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Leadership is evolving fast, and the old model, where all the responsibility rests on one person’s shoulders, is quickly becoming outdated. As we adapt to hybrid work and the need for teams that are agile, resilient, and highly accountable, leaders everywhere are being challenged to rethink how they build and manage teams. In today’s business climate, where adaptability and trust are paramount, Keith Ferrazzi’s concept of “teamship” offers a fresh approach that empowers teams to step up, hold each other accountable, and operate at peak performance.
In this episode of Future Ready Leadership, Keith Ferrazzi, Founder, Chair, and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, breaks down the concept of teamship and why its essential for creating successful, high-performing teams.
He introduces concepts like “challenge culture” for accountability, “open 360s” for transparent feedback, and “energy checks” to keep teams motivated. These practices support a new kind of leadership, where responsibility is shared across the team, not just on one person. Here’s a look at Keith’s top strategies to help leaders make this shift.
Listen to the episode here on Apple Podcast & leave a review!
Moving from Leadership to Teamship
1. Building a Challenge Culture
One of Keith’s core insights is the idea of a “challenge culture.” Traditional teams can fall into the trap of “nice culture,” where people avoid tough conversations in the name of harmony. But here’s the problem: without real feedback, teams often miss critical issues, wasting time and potential. A challenge culture encourages team members to speak up, address issues directly, and hold each other accountable.
In a challenge culture, feedback isn’t just a job for the leader; it’s everyone’s responsibility. This kind of openness creates an environment where ideas flow freely, and problems are tackled head-on. Keith calls this “squeezing the juice out of the team,” and it’s what sets high-performing teams apart.
2. Implementing “Open 360s” for Transparent Feedback
Most leaders know about 360-degree reviews, but Keith’s version—“open 360s”—takes it a step further. In a traditional 360, feedback is often anonymous, which can prevent team members from being fully honest and transparent.
In Keith’s open 360 approach, feedback is given directly, in front of the whole team. This builds trust and creates a foundation of openness, where team members know they’re there to support each other’s growth, not tear each other down.
An open 360 process involves everyone sharing not only what they admire about each other but also areas for improvement. This approach flips traditional feedback on its head, making accountability a shared team value. Keith believes that open feedback is essential for any team striving for high performance—and after hearing him explain it, it’s hard to disagree.
3. Monthly Stress Tests to Identify Challenges Early
Challenges don’t always make themselves known early on. That’s why Keith suggests a monthly “stress test” for projects, where teams come together to discuss what’s working, what’s not, and where they might need support. This isn’t your typical check-in—it’s a proactive approach to catching issues early and making sure no team member feels stuck or overwhelmed.
During stress tests, each person shares their progress, challenges, and goals for the upcoming month. The team then provides feedback, suggestions, and support. This turns what could be a routine report into an active, problem-solving exercise, helping teams stay aligned and ready to tackle issues together.
Listen to the episode here on Apple Podcast & leave a review!
4. Using Energy Checks to Boost Team Resilience
In any work environment, keeping energy and motivation high can be a real challenge. That’s why Keith introduces the concept of “energy checks,” a tool that lets team members share how they’re feeling and what’s impacting them. It’s more than just a wellness check; it’s a way to ensure that everyone is ready to bring their best selves to the team.
Especially in hybrid or remote setups, where team morale can be tough to gauge, energy checks make it easier for leaders to understand what’s going on behind the scenes. In Keith’s view, knowing each other’s energy levels fosters a culture of mutual care. When teams feel supported, resilience naturally follows, helping everyone stay focused and prepared—even when the going gets tough.
5. Establishing a Social Contract for Team Values
A successful team doesn’t just happen—it’s built on shared values and mutual respect. Keith emphasizes the need for a “social contract,” an informal but agreed-upon set of values that guides how team members interact and support one another.
This contract can include commitments like always giving direct feedback, supporting each other during tough times, or holding each other accountable to high standards. When everyone on the team understands and agrees to these values, it creates a strong foundation of trust and reliability.
Why Teamship is the Future of Leadership
Today’s teams need more than just good leadership—they need teamship, a model where everyone takes responsibility, holds each other accountable, and works toward shared goals. Keith Ferrazzi’s approach gives us a roadmap for building teams that aren’t just productive but are resilient, supportive, and ready to tackle any challenge. Strategies like challenge culture, open 360s, stress tests, energy checks, and a social contract are more than just ideas—they’re practical steps you can implement now to create a team that thrives.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into these powerful insights, check out the full episode embedded below. It’s packed with actionable advice that could transform your approach to leadership and team performance.
Listen to the episode here on Apple Podcast & leave a review!
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