For nearly three decades, Michael Walsh has helped owners of $2-$100 M companies escape the “growth trap” and win back their freedom. As founder of Walsh Business Growth Institute and author, the Vancouver-based adviser has guided leaders across North America and Europe to scale profitably without sacrificing culture or lifestyle.  

A former competitive rower turned consultant, Michael blends strategic rigor with people-first pragmatism—rooted in the belief that business is a tool to help people get what they want. 

 

Why Teams Sit at the Heart of Freedom 

When Govindh opened this eleventh conversation in our Freedom by Design series, he zeroed in on a familiar danger zone: people. Michael didn’t flinch: 

“Teams done well can multiply power. They drive everything that’s good in a company.” — Michael Walsh 

Yet most organisations still treat teamwork like a side quest. “We haven’t been trained for teamwork,” Michael observed, noting that athletic teams and business teams succeed for the same reason: deliberate practice of clear roles and handoffs. 

 

From “Wrong People” to “Right Structure” 

Many founders assume friction means they hired the wrong person. Michael challenged that reflex: 

“Building a team is actually a design issue. If talented people are crashing, look at the design before you look at the roster.” 

The fix? Design teams for collaboration first, then talent. Train for the behaviours you expect, embed feedback loops, and reward collective wins as loudly as individual ones. 

 

Train People for Teamwork 

Michael compared too many organisations to pickup basketball games—everyone knows the score, few know the playbook. Teams must rehearse delivery the way elite athletes rehearse handoffs. That requires: 

• Dedicated team-skills training (not just technical up-skilling) 

• Routine post-game reviews that celebrate assists, not just points 

• Clear role clarity so teammates “stay in their lane and still win together” 

 

Expand Goals Beyond Deliverables 

Michael asks leaders to articulate four layers of goals—client, individual learning, team, and company. Stretching targets this way turns a project into a platform for growth: 

“Projects aren’t just about deliverables; they’re a chance to learn, to bond, and to move the company forward.” 

 

Mentoring as the Multiplier 

Finally, Michael urged owners to “build in mentoring support for every team member.” Whether that’s pairing juniors with veterans or hiring outside mentors, the payoff is compounding capability and culture that scales itself. 

 

5 Key Takeaways & Action Steps 

1. Design Beats Default Takeaway: Most “people problems” are actually design problems. Action Step: Map one critical project and highlight every hand-off. This week, redesign the riskiest junction so the ball can’t drop. 

2. Train Teamwork Like a Skill Takeaway: Collaboration isn’t innate; it’s coached and practiced. Action Step: Block a monthly learning slot dedicated solely to a team skill—conflict resolution, effective meetings, or hand-off drills—and measure the improvement. 

3. Set Four-Layer Goals Takeaway: Every project should advance client outcomes, individual learning, team cohesion, and company growth. Action Step: Rewrite your next project brief to include KPIs for all four layers, then review those metrics at every check-in. 

4. Mentorship Compounds Culture Takeaway: Built-in mentoring turns talent into a tribe that scales itself. Action Step: Launch a 90-day micro-mentoring pilot—pair a senior with a junior, set one shared outcome, and evaluate the impact together. 

5. Celebrate Assists, Not Just Points Takeaway: Reward behaviors that lift the whole team, not just star performers. Action Step: Add a “Best Assist” shout-out to your weekly huddle and tie it to a small bonus or public praise. 

 

Ready to Put It on a Napkin? 

Grab a real napkin (yes, the paper kind). Jot the one idea you’ll act on this week to level-up your team design. Snap a pic, post it, and tag #PaperNapkinWisdom so our community can cheer you on—and maybe borrow a page from your playbook. 

Because freedom isn’t a solo sport. It takes a team. 

Connect with Michael: 

www.walshbusinessgrowth.com