Building High-Performing Teams: Trust, Safety, and Strengths

We all want high-performing teams. Teams that work well together, hold each other accountable, and drive real results. The reality is that that kind of performance does not happen by accident. It is built through clarity, trust, and a clear understanding of how teams grow and evolve.

This week, I have been thinking about what separates great teams from those that just get by. Two things stand out every time: psychological safety and knowing where your team is in its journey.

Here is a practical framework you can use to strengthen your team, along with a preview of what we will cover during this week’s live session.

Understand Where Your Team Is

Every team goes through stages. If you have ever led a team through growing pains or helped one reach peak performance, you have seen this in action. The Tuckman model gives us five phases: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning

You can lead more effectively when you know where your team is:

• Forming: Create structure. Be clear about expectations and goals.

• Storming: Embrace the tension. Conflict is a sign of progress if handled well.

• Norming: Reinforce standards. Focus on consistency and alignment.

• Performing: Trust your team. Step back while supporting their growth.

• Adjourning: Acknowledge the work. Celebrate before moving to the next challenge.

Once you identify the stage, you can lead with more clarity and purpose.

Build a Safe Environment for Growth

Psychological safety means people feel comfortable speaking up, sharing ideas, and admitting mistakes. Without it, progress slows, and collaboration suffers.

You can start building safety right now:

• Lead with honesty: Share your own challenges. It opens the door for others to do the same.

• Stay curious: When someone disagrees or brings a new idea, ask questions instead of shutting it down.

• Encourage contribution: Give team members ownership of projects so they can grow with confidence.

  
  

Safety unlocks performance. When people feel seen and supported, they show up fully.

Use the Strengths Around You

Strong teams are made of people with different strengths. When leaders learn how to combine those strengths, performance goes up across the board.

Start with these steps:

• Get to know your team: Tools like DiSC and one-on-one meetings help uncover natural abilities.

• Mix it up: Create cross-functional groups to bring out new perspectives.

• Watch for patterns: Notice who excels in what areas and where collaboration breaks down.

Knowing your team is one thing. Using that knowledge to improve results is what sets high-performing teams apart.

Why This Matters

Team performance affects everything. From productivity and innovation to culture and retention. If your team is stuck or underperforming, it is usually because something is missing in the areas of trust, structure, or clarity.

High-performing teams are not about pushing people harder. They are about leading people smarter.

Take One Step This Week

Think about your team. What stage are they in? What is one thing you could do to help them move forward?

Need ideas? Join me this week for Session 8 of the Wolf Leadership Series: Building High-Performing Teams. We will break down real examples, share strategies you can use immediately, and help you lead a team that truly performs.

What is one thing your best team had that others didn’t?

Drop your answer in the comments so we can learn from each other.