What makes for great team?

Building World-Class Organizations and Teams

What does a high-performance team mean to you? And how do you build one? High-performing teams streamline their efforts, eliminating unnecessary tasks to focus on impactful work. They identify and remove process friction, creating a structure that drives success.

Over the past 20 years, I've had the privilege of working on some truly exceptional teams. I’ve witnessed how certain groups make success look effortless while others struggle with basic collaboration. So, what distinguishes a world-class team? Reflecting on my experiences, I’ve identified key characteristics that these teams embody. If you want to elevate your own team—whether as a member or a manager—there are actionable strategies to implement...keep reading.

Characteristics of a World-Class Team

Through my experience working with engineering teams around the world, I’ve identified recurring themes that consistently bring out the best in my teams. While other principles may work for others, three key elements—clarity, trust, and focused time—have proven most effective in driving team productivity and success. I’ll walk you through each of these areas and share how they’ve contributed to the high performance of my teams.

1. Clarity

One of the most surprising and pervasive issues that teams face is a lack of clarity. We've all seen situations where teams spend far too much time tracking down answers, getting bogged down in “hunting” for what they need to do next. When teams lack clarity, they get caught in a cycle of unnecessary meetings, repeated questions, and wasted time, all of which could be prevented by ensuring they have clear, actionable guidance from the start.

To address this, we can rely on tried-and-true frameworks designed to clarify work and bring people together effectively. Agile methodologies, for example, were specifically built to bring the right people into the planning process, making sure that work is well-defined and that everyone has a shared understanding of implementation, testing, and completion. In my experience, strong Backlog Refinement (Grooming) sessions are invaluable; they provide a dedicated space for stakeholders to ask questions, refine details, and ensure tasks are well-defined, ultimately minimizing confusion and allowing teams to move forward with confidence.

While clarity may seem like a simple concept, it’s an area that’s well worth the investment. Much like the Pareto Principle, where 80% of the outcomes are driven by 20% of the efforts, a focused effort on clarity can yield outsized results, setting the stage for effective collaboration and maximizing the team’s productivity.

2. Team Trust 

It’s amazing how an inviting and reassuring environment brings out individual talents and motivates collaboration. Environments like these flourish only when built on a foundation of trust, where team members feel safe to express themselves without fear of judgment. Trust isn’t just a given—it’s something leaders must actively cultivate, taking teams from their current state to a more collaborative, trusting culture.

Leaders set the stage by focusing on trust-building actions that lead by example. This means consistently doing what they say they will do, listening carefully, and showing they value team feedback by visibly incorporating it. When team members see their feedback implemented and notice that leaders are committed to following through, trust begins to deepen. Structured activities like retrospectives can create spaces for open dialogue and honest feedback, fostering a continuous improvement culture where everyone feels they can contribute ideas and impact workflows.

I recall working with a team that epitomized the term “grumpy.” Despite their talent, they constantly underperformed, were quick to criticize, and resisted every new project. I recognized that at the root of this dysfunction was a lack of trust. To address it, I initiated recurring retrospectives at the end of each sprint. What initially started as sessions filled with complaints slowly evolved into meaningful discussions. Team members began to feel heard and were able to share frustrations constructively, which fostered a more supportive environment. Gradually, the grumpiness gave way to a spirit of collaboration. The team grew more receptive to feedback, trust solidified, and their performance improved significantly.  Honestly, sometimes, they just need to a place to vent.

3. Time to Do the Work

One of the most common frustrations engineers face is the lack of dedicated time for their tasks, leading to feelings of frustration and inefficiency. Imagine how disheartening it must be for engineers to be asked to complete critical work but find their schedules cluttered with excessive meetings and planning sessions. When we make it hard for them to carve out focused time, we hinder not only their productivity but also their motivation.

To address this, it’s essential to block out specific time slots during work hours dedicated solely to engineering tasks. This practice not only increases productivity but also boosts morale, as team members experience the satisfaction of completing their work without constant interruptions.

When engineers have the opportunity to immerse themselves in their tasks, they cultivate a sense of accomplishment that drives momentum and enthusiasm throughout the team. High-performing teams understand the importance of respecting each member's time and prioritizing organization, which allows for a more efficient and productive workflow. By fostering an environment that enables focused work, we empower our engineers to thrive and contribute their best efforts

Conclusion

Building a world-class Engineering organization and teams doesn't require extraordinary or complicated measures—just consistent effort from all team members and their leaders. Setting up a strong foundation of clarity, trust, and dedicated time for work is essential. However, it's not a one-time fix; ongoing monitoring and adjustments are necessary to maintain a winning culture.

Actionable Steps for Joining or Revitalizing a Team

If I were joining an underperforming or established team, here are the actionable steps I would take to help elevate them to world-class status:

1. Assess Clarity: Hold discussions around clarity and purpose. Evaluate the effectiveness of Backlog Refinement sessions and introduce more if needed.  I like to have more shorter and more frequent Backlog Refinement sessions.  Time box them so everyone has expectations of when they can return to their other tasks.

2. Foster Open Communication: Emphasize the importance of a culture of openness in every meeting and do this over several sprints. Reiterate the importance of shared ideas and inclusivity.

3. Implement Regular Retrospectives: Set up consistent retrospectives to ensure team members have a forum for feedback and improvement.  

4. Allocate Time for Work: Review the schedule to ensure engineers have dedicated time blocks to focus on their tasks without distractions.

By taking these steps, I’ve witnessed remarkable transformations in team dynamics, leading to enhanced productivity and fulfillment. A world-class team is not just a goal; it’s an achievable reality with the right approach.