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Brain Circuits
Above the line: why you need a culture of top teams, not top talent
The pursuit of organizational excellence often focuses on individual talent – but any system is only as strong as its weakest link. Instead, leaders must foster a culture of top teams. Véronique Bogliolo sets out how it’s done.
Above and below the line
In neuroscience, the state of being ‘below the line’ is induced by elevated levels of cortisol (the ‘stress hormone’). Feelings of frustration, worry, and hopelessness prevail, and our focus shifts entirely to ourselves. By contrast, the state of being ‘above the line’, induced by the hormone oxytocin, promotes feelings of being open and engaged, courageous, and inquisitive. This state of mind is essential for any functional team. These steps will help your team stay above the line.
1. Model your value system
Value-based team cultures that promote well-being do not simply emerge: they require a mold. As a leader, you are that mold. You must be clear and vocal about your values and spend regular time with teams to find common ground. You also have to make room for the human inside you – one that may need support, has a bad day, and can make mistakes and own them. This will encourage your team to adopt behaviors such as proactive care for one another, deep listening, respect, a sense of a common destiny, and mutual achievement.
2. Establish absolute operational clarity
A lack of clarity on roles, growth paths, accountability, collaboration, and review processes is a recipe for disaster. Employees need to know where and who they are within this structure, where they’re going, and how the success of the team is measured. The key is communication and holding space in team meetings to focus on operational clarity. This allows you and your team to address any misunderstandings simmering under the surface.
3. Inspire trust above all else
Trust is the indispensable glue that holds a top team together. If you want innovative thought and creative ideas to flourish and drive the businesses forward, your team must be able to operate without fear. There can be no retaliation for an idea that does not shape up as expected, nor for honesty and constructive feedback.
Key learning
As a leader, you need to foster a culture of top teams, putting the focus on the ‘we’ instead of the ‘I’. Remember: top teams will always triumph over top talent.
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