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

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