I was talking with a client about "the small stuff" that makes magic happen. Those seemingly inconspicuous rituals, behaviors, and mindsets that, when practiced consistently, drive extraordinary results.

Here are 10 micro-habits I’ve observed in high-performing teams I’ve worked with.

Great brainstorming isn’t magic—it’s well-structured messiness. When you design your session like a sandwich (start with clarity, move into freeform ideation, and close with purposeful evaluation), you give your team the space and structure they need to generate and act on truly original ideas.

Before you send that next meeting invitation, ask yourself these seven crucial questions to determine whether you really need a meeting. And if that answer is “yes,” how to make it a good meeting.

Too often, organizations reach for training when what they really need is alignment and ownership. If your team already knows what great service looks like, repeating the basics won’t move the needle. What they need is a facilitated workshop.

Making your team's contributions visible isn’t just good for them; it reflects positively on you as a leader — highlighting your ability to build, nurture, and lead a high-performing team.

Here’s how to ensure your team's work shines brightly across the organization.

A powerful metaphor isn’t just a cute analogy. It becomes a shared mental model—a common language that helps people visualize the work ahead, understand their role, and navigate the inevitable setbacks along the way. Metaphors are especially helpful when the company culture likes and/or participates in the activity!

What separates the teams that just perform from those that consistently achieve? My friend and colleague Steven Gaffney has been pondering the same thing.

The Steven Gaffney Company recently completed a national research study on Consistently High Achieving Teams (CHAT) and joined me on the podcast to unpack the results.