specialist areas
There is a striking difference of perceptions between CEOs and their teams, with regards to how well the team functions. Most senior teams are fraught with in-fighting, battles for power and influence and lack of genuine alignment. We know from our personal experience that:
- There is constant conflict in executive teams
- The top team is often dysfunctional and silos exist
- Team members are seldom aligned around the company’s strategy
- Individuals in the top team seldom act as role models
- Personal and political agendas are seldom stated, but always prevalent
- Effective teams can do incredible things
Best Practice
- Teams have a shared purpose, to which they are committed
- Effort is focused on value-added work and time is used effectively
- The team includes the right people, both type and number and they are empowered to make decisions
- A positive environment exists
- Constructive challenge takes place within meetings
- Individuals commit to agreed decisions and stick to them
- The effectiveness of the team is monitored and behaviour is adapted in the light of feedback
The Solution
We use a range of techniques for identifying and improving team effectiveness.
We start with a detailed discussion on the presenting issue and why it needs to be addressed. These range from destructive, dysfunctional behaviour to a genuine willingness to work together, but a lack of a common understanding on how best to do so. We typically go through the following steps:
- Understanding the context. Conduct detailed discussions on the business strategy and goals, structure and the internal and external challenges
- Information gathering. Determine the team’s dynamics, operating model and decision making approach and establish a performance benchmark
- In-depth assessment. Conduct intensive interviews with team members to understand their views on the critical areas affecting team performance
- Feedback. Present detailed findings to establish a shared understanding of how the team currently works and the extent to which the team is aligned
- Team workshops. Work with the team to address specific issues, based on the information gathered and discussed and the team’s priorities
- Coaching. Work with individual team members to help them develop their potential and maximize their contribution within the team
- Evaluation. Rigorously assess progress and ensure that the team delivers improved results and continues to monitor its performance