WRITTEN BY DR. MIRELLA DE CIVITA
⇧⇧⇧ LISTEN TO THIS QUICK TAKE ⇧⇧⇧
The Importance of Trust in Executive Teams
For an executive team to function effectively, trust and open communication are essential. However, the inherent conflict between representing a Business Unit (BU) and advocating or the organization can lead to hesitation, withholding opinions, and lack of transparency.
The Risks of a Divided Executive Team
When executives feel pressured to suppress their perspectives:
- Critical insights may be lost, leading to uninformed decision-making.
- Fear of repercussions can prevent open discussions.
- Mistrust may grow within the executive team, hindering collaboration.
Creating a Culture of Open Dialogue
To promote a more effective executive team, leaders should:
- Accept the duality of their roles rather than ignoring it.
- Speak candidly about their BU’s perspective while remaining open to broader organization considerations.
- Build trust by facilitating fact-based discussion rather than defending predetermines viewpoints.
Encouraging Cross-BU Collaboration
A high-functioning executive team ensures the free flow of information across departments. This can be achieved by:
- Promoting access to diverse teams for idea-sharing and problem-solving.
- Encouraging curiosity-driven discussions rather than adversarial debates.
- Establishing a shared understanding of organization priorities and goals.
Final Thoughts
By embracing the inherent challenges of executive leadership and prioritizing trust and collaboration, organizations can strengthen their leadership teams. Open communication and a commitment to organizational success over individual BU interests pave the way for long-term growth and innovation.
