Why some teams are more successful at meeting deadlines, hitting targets, and growing revenues.
June 12, 2024
David Madison/Getty Images
Post
Post
Share
Annotate
Save
Why are some teams more successful than others when it comes to meeting deadlines, hitting targets, and growing revenues? Researchers at the NeuroLeadership Institute looked at the cognitive processes associated with leaders who cultivate accountability on their teams. They identified three distinct habits practiced by these leaders: They think ahead, obsess about commitments, and anchor on solutions.
Leaders have always had to balance compassion and accountability — and in recent years, we’ve seen the pendulum swing wildly in both directions. During the early years of the pandemic, many organizations made their people a priority, offering flexibility, mental health benefits, and other support to help employees navigate a stressful time. Recently, as interest rates and inflation have risen, we’ve seen leaders change their tune, dialing back on some benefits, bringing people back to the office, and placing more emphasis on results: meeting deadlines, hitting targets, and growing revenues.
New!
HBR Learning
Leading People Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Leading People. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
What you need to know about being in charge.
Start Course
-
DR
-
Emma Sarro, PhD, is the senior director of research at the NeuroLeadership Institute. Before joining NLI, Emma was a tenured professor of biology and neuroscience at Dominican College in New York and taught at New York University, She received her BS in human biology from Brown University and PhD in neuroscience from the Center for Neural Science at New York University.
-
Chris Weller is a veteran writer, editor, and storyteller whose work appears in The Atlantic, Newsweek, Harvard Business Review, Business Insider, Fast Company, and more. He is the co-creator of the 2020 Netflix documentary Spelling the Dream and the founder of 1-Across, a ghostwriting and editing services firm for executives, entrepreneurs, and other thought leaders who want to change how people see the world.
Post
Post
Share
Annotate
Save
New!
HBR Learning
Leading People Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Leading People. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
What you need to know about being in charge.
