Why honest conversations are the real driver of team performance

Many of my clients talk to me about how to create High Performing Teams. As organisations try to achieve more with even less, they need people to bring the best of themselves to work, at pace, and to collaborate effectively to ensure everyone is on board and pulling in the same direction.

Much easier said than done!

The French distinguish between a “bonne équipe” and a “belle équipe”. The former is one that does good work and is efficient; the latter is one that implies style as well as function. A team that enjoys being together and is, in some small way, beautiful.

So how do you create a culture that allows such teams to exist? Team members need to work quickly and freely with an unconditional acceptance that everyone’s intentions are positive and for the good of the team. I strongly believe that it starts with honest conversations. Imagine a climate where we can help others to know how they can get the most from us and, in return, we can identify how our behaviour impacts others and flex our style accordingly. What a helpful way to operate!

Feedback is such a loaded word but if, instead, we can just think of it as an exchange of working styles and offer support and challenge in this spirit, with a lightness of touch, it can allow the beauty of the team to emerge.