Entelechy conducted research of over 50 different studies on high performance teams. Some studies focused on motivation; some on trust; some on leadership; others on vision; still others on many other topics. The more we investigated, the more the characteristics of high performing teams fell into place.
Several important themes emerged which we used to develop a model. This model will enable you to more effectively identify and address what your team needs to become high performing.
HPTs are Concerned about the Process AND the Task
High performance teams are clear about WHAT they are to do – the TASK – and HOW they do things – the PROCESS.
TASK is concerned primarily about WHAT gets done.
PROCESS is concerned primarily about HOW things get done. High performance teams continue to be high performing even when the task changes because they have established processes.
HPTs are Concerned about the Team AND the Individual
Another theme that emerged was the distinction between TEAM and INDIVIDUAL.
High performance teams have a certain “teamness” about them. People want to be part of high performing teams. They want to contribute to the team and are willing to sacrifice for the team. At the same time, high performing teams recognize the value and contribution of each individual AND that individuals have specific needs.
TEAM is concerned primarily with the group as the entity.
INDIVIDUAL is concerned primarily with the group member.
The distinction is important since teams are collections of individuals. There are characteristics about how individuals work and react in teams that are different than how they react in groups or individually. Likewise, there are characteristics about how teams treat individuals that is different than how groups or individuals treat individuals.
Sub-Characteristics
While some characteristics can be clearly categorized as team/individual or task/process, other characteristics aren’t so definite so as to be easily categorized. Oftentimes, characteristics may fall somewhere between the continua. For example, each of the following characteristics were identified in our research; follow our thinking as we categorize the characteristic starting at the top of the HPT graphic and working clockwise:
TEAM = Sense of belonging; leadership; membership; team identity
TEAM/TASK = Shared common purpose and vision
TASK = Clear tasks, expectations, performance metrics, timelines
INDIVIDUAL/TASK = Shared responsibility; individual accountability
INDIVIDUAL = Creative talents; respect for diversity
INDIVIDUAL/PROCESS = Clear decision making, problem solving, and conflict resolution processes
PROCESS = Strong internal and external communications; norms
TEAM/PROCESS = Clear links with other groups and customers
The Characteristics of HPTeams
Keeping the TASK/PROCESS and TEAM/INDIVIDUAL arrows in mind, we labeled all eight areas of high performance teaming:
Participative Leadership
§ Envisioning and organizing leadership
§ Based on expertise
§ Shared
§ Team members accept and relinquish leadership
§ Creates interdependency
Aligned on Purpose
§ Shared purpose
§ Clear vision
§ Self-directing
§ Aligned goals
§ Members understand their roles and fit
Task Focused
§ The task guides the team and individuals
§ Job satisfaction
§ Challenge
Shared responsibility
§ Members personally responsible for the team and each other
§ Accountable
§ Loyal
§ Shared success
Innovative
§ Tap into each other’s creativity and talents
§ Diversity is valued
§ Synergistic
Problem Solving
§ Opportunity, challenge
§ Decision-making
Communicative
§ Open, honest
§ Inspired
§ Proactively share info
§ Humor
Responsive
§ Client/customer focused
§ Interactive
§ Mobilize quickly
§ Change direction
What’s the Big Deal about Teams?
Why are teams popular today? What’s changed about our environment and economy that makes teaming so critical? Here are a few of the reasons why teams have become critical in today’s economy:
§ More orientation towards a service and information society and away from an industrial society
§ Rate of change: no single person can keep up
§ Knowledge explosion: no single person can know it all
§ Most valuable corporate resources are people
Teamwork is not new. Our history depicts us as team-based hunters and gatherers. The industrial age changed us into individualistic automatons useful for the number of hours we can apply to our work. The information age and communication age is requiring that we move back to team-based work. We are coming to rely more and more on each other’s unique contribution and expertise.
The companies that can harness the untapped potential in individuals through the use of teams will have a competitive advantage over those who can’t.
HPTeams versus Other Types of Teams
In our research, we uncovered different types of teams. A traditional team is one that gets together typically to accomplish a task; emphasis is on the task and the individual and unique strength of each team member. Self-directed teams are more process focused and concerned that the “teaming” results in a good experience for all members. HPTeams seem to be able to simultaneously focus on the task and the process, on the team and the individual.
What are the similarities and differences between traditional, self-directed, and high performing teams?

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