What does it really take to turn a group of talented individuals into a truly high-performing team?
In this episode of Beyond Your Best, I sit down with Alison Caldwell Johnson, a Better Your Best associate with over 25 years of leadership experience, to explore what separates good teams from great ones — and why it all comes down to time on the ball.
Together, we unpacked three essential habits of high-performing teams:
-
Alignment on the Real Problem – Before jumping to solutions, successful teams slow down to make sure everyone sees and agrees on the same problem to solve.
-
Balanced Focus – High-performing cultures celebrate wins and name what’s hard. They balance appreciation with honest reflection, avoiding both toxic positivity and constant criticism.
-
A Culture of Accountability – Accountability isn’t something you do to others — it’s something you build together. Teams thrive when expectations are clarified, negotiated, and revisited with care.
We also explore the role of trust, courageous conversations, and even AI in today’s workplaces — and why intentional “time on the ball” is what ultimately builds connection, alignment, and results.
What action steps can you take to get started now?
• 🎧 Listen to “Time on the Ball: Building High-Performing Teams” now on your favorite podcast platform, and get ready to go Beyond Your Best.
• Before you dive back into your own team’s work, take five minutes to see where you stand.
👉 Try the High Performing Teams Self-Assessment — the same reflection tool I mention in the episode. It helps you identify where your team is thriving and where you might need a little more time, trust, or courage.
🎧 New Episode
Time on the Ball: Building High-Performing Teams
In this episode, Carolyn De Voest and associate Alison Caldwell Johnson unpack what turns a group of experts into a high-performing team: aligning on the real problem before solutioning, balancing celebration with candor, and building a culture of accountability (not punishment) through clear expectations and follow-through. They dig into courageous conversations, trust as “time on the ball,” and thoughtful ways to integrate AI into team workflows.
🎧 Tune in for insights that will help you strengthen your business and get ready to go Beyond Your Best.
LISTEN TO EPISODE 04 NOW!
