Want a Consistently High-Achieving Team? Start Here.What separates the teams that just perform from those that consistently achieve? My friend and colleague Steven Gaffney has been pondering the same thing. The recently completed a national research study on Consistently High Achieving Teams (CHAT) and joined me on the podcast to unpack the results. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/36058995
The AI Oreo Cookie Philosophy: How to Use AI Like a Pro (Without Losing the Human Touch)AI isn’t magic—but it is a powerful tool to help teams tackle repetitive processes, streamline painful workflows, or add efficiency to tasks that require human intelligence. But just like an Oreo, AI is only as good as the layers you build around it. Let me break it down for you. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/35859035
What's the Difference Between a Strategic Plan and a Growth Plan?While they may sound similar, a and a growth plan serve distinct purposes. One sets the overall direction of your company, and the other focuses on how to expand your market presence and revenue. Understanding the difference can help you prioritize your efforts and ensure your business thrives. The growth plan actually "sits inside" your strategic plan. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/35839365
How to Keep Your Book Club From Becoming a Wine-Drinking Gossip Fest (Unless That’s the Goal, in Which Case, Carry On!)The best book clubs strike a balance between structured discussion and free-flowing conversation - which is why having a (or at least some semblance of a plan) is crucial. So, whether your book club is thriving or teetering on the edge of chaos, here are a few ways to keep the discussion engaging, inclusive, and—most importantly—fun. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/35781575
The CFO as Facilitator: Why CFOs Are Uniquely Positioned to Facilitate Cross-Functional Strategy MeetingsIn many organizations, the CFO is viewed as the "numbers person"—the one who tracks financial performance, ensures compliance, and keeps an eye on cash flow. But what if I told you that the CFO is actually one of the best people to facilitate strategic conversations and lead cross-functional teams? /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/35703410
How to Shine in a Self-Managed TeamLet’s explore how you can lean into your strengths, take initiative, and drive team success—all while positioning yourself as a key contributor and future leader. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/35263140
Criteria for Selecting the Best Growth StrategyBy systematically evaluating growth strategies against these criteria, your team can identify the most viable, impactful, and sustainable growth strategy for the business. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/35262945
Where Does Technology Fit in a Strategic Plan?Where does technology fit in a strategic plan? The answer depends on a number of factors. Here's what you need to know. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/35103320
16 Growth Strategies to Consider as a TeamThere is a business adage that says, “If you ain’t growing, you’re dying.” As a of numerous growth strategy sessions, I have found that it is helpful for the team to vet various strategies before meeting to select THE growth strategy. Why? Because the most obvious answer is probably not THE answer unless all on the team are on a freight train to rapid growth! Derailing a strategy that the team is committed to and is working well is NOT one that you need to change. You may want to tweak it to be even more exceptional! Here are the possible growth strategies a team might want to consider. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/35089815
How to Choose the Right Guide for Your Team: Facilitator, Mediator, or Moderator?Here’s a quick guide to help you understand the differences and choose the right fit for your team’s needs. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/34634605
Practical Ideas to Foster Belonging and Inclusion on Your TeamHere are some practical, actionable strategies to help team leaders and members foster a sense of belonging and accelerate the journey toward becoming a high-performing team. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/34623675
Charter an Implementation Team To Get Your Project DoneAn implementation team is chartered to implement a specific plan of action. Here's how to facilitate one to achieve your goal. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/34554040
‘Twas the Night Before Team TimeMerry Christmas! Whether you’re looking to energize meetings, solve challenges, or unlock your team’s full potential, I’m here to help. To help you get in the holiday team spirit, here's my take on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, for teams! /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/34553740
Team Ground Rules: The Glue That Holds Extraordinary Teams TogetherGround rules are like the “rules of the road” for your team. They tell us how we should function, how to handle distractions, and what to do when things get off track. Without them, it’s easy for even the best-intentioned teams to lose their way. Think of these rules as your team’s “Constitution,” guiding your work and keeping things running smoothly. And just like any great Constitution, it can and should evolve over time. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/33852942
Help Your Team Connect to Their Purpose and Their CustomersHere are 13 specific ways to help your team members connect with their purpose and keep their focus on the customer. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/33839952
Knowing versus Doing: Why Smart Teams Stall Mid-AirThe gap between knowing and doing is often the culprit. don’t falter because of a lack of expertise, resources, or good intentions. They falter because of an inability to transition from strategy to execution. Here's how can you help your team shift from knowing to doing. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/33490532
A Meeting Agenda is a MUSTDo you ever get a meeting invite that doesn't have an agenda, objectives, deliverable, or anything that tells you what the meeting is about? A client of mine calls that a "Naked Meeting." Here's how to avoid that. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/33490347
How to Set Up a Project Team for SuccessProject teams are typically commissioned to implement a specific project or plan. To set your project team up for success, follow these steps to success. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/33489997
Evaluate Your Strategic PlanHere is why you should evaluate your strategic plan at LEAST once every year. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/33097752
Developing a High-Performance Self-Directed TeamSelf-directed teams are formal, permanent organizational structures. They operate with fewer layers of management. Due to the nature of the work, team members learn all the tasks that need to be performed. Here is what they specifically do and how you could work toward a self-directed team. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/33097682
Create "Pre-Work" for Well-Prepared MeetingsBy providing one or a few of these pre-work tasks, you can ensure that your teammates come to the meeting well-prepared, leading to more focused discussions and quicker, more robust decision-making. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/33097497
11 Steps to Plan a Successful MeetingThe success of your team meeting is directly proportional to the amount of planning you have invested in that meeting. You can't just show up and expect magic to happen without a little bit of forethought. To plan for a successful team meeting, follow these eleven steps. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/32372412
Tips to Ace Your Team Presentation to ManagementYour team has worked hard and now needs management support and/or commitment to implement your recommendations. Hopefully, you have been keeping the management group informed of your team’s progress, so the presentation should not be “new news.” Nevertheless, take time to prepare for your final presentation. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/32386222
Add Curiosity to Your Brainstorming Session One of the major challenges with brainstorming an idea is that people want to immediately evaluate the idea. It's like playing "whack a mole" where creativity gets squashed with every suggestion. I was recently working with a team that loves to play "whack-a-mole". While I stated the traditional , I also added one more to prevent this tendency to evaluate every single idea: "Be curious." Here's how. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/31638412
When It’s Just NOT Working with Your Team Member Team members often need "coaching" from the team leader and their teammates. It's a normal phenomenon for people new to a team or to a task that ranges from instructing, guiding, and inspiring them to be truly empowered to accomplish the task. But even with coaching, what if you don't think they are up to the task? When do you let it go? Give up? Recognize that it's NOT WORKING? /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/31657152
19 Inexpensive Ways to Recognize Your TeamRecognizing your team's efforts can significantly boost morale, foster a positive work environment, and enhance productivity. Here are some cost-effective ways to acknowledge and . /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/31638307
Even the US Supreme Court Uses Ground RulesDespite ruling on several divisive issues, the justices have long maintained they are civil and get along well despite the fierce disagreements. Why? Because even the U.S. Supreme Court has ground rules! /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/30972723
Tips to Use More Inclusive Language on Your Team As a leader, we want to build and strengthen our team. But what if we are actually dividing our team - and we don't even know it? You may consider using more inclusive language on your team. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/30465058
Test Team Alignment with this ActivityWant to test your team alignment? Try this thought-provoking team activity. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/30485493
13 Ways to Cultivate Curiosity in Your TeamWhen it comes to teams, curiosity is a powerful quality that inspires connection and conversation. While some people might think it's a "trait" where some people are simply more curious than others, I think it's a skill you can build...and even cultivate within your team. Here are strategies to cultivate curiosity in your team, organized for clarity and action. /episode/index/show/extraordinaryteam/id/30464598