In the Teamcraft Podcast, hosts Andrew MacLaren and Mark Ridley explore the tradecraft and witchcraft of teams. Through deep, insightful conversations they uncover how teams work and what makes them fail.
Music by Tom Farrington
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In this episode of Teamcraft, Andrew and Mark are joined by Nikita Mikhailov, an expert in psychometrics, psychologist and co-author of the book 'Personality, a User's Guide.'
We dive into how understanding personality and individual differences can inform talent selection, development decisions, relationships, and even culture. Nikita explains self-narratives, personality traits like neuroticism, and the social aspects of personality. We also discuss the importance of curiosity, asking questions, and appreciating the diverse personalities within teams.
The conversation highlights Nikita's insights into personality in both professional and personal contexts, offering practical advice on effective communication and collaboration in team settings.
Nikita shares insights from his book, 'Personality, a User’s Guide,' co-authored with Georgi Yankov, discussing how a deeper understanding of personality can enhance talent selection, development, performance and culture, and goes on to share practical tips on fostering effective communication and collaboration within teams.
Chapters 00:00 Pre-roll 00:50 Intro - Nikita Mikhailov 02:13 You don't just have one version of you 03:19 How do we even define personality? 09:22 What was the inspiration behind your book? 12:05 How dare you compare psychometrics to the Zodiac... 13:57 Language and the psycholexical origins of personality research 17:00 The big five in brief 18:49 The bright side of neuroticism 20:19 The cheapest couples therapy you could imagine 23:31 How to balance behaviours with different personality traits 24:15 How should you engage with people who seem different to you? 27:19 Introverts, extroverts and ambiverts 31:29 Is individualism a problem? 33:02 How people see you, and how you see yourself 36:18 Giving and receiving personal feedback 37:54 Why you shouldn't 'give people 15 minutes back' 40:15 Organisations, cults and the stress of early careers 42:58 At what age do our personalities become 'fixed'? 44:54 Quick Fires - what's your best team memory 45:42 What are your team red flags 46:23 Do you have a resource to pass on?
The origins and benefits of team psychological safety
Saison 3 · Épisode 6
lundi 3 février 2025 • Durée 01:21:03
Psychological safety is a crucial but often misunderstood concept in modern organizations. In this episode, Andrew and Mark take a deep dive into its origins, how it became a foundational principle of high-performing teams, and why "safe to challenge" can sometimes backfire if implemented poorly.
We explore the history, research, and practical applications of psychological safety, from its early roots in therapeutic psychology to Amy Edmondson’s groundbreaking research in the 1990s, to its popularization by Google’s Project Aristotle. Along the way, we discuss common misconceptions, the role of leadership, and how organizations can create a culture where people feel safe to challenge ideas without fear of repercussions.
In this episode, we talk about:
What is Psychological Safety? – A definition of psychological safety and why it matters for team performance.
The Origins of Psychological Safety – How early research by Carl Rogers, Edgar Schein, and Warren Bennis laid the groundwork for modern team dynamics.
Amy Edmondson’s Breakthrough – How her 1996 study of nursing teams revealed that psychologically safe teams report more mistakes—not because they make more, but because they feel safe admitting them.
Google’s Project Aristotle – How Google’s research found psychological safety to be the #1 factor in team success, and how it fits alongside dependability, clarity, meaning, and impact.
The Challenge with "Safe to Challenge" – Why focusing on challenging authority without first fostering psychological safety can create a toxic environment instead of a productive one.
Leadership’s Role in Psychological Safety – Why leaders must model fallibility, vulnerability, and openness to feedback to create a climate where others feel safe to speak up.
Avoiding Common Misconceptions – The pitfalls of treating psychological safety as a shield against performance expectations, a license to criticize without accountability, or a box to check off rather than a culture to build.
Practical Tips for Leaders & Teams – How to cultivate psychological safety in your workplace, from building familiarity and social bonds to creating low-risk "practice fields" for feedback and challenge.
Punks & Pitches - Teams Inside Venture Capital
Saison 3 · Épisode 5
lundi 16 décembre 2024 • Durée 01:01:45
In this Teamcraft episode, Andrew and Mark are joined by Laura Wilming, Head of Portfolio Talent at Octopus Ventures, to explore the dynamics of startup teams and venture capital.
From handing out samples at a supermarket during BrewDog’s early days to scaling Harry’s from a team of of only twelve people, we hear about Laura’s journey culminating in her insights from working across the portfolio of one of Europe’s largest venture capital firms. Laura shares her stories and insights about building teams, leadership and culture in these unique, high-growth companies.
Key Themes from the Episode: - How BrewDog’s “punk ethos” influenced its team dynamics and bold approach to brand building. Lessons from Harry’s rapid growth, prioritizing curiosity, humility, and execution while scaling a team. - Why psychological safety is essential and how to nurture it, even in high-pressure, fast-paced startups. - The importance of consistent hiring processes and aligning teams with company objectives. Laura explains how founders should spend 20-30% of their time hiring and focus on culture, not just filling roles. - How investors like Octopus Ventures evaluate and support startup teams to unlock their full potential.
Whether you’re a founder, investor, or team leader, this episode offers valuable insights into the craft of building high-performing startup teams, with lessons that are much more widely applicable in any team..
Chapters: 00:00 Punks, Pitches, and a Portfolio of Teams - Inside Venture Capital with Laura Wilming 07:34 Boozy Beers and Taxidermy 13:02 Harry's and rapid scaling 26:53 How startups can struggle with management 28:48 Going from building a product to building a team30:35 Common Ground in Founding Teams34:17 How do VCs look at founder teams and their teamcraft?36:42 Advice for early stage teams39:24 Support from Investors to founder teams41:18 The importance of a great hiring process45:41 How do you deal with a team that is 'just ok'?57:43 Quick Fires
Virtual Teams (Part 2) - Mars Missions and Meeting Rooms
Saison 3 · Épisode 4
jeudi 14 novembre 2024 • Durée 57:09
In this Teamcraft episode, continuing the earlier discussion in Part 1, Andrew and Mark dive deeper into the challenges and dynamics of virtual teams. They build on previous discussions, drawing from real-world examples, research insights, and their own experiences to explore the nuances of remote and hybrid team collaboration.
Exploring communication protocols, cultural differences, and the unique demands of virtual team leadership, they discuss practical tips for fostering connection and managing conflict in virtual settings. Drawing on examples from GitLab, Amazon, and their own experiences, Andrew and Mark provide valuable insights for anyone working in or managing a virtual team.
Key themes include the impact of time zones, communication protocols, cultural differences, leadership in virtual teams, and strategies for fostering a collaborative, inclusive virtual work environment.
Our top takeaways for Virtual Team success
Intentional Communication Protocols: Clear, consistent, and explicit communication is critical for avoiding misinterpretations and ensuring team cohesion.
Social Capital Building: Bonding within teams and bridging across the organization is crucial for team success and requires deliberate efforts.
Leadership Adaptation: Remote team leaders should focus on outcome-based performance management and foster trust.
Inclusivity and Adaptability: Leverage the potential of virtual teams to create a more inclusive work environment and adapt practices to suit the virtual format.
Chapters with Timestamps
00:43 Intro
06:45 Fischer & Mossier's 'Three Ts'
14:51 How Organisations can adapt to remote work
18:29 How conflict can develop in virtual teams
23:58 Etiquette for Virtual Teams
26:37 Leadership of Virtual Teams
28:22 Social Capital - Bonding Capital and Bridging Capital
30:25 The importance of relationships
32:24 Building your bank account of social capital
38:05 Top Takeaways
42:26 The power of asynchronous culture
43:46 Decide, Inform, Plan, Solve
Virtual Teams (Part 1) - From Smoke Signals to Video Calls
Saison 3 · Épisode 3
lundi 11 novembre 2024 • Durée 44:15
In this episode, Mark Ridley and Andrew Maclaren explore the evolution and challenges of virtual teams. Inspired by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s recent call for employees to return to the office, our hosts discuss what defines a virtual team, the importance of trust and shared context, and how physical environments impact team dynamics.
Historical examples, from Byzantine smoke signals to Apollo missions, illustrate that remote teamwork has been around longer than we may think. They also discuss what defines a virtual team, the importance of trust and shared context, and how physical environments impact team dynamics.
Topics include:
Andy Jassy's memo to Amazon employees
The definition and variations of virtual teams
Historical examples of remote coordination
Challenges in building trust and common ground remotely
The impact of shared environments on teamwork
Communication challenges and the importance of consistency
Coming Up in Part 2: Andrew and Mark will explore more on communication strategies, protocols, and actionable recommendations for enhancing virtual team collaboration.
Chapters
00:00 Virtual Teams Part 1
00:43 Intro
02:37 Andy Jassy's message to Amazon Staff
04:30 Executive Comms and the Return to Office message
07:47 Amazon Web Services & Stanford article on hybrid working
10:40 Defining a virtual team
21:43 The virtual team on Apollo 7
26:49 Trust in teams
34:22 Common Ground in teams
39:25 Rhythms of the environment
42:37 Next Episode
Thanks for listening!
Music by Tom Farrington
Social Loafing and the Ringelmann Effect
Saison 3 · Épisode 2
mercredi 18 septembre 2024 • Durée 01:03:27
In this episode, Mark and Andrew dig into the story of the Ringelmann Effect, a phenomenon first observed by French academic Max Ringelmann that suggests that individuals produce less output when they’re in a group.
They explore the historical context of Ringelmann's research and compare it with later research that coined the terms ‘social loafing’ and ‘the Sucker effect’.
Discussing studies by Ingham, Latane, and Kerr, and their own insights, Mark & Andrew uncover how individual effort can decrease in group settings due to factors like coordination loss, lack of motivation, and perceived fairness. Despite these challenges, the episode demonstrates how teams can still achieve outcomes that individuals never could, as long as there’s proper motivation and shared goals.
Chapters
00:00 Suckers, Social Loafing and the Ringelmann Effect
47:04 Positive and Negative pulls on team performance
48:49 The Role of Motivation in Team Dynamics
59:52 Concluding Thoughts on Teamwork
Team-Based Learning in Education
Saison 3 · Épisode 1
mercredi 4 septembre 2024 • Durée 01:06:35
In this episode, Mark and Andrew welcome the award winning Dr. Gemma Quinn, Associate Professor in Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Bradford.
Gemma discusses her pioneering work in implementing team-based learning (TBL) as a teaching strategy in pharmacy education. She explains the TBL structure, including the formation of diverse student teams, pre-work, readiness assurance tests, and application exercises.
Gemma goes on to highlights the positive outcomes of TBL, such as better exam performance and an incredible power to eliminate attainment gaps for groups of diverse students. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of developing non-technical skills and teamwork in preparing students for their professional roles in healthcare.
00:00 Teamcraft - Gemma Quinn and Team Based Learning
00:28 Introduction
01:31 What is team based learning?
06:57 What is the student experience of Team Based Learning?
12:04 How are teams selected?
16:01 Are there any negative characteristics that impact the performance of teams?
22:02 How do teams deal with lower contributions from team members?
24:17 Do team outcomes impact long term individual outcomes?
28:08 Research into personality types in space exploration
32:06 Non-technical skills in healthcare
36:19 The benefits of enduring teams
41:04 The real world skills that Team Based Learning teaches
48:26 Differences between GP and pharmacist approaches to uncertainty
56:10 The importance of out-group competitiveness on performance
59:03 How does TBL impact student outcomes?
01:01:14 How Team Based Learning can benefit neurodiverse students
The intricacies of language in teamwork - Chomsky, Pinker and friends
Saison 2 · Épisode 7
mardi 4 juin 2024 • Durée 51:16
In this episode, Andrew explores the intricate role language plays in effective teamwork. We delve into the evolutionary anthropology of language, debates in linguistics and a comparison of the works of Noam Chomsky and Steven Pinker, and the impact of communication protocols in high-stakes environments like aviation and deep space missions. We learn about the distinctions between language and communication, the significance of storytelling, common ground, and shared mental models in team dynamics.
This episode is packed with references - if you want to dig deeper, here’s some of the key works from people that were mentioned by Andrew:
Noam Chomsky
Syntactic Structures
Aspects of the Theory of Syntax
Steven Pinker
The Language Instinct
How the Mind Works
David Marquet
Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders
Paul Bloom
How Children Learn the Meanings of Words
Descartes' Baby: How the Science of Child Development Explains What Makes Us Human
Ray Jackendoff
Foundations of Language: Brain, Meaning, Grammar, Evolution
The Architecture of the Language Faculty
Michael Tomasello
The Cultural Origins of Human Cognition
A Natural History of Human Thinking
Elizabeth Stokoe
Talk: The Science of Conversation
H.L. Goodall Jr.
Why Communication Matters
Walter R. Fisher
Assembling and managing teams in law firms
Saison 2 · Épisode 6
mardi 14 mai 2024 • Durée 55:50
"The lawyer should be on tap, but never on top. It's got to be the client's issue. It's got to be their fight, and you should be there ready for the advice, ready for putting the case, whatever it is"
In this episode, Mark and Andrew welcome Hannah Blom-Cooper, a seasoned civil fraud lawyer and partner at Greenberg Traurig. Hannah provides a fascinating look into the world of litigation, the distinct roles of solicitors and barristers, and the intricacies of insolvency law. She shares her experiences in assembling legal teams under urgent conditions, navigating the heavy regulation in the legal profession, and balancing workloads within her team.
Hannah also delves into the challenges of managing vulnerability and uncertainty in law firms, emphasizing the importance of trust and effective communication. Memorably, she introduces her 'Third in line for the Conga' metaphor for leadership and her unique insights into team dynamics.
This episode captures the inner workings of legal teams and the skills required to thrive in a high-pressure environment.
Pass it on resources In this episode the following resources were mentioned, or recommended by Hannah:
00:30:56 Managing Vulnerability in Litigation Teams
Systems thinking in teams - socio-technical design and the Tavistock Institute
Saison 2 · Épisode 5
vendredi 19 avril 2024 • Durée 50:56
In this Teamcraft episode, Mark and Andrew talk about their fascination with the origins and evolution of the word "team", and how it came to indicate near-magical properties of cooperation when compared to other words like ‘group’, or perhaps, ‘committee’...
The journey starts with the discovery that there are some misattributions of the word team gaining its special meaning, but that it may well have been emergent in groundbreaking research by the Tavistock Institute in the 1950s and 1960s.
The episode uncovers the research carried out by Eric Trist, Ken Bamforth and a number of other Tavistock researchers’ into the newly nationalised British coal industry’s. The forced adoption of a new style of industrialised ‘longwall mining’ had profound long-term, social and psychological impact on miners and mining communities.
Mark and Andrew discuss how the Tavistock Institute discovered highly effective ‘composite’ teams working in a Yorkshire coal mine, and laid the foundations for the school of “socio-technical design”—a concept that integrates the technical and social aspects of workplace systems.
Chapters: 00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:24 - Historical insights on teamwork
00:02:18 - The Tavistock Institute and their research
00:04:34 - History of coal mining in Britain
00:07:17 - Industrial rivalry and mining dangers
00:09:37 - Nationalization and modernization of mines
00:11:20 - Explanation of British mining processes
00:17:26 - Introduction of Longwall Mining System
00:24:17 - Impact of Industrialized Mining on Workers
00:26:16 - Hierarchical Changes and Worker Morale
00:31:15 - Tavistock's Intervention in Mining Practices
00:36:26 - Discovery of Composite Teams
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This episode is packed with history, research, and actionable insights to help leaders and teams build a culture where challenge leads to innovation, not fear.
🔊 Listen now to learn how to create a workplace where people feel truly safe to challenge!
References:
Rogers, C. (1973). The Characteristics of a Helping Relationship, In Bennis, W.G., Berlew, D.E., Schein, D.H., Steele, F.I. (Eds), Interpersonal Dynamics (3rd Ed.), Dorsey: Illinois. 223-236.
Clark, T. (2020). The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety. Oakland: Berret-Koehler.
Edmondson, A.C. (1996). Learning from mistakes is easier said than done: Group and organizational influences on the detection and correction of human error. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 32(1), 5–28.
Edmondson, A.C. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative science quarterly, 44(2), 350-383.
Edmondson, A.C. (2012). Teaming: How Organizations Learn, Innovate, and Compete in the Knowledge Economy. New Jersey: Jossey-Bass.
Work Rules!: Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead by Laszlo Bock
Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone by Satya Nadella (Author), Greg Shaw (Author), Jill Tracie Nichols (Author)
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Music by Tom Farrington
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Music by Tom Farrington
49:23 British workplaces at pub o'clock
56:38 Outro
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Music by Tom Farrington
Research cited:
Latané, B., Williams, K., & Harkins, S. (1979). Many hands make light the work: The causes and consequences of social loafing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37(6), 822–832 https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1980-30335-001
Ingham, A. G., Levinger, G., Graves, J., & Peckham, V. (1974). The Ringelmann effect: Studies of group size and group performance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 10(4), 371–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1031(74)90033-X
Kerr, N. L. (1983). Motivation losses in small groups: A social dilemma analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45(4), 819–828. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.45.4.819
Ringelmann, M. Recherches Sur Les Moteurs Animés Travail De L’homme Par Max Ringelmann. Annales de l'Institut national agronomique : administration, enseignement et Institut national agronomique Paris-Grignon (1913) https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k54409695/f14.item.langEN
Steiner, I. D. (1972). Group process and productivity. Orlando, FL: Academic Press. https://archive.org/details/groupprocessprod0000stei
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Music by Tom Farrington
01:02:40 Quickfire Questions
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Human Communication as Narration: Toward a Philosophy of Reason, Value, and Action
Judith Orasanu
Key research papers on shared mental models and situational awareness in high-functioning teams.
Ute Fischer
Research on communication delay in deep space and high-stakes environments.
Kathleen Mossier
Studies on communication and teamwork in NASA and aviation contexts.
Francis Frei
Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader's Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You
Roger Martin
Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to protocol-driven communication
00:27 The role of language in teamwork
02:30 Language as a constitutive force in teams
03:17 Spoken vs. written communication
04:28 Debates in Linguistics: Chomsky vs. Pinker
10:21 The evolutionary story of language
12:43 Steven Pinker & Ray Jackendoff
19:08 The importance of linguistics, and the overstating of body language
22:42 The power of storytelling in communication
27:45 “Common ground” in team communication
29:03 Communication challenges in deep space
31:32 Shared mental models and team dynamics
32:38 Why explicit communication is necessary to build common ground
34:54 Turn the ship around
38:25 Common ground in entrepreneurship
42:02 “Drilling” to build common ground and shared mental models
44:57 Communication in Aviation
Thanks for listening!
Music by Tom Farrington
00:34:53 Team Communication Mechanisms
00:38:32 Balancing Task Work and Team Development
00:42:19 Hannah’s Role and Leadership Style
00:45:35 The Conga Metaphor in Leadership
00:47:17 Seeking Feedback and Team Dynamics
00:48:53 Deferential Behavior and Team Interactions
00:50:06 Anticipating Needs and Team Cohesion
00:50:32 Best Team Memory
00:54:17 Team Red Flags: Mood Hoovers
00:55:12 Conclusion
Thanks for listening!
Music by Tom Farrington
00:40:26 - Principles of Socio-technical Design
00:36:00 - Trist’s principles for a new paradigm of work
