It’s a timeless truth that strong leadership teams are vital to overall business performance. But of course, team effectiveness is not only important at the top. At all levels of an organization, good teamwork can help improve productivity, resilience, decision-making, and innovation—all of which are required to successfully navigate shifting workplace norms and a fast-moving business environment. This week, we look at ways that leaders and their organizations can crack the code of building and supporting high-performing teams.

MEETINGS, MEETINGS, MEETINGS

It’s a common complaint that people are spending more time than ever in meetings, especially as technology has made it easier for far-flung teams to gather digitally. If more meetings are a must, can they be more productive? McKinsey’s Aaron De Smet, J. R. Maxwell, and coauthors suggest that leaders can improve collaborative interactions by categorizing them into three types—decision-making, creative solutions and coordination, and information sharing—and shifting their approach to each one. In decision-making meetings, for instance, leaders should clarify exactly which team members have a voice, a vote, and veto power. According to the authors’ research, it’s often helpful to involve more people in decision-making, but one individual should be the decider. “Don’t underestimate the difficulty of implementing this,” they say. “It often goes against our risk-averse instinct to ensure everyone is ‘happy’ with a decision, particularly our superiors and major stakeholders. Executing and sustaining this change takes real courage and leadership.”

Lead by strengthening teams.