With winter back, I’ve been thinking about the ice last year. Right now, it’s warm, but icy days are ahead, and I can’t help but remember navigating those slick sidewalks. Without friction, every step felt like a risk. Staying upright took a mix of effort and luck.
That memory got me thinking about how friction—something we usually try to avoid—isn’t always harmful. When it comes to leading teams, the right kind of friction can be a powerful force for progress.
In business, we’re told to eliminate friction wherever possible: make sales seamless, production faster, and customer service effortless. That’s great when you’re trying to boost efficiency, but when it comes to innovation and decision-making, a little friction can be exactly what your team needs.
This healthy friction shows up when someone asks:
“What if we looked at this from a new perspective?”
“Is there a harder but smarter path we could take?”
“Are we making assumptions that need to be challenged?”
“How do we finally solve this problem for good?”
These questions disrupt the status quo and push the team to think critically, act boldly, and get better results.
When disruption hits, teams without friction tend to slip. They fall into groupthink or stick to old habits that no longer work. But the right kind of friction creates traction. It challenges the team to explore new ideas, debate better solutions, and move forward with purpose.
The key is intentionality. Invite the kind of questions and conversations that sharpen thinking without derailing the team. Healthy friction isn’t about conflict; it’s about growth.
So, as icy days approach, think about how friction affects your leadership. Embrace the right kind of resistance—it’s the traction you need to navigate disruption and keep moving forward.
I have some big news coming. I can’t wait to share it with you. It will disrupt my life, and I hope it will help you disrupt yours. Stay tuned.
Make it a great day!
Patrick
#disrupteverything #teams #leadership
