538. Pam Fox Rollin, Growing Groups Into Teams

In this episode of Unleashed, Will Bachman and Pam Fox Rollin, author of Growing Groups into Teams, discuss the concept of a team and its benefits. Pam opens the conversation by defining what a team is.  She emphasizes the importance of a shared promise and a commitment to coordinate to fulfill that promise. A team is not just a group of people who report to the same people but are a group of people who are committed to accomplishing a shared goal for their customers, whether internal or external. Pam also discusses the challenges faced by executive teams, where they may not be a team at all. For example, if a sales team is independent and not collaborating with other departments, it may not be considered a team. Instead, the best teams are clear on their promises and partner with each other to achieve them. 

The Importance of Diversity in Team Building

Pam reveals what common beliefs about teams she disagrees with. She shares research on diverse teams and why it’s not always productive to work with the smartest people. Pam emphasizes the importance of diversity of thought and cognitive diversity on a team. She explains that diversity doesn't necessarily mean being smart or not smart, but rather diversity of thought and perspective. This can come from different undergraduate majors, cultures, and cognitive backgrounds. Racial and gender diversity is also important, as it helps to create a more inclusive team environment. For example, women are more perceptive about power structures, while people of color are more perceptive about power structures. 

Responsibility and Accountability in a Team

The conversation shifts to the concept of responsibility and accountability. Pam believes that responsibility involves taking a promise seriously and taking responsibility for the success of an event. This includes ensuring that everyone on the team understands what success looks like and can communicate with others when necessary. 

However, there are some problems with accountability, such as not being accountable to a promise you never made or not being able to recover the promise. In conclusion, diverse teams are essential for success in various industries, including sales, marketing, customer service, engineering, and more. They also require a balance between responsibility and accountability, as well as a willingness to learn and grow from each other. By embracing these values, teams can create a more inclusive and effective workplace environment.

Pam talks about a chapter in her book, “When the Team You Need Doesn’t Exist” and goes on to share a unique story of working with teams to diagnose issues and help them improve. She started her career at Bain and Company, where she met the people at Accenture's Healthcare Strategy Group. She fast-tracked to an associate partner, got married, decided to leave her job and become an executive coach.

Altus Growth Partners 

Pam shares the genesis of Altus Growth Partners. The firm runs various engagements, including executive team work. Much of Pam’s work takes place during a big change to the business, such as an acquisition or a new CEO. This opportunity allows the executive team to restructure their work and set new guidance for the organization. The practical work involves working with the executive team as their coach, often working directly with the CEO. Altus Growth Partners has been in the process of transforming from solo practitioners to a team, working on decision-making processes and building teams at various levels. She shares a case example when Altus worked with a healthcare organization with a new CEO coming in. 

Coaching for Organizational Development

Pam emphasizes the importance of rigor and a model in coaching and the saying that “low trust leads to slow change” in organizational development. Trust is critical for decision making, and building trust starts with oneself. Pam shares a chapter about a CEO blocking team success, where she discovered that her job was to ensure everyone was on the same page about the promise, where they are going, what they're part of, and what they're accountable for. She also emphasizes the importance of delegating and getting people on a path to a common promise, rather than pretending to know more than they know. The conversation then moves to the topic of leadership, and discussing the book "Growing Groups into Teams". The book is about real-life stories of people who get results and thrive together.

 

Timestamps:

00:15 Team definitions and common misconceptions

04:59 Team diversity and its impact on project success

09:37 Team dynamics, diversity, and accountability

17:23 Career transition and teamwork in consulting industry

21:31 Leadership development and team coaching for a healthcare organization

26:54 Building trust and decision-making in teams

 

Links:

The Company Website: https://altusgrowth.com/

The Book: Growing Groups into Teams

 

CONTACT INFO:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamfoxrollin/

 

Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com.