Instead of working together to advance their company’s interests, many teams procrastinate, engage in political infighting, get mired in unproductive debates, let themselves be overtaken by complacency, and more. The companies they’re supposed to be leading suffer as a result.
Thomas Keil & Marianna Zangrillo
Takeaways of Note:
3 main patterns of Leadership team dysfunction:
- Shark Tanks – self-serving, destructive battleground of personal agendas… decisions are made through power struggles rather than open discussion, and teams have difficulty coming to consensus and executing on strategic initiatives
- Petting Zoos – misguidedly deferential approach to cooperation… when healthy debate is sacrificed for a facade of harmony, organizational performance suffers
- Mediocracies – Team members lack skills or motivation to drive performance, and little collaborative spirit on the team. Executives operate in silos, hindering synergy, duplicating efforts and missing opportunities
4 steps to ensure the health of teams:
- Develop a clear vision & purpose – Articulate a compelling vision with a road map for decision-making and a sense of shared purpose
- Focus on alignment – Populate team with skills & temperaments that align with your vision & purpose… and with backgrounds, experiences, and strengths that will contribute to team’s collective success
- Outline responsibilities – Clearly define goals, roles, and decision-making authority to avoid confusion and wasted effort
- Establish behavioral norms – Make clear what norms you expect your team to observe, and encourage members to do so through coaching, role modeling, and giving feedback