The leadership playbook: How to lead a high performing team

Zennify Team

What separates good teams from great ones? It’s not just talent, it’s teamwork, adaptability, and execution under pressure.

Before becoming a Sr. Account Director at Zennify, Lee Thompson played competitive lacrosse at the collegiate level as a midfielder. In a sport that demands speed, strategy, and endurance, he learned firsthand how discipline, adaptability, and trust in your teammates determine success. The lessons he learned on the field didn’t just make him a better athlete; they shaped his approach to leadership.‍

"At the end of the day, leadership is about bringing together a group of people, aligning them toward a goal, and getting the best out of them."

We sat down with Lee to learn how business leaders can approach leading a team the same way coaches and athletes do in sports. Here’s his leadership playbook for leading high-performing teams.

1. Success starts with preparation

Winning doesn’t happen by accident. The best teams put in the work before game day, setting themselves up for success long before they ever step onto the field. The same principle applies to leadership, strong teams don’t rely on talent alone; they’re built through clear planning, intentional effort, and a commitment to execution.

For Lee, the most successful teams he played on weren’t just filled with great athletes. They had discipline. They had a plan. And they had trust in each other.

“In sports, your season is won or lost in the off-season. The work happens before the games even start. If you don’t put in the effort upfront, you’ll be playing catch-up the entire time.”

That same philosophy plays out in business. Teams that don’t take the time to prepare, whether it’s defining outcomes, or aligning on expectations, end up scrambling when challenges arise. Leaders who focus on creating a strong foundation before the pressure is on will see their teams rise to the occasion when it matters most.

2. Adaptability separates good teams from great ones

No game ever unfolds exactly as planned. The best teams don’t just stick to the script; they adjust, pivot, and find new ways to win.

Preparation sets the foundation, but adaptability is what determines success. The best teams don’t just follow a script, they recognize when things aren’t working and adjust in real time. A well-laid strategy can give an edge, but the ability to pivot in the moment is what separates good teams from great ones.

“The best teams, whether in sports or business, don’t just follow a plan; they react, adapt, and execute in real time.”

That ability to adapt is just as critical in leadership. Business environments change, customer needs evolve, and unexpected challenges arise. Leaders who can assess the situation, listen to their teams, and pivot when needed will build resilience within their organizations.

3. Leadership isn’t about you, it’s about the team

One of the biggest misconceptions about leadership is that it’s about being the loudest in the room. In reality, great leaders don’t command their teams, they influence to elevate them.

At the collegiate level, every athlete was a star on their high school team. But when surrounded by other top players, success was no longer about individual performance. The teams that thrived weren’t the ones with the most talent but those where players understood their roles and committed to making the team better as a whole.

“In college, everyone was a leader on their high school team. Everyone was used to being ‘the guy.’ But in a new environment, you have to figure out what role the team actually needs you to play, not just the one you want.”

The same applies in business. The best teams aren’t made up of individual superstars doing their own thing. They succeed because each person understands their role and plays it to the best of their ability. The leader’s job isn’t to have all the answers, it’s to help the team find them together.

4. Motivation builds stronger teams

Talent and will only take a team so far. To truly excel, they need to be motivated, not just by external rewards, but by a shared purpose.

Motivation is one of the most overlooked aspects of leadership. Some coaches, and business leaders, see their role as simply laying out a strategy and expecting execution. But the teams that truly excel are those with leaders who inspire and connect people to a larger goal. When individuals believe in the mission and see their role as part of something bigger, engagement and performance follow naturally.

“Some coaches believe it’s not their job to motivate players, I disagree. The best leaders don’t just give orders; they bring people along for the journey. If you capture a team’s imagination, if you get them excited about the vision, everything else gets easier.”

That mindset applies to business just as much as it does to sports. Teams that feel disconnected from their mission will do the bare minimum. But when leaders take the time to inspire their people, when they make the work mean something, that’s when they see the highest levels of engagement and performance.

The leadership formula for success

The best leaders share a few defining traits. They prepare relentlessly, adapt when challenges arise, and put the team’s success above their own. But above all, they create an environment where people feel motivated, supported, and have the psychological safety to perform at their best.

Success isn’t about having the most talent—it’s about building a team that trusts each other, executes under pressure, and pushes toward a shared goal. That’s the real leadership playbook.

Want to bring your skills to a winning team?

At Zennify, we help financial institutions turn data and technology into game-changing results. We believe in fostering a culture of teamwork, adaptability, and impact—where every team member has a role to play in driving success. If you're ready to take your career to the next level, check out our open roles.