“What’s more important to you: the team that you’re a member of or the team that you’re the leader of?”
This is a question every CEO should ask their leadership team, according to Patrick Lencioni, a bestselling author and expert on teamwork.
Most leaders naturally think of themselves as the head of their teams first and members of the leadership team second. While this seems logical, it can cause problems—such as poor communication, conflicting priorities, and competition between departments instead of teamwork.
But does this mean leaders should ignore their teams? What exactly is the First Team Approach? How can leaders adopt this mindset? And what are the long-term benefits?
Let’s explore these questions and see why the First Team Approach is key to building a successful organization.
What is the First Team Approach?
Simply put, the First Team Approach is the principle that leaders should prioritize their leadership team—their executive peers—over their departments. In other words, their primary responsibility is to collaborate with fellow leaders to drive the organization’s success rather than solely focusing on their direct reports.
Leaders who adopt this approach move away from competing for resources or recognition and instead collaborate to ensure the company’s objectives are met. They hold each other accountable, support one another, and collectively address challenges that affect the entire organization.
A Successful Mindset: The Organization Comes First
The First Team Approach encourages collaboration and shared accountability, which can contribute to stronger leadership, teamwork, and company culture. But to make it work, leaders need to change how they think about their role. Here are four key mindset shifts:
- Trust and Transparency: When leaders build strong relationships with their peers, they create a foundation of trust. This trust makes it easier to navigate change, address challenges openly, and work toward collective goals.
- Shared Accountability: Establishing company-wide revenue and budget goals that all leaders own—regardless of their departmental focus—ensures alignment and shared responsibility.
- Collaborative Decision-Making: Rather than making isolated decisions, leaders involve multiple departments in discussions about resource allocation, prioritizing initiatives with the highest return on investment.
- Proactive Communication: Open dialogue allows leaders to surface potential conflicts or misalignments early, preventing issues from escalating into major roadblocks.
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How Should You Communicate With Your Direct Reports?
Adopting a First Team Approach does not mean leaders should abandon or disregard their direct reports. However, it does influence how leaders engage with their teams, make decisions, and allocate their time.
When leaders shift focus to their executive peers, they:
- Provide clearer guidance to their direct reports because their decisions align with the company’s broader strategy.
- Spend less time on departmental silos and more time fostering interdepartmental collaboration.
- Empower their teams by delegating responsibilities effectively and ensuring their team’s goals support the larger organizational objectives.
Benefits of the First Team Approach
A well-executed First Team Approach significantly impacts an organization’s overall effectiveness, especially from a Go-to-Market (GTM) perspective. Some of the key benefits include:
1. Stronger Alignment
By prioritizing company-wide objectives, leaders reduce friction and misalignment between departments. Everyone works toward the same overarching goals, ensuring consistency in execution.
2. Efficient Resource Allocation
When leaders collaborate across departments, budgets are optimized for impact. Resources are directed toward initiatives with the highest potential return, minimizing inefficiencies and redundancies.
3. Sustainable Growth
A unified leadership team fosters better long-term decision-making, resulting in sustainable revenue growth, improved customer retention, and higher profitability.
4. Improved Accountability
When goals are shared across leadership, every department contributes to success. There is no room for pointing fingers; instead, there is a culture of collective ownership and finding solutions.
Shaping the Future of Leadership
The First Team Approach challenges leaders to rethink their priorities and embrace a mindset of collaboration over competition. By working together as a cohesive leadership team, organizations can ensure that decisions are made with the best interests of the entire company in mind rather than being driven by individual departmental agendas.
For businesses aiming to scale efficiently and foster a strong leadership culture, this approach is a game-changer. It creates a workplace where accountability is shared, alignment is strong, and growth is sustainable.
Next time you step into a leadership meeting, ask yourself: Am I thinking like a departmental leader or an executive team member?
Your answer could shape the future success of your organization.
If you’re ready to embrace the First Team Approach and drive your company toward greater alignment and performance, the time is now!
Contact us now to learn how we can help you build trust, align company-wide goals, and foster stronger collaboration among your leadership team with this proven Go-to-Market strategy.