In the current evolving work environment, traditional paradigms of leadership and teamwork are no longer sufficient. Recognising this, encountas, founded by Leonie Rothwell and Juliette Hall, and their team work with leaders and teams to help them adapt and excel in the changing landscape.
"We see leaders face new challenges that demand deep reflection on their approach towards uncertainty and driving success. The siloed mentality of the past inhibits agility and progress. Embracing collaboration, adaptability, and continuous learning is essential for leaders to thrive in this changing landscape.”
Juliette Hall
With a focus on the new hero skills of teaming required for success, their approach highlights the importance of collaboration, adaptability, complex problem-solving, and continuous learning. As we know, no matter what our role, we all need to lead in one way or another. In our SuperTeaming experience, an end-to-end experience to uplevel your organisation’s teaming capability, we have 12 new skills. Let's delve into four of these critical hero skills and how they empower individuals and teams to thrive in the face of change.
The ability to frame plays a pivotal role in organising teams for learning. Leaders shape cognitive frames that influence how teams perceive and approach change projects. By cultivating a learning frame instead of an execution frame, leaders empower teams to embrace uncertainty, take risks, and learn from mistakes. Establishing psychological safety and a culture where speaking up, sharing ideas, and challenging the status quo are encouraged fosters an environment conducive to learning, better thinking environments, and outcomes.
Facilitation is a crucial hero skill for leaders and team members navigating complexity. Effective facilitation requires active listening, neutrality, understanding group dynamics, and transforming conflict into productive dialogue. By creating a supportive and inclusive environment, facilitative leaders enable collaboration, idea-sharing, and consensus-building, ultimately leading to positive group outcomes.
Skilfully managing friction is an invaluable leadership skill. Leaders who embrace diverse perspectives, encourage open dialogue, and create safe spaces for constructive conflict enable growth, innovation, and improved decision-making. Navigating difficult conversations, finding common ground, and transforming friction into opportunities for learning and improvement enhance team dynamics and drive organisational success.
Rethinking failure is crucial in the new era of work. Rather than associating failure with blame and negativity, leaders and teams should view it as a valuable learning opportunity and catalyst for growth. Cultivating a team culture that empowers individuals to take risks, experiment, and learn from mistakes fosters continuous improvement, a growth mindset, and collaboration.
"The need for learning has accelerated, and it extends beyond mere learning in the flow of work. Execution intertwined with active learning and spaces for reflection allows businesses to tap into applied and tested knowledge, creating breakthroughs for individuals, teams, and organisations.”
Leonie Rothwell
As you can imagine, to master these hero skills the learning experience must be different, personalised, and sustainable. We find that a combination of skill build, practice, individual and team sense-making, and internal coaches are critical to applying these skills. By equipping your teams with these hero skills, leaders and teams can navigate uncertainty with confidence, adapt to new challenges, unlock their full potential in the era of the ever-changing work environment, and create environments that prioritise learning and growth.
For the next week, observe how you and your team operates. Some questions to consider:
• How are problems framed?
• How are decisions made?
• Is it safe to fail?
• When is it helpful to stay neutral?
• How do you work with conflict?
• How do you contribute to your team as a teamer?
Download the SuperTeaming brochure to get a better understanding of how this encountas experience can super charge your organisation. Alternatively, Book a Discovery Call Today!
