As a general rule, executive teams do a great job focusing on what results they want to see. However, I frequently work with teams that struggle to reach those targets. Thinking about results isn't at a shortage, yet other things seem to get in the way of achieving desired outcomes. Undeniably, continually reaching results is one of the key hallmarks for every great and healthy team. The healthiest teams even build unstoppable patterns of goal achievement and perpetual cycles of winning that are sustainable over long periods of time. And, they have fun in the process! There’s never a shortcut to the top--overcoming team dysfunctions is crucial to consistently achieving your desired outcomes. Building trust, engaging in healthy conflict, achieving commitment and embracing accountability all contribute heavily to the results success cycle and must take priority. If achieving results continues to allude your team, consider how the team stacks up in these other four areas. It's likely you’ll discover failure factors that require your fast and proactive focus. For every team function that is not consistently present, the probability of reaching results diminishes significantly. The good news is that the opposite is also true. If your team can overcome dysfunctions, you are much more likely to reach desired results! Additionally, consider your effectiveness as the “Chief Reminding Officer” (CRO). Are you focused on keeping the main thing in front of your team members? Are you focused on the accomplishments and behaviors that get attention and recognition? People thrive when clarity is present; they stagnate when it is not. Remind your team members of the clear target your team is working toward and you will prevent distraction, priority mismanagement and lack of urgency. Watch out for these obvious signs that reveal a lack of team focus on results:
Missed goals and little growth
Distractibility/squirrel syndrome
Loss of achievement-driven team members
Difficulty attracting strong achievers into the culture
Ineffective resource allocation
Individually focused team members
Don’t assume everyone is thinking about results. Inspect what you expect, drive conversations toward the end goal and create multiple progress checkpoints along the way.
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