Four Elements That Can Transform Challenges Into High Performance

What elements are necessary for a team to achieve high performance? You may find yourself mentally listing off things like a strong work ethic or the ability to get through projects quickly and efficiently. While these are essential to success, there is another element you wouldn’t typically expect – how a team views failure or unexpected outcomes.

People incorrectly think these situations can only happen to mediocre teams that don’t possess the traits listed in the mental checklist above. This can lead teams into a false sense of security. When a setback does occur, this results in finger-pointing and the inability to see opportunities that stem from these experiences.

In reality, moments where teams come across failure, challenges or barriers are essential to success because they say a lot about how the team reacts when tested. High performing teams approach tough situations as learning opportunities.

Here are four ways that you and your team can shift your mindset in these situations and achieve high performance:

1) Accept mistakes.

No one is perfect. And, even with the highest level of planning and foresight, mistakes can still happen. High performing teams see mistakes as trial and learn, not trial and error.

2) View conflict as necessary for innovation.

Conflict can actually be productive. It’s a great way to share different viewpoints, perspectives and ideas. View conflict as a way for team members to debate and challenge one other, not as a fight.

3) See a lack of resources under a new light.

Most teams will say they could do with more resources. However, the best teams overcome this obstacle by getting creative in their problem solving. Don’t have what you need? Think of imaginative ways to work around it.

4) Take “no” as a new opportunity.

Hearing “no” from a customer is disheartening, but high performing teams see it as the perfect opportunity to reflect on how they could have done something differently. The next time a customer says no, use it as inspiration to seek more information and clues that can influence growth and change.

What is one challenge or barrier you or your team is experiencing that can be viewed with a different mindset?