I was watching a recent episode of American Idol and had that “wow” reaction, the reaction you get when you see exceptional talent. In this case, it was a few vocalists whose talent was nothing short of stunning. These “wow” moments also emerge at times when watching amazing athletes, surgeons, musicians, and other exceptional people in action. And I am not talking about temporary moments of “wow” but rather long-term exceptionality. These people manifest certain traits at a greater level than their peers. So, what would you see if you were watching an exceptional team in action? I was recently with one, and here are 10 dynamics I observed.
1. They value relational health even more than numeric success.
I could tell from the beginning of our time together that this exceptional team placed a high value on relational health and connection. It’s not that the numeric success of their organization wasn’t important – only that they believed it flowed out of their team synergy. Research has shown that healthy teams are far more likely to have upward performance metrics.
2. They make better decisions for the organization.
Having watched this team for a number of years, the balance of high trust, openness to differing opinions, and overall harmony among themselves has resulted in many good decisions being made in the midst of complex circumstances. And that is no surprise – research shows that groups with similar dynamics to this group consistently make better decisions than those with a low trust, high conflict culture.
3. They focus more on what they have in common than on where they disagree.
Exceptional teams often have a diversity of ideas and opinions, and that can be a good thing since such diversity can result in greater creativity and innovation. But this team did not place their focus on their differences but rather on what they had in common – shared vision and values along with compelling organizational priorities. That is what exceptional teams do.
4. They talk honestly about disagreements but don’t dwell on them.
Often, the key to a successful team is not if they disagree and argue but rather how they do so. Exceptional teams do fight. But because they place such a high value on relationships, they work hard to not dwell on their disagreements. In other words, they don’t avoid them, but they also don’t fixate on them. They aim for harmony, or what the Bible refers to as living at peace with one another.
5. They have fun working together.
Our consultants can usually get a sense of a team’s dynamics within the first few minutes of walking into the room. Is there a lot of chatter, laughter, and eye contact? Or is there silence, somberness, and faces looking down at papers and phones? This particular team was full of loud banter and laughter throughout the whole time together, and you could feel the positivity immediately – all markings of an exceptional team.
6. They consistently manifest transparency.
Whether struggling with something in their personal life or not feeling comfortable with the direction or a decision of the group, exceptional teams lean into transparency and away from secrecy. That was true of this team. Transparency, which is a contributor to and a result of a high level of trust, was valued and lived out among them.
7. They care deeply about one another beyond just work.
While some high-performing team members do not allow their work lives to merge into their personal lives, something significant happens when it does. You see this in some athletic teams, military units, and work teams. It makes the bonds even stronger and the level of commitment to one another even greater.
8. They trust one another and presume the best intention.
Exceptional teams breed trust. Trust is formed when people believe in the character, competency, and concern of one another. You could tell this team had a culture of trust by their transparency, honest questioning, and presumption of the best intentions rather than suspicion. And the more teams demonstrate trust in each other, the more the trust will grow even deeper.
9. They have a long tenure together.
One of the things you will notice about exceptional teams, including the one I met with, is that the members have a relatively long tenure in the organization. This does not mean that members never leave since that is not realistic and not necessary to be an exceptional team. Rather, the team culture is so strong and the environment is so energizing that leaders are less likely to get the “itch” for a change.
10. They lead an organization that has outperformed most of its peers.
It is refreshing when a team truly cares about each other and loves working together. But there are plenty of organizations that also have such teams and are circling the drain. This exceptional team uniquely combined a compelling vision with the courage to act rather than just talk about it. Exceptional teams combine relational connection, high trust, diversity of thought, and courage and then live out a vision that is radically meaningful.
Contact us to learn how our experienced coaches can help you create a positive culture among your team.
Jay Desko is the President & CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.
