23 October
by Rick Bowers

Why Adaptability Is the Most Important Skill in the Future of Work

A company’s leadership team sets the tone for the entire organization. When leadership teams function well, they inspire collaboration, innovation, and accountability throughout the company. When they don’t, dysfunction ripples outward, negatively impacting decision-making, productivity, and employee morale.

At Apex GTS Advisors, we’ve seen how even the most experienced leadership teams can fall into common pitfalls that sabotage their effectiveness. Based on insights from the article “Why Leadership Teams Fail” and our extensive work with executives, we share the three most common reasons leadership teams fail and how to avoid them.

 

Pitfall 1: The Shark Tank – When Competition Turns Toxic

Healthy competition can drive performance, but leadership teams devolve into a shark tank when it becomes toxic. Leaders prioritize personal agendas over the team’s collective success in this environment. The result is political maneuvering, infighting, and a lack of trust.

To avoid this pitfall, leaders must:

  • Establish clear team goals that take priority over individual ambitions.
  • Set behavioral expectations that discourage toxic competition and reinforce collaboration.
  • Encourage transparency and accountability so that decision-making is open and aligned with the team’s objectives.

Leadership teams can avoid the shark tank dynamic by fostering a culture of collaboration and addressing competitive behaviors head-on.

 

Pitfall 2: The Petting Zoo – Too Much Harmony, Not Enough Debate

On the other end of the spectrum are leadership teams that avoid conflict at all costs, resulting in the “petting zoo.” These teams are overly harmonious, often avoiding tough conversations to maintain unity. While collaboration is essential, a lack of constructive conflict can lead to poor decision-making and missed opportunities for innovation.

To break out of the petting zoo, leadership teams need to:

  • Encourage healthy debate by fostering an environment of psychological safety where team members feel comfortable expressing opposing views.
  • Shift the focus to solutions, allowing differing opinions to surface for the team’s good.
  • Hold team members accountable for voicing concerns and challenging the status quo.

Constructive conflict is critical to avoiding the complacency that often sets in when teams become too focused on maintaining harmony.

 

Pitfall 3: The Mediocracy – Complacency and Lack of Vision

Teams that have become complacent often operate in silos, with leaders more focused on maintaining the status quo than pushing for growth. In a mediocracy, more motivation must be needed to improve performance or innovate, leading to stagnation and missed opportunities.

To avoid mediocrity, leadership teams must:

  • Reinvigorate their sense of purpose by setting ambitious goals that challenge the team to push beyond their comfort zones.
  • Ensure alignment with the broader organizational strategy so that every team member works toward a shared vision.
  • Bring in fresh perspectives when needed, whether through hiring new talent or reshuffling responsibilities to drive higher performance.

By reigniting a sense of drive and purpose, leadership teams can avoid the mediocracy trap and focus on future success.

 

How Apex GTS Helps Leadership Teams Thrive

At Apex GTS Advisors, we help leadership teams identify and overcome the challenges that prevent them from performing at their best. Our leadership development programs, executive coaching, and team workshops are designed to address your team’s unique dynamics, ensuring that collaboration, accountability, and performance are prioritized. Whether your team struggles with internal competition, avoids difficult conversations, or needs more vision, we have the expertise to help you realign and achieve high performance. Our tailored solutions provide leadership teams with the tools they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced business environment. Dysfunctional leadership teams can significantly drag on organizational performance, but by recognizing and addressing the common pitfalls, teams can unlock their potential and drive success. At Apex GTS Advisors, we’re committed to helping leadership teams avoid these pitfalls and lead their organizations toward a brighter, more productive future.