High-performing teams that are essential for success aren’t born overnight. They need to be made and nurtured by team leaders and coaches. Nurturing a team to be high-performing means ensuring they will not only achieve their goals, but also drive innovation, productivity, and employee satisfaction.

One powerful tool for developing high-performing teams is team coaching. A study conducted by the International Coach Federation (ICF) in 2020 found that 86% of organizations that invested in team coaching reported improvements in team performance and collaboration.

What is Team Coaching?

Let’s begin at the beginning. Team coaching is a structured and collaborative process aimed at enhancing team performance, cohesion, and effectiveness. It involves a skilled coach working with a team to identify its strengths and weaknesses, set clear goals, and implement strategies to improve performance.

Unlike traditional management approaches, team coaching empowers team members to take ownership of their development. It works to foster a culture of continuous improvement. One example of this approach would be Google. This company is renowned for its innovative approach to team development.

Through their Re:Work initiative, they implemented a team coaching program called “Project Aristotle.” They collected data on hundreds of teams and found that psychological safety, a sense of trust and belonging, was the most significant predictor of high-performing teams. Armed with this insight, they used team coaching to help teams foster psychological safety, leading to improved collaboration and innovation.

The Benefits of Team Coaching

Here are some benefits of investing in team coaching:

1. Enhanced Communication

Effective communication is at the heart of every high-performing team. Team coaching helps team members understand their communication styles, improve active listening, and resolve conflicts constructively.

According to a survey by the International Coach Federation (ICF) in 2021, 77% of organizations reported that team coaching improved team communication and collaboration.

An example would be Microsoft’s team transformation. Microsoft’s One Commercial Partner team underwent a transformation through team coaching. By focusing on communication and empathy, they improved their ability to work across departments and geographies. This resulted in a 20% increase in cross-team collaboration, as measured by project success rates.

2. Increased Productivity

A study published in the Harvard Business Review in 2019 found that companies that invested in team coaching experienced an average productivity increase of 10-15%. This shows us that high-performing teams are often significantly more productive than their counterparts.

Team coaching helps teams identify and eliminate productivity bottlenecks, streamline processes, and set clear priorities. Salesforce adopted agile methodologies to improve product development speed.

Team coaching played a vital role in this transformation by helping teams embrace agile principles and practices. As a result, Salesforce’s product development teams became 20% more productive, delivering high-quality releases 30% faster.

3. Improved Decision-Making

High-performing teams make better decisions. Team coaching helps teams enhance their decision-making processes by promoting data-driven approaches, critical thinking, and collaboration. For example, Toyota has a long history of continuous improvement.

Through team coaching, they instilled the Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement in their manufacturing teams. This led to a 25% reduction in defects and a 20% increase in production efficiency over two years. If you are still unsure about how effective team coaching can be, consider a study conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership in 2018.

This study found that organizations that invested in team coaching reported a 17% improvement in decision-making quality. We further learn that high-performing teams often experience higher levels of employee engagement and job satisfaction. Team coaching helps create a supportive and motivating team environment.

The Process of Team Coaching

Team coaching is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It involves a structured process tailored to the unique needs of each team. Here is an overview of the typical stages of team coaching:

Assessment: The process begins with a thorough assessment of the team’s current performance, strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Data may include surveys, interviews, and performance metrics.

An example would be Apple’s regular assessment of its product development teams through customer feedback and performance metrics. This data-driven approach has enabled Apple to maintain its reputation for innovation and quality.

Goal Setting: Based on the assessment, the team, along with the coach, sets specific and measurable goals. These goals may relate to communication, productivity, decision-making, or any other relevant aspect of team performance.

Amazon’s leadership principles serve as a framework for goal-setting in their teams. By aligning individual and team goals with these principles, Amazon ensures a shared sense of purpose and direction.

Coaching Sessions: The team coach facilitates regular coaching sessions with the team. These sessions may focus on skill-building, problem-solving, and fostering a growth mindset. The coach encourages open dialogue and constructive feedback.

For example, GE’s Crotonville Center offers team coaching programs to its leadership teams. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, GE has been able to adapt to changing market dynamics effectively.

Implementation and Feedback: The team coach supports the team in implementing strategies and initiatives to achieve their goals. Regular feedback loops ensure that the team stays on track and makes necessary adjustments.

Feedback loops in action can be witnessed in Airbnb’s cross-functional teams. They receive ongoing team coaching to improve collaboration. By regularly gathering feedback and making adjustments, they have increased their ability to deliver innovative products and services.

Evaluation and Continual Improvement: After a defined period, the team evaluates its progress and achievements against the goals set during the assessment phase. The team coach helps identify areas for further improvement and sets new goals as needed.

A recent study delved deeper into how Netflix fosters a culture of feedback and continual improvement within its teams. This popular organization uses data-driven evaluations to identify opportunities for growth and ensure that its high-performance culture remains intact.

Also Read: Resilience Coaching: A Business Coaching Method to Help Leaders Thrive Amidst Adversity

Challenges and Considerations

While team coaching offers numerous benefits, it is not without its challenges and considerations:

Time and Resource Commitment

A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in 2020 found that 63% of organizations cited resource constraints as a barrier to implementing team coaching.

Team coaching requires time and resources, both from the organization and team members. It may be challenging for organizations with tight budgets or fast-paced work environments to dedicate the necessary resources.

Resistance to Change

Some team members may resist coaching, viewing it as intrusive or unnecessary. It’s essential to address this resistance and communicate the value of team coaching effectively. Only if people know the intention behind investing in coaching can the organization as a whole see any tangible results.

Finding the Right Coach

Not all coaches are equally skilled at team coaching. Finding a coach who understands the team’s unique dynamics and can facilitate productive sessions is crucial. A report by the Center for Creative Leadership in 2021 found that organizations that carefully selected their team coaches were 33% more likely to see positive outcomes.

Conclusion

Building high-performing teams is a critical objective for organizations seeking sustained success in today’s competitive landscape. Team coaching, as a data-backed approach, has emerged as a powerful tool to achieve this goal.

However, organizations must be prepared to invest the time, resources, and effort required to implement team coaching effectively. The rewards are evident, as data consistently shows that teams that undergo coaching experience higher levels of performance, collaboration, and employee satisfaction.