No man or woman is an island. In organizations, the accomplishment of goals is often achieved through people working together in teams. Being a truly high performing team takes investment, effort and intentionality. Teams don’t magically become effective. So what are the key elements that need to be in place for a team to perform at its best? 

This session will explore the latest thinking about team effectiveness. You will have the opportunity to evaluate a team you lead or to which you belong, consider the strengths and limitations of that team and ways to improve the team’s effectiveness. Lastly, we’ll explore the types of informal roles that exist within teams. What roles do you play on a team? How do those roles work for you and against you?

Back by popular demand, Neil who has become affectionately known at PLTG as "Scotland Yard Guy" because of his former role as Scotland Yard's Head of Psychology, has been a guest speaker at PLTG several times, leading thought provoking discussions on Change and The Power of Great Relationships.  

Bio of Neil Jacobs, MSc, CPsychol, AFBPsS

Neil is the Principal and Founder of MindsOpen, where he coaches executives and works with leadership teams to improve performance, shift culture and drive change. Other areas of specialism include leadership development, organizational development, creativity and leveraging relationships. A business psychologist and executive coach, Neil has 22 years of global experience working with leaders, teams and organizations from a wide range of industries including investment and commercial banking, private equity, luxury and beauty, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, professional services, energy, healthcare, logistics and media. He has worked across the spectrum of Fortune 500s, small to mid-sized firms, start-ups, non-profits and government organizations. Prior to founding MindsOpen, Neil was a Managing Director at YSC, a global leadership consulting firm.  Neil began his career in the UK working for the British Military, where he found his niche profiling officers for specialist roles. He then joined Scotland Yard, the police service for London, and was soon appointed Head of Psychology. He led a range of high profile assignments including debriefing the UK police response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He lives in New York City but remains a dedicated supporter of Leeds United, his hometown soccer team. He enjoys travel, modern design and film. He also owns and curates a contemporary, online art gallery, The Road Gallery.