IS YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM FOCUSED VERTICALLY OR HORIZONTALLY?
Leadership teams typically spend a lot of time together, but this time is usually focused ‘vertically’, where members come to the table – consciously or unconsciously – as a representative of their business or functional unit. The more time that is spent in this mode, the more likely there will be divisions, disputes and drama as team members fight for resources, relevance and attention.
Even more significantly, a ‘vertical’ focus typically leaves lots of value on the table. For most organizations, value is created in between the verticals, as members from different divisions and functions collaborate to produce greater outcomes than they could on their own.
High performing teams spend the bulk of their time together ‘horizontally’, focused on their shared agenda. This agenda includes the organization’s ambitions, strategy, culture and overall performance across a range of leading indicators and lagging outcomes. The more that time is spent in this mode, the more team members will come to the table as enterprise leaders, who drive the agenda together.
INSPIRATION FROM OTHERS
“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot: together we can do great things.” – Mother Teresa
“The only way you can predict the future is to build it.” – Alan Kay
QUESTIONS TO REFLECT ON
- Where does your team focus the majority of its time and attention; vertically or horizontally?
- What are the consequences of this focus?
- How could you create more focus on your shared agenda?
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