How Managers Can Make or Break Your Efforts to Build a High-Performing Team and Culture

Building a high-performing team is more than just hiring rock star performers or buying the latest productivity tools. Managers play a key part in this process. They can set the tone, remove obstacles, promote key initiatives, and contribute to a culture where excellence is standard. However, a manager who lacks the right skills can easily derail even the most talented team.

Managers play a pivotal role in shaping team culture, engagement, and performance. If your goal is to cultivate a team that delivers results while maintaining high morale, here are three key areas that can support your efforts.

1. Provide Leadership Development Opportunities

It seems obvious that we should provide leadership development opportunities to managers, but leadership development should be provided to all employees in the company. By fostering leadership skills on all levels, it allows managers to learn key competencies around coaching, performance management, and communication. It also helps to build the skills of your employee base and develop future leaders who are resilient and adaptable.

Some development opportunities include taking on stretch assignments, mentoring new hires, attending formal leadership training, or attending an industry conference. These are just a few examples of how we can take leadership development beyond eLearning and into the real world to provide real results.

💡 Takeaway: Organizations must provide leadership training to ensure managers have the skills to effectively lead, motivate, and support their teams.

2. Setting Clear Expectations & Accountability

A team without clear expectations is like a ship without a compass—drifting aimlessly and struggling to stay on course. High-performing teams thrive on well-defined roles, responsibilities, and performance standards. It’s the manager’s job to ensure every team member understands what success looks like and how their contributions align with broader organizational goals. Ensure that each manager has the information necessary to communicate that information to their teams.

Once managers understand and communicate expectations—accountability must follow. Effective managers create a culture where employees take ownership of their work and understand the impact of their performance. This doesn’t mean micromanaging or enforcing rigid rules; rather, it’s about fostering a sense of responsibility where employees feel empowered to deliver their best and are committed to the success of the company. It is your job to help your managers build the skills necessary to hold their team accountable. This can be done through coaching, leadership development training, and setting clear goals for the manager.

💡 Takeaway: Managers must set clear goals and hold employees accountable while providing the necessary support to help them succeed. It should be a priority to teach managers these skills.

3. Equip Managers with the Right Tools & Resources

Even the best managers can’t succeed if they lack the tools and resources to support their teams. Too often, managers are expected to drive engagement, measure performance, train new hires, and develop their employees—without the right systems in place.

Organizations can set managers up for success by:

🔹 Providing clear performance management frameworks so managers can set goals, track progress, and provide structured feedback.

🔹 Offering learning & development resources to help managers upskill their teams without having to create training from scratch.

🔹 Implementing technology and collaboration tools that streamline communication, task management, and employee engagement.

🔹 Seeking feedback from managers around key initiatives, processes, and tools to ensure proper alignment with goals, skills, and priorities.

When managers have the right tools at their disposal, they can focus on leading effectively rather than navigating unnecessary obstacles. Investing in the right resources makes it easier for managers to foster a high-performance culture that drives results.

💡 Takeaway: Organizations must ensure managers have the necessary tools, frameworks, and resources to lead their teams efficiently and effectively.

Final Thoughts

Managers are the linchpin of any effort to build a high-performing team and culture. A team’s success isn’t just about individual talent—it’s about how effectively a manager leads, supports, and inspires. That’s why it is key to invest in the managerial talent in your company.

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Looking to equip your managers with the tools and skills they need to lead high-performing teams? Gaitway Learning specializes in leadership development programs that help managers grow, engage, and retain top talent. Contact us today to learn how we can support your team’s success!