Decoding Teams - August 2024

Twenty-two years ago, I set out on a mission to explore the essence of peak performance in teams. This journey, fueled by passion, took me on a 15-year exploration across diverse industries in over 25 countries, leading to the realization of a powerful methodology. Equipped with this knowledge, I launched Surply | Team Dynamic Diagnostics and 9+ Teams | Where Culture and Performance Unite to empower teams and managers reach their highest potential. In my posts and newsletters, I'll share the key learnings and breakthrough moments from this journey.

Why this newsletter?

Decoding Teams is your go-to inspiration for unlocking the secrets of high-performing teams. In each edition, we dive into the dynamics of collaboration, leadership, and communication, providing insights and proven strategies to help you build, lead, and sustain effective teams in today's rapidly changing work environment.

Why is this newsletter important? Because in a world where business success increasingly hinges on the ability to collaborate and innovate, understanding what makes teams thrive is crucial. Teams are the backbone of any organization, and their performance directly impacts productivity, morale, and overall success. By equipping you with the latest research, expert advice, and practical tools, Decoding Teams ensures that you’re not just managing teams, but empowering them to reach their full potential. Whether you're a team leader, HR professional, or just passionate about teamwork, this newsletter offers insights, the knowledge and tools you need to foster innovation, engagement, and success within your organization.

"A high performance culture is about mission control, not mood control. If you want to increase the engagement and performance of a team start with the vision!"

In many organizations, there is a tendency to become overly focused on enforcing processes, often losing sight of the underlying purpose behind them. Take, for example, this car, which has been accumulating parking tickets for nearly a year for parking on the curb. The regulation exists to ensure that sidewalks remain accessible to pedestrians and wheelchair users. While the process of issuing tickets is diligently followed, the core issue—clearing the curb—remains unresolved. This situation raises a critical question: Are we too focused on process compliance at the expense of achieving the intended outcomes?

Ever heard of the "fishbowl effect"? It's that phenomenon where we're too close to our own situations—so close, in fact, that we might not see what's right in front of us. It’s like fish not realizing they're swimming in water.

Here’s something fascinating I’ve found: High-performing teams have a talent for naturally leaping out of this fishbowl. They're not doing it because they're told to; they do it because they understand something crucial. They know that stepping back for fresh perspectives isn't just a break from the routine—it's a powerful tool for success. This leap allows them to embrace new ideas, drive innovation, and, yes, find greater happiness in their work.

But how do they do it? These teams cultivate an environment where every voice is valued, where feedback is not just welcomed but sought after. These teams understand they don’t have all answers. They make it a habit to look at challenges from multiple angles, ensuring they're not just swimming in circles.

This week, let’s take inspiration from these teams. Let's challenge ourselves to leap out of our own fishbowls, to seek and value perspectives different from our own. Whether it's inviting a colleague or an outside expert to share thoughts on a project or simply stepping back to reflect on our approach. Trust me, it’s liberating to experience that each leap can lead to more success, more innovation, and more happiness.

Have you seen the fishbowl effect in action? How have you or your team leaped out?

Ever find yourself trapped in a meeting marathon, leaving you to wonder if your time could've been invested better elsewhere?

In The Netherlands, where I'm from, reaching a consensus is almost a cultural norm. We aim for unanimous agreement in nearly all aspects of life, from professional decisions to personal gatherings. Yet, in my exploration of what makes high-performing teams tick, I've discovered they operate on a fundamentally different wavelength, one that feels instinctive to them.

The distinction of high-performing teams doesn't lie in their unanimity but in their shared vision and direction. Their success is not hindered by disagreements; rather, it's propelled by how they navigate these with a collective end goal in mind.Interestingly, I discovered these teams often embrace the principle of 'disagree and commit.' This practice doesn't push aside differing opinions for the sake of efficiency. Instead, it's about valuing and integrating these varied viewpoints to move forward together decisively. Such a mindset enables them to swiftly tackle objectives, overcoming the morass of indecision that traps many.

Far from just reducing the toll of endless consensus-driven meetings, this strategy redirects team effort towards what's genuinely important—innovation and forward momentum. It illustrates that a unified commitment, even in the face of disagreement, fosters a synergy and effectiveness, driving us towards our ambitions with dedication and speed.

For those of us seeking to elevate our teams to peak performance, the secret might just be in leveraging our diverse perspectives, not diluting them in the pursuit of common agreement.

In the eyes of an employee, the responsiveness of leadership following an engagement survey speaks volumes. Research shows a staggering 91% of employees are left waiting over a month for solutions to survey-identified challenges, with nearly half facing a wait of four months or longer. At Surply | Team Dynamic Diagnostics , we understand the impact of immediate action. Our tools are designed to give managers a clear and instant view of the hurdles their teams face, enabling swift and decisive action precisely when it counts for those on the ground. It's about transforming feedback into progress—because we believe the best time to solve a problem is as soon as you know it exists.

What topics you would like to hear about? Let me know in the comments and I will assure to cover it in the next newsletter.