This newsletter shares insights from executive coaching, successful organizations and impactful leadership. Every week, you will receive a new email that is jam-packed with leadership insights, strategies and actionable steps for senior leaders and aspiring ones. Thank you for being a part of my journey, and I look forward to sharing my most valuable content with you!

Teams fail 75% of the time - here’s why and what you can do about it

Let that sink in for a moment

We talk endlessly about “team chemistry” & “heroic leaders,” but the reality is that hope is rarely a great strategy for performance. A recent McKinsey & Company article debunks these myths & reveals that team effectiveness is less art & much more science

The data shows that focusing solely on “top talent” or individual performance isn’t enough; the dynamics of how people interact are just as critical.
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The U.S. 🇺🇸 Olympic 4x100 relay team is a powerful example: despite having some of the fastest individuals, their lack of cohesive practice & last-minute changes have led to repeated underperformance & even disqualification because they couldn’t pass the baton smoothly. They were a team of individuals, & not an effective team

The research identified 17 specific “health drivers” for sustainable results, grouped into four core areas:

1. Configuration: Clear roles & a mix of perspectives
2. Alignment: Shared direction & commitment
3. Execution: Carrying out day-to-day work effectively
4. Renewal: A working environment built for long-term learning & sustainability

While all drivers matter, four have the greatest impact on efficiency, results, & innovation: 1. Trust 2. Effective Communication 3. Innovative thinking 4. Effective decision making

For instance, teams with above-average trust are 5.1 times more likely to produce top results

Critically, teams often have shared blind spots 👨🏼‍🦯, believing they are good at certain behaviors when they actually need to improve

An objective diagnostic coupled with effective team coaching can reveal this perception gap, helping teams focus on the right areas, not the wrong ones

Finally, there’s no one-size-fits-all playbook. Understanding your team’s specific archetype—whether it’s like a cycling, relay, or rowing team—& its level of interdependence is key to applying the right drivers for success

Leaders can transform performance by:

1. Taking a hard look in the mirror: Using diagnostics to uncover gaps
2. Making changes stick: Establishing governance & ongoing check-ins
3. Ensuring leaders don’t stand in the way: Addressing command-&-control mindsets
4. Embedding effectiveness in the DNA: Scaling the approach systematically

Building healthier teams is how we unlock potential & create value across the entire organization

📣 Did you know that next to my 1:1 coaching, I also offer bespoke leadership team journeys that take executive teams from Good to Great? But don’t take my word for it, take it from a recent client of mine, a CEO of a FTSE company:

💬 “The coaching has helped us to further mature in our relationship management, decision making and people leadership. Our work has been tremendously useful and I’m confident that it will continue to remain useful both for me and for my executive leadership team.”

#TeamEffectiveness #Leadership #OrganizationalDevelopment

About Navid Nazemian
​Ranked as the world’s #1 Executive Coach by CEO Today for the 3rd year running, I use interventions that are designed to overcome obstacles quickly. Over the last 2 decades, I have helped hundreds of executives successfully eliminate unproductive thinking and solve their toughest, most complex challenges. In return, they have supported their organisations to build world-class cultures primed to create new markets, accelerate performance, increase productivity, and develop game-changing value propositions. 5 more ways to connect with me and my work:

1. For more articles, tips, and insights, connect with me on LinkedIn​
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Marshall Goldsmith says it‘s „The ultimate guide to executive transitions to help leaders achieve their highest potential.“

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Dr. Hannes Ametsreiter says it „provides brilliant insights on what makes successful careers.“

What's Next? Stay tuned for upcoming newsletter editions where I'll be sharing fresh and actionable insights about the world of leadership. I really would love for you to join this conversation! Do let me know what you make of this newsletter edition by hitting 'Reply'.

Warm wishes,

Navid

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