260. Cohesion Inside, Courage Outside: Redefining Team Success with Mick Spiers

Ever wondered if your team's greatest strength could also be its biggest weakness? When expertise becomes tunnel vision, even the most talented teams can miss what matters most.

Drawing from my enlightening conversation with Professor Henrik Bresman of INSEAD, co-author of "X-Teams," this episode explores a counterintuitive truth: truly exceptional teams aren't defined by their internal cohesion alone, but by their courage to look outward. While most organizations celebrate alignment and efficient execution, Bresman's research reveals that external focus, deep listening, and genuine co-creation with stakeholders create the real competitive edge.

We dive into the "inward trap" that ensnares even the most brilliant teams, keeping them locked in internal debates while customers feel forgotten. You'll discover why presenting fully-baked solutions often backfires, transforming what should be partnerships into mere transactions. Through practical examples and actionable strategies, I'll walk you through the mindset shift from being expertise-driven to connection-focused.

The most powerful moment comes when we realize that listening itself is transformative. I share personal experiences where simply creating space for customers to express frustrations—even when those truths were uncomfortable—completely turned around soured relationships. That's because people don't just want solutions; they want to feel heard, valued, and involved in creating their future.

Ready to build an X-Team that leads rather than merely executes? This episode offers immediate steps you can take to audit your team's orientation, schedule genuine listening sessions with stakeholders, and move from problem-focused thinking to possibility-centered creation. Your expertise matters, but your ability to connect might matter even more.

Subscribe to The Leadership Project for more insights that challenge conventional wisdom and transform how you lead. How might your team's effectiveness change if you spent as much energy looking outward as you do looking inward?

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