April 21, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes)
When I reflect upon historic high-performing teams, I think of sports teams like the 1990s Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan. The Bulls won six NBA championships, dominating the NBA during that time. NFL teams with championship legacies also come to mind. The Green Bay Packers with 13 championships; the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants, who have each won 8 championships; the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, who each have six, followed by the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Football Team who each won five. In baseball, winning legacies are led by the New York Yankees, who’ve won the World Series a record 27 times, followed by the St. Louis Cardinals with 11 World Series wins, and the Boston Red Sox with nine. Those are bragging rights!
One notable high-performing business team is Apple under Steve Jobs. Known for its innovation, design excellence, and market dominance, Apple transformed multiple industries and set new standards for product development and marketing. Also worthy of mention is the Toyota Production System. Toyota’s approach to manufacturing revolutionized the automotive industry with its focus on continuous improvement, waste reduction, and employee involvement in building LEAN manufacturing processes. Then there is Amazon. With its customer-centric approach, innovation, and focus on long-term growth, Jeff Bezos made Amazon one of the most successful and influential companies in the world.
Being of a military background, I of course think of historic high-performing teams that turned the tide in times of war. The Royal Air Force (RAF) defended Britain against the German Luftwaffe during the dark hours of the Battle of Britain in World War II. The RAF demonstrated exceptional skill, resilience, and strategic thinking while operating with less than optimal assets.
The Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, required extensive planning, coordination, and bravery from all of the multinational forces involved.
General H. Norman Schwarzkopf’s leadership team deftly orchestrated air and ground assets to achieve a record conclusion to the 1991 Gulf War in Iraq. The exceptional performance of the tank teams can be attributed to a combination of superior training, advanced technology, strategic planning, and effective coordination.
During my first tour of duty at the Pentagon, I had responsibility for approving the schedules of the Thunderbirds (Air Force), Blue Angels (Navy), and Golden Knights (Army)—the precision performing teams in airshows around the country. I had a front row seat to how these exceptionally high-performing teams worked.
Each member of the team has to undergo a rigorous selection process. Once in, they receive extensive training to become elite and remain elite. They possess exceptional flying or parachuting skills honed through years of experience, practice, and hard training programs.
The Navy SEALs are world-renowned for their legendary performance in combat, no matter the environment. What makes them so? Selection to the team starts with a rigorous weeding out process followed by training to be versatile and adaptable to any challenge. Teamwork, cohesion and trust are essential. Extensive training hones their combat skills. They are mentally tough and resilient. They thrive on adversity. Their missions require meticulous planning and attention to detail. Their training is based on continuous learning, skill refinement, incorporation of new tactics and technologies, and the sharing of lessons learned from real-world operations.
So, when you put it all together, whether it’s sports, business or military, what’s the key to building and leading high-performing teams?
Here are five keys to consider:
1. Select team members based on their skills, expertise, and cultural fit with the team. Most importantly, test whether you can trust them. Once selected, provide them tailored training, professional development, and leadership growth to optimize individual and collective capabilities.
2. Define clear and achievable goals for the team. Set performance expectations. Ensure that every team member understands the team’s purpose, objectives, and their individual roles in achieving them.
3. Foster a positive and inclusive team culture based on trust, respect, and accountability. Promote open communication, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose among team members.
4. Create channels for open, transparent, and constructive communication within the team. Encourage active listening, sharing of ideas, feedback, and resolution of conflicts in a timely manner.
5. Empower team members to take ownership of their work, make decisions, and contribute to problem-solving and innovation. Provide the necessary resources, tools, and support to help team members succeed, and cultivate a culture of trust, autonomy, and continuous learning.
6. Finally, leave titles at the door. Lead through human connection.
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision.
The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives.
It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.“
-Andrew Carnegie
Lead from your heart. Lead to Win.
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