Every May in Indianapolis the community comes together to rally around a singular event.  The Indianapolis 500.  This is an event where cars race at over 200 miles per hour for 500 miles.  When I think of a race like this I imagine it takes a high performing team to compete in this race let alone win.  As a leader I bet you’d like to have a high performing team and in this post I’m going to unpack a few principles that can help get you to raise your team’s level of performance.

Establish Clear Objectives

Let’s start with the first critical element: clear objectives. Imagine yourself as a sports coach. If you tell your team, “Let’s just go have fun,” while that’s important, it lacks direction. Instead you may say, “We’re going to win the championship this year!” or “We’re going to score big in our first game!” These clear goals create unity and motivation.

I once facilitated a roundtable discussion where leaders reflected on the year 2020. Back then, they rallied around a common goal amidst chaos. Fast forward to this experience, and many felt confused about leadership expectations. As leaders, we must be clear about the objectives our teams are working towards. This clarity not only aligns efforts but also drives engagement.

Positioning Individuals According to Their Strengths

When I was in Junior High playing football my second year I got in line with the receivers.  I may have gone out for one route and then coach called to me and sent me to work with the linemen.  I did not want to be a lineman, but coach must have seen something I didn’t.  During the rest of my football career that was where I played.  Maybe coach recognized some potential in my agility and quickness, which may not have aligned with traditional lineman skills.

Understanding each team member’s strengths is essential for maximizing performance. Assessments like Working Genius can help uncover what energizes team members and where they excel. But if assessments feel overwhelming, simple observation can provide valuable insights.

Look for those who thrive in detail-oriented tasks, who excel behind the scenes, or who bring innovative ideas to the table. By positioning individuals where they naturally perform best, you foster engagement and success across the team.

Communicate Consistently and Strategically

No matter the organization communication is a critical factor.  Every organization faces challenges in this area. Meetings are a great tool for communication—but only if used wisely. Having meetings just to have them is unproductive. Instead, ensure each meeting has a clear purpose, a set agenda, and a plan.

Think of meetings as a huddle. This is your chance to clarify objectives, reposition team members based on recent observations, and strategize together. After all, you want your team to leave each meeting with actionable items, not scratching their heads wondering why they were there.

Three pillars can help you develop a high-performing team: establish clear objectives, position team members according to their strengths, and communicate effectively. Which of these areas do you need to work on? My challenge to you is to set a specific action step this week.  If you need help assessing opportunities for growth on your team contact me to learn about the Leadership Game which is a fun, interactive way to assess opportunities to grow. Lead Well.

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