BSP 078: Peernovation by Leo Bottary

Leo Bottary, author of Peernovation: What Peer Advisory Groups
Can Teach Us About Building High Performing Teams, discovered the
concept of group learning during graduate school. While in a room
with mid-to-senior level executives, he realized everyone had
amassed a wealth of knowledge that was there for the taking. That
scenario became a catapult for the power of collective learning,
writing several books about the importance of peers, and even
starting a podcast. Peers, he says, are important to assess and
develop high-performing teams within any organization and he
discusses the 5 factors that are common to that type of
team. Bottary says that “the five factors are a framework, not
a prescription” and advises that every leader should know their
organizations better and identify what will work well within their
culture. As a sports fan, Bottary cites an example of knowing what
works for the organization by mentioning the famed head coach of
the University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team, Geno
Auriemma. As one of the most successful sports programs in the
country, men’s or women’s, Coach Auriemma credits the team’s
success with finding those players who are great teammates, not
just talented, and creating a culture of accountability. The same
principle should apply to corporations everywhere. Every
organization needs to determine what the “it” factor is and what
creates success. Bottary encourages leaders struggling to find the
“it” factor to use their biggest asset: current team members. Once
they ask their teams, Bottary says, leaders experience one of the
biggest learning moments as a result. Learn more about your ad
choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices