A Practical Framework for Team Leaders and Managers
Why Teams Matter?
If you want your organisation to thrive, look no further than your teams. As Professor David Clutterbuck wisely puts it, “Teams are the engine of performance and productivity.” Teams drive innovation, solve complex problems, and achieve results that individuals simply cannot accomplish alone. But while we recognise their importance, getting the very best from a team can be a challenge.
Traditional Team Measurement: The Results Trap
Most organisations measure their teams by tangible results—revenue, profit, project completion, customer satisfaction. These metrics are crucial, but they only tell part of the story. All too often, team leaders are under pressure to deliver higher numbers, yet lack clarity about what actually needs to change within their team to achieve these goals.
Challenges for Team Leaders: Where’s the Data?
When the targets go up, leaders tend to respond in familiar ways. They urge their teams to work harder, set higher expectations, or seek more resources. Sometimes this works; sometimes it doesn’t. The common pitfall? Decisions are made without solid data on what will genuinely help the team improve. The result is frustration, burnout, or wasted effort, with real opportunities for growth and performance left unexplored.
Introducing PERILL: A Fresh Approach to Team Diagnostics
This is where the PERILL diagnostic comes in—a tool developed by Professor David Clutterbuck and originally commissioned by Facebook (now Meta) in 2015. PERILL stands for Purpose and Motivation, External Systems and Processes, Relationships, Internal Systems and Processes, Learning, and Leadership. It’s designed to help team leaders pinpoint the “x factor” behind team performance—the root causes that drive or hinder success.
What Does PERILL Mean?
- Purpose and Motivation: Is the team clear on its purpose? Are members energised and committed to their goals?
- External Systems and Processes: How well do outside systems (like technology, policies, and other departments) support the team?
- Relationships: What’s the quality of connections and trust within the team?
- Internal Systems and Processes: Are the team’s own routines, communication, and workflows effective?
- Learning: Does the team adapt and grow from experience? Is there a culture of feedback and continuous improvement?
- Leadership: Is leadership clear, supportive, and enabling rather than controlling?
The Benefits: Root Cause Analysis and Actionable Insights
The real value of PERILL lies in its ability to move beyond surface-level problems. Instead of guessing at solutions or relying on gut instinct, leaders gain a structured framework to analyse what’s truly going on. It’s not about working harder—it’s about working smarter, targeting the areas that will make the biggest difference to performance.
PERILL helps teams understand not just what isn’t working, but why. This opens up honest conversations, targeted interventions, and a shared understanding of what needs to change. The outcome is actionable insights that drive sustainable improvement and higher performance.
Simple to Use—With a Recommendation
The PERILL diagnostic is straightforward to administer. Teams can complete the assessment quickly and begin discussing results almost immediately. However, for those wanting to dig deeper and unlock the full potential of the analysis, team coaching training is highly recommended. Team leaders or professional coaches trained in team coaching can facilitate deeper exploration, ensuring insights translate into meaningful action.
Teams are at the heart of organisational success, but too often, leaders are left guessing at what will help their teams excel. The PERILL diagnostic offers a practical, evidence-based way to understand and improve team performance. By exploring its framework and investing in team coaching, you can uncover the real drivers of success—and help your teams become the true engine of productivity.
Learn more by getting in touch and getting a free consultation.
