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The Truth About Leading Teams
John Eades
31 Jul
Most leaders focus on assembling the best talent, believing individual skills will automatically deliver great team results.
Skills. Talent. Experience. Yes, these things matter, but alone, they don't create exceptional teams. Outstanding team performance is about how well people work together.
If that weren’t enough, most managers believe that because they have direct reports, they lead a team. That also isn’t true.
If you want to build a winning team, this week’s insights are for you.
I. Talent doesn't make teamwork; how well people work together does.
What it means:
Putting talented people together isn't enough to guarantee team success. Effective teamwork depends on collaboration, communication, and trust, not just individual skills.
Consider Belgium Draft Horses: individually, each horse can pull around 8,000 pounds. You might think two horses together could pull 16,000 pounds, but they actually pull 24,000 pounds. Even more impressive, if those two horses were raised or trained together, their pulling power increases to an astonishing 32,000 pounds. This synergy comes from familiarity, trust, and genuine teamwork.
II. Having leadership doesn't guarantee success. But lacking leadership guarantees you won't succeed.
What it means:
Leadership alone doesn’t promise immediate success, as there are many variables involved. However, without someone or a group of people choosing to lead, confusion, indecision, fragmentation, and dysfunction will inevitably hinder a team's performance.
Leadership requires a decision. Your team or organization needs you to make it.
III. If you're too big to serve, you're too small to lead.
What it means:
True leadership is rooted in service. Leaders who genuinely serve their teams by inspiring, developing, and empowering them are the ones who inspire loyalty and drive high performance.
Commit to a leadership style focused on serving others, putting your team's success and growth at the forefront.
Use your gifts,
John Eades
CEO | LearnLoft | The Sales Infrastructure
P.S. Next week on August 7th from 11 AM-1 PM EST, I’m hosting a special virtual workshop called How to Lead a Winning Team. It’s designed for managers who want a proven framework to help them lead effectively. In just 2 hours, you’ll learn how to lead with confidence through talent, culture, and strategy. Learn more and reserve your spot here.
How to Lead a Winning Team (Workshop)
If you’re responsible for leading people, this workshop will be an immediate game-changer for you. In this application-focused session, I’ll guide you step-by-step through:
Talent: How to identify and retain your best performers and develop or replace your low-performers.
Culture: How to intentionally create and sustain a high-performing culture that drives performance and engagement.
Strategy: How to set clear expectations and goals to maximize your team’s success.
I've helped thousands of leaders apply these principles, significantly improving employee engagement, accountability, and measurable results. Here's what you'll get:
The workshop is next week: August 7th from 11 AM to 1 PM EST. To celebrate the pop-up launch, we are offering early bird pricing for the next 48 hours.
Regular price: $149
Early-bird price: $99
I am so confident you'll find immediate value from this session that we include a money-back guarantee. It will pay for itself in performance gains and team results almost immediately.
The Optimistic Outlook (Newsletter)
The Optimistic Outlook is a daily newsletter designed to remind you to focus on the bright side, one day at a time. Join 875+ leaders who are already improving their Optimistic Outlook.
The Optimistic Outlook is now available wherever you listen to podcasts. Channel your inner John Eades and make your kids listen to it, then read it aloud to work on their minds and communication skills.
Here Are Some Ways We Could Partner:
How to Lead a Winning Team: Sign up for next week’s How to Lead a Winning Team Workshop. Spots are limited, so secure your spot today.
Customized Leadership Development Programs: Bring the Accelerate Leadership Program or Catalyst for Growth Program in-house for a customized experience for your team members. Programs include virtual or in-person instructor-led training, a Leadership Growth Plan, and group coaching to ensure real-world mastery.
1:1 Coaching: Work 1-on-1 with me or one of our certified coaches to achieve your goals, strengthen critical skills, and address your most pressing challenges. This 6-month program focuses on mindset and execution for tangible, lasting outcomes. Show me more
Speaking: We are now booking keynotes for the fall of 2025. Hit reply on this note, or check out some of our recent talks here.
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