Stories abound of underdogs who overcame all odds and came out on top. Great teams do not always have the most capable players. Build a Team Dream Rather than a Dream Team If you have not done so already, start with the simple exercise of Look Out, Look In, Look Forward. They have a goal in mind, but they get everyone to understand why the current situation is not enough to meet future needs. If people don’t believe in an idea, it will not succeed.Ī good leader starts by understanding where the team is today and how it got there. They are heavily invested in the way things are today-even those who spend a lot of time complaining. They have figured out how to align their personal objectives to the objectives of the team. People work hard to define their place in a team. If people don’t believe in an idea, or if it is alien to the way things are today, it will not succeed. Too many great ideas have been wrecked because they were imposed on a team without taking its members into account. Here are some ways that every manager can use strategic thinking to achieve this, no matter what level they are.

Strategic thinking helps leaders to turn good teams into high-performing teams by fostering belief in a common purpose.

Great leaders rally their team members around a common purpose, then do whatever it takes to support team members as they strive to achieve that purpose.

Good leaders know that it is the team that achieves its goals, not the manager.

Good managers strive to achieve the goals set for their team.

When people believe that their actions will result in something better than today, they will do whatever they can to achieve it. What’s mentioned most, even more than communication and leadership, are “purpose” and “common goals.”

“If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.”-Zig ZiglarĪ quick internet search of “What makes teams successful?” brings up hundreds of lists and opinions. The first article covered the first steps to creating a strategy that is simple, relevant, and achievable and that keeps up with the pace of change in today's business environments. This is the second article in my series that explores how managers at every level can use strategic thinking techniques to increase their team’s effectiveness and their impact as a leader.

Which dream team member are you