Neglecting a team’s well-being while prioritizing a single individual can erode morale and lead to disengaged employees. On today’s episode of Lessons in Leadership, LearnToLead founder and leadership expert Dave Anderson explains why putting the team first is essential to building and sustaining a high-performance business culture.
Leaders who build and maintain strong, high-performance cultures consistently prioritize the team’s welfare over any one individual’s comfort, pride, or agenda. Top teams do not tolerate what Anderson calls the “disease of me” — a form of deeply rooted selfishness that fuels entitlement, distraction and internal drama.
Effective leaders make it clear that objectives exist for the team’s benefit and that rules will not be bent for any particular individual. High-performing teams refuse to subordinate collective success to personal ego, ensuring accountability and alignment remain intact.
“We’re not going to subordinate what’s best for the team to your ego, agenda, whims, or personal convenience.”
Leaders must continually call their teams to a higher level of performance, where every member is expected to contribute. When individuals place the well-being of the team above personal feelings or self-interest, they strengthen execution, reinforce shared purpose and help drive the organization toward its broader vision.