Ever wonder why some teams consistently grow, win, and have fun along the way? Step into the world of A-teams—a place where curiosity, experimentation, and infectious energy are the everyday standard!
At the heart of every A-team is a leader who treats learning like a superpower, and I've uncovered the seven essential leadership practices that keep these teams soaring higher and higher. Ready to energize your people? Let’s jump in!
1. Run More Experiments: Turn “What If?” Into “Let’s Try It!”
A-teams aren’t content to coast—they’re always tinkering, testing, and trying new things, even when everything’s going smoothly. Imagine your team as a group of friendly mad scientists, excitedly mixing up new ideas just to see what pops! For example, think about how Amazon tests everything from product features to delivery methods, sometimes even sending out prototypes to see what sticks. The point? Never settle. Conduct those mini-experiments, pitch wild ideas, and treat every “failure” as a clue for your next big win!
2. Make Curiosity Contagious: Lead With Questions, Not Just Answers
Forget the myth of the all-knowing leader! The best team captains admit when they don’t have all the info—think of it as an invitation for the whole team to join the adventure. Imagine a manager kicking off a meeting with, “I have no clue how we’ll solve this, but I bet someone here does!” Suddenly, ideas flood in. Just like at Pixar, where creative brainstorming sessions invite wild ideas. Sometimes the silliest suggestion sparks the next blockbuster!
3. Celebrate Small Wins: Party Like It’s 3:00 PM on a Tuesday
A-teams don’t wait for huge milestones to break out the high-fives. They cheer for little victories. A new process that saved five minutes, a clever email headline that boosted responses, or a customer who sent a thank-you note. Take a page from Zappos, where ringing a bell signals a customer win, and the whole team joins in the cheer. Celebrate those small steps; they add up to giant leaps!
4. Share the Spotlight: Everybody Gets a Turn on Center Stage
Great leaders know that an A-team comprised of a mix of good talent. Rotate meeting facilitators, invite teammates to lead mini-training sessions, or swap “shout-out” duties each Friday. Much like the rotation system in the NBA All-Star game, everyone gets their moment. The whole team wins. When you celebrate diverse talents and perspectives, you turbocharge creativity and engagement.
5. Make It Safe to Fail: Turn Oops Moments Into “Aha!” Ones
Innovation can get messy, and that’s okay! A-team leaders turn mistakes into learning moments, not blame games. LinkedIn’s Reid Hoffman once challenged his team: “Fail 15% of the time!” The message? If you’re not stumbling occasionally, you’re not running fast enough. Create a “failure wall” where your team posts their funniest flops. Then swap lessons learned. Failing forward is how A-teams leap ahead!
6. Keep Feedback Flowing: Feedback Is Fuel, Not Fencing
Open, honest feedback is like a turbo boost for growth but it should feel more like a game of catch than dodgeball. Make feedback a regular, friendly ritual. At Google, team members run “feedback sprints” where quick compliments and constructive ideas are exchanged in a fast-paced, positive setting. When feedback is expected and upbeat, everyone gets better together!
7. Learn Out Loud: Show Your Work, Share the Love
The best teams don’t keep their “secret sauce” under wraps. They document wins, share experiments (the good, the bad, and the ugly), and invite everyone to build on each other’s discoveries. Think of Spotify’s “Confidence” platform, where teams post experiment results for all to see, sparking new ideas across the company. Start a “What We Learned This Week” Slack channel or send out a monthly “Oops & Ahas” newsletter. The more you share, the faster everyone grows!
Ready to Build Your A-Team?
A-teams aren’t born. They’re built by leaders who make learning irresistible, safe, and downright fun. Try out these seven practices, infuse them with your team’s unique flair, and watch as curiosity, courage, and celebration turn your crew into an ever-improving, ever-winning A-team. The adventure starts now.
Stay inspired, lead boldly
Peter Mclees, Leadership Coach, Trainer and Performance Consultant
SMART DEVELOPMENT
I wanted to introduce Mr. Beaujangles to my readers. Beau is our 11-week old White German Shepherd puppy. His ears have recently performed a magical transformation from floppy to pointed. An upgrade clearly intended for maximum cuteness.
Due to his not-quite-complete vaccines and a wise vet's advice, Beau is currently on a strict “humans only” social schedule. Also, to keep those precious paws clean and chemical-free, we’re cruising him around town in style: a baby carriage.
Picture a pint-sized, dignified pup peeking out, surveying his kingdom from the comfort of his royal chariot, and winning hearts everywhere he rolls.
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