The Six Challenges Teams Face In Building A Fearless Work Culture
Corrinne Armour (pictured below) is a leadership expert who helps leaders and organisations develop “fearless leadership” and deliver transformational results. She is the author of Leaders Who Ask: Building Fearless Cultures by telling less and asking more. In this guest post, Armour offers her tips to removing the fear gene from your company or agency…
Leadership teams today operate in a complex environment of rapid change. In this interconnected 24/7 world information is communicated instantly via social media, so private decisions become instantly public.
When we are both disrupters and the disrupted, competition comes from unexpected places. Executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab, believes the ‘industrial revolution’ we are living through now is ‘evolving at an exponential rather than a linear pace’. He claims, ‘the breadth and depth of these changes herald the transformation of entire systems of production, management, and governance.’ It feels like the world is spinning faster and building a fearless culture can seem too daunting.
what is a fearless culture?
When people come together; conversations are focussed, lively and creative. The things that matter are surfaced and resolved. Positive risk taking comes from safety to try things and fail. People feel empowered in their roles and confident to speak out. This lifts the performance bar and leads to individual and team development and accountability. Fearless cultures get results.
Six key leadership challenges to building a Fearless Culture
- Big delivery agenda or significant change planned. Board, key stakeholders and markets are watching executive performance. Measurement is precise, constant and short-term focussed, while community and regulatory expectations are constantly shifting. Environments demand agile leaders capable of doing more with less.
- Leaders are working in silos. The executive lacks a shared purpose and is not a cohesive team providing organisation-wide leadership. Divisional heads are independently strong; yet their individual achievements cannot secure the organisation’s future. Strong divisional allegiances, reinforced by ego, can result in competitive behaviour counter to organisational effectiveness.
- Low trust within the leadership team. Building aligned executive teams is always a challenge in the detail of delivery. Teams frequently balance competing priorities with contrasting deliverables and drivers. In a low trust environment, different styles are interpreted as difficult or undermining, leading to misunderstanding and friction. Decisions and agreements are made with little real debate and are not supported outside the boardroom.
- Inappropriate or incongruent behaviour goes unchallenged. Unethical behaviour is allowed to continue because dissenting voices are stifled. When leadership teams lose sight of community values and stakeholder expectations, this leads to a values conflict around the executive table at best. And at worst significant reputational damage – even criminal charges – can result.
- Staff are watching – and not liking what they see. People across your organisation aren’t listening to what’s being said or adopting the values posted on the walls. They are following the lead from the executive behaviour they experience, and it’s not always pretty.
- The focus is limiting and inward facing. With tension around the executive table, and challenges experienced across the organisation, attention is focussed on internal relationships and organisational processes. Social and industry trends beyond the most obvious are given little thought, so faint signals of opportunity and risk are easily missed.
Building a fearless leadership team
The key levers to pull in building a fearless leadership team developing a fearless culture are trust, purpose, motivation and communication.
Trust
Trust is like oxygen. You don’t notice it’s there, but when it’s gone in a team you are in trouble. Trust is central to powerful teams. It enables leaders to be vulnerable and open, and lead with integrity. Trust provides the safety net in a culture that allows people to be creative, innovative and take risks.
Purpose
People want to be part of something bigger than themselves, and they often don’t see that’s possible at work. A well-defined shared purpose is a necessary foundation for fearless leadership, underpinning vision and enabling results. When executives are all pulling in different directions, the waves are felt throughout the organisation.
Motivation
Knowing what truly motivates each other assists understanding, increases connection and boosts collaboration. Organisations that can leverage thinking diversity are well placed to compete. They are twice as likely to meet or exceed their financial targets and eight times more likely to have better business outcomes overall##.
Communication
Economic times are uncertain and increasingly complex. For a team to make sense of all information available and to draw on the talents of the whole executive team, open, intelligent and fearless discussions are the price of entry. Fearless leadership teams hear and debate all points of view, and then make and enact courageous decisions, with full and ongoing commitment to implementation.
Over to you
Which challenges ring true for your leadership team? And which lever will give you the boost towards building a fearless culture?
Latest News
Revium Snags Peter Bauld From Deloitte Digital
Revium, a leading full-service digital and AI consultancy, has announced the appointment of Peter Bauld (lead image) as Executive General Manager. Revium is a full-service digital and AI consultancy with over 20 years of experience creating engaging digital experiences for leading organisations and their customers. Bauld joins Revium after an illustrious career spanning over two […]
EMG/Gravity Media Names New Managing Director
The makers of Australia's Got Talent has been a magnet for senior hires in recent times.
Opinion: Shark Tank’s Sabri Suby Slams Politicians Jumping On TikTok Ban Bandwagon
Are politicians actually scaremongering about TikTok or just fed up of you doom-scrolling in the work bogs?
TV Ratings: “Ivana Was Robbed” – Final Three Contestants Revealed On Australian Idol
B&T's unsure if these Idol contestants look extra young or whether we are as old as we feel.
Veridooh Snatches Prashand Menon From ScentreGroup
Out-of-home OOH) and digital media leader Prashand Menon (lead image) has joined OOH ad tech company Veridooh as group business director within NSW and QLD. Menon joins Veridooh from his most recent role as ScentreGroup’s group business director and brings with him more than 10 years of experience in Australian media. Previously, he held positions […]
Creative Content Studio OK COOL Answers APAC’s Call, Opening In Melbourne
Life set to get extra confusing for new agency staffers mistaking OK COOL for a pass-ag housemate text message.
Harry’s Cafe de Wheels & Hipages Launch New Pie To Fuel Tradies While On The Tools
The pies should apparently be better for tradies' health, apparently but won't be better for on-site ribbing.
Women Leading Tech’s Woman Of The Year Megan Dalla-Camina: What’s The True Cost Of Cutting DEI Spending?
Cutting DE&I spending might seem easy but you might change your mind when faced with Dalla-Camina's ire.
Thrive Introduces A Batch Of New Senior Leadership Roles
You could say that Thrive is set to thrive with these new hires. But that would be too obvious.
It’s Coming Home! Sponsors Make Subbuteo World Cup Finals Free
No idea what Subbuteo is? You clearly had a more exciting childhood than our editorial team.
Media Bigwigs Bet On Predictive Intelligence Platform Prophet In $5M Seed Funding
Prophet, profit, geddit? Must be laugh-a-minute in this startup's office.
CommsDeclare Brands Shell Energy An “Olympic Gaslighter” & Urges Agencies Not To Pitch For Creative Account
And we thought the gaslight Olympics took place in the Coogee Bay Hotel smoking area!
AFL Wins Battle With Warner Bros. As New AFL Team Is Revealed
There hasn't been this much wrangling over a cartoon animal since, well, ever!
BBC Podcasts Go Global With Amazon Music
Ironically, BBC podcasts unlikely to be available in the Amazon given the lack of signal.
Johnson & Johnson’s Former Consumer Healthcare Arm Reviews Creative
J&J inspired by Scottish term for knowledge 'ken' in its rebrand; nothing says 'wise' like a shot of Listerine.
Kat & Co Transforms Into THE WORLD OF Experiential Agency
After more than twelve years of producing experiences for some of the world’s most innovative brands, including Hermes, Van Cleef & Arpels, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co, Kat & Co has quietly metamorphosed into THE WORLD OF. THE WORLD OF is an experiential agency at the juncture of culture, technology and the human condition. […]
Adobe Brings Firefly Generative AI Into Substance 3D Workflows
Still unclear of what generative AI actually is? Steer clear of this story.
Clemenger BBDO Introduces Saucy Campaign With Declan Cleary & Lee Kum Kee
When we heard this was a saucy campaign, we thought it be the barbecue and ketchup showdown we'd been waiting for.
Gawk Acquires 40 Billboard Locations From Transad
Gawk makes it move out of VIC into NSW with acquisition. Has promised to stop going on about Melbourne nightlife.
All About Attribution: Commission Factory Releases New eBook
Ever wanted to dive deep into channel attribution? Consider this the perfect springboard.
SMG Studio Launches Risk: Global Domination X Dune Part Two
Through a licensing agreement with Legendary Entertainment, SMG Studio inked the rights to adapt Dune: Part Two into a game based on Risk: Global Domination, Hasbro’s interactive board game. Inspired by Denis Villeneuve’s cinematic masterpiece, Dune: Part Two, this new digital adaptation, RISK: Global Domination X Dune: Part Two, is poised to captivate players from […]
RMIT Study Reveals That 73% Of Employees Don’t Believe Gen AI Is Relevant
Noticing staff switching off when you tell them about gen AI? Understand why here.
Australian Eggs Launches Egg-citing New Campaign Via Connecting Plots
How do you like your eggs in the morning? We usually skip them and go straight for the darts and whisky.
Future Lions 2024 Invites Young People To Be Heard With Spotify
Future Lions, of course, is the AKQA-backed student initiative at Cannes Lions, not a feeder for the rugby team.
QMS: Taylor Swift, Lunar New Year & Mardi Gras Were Boon For OOH Market
Taylor Swift, Lunar New Year and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival have had a dramatic impact on the number of people moving in and around Sydney over the past month, drawing big crowds into the heart of the city and its surrounding suburbs. New data from digital outdoor company QMS reveals a […]
Legend John McEnroe Joins Pepperstone’s Team Of Global Tennis Ambassadors
Despite the deal, McEnroe remains confused about difference between above- and below-the-line marketing.
LinkedIn Launches New Thought Leader Ads For Companies To Promote Member Posts
Though LinkedIn couldn't get any more insufferable? You thought wrong.
Latrell Mitchell Smacked On Wrist After Dropping Multiple F-Bombs In Post-Match Triple M Interview
Andrew Abdo has confirmed he is not angry... just disappointed.
TV Ratings: “When You Do Love Yourself, You’re Amazing” – Is This MAFS Most Heart-breaking Split?
Hold the press. MAFS groom and bride actually shown to be nice people.
Opinion: The Only Drag Marketers Should Be Worried About
Thought Transactional Drag was a lifeless club night in Newtown? Read this and you'll think again.
AWARD School Welcomes Class Of 2024
It's best to think of AWARD School like Survivor but with pitch decks instead of swimwear.
Interest In Motorsports Reaches New Heights As Formula 1 Grand Prix Revenue Expected To Surpass $100 Million
Need to get a dull sports client some quick results? Rustle up a Netflix series and watch the dollars roll in.
Chair Rob Murray To Depart As SCA Considers ARN’s Latest Takeover Bid
Struggling to make heads or tails of the SCA & ARN saga? Add this to your woes.
Adland Legend John Singleton Separates From Seventh Wife
Singo calls it quits with seventh wife as his race with Rupert Murdoch to become the most-married man continues.
ACCC Eyes Search Competition, Citing ‘Decreasing’ Quality & Rise In Generative AI
The only decline in search quality we notice is when B&T doesn't appear at the top of Google.
“Imagine A Career Above The Clouds”: Royal Australian Air Force Launches New Campaign Via VML
Don't worry about the forthcoming war with China - at least you'll get a bird's-eye view of the apocalypse.