One of the consistent challenges I see when working with clients is team communication – and collaboration — across their organizations.

It can be downright fraught.

I’ve observed three reasons for this:

• Lack of buy-in and shared agreement from the inception of the project
• Diffuse accountability and ill-defined timelines
• Territorialism that goes beyond collegial competitive spirit

The consequences can be devastating:

• Critical deadlines are missed, creating a cascade effect, often impacting the organization
• Decreased trust and collaboration breed increased factions and blame
• Devolving accountability replaces thoughtful problem-solving
• Pivots are increasingly slow, and sometimes too late
• Reduced morale and effort supplant can-do thinking and experimentation

Any of these on its own is impactful to the negative.  But these outcomes rarely exist in isolation.  More often, when cross-functional collaboration is disintegrating, the consequences are many, deep, and expensive.

Here’s what I’ve observed in the leaders that turn things around:

• They recognize the problem and take it on as their own
• They begin with outreach to their counterpart(s) in the organization and go in good faith to solve the problem
• They then bring their teams into the conversation with the expectation of collaboration and ideation
• They establish joint and shared accountability and expectation with the other team as well as individual accountability with their own team members
• They re-create the team’s culture to signal: help rather than blame, transparency and learning together, getting out in front of missteps and communicating them, and the autonomy to engage in solutioning with counterparts rather than looking to leadership to referee
• They hold joint team meetings to get observations and input of team members to solve sticking points and develop best practices

You can imagine how this changes outcomes.

Not to mention what it’s like working together.

For more on working with me directly, drop me a note: sarah@sarah-levitt.com.  I work with CEOs, senior executives, and leadership teams to change performance and business outcomes.

The following offering is perfect for accelerating performance across organizations:

Magnificent Leadership® Peer Learning Cohorts Inside Your Organization

One of the most cost-effective, high-return coaching programs for leveling up an entire group of leaders. 

• You select who participates
• Highly customized content and materials for your cohort that we plan together
• Once-monthly virtual meetings to save on time and travel costs
• Leverages my executive coaching with peer accountability and learning
• Some of the most common curriculum topics: delegation and getting out of the weeds, increasing speed of execution, removing obstacles, enterprise leadership and influence across the organization, improving anticipation and accountability, effectively coaching team members for greater performance, Building a Self-Correcting Team®…
• Practical tools and strategies for immediate use 
• For your superstars and seasoned leaders, alike
• Minimum 5 participants, Maximum 14
• Custom add-ons available that can include private coaching from me and individual development planning

Popular, Extremely Cost Effective, and Fully Customized.  To learn more, contact me here.
My next openings for new cohorts begin May 1.

Ready to Build a Self-Correcting Team®?  One that is accountable, communicates and collaborates, is high trust and high results, pivots accurately and responsively, and generally makes you darn proud?  Contact me here.  This is some of the most impactful work I’m invited to do with clients and is described by them as a game-changer.  My next openings are in May.

For more on executive coaching offerings, go here.  This program is still among the most popular.

To read what clients are saying go here.

Planning your annual conference or event?  From elite executive retreats, to senior leadership team off sites, to association conferences and corporate events, I’ve been honored to speak to thousands.
From Blue Cross and Blue Shield to Harvard, from Caterpillar to the Association of Financial Professionals, from Women in Cable Telecommunications to the American Bankers Association, audiences describe me as engaging, interactive, inspirational, and giving them the practical tools and strategies they need for real-time business implementation.

For a full list of topics and descriptions go here.

Meeting planner resources are here.

Customized packages can include: pre-interviews with select attendees, leading a panel discussion, and social media promotion of your event.
For booking information, contact me now.  1 spot remains for 2026.

Thinking about what life might hold after corporate?  The inaugural Big Work Private Retreat was held last month.

The next is October 22+23 in Raleigh at a luxurious 5-star property located 10 minutes from the  airport.

There are only six seats.

Come awaken dreams, stretch your thinking, get coaching directly from me tailored to your specific situation, find support and camaraderie among fellow travelers, enjoy gourmet meals, relax in beautiful surroundings, and, yes, make a plan.

To learn more and apply to attend, go here.

Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Drop me a note: sarah@sarah-levitt.com