How Mental Fitness Unlocked a Brilliant Leadership Team
By Lynsey Peterson
The Challenge
A growth-stage company with an exceptional leadership team was stuck. They'd been running on EOS® for two years, but something wasn't clicking:
Missing revenue targets quarter after quarter
Rock completion hovering around 60%
Leadership meetings filled with emotional outbursts and circular debates
Everyone working incredibly hard but rowing in different directions
These were brilliant, committed leaders. So why were they getting nowhere fast?
The Hidden Pattern
During our third Level 10 together, I watched as everyone thought they were talking about the same thing, but their solutions were completely different. The energy was chaotic and frustrating.
When I asked "What's the real issue here?", the room went silent.
Then the Visionary said something that changed everything: "We're not really listening to each other."
That's when it hit me: Their Hyper-Rational saboteurs (from Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine) were keeping them from truly communicating. Each leader "knew" the right solution - their logic was sound, their data was solid. The CFO saw margins. The CMO saw positioning. The COO saw process issues.
They were all right. And that was exactly the problem.
They were having five different conversations while believing they were aligned. No wonder they felt like they were working so hard but getting nowhere.
The Solution: A Three-Quarter Transformation
Quarter 1 - Recommit to EOS Fundamentals. We went back to basics, but with fresh eyes:
Revised Scorecards across the company (because what gets measured gets done)
LMA training for all managers - getting everyone on the same page
Required weekly milestones on Rocks to keep us honest about progress
Weekly Clarity Breaks for the leadership team (harder than it sounds for this driven group!)
Quarter 2 - Build Structure. We created structure that supported real alignment:
Started Quarterly Conversations with each employee
Launched planning sessions in each department
Implemented measurables for everyone - clear expectations, finally!
Pulled off a State of the Company meeting that actually inspired people
Quarter 3 - Get Real and Get Really Aligned. This is where things got interesting:
Restructured the leadership team
Brought in a new full-time Integrator
Completed Positive Intelligence® Foundations as a team
The game-changer came during PQ Foundations. For the first time, they had a shared vocabulary for what was happening. "I just realized my Hyper-Rational makes me a terrible listener. I'm so busy formulating my logical rebuttal that I miss what people actually need." They began to pause, listen, and truly hear each other's perspectives.
The Results
Quantifiable Impact:
Rock Completion: From 60% to 90%
Meeting Efficiency: 20% reduction in meeting load
Team Performance: 25% increase in employee efficiency
Revenue: Back on track with targets
The Human Transformation: "I understand myself and this team so much better. And I know how to communicate my needs so we can all succeed together."
The team that once competed with logic now collaborates with wisdom. They still debate passionately - they're still brilliant people - but now they're solving the same problem together.
Key Takeaway
Your brilliant team might be stuck in the Hyper-Rational trap if:
Every leader has an "obviously right" solution
Meetings feel like parallel presentations
Logic trumps real listening
You're solving problems that don't move the needle
The solution isn't working harder or being smarter. It's recognizing the saboteurs that are undermining your excellent tools. When you name them, you can work with them. When you work with them, execution becomes natural.
About This Engagement
Catalyst Integrator®: Lynsey Peterson
Engagement Type: Full Day Integrator + Positive Intelligence® Foundations
Frameworks Used: EOS® + Positive Intelligence®
Lynsey Peterson is a Fractional Integrator with Catalyst Integrators who specializes in helping leadership teams integrate mental fitness with operational excellence. Her unique approach combines 20+ years of leadership experience with training in both EOS and Positive Intelligence.
"Organizations can only be as healthy and aligned as their Leadership Teams. When smart teams learn to recognize their saboteurs, they stop competing with logic and start collaborating with wisdom."
— Lynsey Peterson, Catalyst Integrators
Is your brilliant team struggling to execute? Contact Catalyst Integrators to explore how a Fractional Integrator with mental fitness expertise could unlock your team's true potential.
EOS® and Level 10 Meeting™ are trademarks of EOS Worldwide, LLC. Positive Intelligence® is a registered trademark of Positive Intelligence, Inc. Results reflect this client's specific situation and are not guaranteed. Details have been generalized to protect client confidentiality.