16 mins: Break down silos with first team mentality

What you'll learn:

Your First Team isn’t who you might think. It isn’t your direct reports; it’s your peer group – people at the same level. For execs, that’s the leadership team. For people leaders, it’s your fellow managers. For individual contributors, it’s your cross-functional project teammates.

Heather Gadonniex is an executive leader whose experience spans Silicon Valley startups, multinationals, and venture capital. She’ll challenge your instinct to focus on your immediate team and give you practical insights into the often-overlooked foundation of successful organisations – your ‘First Team’.

1️⃣ Prioritise trust – Build trust by asking for feedback on how you show up in group settings, then listen (without getting defensive!). Start with a simple question like ‘What’s one thing I could do differently in our meetings to be more helpful to the wider team?’

2️⃣ Align on objectives – What does bigger-picture success look like? Create shared goals that link everyone together. Or do a quick check by asking everyone to write down what they think the top 3 priorities are, then compare notes.

3️⃣ Debate healthily, then commit fully – Practice ‘disagree and commit‘ by voicing concerns early but genuinely (and openly) supporting the final call.

4️⃣ Meet regularly – Create regular check-ins with your First Team. Agendas aren’t needed, try ‘What are you working on that I should know about?’ Treat these meetings as non-negotiable.

5️⃣ Remember the human element – Take time to ask ‘What’s top of mind?’ – work or personal. Understanding what’s taking their mental energy explains a lot about their current work style.

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