Alright, let’s talk. You at your screen, me at mine. Let’s talk about your team. Your high-performing, well-oiled, synergistic machine. You love ‘em. They’re great. They’re comfortable. They’re predictable. They’re… a banana pancake.
You know what I’m talking about. Sweet, reliable, nobody’s gonna complain about a banana pancake. But nobody’s writing home about it, either. Nobody’s life is changed by a banana pancake. It’s safe. It’s homogenous. It’s the opposite of disruptive. And in a world that serves up disruption for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you can’t afford to be a short stack of sameness.
You want that combustion. That collision of perspectives. You want the chocolate and chipotle. The pulled pork and grilled plantain panini. You want a flavor nobody saw coming. As a Grammy nominated spoken word artist, I’ve learned that the most powerful art, the most innovative business, comes from mixing things up. It comes from the beautiful, messy, unpredictable fusion of different voices.
So, how do you know if your team is stuck in the pancake house? Well, I’m glad you asked. Live from my desk, it’s the Late-Nite List you didn’t know you needed. Here are the Top 10 Signs Your Team is a Banana Pancake.
And now… the countdown!
10. Your brainstorming sessions sound like a singalong.
Everyone knows the words, the harmony is perfect, and the big finish gets a round of applause. It’s beautiful. It’s also a sign that you’re not brainstorming; you’re just performing a song you all wrote ten years ago. Real innovation is more like a punk rock mosh pit. It’s messy, a little dangerous, and somebody might leave with a brilliant idea… or a fat lip.
This sign of sameness has been brought to you by: “Productive Friction.” It’s the good kind of uncomfortable.
9. Your team’s idea of a “wild idea” is switching from Arial to Helvetica.
“Whoa, slow down there, trailblazer! Let’s not get crazy. Let’s form a subcommittee to explore the kerning implications first.” If your boldest moves are cosmetic, your foundation is probably cracked. You need people who don’t just want to change the font; they want to rewrite the whole damn book.
This segment is sponsored by: The Machete Mindset. For when a butter knife just won’t cut it.
8. Everyone’s “About Me” on the company intranet lists “The Office” as their favorite show.
Listen, no judgment. It’s a classic. But if your entire team identifies with the same pop culture references, you’re operating in a monoculture. You need someone who’d rather watch The Great British Bake Off. Someone who’s obsessed with Korean dramas. Someone who only watches black-and-white silent films. Why? Because they see the world through a different lens, and that lens might be the one that spots the opportunity everyone else missed.
This commercial break is presented by: “Yvonne the Arm.” The scrawny kid you almost didn’t pick for dodgeball who ends up being your MVP. Hire the underdog.
7. The “devil’s advocate” apologizes before they speak.
“I’m so sorry to be a bother, and please don’t hate me, but… what if we… considered… an alternative?” A real devil’s advocate doesn’t ask for permission. They kick the door in, flip the table, and set fire to your assumptions. Politely, of course. But they don’t apologize for bringing the heat. That’s their job.
This portion of our show is powered by: The Audacity of “What If?” Ask it. Often. Loudly.
6. Your biggest debate last quarter was over the brand of seltzer in the fridge.
I get it, LaCroix vs. Bubly is a battle for the soul. But if that’s the most passionate your team gets, you’ve got a problem. Passionate debates about strategy, about the customer, about the future—that’s the energy that fuels growth. Debates about pamplemousse fizz are just… fizz.
Tonight’s episode is made possible by a grant from: “The Human B-Side.” The stuff that’s not on the business card, but is way more interesting.
5. Everyone nods in unison on video calls.
It’s the corporate bobblehead phenomenon. One person talks, and 15 heads dip in perfect, silent synchronicity. It looks like agreement, but it’s really just a sign of a low-risk environment. You want a team that shakes their heads. That furrows their brows. That leans into the camera and says, “Hold on a minute…”
This broadcast is supported by: “Unmute Yourself.” Your shower voice is your strongest pitch. Use it.
4. Your team culture is described as a “family.”
It’s the oldest cliché in the book. And it sounds great, until you realize you mean the kind of family that avoids talking politics at Thanksgiving just to keep the peace. A high-performing team isn’t a conflict-avoidant family. It’s a supergroup. It’s John, Paul, George, and Ringo arguing in the studio and coming out with “Come Together.” A true Vanguard Artist knows that creative genius is born from creative tension.
This sign of terminal comfort is brought to you by: The Beatles. Four dudes who couldn’t agree on lunch but changed the world.
3. Your annual potluck features seven different kinds of potato salad.
And they’re all delicious, I’m sure. But they’re all potato salad. You’re missing the kimchi, the curry, the jerk chicken, the empanadas. A diverse menu, like a diverse team, brings unexpected flavors that make the whole meal more satisfying. You want to be the World’s Best? You can’t do it with the world’s most boring menu.
This cautionary tale is sponsored by: The Chocolate Chipotle of Industry Change. Be brave. Be bold. Be spicy.
2. You’ve never had a “beautiful bruise.”
I’m talking about the kind of failure that hurts, but teaches you something profound. The kind that leaves a scar you’re proud of. If your team has never failed spectacularly, it means you’ve never tried anything spectacularly brave. Banana pancakes don’t leave bruises. Trailblazing does.
This segment is made possible by: Armani Gauze and Chanel Splints. Wear your battle scars like a badge of honor.
1. Your company’s mission statement feels more like a suggestion.
The number one sign your team is a banana pancake is a lack of a deep, shared purpose. You’re not just there to make widgets; you’re there to change lives. A purpose is what holds a diverse, chaotic, beautifully disruptive team together when the turbulence hits. It’s the North Star. Without it, you’re just a bunch of people in a boat, paddling in circles, hoping you don’t run out of syrup.
And our number one spot is brought to you by: A Purpose. The ultimate superglue for a team of superheroes. Find yours.
So there you have it. If you recognized your team on this list, don’t panic. Just order something different for breakfast tomorrow. Stop hiring for comfort and start hiring for combustion. Because as a Motivational Poet who has seen it all, I can tell you that the most powerful, the most innovative, the most inspirational work happens when you stop serving the safe and start creating something that makes the whole world say, “Whoa. I’ve never tasted anything like that before.”
Go make some flavor.
