How to develop your team’s potential
posted 16 Jul 24
As the saying goes, "Teamwork makes the dream work". However, building effective and high-performing teams is complex and doesn't happen overnight.
Successful teams require intentional leaders who can identify potential and strengths within individuals, maximise and develop current team's potential, and put the work in to nurture and retain star employees. When team members feel empowered, supported, and motivated, they are more likely to perform at their best.Â
If you want to develop a more agile, engaged, and innovative team, you must understand these essential best practices for team development and implement these practices thoughtfully and strategically. Â
Team developmentÂ
When developing your team, it’s important to look at team members individually as every person brings a unique perspective and unique skill set. Consider ways you can tap into the potential of each employee to maximise their impact and enhance team performance.Â
Ten essential skills you need for effective team development
1. Problem-solving
2. Strong communication Â
3. Interpersonal/relationship-building skills Â
4. Time management Â
5. Active listening and feedback Â
6. Goal setting and measurement Â
7. Project management Â
8. Organisational skills Â
9. Growth mindset
10. Team alignment Â
Tactics for developing your team Â
Whether you’re currently hiring a new team, a new position within an existing team, or want to develop a team to meet the demands of the business, there are tactics to consider when it comes to team development. Â
- Identify your leadership style: Self-awareness is key. Reflect on feedback to understand what makes you most productive to identify your preferred leadership style. Understanding various leadership styles gives you the flexibility to switch styles depending on the person or scenario. Â
- Establish clear roles and expectations: Clarity fosters ownership and will set them up for success. Ensure team members understand their roles and responsibilities, involving them throughout the process using the SMART framework. Employees must understand your expectations as a leader.Â
- Empower decision-making: Consider what areas of work or aspects of a project you can delegate responsibilities and decision-making. Encouraging your team to take charge and make decisions is a key aspect when developing high-performing teams.  Â
- Encourage listening and feedback: Create a culture of open communication and continuous feedback where employees are not afraid to voice their concerns or challenges and equally listen to feedback from their peers and management.  Â
- Foster a sense of belonging: Studies show that teams with a sense of belonging perform better and are more engaged. Shared purpose, psychological safety, inclusive leaders, and feedback mechanisms are just some ways you can promote belonging. Â
- Encourage a growth mindset: Instill confidence in your teams so they are not afraid to fail and learn. Promoting continuous learning and encouraging teams to break away from everyday tasks will enable teams to do better tomorrow.
- Encourage skill development: Provide formal training, mentorship, job shadowing, and encourage team members to attend external events and programmes to learn new skills and enhance their ability to be more effective.Â
- Provide coaching: Where possible, provide personalised coaching to enhance mental fitness, self-awareness, and collaboration. It also means employees are more likely to bounce back from setbacks and less likely to leave voluntarily.  Â
By setting clear goals, providing feedback, supporting collaboration, and fostering a culture of continuous learning, leaders can help team members unleash their full potential and actively contribute to their team and company success.Â
For further advice on how you can develop and grow your existing team, please contact our dedicated recruitment specialists at Search.
