Why leaders should learn to value the boundary spanners
Entrepreneurial talent who work with other teams often run into trouble with their managers. Here are ways to get the most out of your ‘boundary spanners’...
Brain Circuits
Do you know how to build a genius team?Â
Published September 25, 2024 in Brain Circuits • 3 min read • 
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The most successful executive teams can achieve great things but can also pose management challenges and must be led so they are productive, not destructive. Take this simple test to check whether your team is a championship challenger or a chug-along chump.
What is a defining characteristic of genius teams? Â
a) They know how to suppress tension and avoid discomfort and conflict.Â
b) The members don’t shy away from task or relationship conflicts.Â
c) They are created in the image of their maker (you!).Â
Answer: b). Whereas many teams are allergic to conflict, tension, and confrontation, genius teams are at ease with creative discomfort and recognize that task conflicts create better solutions and outcomes. They have little time for overly polite or accommodating behavior but, while the lid comes off often, they know how to put it back on fast. If you answered (c), you may want to have your team read this article: Should you work for a narcissistic leader?Â
How do genius teams feel about boundaries?Â
a) They have none, which is what makes them so successful.Â
b) They go to great lengths to maintain clear boundaries.Â
c) They think they are best seen at cricket matches.Â
Answer: b). To avoid getting over-absorbed and depleting their energies, genius teams are very clear about boundaries. Because they face endless demands on their time – official representations, speeches, stakeholder relations, networking, and so on – they are deliberate and disciplined about creating a shielded environment with room for open, private, and honest dialogue. Â
What role does humor play in genius teams?Â
a) It doesn’t – they’re so focused on the task at hand that they don’t have time to mess around. Anyway, fun is for the funfair.Â
b) They are constantly laughing and joking with each other and refuse to take any project seriously unless it makes them laugh. Â
c) They use humor as a coping mechanism.Â
Answer: c). What makes genius executive teams resilient in the long run is that they feel they are in this together and accept each other’s eccentricities and shortcomings. A shared sense of humor is vital to this dynamic.Â
Further readingÂ
7 questions for selecting your top team Â
Setting ambitious targets: The challenges of leading a new dispersed teamÂ
Knowing when pressure is too highÂ
Making the most of your team’s combined talentsÂ
‘Top teams eat top talent for breakfast’: What neuroscience can teach us about leadershipÂ
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