The Leadership Accelerator: The Playbook for Transitioning into Your New Executive Role

CHAPTER 11

What Do You Want from Your Team?

In our labs, we often hear the same phrase from senior executives: “You are only as good as your team.” Their concern is understandable. If ineffective individuals drain your time, an ineffective team can impede critical initiatives and diminish your standing in your company.

When I ask executives transitioning to new roles if they have inherited a team—and if they want a team in the first place—most say yes. But executives often have a fuzzy definition of what a team is. Many describe something akin to a relay team, with runners who deliver the best possible performance in their leg cleanly handing off the baton to the next runner. Others want a team that is more like a basketball team, where people ...