xLEAD

Great insights from?xLEAD?co-founder?Deborah Ancona?and?Kate W. Isaacs?on how large organizations can foster innovation by empowering different types of leadership. Instead of relying on command-and-control, companies thrive when they create the conditions for agility and collaboration. Listen to the full HBR podcast -- Link below!

??Act now—registration to become an x360 Certified Coach closes soon! Send an email to [email protected] to secure your seat. For just USD 2,190 per participant, you can unlock a transformative experience for you and your clients with the x360 Leadership Survey Winter 2025 Certification. In this two-session virtual training, led by xLEAD co-founder Deborah Ancona, participants will: ?? Receive an in-depth training on the x360 Leadership Survey ?? Earn two complimentary x360 assessments, valid for use within 6 months of certification completion? ?? Get a detailed look into the components of the x360 Report ?? Be guided on how to coach the x360 Leadership Survey with your clients ?? Complete a comprehensive onboarding to support the administration of an x360 program in your own organization Don’t wait! To register and learn more, email [email protected]. (Please note that the start time for the x360 Pedagogy and x360 Onboarding sessions has been recently changed). #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #leadershipcoaching #executivecoaches #executivecoaching

Strategic plans play a crucial role in goal setting and driving business growth. However, evolving technology and external risks, such as pandemics and unprecedented natural disasters, have proven that even the most well-crafted 5- or 10-year plans can quickly become obsolete—making team flexibility and agility paramount to successfully leading companies into the future. Research from MIT Sloan School of Management highlights that true success hinges on the ability of teams and leaders across the entire organization to remain dynamic and nimble. To get there, businesses must shift to a distributed leadership model: rethinking traditional hierarchies to empower employees at all levels to bring their expertise, knowledge, skills, and ideas to the forefront. Co-authored by xLEAD Co-Founder Deborah Ancona, read this insightful article to learn more about how to seamlessly transition to a distributed leadership model: https://lnkd.in/eJHJkJji #nimbleleadership #distributedleadership #leadership #leaders #teamdevelopment #teamdynamics

?? Throughout our lives, we find ourselves working on various teams—some we choose, and others we don’t. These experiences reveal a crucial truth: group collaboration can either drive a project’s success or lead to its downfall. So, what sets high-performing teams apart from the rest? In last week’s episode of The Evolving Leader Podcast, Deborah Ancona, xLEAD Co-Founder and Professor at MIT Sloan School of Management, dives into this critical question. ?? Drawing on decades of research, Deborah highlights a common thread behind successful teams: those that have an emphasis on external outreach to stakeholders, extensive ties, expandable tiers, and flexible membership. These xTEAMS excel by nimbly shifting between an inward and outward mindset, enabling them to effectively adapt, pivot, and thrive in today’s rapidly changing business landscape. ?? Tune in to the episode to discover the power of xTEAMS, Deborah’s insights on distributed leadership models, and the hidden influence of “family ghosts” in the workplace: https://lnkd.in/eJgwGCBf ?? To learn more about the organizational impact of following this externally focused team model, order a copy of the xTEAMS book: https://lnkd.in/e8PtPrjt #distibutedleadership #teams #teamwork #leadership #familyghosts #teaminnovation

In this season of reflection, self-improvement, and goal-setting, enhancing leadership skills is always a valuable pursuit—and that journey can begin with xCARDS. Designed to spark deeper conversations about leadership development, team identity, and organizational culture, xCARDS provide exploratory exercises that focus on nimble culture and distributed leadership at all levels within an organization. From corporate retreats to executive education programs and team ice breakers, our two xCARDS decks can suit your leadership development objectives. Now available in digital and physical forms, both xCARDS packs can be used together or standalone—a great fit for hands-on learning and discussion in person or a browser-based experience well-suited for virtual or hybrid programs. Learn more and place your order: https://lnkd.in/gz_h3Pjv #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipskills #teambuilding #teambuildingexercises

In an MIT Sloan Management Review article, xLEAD Co-Founders Henrik Bresman and Deborah Ancona examine how shifting internally focused teams into externally oriented xTEAMS—an approach that emphasizes networked action which can distribute leadership to all levels of the company—can spark and sustain organizational innovation. In today’s challenging business environment, xTEAMS offer a powerful way to boost productivity and become more nimble. By combining internal group dynamics with a focus on outreach and continuous learning beyond company boundaries, these teams drive innovation and expand networks. Read the full article to uncover the key success factors of xTEAMS and actionable steps leaders can take to make this shift: https://lnkd.in/eZhxX2JR To learm more about the value of xTEAMS, check out the book that changed teams forever: https://lnkd.in/e8PtPrjt #nimbleleadership #distributedleadership #leaders #teamwork #xTEAMS

?? What’s a common thread across innovative companies? These organizations have very distinct kinds of leaders. A study of Xerox’s R&D arm, PARC and W. L. Gore & Associates by xLEAD Co-founder Deborah Ancona and MIT Sloan School of Management Professor Kate W. Isaacs revealed the three leadership types that drive success in nimble organizations: entrepreneurial, enabling, and architecting. Together, these roles balance structure and agility, avoiding chaos in our exponentially changing world and business landscape. Dive into the Harvard Business School IdeaCast podcast episode to learn more about their findings: https://lnkd.in/ezXrwpf8 #leadershipstyles #distributedleadership #nimbleleadership #leadership #innovation

Did you know that only 8% of people achieve their goals, often due to a lack of motivation and commitment? In a bite-sized episode of The Brain & Brand Show, podcast host Timothy Maurice Webster sits down with Deborah Ancona, Co-Founder of xLEAD and MIT Sloan School of Management Professor, to discuss a powerful personal and professional development framework, Immunity to Change. Tune in to this episode discover this personal and professional development approach can help you identify hidden commitments that may be holding you back from achieving your goals: https://iono.fm/e/1414085 Setting your sights on professional development goals for the new year? Visit our website to explore and demo our leadership development tools and experiences: https://lnkd.in/ehVK9wDp #professionaldevelopment #goalsetting #professionalgoals

As we wrap up the year, there’s nothing like receiving an incredible set of flashcards to get the creative juices flowing! I’m excited to use them in my next workshop and team exercise. Having worked as a consultant in professional sports, I’ve used similar tools to foster team alignment and performance. But these cards truly stand out—they’re both creative and intuitive, perfect for sparking meaningful conversations and actionable insights. Thank you again, Deborah Ancona and xLEAD, for designing such a powerful resource! #Teamwork #Leadership #XTeams

The xLEAD team would like to wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and prosperous holiday season. Thank you to everyone in our worldwide network for continuing to help us grow, empower, enlighten, and uplift change-ready leaders and organizations. We look forwarding to learning and innovating together in 2025! ? #happyholidays #happynewyear #2025