The most important characteristic of a high-performance team is everyone working together (collaborating) to achieve a common goal. For Example: Frequently on our Emergency Response Team (SWAT) activations, we need to establish a course of action prior to going into the field. This course of action is determined by a group of us that all have input and play a part in the decision making. Through this collaboration, a response plan is launched and everyone works together to achieve a goal that is identical for everyone. By doing this, the likelihood of a positive outcome is the highest due to the group brainstorming, establishing knowns and unknowns, and deciding a course of action (PBL in a nutshell).
Certainly agree with you Reed, there are so many things that can happen on teams like this that everyone needs to be on the same page. Working together to form a plan that will mostly change quickly is very important and that you need input from everyone on the team especially with their strong suits. Having each member input their opinion in their area of specialty will always help the team to be as successful as possible.
SWAT teams are the epitome of a high-performance team. Collaborating and communication does not stop after establishing a course of action. No matter how well you plan, during the operation something does not go your way. It is imperative that the team communicates and makes decisions on the fly. A dysfunctional team will not be able to adjust in the middle of an operation. I know that you will take the information from this course back to your team and make it even stronger.
I believe the most important characteristic of a high performing team is Trust. You need to have trust in all members of a team to be successful and high performing. Everyone on a team will typically have identifiable strengths and weaknesses. All members should know these and those who are strong at some things should be able to pick up the weaknesses of others. In knowing each persons strengths and weaknesses, it is easy to assign members to certain tasks that you know they will be successful at. They can also take members where that task would be their weakness and teach them. I relate this to our SRT team. We have a very high performing team and trust is one of the most important things we have identified. We need to be able to trust that each member is doing their job or else someone can get hurt or the mission can fail. Such things as being able to trust someone that has your back around a doorway that they are intently watching their area of responsibility because if they are not, you could possibly get shot in the back. These are some of the reasons I believe trust is the most important characteristic.
Nate, this is something I did not think of and agree completely with. Without trust I believe a team will fail. Having trust in each other is essential for a successful team and will also provide a sense of relief to each member. Also, utilizing the strengths and weaknesses of team members is crucial and can definitely pave the way towards success. Great points!
Nate, when thinking of important characteristics of a high performing team trust did not come to mind. However, reading through your post you make a compelling argument. Knowing each members strengths and weaknesses plays into trust. If a team member is trusted to take on a task , it is crucial that they perform at a high level so no one gets hurt.
Nate, trust is definitely an important part of making a high-performing team. What happens when a member of the team is untrustworthy? My experience has shown that if a person is untrusted, other members will not share information or take in any information that person shares. It really makes them isolated from the team. I had an experience with an officer that no one trusted. He was always the one to tell a story and give advice. However, no one took him seriously and were annoyed every time he showed up. When we had a big scene and we were working it out, he would tell us information about the suspect that was not true. It was as if he just had to spit something out it did not matter to him if it was real or not. The problem with that is sometimes he actually had something to contribute but no one listened to him.
I think we did a disservice to this officer. We should have had a conversation with him and tried to get him back to reality. We could have joined together as a team and helped him out, which would have helped our team. While trust is hard to regain, it is worth the overall success of the team to work on rebuilding it.
Trust is so important to a team. I too relate this to my time on our SRT team, but oddly enough I remember it from my wedding vows almost 25 years ago. There was a line during our ceremony that went, “Trust is one of the most powerful words in the English language. Betray it, and you may never find it again.”
On SRT I had to be able to trust that you were going to fulfill your assignment as I was fulfilling mine. The moment you were concerned that someone wasn’t going to do what they were supposed to do, the entire flow of an operation would suffer. Throughout my 21 years on a team I had times when the trust was flawless. There was no concern that everyone knew their assignments and they would get them done. But there were also a few times when some operators proved time and time again that they were going to do whatever they wanted at any given point and could not be trusted to function as the team demanded. Personality had nothing to do with it. There were operators that I butted heads with at times over the years that I trusted them completely. Then again, there were some operators that were well liked by all, but could not be trusted to carry out their assignment. That was the worst insult on the team, in my opinion, “I don’t trust you.”
A team without trust undoubtedly would fall apart when times got tough. I too believe trust is the glue that holds a team together and one of the most important things a high performance team can possess. Listening to the Shawn Ryan podcast he often interviews elite military members involved in some of the most dangerous missions in the world. In nearly every interview the tier one operator will talk about his team and refer to them as his brothers and having the ability to communicate with just a look. This all stems from trust. Having said that, trust isn't just necessary for high performance, high stress missions, establishing trust amongst a sports team or even within a family is necessary for them to be successful.
I have taken countless calls for service involving family members in crisis with each other because trust has not been established. I think this just goes to show how important trust can be, as even people who have spent their entire lives together need trust to function and succeed together. Unfortunately, trust is fragile and can be difficult to establish. I know at times I make the mistake of assuming members of my team inherently trust me based on the work and reputation I have put into my career thus far. Of course this does not make a lot of sense as our department is very young, and many of the officers are not aware of the work I have put into my career. As we progress through this course, I am hoping to learn new ways to build trust among my teams and not just depend on my reputation.
The most important characteristic of a high-performance team is open communication that stimulates effective collaboration.
Over my 24 years in law enforcement, I have been involved with high-performance teams and extremely low-performance teams. The high-performance teams have always been successful because of great communication and collaboration. The low-performance teams usually failed because the individuals stayed individuals and would not communicate as a team. When you do not communicate as a team, there is no collaboration.
One of the successful teams I have been involved with was with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, and we were implementing a new Elder Abuse Task Force. The group consisted of Sheriff's Office employees, a judge, a prosecutor, and a geriatric specialist. The Sheriff wanted to start a task force to protect the elderly and investigate elder abuse. This was the first task force like this. We had scheduled meetings every week for several months. However, we were in constant communication with each other. We were able to collaborate well with each other and get a good plan of action. We assigned each other tasks and checked on each other's progress. When a member of the team ran into an issue, they let everyone know and we all gave input. From time to time, we ran into conflicts. For example, the geriatric specialist would put services as a higher priority than enforcement. The enforcement members would push back and remind her that the project was a law enforcement project. We were able to talk the issues out and remember this is not just a law enforcement project. This project was to help the elderly. It was an amazing experience to implement a new task force that has never been in existence before. The project has been a huge success that is still thriving 15 years later.
Looking back on that project, the PBL process was used several times during the implementation of this task force. Now that I understand the PBL process, it will give me a better understanding of how to use it and why it should be used.
Brian, to say the Elder Abuse Task Force is a success is an understatement. I remember watching from the outside as this unit took shape. The constant feedback and collaboration of community partners made me feel confident in asking for assistance along with turning cases over to this task force. Looking back at it, maybe the PBL was not expressly stated, however, it is clear it was used.
Brian, I agree that effective communication is vital to having a successful team. I have been on teams that had no clear message given from the top down and there was little feedback accepted up from the bottom. Inconsistent or contradictory messages lead to uncertainty and division.
If we have learned anything this week, I believe we have learned that without open communication collaboration does not exist. This obviously transfers to our daily lives and careers. I too have worked with leaders who fail to communicate and those that communicate effectively. Effective communication isn't just verbalizing instructions and delegating tasks. Effective communication entails explaining to the team the reason behind the mission. Motivating the team and inspiring the team to complete the mission is just as important.
A on going example of this at my department is the distribution of what we call "M90 cards". These cards are handed out on traffic stops and allow the person that is pulled over to complete a survey. Officers were initially just told to hand out the cards. As would be assumed, most were resistant and not excited that someone they just gave a ticket would have the ability to critique them. The supervisor that introduced the mission did not take the time to explain the reasoning behind them. It took a platoon meeting after the fact explaining how the surveys keep us from having to go through another racial profiling study, along with assuring the officers the cards were not going to be used to punish them. Once the mission goals and purpose the officers moved forward as a team and began to hand out the cards with far less complaints.
The most important characteristic of a high-performance team is each individual functioning at a high level while completing tasks. EXAMPE: For over fifteen years I worked as part of our Criminal Investigations Division. When faced with a major crime such as homicide it is crucial that each member of the team functions at a high level. This usually starts with every member of the team coming together to determine what happened. The next step is what tasks need to be completed and who is assigned to those tasks. However, part of functioning at a high level is not only completing the task but putting forth maximum effort while maintaining constant communication with other members of the team. This will make sure the most accurate investigation occurs. Each investigation is like building a puzzle, which is a picture. The more pieces gathered the more accurate the picture. Any one team member not functioning at a high level can lead to missing pieces of the puzzle. The team then does not have the best picture possible. This is why it is so crucial that each member participates at a high level. During my time spent in the investigation division I was fortunate to have worked with other team members that, when faced with a major crime, performed most of the time at a high level. This lead to major crimes being solved quickly and accurately, with the exception of one. This incident was solved, but it was not quickly and initially it was not completely accurate. This was due to a member of our team not participating at a high level. While the end result was a conviction, the process to get the end result is important. This was brought up in conversations so that we could have continued success the next time a major crime happened.
Todd, I can certainly agree with you that when dealing with units like investigations you need all members functioning at a high level. When you have large cases, most of the time certain parts of the investigation are compartmentalized and different people handle them. You need each person to be on their game so that the case is investigated properly. If someone is faltering in an area like evidence tech or photography, the case can start to fall apart especially in court. When that happens, your whole case can be in jeopardy and you can lose it.
Todd, Homicide investigations are definitely tasks that require high level performance. Everyone needs to be on their "A" game, and work together as a team. I liked your example of the investigations being handled quickly, however, when someone did not participate to a high level of collaboration, it made the whole investigation fall apart. Great insight.
Todd, Homicide investigations take an all hands on deck effort. We can not forget that the investigation starts from the first 911 call and the first officer to arrive on scene. The information that they have is vital. Also, the road officers that help control the crowd so investigators can do their work. The team goes beyond just the investigators. Everyone involved needs to do their part.
Probably the most important characteristic of a high-performance team is teamwork. The dictionary defines teamwork as “work done by a group acting together so that each member does a part that contributes to the efficiency of the whole” or “the combined action of a group of people, especially when effective and efficient.” Just the word “teamwork” makes me think about my time on out SRT team. Being a part of a top notch team requires teamwork. There really cannot be any one member who doesn’t pull their weight. Everyone has to have a unified goal and do their part to accomplish that singular goal. Not every person can be doing the “cool” stuff either. There has to be the understanding and expectation that whatever task you are assigned, you will complete it to the best of your ability, regardless of how minor a part it may seem to be compared to the whole.
The Entry Team is considered, by most, to be the best assignment on a tactical team. They are the ones who approach, breach, clear, and secure a structure. Most often they take the suspect(s) into custody. The vast majority of the time the Perimeter Team sets up for containment of a target and stands idly by while Entry does the “work”. But how many times does a suspect flee out of the structure as soon as it’s breached? It actually happens regularly. If the Perimeter Team does not get set up and maintain their position during the raid, that suspect flees unchecked. At the same token, it is not Entry’s job to give chase outside the structure while clearing it. What potential threats may still be inside? The entire team has to work efficiently and effectively together to achieve their common goal.
A synonym for teamwork is collaboration. Collaboration is one of the conflict resolution options that we learned about this week in class, and was said by our facilitator to be the best option “in a perfect world.” It’s that aspect of a team being selfless to obtain their goals. It’s the optimization of having one’s strengths balance another’s weaknesses, that two heads are better than one, that together, and only together, they will win.
Curtice, I feel like your choice of "teamwork" is not only accurate, but also for me it is also all encompassing. I have never worked on an SRT team; however, I can relate to your example of setting up a perimeter. It's a job that is not as exciting but is very important. Doing things that you may not want to do but are absolutely necessary to team goal achievement. You also tied this in nicely with collaboration being a conflict resolution option.
The most important characteristic of a high-performance team is strong leadership. Strong leadership instills trust, ensures accountability and provides clear communication. A successful team is one where the members are working toward a shared vision. A strong leader provides direction and motivation that ensures team members are successful. Throughout the span of my career, I have worked for many different Chiefs. I remember most of them, but ironically, the one with the shortest span of command is the one I admire the most. There is not one specific scenario that stands out with this Chief, it was the small things she did that makes me remember her. This chief knew all of the officers by name without looking at your name tag. She knew facts both about the person she was talking to and their family. During one retirement ceremony the entire department came out and lined up so the person retiring could walk through two lines of officers up to the podium. After the retirement ceremony this chief walked down both lines of officers shook each officers’ hand, spoke to them by first name, and had a brief conversation. While seemingly a simple task, each officer left that ceremony feeling as if they had a purpose. They felt like an integral part of the team. I was an officer at the time, and I remember we all wanted to perform at our best to make her proud. She inspired and motivated her troops to work for her not because she told them to but because they were inspired to. Ultimately, this chief led our department during the riots that occurred as a result of George Floyd. She stood in the face of diversity, she was very clear with her communication, in what we were going to do, and what we had to do to keep the city and officers safe. Even though at the time standing up to civil unrest was unpopular. She ultimately sacrificed her career defending the actions of officers. Without strong leadership during that time the department would have struggled with uncertainty, officers would have been hesitant and confused, and the city would have suffered. Over the past week our class was exposed to many different techniques to learn about ourselves and other people more effectively. We have been provided techniques in conflict resolution communication and learning. The purpose of all of this information is to turn all of us into great leaders. Similarly, throughout history great leaders have been highlighted and their impacts have had worldwide impacts. In conclusion strong leadership remains the foundation of a successful team. High performance teams must prioritize strong leadership to ensure sustained performance and growth.
Kelly, I agree completely. Strong leadership paves the way for success of a mission. Communication, trust, and accountability all stems off from having good leadership. Also, your story is moving. Just thinking of a chief that does that gives me feelings of support and a sense of "following" for her. She showed the characteristics of a leader that I strive to be, and would be lucky to model my career after.
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ReplyDeleteThe most important characteristic of a high-performance team is everyone working together (collaborating) to achieve a common goal.
ReplyDeleteFor Example: Frequently on our Emergency Response Team (SWAT) activations, we need to establish a course of action prior to going into the field. This course of action is determined by a group of us that all have input and play a part in the decision making. Through this collaboration, a response plan is launched and everyone works together to achieve a goal that is identical for everyone. By doing this, the likelihood of a positive outcome is the highest due to the group brainstorming, establishing knowns and unknowns, and deciding a course of action (PBL in a nutshell).
Certainly agree with you Reed, there are so many things that can happen on teams like this that everyone needs to be on the same page. Working together to form a plan that will mostly change quickly is very important and that you need input from everyone on the team especially with their strong suits. Having each member input their opinion in their area of specialty will always help the team to be as successful as possible.
DeleteSWAT teams are the epitome of a high-performance team. Collaborating and communication does not stop after establishing a course of action. No matter how well you plan, during the operation something does not go your way. It is imperative that the team communicates and makes decisions on the fly. A dysfunctional team will not be able to adjust in the middle of an operation. I know that you will take the information from this course back to your team and make it even stronger.
DeleteI believe the most important characteristic of a high performing team is Trust. You need to have trust in all members of a team to be successful and high performing. Everyone on a team will typically have identifiable strengths and weaknesses. All members should know these and those who are strong at some things should be able to pick up the weaknesses of others. In knowing each persons strengths and weaknesses, it is easy to assign members to certain tasks that you know they will be successful at. They can also take members where that task would be their weakness and teach them. I relate this to our SRT team. We have a very high performing team and trust is one of the most important things we have identified. We need to be able to trust that each member is doing their job or else someone can get hurt or the mission can fail. Such things as being able to trust someone that has your back around a doorway that they are intently watching their area of responsibility because if they are not, you could possibly get shot in the back. These are some of the reasons I believe trust is the most important characteristic.
ReplyDeleteNate, this is something I did not think of and agree completely with. Without trust I believe a team will fail. Having trust in each other is essential for a successful team and will also provide a sense of relief to each member. Also, utilizing the strengths and weaknesses of team members is crucial and can definitely pave the way towards success. Great points!
DeleteNate, when thinking of important characteristics of a high performing team trust did not come to mind. However, reading through your post you make a compelling argument. Knowing each members strengths and weaknesses plays into trust. If a team member is trusted to take on a task , it is crucial that they perform at a high level so no one gets hurt.
DeleteNate, trust is definitely an important part of making a high-performing team. What happens when a member of the team is untrustworthy? My experience has shown that if a person is untrusted, other members will not share information or take in any information that person shares. It really makes them isolated from the team. I had an experience with an officer that no one trusted. He was always the one to tell a story and give advice. However, no one took him seriously and were annoyed every time he showed up. When we had a big scene and we were working it out, he would tell us information about the suspect that was not true. It was as if he just had to spit something out it did not matter to him if it was real or not. The problem with that is sometimes he actually had something to contribute but no one listened to him.
DeleteI think we did a disservice to this officer. We should have had a conversation with him and tried to get him back to reality. We could have joined together as a team and helped him out, which would have helped our team. While trust is hard to regain, it is worth the overall success of the team to work on rebuilding it.
Trust is so important to a team. I too relate this to my time on our SRT team, but oddly enough I remember it from my wedding vows almost 25 years ago. There was a line during our ceremony that went, “Trust is one of the most powerful words in the English language. Betray it, and you may never find it again.”
DeleteOn SRT I had to be able to trust that you were going to fulfill your assignment as I was fulfilling mine. The moment you were concerned that someone wasn’t going to do what they were supposed to do, the entire flow of an operation would suffer. Throughout my 21 years on a team I had times when the trust was flawless. There was no concern that everyone knew their assignments and they would get them done. But there were also a few times when some operators proved time and time again that they were going to do whatever they wanted at any given point and could not be trusted to function as the team demanded. Personality had nothing to do with it. There were operators that I butted heads with at times over the years that I trusted them completely. Then again, there were some operators that were well liked by all, but could not be trusted to carry out their assignment. That was the worst insult on the team, in my opinion, “I don’t trust you.”
A team without trust undoubtedly would fall apart when times got tough. I too believe trust is the glue that holds a team together and one of the most important things a high performance team can possess. Listening to the Shawn Ryan podcast he often interviews elite military members involved in some of the most dangerous missions in the world. In nearly every interview the tier one operator will talk about his team and refer to them as his brothers and having the ability to communicate with just a look. This all stems from trust. Having said that, trust isn't just necessary for high performance, high stress missions, establishing trust amongst a sports team or even within a family is necessary for them to be successful.
DeleteI have taken countless calls for service involving family members in crisis with each other because trust has not been established. I think this just goes to show how important trust can be, as even people who have spent their entire lives together need trust to function and succeed together. Unfortunately, trust is fragile and can be difficult to establish. I know at times I make the mistake of assuming members of my team inherently trust me based on the work and reputation I have put into my career thus far. Of course this does not make a lot of sense as our department is very young, and many of the officers are not aware of the work I have put into my career. As we progress through this course, I am hoping to learn new ways to build trust among my teams and not just depend on my reputation.
The most important characteristic of a high-performance team is open communication that stimulates effective collaboration.
ReplyDeleteOver my 24 years in law enforcement, I have been involved with high-performance teams and extremely low-performance teams. The high-performance teams have always been successful because of great communication and collaboration. The low-performance teams usually failed because the individuals stayed individuals and would not communicate as a team. When you do not communicate as a team, there is no collaboration.
One of the successful teams I have been involved with was with the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, and we were implementing a new Elder Abuse Task Force. The group consisted of Sheriff's Office employees, a judge, a prosecutor, and a geriatric specialist. The Sheriff wanted to start a task force to protect the elderly and investigate elder abuse. This was the first task force like this. We had scheduled meetings every week for several months. However, we were in constant communication with each other. We were able to collaborate well with each other and get a good plan of action. We assigned each other tasks and checked on each other's progress. When a member of the team ran into an issue, they let everyone know and we all gave input. From time to time, we ran into conflicts. For example, the geriatric specialist would put services as a higher priority than enforcement. The enforcement members would push back and remind her that the project was a law enforcement project. We were able to talk the issues out and remember this is not just a law enforcement project. This project was to help the elderly. It was an amazing experience to implement a new task force that has never been in existence before. The project has been a huge success that is still thriving 15 years later.
Looking back on that project, the PBL process was used several times during the implementation of this task force. Now that I understand the PBL process, it will give me a better understanding of how to use it and why it should be used.
Brian, to say the Elder Abuse Task Force is a success is an understatement. I remember watching from the outside as this unit took shape. The constant feedback and collaboration of community partners made me feel confident in asking for assistance along with turning cases over to this task force. Looking back at it, maybe the PBL was not expressly stated, however, it is clear it was used.
DeleteBrian, I agree that effective communication is vital to having a successful team. I have been on teams that had no clear message given from the top down and there was little feedback accepted up from the bottom. Inconsistent or contradictory messages lead to uncertainty and division.
DeleteIf we have learned anything this week, I believe we have learned that without open communication collaboration does not exist. This obviously transfers to our daily lives and careers. I too have worked with leaders who fail to communicate and those that communicate effectively. Effective communication isn't just verbalizing instructions and delegating tasks. Effective communication entails explaining to the team the reason behind the mission. Motivating the team and inspiring the team to complete the mission is just as important.
DeleteA on going example of this at my department is the distribution of what we call "M90 cards". These cards are handed out on traffic stops and allow the person that is pulled over to complete a survey. Officers were initially just told to hand out the cards. As would be assumed, most were resistant and not excited that someone they just gave a ticket would have the ability to critique them. The supervisor that introduced the mission did not take the time to explain the reasoning behind them. It took a platoon meeting after the fact explaining how the surveys keep us from having to go through another racial profiling study, along with assuring the officers the cards were not going to be used to punish them. Once the mission goals and purpose the officers moved forward as a team and began to hand out the cards with far less complaints.
The most important characteristic of a high-performance team is each individual functioning at a high level while completing tasks. EXAMPE: For over fifteen years I worked as part of our Criminal Investigations Division. When faced with a major crime such as homicide it is crucial that each member of the team functions at a high level. This usually starts with every member of the team coming together to determine what happened. The next step is what tasks need to be completed and who is assigned to those tasks. However, part of functioning at a high level is not only completing the task but putting forth maximum effort while maintaining constant communication with other members of the team. This will make sure the most accurate investigation occurs. Each investigation is like building a puzzle, which is a picture. The more pieces gathered the more accurate the picture. Any one team member not functioning at a high level can lead to missing pieces of the puzzle. The team then does not have the best picture possible. This is why it is so crucial that each member participates at a high level.
ReplyDeleteDuring my time spent in the investigation division I was fortunate to have worked with other team members that, when faced with a major crime, performed most of the time at a high level. This lead to major crimes being solved quickly and accurately, with the exception of one. This incident was solved, but it was not quickly and initially it was not completely accurate. This was due to a member of our team not participating at a high level. While the end result was a conviction, the process to get the end result is important. This was brought up in conversations so that we could have continued success the next time a major crime happened.
Todd,
DeleteI can certainly agree with you that when dealing with units like investigations you need all members functioning at a high level. When you have large cases, most of the time certain parts of the investigation are compartmentalized and different people handle them. You need each person to be on their game so that the case is investigated properly. If someone is faltering in an area like evidence tech or photography, the case can start to fall apart especially in court. When that happens, your whole case can be in jeopardy and you can lose it.
Todd, Homicide investigations are definitely tasks that require high level performance. Everyone needs to be on their "A" game, and work together as a team. I liked your example of the investigations being handled quickly, however, when someone did not participate to a high level of collaboration, it made the whole investigation fall apart. Great insight.
DeleteTodd, Homicide investigations take an all hands on deck effort. We can not forget that the investigation starts from the first 911 call and the first officer to arrive on scene. The information that they have is vital. Also, the road officers that help control the crowd so investigators can do their work. The team goes beyond just the investigators. Everyone involved needs to do their part.
DeleteProbably the most important characteristic of a high-performance team is teamwork. The dictionary defines teamwork as “work done by a group acting together so that each member does a part that contributes to the efficiency of the whole” or “the combined action of a group of people, especially when effective and efficient.” Just the word “teamwork” makes me think about my time on out SRT team. Being a part of a top notch team requires teamwork. There really cannot be any one member who doesn’t pull their weight. Everyone has to have a unified goal and do their part to accomplish that singular goal. Not every person can be doing the “cool” stuff either. There has to be the understanding and expectation that whatever task you are assigned, you will complete it to the best of your ability, regardless of how minor a part it may seem to be compared to the whole.
ReplyDeleteThe Entry Team is considered, by most, to be the best assignment on a tactical team. They are the ones who approach, breach, clear, and secure a structure. Most often they take the suspect(s) into custody. The vast majority of the time the Perimeter Team sets up for containment of a target and stands idly by while Entry does the “work”. But how many times does a suspect flee out of the structure as soon as it’s breached? It actually happens regularly. If the Perimeter Team does not get set up and maintain their position during the raid, that suspect flees unchecked. At the same token, it is not Entry’s job to give chase outside the structure while clearing it. What potential threats may still be inside? The entire team has to work efficiently and effectively together to achieve their common goal.
A synonym for teamwork is collaboration. Collaboration is one of the conflict resolution options that we learned about this week in class, and was said by our facilitator to be the best option “in a perfect world.” It’s that aspect of a team being selfless to obtain their goals. It’s the optimization of having one’s strengths balance another’s weaknesses, that two heads are better than one, that together, and only together, they will win.
Curtice, I feel like your choice of "teamwork" is not only accurate, but also for me it is also all encompassing. I have never worked on an SRT team; however, I can relate to your example of setting up a perimeter. It's a job that is not as exciting but is very important. Doing things that you may not want to do but are absolutely necessary to team goal achievement. You also tied this in nicely with collaboration being a conflict resolution option.
DeleteThe most important characteristic of a high-performance team is strong leadership. Strong leadership instills trust, ensures accountability and provides clear communication. A successful team is one where the members are working toward a shared vision. A strong leader provides direction and motivation that ensures team members are successful.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the span of my career, I have worked for many different Chiefs. I remember most of them, but ironically, the one with the shortest span of command is the one I admire the most. There is not one specific scenario that stands out with this Chief, it was the small things she did that makes me remember her. This chief knew all of the officers by name without looking at your name tag. She knew facts both about the person she was talking to and their family. During one retirement ceremony the entire department came out and lined up so the person retiring could walk through two lines of officers up to the podium. After the retirement ceremony this chief walked down both lines of officers shook each officers’ hand, spoke to them by first name, and had a brief conversation. While seemingly a simple task, each officer left that ceremony feeling as if they had a purpose. They felt like an integral part of the team.
I was an officer at the time, and I remember we all wanted to perform at our best to make her proud. She inspired and motivated her troops to work for her not because she told them to but because they were inspired to. Ultimately, this chief led our department during the riots that occurred as a result of George Floyd. She stood in the face of diversity, she was very clear with her communication, in what we were going to do, and what we had to do to keep the city and officers safe. Even though at the time standing up to civil unrest was unpopular. She ultimately sacrificed her career defending the actions of officers. Without strong leadership during that time the department would have struggled with uncertainty, officers would have been hesitant and confused, and the city would have suffered.
Over the past week our class was exposed to many different techniques to learn about ourselves and other people more effectively. We have been provided techniques in conflict resolution communication and learning. The purpose of all of this information is to turn all of us into great leaders. Similarly, throughout history great leaders have been highlighted and their impacts have had worldwide impacts. In conclusion strong leadership remains the foundation of a successful team. High performance teams must prioritize strong leadership to ensure sustained performance and growth.
Kelly, I agree completely. Strong leadership paves the way for success of a mission. Communication, trust, and accountability all stems off from having good leadership. Also, your story is moving. Just thinking of a chief that does that gives me feelings of support and a sense of "following" for her. She showed the characteristics of a leader that I strive to be, and would be lucky to model my career after.
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