How Well Do You Know Your Team?

Know your team beyond their job titles and roles. It is crucial to know when you are the leader. Do you understand their motivations and fears? What drives them? What frustrates them? A positive workplace culture can only exist when leaders create an environment where team members feel seen, heard, and valued.

Know Your Team

The first step in building a positive culture is when you know and understand your team.

How would you describe the vibe in your team?

• Is there anyone in your team who dreads coming to work?
• Are team members all working towards the same goal?
• Is there a lack of alignment?
• If you were to look up your team now, do they look happy?

When the team vibe is flat, people come to work late and chuck lots of sickies. Also, the business goals aren’t being achieved, and your team looks miserable. it’s time to implement some changes!

The changes must begin with you as a leader!

Engrossed with your own work? Can’t answer the questions above because you don’t know what they are? Then, the change in these instances must begin with you as a leader.

I have also experienced it myself. I have spoken to countless people about workplace culture. What I know is that the leader must power it. It begins with self-awareness—identifying the behaviours you role model. How it influences individuals can help you to understand the disconnect if one exists or further develop what’s working well. Culture in the workplace is something that needs to be continually developed. Furthermore, it cannot be a one-off event.

Build a Positive Workplace Culture

Creating a positive workplace culture is not a one-off event. It requires continuous development, self-awareness, and also a commitment to change. Moreover, as a leader, it’s your responsibility to model the behaviours you want to see in your team. There are various actions that a leader can take to create an environment where team members feel valued, motivated, and engaged.

Some actions that can generate a positive team culture include:

Clear Communication

Communication is a crucial aspect of building a positive team culture. Team members must understand their leader’s expectations of them and their roles. Furthermore, how they can contribute to the team’s success. Leaders must communicate concisely and frequently to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Active listening

Active listening is also an essential component of effective communication. Leaders need to listen to their team members actively, paying attention to their ideas, concerns, and feedback. This helps to build trust, respect, and empathy, which are critical to a positive team culture.

Authenticity

Leaders who are authentic and genuine in their interactions with their team members are more likely to build trust and respect. Authenticity involves being true to oneself, being transparent, and demonstrating a willingness to learn and grow.

Removing obstacles

Leaders must identify obstacles hindering team members’ productivity, creativity, or growth. This involves proactively addressing issues promptly and providing resources and support to help team members overcome challenges.

Having a clear vision of success

A clear success vision helps team members understand what they are working towards and how they can contribute to the team’s goals. Leaders must articulate a clear and compelling vision of success and ensure that team members understand how their work contributes to the team’s success.

Aligning KPIs to the business goals

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are essential to measuring progress and success. Leaders need to ensure that KPIs are aligned with the team’s and the organization’s goals, providing a clear understanding of how the team is performing and how they can improve.

Supporting individual needs

Each team member has unique needs, goals, and aspirations. Leaders must recognise and support these individual needs, providing growth, development, and recognition opportunities.

Celebrations

Celebrating success is critical to building a positive team culture. Leaders must acknowledge and celebrate team members’ achievements, milestones, and successes, creating a sense of pride and motivation.

Cultivating an environment of psychological safety

A psychologically safe environment allows team members to share their ideas, feedback, and concerns without fear of retribution. Leaders must create a culture of trust, respect, and empathy where team members feel supported, valued, and heard.

Empowering and delegating

Empowering team members involves giving them the autonomy, resources, and support they need to take ownership of their work and contribute to the team’s success. Leaders must delegate effectively, providing guidance, feedback, and support and trusting team members to do their work independently.

Working collaboratively

Collaboration is critical to building a positive team culture. Leaders must encourage and facilitate collaboration, ensuring that team members have opportunities to work together, share ideas, and learn from each other.

Training and development

Training and development are essential to helping team members grow, learn new skills, and improve their performance. Leaders need to provide opportunities for training and development, identify areas where team members can improve and provide resources and support to help them achieve their goals.

Summing Up

Change! When the culture is low, CHANGE! It won’t happen overnight, as trust needs to be reclaimed. However, when it does happen, people will thrive, and the energy will be contagious in a good way.

Know your team. Build a positive team culture. These are the key to achieving business goals, retaining top talent, and improving overall job satisfaction. It requires continuous effort and commitment from leaders to create an environment where team members feel heard, valued, and supported. Understanding your team, modelling the right behaviours, and taking action to create a positive culture are crucial steps towards building a successful and thriving team.

Remember, change won’t happen overnight. Stay focused!