🌋 Not as dormant as we thought!

Recent research shows that magma below Rangitoto (the island behind me in this pic) is still warm, 600 years after it formed. The place where I’m standing is also a dormant volcano (apparently), and from here I can see many others across the city - Auckland is built on 53 of them.

Teams can be like “dormant” volcanoes. On the surface, everything may seem fine - people appear to get along and delivery on track. But dormancy isn’t always a sign that all is well. Sometimes, deep down, things are quite warm, full of tension, and maybe even about to blow.

A client once told me there was no debate or tension in her team because everyone respected each other and shared the same opinions. It turned out that psychological safety was so low they were scared to speak up - and relationships were tense.

Team coaches are a bit like volcanologists - helping teams and leaders dig below the surface, uncover what’s really happening, what it means for the team and their performance, and supporting new ways forward.

As for Rangitoto? I’m hoping that little warmth isn’t anything to worry about - but I’m very glad someone is keeping an eye on it! 

If you would like to know more and how team coaching might uncover what’s really happening in your team, get in touch. I’d love to have a chat.

 🪴 Growing leaders & teams

 🪴 Sowing seeds of insight & inspiration

High performing individuals ≠ high performing teams!

Amy Edmondson (2013), a pioneering thought leader on teams, emphasised that organisations thrive or fail based on how well small groups within them work collectively, not by the capabilities of individuals within them. 

Despite this, best practice change management tends to focus on individual behaviour and isolated change champions scattered across organisations.

In this short article I argue that change programmes should invest energy in the ways people actually work in organisations – in teams! And team coaching is a great way to bring that investment to life.  It's a smart investment.

 Keen to chat more? I’d love to debate the topic further - please get in touch.

🪴 Growing leaders & teams

🪴 Sowing seeds of insight & inspiration

Teams of teams .pdf

Download PDF • 228KB

A walk on the beach is a good investment!

Hearing the waves, feeling sand under my feet and the sun on my face, breathing fresh salty air, and seeing a spectacular natural shoreline is when I come up with my best ideas. 

It’s when the default mode network of my brain kicks in. The areas responsible for:

• Reflecting on the big picture

• Connecting dots

• Problem-solving in novel ways

• Generating “a-ha” moments

If I’m constantly on the go - in meetings, at my desk, answering emails and phone calls - my brain is in task mode, using my executive control network. This part of my brain is extremely handy in getting things done – but it’s not good at determining whether those things are the right things.

It’s the same principal in teams. I’ve been part of and worked with many teams who focus on getting things done. That’s great. But are those things the right things? Are those things being does as effectively and efficiently as possible? Do stakeholders actually value those things? Will those things be relevant next month, or next year?

Teams need regular “walks at the beach”. Time to reflect, process, connect, solve gnarly problems and plan for the future. 

And that’s what I help teams with. Time to let their collective “default mode network’s” activate!

Get in touch if you want to find out more. I do need to warn you that I’m a big fan of outdoor meetings and coaching sessions - beach walks included!

🪴 Growing leaders & teams

🪴 Sowing seeds of insight & inspiration