At The Bailey Group, our approach to Leadership Team Alignment is grounded in well-researched and practice-validated principles.
Key Principles of Leadership Team Development
Principle #1: Address Performance Issues First
Before beginning team development, any performance problems with team members must be resolved. Without this foundation, team development efforts will likely falter.
Principle #2: Align to Vision and Strategy
An organization’s vision and strategy should be clear. The team needs to align itself with these goals to ensure the entire organization is moving in the same direction.
Principle #3: Develop Supportive Leadership
The team leader must foster a leadership style that promotes effective teamwork. If this is lacking, team development will suffer.
Principle #4: Team Development is Ongoing
Team development isn’t a one-time event. It’s an ongoing process involving data gathering, evaluation, planning, and execution. Success should be regularly evaluated and maintained.
Principle #5: Focus on Task and Relationship
Effective teams focus on both task execution (getting the right things done) and creating a culture of psychological safety (building trust and mutual respect). Healthy development moves through stages: Form, Storm, Norm, and Perform.
Understanding Task Focus
To develop task focus, a team must have:
- Aligned Purpose: A clear core purpose that fosters interdependence.
- Measurable Goals: Specific, measurable goals with timelines to track success (e.g., 1-year, 3-year goals).
- Defined Roles: Clear roles for each team member that align with leadership expectations.
- Aligned Meetings: Meeting agendas that support the team’s purpose and goals, ensuring the executive team stays focused and avoids getting caught in operational details.
What is Psychological Safety?
According to Google’s Project Aristotle, psychological safety is a team climate defined by interpersonal trust and respect, where team members feel comfortable being themselves. This safety is cultivated through:
- Productive Conflict: Engaging in constructive conflict while maintaining trust.
- Authenticity: Being transparent and open with one another, even when it’s challenging.
At The Bailey Group, we also utilize validated assessments like the Hogan Leadership and Team Reports to provide insights into individual and team strengths and blind spots.
