Hi Reader! Did you know that companies with aligned, effective top teams are nearly twice as likely to achieve above-median financial performance? According to McKinsey, that number comes from a global study of nearly 30 companies. It measures how teams see themselves across 17 dimensions — from clarity of roles to psychological safety. It caught my attention because a few years ago, I saw the opposite play out in real time. I joined a leadership team that looked impressive on paper. Everyone...

Hi Reader! McKinsey's latest State of AI report shows 88% of organizations are now using AI regularly. But here's the catch: only 6% are actually seeing real value from it. That massive gap tells us something important. Most teams haven't figured out how to work with AI in a way that actually helps rather than creates new problems. The Tools Everyone Refuses to Give Up I worked with an organization where teams were testing different AI tools and frameworks. Each team found something they...

Hi Reader! We romanticize great teams. But the more I’ve worked with leaders and teams, the more I’ve realized that most of what we believe about building high-performing teams is wrong. Here are five myths I see holding back smart, well-meaning leaders from building teams that actually work: Myth 1: You need "A-Players" to build a high-performing team Let’s get something straight: high-performing teams aren’t built from a collection of all-stars. In fact, when every team member is focused on...