This single question, the second question in our proven 9 Question Model for developing high-performing teams, could be the key to unlocking 20-25% higher performance.
Many people will enter a goal or a target here. But purpose needs to be about more than targets and money. These are tasks and weigh heavy if they do not connect to a bigger purpose or mission. Without a sense of purpose, teams cannot thrive.
Teams need to discover or create a purpose that sets them alight and let it become their polestar - the constant point of reference in the midst of day-to-day uncertainties. Purpose is a collective understanding of what the team is working towards and, just as importantly, why it matters.
Gyre’s model of Team Effectiveness asks "Do we know where we are going and believe we are doing something meaningful?" (Want to know more about the model? Click here: https://www.gyreteams.com/post/empowering-teams-with-the-gyre-team-effectiveness-model).
When teams have that clarity of direction and a meaningful connection to their goals, they achieve 20-25% higher task performance compared to teams without this alignment (Aubé, Rousseau, & Tremblay, British Journal of Psychology, 2014). As Simon Sinek says:
“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion.”
Work with your team to answer these questions:
- What do we want to be known for? What do we want our legacy to be?
- What would this company lose if this team was disbanded? What do we stand for?
- What issues make us unhappy? What problem can we solve?
- What difference are we here to make?
Achieving this alignment is a great first step. But the real power lies in ensuring everyone in the team REALLY understands what this purpose means and has a personal connection to its importance. We call this “creating shared cognitions”.
Teams that develop this shared clarity experience less conflict, higher motivation, and significantly better performance (DeChurch & Mesmer-Magnus, Journal of Applied Psychology, 2010).
In today’s fast-paced world, teams need to “slow down to speed up.” Invest time in aligning on shared purpose - the results will speak for themselves.
👉➡️ Swipe through the carousel for practical ways to ensure your team knows where it’s going and feels connected to its purpose.
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