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To form a dynamic, high-energy team, you need a shared vision. Knowledge workers, in particular, need to feel that their daily work, tasks and activities are connected a bigger purpose or larger strategic objective for the organization.

If you want to create a vision for your team, ask your team, ‘What can we do better together than we can alone?' The following are also great questions to help you discover a shared vision:

• What issues or challenges do we face with our customers?
• What new direction or approach do we want to champion?
• What values do we want to instill in others and ourselves?

Here are some examples of vision statements:

• We create a collaborative customer-focused culture.
• We have a seamless culture to serve our customers better.
• We help each other grow, develop and succeed.
• We are a one-stop shop for doing business.
• We retain and develop the high talent leaders.

Once you have a vision, you'll want to implement it. Follow these steps for the best results.

Meet Regularly

One of the biggest deterrents to team performance is that team members don't interact. Knowledge workers especially are up to their eyeballs in projects and meetings. If meetings are optional, attendance drops off. It's essential that you have regular meetings as a starting point. If the meetings are useful, people will attend.

Identify Key Initiatives

With your vision in hand, select one to three initiatives the team can accomplish. Let's say you decide that ‘creating a collaborative, customer-focused organization' is your vision. Pick a few initiatives that the team can achieve to make this concept real. Specific projects are essential to make the larger team vision come alive.

Leverage Team Member Talents

Once you've assessed the project needs, consider the talent types sitting around the table. Now it's time to leverage team members' talents. Invite team members to step forward and share how their unique talents can help the team make progress on the key initiatives. Invite everyone to step up to the plate. Encourage team members to contribute in a way that energizes them.

Encourage Teamwork

Ask individuals who have complimentary talents to help each other. Some of the best leaders I know partner with others to complement their missing talents. Remember, eighty percent of individuals are low in at least one talent area. Partner with people who can help you cover these bases.

Invite anyone who wants advice on a challenge to take center stage. Give them five minutes to describe the challenge or opportunity. The rest of the team refrains from offering advice during this time. Once the speaker is finished, other team members present their ideas and suggestions. The focal person listens and writes down the ideas. When the feedback is complete, the focal person thanks the team for their insights and shares the ideas she or he plans to implement.

Put these practical ideas into action and your team will never be the same. When the team comes together, you'll have meetings that even you want to attend! Team members will feel less stressed and more connected to each other. The team's larger vision serves as a bridge to brings people, projects, and talents together.

Topics

• Leadership