Your success depends mainly on how well you create and manage a high-performing team. But what does it take to create a team to achieve extraordinary results? The answer lies in the skills you bring to the table as a leader and the skills you foster in your team members. In this article, I will mention seven skills your talented team must have.
These can help you when recruiting the perfect candidate. This list is created to help you and your company find the right people. It probably doesn’t apply to everyone, but it’s an idea of the skills every employer is looking for.
Essential Skills for High-Performing Teams
Effective communication:
Is at the core of any team environment, helping members stay aligned and understand each other’s expectations. Good communication skills enable team members to build trust, respect, and healthy working relationships with each other.
Clear and concise communication should be a two-way process where team members feel free to express their ideas and opinions and where feedback is welcomed. Leaders should encourage open and respectful communication by creating a culture of transparency where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas, thoughts, and concerns.
Effective communication can also help avoid misunderstandings and minimize conflict, leading to greater team cohesion and improved performance.
Good communication leads to better results and a more enjoyable work environment.
Collaboration:
High-performing teams are based on collaboration, as team members work together to achieve common goals. Collaboration requires each team member to bring their skills, knowledge, and experience to the project. Team members must be willing to share ideas, listen to others, and be open to feedback. By working collaboratively, team members can accomplish more than they would individually. Leaders must foster collaboration, create a shared vision, and promote a culture of teamwork where everyone feels valued and supported.
It is essential to look for people who are open to genuine collaboration. It is usual for there to be situations where some people do not like to work in a team, but they can still collaborate on certain occasions. People who can do both are very good at achieving excellent results.
Adaptability:
Change is inevitable in any business environment, and high-performing teams must be adaptable to respond effectively.
There will always be circumstances or issues, and team members must be flexible and open-minded, able to pivot and adjust to project or business environment changes. This requires team members to be comfortable with ambiguity and remain calm under pressure. Leaders must foster adaptability by setting clear expectations and providing regular updates on project or business environment changes. They must also be willing to adjust team goals and direction as needed based on feedback from team members.
Many companies look for people who “Adapt” to stressful situations, and companies end up with a very toxic work environment. It is important to note that to find people with these skills; the company must encourage and enrich them.
Time Management:
Time management is crucial for high-performing teams to ensure deadlines and projects are completed on time.
A person who is organized in their daily life is a person who will be collected at work. Not all people are organized in the same way; we are looking for people who can manage their time correctly.
Effective time management requires team members to prioritize tasks, set realistic goals, and manage their workload. Team members must also proactively identify and address potential obstacles that could derail the project schedule. Leaders should encourage good time management practices by setting clear deadlines, providing support and resources, and holding team members accountable for their performance.
Proper time management means taking time to meet goals. It means that your talented team will use time appropriately to achieve them.
Conflict resolution:
Conflict is an inevitable part of any team environment, and yes, corporate culture is very influential, but there will always be situations where your team needs to resolve a conflict, whether big or small. But it can also be a valuable learning and growth opportunity.
Effective conflict resolution techniques help team members resolve conflict constructively and respectfully. This requires team members to listen, communicate clearly, and be willing to compromise. When conflicts arise, team members should work together to find a solution that benefits everyone involved. Leaders should encourage good conflict resolution practices by modeling respectful communication, providing training and support, and creating a safe space for team members to voice their opinions and concerns.
A safe space allows your team to communicate effectively and proactively resolve conflict. This does not mean they should resolve all internal company conflicts or problems.
Leadership:
Look for proactive people. Leadership is critical for any team leader as they provide guidance, support, and direction to their team members. Influential leaders set clear goals and expectations and hold team members accountable for their performance. They also lead by example, demonstrating the values and behaviors they expect from their team members.
Leaders must also be able to adapt their leadership style to the needs of their team members, recognizing that different team members may need different types of support and guidance.
Indeed, not all people have the same way of leading. There are different types of leaders, and all are welcome in a company. Try to keep everyone active by giving them a safe space.
Continuous learning:
Talented teams always look for ways to improve, requiring team members to be committed to constant learning and development.
Anyone who wants to expand their knowledge is someone who wants to keep learning. That’s valuable because team members must be willing to learn new skills and techniques and be open to feedback and coaching.
This results in your team being able to share their knowledge and experiences with others. Leaders should encourage continuous learning by providing training and development opportunities, recognizing and rewarding team members for their achievements, and creating a culture of constant improvement.
And here is an extra skill: essential and very valuable.
Kindness: a person who is kind and gentle with others shows that their value is not only in what they do as a professional; they show it out there, which is good for your company’s image. Having a talented team and good people with values means you have done an excellent job.
Being good is not a talent or skill but a basic quality that anyone on your team should have. The world needs more of it, and who better than you to be able to share it with others!
