Hi Reader, We go to great lengths to find the right people for key leadership roles. Unfortunately, after all that effort, new leaders often step into team dynamics that limit their ability to offer the fullness of their experience and unique gifts. Sometimes it's because teammates don’t intentionally try to connect with them. Other times it's because their new teammates think it's solely up to the CEO to integrate them into the team. From the perspective of the new teammate, they are often...
12 days ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, There’s a moment in an episode of Bluey called The Pool where Bluey’s dad forgets to bring all the “boring” pool gear—sunscreen, towels, goggles, floaties, snacks. The things that feel unnecessary in the moment as the kids just want to get to the pool as fast as possible. At first, the kids are thrilled. Dad seems more fun and isn’t worrying about a checklist of things they need to complete. But pretty quickly, the experience starts falling apart. The concrete is too hot. The sun...
19 days ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, At this point, the data is hard to ignore. Research from organizations like the Center for Creative Leadership and Harvard Business Review continues to point to the same conclusion: organizations with high-performing executive teams significantly outperform those without them. They see stronger execution, healthier cultures, and better long-term results. And yet, only a small percentage of executive teams are actually operating at that level. One reason is surprisingly simple: many...
26 days ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, The success of the Artemis II mission is remarkable. It reflects years of innovation, coordination, and progress toward something that once again feels just beyond our reach. But what stood out most wasn’t just what they accomplished. It was how they prepared. This wasn’t just a group of capable individuals. It was a team that had been preparing to operate together long before launch. Too often, we focus on individual development and growth, hoping it will translate into better...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Each year, Gallup releases its State of the Global Workplace report, offering a clear look at how people are experiencing work. This year’s report surfaces a trend that should give leaders pause. Overall engagement hit its lowest point since 2020, but more concerning is where that decline is happening. Managers, the very group organizations rely on most to drive engagement, are experiencing the most significant decline. Gallup has led the way in helping organizations to understand...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, In 1944, the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency, published a document called the Simple Sabotage Field Manual. It was not written for trained operatives, but for ordinary citizens living in enemy-controlled territories during World War II. The goal was to help everyday people disrupt organizations from the inside. Rather than relying on dramatic acts of destruction, the manual focused on small, consistent behaviors that would quietly...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, One of our primary hopes for this newsletter is that you regularly find new sources of inspiration to strengthen the connection and performance of your team. That same motivation led us to create a YouTube channel last year. We’ve found that some stories and lessons are more effectively explored through dialogue and video. There’s something powerful about watching a team in action, hearing how leaders think through challenges, and unpacking what is actually happening beneath the...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, When leaders hear the phrase leadership team, they almost always think about the executive team. As you have heard us say before, that group carries enormous responsibility. It shapes strategy, culture, and the overall direction of the organization. But in most organizations, the executive team is not the only group responsible for leading. As organizations grow, departments, regions, and major functions often operate at a scale that requires their own leadership team - small...
2 months ago • 7 min read
Hi Reader, In a recent conversation on our podcast with Zach Mercurio, the author of The Power of Mattering, he shared a distinction that has stayed with us. He said that one of the most important signals for someone to feel that they matter is surprisingly simple: they feel noticed. During our conversation, he made an observation that felt both obvious and surprisingly convicting. He said there is an important difference between caring about people and caring for people. Caring about people...
2 months ago • 4 min read