JULY 11, 2025

The Executive Marriage: How Leadership Teams Grow Through It

You know, relationships—whether romantic or professional—run on the same emotional fuel: trust, communication, and growth. And that three-stage journey we talk about in marriage? Oh, it shows up loud and clear in organizations too—especially among executive leaders.

Let me break it down.

Stage One: The Honeymoon Phase – The Polished Dance

When a new executive team forms or new leader steps in, it’s all polished shoes, tight agendas, and PowerPoints full of smiling stock photos.

Everybody’s on their best behavior—throwing out visionary soundbites, staying in their “professional lanes,” and trying real hard to impress. It’s the “in love with the potential” phase. The vibes are high, the ideas are big, and the masks are still on.

But here’s the truth: nobody’s been tested yet. Conflict hasn’t hit. Trust hasn’t been built. And emotional safety? Still under construction.

Stage Two: The Power Struggle – Where the Masks Fall Off

Then comes the test.

The pressure hits—missed targets, conflicting priorities, and suddenly, that “collaborative” teammate? Acting like a solo act. Tensions rise. Turf wars ignite. People shift from we to me.

This is where the power struggle shows up. Egos flare. Accountability gets murky. And instead of leaning into differences, folks start guarding their corners.

But hear me: this stage is necessary.

Just like in marriage, the real growth doesn’t happen until the honeymoon ends. You can’t skip the mess if you want the maturity. This is where emotional intelligence, courageous conversation, and a little bit of grace make all the difference.

Stage Three: Maturity – The Real Leadership Love

If the team chooses to lean in—to have the hard conversations, to give and receive feedback, to grow? That’s when the magic happens.

Now we’re talking maturity. The team knows each other’s quirks and pressure points—and instead of judging them, they use them. There’s interdependence, not just collaboration.

This is where teams shift from “I need to be right” to “we need to get it right.” They challenge each other—but with alignment and respect. They celebrate wins as a unit.

They make space for truth, for difference, for real leadership love.

The Bottom Line

Those same stages of marriage? They live in the boardroom too. And the difference between dysfunction and greatness?

It’s whether leaders are willing to grow through the mess—or keep dancing around it.

If your leadership team is stuck in the power struggle—or you’re ready to grow into that next level of maturity—we’re here for it.

Let’s do the work, together.

Reach out to us, and let’s build the kind of leadership team your organization—and your people—deserve.