Ask Coach: What's The Process Behind Developing A Leadership Team?

By Hardin Byars, executive coach with HTG Peer Groups

Q: How do I develop a true leadership team?

Coach: Well, that’s a topic that could consume an entire library of books! That said, let’s see if we can’t whittle the topic down to a manageable scope. Beginning with the end in mind … effective development always starts with defining success. Said differently, ask yourself if you have a clear sense for what a real leadership team looks like?

The word “team” is often used quite loosely when, in actuality, the reference is likely just to a group of individuals with something in common. An affinity group, however, is very different from a team.

So what is a leadership team, then? Broadly speaking, it’s a collection of individual leaders united by a common objective for which they are willing to make personal sacrifices. That latter point is key. Unless and until individuals are willing to place their personal interests secondary to the collective benefit, you don’t have a team … yet.

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