We've created a list below of 20 qualities of high-performing teams, with brief descriptions of each characteristic. This may assist you in creating a new team, or in evaluating an existing team. We hope you find it useful:

• 1. Has a Clearly Defined, Compelling Goal or Vision: Larger than themselves and presents a meaningful challenge. Everyone on the team understands and is heading in the same direction.
• 2. Clearly Defined Roles and Responsibilities: Every team member is clear about their role, and the role of every other team member. Roles are updated to keep abreast of changing demands, objectives and technologies. Cross-trained and interchangeable skills to ensure support of others where needed.
• 3. Effective Processes: Common language, procedures and approach.
• 4. Accepted Leadership: Capable of calling out the levels of commitment, initiative and creativity that motivate exceptional individual and collective performance. Leaders are good role models and leadership can shift at various times according to expertise.
• 5. Complementary Skills: Highly capable people in the various roles necessary to get the job done. Keep abreast of other team members' knowledge, skills and talents to draw upon individual competencies. Awareness of individual style differences, natural gifts and personal experience. Use the language of acceptance and appreciation.
• 6. Common Values: Team members are aligned and believe in the vision and each other. Are motivated to put out their best effort to perform the tasks assigned to them.
• 7. Values Diversity: In thinking, perspectives, ideas, methods, experiences backgrounds and working style.
• 8. Co-operative Relationships/Team Climate: A sense of belonging, regard for the skills, knowledge and expertise of others. Trust in each other, and a willingness to make things work for the good of the team. Loyalty to each other and the team as a whole. Have fun.
• 9. Open and Clear Communication: Team members can state their opinions, thoughts and feelings without fear. Team members know how to give and receive feedback. Healthy interpersonal relationships.
• 10. Is Committed: To the goal and to working with each other, recognising they are dependent on each other's efforts. Puts out their best efforts to perform tasks assigned to them. Supports leadership and each other.
• 11. Productive meetings: Well-managed meetings, effective use of time for all. Focused, timely, necessary and used to solve problems, make decisions, disseminate information and enhance skills. Everyone fully involved, contributing to discussions, respect for the opinions of others.
• 12. Effective Decision Making: Team has an understanding of various decision making methods, and when and how to use each of them. Flexibility and creativity. Support for decisions made.
• 13. Adaptable and Creative: Able to deal with change. Trust and openness, with commitment and involvement. People are comfortable to be creative, take calculated risks and try different ways of doing things. Not afraid of making mistakes. Develop contingency plans.
• 14. Positively Accountable: Acknowledgement of joint accountability for the outcome of the project, and individually accountable for the obligations of their specific roles. Mutually agreed on goals are discussed, successes celebrated and unattained goals are learned from and corrections made.no whining, complaining or excuses.
• 15. Effective Problem Solving and Dispute Resolution: Linked but different. Conflict (relationship) is seen as a healthy way to bring out new ideas and to solve issues. Problems (task) are brought to the surface, and an honest respectful, flexible and creative approach is taken to solve them.
• 16. Focus on Results: Capable of achieving results beyond the sum of the individuals. Strong skills in group processes. Meet time, budget and quality commitments.
• 17. Evaluates its own Effectiveness: Continually examines itself to see how it is doing. Philosophy of "continuous improvement" and proactive goal management. Early resolution of performance problems.
• 18. Coachability: Passionate and dedicated to being as good as they can be, and also like hearing feedback about how they can be better. Listen and reflect on criticism (no defensiveness) and talk openly about how to improve.
• 19. Shared Rewards: Balance in how the team gets rewarded.
• 20. Recognise and Celebrate Success: Celebrate milestones, accomplishments and events. The organisation notices and values the team's accomplishments.

On reflection::

• Where are the gaps?
• What will you notice when these are addressed effectively?
• What needs to be done?
• How will you go about it – what are the steps and stages?
• How long will it take?
• What are the results?

Contact Metaco for more information