Ten ways high performing teams make the most of their time together
Teams are more than their meetings. How people work together outside formal sessions matters just as much as what happens inside them. Yet bringing a team together is a significant investment of time and attention, and high performing teams are deliberate about how they use it.
They do so in a number of consistent ways.
They anchor their work in shared purpose and ambition. They stay focused on what they are here to deliver today, while keeping sight of the longer term legacy they are shaping.
They connect regularly with the customer or end user. The voice of the consumer is kept close to decision making, not treated as an afterthought.
They seek out difference of view. Healthy challenge is encouraged and disagreement is handled with respect, not avoided for the sake of harmony.
They invest in the next generation of leaders.
Time together is used to develop capability, not just deliver outcomes.
They bring in external thinking.
New ideas and emerging practices are actively introduced, whether from outside the organisation or from elsewhere within it.
They value informal connection. Time spent building relationships and sharing moments beyond formal roles strengthens trust and cohesion.
They pay attention to collective wellbeing. They recognise that performance depends on energy and capacity, not simply on time spent working.
They protect space for thinking and emergence. Agendas include room for exploration, sense making, and ideas that cannot be scheduled in advance.
They regularly review how they work together. Meetings end with reflection on what helped and what could improve, strengthening learning and candour.
They align on key messages before they leave the room. Clear communication and shared narrative ensure consistency and build engagement beyond the team.
