Waterline Model: what it is, who uses it, and the best notes

Lenny’s Newsletter♥ 818

How to debug a team that isn’t working: the Waterline Model

Mar 3, 2026 · 14 min

Subscriber post — summary only

Molly Graham introduces the Waterline Model, a diagnostic for underperforming teams that checks four levels in order: structure, dynamics, interpersonal, and individual. Her core argument is that many team problems are…

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Lenny’s Podcast120 min

The high-growth handbook: Molly Graham’s frameworks for leading through chaos, change, and scale

Molly Graham · Jan 4, 2026

Key learnings

Keep handing off the work you've mastered so you can take on the next, bigger challenge; the job keeps growing, so you must keep…
Name and externalize the emotional reactions to change, then give them about two weeks; anything lasting longer deserves a real…
When a team struggles, snorkel before you scuba: check structure (goals, roles, expectations) and team dynamics before blaming…

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