High Performance Teamwork
Teamwork is essential for maximum efficiency and impact for any organization. If you want your ministry or business to fulfill its maximum potential it will require teamwork. It is because of teamwork that your dream will work. You have to understand that, embrace that, and cultivate that in the culture of your ministry – in every department and every area. Teamwork is not just a good idea – it is not a preference – it is required!
As a leader develop what I call “High Performance Teamwork”. The greater the teamwork the greater the accomplishment! When you have high performance teamwork your ministry/business will be even –
- More Productive: no getting sidetracked by behind-the-scenes infighting and strife automatically increases production and efficiency.
- More Stable: team members become committed to something greater than themselves, creating a strong bond among team members and loyalty to the ministry and vision. Teams who have long term members tend to be more successful.
- More Innovative: we all know that two heads are better than one and better solutions to complex challenges can result from working in a high-performance team. New and fresh ideas keeps the ministry fresh.
- More Fruitful/profitable: when teams come together with improved productivity, lower turnover and creative ideas it is able to overcome challenges and focus on accomplishing the vision.
The efforts of teams always produce far greater results than individual efforts, high performance teamwork takes advantage of the “Law of Synergy”. Synergy is defined as: “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.” In other words, you can do more with less. Here is a story that illustrates what synergy can do; “At a state fair there was an event where horses were being hitched to wagons to see which horse could pull the most weight. Two horses could individually pull 9,000 pounds each. They then hitched these two strongest horses together on the same wagon. The horses didn’t pull 18,000 pounds – a mere doubling of their individual efforts. Instead, together, in true high performance teamwork, they pulled 35,000 pounds. That’s what synergy can do!
So, as a leader how and what can you do to create an environment and culture that produces HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAMWORK?
Focus on helping each individual. While it is the team effort and not the individual effort that get greater results, great teamwork must start with the individual. It is said, “there is no “I” in teamwork”, but the reality is every great team is is highly reliant on each individual. Individuals must perform at their best – with excellence, character, diligence and faithfulness. Yet, each individual must understand what they do is part of a bigger picture and how they perform impacts the team. A team that is filled with individuals who are committed to and passionate about the team’s goals, but are motivated to perform individually for the benefit of the overall team creates a “High Performance Team.“
As the leader you need to help motivate everyone of your team members to commit to –
1. the idea of team and being the best team member they can be.
2. excellence – striving to be outstanding in everything they do! Being the best they can be. Average is not acceptable. This is not about how they do compared to others, but the standard is their own best.
3. a great attitude – nothing ruins great team work faster than a bad attitude. Negativity and complaining undermines teamwork. Everyone should be problem solvers. This is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice!
4. having respect – treat each other and other departments with respect. This fosters unity. Stay in your lane – this is huge – don’t try to do someone elses job – unless asked to help – be willing to help but nothing creates confusion and frustration faster when we stick our nose in where it does not belong – stay in your lane.
5. being appreciative – value each other and the abilities and giftings of each other. Celebrate each other – embrace diversity – differences are not bad.
When you get your team members to buy into these ideas it will help cultivate an atmosphere that will generate a “HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAM”.