Several dynamics are critical to the development of a fully functioning high performance team. In “The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team,” author Patrick Lencioni talks about a common team dysfunction — the fear of conflict — arguing that most organizations would benefit from more conflict. It sounds completely counter-intuitive, but […]
We all know the feeling of being trapped in a bad meeting. The meeting begins late and runs over its allotted time. It’s disorganized. Discussion meanders. And when the meeting is finally over, we’re not sure what’s supposed to happen next. We leave thinking “What was the point?” “Has anyone […]
(This is the fifth in a series of five articles about building high-performance teams.) High-performing teams create strong, positive results. You’re probably thinking, “No kidding!” When you consider the development of a team built on the fundamental behaviors of a cohesive team — vulnerability-based trust, healthy conflict, commitment, and accountability […]
(This is the fourth in a series of five articles about building high-performance teams.) If you’ve read our recent articles about vulnerability-based trust, healthy conflict, and commitment for teams, you have the beginnings of a truly outstanding team! What’s next pays huge dividends, but is perhaps the hardest thing for […]
(This is the third in a series of five articles about building high-performance teams.) Team performance is judged in large part by the recommendations they put forward and the decisions they make. This includes the small steps that a team makes along the way, and the big decisions that drive […]
(This is the second in a series of five articles about building high-performance teams.) Most organizations and teams would benefit from more conflict. Yes, you read that correctly! Teams and organizations typically work hard to avoid conflict. They strive to create an artificial harmony where no one says a critical […]
(This is the first in a series of five articles about building high-performance teams.) Any leader who wants to create a high-performance team must begin with trust. Trust is the foundational behavior which enables the other four “cohesive” team behaviors — engaging in healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, and collective results. […]
A time-honored way to strategize, prioritize, and focus your team on the future is to clear away distractions, get your team out of the office, and hold an offsite meeting. Planned and executed well, an offsite meeting can be incredibly productive and energizing — generating innovative ideas and pointing everyone […]
An article on entrepreneur.com recently caught our attention. “The Top 4 Reasons Startups Fail, According to 14 International Accelerators” included one fascinating finding. “Team incompatibility was the second most mentioned cause of startup failure.” The authors said that they were “surprised at how often this roadblock to success was mentioned.” […]
