Building high-performing teams isn’t just about filling seats—it’s about creating a culture where everyone thrives.
Continuing the series on my experience with high performing teams, here is the next instalment of how I have approached this task in my previous roles.
Given my flair for acronyms, I will use CREST to describe the criteria for building teams -
Culture - As a leader, you have to align to the broader corporate culture, while at the same time also fostering a unique team culture. You need to constantly curate and cultivate the behaviors that are most beneficial to the team in the long term.
Recruitment - I tend to look beyond qualifications and try to recruit for growth mindsets. I have ended up hiring mavericks in my teams and a couple of them have gone on to found companies of their own. If you hit the right balance, you will form a team of people who not only excel in their roles but also evolve with the team, adapting to challenges and constantly pushing the envelope.
Expectations - Setting clear expectations is so critical to give direction to the team. As a leader, articulate what success looks like and how each member contributes to this vision. This is how you drive productivity when everyone is aligned and focused on the same goal.
Salary - Do the right thing at the outset. If you work in a large corporate, as a hiring manager, you will have more leeway while recruiting rather than trying to navigate the processes of adjusting remuneration later on. Avoid this heartache for yourself and your team members and ensure everyone feels valued.
Training - Invest in continuous learning and development, for yourself and your team, ensuring they stay up-to-date with the latest and the greatest. I tend to lead by example, ensure that I have a larger view of the demand overall in terms of where the organization is going, and ensure the team is prepared for the roadmap lying ahead.
As I mentioned in my previous post also, while I do tend to make up acronyms like triple A's and now CREST, these are not buzzwords for me. Rather these are my practical experiences in leading large and small teams throughout my career.
Let me know your thoughts and experiences, if anything here resonates with you.
