“It’s not finance, it’s not strategy, it’s not technology, it’s teamwork, that remains the ultimate competitive advantage. Because it’s both so powerful and so rare.”
These words of Patrick Lencioni have inspired me over the years and are one of the reasons for the launch of my new podcast IMPACTFUL Teamwork. Over the years I have come to appreciate the power of teamwork to transform business and escalate its success but that wasn’t always the case.
I confess when I was working in the corporate world I never fully appreciated how my team contributed to my success and it was only when I started my own business, and had no team around me, that my thoughts on this changed.
Today I am deeply passionate about the art of leadership and the science of team dynamics, which is why I am so excited to share this new podcast with you.
If you’re tuning into this conversation, you’re likely shouldering the responsibility of a team, searching for that elusive key to seamless collaboration. You may find yourself entrenched in a silo mentality within your organization, or perhaps you’re struggling with a team that approaches you with problems instead of solutions, lacking the passion and drive you exhibit. I understand these frustrations all too well, and it’s my mission to arm you with practical, actionable strategies that you can apply immediately to overcome these obstacles.
My conviction is that teamwork transcends being a mere function of business—it’s the essence of it. Leaders need to recognise that aligned and engaged team members are a formidable competitive advantage..
Through my work, I’ve observed that many leaders possess untapped potential within their teams but don’t know how to unlock and harness this energy effectively. I’ve also experienced the sheer waste of time, energy, and resources when teams work in isolation, duplicating efforts rather than synergising. In stark contrast, the natural world, including my herd of horses, operates on principles of efficiency and interdependence—a model I believe modern businesses must emulate.
‘IMPACTFUL’ is not just a word but an acronym I’ve coined that embodies the attributes essential for peak performance in leadership and teamwork:
Intuition – Embracing our gut instincts to lead wisely.
Mastering Communication – Excellently conveying and receiving messages.
Personal Boundaries – Establishing clear delineations to stay on course.
Authenticity – Being genuine and vulnerable in our professional roles.
Connection – Building profound and trustworthy relationships.
Trust and Transparency – Laying the groundwork for efficient and effective operations.
Full Attention – Staying present, ensuring every moment counts.
Unity – Championing harmony and collaborative success.
Leader Self-Care – Recognising the need for self-awareness and self-preservation to fuel team vitality.
In our discussions, I’ll be debunking myths that often cripple team effectiveness. For instance, diversity within teams is not a hurdle but a strength. Healthy conflict is not a team’s downfall but rather its lifeblood when harnessed appropriately. And the assumption that everyone enjoys teamwork is simply not supported by research—thus, understanding each team member’s unique drivers and working styles is crucial.
Another vital distinction I’ve realised is that managing a team’s dynamics is a far cry from day-to-day operational management. It’s about empowerment versus delegation, inspiration versus direction. Moreover, the myth that senior leaders naturally foster teamwork is often just that—a myth. Real teamwork means sharing power and control, something that can be daunting for leaders concerned about their authority.
In this podcast, I’ll be drawing parallels between the harmonious interplay found in nature and the effective functioning of business teams. By learning from my horse herd, we will uncover lessons on maintaining health, harmony, and unity, crucial for any team’s survival and prosperity.
I invite you to ponder this: How can you cultivate impactful teams that not only elevate your business but also contribute positively to the fabric of our global business community? Let this be the beginning of our conversation, not the end.
Over the upcoming episodes, I look forward to unravelling the secrets of successful teamwork with you and urge you to reach out as we navigate this path together towards creating more engaged, productive, and thriving organisations.
Here are the highlights from this episode:
(02:59) Teamwork is the ultimate competitive advantage.
(12:43) Success is a team sport and we all need to participate to win.
(19:18) Trust and transparency.
(24:03) Conflict as an energy source.
(28:44) Nature and the importance of teamwork.
Julia Felton (aka The Business Wrangler) is the founder of Business HorsePower. Business leaders, entrepreneurs and executives hire her to accelerate their business performance by harnessing the energy of their people to work more collaboratively together. By aligning purpose with actions the team achieves exponential results as everyone starts pulling in the same direction.
Julia believes that business is a force for good and through designing purpose-driven businesses that leverage the laws of nature, and the herd, you can create businesses founded on the principles of connection, collaboration and community that make a significant impact in the world.