Hello and welcome to the ninth edition of my newsletter, Getting Teamwork Right.

We have a phrase in team coaching, which is that ‘the coaching happens outside of the room’. The real impact of our work happens once the team goes back to their reality and starts putting it into practice. I learnt this early on when I noticed in coaching rooms sometimes it was very quiet and I was worried we weren't making an impact, but when I was taught that phrase it all made sense.

What we are trying to do is change the behaviour of the team on a day-to-day basis so what is important is that they go back from coaching sessions and do different things. We need to avoid Einstein's definition of insanity: of doing the same thing and expecting a different result. If you don't actually do anything different, nothing is going to change. And that's why we are there coaching the team, because they want change. They want to be different and the only way that is going to happen is if they move the dial.

So the focus of this episode is around exactly that: some ideas on how you can ensure that the follow-through happens, that people take action and complete tasks that they are set.

I think every team gets this wrong to a certain level. Rarely have I seen, if ever, a team fully complete the tasks that it sets itself, especially when it comes to behavior rather than more tangible things like revenue. I hope, if this is your team, that some of the thoughts in this newsletter help you improve what you do. — Andy Fieldhouse

The Follow-Through Gap: Why Teams Lose Momentum After Big Decisions

Every team has had this moment: a great decision made in the room, energy high, everyone nodding — and then nothing happens. This post digs into why decisions quietly stall once the meeting ends, and the three simple things that close the gap. If your team is great at deciding and less great at doing, start here.

Top Teamwork Tips: How To Get Your Task List Done

This week's video is a short, practical one — my take on why task lists stall out and what actually gets things off the list and into done. It's the video version of everything in this issue: less about intention, more about follow-through.

Closing the Loop: A Simple Accountability Habit for Every Team

Accountability doesn't need a new system or software — it needs one small habit, repeated every week without fail. This post walks through the exact question one team started asking at the top of every meeting, and why it changed how they worked. A quick, practical read you can put into action this week.

End Every Meeting With Three Questions

Before your next team meeting ends, ask out loud: who owns this, by when will we see movement, and when are we checking back in? If any of those three don't have a clear answer, treat the decision as unfinished — no matter how good it sounded ten minutes ago.

Ask Andy

Do you have a question that I can help you with? Send it to me on the link below and I will answer it. I'd like to publish one answer every fortnight — so that any readers with a similar concern can benefit. I will ask if you are OK for me to use your question, and I will make you and your situation anonymous before I share it.

Book a Call

If you want to find out more about how we could help your team or organisation, I'd love to hear from you. You can book a Microsoft Teams call with me here: