The theory is fine – create a high performing team and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to give of their best. Customers are happy, employees are motivated, profit is made simple! But is it? Just how do you create that high performing team and the business environment to go with it that releases potential in everyone?

Sadly, no single person can create a high performing team in which everyone gives their best for the benefit of the team, but as a leader you can be entirely responsible for preventing a team from performing. Society puts immense pressure on leaders who are supposed to know everything, make instant decisions, be incisive and bold yet caring and empathetic on the other, so it easy to understand how don’t make a mistake can become a leader’s mantra ‘ and that will limit any team that you have. What you can do though is create the conditions to ensure that the team can really perform.

So how? Firstly align company, team and personal values and make sure people know what you stand for. Ensure that everyone know what the purpose of the business/enterprise/team is (you’d be surprised how often people don’t know!). Then make sure everyone knows how WE intend to achieve it, with the emphasis on engaging and involving the team. Take time out on a regular basis to review both the business performance and how the team is operating. Have blue sky thinking days and ask the team what could be done better. Ditch your ego and position and reward people for outstanding customer service and for innovation (even if they make a mistake!). Finally communicate, communicate and communicate.

It isn’t easy, and it takes time but research from a survey of 200 Companies from 20 Industries showed that companies with a strong corporate culture based on shared vision and values had: revenue growth 400% greater than the average; job creation rate of 700%; a share price growth 1200% faster; and profit 750% higher. Set the parameters and then step back to allow all that potential to be released and you can have some of that too!

For more information on Personal Development in Taunton please contact Simon Hollington (Leading Edge Personal Development Ltd) on 07811 332280