The beginning of the year offers a great opportunity to start anew.
After the successes and perhaps the challenges of the last year, it is good to make a strong start. As we change our modalities and strive for better results, leaders of organisations need to build strong and vigorous teams. Your teams need to be inclusive yet diverse, you will need people who will drive better performance, and it is your job to keep your team engaged, and inspired. This will bring you the results that you want for 2024.
Leveraging on the strengths of your team while providing focused leadership is the way forward. Your role as a leader will make the difference in fostering collective performance, and enhanced team dynamics. You can grow resilience in your team by being inclusive. Studies show that when team members feel included and have a sense of ownership, they perform way better.
Start the year strong by enhancing team dynamics, nurturing an inclusive environment, and creating a sense of ownership. This will reconnect your team more effectively, and will help everyone to be focused on your company's goal. The idea is to break silos down, and ensure that functional relationships flourish.
Here are some ways you can achieve this objective:
*Enhancing Team Dynamics*
Obtaining the right dynamics in your team is essential. Its about how a disparate group of people with differing life expectations and backgrounds come together to work in tandem. Each one of your team members have a unique perspective, and it is up to you, as the leader, to curate the connections. How they interact with each other whilst being different is key. Often their communication styles might be different leading to them not understanding each other. So, you have to ensure that there is an internal communication culture that everyone accepts. This simply leads to better cooperation.
When your team, which inevitably is not homogenous, has a strong team dynamic, they will achieve more. Strong groups communicate well together, respect each other's work styles, operate with transparency, and are accountable. More importantly, groups with great team dynamics are aligned around a shared purpose.
It is up to leaders to bring into line their teams with the company's shared purpose, mission, and values. Your team's goals must centre on your company's mission. And, when you instill shared values in your team, your team will have a clear sense of direction. This allows everyone to work together towards a single shared purpose.
This will also bind your team together. Everyone knows what they are contributing to, and why. This way your team grows stronger, and more loyal to the cause. This is the first step for a strong start for the year.
*Nurture An Inclusive Environment*
Most leaders understand the value of inclusion, but they do not always foster it in the workplace. When you include someone, you are recognising and appreciating their unique view, and what they bring to the table. You must feel comfortable to solicit their opinions, and invite their contributions in collaborative settings. If a member of your team feels included, they are more likely to perform better. But remember, it is takes active effort on your part.
Also, to attract new talent, your organisation will need a culture of inclusivity. This means businesses need to strive to create a culture of inclusivity as part of their brand and strategy.
Creating this inclusion relies in part on creating a safe space at work. When your teams feel safe, they're empowered to participate more, be more engaged, and take more risks. It is up to leaders to make sure their team members feel supported and heard, which then encourages each individual to show up to work authentically.
*Creating A Sense Of Ownership*
High performing teams always have team members who exhibit a strong sense of ownership and belonging. If your employees feel like they "own" the company, or "belong" in your organisation, it simply makes them perform at optimal levels. When people feel like they belong, they are more confident in what they do, and what they bring to the table. Work is less about just completing tasks, but more about doing what is right and what they feel is important.
Enhancing team dynamics, nurturing an inclusive environment, and creating a sense of ownership will set you up for a strong start to the year. Results are best when your team has a common purpose; when they feel that they have a voice and supported; and when they take ownership of their work-product and outcomes.
This grows your organisation into a robust and buoyant one, which has the wherewithal deal with challenges and obstructions in the coming year.
Start the year strong!
*The writer is managing consultant and executive leadership coach at EQTD Consulting. He is also the author ot the national bestseller 'So, You Want To Get Promoted?'
