X-Teams

ONE

Into a Downward Spiral

How Our Old Models Lead to Failure

WHEN TEACHING EXECUTIVE PROGRAMS on teams, we often start the session by asking participants, “What do you think is most important for creating successful teams?” Without much prompting the answers pour out: clear roles and goals, managing conflict, trust, team spirit, rational decision making, keeping the team on track, focused meetings, accountability, allocating work to the right people, rewards for teamwork. The list goes on and on.

While lists differ somewhat from one session to the next, the pattern of responses is clear. The major message is that team members need to support each other and figure out how to work together. They need to set goals and figure out a structure and ...