Enabling Teams to Give Their Best - It starts at the Top

Enabling teams to give their best - When I approach CEOs with this topic, they almost always think this is important for the teams reporting to them. Yes, the operations team needs to work more effectively. That business unit needs a boost in productivity. In the organisation, the different functions need to work closer together across the silos. While these are important areas for improvement, we forget one important team.

What about that team on the top? The CxOs forming a team together with the CEO. How important is it that they are a highly effective team?

In my experience, when this group of people are not enabled to give their best, it will slow down the entire organisation. Here are some of my observations:

• The air is cold on the top and often the team members on the top feel that they are in competition rather than collaboration with their peers; no mistakes allowed
• Based on this they have to rely on themselves and their own judgement to make decisions and are not able to rely on the broader wisdom of their peers
• The strained collaboration on the top is setting a standard for poor collaboration on other levels in the organisation; this results in silo mentality and a culture that does not allow experimentation
• Further, I observe that there is very few laughter and joy on the top level; a positivity and lightness is missing; two elements that are vital for intrinsic motivation and unleashing people's full potential

What can we do as CEOs to build stronger bonds, create a solid team that is effective and is setting the right platform for a great company culture? Here are some simple steps:

1. Focus on shared goals that go a) beyond financial targets and b) requires involvement of all the CxO members.
2. Engage your peers in a frequent dialogue and practice joint decision making; the result should be a shared leadership, while maintaining clear roles & accountability.
3. Define working and collaboration principles that you would to aspire to be adopted across the entire organisation; and be mindful to practice them yourselves.
4. Spend time together outside of the work context; get to know each other; like any other highly effective team.

Where do you see the barriers to effectiveness in your team? When will you schedule your next CxO lunch?