Managing a High-Performance Team
Hello, I’m Marilyn Bota and I’m a senior trainer and consultant with Corporate Education Group.
The job of a good manager is more than just showing up and assigning tasks. A successful manager is one who can effectively lead a group of individuals to become an engaged, high-performing team. To accomplish this, you need to:
- provide for your team what the team is unable to provide for itself;
- be the team’s main link to the organization,
- become the team’s champion; and
- act as the team’s support system.
In many ways, a manager is like the conductor of an orchestra — you coordinate the efforts of the team as a whole, while at the same time you’re helping employees develop the individual skills needed to drive group performance. It is important to understand that every strong team goes through an evolution. There will be times of peace and times of conflict, but as the manager, you need be aware of those team dynamics and provide the appropriate direction, support and guidance.
Effective managers also understand and practice the art of situational leadership. This is when you adapt your leadership style to the development level of the individual or group you are attempting to lead or influence. This type of leadership requires directing, coaching, encouragement and teaching so that teams and individuals learn how to self-manage and engage.
Servant leadership is another management style that has been used for centuries and has gained notable attention in recent years. It flips the role of leading into serving. When you stop thinking about yourself and your leadership power and start focusing on what you can do for others, the team and individuals grow faster and produce more.
While there are many different management styles and techniques, it is important to remember that high-performing, engaged teams never start out as such. Solid leadership, guidance and evolving team dynamics are what ultimately create an effective, self-functioning team.
