8 Key Characteristics of High-performing Workplace Teams

High-performing workplace teams are a fundamental building block of any successful business. Not only do these teams achieve great results for your business, but they feel more engaged with their jobs and more connected with their co-workers. But what defines a high-performing team in 2023?

In this blog, we’ll be exploring eight key characteristics that make up a high-performing workplace team. By understanding these characteristics, you can build high-performing teams in your organization. Read on to learn more!

High-performing teams typically have a few key characteristics:

1. Clear goals and objectives:

High-performing teams know exactly what they are working toward and have a clear plan for how to get there. A high-performing team needs to have clear goals and objectives. With these objectives in place, they can work out the best strategy to get there and achieve these goals. If the objectives aren’t clear, your team can easily get off track or lose sight of the big picture.

One way to keep teams on track is by documenting the goals and objectives for a project in a place everyone can see and access. For the modern workplace, this means using task management software to lay out deadlines, strategies and plans of action. This can keep people on track and give them specific assignments to complete. This way, everyone has a sense of direction.

You should also regularly check in with your team to review progress and see if there are ways to improve. Get feedback from your team to see if they need additional resources to perform at a higher level.

2. Good communication:

Members of high-performing teams communicate effectively and regularly, both formally and informally. Team members should be able to communicate openly and respectfully with each other. If your team isn’t a cohesive unit or if there is conflict, productivity will inevitably be affected. Make sure you’re implementing open channels of communication and having regular meetings where team members can express their ideas and opinions.

Good communication means more than just talking about issues and wins — it also means team members need to practice active listening. If everyone is talking over each other, nothing will get accomplished in a timely and productive manner. When your team has mutual respect and communicates effectively, their performance will improve. 

Remember, this applies to management too. Management should provide feedback and be open to team feedback as well. This makes sure everyone is on the same page and comfortable.

3. Strong leadership:

High-performing teams often have a strong leader who can guide and motivate team members. Strong leaders can help teams reach their goals, answer questions and provide clear expectations. Leaders should also be able to provide support as needed, finding team members the resources and help they need to complete their objectives. Strong leaders are also good listeners. They can take feedback in stride, make unbiased decisions and inspire their team to do their best. With a strong leader, a team has the best chance of reaching its full potential.

4. Trust and respect:

There is a strong sense of trust and respect among team members, which allows them to work well together. Many of the characteristics we talk about here have a solid foundation of trust and respect. Good communication, strong leaders, collaboration and effective conflict resolution are difficult to have if team members don’t trust and respect each other. When team members trust and respect each other, they also feel like work is a safer place. It reduces employee stress and keeps them engaged when they know they can rely on their co-workers and their co-workers can expect the same from them.

When you foster trust and respect, team members can collaborate on ideas, solve problems, ensure the best ideas win and make informed decisions based on group consensus.

5. Collaboration:

High-performing teams work well together and can collaborate effectively on tasks and projects.

Collaboration is essential for any successful workplace team. Working together toward common goals encourages creativity, problem-solving and the development of new ideas. Team members should work together to identify and brainstorm potential solutions, with each team member bringing their own unique perspective to the table. All team members should feel comfortable speaking up and be willing to listen to one another. Collaboration can also help create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected. By encouraging collaboration in the workplace, teams can become more efficient and productive, allowing them to achieve greater success.

6. Good conflict resolution:

When conflicts do arise, high-performing teams can resolve them effectively and move on. Conflict is inevitable in any workplace, so there’s no reason to assume it will be avoided completely. When it does happen, teams should be able to resolve them constructively and respectfully. This means having an open dialogue, sharing ideas and coming to a decision together. Everyone should feel safe expressing their opinions and explaining how they’d like to resolve the conflict.

Good conflict resolution also means addressing the conflict immediately. Letting these conflicts bubble up and escalate only makes things more difficult and fosters resentment. While conflict resolution may sometimes be uncomfortable, it will ultimately create a stronger team. Team members will feel better knowing their co-workers are reasonable and willing to resolve conflict in a way that works for everyone.

7. Flexibility:

High-performing teams can adapt to change and are open to new ideas and ways of doing things. The modern business world is changing regularly. Teams need to be light on their feet and ready to change their strategies and methodologies. If teams are flexible and open to change, they can find the best and most effective ways to accomplish tasks. If a team member comes across a beneficial strategy or technology, they won’t feel uncomfortable presenting it to the rest of the team. Additionally, the rest of the team will be open to the idea and the potential opportunities it could provide. Flexibility allows for a great level of creativity and can potentially increase productivity exponentially. Decades ago, most businesses weren’t regularly using automation software. Now, automation is a common application. If teams are too rigid, they close themselves off from opportunities that may improve their productivity and their job satisfaction.

8. Focus on results:

These teams are results-oriented and can deliver high-quality work consistently. High-performing teams focus on quality over quantity, making sure the work they do is good. It’s not worth reaching the finish line quickly if the results are shoddy. Of course, this doesn’t mean high-performing teams are inefficient. The opposite is true. High-performing teams can find the most efficient way to reach their goals without sacrificing quality along the way. They’re also able to review their strategies and make adjustments as necessary, learning new and more effective ways to complete their objectives.

Learn More with Eden

Having a business with high-performing teams is great, but it’s important to keep these high-performing teams happy. Otherwise, there may not be a way to keep performing at the same level. That’s where Eden can help. Eden provides tools for flexible workplaces, helping you to create the best employee experience possible. Employees that are satisfied, engaged and appreciated will always perform at a higher level. Also, they’re much less likely to experience burnout and leave. Learn more about the Eden platform today.