If there ever was a time when building high-performing teams was important, it’s now. You’ve set up the business, but it’s the employees who bring it to life. Both yours and their dedication can be the reason your business thrives in today’s competitive market.
However, building high-performing teams isn’t all that easy – 92% of job seekers are likely to abandon a complicated application, while 44% would consider leaving their current position if not satisfied with their pay and compensation.
In a nutshell, attracting top talent is no easy feat, but retaining top-notch employees is just as challenging. Let’s see why high-performing teams often stand out and how you can build one such top-notch team for your business.
Characteristics of high-performing teams
When running a business, you need someone who strives for excellence, and that’s exactly what these individuals do. They’re innovative thinkers and boast a range of talents that can serve your business performance well.
For them, Monday is more than just the start of the week; it’s a chance to make a meaningful impact. Whether high-performing individuals are born ready or develop this readiness through experience… we can never know. But we do know their characteristics and what they bring to the table.
- Clear goals. High-performing teams set clear goals for themselves, as well as for your business. They will help you get from A to B sooner than you might think, as their efforts often align with your company’s vision.
- Mutual trust & respect. These efficient individuals avoid gossip and value each team member’s contribution. They trust you, they trust themselves, and they will do everything in their power so that you can trust them as well.
- Effective communication. High-performing teams don’t blurt out the first thing that comes to their mind; instead, they choose their words carefully. It’s what makes it easier to communicate with them, even when they’re not yet part of your business.
- Easily adaptable. High-performing teams welcome change instead of fearing it, which is a big plus considering how competitive the market is nowadays. They will timely address challenges and foster positive thinking and creativity, even during transition.
If there’s one thing I know for sure, is that every business that aims to succeed needs a high-performing team, which is why you also need a recruitment strategy. They benefit your business as individuals, and even more so when they make a team.Â
However, not all efficient employees are team players, so you must get familiar with the essentials of building high-performing teams.
How to build high-performing teams
You probably think, ‘’I already have teams and groups in my business,’’ but this doesn’t mean they’re high performing. Building such teams involves more than just assembling individuals: it requires an effort to foster collaboration, trust, and shared goals, and here’s how you can do it:
Lead the way
You know, when someone doesn’t have a clear view, they can’t lead someone who can actually see. High-performing teams require a high-performing leader who will guide, motivate, and reward them for their efforts. They need someone who knows how to bring out the best in each of them to contribute to their collective success.
High-performing leaders are emotionally intelligent and know just the right questions to ask. This creates an environment where everyone can show their strengths and weaknesses, communicate clearly and effectively, and build strong collaboration. When potential employees see what you’re made of, they’re more likely to join.
Use applicant tracking systems
If there’s a tool out there that can help you organize candidates, it’s definitely an applicant tracking system. Regardless of whether you’re a small or an already established business, these systems allow you to collect, organize, and manage candidate’s information based on their experience and skill set.
Think of it as a solution that can simplify the recruitment process. It will scan each candidate’s resume to categorize them accordingly. So, candidates who have used the best resume format for ATS will rise to the top and vice versa. This way, you’ll be able to spot the most qualified candidates who will make part of your high-performing team.
Foster personal and professional development
Encouraging employees to grow on both personal and professional plans shows them you’re not taking them for granted. And when an employee feels appreciated, they’re ready to conquer the business world. Consequently, this positive attitude will enhance teamwork and boost productivity. Here’s how you can do the same for potential employees:
- Promote work-life balance. You must understand that employees have lives outside the office, and forcing them to stay overtime works in no one’s favor. On the other hand, promoting work-life balance will prevent burnout, and if you’re all about this, you must mention it in the interview.
- Highlight development opportunities. Candidates want to know if your organization provides any growth opportunities, so make sure to communicate these clearly from the beginning. If there are any training programs, they’d like to know.
- Recognize their value. Once again, you want to show both candidates and employees value them and understand their strengths and weaknesses. Once you recognize the talent that will be a great addition to your high-performing team, show them how you think they can contribute to the business’s success.
There’s not one job seeker who will choose a company that’s not invested in their growth. Considering that around 55% of recruiters don’t even mention their company’s value and mission during interviews, trust me, this shows from the start.
Employee performance appraisal
Now, you should practice this with both potential and existing employees. It can enhance the recruitment process but, at the same time, help you retain valuable employees. For example, you can emphasize to potential candidates that your business is all about continuous improvement and actually do this with your employees.
In both cases, this type of approach leads to a positive workplace culture. For potential candidates, employee performance appraisals mean that your company cares about employees’ growth and development, while for current employees, it means their contribution is recognized.
Competitive compensation and benefits
High-performing candidates won’t just offer their skills and knowledge on a silver platter. Sure, many find satisfaction in what they do for a living, but let’s be real – money is the driving force.
It’s only natural for employees to be attracted to companies that:
- have the compensation and additional benefits listed in the job description and
- offer both competitive salaries and bonuses.
And when you build your high-performing team, don’t forget to increase their salary if they’re right for it. Keep up to date with market updates and gain insight into your competitors’ average salary to make sure your compensation stays competitive.
Recruitment challenges
Despite what many might think, recruiting is no easy task. And let’s face it. Everybody is looking for top talents, but only a few are actually doing something to catch their attention. Anyway, let’s take a look at the most common recruitment challenges you can face when building high-performing teams.
Identifying top talent
You’re very much aware of the overwhelming pool of candidates that makes it harder to identify the ones who possess the right experience and skills. This one is definitely a challenge but can be overcome thanks to applicant tracking systems and clear communication during interviews.
Remote recruitment
Interviewing and hiring candidates without meeting them in person requires serious skill. Even though you’ll be able to access an even larger pool of candidates, it means you’ll have to evaluate them and decide if they’re the right fit through video calls.
However, technology has made it much easier to navigate the challenges of both remote work and recruitment. Regardless of your business’s size, you can always find a solution that can help you with job descriptions and organizing candidates.
Cultural fit
Teams can only be high-performing if their members align with your company’s vision, mission, and way of work. This is why many companies tend to conduct more interviews to make sure the candidate is the right cultural fit and will be a great addition to the team.
Overcoming challenges in building high-performing teams
If you want your business to perform well, then you must build high-performing teams. These are efficient individuals who work even better together. They’ll drive your business to succeed, and a great deal will depend on the way you guide, motivate, and support them.
Recruiting has always been challenging, but even more so with the rise of remote work. But if you’re dedicated enough, you’ll manage to build high-performing teams that will contribute to your business’s success.
