Leadership and Teambuilding Training Courses – The Seven Characteristics of High Performing Teams

Our Leadership and Teambuilding training courses are designed to improve leadership skills and allow our delegates to be able to lead successful and high performing teams. Our team building workshops are packed full of useful teamwork training exercises, tips and techniques that new and experienced managers will find essential in showing how to lead effectively and will put them on the steady route of becoming successful managers and team leaders. Delegates who have taken our Leadership and Teambuilding courses have now gone on to lead highly productive teams and improving productivity by becoming better managers, motivators, delegators and leaders.

Leadership and team building is a training course that is both challenging and practical. We aim to teach the fundamental ‘people management skills‘ in a positive and constructive environment. It has been designed to enable delegates to understand the basic fundamentals of strategy and motivation in team building. You will benefit by learning tips and techniques that will increase your competence and confidence when managing, influencing and leading teams and individuals.

The Seven Characteristics of High Performing Teams

Seven characteristics, depicted by the acronym PERFORM, summarise the behaviours that are necessary for a group to become a high performing team. They are: purpose and values; empowerment; relationships and communication; flexibility; optimal productivity; recognition and appreciation; and morale. Here’s a more detailed look at what each characteristic means.

1. Purpose and values

Members of high performing teams share a sense of common purpose. They are clear about what constitutes the team’s ‘work’ and why it is important. They can describe a picture of what the team needs to achieve, and the norms and values that will guide them. Purpose defines what the team is to accomplish and the values and norms define how. They have developed mutually agreed upon and challenging goals that clearly relate to the team’s vision. Strategies for achieving goals are clear. Each member understands his or her role in realising the purpose and values.

2. Empowerment

Members are confident about the team’s ability to overcome obstacles and  realise its purpose. Team members have access to all the information that is relevant for their mission. Organisational values, policies and procedures support teams and free, rather than control human energy. A sense of mutual respect enables members to share responsibilities, help each other out, and take initiative to meet challenges. Policies, norms and team processes enable members to do their jobs easily. Members have opportunities to grow and learn new skills. There is a sense of personal as well as collective power.

3. Relationships and communication

The team is committed to open communication. All relevant information is available for teams to be able to make effective decisions. Team members feel they can state their opinions, thoughts and feelings without fear. Listening is considered as important speaking. Differences of opinion and perspective are valued and methods of managing conflict are understood. Through honest and caring feedback, members are aware of their strengths and weaknesses as team members. There is an atmosphere of trust and acceptance and a sense of community. Group cohesion is high. The team effectively manages its boundaries and inter-group relationships.

4. Flexibility

Group members are flexible, and they perform different task and maintenance functions as needed. The responsibility for team development and leadership is shared. The strengths of each member are identified and used, and individual efforts are co-ordinated when necessary. The team is fluid and open to both opinions and feelings, hard work and fun. Members recognise the inevitability and desirability of change and adapt to changing conditions. Organisation practices are responsive to changes, demands and team needs.

5. Optimal productivity

High performing teams produce significant results. Critical success factors for the organisation are clear. There is a commitment to high standards and quality results. They get the job done, meet deadlines, and achieve goals. The team has developed effective decision making and problem solving methods that result in achieving optimum results and encourage participation and creativity. Members have developed strong skills in group process as well as task accomplishment.

6. Recognition and appreciation

Individual and team accomplishments are frequently recognised by the team leaders, as well as by team members, by celebrating milestones, accomplishments and events. Team accomplishments are valued by the larger organisation. Members feel highly regarded within the team and experience a sense of personal accomplishment in relation to their team and task contributions.

7. Morale

Members are enthusiastic about the work of the team and each person feels pride in being a member of the team. confident and committed, members are optimistic about the future. There is a sense of excitement about individual and team accomplishments as well as the way team members work together. Team spirit is high. Of the seven characteristics, optimal productivity and morale are most important. To be a successful team, the group must have a strong ability to produce results and a high degree of satisfaction in working with one another.

All of this means that ‘work’ is a happy place to be; people enjoy themselves wherever possible but this enjoyment is conducive to achievement, not a barrier to it. People get satisfaction from their working lives and work is one of the places where they meet their needs and aspirations.

Leadership and Team Building – 1 day course

Who will benefit from the course?

One of your main responsibilities, as a manager or supervisor, is to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of your team in relation to its goals and to provide the motivation and skills to achieve those goals. This course will help you to improve the direction, motivation and goal achievement of your team. The subjects covered will include:

  • analysing your leadership style
  • team development issues
  • are you a leader or a manager?
  • essential management skills
  • setting standards and follow up
  • developing your own leadership development strategy
  • motivation theory and practice
  • managing conflict
  • appraisal/development skills
  • analysing training needs
  • decision making
  • creating a team identity
  • pre-empting conflict

Related information

Podcasts

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