Why Traditional Leadership is Failing – And How "Team of Teams" Fixes It

In my previous article, "Knowing the Inmost Room Doesn't Contain Anything," I emphasised the critical balance between adaptability and speed, depth and analysis in security operations. Following its publication, several security directors and managers reached out, inquiring about the optimal leadership style to support such a strategy. This brings us to the "Team of Teams" approach, which General Stanley McChrystal pioneered. After reading his seminal work in 2015, I had the privilege of engaging with General McChrystal's team. I have since steadfastly advocated his and the McChrystal Group’s leadership philosophies.

The evolution of our global landscape from merely complicated to complex has introduced unprecedented challenges. Components interact in predictable ways in a complicated system, like a car engine. However, interactions are unpredictable and often nonlinear in a complex system such as global security networks. This shift has ushered us into a VUCA environment—characterised by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. Traditional hierarchical structures, designed for predictability and control, often falter in such settings. Instead, a more dynamic, adaptable approach is required.

The Genesis of Team of Teams

General McChrystal's experience leading the Joint Special Operations Task Force in Iraq highlighted the inadequacies of conventional military hierarchies against agile adversaries like Al Qaeda. Despite superior resources, the U.S. forces struggled against an enemy operating as a dispersed network of small, autonomous cells. Recognising this, McChrystal transformed his command into a "team of teams," fostering shared consciousness and empowered execution. This approach decentralised decision-making, enabling frontline units to act swiftly and adaptively based on real-time intelligence.

Core Principles of the Team of Teams Approach

1. Shared Consciousness: Breaking down silos to ensure information flows freely across all levels. This transparency cultivates a unified understanding of objectives and challenges, allowing teams to collaboratively anticipate and respond to emerging threats.
2. Empowered Execution: Granting teams the autonomy to make decisions within their operational purview. By trusting trained professionals to act decisively, organisations can respond to threats with agility and precision.
3. Decentralised Decision-Making: Shifting authority to those closest to the action recognises that frontline personnel often have the most pertinent information and can make timely decisions without awaiting directives from higher-ups.
4. Relentless Communication: Maintaining continuous team dialogue ensures that information is current, context is shared, and collective situational awareness is enhanced.

Applying Team of Teams in Belgian Security Sectors

Belgium's security landscape, encompassing private security firms, police forces, and defence units, operates within a unique socio-political context. The nation's linguistic and cultural diversity and its role as a hub for international institutions like the European Parliament and NATO present opportunities and challenges.

1. Private Security Firms: Companies providing security services throughout Belgium and in heterogeneous sectors often operate in dynamic environments. By adopting the team-of-teams model, these firms can enhance their responsiveness to client needs. For instance, decentralising decision-making allows on-ground security personnel to adapt protocols in real time, addressing specific threats as they arise. This agility is crucial in high-stakes situations where delays can have significant consequences.
2. Police Forces: Belgian law enforcement agencies frequently collaborate with state and international bodies and manage diverse communities. Implementing shared consciousness can improve inter-departmental cooperation and information sharing. Regular joint briefings and integrated communication platforms can break down traditional silos, fostering a cohesive approach to public safety. This collective awareness enables police units to anticipate and mitigate incidents more effectively.
3. Defence Units: The Belgian Armed Forces, engaged in both national defence and international missions, operate in complex theatres. Empowered execution ensures that units in the field can make informed decisions without waiting for top-down orders. This autonomy is vital in rapidly changing operational landscapes, where timely responses are critical to mission success. Moreover, fostering a culture of trust and continuous learning enhances the forces' overall adaptability.
4. Corporate Security: Private corporations face security challenges ranging from cyber threats to supply chain vulnerabilities. Implementing the team-of-teams philosophy allows different departments—IT security, physical security, and risk management—to operate with a common purpose. Encouraging open communication and a cross-functional approach strengthens resilience against emerging risks.

Transitioning to a team-of-teams structure is not without challenges. It requires a cultural shift from traditional command-and-control models to one that values trust, transparency, and adaptability. Leaders must be willing to cede a degree of control and place confidence in their teams' capabilities. This shift necessitates comprehensive training and a commitment to continuous learning. In a rapidly changing world, the ability to adapt and learn is a key factor for success.

Conclusion

In an era of complexity and rapid change, the team-of-teams approach offers a robust framework for security organisations in Belgium and beyond. By embracing shared consciousness and empowered execution, these entities can enhance their operational effectiveness, ensuring they are better equipped to navigate the challenges of a VUCA world.

(c) Yannick De Smet - AI-assisted newsletter. The content of this newsletter is solely the idea, work, and expression of the author, and any views or meanings expressed do not represent the opinions or interpretations of any other party.