What makes team win

These leaders recognize that making adjustments to their management style is the key to building winning teams. In a survey I conducted among nearly employees in the professional services industry, members of high-achieving teams said they felt "empowered to do their best work" and that team leaders "encouraged them to use their strengths every day.

This is hardly surprising. A recent report by Gallup showed that strengths-based leadership has the potential to deliver improved business outcomes: Employees who say they use their strengths every day are 8 percent more productive and 15 percent less likely to quit their jobs. They are also more likely to strongly agree that they like what they do each day.

When people are untethered from management, their strengths can rise. The litmus test of team effectiveness is psychological safety, the ability of group members to think and act without worrying about social repercussions - in essence, to just be themselves. Google discovered this firsthand when it studied of its own teams to learn why some were successful and others were not. Appreciate them for who they are and what they contribute. Appreciation goes a long way in the business world.

You do not want your team members to only be successful: You must want for them to be authentically happy. The making of a great team comes down to love. Love what you do, love what they do, and you create an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive.

Winning teams are developed under leaders who have the ability to flex and bend their own personalities around each team member's needs. When you manage each team member individually, you maximize their strengths and learn how to fill in for their weaker areas.

Sherrie Campbell is a psychologist in Yorba Linda, Calif. Tim Madden. Daniel Scott. Sally French. Skip to content Profile Avatar. Subscribe to Entrepreneur. Magazine Subscriptions. By Sherrie Campbell April 7, Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Maskot Getty Images. Latest on Entrepreneur.

Tim Madden Nov 13, Daniel Scott Nov 13, Sally French Nov 12, What happens after a sale? Does the client disappear, never to be heard from again? Or did your salesperson have a good relationship with them, which kept them coming back again each time they needed something? Keeping track of your client retention rate is a valuable way to measure how well your sales team is performing. No one—OK, almost no one—wants to work in a windowless room, under yellow lighting, at desks they have to share with five other people, for a miserable boss, and for less money than they could earn elsewhere.

So what can you do to create a company culture that encourages your team members to show up and do their best? A poor company culture could result in higher-than-average staff turnover, which hurt your sales and company dynamic if you have to continually hire and onboard new employees. Creating a successful sales team will take some work, but in the end, the time and effort you invest will pay off.

You will be able to hire the best people, meet and exceed your sales goals, and have a happy, healthy workforce if you implement some of these suggestions for your sales team. Trust us, we know—we live and breathe sales every day, and if you need some assistance, Nutshell is designed to help you get there. Sell to Win. David Quilty. Ready to try Nutshell for Free? Treat your salesperson like you would treat your most important customer—because he is! Ack, that sounds like so much!

How can I do that? What steps do I need to take? The goal is to build a successful team, not just fill seats with any warm body. Always Be Learning Remember when selling meant literally combing through the Yellow Pages and calling all the phone numbers in hopes of reaching a live person willing to buy your product?

Implement Time-Saving and Efficiency Tools As mentioned earlier, salespeople used to have to dig through the Yellow Pages for contact information. Provide Incentives Sales can be a difficult gig, and if you had become a sales manager after being a salesperson , you know this deep down. Establish a Healthy Company Culture No one—OK, almost no one—wants to work in a windowless room, under yellow lighting, at desks they have to share with five other people, for a miserable boss, and for less money than they could earn elsewhere.

You can provide them with some key things, including: Remote work opportunities. Regular salary increases. Professional development classes.