Building High-Performing Teams: The PERS Team Approach

The recent discussion on Servant Leadership in my previous LinkedIn article highlighted a common thread: strong teams are the cornerstone of organizational success. 

This article proposes a fresh perspective on team composition. It argues that a successful team only requires some operational roles to be permanently filled. In today's dynamic economy, a strategically chosen PERS team (Purpose Expanding Nucleus Structure) supplemented by external expertise can achieve remarkable results.

Team Composition: Embracing Diversity

History offers compelling examples of successful leadership through team composition. 

Abraham Lincoln's cabinet, often called the "Team of Rivals," exemplifies this concept. Lincoln created a core team with a rich tapestry of perspectives by incorporating individuals with opposing political views. This diversity of thought fostered innovative solutions, broadened support for his initiatives, and likely minimized internal conflict within his administration.

This historical case highlights the importance of a well-defined core team with a strong foundation of trust and diverse viewpoints.

Ingredients for Team Success

Numerous studies have identified critical ingredients for Building High-Performing Teams. These include:

• Collaboration: Team members who work effectively together achieve more.

• Diversity: A variety of viewpoints fosters innovation and problem-solving.

• Conflict Resolution: A healthy debate leads to better decisions.

• Trust and Accountability: Mutual trust fosters a sense of responsibility and ownership.

• Alignment with Leadership: A shared vision motivates and unites the team.

The Challenge of Large Teams: Sustainability

While history offers numerous examples of successful teams, maintaining their effectiveness over time can be challenging. Large, permanent teams often struggle with:

• Sustainability: The ever-present pressure to perform can lead to burnout and high turnover.

• Focus: Large teams can become unwieldy and lose focus on core objectives.

Examples of Enduring Success

Effective teams built around servant leaders are not theoretical fiction. Real-world examples showcase its power in action. 

For instance, leaders like Kevin Tabb, who led the successful merger of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Lahey Health into Beth Israel-Lahey Health and then proceeded to enhance the role of the new system in the Massachusetts healthcare landscape, and Rob Jay , who spearheaded the turnaround of ScionHealth, both achieved long-term success with dedicated core teams.

Companies within Warren Buffett's renowned portfolio, known for their focus on long-term value creation, also demonstrate the effectiveness of sustained, focused groups of leaders. These real-world success stories highlight the nucleus team's ability to drive sustainable growth, making it a compelling argument for building and leading successful groups of people.

Why Teams Fail: Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Even the best-intentioned groups can fall prey to pitfalls. One culprit is unmanaged egos and siloed thinking. When team members prioritize personal gain over collaboration, information gets hoarded, and innovation suffers.

Unclear communication is another hurdle. When roles, objectives, and expectations are muddled, misunderstandings and missed deadlines become commonplace.

Micromanagement, with its constant oversight and stifled trust, can be equally damaging, robbing team members of autonomy and creativity.

Unrealistic expectations set the stage for failure: morale plummets when goals are constantly out of reach, and a sense of constant pressure takes hold.

The Nucleus Advantage: Building a Powerful Core

This brings us to the "Purpose Expanding Nucleus Structure" concept: the PERS Team. 

It is a flexible, expanding, and shrinking team that modifies its composition around a core group of members according to the circumstances. Its advantage lies in agility and adaptability. A smaller core can react swiftly to changing market conditions or opportunities, unburdened by bureaucratic red tape. 

Furthermore, a clearly defined purpose and shared goals keep everyone focused and aligned. Camaraderie flourishes within a smaller team, leading to higher morale, improved retention, and a more sustainable workload.

When specialized skills or knowledge are required, the nucleus team can strategically leverage external expertise for specific, well-defined assignments. This ensures access to the right talent at the right time without the overhead of permanent hires. 

A strong nucleus team becomes even more critical during growth, transformation, or in times of crisis. They provide stability, navigate change with agility, and seamlessly integrate external expertise to address specific needs.

The Power of External Expertise: Operators vs. Consultants

Organizations can have a permanent C-suite filled with only some positions. A PERS team can leverage external expertise strategically. It allows access to high-level, highly experienced resources appropriate for the specific task. 

Experts from management operating entities, like Exact Leaders Leaders, can seamlessly integrate with the team, addressing particular challenges without disrupting the core team dynamic.

This approach is not about simply hiring consultants. It's about bringing in "operators" - individuals who become an extension of the team, sharing responsibility, accountability, and authority to drive results faster.

Conclusion: The PERS Team Approach for Building High-Performing Teams

The Purpose Expanding Nucleus Structure: The PERS team approach offers a compelling alternative for building successful teams in today's dynamic business landscape. 

Organizations can achieve agility, cost-efficiency, and long-term success by focusing on a solid core and strategically leveraging external expertise.