6 Ways to Increase Team Productivity

Why Productive Teams Matter More Than Ever

 

There are so many things you can do to increase team productivity in your business. And behind every successful business is one thing, a winning team. You can have the best business model, cutting-edge products, and an unbeatable marketing strategy, but without a strong, aligned, and motivated team, growth stalls. 

 

At ActionCOACH iNala, we’ve worked with countless business owners who faced the same challenge. Their teams weren’t performing to their full potential. That’s why the 6 Keys to a Winning Team is a foundational tool in our business coaching framework.  

 

When applied correctly, these six principles don’t just improve teamwork. They unlock productivity, engagement, and sustainable business growth. 

 

So, what are the 6 keys, and how can you apply them in your business? 

 

Strong Leadership 

 

Every winning team starts with strong leadership. Leaders set the tone, vision, and culture of the business. Without clear direction, teams lose focus, communication breaks down, and productivity suffers. 

 

Strong leadership doesn’t mean micromanaging. It means inspiring, guiding, and empowering your team to succeed.  

Leaders must: 

1. Define a clear vision for the business around which the team can be enrolled and inspired. 

1.  Visibly live the Company culture and values. 

1. Provide consistent feedback, accountability and recognition. 

 

As the saying goes, people don’t leave bad jobs, they leave bad leaders…  

 

At ActionCOACH iNala, we coach business owners and their management teams to recognise their blind spots and to step into their leadership role with confidence and clarity so they can rally their team towards business success.  

 

Common Goals 

 

A team without common goals is just a group of individuals working separately. To create synergy, every team member must know what they are working toward. 

 

Common goals should be: 

1. Clear and measurable – Everyone must understand the target and how well they are staying on the course to achieve the goal. 

1. Aligned with the business vision – Team goals should support the bigger picture. 

1. Communicated regularly – Goals must be reinforced so they don’t get lost in day-to-day tasks. 

 

When a team knows the score and what “winning” looks like, collaboration becomes second nature. Common goals unite people, create accountability, and motivate action. 

 

Rules of the Game 

 

Imagine playing a sport without knowing the rules. It’s chaotic and you wouldn’t do well at all! The same applies to business teams. Rules of the game create structure and clarity. 

 

Rules can take many forms: company values, policies, KPIs, or even cultural norms. They provide the framework that allows creativity, collaboration, and trust to flourish. 

 

When everyone understands what’s expected, decision-making becomes easier, and conflict is reduced.  

 

At ActionCOACH iNala, we encourage businesses to define and communicate their rules clearly, so every team member knows how to “play to win.” 

 

Action Plans 

 

A winning team doesn’t just talk about goals. The team must have actionable steps to achieve them. Without a plan, goals are really just a wish and a prayer. To move your team from where they are to where they want to be you need to ensure that you’ve mapped out a clear path of how you’re going to get there – in business that’s called a plan.  

 

Effective action plans should include: 

1. Specific steps – Break down big goals into smaller daily/ weekly/ monthly goals and ensure the tasks that are expected are clear. 

1. Ownership – Assign accountability and responsibilities so everyone knows their role. And what they will be held to account for. 

1. Deadlines – Ensure timelines are realistic but firm. 

 

When action plans are clear, teams become proactive instead of reactive. Progress can be tracked and measured, results are celebrated, and accountability becomes part of the culture. 

 

Support Risk Taking 

 

Innovation and growth happen when teams are encouraged to take calculated risks. If your business culture punishes mistakes, creativity and proactive behavior is stifled, and employees will play it safe. 

 

Supporting risk-taking means: 

1. Allowing team members to test new ideas. 

1. Accepting that not all experiments will succeed. 

1. Learning from failures instead of fearing them. 

 

Some of the world’s most successful businesses were built on ideas that initially looked like risks. By creating a culture where it’s safe to innovate, you empower your team to think big and contribute to long-term success. 

 

100% Involvement and Inclusion 

 

The final key to a winning team is ensuring that every team member is fully involved and feels included. When people feel like they matter, they give their best. When they feel invisible, performance suffers. 

 

100% involvement means: 

1. Encouraging participation in decision-making. 

1. Recognising and valuing individual strengths. 

1. Building an environment of trust and collaboration. 

 

Diversity of thought and inclusion are no longer “nice-to-haves”. They are essential to high-performing teams. How this is structured and fostered in a Company is important, because businesses that embrace this principle experience stronger engagement, loyalty, and innovation. 

 

The Formula for Business Success 

 

When these six keys work together — strong leadership, common goals, clear rules, action plans, support for risk-taking, and full involvement — you create a winning formula for your team’s success. 

 

At ActionCOACH iNala, we’ve seen businesses transform once they apply these principles. Teams become more motivated, leaders gain confidence, and results skyrocket. 

 

So, Is Your Team Winning? 

 

The truth is, no business can succeed alone. Winning teams are built intentionally, not by accident. By applying the 6 keys, you can unlock a culture of collaboration, accountability, and growth in your business. 

 

If you’re ready to take your team — and your business — to the next level, ActionCOACH iNala can help.  

 

Our proven coaching framework will guide you in applying these principles effectively so you can achieve the success you’ve always envisioned.