The Secret to High-Performing Teams: High Expectations + High Support

Most managers believe strong teams are built through clear goals, accountability, and pressure to perform. And while those things matter, they’re only part of the picture. The real difference between average teams and high-performing ones often comes down to something less visible: how leaders handle pressure, emotions, and support.

Mental performance coach Evan Marks talks about what it really takes to help teams perform at their best. High-performing teams thrive when leaders combine high expectations with high support.

Here’s why that balance matters and how you can create it.

Leadership Starts with Your Mind

Many leadership challenges aren’t about strategy. They’re about how you show up in difficult moments.

Think about the situations that cause the most stress:

• The tough feedback conversation you keep delaying. 

• The employee who frustrates you. 

• The meeting where you react emotionally and regret it later.

  
  

Evan notes that these moments are difficult not because you don’t know what to do, but because of how they make you feel.

Mental performance is the ability to stay intentional in those moments. It means recognizing your emotions without letting them control your behavior. You don’t need to eliminate stress or frustration. You need the ability to pause and choose how you respond.

That pause is where great leadership begins.

Why High Expectations Alone Don’t Work

Many organizations focus heavily on accountability and stretch goals. But when expectations are high without support, people often feel fear rather than motivation.

They avoid risk. They hide mistakes. They stay quiet in meetings. Instead of focusing on performance, they focus on protecting themselves.

This is why high expectations alone can actually reduce performance, says Evan. People need to believe they can meet the standard. That belief comes from support.

When leaders combine clear expectations with guidance, coaching, and psychological safety, employees are more willing to take ownership and push themselves.

The Power of High Expectations and High Support

High expectations communicate trust. They tell employees, “I believe you’re capable of more.”

High support communicates partnership. It says, “I’m here to help you succeed.”

Together, they create an environment where people stretch without fear. Teams become more innovative, collaborative, and resilient because they know mistakes are part of learning, not something to hide.

This balance builds both performance and trust.

How Managers Can Put This into Practice

The good news is that you don’t need dramatic changes to create this culture. Small, consistent behaviors make the biggest difference.

Evan explains that you start by modeling the mindset you want to see. Your team pays attention to how you react under pressure. When you stay calm and thoughtful, others learn to do the same.

Another simple shift Evan offers is focusing your team on what matters most right now. When people feel overwhelmed, they often freeze or procrastinate. Helping them prioritize the next step creates momentum and builds confidence.

It’s also important to recognize progress, not just outcomes. Confidence grows when people see evidence that they can handle challenges. Evan recommends a quick acknowledgement of effort or improvement can be more powerful than waiting for big wins.

Encouraging curiosity can also transform how your team approaches problems. Instead of fearing failure, people become more open to learning and experimentation. This leads to better solutions and stronger engagement.

Finally, psychological safety is essential. This doesn’t mean lowering standards. It means creating an environment where people can speak honestly, ask questions, and admit mistakes without fear. When people feel safe, they perform at a higher level.

Create a High Performing Team

Today’s workplace is complex and fast-moving. Managers are expected to drive results while also supporting well-being, engagement, and innovation.

That’s a difficult balance. But when you focus on both expectations and support, you create a team that can handle pressure and adapt to change.

In your next challenging moment, ask yourself, "What am I feeling? What matters most right now? How do I want to show up as a leader?"

These small moments build trust, confidence, and performance over time.

Because the secret to high-performing teams isn’t pressure alone; it’s creating an environment where people are challenged and supported at the same time. And when you get that balance right, strong results follow naturally.

Listen to the entire episode HERE to learn more about how to balance high expectations with high support.

Keep up with Evan Marks

- Connect with Evan on LinkedIn here

- Explore the website here

Guest Bonus: The 20-Minute Evening Reset

This 5-Step Evening Reset gives you the foundation for peak performance. This reset combines breathwork, journaling, goal setting, and clearing mental clutter so you wake up as your most focused, composed self.

Get this guest bonus and many other member benefits when you join The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!