Three Skills to Boost Team Performance

Teamwork is crucial. Even geniuses like Turing need help from others to crack the Enigma. So, what are the key factors that enable a team to succeed? People naturally believe it is the abilities and levels of individual members, but the reality might surprise you.

At the beginning of The Culture Code, the author describes an interesting competition among kindergarten children, business school students, and lawyers: participants had to build the tallest structure possible using raw spaghetti, tape, string, and marshmallows. The competition ended with the kindergarten children winning. Why did the seemingly least capable group manage to defeat the others? Upon reviewing the competition, we found that business school students typically analyzed the problem first, discussed the right strategy, and then quietly established a hierarchy; whereas the kindergarten children simply started building and experimenting with different approaches.

A strong team culture emphasizes communication among team members rather than individual skills. Such a culture maximizes overall performance. To foster a positive team culture that enhances collective performance, there are three key skills.

1. Create a Safe Work Environment

People are more likely to unleash their full potential in a familiar environment, so creating a safe space is crucial. The sense of safety within a team comes from familiarity and connection among its members. If you want to cultivate a safe work environment, it is essential to learn to listen and let others know they are heard. When people know that what they say is being listened to and valued, they feel secure. You can provide appropriate feedback while listening, which enhances interaction and makes people feel needed.

2. Be Vulnerable to Build Trust

Although it may seem counterintuitive, showing vulnerability can indeed enhance team performance. We often observe the behaviors of those around us and learn by imitation. Admitting your weaknesses and mistakes to team members shows that they can do the same. This helps to strengthen internal trust among the team.

At the same time, displaying your shortcomings expresses an expectation for collaboration. When you show that you rely on others for help, they can also comfortably acknowledge their need for assistance. Over time, everyone understands that they shouldn’t bear everything alone, naturally fostering a sense of unity within the team.

3. Establish Common Goals and Reinforce Them

A steadfast pursuit of common goals is key to good team performance. A team's common goal refers to the beliefs and values that motivate the actions of its members. This common goal clarifies the team's self-identity and communicates it to the outside world. Psychologist Gabriele Oettingen has demonstrated through several studies that communicating common goals helps unite members and makes achieving those goals easier.

To deepen members' impressions, repetition is essential. To express things more clearly, repeating them ten or even a hundred times is worthwhile. You can repeatedly convey the company's mission in meetings or turn the goals into catchy slogans.