Team Hierarchical Adaptability: Research Insights from Dr. Lindy Greer

Dr. Lindy Greer, Professor of Management and Organizations at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and Faculty Director of the Sanger Leadership Center at the University of Michigan, shares key insights from her acclaimed research, “Team Hierarchical Adaptability: Benefits for Team Coordination and Performance.” In this conversation, Dr. Lindy Greer unpacks her research on team hierarchical adaptability using the vivid “hippo” metaphor, explaining how the highest-paid person in the room must know when to rise “out of the water” to provide clear direction and protection, and when to sink “underwater,” listening and creating space for equal participation. Drawing on examples from Navy SEAL teams, corporate, startup, and healthcare settings, she shows that the best-performing teams do not choose between flat or hierarchical structures but fluidly shift between them over time. Her multi-method research, combining field studies, lab experiments, and detailed video analysis, demonstrates that teams who can move intentionally between command-and-control and open, inclusive debate coordinate better, innovate more, and achieve higher performance across diverse contexts. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com. Disclaimer: A. The background music incorporated in this video is the intellectual property of its respective developer and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Notwithstanding that it is a free-to-use version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy, and Deepak Bhatt do not own, and expressly do not claim, any rights, title, or interest in or to this music. B. Dr. Lindy Greer shared valuable insights from her research, “Team Hierarchical Adaptability: Benefits for Team Coordination and Performance,” during an engaging conversation on the Business Talk podcast. The uploaded video contains copyrighted content, so changing any graphics, music, or on-screen appearance of the author or host is not allowed.