From Fast Followers to Early Implementers
Across the leadership teams I coach, I’m noticing an increasingly important distinction between teams that function and teams that flourish.
Functioning teams are often fast followers. They respond quickly once a trend, technology or new way of working has been tested elsewhere.
Flourishing teams tend to behave differently. They are often early implementers. They continuously scan their environment, seek out people who bring diverse perspectives, and make time to consider what might be emerging. They do not simply follow trends. At times, they set them.
Rather than prepare for a single future, flourishing teams hold several scenarios. They explore what each could mean, align around how they might respond, and prepare themselves to act.
When the time comes, they decide and go rather than wait and see.
Most importantly, they learn quickly. They do not assume every decision will succeed. They create enough trust and psychological safety to act, pay attention to what happens and adapt. They are free to fail, and they treasure the learning that follows.
INVITATION
As a team, are you fast followers or early implementers?
Consider and share your reflections:
Where could we decide and go rather than wait and see?
If we did, what would tell us we were making progress?
If it did not work as intended, what would we want to learn?
Would you rather fail and learn or resist and risk regressing?