with praise and criticism. He taught them how to study behavior and listen. Once you know someone, you know how to best communicate with them.

4. Keep the priorities simple

   Below are the program's core principles - work, commitment, loyalty, hope. Kehres made these principles broad because he wanted to drive a consistent mindset on what is important. When you know your WHY, you always remember what you are working for.

   

5. Be inquisitive and passionate

   Kehres built a culture that thrived on bringing energy, asking questions, and continuous growth. They would dive into film and would hang around the office all day because they were passionate about what they did. They asked questions and would look to improve - they wouldn’t practice and then leave. When you bring energy, it's contagious.

6. Be the Example

   Kehres knew that players always look to you to see how you respond to pressure. He said, “Good examples of appropriate behavior. Promptness. Attentiveness. Respect.” To lead the way, you need to be the example of how it needs to get done.

7. Be a good teacher

   Teaching is at the foundation of leadership (and coaching). Kehres would talk to his coaches and ask: How are you teaching them? What are you communicating? A good teacher instills values and skill development. Teaching sets the tone for overall growth.

8. It is about caring for the people

   At the heart of everything was caring about people. Kehres would talk about his relationships for decades and how you coach the person by understanding. When you build relationships, you care more for their growth than the outcome of the game.

Motivating Video on the Stresses of Life

Great short video and analogy on the power of your thoughts and how you deal with the stresses of daily life.

thequotecircles

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