Leading teams in the age of individualism
Teamwork is changing. With individualism rising and workplace values shifting, collaboration can feel harder than ever. The solution isn’t stricter rules or forced unity—it starts with self-awareness. When leaders know themselves, they create teams that can weather challenges, innovate, and thrive.
Today, individualism is often prioritized above being a team player. Managers are scrambling to spark real collaboration in this new landscape.
Younger generations place high value on work-life balance, mental health, fluid identity, and passion-driven careers. These values offer important corrections to past extremes. However, their shadow side can display itself in poor communication, discomfort with challenges, or a lack of grit when things get tough.
Teams today struggle to speak directly and kindly, stay present through tension, and innovate without immediate reward.
Are we doomed? Not at all.
These emerging generations bring the inspiration, values, and boldness many workplaces have long been craving. What’s needed is guidance—insightful, practical, and rooted in something deeper.
So where do we start?
We start with self-awareness.
To lead others well, we must first know ourselves.
Ironically, in a time when “self” is exalted, few people deeply know who they are. Many know the version of themselves they want to project—but not the version that holds steady under pressure. And when identity is unstable, so is purpose. When things get hard, it’s easier to jump ship than to grow roots.
A manager who leads from self-awareness creates space for others to do the same. And from there, a different kind of team becomes possible:
One that knows how to weather storms.
One where individuals are celebrated for their uniqueness and can work from a place of strength.
Start by asking yourself: Where do I need to grow in self-awareness—and how can I model that for my team?