Characteristics of High-Performing Global HR Teams
Clarke Ricks School of Business,
Liberty University
BUSI 690: Policy and Strategy in Global Competition
Dr. Hicks
May 7, 2022
6 Characteristics of High-Performing Global HR Teams
Spread across various geographies, global teams must collaborate virtually, gaining from
each other’s perspectives. This way of working offers consistency, efficiency and superior
results, while leveraging talent.
Some teams succeed at this better than others. Below are characteristics of teams that are
more successful:
Moving beyond cultural differences to establish common ground. Great global teams
move beyond cultural differences and work from their similarities. This helps to focus on not
what is different but what is similar and common. People who travel and have worked across
cultures know that while there are many external differences across cultures there are essential
human similarities underneath: the need to be recognized; to contribute positively by utilizing
talent; to make a difference; to understand and to be understood. The fabric of success is built
for successful cross-cultural teams on this raw material. Especially among young people, this is
truer than ever before. Great teams are often able to build their own culture and ways of doing
things that take prominence over national or local ways of doing things. This means that the
team is building its own identity and is able to set norms toward high performance.
Establishing frequent contact, both formal and informal. Successful global teams know
that there is no substitute for frequent communication. There is no such thing as over-
communication. In fact, effective communication happens not just on a need-to-know basis but
more than that, both informally and formally.
Formalizing Work Processes
The effectiveness of global HR teams requires establishing formal work processes. This
makes workflow smooth and predictable and reduces the possibility of bad surprises. Work
processes involve:
Producing formal reports
Scheduling updates
Arranging meeting and conference calls
Conducting online simultaneous work sessions
Clarifying objectives and outcomes
Holding mutual discussions and establishing consensus
Ensuring openness and sharing
Using Technology Effectively
Great teams typically use more than one technology to stay in touch, collaborate and get
things done. Some of these include:
Conference calls
Instant messaging
Skype, FaceTime, Internet-based calls
Google Hangout
Google Drive, Dropbox and other forms of shared workspaces
Webex Internet conferencing
Distributing Work and Assigning Roles
The previous ways of working involved centralized command and control. This meant that
policies were formed in one place and implemented in other geographies. Decision-making
rested with a few folks at corporate headquarters. Truly high-performing global teams are able
to leverage the diversity of talent across the globe and distribute leadership and roles based on
talent. This results in better work output and results.
Respecting Your Colleagues
All great teams are founded on respect. Respect makes things easy, dissolves differences
and provides a rhythm to the teamwork. Here are some important examples:
Respect for time zones
Trusting others in case of misunderstanding
Sharing workload
Rising to the occasion
Making sacrifices
Respect for others’ viewpoints, especially when they are different
Understanding and respect for diversity
Efficient teams are the hallmark of an industry-leading business. Having a cohesive, high-
performing team can set your business apart within your industry and ensure the success of
your organization in the long run.
But what makes a team work well toward the same goals to drive your company’s growth?
There are obvious characteristics all performing teams share, from adaptability and strong
communication to empathy and mutual respect. The key is spotting these characteristics and
isolating them in order to train employees and identify them in future hires so as to achieve
better teamwork.
1. Inclusive Thinking
Inclusive thinking is key. When teams think inclusively, not only do people feel comfortable
sharing unique perspectives but teams benefit from the value of exploring more possibilities. In
a world that is uncertain and volatile, we need inclusive behaviors and thinking to drive
performance and innovation. Inclusive thinking is systems thinking. It's collaborative, open and
exploratory. - Candice McGlen, The Rinker Group
2. Diversity
Diversity has always been a key to cohesive, high-performing teams. We reach levels of
performance that we did not even know we had when we are challenged and surrounded by
those who are different than us. Too much of the same is dangerous and prohibitive to high
performance. Hire for diversity and create a culture that allows diversity to be appreciated and
celebrated.
3. Respect And Trust
To be a high-performing team, it’s really critical for the team to have respect and trust, be
able to throw blind passes and hold each other accountable with hard candid debates and
conversations to get to the best answer for the business. High-performing teams look forward
to solving together, winning together and having fun together.
4. Personal Excellence
Many factors play a part in a sustainable high-performing team, but personal excellence is a
must. Holding ourselves accountable for showing up in excellence every day allows other high-
performing team characteristics to thrive, such as deep trust, "iron sharpening iron,"
confidence, and a consistent culture of excellence amongst the entire team driven by personal
accountability.
5. Communication
While there are many elements that make up a cohesive and successful team,
communication is one of the most essential building blocks. Especially now, as so many teams
are forced to work remotely, employees and managers must make an extra effort to
communicate regularly using video and messaging software in order to ensure projects are
completed and team unity is maintained.
6. Healthy Conflict
Healthy conflict is an essential element. Groupthink kills innovation and creativity. If the
team does not have diversity of thought or individuals do not feel safe to dissent, productivity
will be stunted. The status quo is maintained and real progress and higher performance are
impossible. Being able to question things in a constructive way will make the outcome stronger
and more inclusive.
7. Adaptability
The pandemic has shown the highest performing teams are those most capable of adapting
to change. Businesses are forced to reimagine how work gets done. For some, that change is
painful. Those managing it well have a culture built on purpose, values and collaboration rather
than process. It’s about focusing on the human part of human agility, recognizing, respecting
and leveraging individual strengths.
8. Engagement
Highly engaged teams give discretionary effort and routinely go above and beyond for the
team win. To achieve this, you need a connected culture with two-way communications and
sharing how each person's role contributes to the overall result.
9. Psychological Safety
Research supports the notion of the importance of a culture of psychological safety on a
team. Team leaders must support and model a culture where all team members feel they can
speak up freely and raise issues of importance to the team's work. Google found that having
psychological safety on the team is the critical element of team success. Underperforming
teams often lack psychological safety.
10. Decision-Making Flexibility
High-performing teams have the freedom and flexibility to make decisions in real-time
rather than waiting for management approval. While some decisions may need to be rolled
back upon review, team members who work in specific areas of the company on a daily basis
are the best equipped to make processes more efficient, and allowing them to do so will help
the team pivot faster and perform better.
11. Openness To Innovation
Openness to innovative future-forward ideas is in the DNA of cohesive and high-performing
teams, as evidenced during this pandemic. Remote teams, using multiple channels — text,
video, chatbots, email, and phone, continue to sustain a continuously engaged and growth
mindset in dealing with the challenges coming at them each day. This approach has set
everyone up for success no matter what comes next!
12. Ability To Surmount Challenges
Here's a new one, 2020-style. The ability to surmount challenges thrown at us from outside
the workplace now even more clearly defines a high-performing team. There are the obvious,
devastating challenges like COVD-19. But challenge is constant, like yesterday's tropical storm.
When we demonstrate empathy toward team members, and even cover for them when the
power's out, that's power in itself.
13. Behavioral Awareness
Behavioral awareness and understanding of team dynamics in terms of personal
strengths/weaknesses is key. Overall behavioral insights (personality styles) give you a strategic
advantage to position individuals within the team to best utilize those strengths to achieve
high-performing results. For example, don't place your least detail-oriented teammate to be
responsible for project management execution.
14. Pride In The Company
The main characteristic that makes up a high-performing team is the fact that the team is in
it for the company along with their own happiness. We, as employees, have to learn to take
pride in the company we work for. Once that pride is established, it will shine and we, as
people, employees and family members, will shine. This is the main characteristic that makes
up a good high-performing team.
