709: Help Your Team Coach Each Other, with Keith Ferrazzi
Nov 18, 2024
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Keith Ferrazzi, an entrepreneur and thought leader in high-performing teams, shares transformative insights on peer coaching and accountability. He argues that great leaders foster an environment where teams coach each other, enhancing feedback processes. The discussion highlights innovative practices like Elf Beauty's unique onboarding and the 5/5/5 Learning Roadmap for structured peer dialogue. Ferrazzi emphasizes promoting a culture of celebration and personal growth, reshaping how teams interact and thrive together.
Great leaders empower their teams to provide mutual feedback, fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration essential for high performance.
Implementing practices such as open 360 feedback and the 5/5/5 Learning Roadmap promotes continuous learning and supports healthier team dynamics.
Deep dives
The Importance of Teamship in Coaching
Effective coaching goes beyond individual leaders; it includes fostering a culture of teamship where members actively support each other. A shift from a leader-centric view to one that emphasizes peer-to-peer accountability and feedback is essential for maximizing team performance. The discussion highlights that a great leader not only gives feedback but ensures that the team is capable of providing feedback to one another, creating a more collaborative environment. This comprehensive approach promotes a sense of shared responsibility and enhances team cohesion.
The Dangers of Back Channel Conversations
Back channel conversations, or informal discussions regarding team members, can severely undermine team dynamics and performance. Such behaviors often manifest as criticism and can create a toxic atmosphere, leading to decreased morale and productivity. It's essential to eliminate back channel discussions and replace them with open and constructive communication within the team. By committing to a culture of co-elevation, team members can engage in healthier interactions, focused on mutual support and growth.
Effective Practices for Team Development
The concept of teamship can be enhanced through specific practices that prioritize peer feedback and open communication. For example, the onboarding process at Elf Beauty includes an 'open 360' exercise, where team members share respectful feedback and suggestions, fostering a sense of safety and support. Additionally, regular energy checks allow team members to openly discuss challenges impacting their performance and well-being. These practices not only enhance relationships but also create a foundation for candid coaching and effective collaboration.
Building a Culture of Continuous Learning
A culture of continuous learning and development is crucial for high-performing teams, as exemplified by the '555' framework for peer coaching. In this practice, individuals present a challenge for discussion, receive questions for clarification, and then gather feedback. This method emphasizes the importance of creating an environment where feedback is seen as data, not directives, encouraging a more open exchange of ideas. By focusing on specific practices over mindsets, teams can actively foster an atmosphere of learning, ultimately leading to significant performance improvements.
Keith Ferrazzi: Never Lead Alone
Keith Ferrazzi is an entrepreneur and global thought leader in high-performing teams and Chairman of Ferrazzi Greenlight and its Research Institute. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Who’s Got Your Back and bestsellers like Never Eat Alone, Leading Without Authority, and Competing in the New World of Work. His newest book with Paul Hill is titled Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts from Leadership to Teamship*.
Whenever I’m having a conversation with someone about getting better at coaching, it’s almost always through the lens of, “How do I do it well?” In this conversation, Keith and I explore another perspective most of us miss: how does the team do coaching better for each other.
Key Points
Good leaders give feedback and hold people accountable. Great leaders ensure the team gives feedback and holds people accountable.
Teamship starts right at the start. Organizations like e.l.f. Beauty begin these practices during onboarding.
We over-index on mindset. Starting with the right practices will shape the beliefs that help teamship emerge.
Use an open 360 where people share one thing they appreciate/admire/respect and one thing they suggest.
The 5/5/5 Learning Roadmap invites team members to share a struggle, respond to questions, and receive feedback.
We’re used to feedback being directive. Feedback from peers is data. We can consider it without acting on it.
Resources Mentioned
Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts from Leadership to Teamship* by Keith Ferrazzi
Interview Notes
Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
How Top Leaders Influence Great Teamwork, with Scott Keller (episode 585)
Becoming More Coach-Like, with Michael Bungay Stanier (episode 680)
Team Collaboration Supports Growth Mindset, with Mary Murphy (episode 695)
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