So Whose Team Are You On? TLP003

The Leadership Pause

Hosts Neil Jacobs and Dr. Taylere Markewich, PhD welcome guest Tessa Breslin to The Leadership Pause to discuss the ins and outs of being on more than one leadership team. Tessa is an organizational psychologist and an expert in leadership, consulting to iconic organizations around the world. Prior to starting Breslin Consulting in Northern Ireland she was a Managing Director and on the board of a global leadership consulting firm. She is the Vice Chair of Queen’s University Foundation and a non-executive director.

Tessa shares her unique insights drawn from 25 years coaching leaders and teams and her daring experience as a crew member on a cross-Atlantic yacht race, offering new perspectives on teamwork and the essence of leadership.

Navigating the complex landscape of divided loyalties, we unravel the tensions senior leaders face when balancing multiple roles across executive and functional teams. We dig into the significance of clear vision and purpose, role clarity, candor, and managing friction to foster effective team dynamics. Learn how to align individual and shared goals, master the art of being intentional and adapting your approach in line with the needs of the team. We discover that a sense of team unity is created by a collection of small acts and gestures, not just the big moments.

Talking about the teams we belong to outside of work yields added insight into the importance of being present and adaptable. These experiences illuminate the power and benefit of being planful, giving and receiving candid feedback to fellow team members, and investing in self-care to build team cohesion.