{"id":1140,"date":"2025-11-19T11:16:36","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T09:16:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/?page_id=1140"},"modified":"2025-12-01T16:58:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T14:58:25","slug":"highly-predictable-teams","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/process\/highly-predictable-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Highly Predictable Teams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);min-height:50px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1511\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-681 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sea.jpg\" style=\"object-position:79% 98%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"79% 98%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sea.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sea-800x504.jpg 800w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sea-1920x1209.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sea-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sea-1536x967.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sea-2048x1289.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-100 has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(159deg,rgb(238,248,255) 0%,rgba(33,196,237,0.58) 53%,rgba(9,42,77,0.74) 100%)\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-cover-is-layout-197b2658 wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\"><nav style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"items-justified-center alignwide wp-block-navigation is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-72be065f wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Process \u2013 Level 2\"><ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__container items-justified-center alignwide wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/process\/team-formation\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Team Formation<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/process\/staying-the-course\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Staying the Course<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/process\/team-cadence\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Team Cadence<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/process\/product-cycle\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Product Lifecycle<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h1 style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"has-text-align-center has-link-color wp-elements-49031cb4b1744a129271dd1611534cc4 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-contrast-color\">Highly Predictable Teams<\/h1>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Getting under the hood of what a high-performing team really looks like.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Team-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-313\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Team-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Team-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Team-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Team-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Team-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Highly predictable teams are the answer to many challenges in the workplace \u2013 innovation, improved delivery, digital transformation, etc. But in a world of shareholder value, tough economic climates, and the noise around AI innovation, the importance of teams and how they function has fallen out of organisational awareness in most companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first thing to consider when thinking about teams is this: where are the people in your organisation right now? It\u2019s a reality check everyone needs.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 Engagement stats are low, at 20% in South Africa and 23% globally.<br>\u2022 Quiet quitters sit at 60%, and loud quitters at 20%.<br>\u2022 Employees wanting to leave sit at 70%.<br>\u2022 Globally, 53% of managers report being burnt out, and 36% of staff are very stressed.<br>\u2022 In the US, CEO departures are up 47% year-on-year.<br>\u2022 In South Africa, more than 50 top CEOs have moved in the last two years.<br>\u2022 Retrenchments are happening across the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If ever there was a time for leadership within organisations, it\u2019s now. The question is: where does one even begin with a group of employees who have likely checked out? The answer lies in team leads and colleague relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-3-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9dfa9e8ccc566cc36f7054b1aade10f3 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Start at the beginning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first place people tend to go when thinking about teams is the organisational chart. This is, unfortunately, not an accurate reflection of what is happening on the ground. Yes, it\u2019s good for budgeting and headcount, but more than two-thirds of employees report being on more than one team, and three-quarters of them say those teams are not reflected anywhere in company documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first thing to work out is the team structure within the informal network of employees. How do product teams really work with marketing? How does digital work with the data division, and so on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once teams have effectively been mapped, the next question to ask is: what makes up a high-performing team? The three areas that answer this question are people, processes, and technology and tools, each of which has its own focal points depending on the organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the real secret sauce lies in how people behave in high-performing teams. The common traits of high-performing teams have been defined** as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 Highly focused<br>\u2022 Honest and kind<br>\u2022 Open to exploring new experiences<br>\u2022 Purposeful<br>\u2022 Transparent in ways of working<br>\u2022 Respectful of colleagues<br>\u2022 Valuing divergent viewpoints<br>\u2022 Always learning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, a team that exhibits this kind of behaviour likely has a team leader who is intentional about the work the team is doing and who cares for their people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Replicating this kind of culture across an organisation requires deliberate work with all team leaders and influencers within the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Why Trust is Key to High-Performing Teams\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/P8ojeO9za84?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-3-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-01f96b09e286b40b73e867dac029f1fc wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The results<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Focusing on the people, process, and technology elements of teams \u2013 along with the behaviours they display \u2013 leads to measurable outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The three biggest call-outs from high-performing teams are that team members understand the value they add to their team; they report feeling cared for by their team lead; and their strengths are recognised and built upon by their colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">High-performing teams have a rigorous cadence, strong processes, the right technology, and 360-degree visibility into their work. They deliver on time and within budget, while maintaining their mental and physical wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When organisations have an effective forum for team leads and influencers, and high-performing teams, they can align organisational goals with day-to-day activities in teams, resulting in increased growth and more predictable delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><sub>*Stats from Gallup, ADP, HBR, and Challenge Gray.<br>*<em>Stronger Together by Simon Hartley, 2015.<\/em><\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide shoes is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-086dc8cf wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-custom-content-position is-position-top-center has-border-color has-accent-5-border-color has-aspect-ratio wp-duotone-rgb181181181-rgb255255255-1\" style=\"border-style:solid;border-width:2px;min-height:300px;aspect-ratio:auto;min-height:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"794\" height=\"465\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-1250 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/flippers.png\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/flippers.png 794w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/flippers-768x450.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 794px) 100vw, 794px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-custom-blue-background-color has-background-dim-70 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-d9d95ed6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"min-height:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/process\/highly-predictable-teams\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"794\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/flippers.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1250\" style=\"width:134px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/flippers.png 794w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/flippers-768x450.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 794px) 100vw, 794px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-58cce81b2145be7ea982c9b2509de427\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/process\/highly-predictable-teams\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1140\">Highly Predictable Teams<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-custom-content-position is-position-top-center has-border-color has-accent-5-border-color has-aspect-ratio wp-duotone-rgb181181181-rgb255255255-2\" style=\"border-style:solid;border-width:2px;aspect-ratio:auto;min-height:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"971\" height=\"801\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-1313 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-free-diving-flippers.png\" style=\"object-position:0% 0%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"0% 0%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-free-diving-flippers.png 971w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-free-diving-flippers-800x660.png 800w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-free-diving-flippers-768x634.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 971px) 100vw, 971px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-custom-blue-background-color has-background-dim-70 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-d9d95ed6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"min-height:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/process\/digital-transformation\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"971\" height=\"801\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-free-diving-flippers.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1313\" style=\"width:119px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-free-diving-flippers.png 971w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-free-diving-flippers-800x660.png 800w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/long-free-diving-flippers-768x634.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 971px) 100vw, 971px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b5e9f5ce4836fc37fff483d24dfc5dd3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/process\/digital-transformation\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1149\">Digital transformation<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-custom-content-position is-position-top-center has-border-color has-accent-5-border-color has-aspect-ratio wp-duotone-rgb181181181-rgb255255255-3\" style=\"border-style:solid;border-width:2px;aspect-ratio:auto;min-height:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"617\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-1312 size-full\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/short-swim-fins.png\" style=\"object-position:48% 0%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"48% 0%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/short-swim-fins.png 940w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/short-swim-fins-800x525.png 800w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/short-swim-fins-768x504.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-custom-blue-background-color has-background-dim-70 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-d9d95ed6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"min-height:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/process\/success-stories\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"617\" src=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/short-swim-fins.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1312\" style=\"width:126px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/short-swim-fins.png 940w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/short-swim-fins-800x525.png 800w, https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/short-swim-fins-768x504.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-19a01767356f403ae707026ab44b44fd\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/process\/success-stories\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1151\">Success stories<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getting under the hood of what a high-performing team really looks like. Highly predictable teams are the answer to many challenges in the workplace \u2013 innovation, improved delivery, digital transformation, etc. But in a world of shareholder value, tough economic climates, and the noise around AI innovation, the importance of teams and how they function [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":92,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1140","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1140"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1541,"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1140\/revisions\/1541"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/92"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/th1nk.co.za\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}