You have just established a new team. Maybe a small work group, or possibly you have moved to a new department in a leadership role. How do you set the foundation for a strong team to achieve their full potential?
There are 4 things I like to keep in mind.
- Create a Strong First Impression: Make sure that you start out strong. Come to the first meeting/introduction prepared to make a good first impression and establish expectations. How the team initially starts their working relationship has a huge impact on their long term interactions.
- Establish Expectations: Set expectations early. Don’t assume people have shared values on expectations and don’t wait until things are below and then try to rise them up. Starting high and keeping them high is easier than trying to raise expectations after they have settled in too low. Set ambitious goals together and then work hard to achieve your potential.
- Create a Sense of Importance: People perform better when they believe that what they are doing is important and will have a positive impact. Create some urgency with a specific delivery date or milestones so the team has a concrete target and the opportunity to see the successful completion of their assignment.
- Deliver a Challenge: Decide to do something that isn’t easy, but requires something extra. Set goals that will challenge the team to exceed expectations and will engender a sense of pride in the team. When faced with a challenge, people are willing to step up and achieve more.
My Perspective: Successfully leading a team is a complex task. By keeping these 4 thoughts in mind you can motivate, inspire and lead any team to greater heights.
