137: Building High Performance Teams with Dwayne Kerrigan
What separates average teams from truly high-performing ones?
In this episode, Dwayne Kerrigan breaks down the real mechanics of building high performance teams — from hiring A-players to creating a culture of accountability, coaching, and continuous improvement.
Backed by real-world experience across decades in business, Dwayne walks through the systems, frameworks, and leadership mindset shifts required to build teams that don’t just function but thrive.
You’ll learn why most hiring processes fail, how to identify true A-players, and why the behavior you tolerate ultimately becomes your company’s standard. Dwayne also dives deep into onboarding, coaching, culture, and the hidden psychological patterns that impact performance — including ego, storytelling, and leadership blind spots.
This is not theory, this is a practical blueprint for leaders who want better results through better people.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 - Ego And Needs
00:39 - Podcast Introduction
01:11 - Why Teams Matter
03:03 - AI And Future Workforce
04:32 - Role Clarity First
06:17 - Interview Intensity
08:58 - Hiring Process Steps
13:58 - Scorecards And Evaluation
16:08 - Compensation And Bonuses
19:19 - Onboarding With Outcomes
22:46 - Episodic Engagement Coaching
26:12 - Culture Standards
28:53 - Measure And Document SOPs
31:19 - My Style Document
35:32 - Hunting For A Players
36:52 - Traits Of High Performers
41:52 - Culture Skill Matrix
43:19 - Developing B Players
44:52 - Coaching Low Culture Talent
46:18 - Managing C Players Fast
48:14 - Story Meaning Behavior Model
52:17 - Standards Above the Line
54:42 - Four Culture Principles
57:06 - Team Dysfunctions Breakdown
01:00:44 - Q&A Backbenching and Ego
01:09:18 - Accountability Without Morale Loss
01:14:16 - Moving Players Up the Chart
01:18:00 - Leadership Growth and Triggers
01:20:57 - Recognizing Base Hits
01:24:06 - Closing and Disclaimers
Key Takeaways:
- The Behavior You Tolerate Becomes the Standard
- Hiring A-Players Starts With Clarity
- Always Be Recruiting
- Onboarding Is a Competitive Advantage
- Coaching Is Not Optional
- Measure Everything
- Most Team Problems Are Psychological
- A, B, and C Players Require Different Strategies
Resources Mentioned:
- Phil Jones – Exactly What to Say
- Rich Divinney – The Attributes
- Patrick Lencioni – The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
- Tony Robbins – Human Needs & Triad Framework
- Byron Katie – Loving What Is
- Keith Cunningham – Business Mentorship
Referenced Episodes (The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast):
- Phil Jones episode (sales, communication, and training insights) https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/27-exactly-what-to-say-with-phil-m-jones/
- Rich Divinney episode (attributes + performance under pressure) https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/16-transition-tactics-and-building-high-performance-teams-with-former-navy-seal-rich-diviney/
- Emma Murray episode (performance mindset + A/B game thinking) https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/61-breaking-the-b-game-loop-how-top-performers-master-their-mindset-with-emma-murray/
Also these Emma Murray episodes:
- https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/the-mindset-secret-to-crushing-your-b-game-with-emma-murray/
- https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/127-skillset-vs-mindset-the-real-performance-equation-with-emma-murray/
- https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com/128-critique-over-criticism-emma-murray-on-learning-faster-under-pressure/
Quotes:
“Everything we do, we do to meet our needs.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“The behavior that you allow in your presence becomes the standards.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“ Keep it simple. Stupid complexity is the enemy of execution.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they’re too heavy to be broken.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“Anything you monitor will get better.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“Progress equals fulfillment.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“Don’t adjust your standards to meet someone’s mediocrity.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan
Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.