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Getting Your Team to the Xtra Mile

Getting Your Team to the Xtra Mile

By: Ross Paterson

And just like that January is gone.

As we work in 20-30 businesses a year we get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly in team performance. Breakthroughs and breakdowns, focus and distraction, cooperation and disruption, cohesion and dysfunction, wins and losses. Our February focus will address the challenges of leading teams in the Small-Medium Business (SMB) space. Business owners, leaders, and managers must create environments where teams flourish and perform on the Xtra Mile. This level of team performance never happens by chance, or because you were lucky. Teams are led and inspired to the Xtra Mile. Let us show you how:

When we train Xtra Mile leaders, we start the conversation with building respect and trust in the team. In 2018, I asked all our clients to read The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle. I loved his language around this idea.

“It’s not just about words, group performance depends on behavior that communicates one powerful overarching idea: We are safe and connected.”

He went on to describe the importance for leaders to continuously send these three cues.

  1. You are part of this group (We love and respect you.)
  2. This group is special; we have high standards here (We have clarity about expectations.)
  3. I believe you can reach those standards (I trust you to bring your ‘A’ game daily.)

 

One of the deepest human needs is to belong to something bigger than ourselves. Sometimes healthy families provide this. Most adults get this experience of belonging as part of their vocation, or they don’t. As leaders in business, this is where you make the difference.

Tune in next week for a blog titled T-Rex, Eeyore, and Cousin It.