Corporate CPR Episode 87: What You're Doing Wrong In Your Pursuit of Well Performance Teams

Carla Fowler, MD PhD is the Founder and Managing Director of THAXA, an executive coaching firm that helps people achieve big goals through performance science. Carla graduated from Brown University magna cum laude, earned her MD and PhD at the University of Washington, and completed her internship in general surgery at Stanford University.

She founded THAXA to share her passion for performance science, where the fields of strategy, productivity, and psychology intersect.

Outside of THAXA, Carla is an angel investor specializing in medtech and biotech with a portfolio of over a dozen investments. She is also an active member of Social Venture Partners, Rotary, Washington Women’s Foundation, Alliance of Angels, and Keiretsu.

Key Takeaways:

1. Performance Science Definition: Performance science is a multidisciplinary field that explores how human beings achieve their best results in various domains, including athletics, business, and the military.
2. Impact of Clarity: Lack of clarity inhibits success. Creating explicit goals and recognizing achievements motivates teams and helps them understand their roles in the bigger picture.
3. Importance of Taking Time to Think: Setting aside time for reflection and strategic thinking is vital for clarifying objectives and making informed decisions.
4. Creating Space for Clarity: Engaging in activities like journaling, meditation, or walks provides space for creative insights and clarity.
5. Uninterrupted Thinking Time: Allocating quiet and uninterrupted time for thinking allows for focused reflection and strategic planning.
6. Using Prompts for Productive Thinking: Thought-provoking prompts guide the thinking process and prevent stagnation.
7. Embracing Uncertainty: Leaders foster an attitude of embracing uncertainty as an opportunity for growth and learning, enhancing adaptability.
8. Running Good Experiments: Approaching uncertainty with experiments helps teams learn from outcomes and make better decisions.
9. Balanced Problem-Solving Approach: Listing potential solutions, evaluating against criteria, and conducting small tests before committing fully helps in effective decision-making.
10. Impact of Sleep and Nutrition: Adequate sleep and proper nutrition are essential for mental and emotional performance, leading to better decision-making and reduced stress.

Top Three Takeaways: 

1. Clarity: Ensure clear objectives, focused priorities, and effective communication both upward and downward in the chain of command.
2. Embrace Uncertainty: Foster a culture that embraces uncertainty and trains teams to be comfortable with it. Encourage running good experiments to learn from outcomes and make better decisions.
3. Combat Disengagement: Provide growth opportunities and visibility for both teams and leaders to prevent boredom and stagnation, enhancing overall engagement and performance.

For resources discussed in this episode: https://www.thaxa.com/p/corporate-cpr

How to Connect with Carla:

Website: https://www.thaxa.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-fowler/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCarlaFowler