In an operating room, a surgical technician notices something concerning during a procedure. In traditional hospital hierarchies, they might hesitate to speak up. But a transformation in healthcare leadership is under way that would make that moment of hesitation unthinkable. The old deference to hierarchical leadership is giving way to a new mode of behavior where peers put status, role and ego aside to work together like a team of leaders to elevate each other’s performance and get critical jobs done. And the difference made by this shift from hierarchical leadership to peer-to-peer teams can be profound, as Dr. Laura Dannels, Chief Talent Officer of Wellstar Health System, which runs hospitals, cancer centers, hospices, and hundreds of medical offices across Georgia, explains. “Research shows that psychological safety and trust are critical. The difference in candor versus conflict avoidance is saving a patient’s life.”
The transformation Dannels describes is what I call “teamship,” a concept I explore in my new book Never Lead Alone. Teamship is the ultimate competitive advantage, driven by two forces: co-elevation behaviors and modern collaboration practices. Co-elevation is a commitment among teammates to lift each other up while achieving the mission—moving beyond traditional silos to create value through interdependencies and never letting each other fail. When combined with new collaborative processes and tools, this enables bolder innovation and faster decision-making.
Our research shows the impact is dramatic. Teams that adopt teamship see a 79% increase in candor, a 46% increase in collaboration, and a 44% increase in accountability. Yet only 15% of teams achieve this standard today. The difference between average and extraordinary teams is not more leadership; it is the adoption of teamship.
Making Culture Change a Daily Assignment
The shift to teamship is not theoretical; it is achieved through specific high-return practices that turn abstract cultural goals into concrete daily assignments. These practices range from “Stress Testing” exercises, where teams collaborate to uncover unseen risks, to “Sprint Reviews” which create peer-to-peer accountability. Common factors in all the practices are courageous candor and inclusivity: encouraging all voices to be heard to mitigate risk, fuel innovation and accelerate decision-making.
The Healthcare Imperative
Healthcare faces unique challenges that make the shift to teamship particularly critical. The stakes are especially high in an industry where, as Dannels notes, “The staff/leadership ratios on the frontlines of healthcare are enormous.”
The transformation requires what Dannels describes as “shared leadership:” a model where “healthcare professionals at all levels are empowered to make decisions within their scope of practice and expertise.” This approach fosters what she calls “mutual accountability,” where “all team members share responsibility for the outcomes of their decisions and actions.”
Building Resilient Healthcare Teams
Most crucially, teamship addresses one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges: burnout. “Healthcare leaders and providers have some of the highest burnout rates,” says Dannels. The solution lies in what she calls “community,” explaining that “our ‘Energy’ is impacted by those who are on our ‘teams,’ so community is incredibly important in my opinion for any resilience work.”
Breaking Down Silos for Better Care
Healthcare organizations that embrace teamship are seeing another crucial benefit: better integrated care. As Dannels explains, “To provide better healthcare, any given doctor needs broader information in order to make a well-informed diagnosis and provide a solution.” This integration of perspectives and information is essential for modern healthcare delivery.
The Path Forward
The transformation to teamship in healthcare requires more than just structural changes, it demands new behaviors, practices, and mindsets. But these changes do not have to be overwhelming. Through simple, targeted practices that any team can adopt, organizations can begin making the shift immediately.
As healthcare continues to face unprecedented challenges, the choice becomes clear: continue with traditional hierarchical models that may no longer serve our needs or embrace teamship as the path to better healthcare delivery. The future of healthcare belongs to organizations that never lead alone.