“What is the number one contributing factor to all the success you’ve had?” Darren Hardy asked.
“The number one key to success, here at Disney and really in every business, is the team.” his guest promptly responded.
Anne Sweeny was co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of ABC Television at the time. Sweeny is considered one of America’s most influential leaders.
She continued, “It is all about putting together the best team possible. The smartest people, the people who are risk takers, the people who really treasure and understand our brand … they continue to be curious about its future and do everything they do with a high degree of integrity.”
Anne Sweeney highlighted what Patrick Lencioni promotes as the “single most untapped competitive advantage.” That’s right, teamwork.
Cohesive team behaviors
So how well are you joining top talent into one super-performing team? How would that change your business? Your workplace experience?
At next level, we call them self-managed teams and leaders.
Here’s the magic super glue that allows self-managed teams to work efficiently instead of tearing apart at the seams. They,
- Build trust – team members are genuinely transparent and honest with one another; they build vulnerability-based trust
- Communicate openly – there is constructive debate of ideas
- Commit to decisions – when a team honestly discusses ideas it secures greater commitment to the plan
- Accept responsibility – with a commitment to the idea accountability for the work and to the team follows
- Focus on results – the goal of building trust, healthy conflict, commitment to decisions, and responsibility is the achievement of results
How is sticky is your team?
The year ahead promises to be a journey of more change, challenge, resistance, and opportunity. It will require you and your team to innovate, collaborate, and perform at a high level. A positive customer experience and consistent execution are mandatory to achieve results.
How well does your team function? How cohesiveness is it in these five behaviors?
Trust 1 2 3 4 5 6
We are transparent and honest – vulnerable with one another
Engaged Communication 1 2 3 4 5 6
We engage in unfiltered, constructive debate around ideas without making it personal
Total Commitment 1 2 3 4 5 6
Once the decision is made we get behind the plan
Personal Responsibility 1 2 3 4 5 6
Each team member is accountable for his/her actions and to the team
Team Results 1 2 3 4 5 6
We consistently get team wins and results
How did your team do?
Marked by intentional change
Anne Sweeny’s journey to the executive leadership of Disney/ABC Television began 18 years ago. She has weathered a lot of changes. How did she write such a Story? She attributes her success to developing a strong team.
Of course, it makes sense to recruit smart people, risk-takers, those who appreciate your brand, people who remain curious and are optimistic, and have integrity. But, how do they become a self-managed team?
The process doesn’t have to be complicated, but it must be intentional. How will you put together the best team possible?
Put these five behaviors into practice. Because they build on each other (yes, it starts with trust) it’s difficult to work on any one behavior in isolation. But you can begin learning to trust one another.
It’s as simple as asking for help. Start by admitting your weaknesses and mistakes. That creates a healthy vulnerability that will begin bonding your team with trust.
Once you start building trust, it becomes possible to engage in a debate of ideas, rather than personal attacks and conflict. It is a process that involves learning these five behaviors as well as putting them into practice.
You’ll need time and often guidance.
Your team conflicts may be so simple that these five behaviors are the super glue you need. Then again, your issues may run deeper. Don’t be afraid to call me to explore team-based coaching.
How will you build your team to win in the year ahead?
Here’s to your next level,
Steve
P.S. – Improving performance is what happens in Next Level Team-based Coaching. If you’d like to see more details of how we develop self-managed teams and leaders, see the team-based coaching page.
*Note: The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™ is the result of the partnership between Wiley Workplace Learning Solutions and best-selling author Patrick Lencioni. Everything DiSC™ powers the assessment, based on his best-selling book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Next Level Executive Coaching, LLC is an Authorized Partner with The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™.
