When Performance Lags, Look to the Team Culture

Leaders must carefully examine the culture of their team if they are to see improvement in team performance. When a group is formed, the culture is set by its charter, mission, and roles. A team that is effective will have specific goals and work products, as well as a set of milestones and challenges to be met.

Culture will determine how and what the team produces. Many factors can lead to poor performance, including the crew.

Leadership
Norms
Roles
Responsibilities
A lack of performance can often be due to poorly defined performance goals or a lack of understanding of the purpose of the team. These two factors are interrelated and can lead to a dysfunctional team structure that will result in ill-defined or insufficient results.

A well-functioning team should produce an output that is of tangible value to the company and its members. The output is defined as the sum of all the contributions made by the members of the team. This is possible when teams are focused on achieving specific performance goals.

Establishing a solid foundation is key to achieving reliable results and effective results. Teams create their mission and charter. They also set performance goals. This sets the tone and inspires. Teams can develop their direction, momentum, and commitment by working together to create an intended purpose. The team’s work will produce the desired results.

Performance can be slowed down or ineffective if one examines the initiation points, the way it defined itself, and the work is intended to produce. These are the areas to explore:

Performance goals

It is essential to establish specific performance goals as part of the team process. This helps to create a shared purpose that is meaningful for all members. The performance goals should be challenging and compelling. They should also be tied to the mission and charter of the team in order to achieve their purpose.

To build confidence and feel of success, the team should establish some challenging but achievable goals immediately after its creation. These goals should be both quantifiable and easily assessable.

The Team Work-Product

The team work-product differs from the individual job goals and organizational mission. Each member must contribute equally. This is a process that should not be minimized, or it could lead to future problems.

All tasks and assignments which make up the contribution should be performed by team members and not delegated to them or reviewed by them. Although staff support is sometimes required, the team members should complete the majority of the assignment so they can gain firsthand knowledge about the output they produce. This builds trust, respect, and accountability among team members.

Delegating work reduces both team members’ commitment and appreciation for the content and contributions. This also minimizes the creativity and innovative potential of the group. This could be a sign that the team is not producing as much as it should.

Performance goals

Team members should understand and be clear about their performance goals. Discussions should focus on the purpose and how it can be achieved. Meetings are less productive when goals are unclear or non-existent. Without making any progress, teams will continue to revisit issues and problem areas.

Attainment and achievement of performance goals

Teams can keep their eyes on the prize by setting specific performance goals. Failure to set clear performance goals can lead to a team not achieving the desired outcomes and results. Groups can also establish specific performance goals to encourage team members’ commitment.

Performance Objectives

Each team should have specific performance goals. This will enable clear communication among team members and allow constructive conflict to be created for the purpose of discussing issues and developing solutions.

Summary

Poor planning and preparation are often the root cause of performance failures. If you want to achieve realistic performance goals, objectives, and work-related outcomes, it is essential that they are clearly understood and defined. Any attempt to cut off this process will only lead to future problems. The team will have to reassess their foundations in order for them to succeed in their mission.