We need to talk about something unsexy – a very quotidian aspect to being a high performing team. It’s not all about innovation, strategy and new products. Teams that succeed at a high level make sure they:
- Collaborate actively within the team and with other teams in the organization
- Have a meeting cadence that reflects the pace of communication and decision making needed for execution and innovation
- Make smart decisions quickly
- Have predictable meeting, communication and collaboration practices to help them be nimble
- Excel in matrixed and cross-functional collaboration and execution
- Have a diverse and talented team composition
Solid work practices are the underpinnings of great teams. Some of the knottiest problems arise in this area, particularly as our workplace changes around us. Teams that spend a reasonable amount of time on these areas reap tangible benefits.
Action: Let’s start with your meetings. Do a meeting audit – look at how you’re meeting and if you’re accomplishing what you need to. Have you fully adjusted to the hybrid workplace and updated your meeting cadence to reflect all the asynchronous information sharing we now do. Lastly, have you made your meetings as small as possible, with clear communications plans at the end of each meeting? If not, it’s time to adjust.
“I sleep very well, although sometimes it's hard to go to sleep 'cos I'm so excited about the business performance review the following day.” – Alan Mulally