Embracing growth through team dynamics

- Starting with the naked truth. Leading Intercept has taught me a lot. While we often focus on things like strategy or HR, I've realized that how our team works together – our team dynamics – really shapes our path. I strongly believe that we need to be ready for the next growth phase. With this in mind, I began with our leadership team. Together, we brought in an external consultant to interview us and give insights on improving the organization. One feedback stood out: our team dynamic.. I believe we can and should do better. After all, Intercept deserves the best. Sharing this means being very open about our challenges, but I feel like that’s my responsibility.?

Trust in the team

For Intercept to excel, we need a team where trust is second nature, and every member can rely on the other. "The five dysfunctions of a team" by Patrick Lencioni helped me.?

The book provided a piercing analysis of common team dysfunctions. One thing stood out to me: he explains that a team's foundation often lacks trust, which makes it hard for members to admit mistakes or show weaknesses.

Trust is necessary for teams to engage in healthy debates, leading to shallow agreements that lack depth.

This lack of deep discussions can prevent team members from truly committing to decisions, creating a sense of uncertainty. And in such an environment, there's a hesitation to hold each other accountable. All these factors can mean that while individual members might shine, the team as a whole doesn't reach its full potential.

To overcome these challenges, Lencioni suggests focusing on building trust, promoting healthy conflicts, making clear commitments, ensuring accountability, and prioritizing the team's collective success over individual wins.

Becoming better?

When a team works together harmoniously, the benefits are clear and far-reaching. We unlock more creativity and innovative thinking by addressing and improving our dynamics. Different voices and ideas unite, giving us more ways to tackle challenges. Our team becomes quicker to adapt and can bounce back from setbacks, giving - in my case, Intercept - an edge over competitors. The healthy debates we encourage ensure our decisions are well-informed, lowering our risk of making mistakes. And, most importantly, clear communication means we all understand Intercept's goals and are pulling together in the same direction. It's through these collective efforts that our company moves forward, ready to face whatever comes next.

- Truth be told, we are not there yet.?

Reflecting on our own journey?

Every step of this journey at Intercept has been deeply personal for me. Exploring our team dynamics isn't a fleeting project; it's about understanding the heart and soul of what we've built together.

To other leaders and organizations, embrace vulnerability. It not only fosters trust but also drives innovation. Personal and organizational growth can be uncomfortable and challenging, but it's through these experiences that we unlock true potential.

Cheers, Job