--- title: Centered Articles (8) description: A collection of articles from Centered on leadership, Lean, Agile, workshops, facilitation (8) --- [![CENTERED LOGO Dark](https://centered.work/hubfs/CENTERED%20LOGO%20Dark.png)](https://centered.work) - Services - [Breakthrough Lab](https://centered.work/breakthrough-lab) - [Design Sprint](https://centered.work/services/design-sprints) - [Innovation Coaching](https://centered.work/innovation-coaching) - Case Study - Books - Workshops - Podcast - Articles - About Us [Get in touch](https://centered.work/contact-us) # Centered Articles ![InnovationLightBulb](https://centered.work/hubfs/InnovationLightBulb.png) - [ALL](https://centered.work/articles/all) - [Consulting](https://centered.work/articles/tag/consulting) - [Coaching](https://centered.work/articles/tag/coaching) - [Can't Culture](https://centered.work/articles/tag/cant-culture) - [DesignSprint](https://centered.work/articles/tag/designsprint) - [Built to Break](https://centered.work/articles/tag/built-to-break) - [AI-Ready](https://centered.work/articles/tag/ai-ready) - [Case Study](https://centered.work/articles/tag/case-study) - [Facilitation](https://centered.work/articles/tag/facilitation) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. Consulting ### [The Leadership Trap: Why Being the Smartest Person in the Room Is Slowing Down Your Team](https://centered.work/articles/the-leadership-trap-why-being-the-smartest-person-in-the-room-is-slowing-down-your-team) There’s something intoxicating about being the one with all the answers. People look to you. You step in and save the day. You earn trust by being... Preston Chandler Jul 30, 2025 Coaching ### [Why Smart Teams Kill Innovation: The Groupthink Trap No One Talks About](https://centered.work/articles/why-smart-teams-kill-innovation-the-groupthink-trap-no-one-talks-about) We assume that assembling the best and brightest will drive breakthrough innovation. But what if the very strength of your smartest teams is exactly... JL Heather Jul 23, 2025 Consulting ### [Your Culture Isn’t Broken—It’s Just Too Comfortable](https://centered.work/articles/your-culture-isnt-broken-its-just-too-comfortable) We all tend to think the opposite of a strong culture is a dysfunctional one. But more often, the real threat is a comfortable one. Preston Chandler Jul 16, 2025 Coaching ### [Mind The Leadership Gap: Why Cross-Functional Teams Stumble](https://centered.work/articles/mind-the-leadership-gap-why-cross-functional-teams-stumble-without-the-right-support) According to Gallup, only 22% of employees strongly agree that their leaders foster collaboration effectively. That’s not just a minor disconnect.... JL Heather Jul 9, 2025 Consulting ### [Design Thinking Is Just Expensive Common Sense](https://centered.work/articles/design-thinking-is-just-expensive-common-sense) Design thinking was never meant to be a feel-good team exercise. At its core, it’s a powerful framework for solving real problems with empathy,... Preston Chandler Jul 2, 2025 Coaching ### [Cross-Functional Teams Don’t Fail Because of Tech—They Fail Because of Trust](https://centered.work/articles/cross-functional-teams-dont-fail-because-of-tech-they-fail-because-of-trust) We often assume the challenge with cross-functional collaboration is logistical or technical, but time and time again, what really undermines these... JL Heather Jun 25, 2025 Consulting ### [Not Everyone Deserves a Seat at the Table](https://centered.work/articles/not-everyone-deserves-a-seat-at-the-table) When everyone is invited to every table, what we often get isn’t alignment. It’s inertia. Preston Chandler Jun 18, 2025 Coaching ### [The Hidden Barrier to Empowered Teams: Skills Are Easy. Mindsets Are Hard.](https://centered.work/articles/the-hidden-barrier-to-empowered-teams-skills-are-easy.-mindsets-are-hard) Building a successful cross-functional team isn’t just about moving names into new boxes on an org chart. It’s about preparing humans—real,... JL Heather Jun 11, 2025 Consulting ### [How to Use AI to Support Your Design Sprint (Without Losing the Human Magic)](https://centered.work/articles/how-to-use-ai-to-support-your-design-sprint-without-losing-the-human-magic) Design Sprints are already fast. AI can make them even faster. Preston Chandler Jun 4, 2025 [1](https://centered.work/articles/page/1) ... [7](https://centered.work/articles/page/7) [8](https://centered.work/articles/page/8) [9](https://centered.work/articles/page/9) ... [20](https://centered.work/articles/page/20) ### Get notified of new insights Be the first to know about new insights into the world of innovation.  We send out monthly updates on what it takes to integrate innovation into your organization. ###### BLOG # Articles Explore actionable insights, strategies, and real-world frameworks to help teams innovate more effectively, solve complex challenges, and build a culture of resilient growth Consulting ### [The Leadership Trap: Why Being the Smartest Person in the Room Is Slowing Down Your Team](https://centered.work/articles/the-leadership-trap-why-being-the-smartest-person-in-the-room-is-slowing-down-your-team) There’s something intoxicating about being the one with all the answers. People look to you. You step in and save the day. You earn trust by being... Preston Chandler Jul 30, 2025 Coaching ### [Why Smart Teams Kill Innovation: The Groupthink Trap No One Talks About](https://centered.work/articles/why-smart-teams-kill-innovation-the-groupthink-trap-no-one-talks-about) We assume that assembling the best and brightest will drive breakthrough innovation. But what if the very strength of your smartest teams is exactly... JL Heather Jul 23, 2025 Consulting ### [Your Culture Isn’t Broken—It’s Just Too Comfortable](https://centered.work/articles/your-culture-isnt-broken-its-just-too-comfortable) We all tend to think the opposite of a strong culture is a dysfunctional one. But more often, the real threat is a comfortable one. Preston Chandler Jul 16, 2025 Coaching ### [Mind The Leadership Gap: Why Cross-Functional Teams Stumble](https://centered.work/articles/mind-the-leadership-gap-why-cross-functional-teams-stumble-without-the-right-support) According to Gallup, only 22% of employees strongly agree that their leaders foster collaboration effectively. That’s not just a minor disconnect.... JL Heather Jul 9, 2025 Consulting ### [Design Thinking Is Just Expensive Common Sense](https://centered.work/articles/design-thinking-is-just-expensive-common-sense) Design thinking was never meant to be a feel-good team exercise. At its core, it’s a powerful framework for solving real problems with empathy,... Preston Chandler Jul 2, 2025 Coaching ### [Cross-Functional Teams Don’t Fail Because of Tech—They Fail Because of Trust](https://centered.work/articles/cross-functional-teams-dont-fail-because-of-tech-they-fail-because-of-trust) We often assume the challenge with cross-functional collaboration is logistical or technical, but time and time again, what really undermines these... JL Heather Jun 25, 2025 Consulting ### [Not Everyone Deserves a Seat at the Table](https://centered.work/articles/not-everyone-deserves-a-seat-at-the-table) When everyone is invited to every table, what we often get isn’t alignment. It’s inertia. Preston Chandler Jun 18, 2025 Coaching ### [The Hidden Barrier to Empowered Teams: Skills Are Easy. Mindsets Are Hard.](https://centered.work/articles/the-hidden-barrier-to-empowered-teams-skills-are-easy.-mindsets-are-hard) Building a successful cross-functional team isn’t just about moving names into new boxes on an org chart. It’s about preparing humans—real,... JL Heather Jun 11, 2025 Consulting ### [How to Use AI to Support Your Design Sprint (Without Losing the Human Magic)](https://centered.work/articles/how-to-use-ai-to-support-your-design-sprint-without-losing-the-human-magic) Design Sprints are already fast. AI can make them even faster. Preston Chandler Jun 4, 2025 [1](https://centered.work/articles/page/1) ... [7](https://centered.work/articles/page/7) [8](https://centered.work/articles/page/8) [9](https://centered.work/articles/page/9) ... [20](https://centered.work/articles/page/20) ### Get notified on new marketing insights Be the first to know about new B2B SaaS Marketing insights to build or refine your marketing function with the tools and knowledge of today’s industry. ## Accelerate your innovation journey For over a decade, we've partnered with leading businesses to transform and drive growth. 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