The Dirty Secrets of Dysfunctional Executive Teams: How CEOs Sabotage Their Own Success
Picture this: you're a talented, visionary CEO with a groundbreaking business model, ready to take your company to new heights. But here's the catch—you can't do it alone. No matter how inspiring or brilliant you may be, transforming your organization requires leveraging your most powerful weapon: a high-performing executive team. As an executive coach and advisor who has worked with numerous management teams throughout my career, I've encountered a few common fallacies that can wreak havoc on even the most promising companies.
Fallacy 1: Waiting for the "Perfect" Team
Let's take a page from the NCAA tournament playbook. Do the coaches of the top basketball teams sit on the sidelines, twiddling their thumbs until they've recruited the "perfect" players? Of course not! They work with the talent they have, ensuring that their current team can work together like a well-oiled machine. Unfortunately, many CEOs fall into the trap of waiting for the stars to align before focusing on team development. They fail to realize that teams are living, breathing entities, constantly evolving and changing. You might never have all the "right" players, but that doesn't mean you can't start building a dream team today.
I once worked with a CEO who kept putting off team development, insisting that he needed to fill a few key positions first. Six months later, he was still searching for his unicorn candidates, while his existing team floundered without direction. When we finally convinced him to start working with his current team, the results were astounding. By sharing insights, building trust, and creating a safe space for growth, the team was able to weather the loss of a key player and come out stronger on the other side.
Fallacy 2: Talent Guarantees the Best Team
Just because you've assembled a group of A+ players doesn't mean you've got a winning team. In fact, some of the most talented executives can be the worst team players. I've seen it time and time again: a leadership team that looks great on paper but can't seem to work together to save their lives. They're like a group of soloists, each belting out their own tune without regard for harmony or rhythm.
One memorable example involved a tech startup with a team of brilliant but egotistical executives. Each one was a rock star in their own right, but put them together in a room, and it was like watching a battle of the bands gone wrong. The CEO was at her wit's end, wondering how such a talented group could be so dysfunctional. Through a series of team-building exercises and honest conversations, we helped them realize that individual success means nothing if the team can't work together towards a common goal.
Fallacy 3: The Standard Team Playbook is Enough
If you think the standard team playbook is all you need to create a high-performing executive team, I've got a bridge to sell you. Developing a truly exceptional team requires thinking outside the box and doing things a little differently.
One of my favorite techniques involves breaking the team out of their usual focus and creating a sense of wonder and connection. For example, I have whipped out the crayons on more than one occasion and had executives color different things that represent who they are. They are always skeptical at first, their childhood art wounds on full display, but the laughter, awkwardness, and ability to do something different creates a connection and vulnerability that builds trust faster than simply asking them to share stories. I've even had a healthcare CEO later tell me that the coloring experience had been a turning point for the team, helping them build trust and collaborate more effectively.
So, if you're a CEO looking to unlock the full potential of your executive team, it's time to ditch the fallacies and embrace a new approach. And if you want to learn more about how I help leaders and teams achieve extraordinary results through unconventional methods, feel free to reach out. Together, we can transform your team from a group of soloists into a symphony orchestra, ready to take on any challenge that comes their way.
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