Ways to Inspire and Motivate a Team to Exceed Expectations

Don’t miss out on a unique opportunity to learn how to inspire and motivate your team to exceed expectations in today’s high-stakes environment. Tomorrow at 1:00 PM EST, DHR Global and Hunt Scanlon Media present an exclusive webinar designed for leaders in private equity-backed companies who want to drive high performance and build value. Join industry experts as they explore the key qualities of successful teams and provide some strategies for maximizing individual strengths!

November 12, 2024 – Building a high-performing team is essential for private equity-backed companies aiming to surpass goals and achieve successful exits. In today’s competitive market, it’s no longer enough for teams to simply meet expectations; they must be motivated to consistently overperform, executive recruiters tell Hunt Scanlon Media. Doing so requires not only a deep understanding of what drives each team member but also a strategic approach to maximizing individual and collective strengths. When team engagement aligns with company objectives, it can propel growth and create substantial value.

PE outfits also say that a strong focus on talent is one of the most critical components of this process. Private equity firms increasingly recognize that the right mix of skills, creativity, and drive can turn ambitious goals into reality. However, identifying these qualities is only the first step. To sustain high performance, leaders must cultivate an environment where each team member feels valued and motivated to contribute to shared success. By tapping into unique strengths and promoting a culture of continuous improvement, leaders can inspire their teams to push past conventional limits.

So how can a company tell if they have the right senior leaders in place? There can be many key signs as to why organizations should consider making strategic talent upgrades. “First is the achievement of goals for a senior leader’s area of responsibility,” said Dwain Celistan, managing partner and leader of the global diversity practice for DHR Global. “If off target, certain merits a deeper dive on their plans to right the ship. Based on the plans, it may highlight a new for a change. Similarly, if there are issues with the team and their engagement, that may suggest this person isn’t optimal to lead that team.”

In addition, aligning talent with company goals only helps ensure success. “Alignment reduces wasted time and effort,” Mr. Celistan said. “It creates a larger team approach where output from several teams should reinforce and accelerate the work of their colleagues. Combined with milestones that are communicated, this should create a positive flywheel effect.”

Upcoming Webinar

Join us tomorrow at 1:00 PM EST for an exclusive webinar hosted by DHR Global and supported by Hunt Scanlon Media. This insightful session will focus on How to Engage and Motivate a Team to Overperform, and will feature insights on how talent is a key part of achieving goals and successful exits in private equity-backed companies.

Key topics include the essential qualities of a high-performing team, strategies for identifying and leveraging individual strengths, and innovative approaches to team engagement. You’ll also learn how to effectively use feedback to drive continuous improvement and when to make strategic talent upgrades as you work toward a liquidity event. Moderated by Mr. Celistan, the panel will feature experienced leaders like Jerry Burris, Anne Sempowski Ward, and Victor Swint. Our expert panel will share actionable insights drawn from their experience in driving exceptional team performance and achieving business success.

There will be an opportunity for audience members to join the conversation and ask questions to the panelists.

Free registration … Click here to sign up!

The Speakers

Dwain Celistan serves as managing partner and leader of the global diversity practice for DHR in the firm’s Chicago office. He has conducted searches for senior leaders across a range of firms and industries. His clients have included over 25 fortune 500 firms, an assortment of family-owned, private equity-backed firms, and universities. Prior to joining the executive search sector, Mr. Celistan held senior marketing, sales and general management positions in the U.S. and U.K. for large firms in the consumer, industrial and retail arenas. He was vice president of marketing and sales with a staff of nearly 100 professionals and a budget of $100 million, and SVP of marketing for a $1 billion division. During his career, Mr. Celistan has saved declining businesses and accelerated the growth of businesses in multiple roles.

Jerry Burris is the current president and CEO of Midwest Can Company. He currently serves on London, England-based nVent Electric plc, and Mohawk Industries. Mr. Burris previously served on the board of London, England-based Pentair plc, Cincinnati based Fifth Third Bank and formerly West Chester, PA based Schramm Inc. (privately held by GenNx360 Capital Partners). He also served as a retained advisor to GenNx360 Capital Partners. Mr. Burris is the former president and CEO, Associated Materials Inc. and Segment President Barnes Group Inc. Prior to this, Mr. Burris held a number of senior management positions at General Electric Company, serving as president and CEO, GE Advanced Materials Quartz and Ceramics.

Anne Sempowski Wardis CEO of CURiO Brands. She is an experienced board director and visionary executive who brings a blend of marketing expertise, strategic and operational leadership and multicultural competency to boards and corporations. Throughout her career she has delivered exceptional growth and operating performance across both emerging and mature businesses, including some of the world’s most loved brands such as Coca-Cola, Ebony, and Clairol. Her success in building passion brands among diverse consumers and customers has distinguished her as an industry thought leader and sought-after advisor. A forward-focused leader with financial and operational discipline, Ms. Sempowski Wardis has accelerated growth, spearheaded turnarounds and strategic M&A, and built talented and diverse teams. Currently, she serves as an independent director of two public companies: SPS Commerce and VANDA Pharmaceuticals. She also serves on the boards of two private of CURiO Brands and The Lip Bar.

Victor Swint is president and CEO of Formulated Solutions. In this role, he has crafted and is executing a value creation plan centered on building a world-class team, driving Rx innovation, and achieving operational excellence in quality, customer satisfaction, and new product development. His efforts are transforming the company into a premier provider of innovative pharmaceutical solutions. Mr. Swint is an accomplished global transformation leader with a remarkable 30-year career in driving growth and operational excellence across various manufacturing sectors. As an experienced CEO, his leadership has consistently turned around struggling companies and propelled them to new heights of success. Mr. Swint’s career is a testament to his ability to lead transformational change, drive execution, and build high-performing teams. His strategic vision and dedication to operational excellence have consistently delivered outstanding results, making him a standout leader in the industry.