Tag: Teamwork
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Volition Isn’t a Trait. It’s a Condition.
TLDR: Brooks is right that volition is the new edge in the AI age. He’s wrong that it’s a personal trait. It’s a leadership condition, which means it’s your job. Remember when AI was going to give us all a shorter workweek and a longer lunch? Funny how that turned out. Then he makes the…
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Why “We’ve Never Done This Before” is the Ultimate Growth Killer
TLDR; Blindly following legacy rules kills curiosity and stalls innovation. When we defend processes without understanding why they exist, we turn our experts into disengaged box-checkers. This week, we dive into the famous “Five Monkeys Experiment” to break down why “we’ve never done this before” is a dangerous trap – and how you can build…
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From Jira Jockey to Value Creation Mastermind
TLDR; The backlog shouldn’t be a list of chores. Move from being a “Jira Jockey” to a Value Mastermind by writing hypotheses instead of recipes. If the entire squad owns the outcome, not just the output, we stop completing tasks and start delivering actual results. Take the Coach’s Challenge this week and see how you…
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Is your “directive” style sapping your teams innovation and effectiveness?
tldr; Directiveness feels efficient, but it’s often a “Checklist Trap” that kills curiosity and stalls growth. If you find yourself doing all the talking or approving every minor decision, you aren’t just managing—you’re dismantling your team’s potential. Explore some red-flags and warning signs, and try something new to unleash the greatness within your team.
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The Compatibility Trap: Why “Culture Fit” is Killing Your 3 Es
When I’m coaching leaders, I often see them fall into the “Compatibility Trap”—the dangerous assumption that a team’s success is built on how well everyone likes each other or how similar their backgrounds are. Managers often rely on their “gut” to assemble teams, which is usually just a polite word for affinity bias. They look…
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High Performing Teams Balance 3 Es
Struggling with Low Performing Teams? Unit costs going up? Experiencing low employee engagement scores? Seeing an increase in turnover or burnout?It’s easy to chase a single metric, especially when we live in a world where the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Ironically our instinct to “laser focus on solving the problem” which is often…
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Isn’t a coach really just a trainer?
I was recently asked by someone I met, “Isn’t a coach really just a trainer?”My response was quick – “While a coach sometimes trains on new skills or knowledge, they also facilitate, mentor and challenge teams to improve the way they work.”Looking back, I would grade myself a “C-” on that answer. I WISH…
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Transformation required rethinking the organization
Painting your current organization with a “new” framework doesn’t address the challenges in the structure. Installing a new framework without rethinking team composition won’t get you far! Recreating teams to be cross-functional and focused on a common outcome is the first step to truly unleashing your organization’s potential.Agile Transformations without Organizational Re-design misses the mark…
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You can’t just “wish” a team ot be productive!
To unleash your people’s full potential, it’s essential to eliminate barriers that hinder collaboration. Form cross-functional teams. Set challenging shared objectives. Equip them with the necessary data and tools. You have now paved the way for their growth and success. Collaboration and empowerment are the cornerstones of a thriving team environment.
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Highly Engaged Teams outperform similar teams with lower engagement
Gallop’s study of 230 companies reveals a compelling link between team engagement and performance. Organizations and teams with high engagement levels consistently outperform those with lower levels. Leaders fostering an environment where teams can collaborate, balance, and enhance their effectiveness and engagement drive superior results for stakeholders.