The ability to bring out the best in yourself and others is essential to being a leader who cultivates high-performing teams. According to a study by consulting firm Deloitte, organizations have increasingly shifted from hierarchical to team-based structures to be more agile and efficient. Among those undergoing such transitions, 53 percent have reported a significant increase in performance.
In keeping with this trend, there’s a growing need for leaders and managers who can foster cross-functional collaboration within their organizations and guide colleagues through complex business challenges.
If you want to enable your employees to unleash their potential and help your organization succeed, here are 10 ways to boost your team’s performance.
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1. Delegate
To cultivate an effective team, you should know how to delegate. By entrusting team members with key projects and responsibilities, you can make them feel more engaged and valued.
When delegating, play to your employees’ strengths and ensure they have the knowledge and resources to complete their assigned tasks. Be willing to let them fail, too. Coming up short on a project or initiative could serve as a valuable learning experience that spurs continued growth and development.
2. Make Decisions Together
Inviting team members to participate in the decision-making process can lead to innovative solutions you may not have devised yourself.
According to the online course Management Essentials, one of team decision-making’s primary benefits is that it invites “constructive conflict,” in which individuals bring different viewpoints to the group and challenge preconceived notions.
By encouraging debate and considering diverse perspectives, you can stimulate more creative problem-solving, help your team make better decisions, and ensure you’re all striving toward a common goal.
Related: 8 Steps in the Decision-Making Process
3. Don’t Micromanage
One of the top mistakes new and experienced managers make is focusing too much on minute details and micromanaging employees.
Research shows micromanagement is one of the main reasons employees resign, and it can fuel:
- Low morale
- High turnover
- Decreased productivity
To avoid micromanaging, let go of perfectionism and empower your employees to experiment with approaches to completing tasks. By doing so, you can carve out more time to focus on larger organizational objectives and instill a deep sense of trust among your team members.
4. Communicate Effectively
Communication is paramount to team performance. According to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, poor communication can lead to a range of negative outcomes, such as:
- A delay or failure to complete projects
- Greater stress levels
- Lost sales
When communicating with your employees, be empathetic and actively listen to their thoughts and concerns. This approach to team communication won’t just create a more open, collaborative dynamic but sharpen your emotional intelligence skills.
Related: 8 Essential Leadership Communication Skills
5. Give and Solicit Feedback
Knowing how to deliver feedback effectively is vital when it comes to team leadership. Make it a point to regularly give informal, constructive comments to your employees—rather than waiting for annual review periods—so you can build more robust working relationships with them.
Treat informal evaluations as conversations, and avoid defaulting to blanket statements like “nice job”—your comments should be specific and actionable.
Don’t forget to ask for feedback, too. Your team members’ observations can help identify areas for growth that you can integrate into your leadership development plan.
6. Have a Purpose
Harnessing the power of purpose is a high priority for many businesses—and for good reason. According to a report by EY and the Harvard Business Review, 89 percent of executives believe a sense of shared purpose drives employee satisfaction, and 81 percent think purpose-driven firms deliver higher-quality products and services.
Imbue your team members with a sense of purpose by providing concrete examples of how their individual efforts further your organization’s mission and tie into objectives that make a positive impact on society.
7. Be Authentic
Authenticity is an immensely valuable leadership trait. A study published in the Leadership and Organization Development Journal found that employees' perception of authentic leadership is the top predictor of job satisfaction and can improve work-related attitudes and happiness.
Among authentic leaders' key characteristics is the ability to inspire faith in others. Whether overseeing an organizational change initiative or leading a critical meeting, be honest and transparent with your employees, and leverage your company’s purpose to boost their motivation and achieve alignment.
8. Pursue Clear, Attainable Goals
Setting realistic goals is crucial to your personal and professional growth. It’s also an important step in management processes, such as strategy implementation.
Research by Google shows that one of the hallmarks of a good manager is having a clear vision and strategy for their team. When setting your team’s goals, establish well-defined objectives to work toward. Then, create a roadmap of smaller, actionable tasks that must be done to achieve them.
By breaking the process down into a set of deliverables, you can help your employees feel more motivated and equipped to succeed.
9. Support Professional Development
Encouraging your employees to continue their education and bolster their skills can be a boon to your organization and drive workplace productivity. A report by LinkedIn found that 69 percent of talent development professionals leverage managers and leaders to promote learning initiatives, and 75 percent of employees would take a course suggested by their manager.
As an alternative to programs held in a traditional classroom setting, online courses—such as those offered by Harvard Business School Online—enable employees to broaden their knowledge while juggling the demands of their full-time jobs.
Focus on your own development, too. Taking a management training course can equip you with the know-how and experience to take your career to the next level.
10. Set an Example
Research by consulting firm Gallup shows managers account for 70 percent of the variance in employee engagement scores, underscoring the integral role you can play in influencing your team’s tone and culture.
When facing business challenges, be a role model by staying calm under pressure. Examine history’s most courageous leaders for strategies you can apply to navigate through hardship, such as polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, environmental activist Rachel Carson, and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
By showing courage and setting an example for your employees, you can forge resilience within yourself and among your team.
Motivating Your Team Toward Success
Strong leadership is vital to team performance. By cultivating a dynamic centered on trust, advocating for your employees, and setting an example in the workplace, you can hone the skills to manage others effectively and enable them to consistently perform and deliver.
Do you want to develop the skills to bring out the best in your team? Download our free e-book on how to become a more effective leader, and explore our online leadership and management courses. Access our flowchart to discover which course is best for you.
This post was updated on February 3, 2023. It was originally published on March 26, 2020.
