Why do teams struggle to succeed? In the past, teams were built around people with similar skills, operating in structured, local environments. It worked well for a time — until the world got more complex.
Even the most efficient teams hit walls: internal silos, bureaucratic hurdles, or processes that don’t keep pace with change. Think of Brazil’s 1960s football squad. They were full of individual talent, but what set them apart was their ability to play fluid, adaptive football. The team wasn’t confined by rigid formations or rules. Instead, they had a shared understanding of their goals, trusted each other’s abilities, and adjusted on the fly. This flexibility allowed them to dominate the field, just as adaptable teams today outperform their peers in business.
From the engineers at Skunk Works to Brazil’s 1960s football squad, history is full of examples where teams broke the mould to unlock new ways of working. Today, the stakes are even higher. Cross-functional, project-based teams are the norm, and success demands more than technical skill.
But what makes the difference in successful teams? They…
→ Develop an operating system
→ Invest in active, real-time measurement
→ Have a system for continuous improvement in place
It’s the operating systems that guide how they collaborate, solve problems, learn and improve. Those systems can’t be rigid; they must be adaptable to real-world pressure. It goes way beyond setting clear expectations — who’s responsible for what, how decisions are made, and how communication flows. They measure performance in real-time, using data on collaboration and progress to catch issues early. And they build continuous improvement into their routines, with regular reviews to adjust as they go.