What Key Research Tells Us About the Importance of High Performing Teams and Their Impact in Improving Service and Organisational Performance.
Thought leadership blog
Researchers, (Professor Michael West 2000,2002/3, Borrill, 2000; Fay et al 2005, Tjosvold & Smith, 2003) have delved into the relationship between people management, teams, and organisational effectiveness through various studies. Here are 10 of the key findings from their work:
1. High Performing Teams and Patient Outcomes
Training health and social care sector teams in the concept and principles of High Performing Teams showed significant reductions in patient mortality and clinical errors. Research shows that teams with well-defined team objectives, clarity in their role, who have shared leadership, interdependence as team members, and take time for reflection to discuss how they are working together as a team can lower patient mortality by 15%.
2. Teams and Innovation
Interdisciplinary teams who foster innovative work behaviours in team settings can benefit from High Performance training. The research showed that teams that take time to review how they are working together - building on trust, wellbeing, and team performance through having reflexivity within teams - enhances their innovation.
3. Teams and Customer Satisfaction
Effective team dynamics correlate with higher customer satisfaction levels. Inter-team coordination enhances teams working effectively across internal boundaries to create improved customer service.
4. Teams and Care Quality
Well-structured teams lead to safer working environments, as evidenced by fewer errors and injuries in health and social care settings.
5. Teams and Diversity
Cross-functional teams encourage diverse perspectives, leading to innovative solutions and radical changes in the services they provide.
6. Teams and Staff Wellbeing
Good team functioning reduces errors, stress, and turnover while boosting staff satisfaction and engagement. Regular reflexivity as a team in a range of sectors, showed decreased burnout.
7. Teams and Quality Management
Cross-functional teams improve quality management by integrating diverse viewpoints into decision-making processes.
8. Team Performance
Quality communication, task interdependence, and clarity of goals enhance team performance across sectors.
9. Teams and Rapid Change
Team-based organisations who support their teams have been shown to respond quickly and effectively in the fast-changing environments most organisations encounter. They can adapt quickly to rapid changes, facilitating speedy development and enhanced delivery of products and services.
10. Teams and Quality Management
Cross-functional teams improve quality management by integrating diverse viewpoints into decision-making processes.
Why not talk to us and tell us what you think of the research findings and how training your teams to be high performing can help your service, your organisation, and your sector. Several of our team are qualified team coaches and experts in psychology and team tools.