How to build a high-performing team (5 Signs)

“People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it” ― Simon Sinek

Why it works

Simon Sinek (pictured above) is a British-American speaker and author known for his work on leadership and organizational culture. His TED Talk “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” is one of the platform's most-watched, and many of his books have become international bestsellers – including his 2014 book Leaders Eat Last and his 2009 breakout success Start With Why.

In Start With Why, Sinek writes about the power of purpose in leadership. In Leaders Eat Last, he explores how creating an environment of trust and safety leads to stronger, more effective teams. Throughout his books and talks, Sinek regularly highlights five signs of high-performing teams: clear objectives, open communication, regular recognition, effective meetings, and a foundation of trust.

Every great team was once a group of individuals. They didn't know much about each other. They had to learn to trust each other. They had to find common ground. A great leader's job is to turn a group into a team, and the five signs offer a powerful blueprint.

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How to do it

1) Clear objectives
Clear objectives guide team members toward a shared mission, keeping everyone aligned and motivated. In his Golden Circle concept, Sinek emphasizes the importance of leaders starting with why (the inner circle) – the purpose – before explaining how they do it (the middle circle) and what they offer (the outer circle). If you want to learn more about the Golden Circle, read this.

2) Open communication
For Sinek, open and transparent communication is critical for building high-performing teams. An environment of open dialogue encourages the free flow of ideas, questions, and feedback. Leaders play a critical role in fostering such an environment. In his Circle of Safety concept, he stresses that open communication creates an environment of trust and psychological safety, allowing teams to work more effectively together. To dive deeper into the Circle of Safety, check out this article.

3) Effective meetings
Sinek stresses that meetings should have clear objectives, be time-efficient, and result in actionable outcomes. A leader’s job is to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and that meetings serve as a platform for solving problems rather than just relaying information. On his website, Sinek shares three tips for better meetings: assigning specific roles amongst attendants, having clear goals, and consistently concluding meetings on times ending in “5” (e.g., 1:55 pm, not 2 pm). Learn more here.

4) Regular recognition
Sinek highlights the importance of recognizing and acknowledging people for their contributions. He believes regular recognition motivates individuals and strengthens team morale and loyalty. When people feel valued, they are more likely to stay engaged and put in their best effort. Contrary to the famous adage of “Praise in public, criticize in private”, Sinek found that most workers prefer to be praised in private rather than in public. To explore his go-to method for giving effective praise, read this.

5) Foundation of trust
Trust is the foundation of everything Sinek advocates in leadership. He argues that trust is built through consistency, empathy, and showing genuine care for people. When trust exists, teams can take risks, communicate openly, and work together more effectively. His top tips for leaders seeking to build trusting teams include continuous learning, active listening, and daring to “be the idiot” – by always asking the questions that everyone is thinking but no one is saying. You can learn more here.

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A high-performing team isn't built overnight. 

But with strong leadership, it will happen. Your team has the potential. Unlock it.

And please share this post with one person who might benefit from doing the same.

Until next week,
Christian

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