The Highest ROI of Anything a Leader Can Do

Read The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Pat Lencioni – Published in 2002, this book is the bible of executive team building. I have used his format and principles – with astonishing success - in working with scores of companies across the United States. I work with their executive teams to accomplish the following (and thereby avoid the “dysfunctions” of most teams):

·      Build vulnerability-based trust – because a team that trusts each other can then…

·      Conflict with each other - in a productive, healthy, trusting way, with everyone being heard, as opposed to engaging in “toxic battles” or “toxic politeness,” so that team members can…

·      Commit to shared values and goals – so that team members can then…

·      Hold each other accountable – focusing on positive behaviors and performance, so that…

·      Results can be achieved

Team building has the highest ROI of any possible business activity. Though not easy, for those with the courage and grit, team building is absolutely transformative to companies. No technology spend, no new hires, no infrastructure…simply the willingness of team members to lean into the process. Sure, you’ll have the cost of a team building facilitator, but that will be dwarfed by the gains you’ll reap.

Don’t confuse “culture building” with team building. The overwhelming majority of companies that think they are doing team building – with events like ropes courses, picnics, games, cooking classes, and the like – are not building the strength of their team at all. They are doing something fun in the hopes of boosting employee morale and the culture of the company. And generally those efforts fail, given they have done nothing to authentically strengthen the team.

Team building is different. It requires each team member to dive deeply into vulnerability, exposing their inner selves, weaknesses, and insecurities, so that other members will do the same, and together they can begin to build a powerful trust. The process is highly reciprocal. One member shares a deep vulnerability, and other members feel that they can now trust that person with their own vulnerability.

And if you are looking for a facilitator, reach out to me at www.growandselladvisors.com.   Team building facilitation is one of the most enjoyable and powerful things I do.

GROW and SELL Advisors, wholly-owned by Traversi & Co., LLC, is a premier sell-side M&A advisory firm – a boutique investment bank – serving the lower middle market.  Visit us here.

For a short video clip on this topic, click here.