259. The Power of X Teams: Exploring External Focus with Henrik Bresman

Truly innovative teams distinguish themselves not by what happens within their team rooms, but by how actively they engage with the world outside. In a powerful conversation, Professor Henrik Bresman of INSEAD draws from his decades of research and his book X-Teams: How to Build Teams that Lead, Innovate and Succeed to challenge traditional ideas of high-performing teams. He emphasizes that while internal alignment is important, it is no longer enough in today's fast-changing environment. Instead, teams must first reach outward—connecting with knowledge, power, and work structures—before turning inward.Bresman explains that many leaders resist this "external-first" approach because of outdated mental models and a fear of disrupting internal harmony. Ironically, prioritizing short-term comfort by avoiding external feedback undermines long-term success and real team cohesion. The teams that succeed practice key activities like sensemaking, ambassadorship, and task coordination, constantly cycling through phases of exploration, experimentation, and exportation to remain dynamic and relevant.This conversation redefines leadership for an uncertain world, where pretending to have all the answers breeds false security and true innovation comes from admitting what we don't know. Bresman's insights offer practical guidance for leaders at all levels, showing how to build teams that not only adapt to change but actively drive it. Listeners are encouraged to explore more of his work at xleadco and join a growing movement to rethink how teams can lead and innovate in complex environments.🌐 Connect with Henrik:• Website: http://www.bresman.com/https://www.xlead.co/• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrikbresman/📚 You can purchase 's book on Amazon:• X-Teams, Revised and Updated: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1647824761/Send us Fan MailSupport the show✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!📝 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode in the comments below. 🔔 Join us in our mission at The Leadership Project and learn more about our organisation here:  https://linktr.ee/mickspiers 📕 You can purchase a copy of the Mick Spiers bestselling book "You're a Leader, Now What?" as an eBook or paperback at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBKK8XVIf you would like a signed copy, please reach out to [email protected] and we can arrange it for you too.If you're thinking about starting a podcast or upgrading your hosting, Buzzsprout is a great option! This link will give both of us a $20 credit when you upgrade:👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1701891Create forms easily with Jotform! Sign up with my link: https://www.jotform.com/?referral=AkWimLxOBzGet extra Dropbox space—sign up with my link: Dropbox Referral LinkWise Referral link: https://wise.com/invite/dic/michaels11434Strea...