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Titre
Date
Durée
Agile for business teams with Nebel Crowhurst
17 Oct 2024
00:42:17
Agile isn’t just for software teams – its principles can be effectively applied to HR and other business teams, offering a pragmatic approach to improving workflow and efficiency.
It goes beyond flexible working or nimble decision-making, representing a philosophy and set of principles for getting work done more effectively.
Nebel Crowhurst is the Chief People Officer at Reward Gateway, and has extensive experience in HR. She’s worked across a variety of industries, helping teams understand and transition to Agile.
Three reasons to listen
For a pragmatic approach to implementing Agile principles in HR and business teams
To discover how Agile can help teams prioritise work, reduce friction, and improve efficiency in meetings
To explore the benefits and potential challenges of applying Agile methodologies outside of traditional software development
Episode highlights
[00:08:46] Revisiting engagement surveys
[00:13:40] What Agile is and is not
[00:17:30] What Agile looks like in practice
[00:22:08] Handling Agile scepticism (including your own)
International assignments in business require careful preparation, adaptability, and a focus on making a positive impact rather than just “making your mark”.
Success in foreign assignments often comes from reinforcing and amplifying existing strengths within an organisation, rather than attempting to overhaul everything.
Kevin Asher is a leader, strategist, and innovator in healthcare. He’s worked primarily in the pharmaceutical industry, including medical communications, data generation, and patient group support. He’s a self-described problem-solver, and he joins Dan and Pia to discuss his recent assignment in Italy.
Three reasons to listen
To learn how to successfully navigate international assignments and make a positive impact
To understand the importance of effective communication and bridging gaps between global and local teams
For new approaches to add value quickly in new, challenging situations – even when facing language barriers or unfamiliar systems
Episode highlights
[00:09:10] Preparing to go on an assignment
[00:12:34] Making your mark
[00:14:36] Improving communication in a restructured team
[00:21:21] What Kevin would do differently
[00:23:07] Finding the right time to make a big decision
[00:25:15] Re-entry
[00:28:53] Kevin's advice for starting a new assignment
Boost team empathy & joy in the span of a lunch break with Mette Oscar Pedersen
30 May 2024
00:29:33
What can you bring into the workplace that can significantly strengthen team bonds, enhance individual self-expression, and contribute to a healthier work environment?
Mette Oscar Pedersen is a facilitator who’s worked with communities, companies, and other groups to bring joy and connection to their work.
In this episode, you’ll
Learn how to increase connection and empathy in the workplace
Understand the benefits of incorporating joy into your daily routine
Discover ways to enhance your relationships with colleagues
Episode highlights
[00:07:36] Breaking down the fear of moving in public
[00:14:25] Strengthening community
[00:19:38] Long-lasting benefits with your colleagues
Sports teams have been evaluating their effectiveness for a long time, with the singular goal of improving performance. This week, Dan and Pia are joined by former Australian rugby player Owen Finegan, to look at the way businesses and not-for-profits can use data in the same way sport has for decades.
Owen played and coached professional rugby for 16 years before moving into the non-profit world, where he now sits as CEO of the Kids' Cancer Project. He took his learnings about honest – sometimes even brutal – feedback from the rugby pitch, and has adapted it to the way he leads teams, encouraging analysis combined with honesty and constructive feedback rather than criticism.
For civil engineering General Manager Lucy Hovanec, purpose can breathe life into teams, and in order to lead, self-knowledge is crucial.
In this discussion, Lucy shares with Dan and Pia her toolkit for working with teams across cultural divides and around the world, to help them wake up excited to come to work:
Asking questions to make sure everyone is aligned on the task at hand
Assessing the climate of a team and creating conditions for success
Using the Example, Impact, Change model of delivering feedback
Lightning Clarity: Turbocharging Teams with Todd Schroeder
07 Oct 2021
00:44:47
Google iterates in 30-minute increments, which is part of why this massive company is able to innovate so quickly at scale. This involves making mistakes, but recovering and correcting quickly. The pace at Google is a far cry from the stereotypical image of people lying around on beanbags or playing foosball.
As Managing Director for Global Public Sector Strategy and Sales at Google, Todd Schroeder has to work across multiple teams who are serving markets at different stages along the maturity curve. This means the idea of clarity can change from a traditional sense of certainty into becoming clear that things are uncertain.
In the midst of a global pandemic, the job of leading multiple teams moved from knowing what to do, to finding out what to do.
Dan, Pia and Todd discuss the process a new Google employee (a "noogler") goes through to becoming a full-fledged Googler, and some of the challenges they face along the way.
Sales Teams, Listen Up: 3 Power Moves for Maximum Impact with Anna Britnor Guest
30 Sep 2021
00:45:23
This week, Dan and Pia are joined by Anna Britnor Guest, who has over 30 years of technology sales experience and who now works to develop and coach salespeople within the SaaS industry.
They talk about whether sales "teams" are really teams and not just groups of people, pivoting the mantra of "don't lose alone" to "don't learn alone", and maintaining a common language around the sales process.
Anna also shares three key things teams can do right now to work more effectively to meet the customers' needs, and to meet their own needs.
Psychological Safety: The Secret Weapon of High-Performing Teams with Dr. Jessica Tonissen
23 Sep 2021
00:48:56
This week, Pia and Dan discuss psychological safety with Dr Jessica Tonissen, leadership and wellbeing coach, Doctor of Psychology and Associate Director at InLightening in Melbourne.
Dr Tonissen dispels some of the myths and misunderstandings around the term, how psychological safety does not have to come at the expense of performance, and that there's a difference between safety and artificial harmony.
The conversation also touches on our ingrained fear of rejection, and how it stimulates our fight-or-flight response.
Teams Unleashed: Thriving in a Work-From-Anywhere World with Michelle Zimany
16 Sep 2021
00:35:59
Empathic leadership is what's needed in a globally-distributed workforce, and replacing water-cooler moments isn't as simple as organising more mandatory Zoom calls.
This week, Dan and Pia talk remote collaboration with Sydney-based Michelle Zimany, Human Resources leader for the pharmaceutical company Sanofi. They discuss the loss of spontaneity and serendipity in the age where people only meet on Zoom, and missing those moments to have a quick chat while getting a coffee.
Michelle shares some of the events she's running and participating in within her organisation, to help people feel more connected without a feeling of enforced fun. She, Pia and Dan discuss the change in attitudes to work attire, and how rigid corporate thinking has given way to understanding and tolerance, now that so many of us are sharing our homes virtually.
Teams: Why They Make or Break Everything with Rob Metcalfe
09 Sep 2021
00:41:55
Dan and Pia speak to Rob Metcalfe – a former commando now leadership consultant and team coach – about significant performance challenges, how groups of people need to work proactively together to solve them, and how important social capital can be in fostering team effectiveness.
The Truth About Teams: A Candid Talk with Dan Hammond & Pia Lee
13 Aug 2021
00:01:44
What makes a rockstar team? How can we work from anywhere? What part does connection play in today's world? Welcome to a brand new podcast, all about how humans connect and get stuff done together, presented by friends and colleagues Dan Hammond and Pia Lee.
Pia is the CEO of Squadify. She taught children and then wanted to find out what they did when they grew up, so became a leadership consultant.
After exploring engineering, Squadify Chief Product Officer Dan found analytical and people-focused joy in product management.
Subscribe now to hear new episodes of We Not Me, as soon as they're released.
Speaking up in meetings with Betina Szkudlarek
11 Apr 2024
00:41:59
People often don't speak up in meetings out of fear, a sense of futility, a lack of confidence, or because they just can't be bothered. But active participation and speaking up can significantly advance visibility and career prospects. So leaders and participants alike need to take responsibility for making meetings meaningful and encouraging open communication.
Betina Szkudlarek is a professor in International Management at the University of Sydney Business School. Betina has conducted extensive research on why people often do not voice their opinions and what can be done to encourage people to speak up. In this episode, she shares findings from her research, and offers practical steps for both leaders and participants to ensure everyone’s voice is heard…not just the loudest.
Three reasons to listen
Understand the common reasons why people often refrain from speaking up in meetings and how it impacts team dynamics
Learn strategies to encourage active participation and meaningful discussions in meetings
Discover the importance of restructuring meeting formats to facilitate better engagement and contribution from all attendees
Episode highlights
[00:08:13] What Betina found in her research
[00:12:09] Common reasons people don't speak up
[00:15:34] Administrative bloat
[00:17:52] Disengagement in meetings
[00:22:16] Making space for introverts
[00:25:53] What participants can do in meetings
[00:29:55] How family dynamics play out in meetings
Legislating for a safe workplace - can it work? with Ian Bennett
04 Apr 2024
00:40:50
How much responsibility do leaders have for the psychological safety of their teams? Aren’t psychological hazards an HR issue?
Recent changes in Australian law require employers to take steps to ensure not only the physical but also the psychological safety of their employees. This includes identifying and mitigating psychosocial hazards in the workplace, which can have a profound impact on employees' mental health. But what is “reasonable”?
This week's guest is Ian Bennett, a legal expert specialising in employment and safety law. He lends his expertise to discussions on workplace safety, specifically focusing on psychological safety and psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
Three reasons to listen
Understand new legislation that necessitates employers to ensure the physical and psychological safety of their employees, currently in place in Australia, but likely to spread
Learn about the implications of these laws for team leaders and what lessons can be drawn from this approach globally
Discover how to create healthy, productive workplaces where everyone still strives to do their best work
Episode highlights
[00:08:18] Expectations on employers to provide psychological safety
[00:13:40] How is new legislation being implemented?
[00:16:52] The Australian public's reaction
[00:20:29] What leaders should bear in mind
[00:24:57] What employees are entitled to
[00:27:06] Psychological safety in performance management
[00:30:15] The downsides of remote work and "always being on"
Imposter syndrome and its effect on teams with Clem Pickering
29 Mar 2024
00:40:30
Imposter syndrome is a common psychological pattern many of us experience. It makes us doubt our achievements, or feel like we’re going to be exposed as a fraud. Imposter syndrome is usually only experienced by high performers, but there are techniques and mindset shifts that can help us, if not “cure” imposter syndrome, then at least manage it.
Clem Pickering is a coach and specialist in the area of imposter syndrome. He has a background in tech, and focuses on supporting leaders in the tech space enhance their people skills and increase their impact. Dan and Pia share their personal experiences with imposter syndrome, and together with Clem explore its prevalence, discuss the impact it has in the workplace, and uncover ways to manage it.
Three reasons to listen
Learn the differences between imposter syndrome and self-doubt
Understand how imposter syndrome affects high-performing people and its prevalence across genders
Discover coping mechanisms and strategies for dealing with imposter syndrome
Episode highlights
[00:08:15] What is imposter syndrome?
[00:13:10] Imposter syndrome vs self-doubt
[00:16:00] Imposter syndrome and gender
[00:18:23] Settling your imposter
[00:22:39] Normalising imposter syndrome within teams
The state of working from home with Jose Maria Barrero
22 Mar 2024
00:40:06
The shift to working from home during the pandemic has significantly altered the way businesses operate, with many finding a balance between in-person and remote work. This change seems to be persisting even as lockdowns end, suggesting a long-term shift in our approach to work.
This week, Dan and Pia are joined by Jose Maria Barrero, an assistant professor at ITAM Business School in Mexico City. He leads one of the world's biggest research studies on working from home, and how businesses are reacting to the shift to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three reasons to listen
Learn about the evolution of working from home trends over time, as observed through extensive research.
Understand the dynamics and preferences of remote and hybrid work models from both the employee and employer perspectives.
Discover the impact and potential future of working from home on productivity and organisational structure.
Episode highlights
[00:07:18] Working from home in 2020
[00:12:23] Changes in expectation of paid work-from-home days
[00:14:31] Digging into productivity data
[00:18:40] The drivers for returning to the office
[00:21:03] The impact of working-from-home on real estate
Transitioning to a senior leadership role with Iain Gauld
15 Mar 2024
00:39:07
A successful transition to leadership calls for a significant shift in mindset. Not only do you need to enhance your existing skills, but also adopt new ones and let go of habits that may have earned you you success in the past.
A transitioning leader understands the importance of team dynamics, makes space for collaboration, evolves their leadership style, and embraces continuous learning.
This week, Dan and Pia are joined by Iain Gauld, the Chief Information Officer at Contact Energy in New Zealand. With a background in computer science, Iain started his career in tech with the intention of effecting change. Over time, he transitioned into team leadership and management roles, continuously learning and growing as he did so.
Three reasons to listen
To learn about the transformation process from a technical role to a leadership role in a team
To understand the dynamics of team building beyond technical skills
To discover how to apply principles of Agile approach to enhance leadership skills
Are you focusing on the right things? with Greg Radick and Tom McClelland
08 Mar 2024
00:46:01
Salience (or what we choose to focus our attention on) has a big impact on our perceptions and actions within a group. Understanding this can help us reconsider what we’re ignoring or overlooking, which can lead to more innovative and inclusive team dynamics.
This week, Dan and Pia are joined by Greg Radick and Tom McClelland, a professor and lecturer respectively, who study the history and philosophy of science. They discuss the concept of salience, which points to the ideas that grab our attention, and how salience impacts scientific enquiry and teams.
In their professional work, they examine how different elements become more salient or important within a community of inquirers, such as a scientific community or a team, shaping what problems are considered relevant and which ones are ignored. They also explore how these patterns of salience influence the directions of research and collaboration.
Three reasons to listen
To learn about the concept of salience and its impact on team performance and problem-solving
To understand how ignoring and attention shapes our professional and personal identities
To discover how the history and philosophy of science can influence our understanding of team dynamics
Episode highlights
[00:05:33] The history and philosophy of science
[00:07:13] What is salience
[00:14:16] Choosing what we ignore
[00:15:42] The importance of pointing in a different direction
[00:19:35] Identifying mavericks and outliers
[00:24:53] Greg's experiment to alter salience patterns
[00:31:09] Creating a more open mindset
[00:34:55] Social media, misinformation, and salience
Yes, Chef! Lessons from the professional kitchen with Simon Zatyrka
01 Mar 2024
00:37:37
Kitchens – like any professional environment – need effective leadership. This means staying calm, promoting clear communication, and creating a learning environment where team members feel valued and motivated. Professional kitchens run well are the epitome of the We Not Me philosophy.
This week, Dan and Pia are joined by Simon Zatyrka, a former executive chef who’s spent most of his career in professional kitchens around the US. He’s the founder of the Culinary Mechanic, where he coaches chefs on leadership and building a positive culture in the kitchen, offering a mix of on-site and virtual consulting.
Three reasons to listen
To understand the importance of team building and development in high-pressure environments
To learn about the dynamics and leadership strategies used in professional kitchens
To discover how to create a productive and positive culture within a team
Keeping the peace when taking on a new leadership role with Jon Barnes
23 Feb 2024
00:43:58
If you’re taking over as team leader, you need to have open and honest conversations about the change in dynamics. If you’ve previously enjoyed a friendly relationship and you’re transitioning from buddy to boss, or you’re filling someone else’s shoes, it’s time to show humility, honour the past, embrace an uncertain future, and accept feedback from your team.
This week, adaptive organisations consultant Jon Barnes rejoins the podcast. Jon helps organisations shift from rigid hierarchies or bureaucracies towards teams that manage themselves, promoting more autonomy. He’s a fan of working styles where individuals have more freedom but are also more accountable, and he focuses on helping groups collectively nurture the culture they want, together.
Three reasons to listen
Understand how to handle the "buddy to boss" transition by establishing a new social contract with your team
Explore ways to maintain mutual respect and equality in relationships, even when hierarchical structures are in place
Learn specific techniques for scheduling, giving and receiving feedback, in order to shape a constructive leadership style
Episode highlights
[00:07:42] The budy-to-boss problem
[00:18:38] The perils of bringing in an outside team whisperer
How to resolve workplace conflict with Tania Waters
16 Feb 2024
00:45:45
Workplace conflicts can arise from the most unexpected things, and can have severe consequences. When conflicts arise, they need to be addressed quickly, with opportunities created for open communication and understanding.
Through effective mediation and a curiosity-driven approach, conflicts between team members can be resolved, ruptures can be repaired, and positive outcomes can be achieved.
This week, Dan and Pia are joined by workplace mediation and conflict resolution consultant, Tania Waters. Tania has extensive experience in helping organisations address workplace conflicts and facilitating mediations between parties.
She provides conflict management coaching, and specialises in creating safe spaces for open dialogue, understanding the perspectives and impacts of each party involved, and guiding them towards finding common ground.
Three reasons to listen
Understand the impact of workplace conflict on teams and their members, from passive-aggressive behaviour to the threat of physical violence
Learn about the importance of timely conflict resolution and the negative consequences of letting things simmer for too long
Discover the role of curiosity in the mediation process and how it can help to break down walls and challenge simplified narratives
The engagement crisis and what to do about it with Juliet Owen
19 Sep 2024
00:37:55
Employee engagement is in crisis, with staggeringly low levels of engagement across the workforce, particularly among younger employees.
This lack of engagement is not only affecting workers' wellbeing, but also has significant economic impact, with an estimated $8.9 trillion lost annually in global GDP due to low engagement.
This week's guest is Juliet Owen, business analyst at Squadify. Juliet has a background in economics and works with a database of 2.5 million data points, analysing engagement and team dynamics.
Three reasons to listen
Discover alarming statistics about the current state of employee engagement, including how it has stalled and declined in recent years.
Learn about the significant financial impact of low engagement on global GDP and various business performance metrics.
Explore how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected leadership styles and workplace dynamics, leading to shifts in employee engagement.
Episode highlights
[00:08:48] What is an engagement survey?
[00:15:43] The desire for engagement vs its presence
The four key drivers of peak team performance in 2024 with Juliet Hammond
09 Feb 2024
00:36:00
Teams need to have a deep understanding of how to work together effectively. This means recognising the interdependencies among team members and working towards a common goal rather than operating individually.
Teams also need to actively seek opportunities to collaborate and share knowledge with others. This helps them tap into collective expertise, avoiding duplication of effort, and lets them leverage resources more efficiently.
Teams must also prioritise accountability and ensure they follow through on their promises. This builds trust and credibility, both internally and externally, and fosters a culture of excellence and drives sustained performance.
This week, Dan and Pia are joined by Juliet Hammond to comb through the latest Squadify data, to tease out how teams can perform better.
Three reasons to listen
Discover the key drivers of team performance based on Squadify's extensive data analysis.
Gain valuable insights into the importance of interdependency, proactive collaboration, and delivering against commitments for high-performing teams.
Explore how teams can take control of their performance by understanding how to work together effectively and fostering a psychologically safe environment.
Episode highlights
[00:06:40] What do we mean by "performance"?
[00:11:17] Overview of the latest Squadify findings
[00:19:41] Conditions for success in teams
[00:25:12] Implementing these conditions for success
How to get more from your team conversations with Chris Ertel
02 Feb 2024
00:52:22
Team conversations are more effective when there’s a safe space for open and honest communication. By creating an environment of trust, where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, teams can have more productive and meaningful discussions. Building trust and promoting vulnerability are key factors in improving the quality of team conversations, but we have to go beyond lip service and recognise when people are holding back and keeping their true thoughts hidden.
This week, Dan and Pia are joined by Chris Ertel, a strategic conversation designer and a thought leader in how teams work. He has over 27 years of experience as a strategy and innovation consultant. He specialises in facilitating creative problem-solving sessions for teams, and is part of Deloitte Greenhouse, a specialised unit that focuses on designing and delivering strategic conversations.
Three reasons to listen
Learn how to create an environment that encourages team members to share their true thoughts and feelings during conversations
Understand the importance of building trust within teams to facilitate open and honest communication
Hear about the challenges teams face, along with strategies to overcome them in order to have more effective conversations
Episode highlights
[00:07:26] Observing team dynamics
[00:09:34] The importance of humour
[00:11:56] Holding a space for vulnerability
[00:14:43] The fundamentals of trust
[00:21:27] What else is there but teams?
[00:26:43] The four elements of teams
[00:28:02] Team Alchemy
[00:33:49] We all need coaching
[00:36:46] Improving team clarity
[00:41:52] Getting clarity on how a decision is made
Harnessing the power of silence with Bastian Overgaard
26 Jan 2024
00:44:21
Silence can have a profound impact on our relationships and productivity. By incorporating moments of silence into our interactions and meetings, we can create a sense of focus, concentration, and psychological safety.
Silence allows us to truly listen to each-other, deepen our understanding, and foster meaningful connections. It’s a powerful tool that can enhance team dynamics and promote effective communication.
This week's guest is Bastian Overgaard, author of the book Noise Free, consultant and teacher with a passion for promoting and facilitating silence in social interactions. Bastian believes that silence can enhance relationships, promote mindfulness, and create psychological safety. He conducts workshops and team-building exercises to help individuals and teams harness the power of silence for improved communication and collaboration.
Three reasons to listen
Discover the surprising benefits of incorporating silence into team dynamics and communication.
Learn how intentional moments of silence can enhance relationships, foster creativity, and improve decision-making.
Explore different types of silence, including restorative, relational, and reflective, and how to apply them in various settings.
Episode highlights
[00:09:07] Discovering the power of silence
[00:19:48] The danger of meetings without silence
[00:23:55] Equal speaking time
[00:29:14] Where and when to add silence to your meetings
[00:33:29] Where silence is being deployed right now
The world needs healthier models of masculinity. By incorporating diverse perspectives and acknowledging the impact of sociological, biological, and personal factors, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and compassionate understanding of masculinity. This can have a profound impact on the way teams work together.
Richie Hardcore is well known for his contributions to promoting healthier models of masculinity. Richie has a personal journey of healing and unpacking childhood trauma, which has shaped his work in understanding and addressing issues related to masculinity. He works as a speaker, mentor, and advocate, focusing on topics like consent, sexual and domestic violence, and mental health. Richie incorporates his background in combat sports to engage hard-to-reach audiences and facilitate conversations on healthy masculinity. He aims to challenge societal norms and encourage inclusive and compassionate understandings of masculinity.
Three reasons to listen
To understand the sociological, biological, and personal factors that shape our understanding of gender roles
To work towards a more inclusive and compassionate understanding of masculinity for healthier relationships
To learn about the challenges and work being done to address issues like violence against women and girls, mental health, and social dynamics related to masculinity
Episode highlights
[00:10:08] Why are men more prone to violence?
[00:15:57] Male aggression in team settings
[00:20:53] A new model of masculinity
[00:24:56] Multicultural attitudes towards masculinity
[00:28:18] The online push towards toxic masculinity
How to clear an innovation roadblock with Tony Morgan
08 Dec 2023
00:39:04
Teams that embrace challenges and are open to new ideas can develop better solutions and achieve greater success. Innovation is an iterative process that needs resilience and the ability to adapt to change, and students are learning the role of teamwork within innovation today.
Tony Morgan is a professor at Leeds University Business School, within the engineering and physical sciences faculty. He leads a cluster of innovation practice modules where teams of students from different areas across the university work on real-world innovation challenges.
In his conversation with Dan and Pia, he sets out the importance of embracing change and turning problems into opportunities.
Three reasons to listen
To discover the importance of resilience and adaptability in the innovation process through real-world examples and practical techniques
To understand the role of teamwork and effective communication in driving successful innovation projects
To learn how to navigate and embrace change, turning obstacles into opportunities for growth and creativity
Episode highlights
[00:17:25] Dynamics within student innovation teams
[00:19:30] Bringing the introverts into the conversation
[00:26:30] Putting diverging and converging into practice
Contracts are so often focused on preparing for the worst, rather than setting up successful relationships. Effective contracts focus on establishing strong relationships, good communication, and problem-solving. Leading with these principles allows contracts to evolve from being blunt legal instruments to valuable tools for promoting collaboration and navigating uncertainties.
Sally Guyer is the global CEO of World CC and a professor at Durham University. She is passionate about improving the way contracts are structured and managed, focusing on creating successful relationships and driving desired outcomes. She believes that contracts should go beyond just addressing legal aspects and must provide a scaffolding for navigating uncertainty and fostering effective governance.
In her discussion with Dan and Pia, she advocates for a shift towards relational contracting and emphasises the importance of communication and an outcome-focused approach in contract management.
Three reasons to listen
To explore the importance of contracts in business and society, and how they can be improved to drive successful outcomes
To learn about relational contracting and the principles that support strong and effective relationships
To discover how contract management can contribute to the success of organisations
Toxic workplaces can have a devastating impact on individuals' mental health and wellbeing. Leaders need to create positive and supportive work environments where employees feel valued, heard, and safe.
Building trust, fostering open communication, and addressing any signs of toxicity quickly are key to preventing the harmful effects of a toxic workplace. Empathy and active engagement are key in understanding team members’ needs and concerns. By prioritising the wellbeing of employees, organisations can cultivate a healthier and more productive work environment for everyone.
Glenn Akramoff works on improving toxic workplaces in the public sector in the US. With a background in public works and experience as a city manager, Glenn is passionate about addressing toxic work environments and supporting individuals who are affected by them.
In his conversation with Dan and Pia, Glenn describes how he focuses on building trust and rapport with team members, earning their respect, and creating a positive work culture. Through his work, he aims to heal organisations by helping individuals heal, and fostering a healthier and more productive work environment.
Three reasons to listen
To learn about the impact of toxic workplaces on individuals and the wider organisation
To understand the factors that contribute to the development of a toxic workplace
For practical approaches to healing and transforming toxic workplaces
Episode highlights
[00:08:44] The impact of toxic workplaces
[00:13:12] Unwritten rules
[00:16:54] Getting permission to lead
[00:23:32] Glenn's roadmap for turning toxic teams around
Meet a psychologically safe, high-performing organisation with Lee Geary and Rebecca Pinkstone
17 Nov 2023
00:53:45
Creating a psychologically safe and high-performing organisation means focusing on both performance and wellbeing. Organisations need to foster a culture of learning and development, building strong leadership capabilities, and prioritising psychological safety at all levels. By balancing the delivery of services and outcomes with the support and wellbeing of staff, organisations can make a tangible difference in the lives of their clients while maintaining a positive and productive work environment.
Rebecca Pinkstone is the CEO of Bridge Housing, a community housing provider in Australia. With a background in community development and a passion for providing safe and affordable homes, Beck leads the organisation in its mission to make a tangible difference in people's lives.
Lee Geary is the Executive Director of People, Culture and Brand at Bridge. With a career focused on capacity building and organisational development, Lee is responsible for cultivating a psychologically safe and high-performing culture within the organisation.
Through learning and development initiatives, data-driven decision-making, and leadership development, Bridge ensures that its employees have the skills and support needed to deliver quality services to their residents.
Three reasons to listen
For a refresher on psychological safety and to learn about its place within high-performance teams
For practical insights and strategies for building a psychologically safe work environment
To hear real-life examples and experiences from Beck and Lee on their journey of creating a psychologically safe and high-performing organisation
Episode highlights
[00:02:01] Meeting Rebecca & Lee
[00:11:39] The challenges of social housing
[00:14:26] How Bridge maintains a high sense of wellbeing
[00:18:25] Getting buy-in and engagement from across the team
[00:22:46] Setting values and aligned behaviours
[00:28:32] Legislation around psychosocial hazards
[00:32:02] Challenger safety
[00:37:04] The management operating system
[00:43:54] Practical steps to implementing Bridge's principles
What non-technical teams can learn from developers with Felipe Tabares
10 Nov 2023
00:48:38
While there are plenty of stereotypes around software developers, the industry has innovated when it comes to teamwork and project management. Whether it’s methodologies like Agile or Lean, or simply recognising the competitive landscape employers are faced with, non-technical teams can learn a lot from how developers work together to get stuff done.
Felipe Tabares is the head of development at Squadify. He’s held various roles in innovation, engineering, project management, and people management, and teaches passionately from his own mistakes and learning experiences. In his discussion with Dan and Pia, he emphasises the need for teams to have a clear purpose, measurable goals, competent members, and a shared fate.
Three reasons to listen
To understand the challenges faced by development teams in a rapidly changing landscape
To learn about the importance of engagement and skill development in retaining talented developers
To discover strategies for fostering a culture of learning and knowledge sharing within teams
Episode highlights
[00:08:23] What makes development teams different
[00:16:01] How to move quickly in a fast-paced world of change
[00:21:46] Agile and Lean for non-development teams
[00:28:42] Developer to leader
[00:33:53] Creating a high-performing development team
How evolution affects groups of animals, including humans with Alex Thornton
03 Nov 2023
00:40:47
The study of animal behaviour and evolution can provide a surprising insight into our own human behaviour and societal structures. By observing and understanding how animals interact with one another, we can learn more about the factors that shape the way we live and work together.
Alex Thornton is a Professor of cognitive evolution at Exeter University in the UK. He conducts experiments on animals – particularly birds of the crow family – to understand how behaviour and intelligence evolve. In his discussion with Dan and Pia, Alex draws some fascinating parallels between human behaviour and that of other animals, including evidence of democracy and compassion.
Three reasons to listen
To explore the evolutionary aspects of animal intelligence and the role of social interactions in shaping behaviour
To dive into research on crows and their complex societies, providing potential insights into human social dynamics
For a discussion on the impact of social media on human thinking and behaviour in the context of global conflicts
It’s time for a new approach to teamwork: one that minimises distractions, reduces time-blocking communication, prioritises mental health, and promotes independent and efficient work.
This management style can lead to more productive teams, with fewer managers and more individual contributors, with everyone focused on their core competencies.
Liam Martin is the author of a bestselling book and the founder of a conference focused on remote working, which he believes is crucial for scaling organisations. He advocates for a new management style for remote teams, emphasising the importance of communicating effectively without unnecessary interaction.
Three reasons to listen
Explore asynchronous management and its potential to revolutionise remote work practices
Discover the challenges organisations face when implementing asynchronous management and how to overcome them
Learn about the importance of documentation and effective information sharing in scaling remote teams
Episode highlights
[00:11:55] What is asynchronous management?
[00:17:51] Where companies fail to implement asynchronous management
Autonomy: striking the right balance with Jon Barnes
27 Oct 2023
00:45:36
A workplace with autonomy isn’t a utopia where everyone does whatever they want. Autonomy is a journey towards balancing freedom and choice with responsibility and accountability. It needs leaders to facilitate and coaches, and means adopting tools and processes that enable self-regulation.
Jon Barnes is a consultant who has devoted most of his professional life to autonomy and self-managed teams. He helps organisations move towards self-management by coaching teams and working one-on-one with CEOs. For Jon, autonomy is about empowering teams and individuals to make decisions and take ownership of their work while fostering a culture of trust and collaboration.
Three reasons to listen
Gain insights into the concept of autonomy and what it truly means in a workplace setting.
Understand the myths and misconceptions surrounding autonomy and self-management.
Learn about different decision-making processes and their effectiveness in organizations.
Episode highlights
[00:10:57] What is autonomy, and what is it not?
[00:14:18] Who benefits from autonomy?
[00:16:16] What decision-making processes realy work?
[00:19:23] Challenges for autonomous team leaders
[00:22:44] Challenges for autonomous team members
[00:32:50] How our need for agency changes over time
[00:37:27] Getting started with creating an autonomous team
Putting differences aside to improve local democracy with Peter Macfadyen
19 Oct 2023
00:55:00
Local activism and community engagement can lead to significant changes in local politics, but such change doesn’t come easy. A paucity of community engagement, a serious lack of trust, the need for diversity – these and many other issues can become barriers to change.
But this week’s guest, Peter Macfadyen, has proven that with perseverance, open communication, and a clear vision for positive change, these challenges can be overcome to create a more effective, participatory and community-driven local government.
Three reasons to listen
To gain insights into the power of local activism and community engagement in driving political change.
To discover the significance of grassroots movements, citizen empowerment, and challenging traditional political structures.
To learn about the transformative potential of creating a more democratic and effective local governance system.
Episode highlights
[00:07:41] British attitudes to death
[00:13:58] The story of Flatpack Democracy
[00:27:12] Mistakes made early on in the transition
[00:31:19] Establishing a lasting change
[00:37:10] Finding hope amid political division
[00:43:43] Bringing people together
[00:48:57] Don't improve the system - build a new one
Psychological safety: how are teams doing? with Juliet Hammond
12 Oct 2023
00:35:02
Lots of teams are struggling when it comes to implementing psychological safety – particularly in areas like straight-talking, listening to each other, and challenger safety. Building psychological safety requires open and honest communication, a willingness to embrace conflict, and a shared understanding of how the team works together. Getting the right balance of healthy conflict and “just being nice” is core to building a safe team.
Joining Dan and Pia this week is Squadify business analyst Juliet Hammond, who breaks down the latest figures from Squadify’s data on team performance.
Three reasons to listen
To gain insights into the concept of psychological safety and how it impacts team performance.
To learn about the different levels of psychological safety and how they contribute to team dynamics.
To understand the importance of challenging and straight-talking within a psychologically safe team environment.
Episode highlights
[00:04:14] What is psychological safety?
[00:09:37] What Squadify measures
[00:11:37] What teams are recognising
[00:17:55] 44% of people experiencing stress
[00:22:12] A leader's role in fostering psychological safety
How LADBible became a force for inclusion with Ben Powell-Jones
05 Oct 2023
00:45:08
Working together as a team can help a brand successfully transition and mature. When we stand side-by-side with each-other, supporting each other's success and fostering a collaborative mindset, teams can achieve greater productivity and success.
Ben Powell-Jones is the former creative director of LADBible and the co-founder of Strong Watch Studio. He was involved in building LADBible's original content, coming from a TV career. He also spent time living in Japan, which had a significant cultural impact on his perspective on teamwork and collaboration.
Three reasons to listen
To discover how a cohesive and collaborative team can achieve more than individuals working solely for their own success.
To find out how a brand associated with schoolboy humour transitioned to one that promotes diversity and inclusion.
For a glimpse into the diverse range of stories and conversations Ben teased out, which provided inspiration and a fresh perspective on life for millions of viewers.
Episode highlights
[00:14:59] Extraordinary conversations
[00:28:31] Creating a difficult-conversation survival group
Season 6 review: with a little help from AI! with Dan Hammond and Pia Lee
28 Sep 2023
00:21:38
Embracing diversity, giving people autonomy, and working towards shared values with clarity – those are essential key ingredients for teams in 2023 and beyond.
Those are among the insights Dan, Pia and their guests uncovered in season 6 of We Not Me. In this, the first episode of season 6, Squadify’s founding team are here to discuss what they learned, and share a little of what we can expect from the next 12 weeks.
Disagreements can quickly escalate into a fight for survival, triggering a limbic response in the brain that can lead to destructive behaviour. But none of us has privileged access to the truth. We all have different perspectives, and so by engaging with the unpredictability and uncertainty of our environment, we can get to a more precise, accurate, and nuanced understanding.
To nurture a culture of healthy disagreement, we need to remember we don't know everything, and that assumptions can be challenged. This takes curiosity and a willingness to change our position and the position of others.
In this second and final part of Dan and Pia’s conversation with Matthew Bellringer, our guest explores ways we can start to disagree agreeably, by being clear about what we don't know, situating our perspective, and sharing why we think a certain way.
Takeaways from Dan and Pia
Considering other perspectives is essential for positive disagreement and progress, and bringing us further into the group, rather than risking the feeling of banishment.
Making assumptions harms our attention to detail and critical thinking. Truth is often complex, but we can tend to prioritise being right and looking for quick fixes.
If we feel threatened by a differing viewpoint, we can lose our ability to reason at a higher level, and can be compelled to make our point at all costs. We need to find ways to detach from emotions and try to understand our own responses.
Healthy debate should recognise the middle ground, and be able to see both sides. It’s a position of strength, not weakness.
What Simon Sinek could learn about irony in teams with Richard Claydon
10 Aug 2023
00:51:35
There are plenty of leadership “gurus” who can simplify complex topics. But how often do we consider the accuracy of their statements? Lots has been written about the purpose movement, but there’s another approach: embracing the absurdity of our current situations, and holding up a mirror to them.
Irony in teams can give us an interesting perspective on performance and management, and can be a vital bonding agent within teams. Dr Richard Claydon has done extensive research on organisational irony and its role in leadership. He teaches leadership programmes and has developed facilitation techniques to help people learn and develop leadership skills in a practical way. And he challenges some of the received wisdom of “gurus” many hold in high esteem.
Takeaways from Dan and Pia
Not all of us can find purpose in our work, so we seek it elsewhere. And trying too hard to find purpose in your work – and not following your own intrinsic purpose – can lead to difficulties.
Richard challenges some of the claims and statements Simon Sinek makes – from an academic’s point of view – but the fact that it resonates with so many people can’t be ignored.
When faced with absurdity – or with things being taken too seriously – the key is to face it with a wry smile. Just don’t take it to the point of sarcasm.
There can be comfort in finding people who share your ironic take on things.
Leadership can be dark – it’s not always plain sailing.
There comes a time when a startup moves to a scale-up, where small ideas take off and before you know it, you’ve got a hit on your hands. But with the highs come the responsibilities of leadership. In this episode, Dan shares his experience creating a successful music festival in his hometown of Ilkley, and offers valuable insights on how to make it work.
Defining your values as you grow
Dan and Pia discuss how Ilkley Live’s leadership is evolving, just as it does with any startup. The process looks like this:
Determine your purpose and values
Communicate them clearly to your team and stakeholders
Be open to feedback and make adjustments
Give people autonomy to take ownership
Stay invested in your values, even as the project grows
Losing sight of your core values puts the support of your team at risk, so while they don’t necessarily need to be on paper, they do need to be held.
Lessons in leadership from Fiji’s COVID response with Bernadette Welch
27 Jul 2023
00:42:56
W\hen you’re managing a crises, you need well-structured governance and communication framework in place. This will ensure all stakeholders are on the same page and working towards the same goal. Empowering team members with knowledge and delegating tasks is key. But we also need to be willing to take charge and get things sorted out when resources or support are needed.
This week’s guest is Bernadette Welch, a retired public servant with a long career in Australia and Fiji. She coordinated Fiji's initial COVID response and organised the largest international meeting the country had ever hosted. She’s been the CEO 6,000-person organisation, and Permanent Secretary for Civil Service and Health in Fiji.
Takeaways from Dan and Pia
Well-structured governance and communications frameworks are essential when dealing with complex projects.
When you’re clear about your purpose and setup a climate of safety, people find it easier to work together because they can see and identify the boundaries.
“The discipline of the process creates freedom of choice.” – Solid structures allow for autonomy within individuals.
While effective leaders take responsibility, it’s important to strike a balance between protecting your team from distractions, and removing some of their potential agency.
Diversity and inclusion: lessons from West Africa with Sahera Sumar
20 Jul 2023
00:36:03
Building a diverse and inclusive culture is a complex challenge, especially in a geographically and culturally diverse environment. It takes a common set of values and behaviours to be established across the organisation, as well as a focus on communication, respect, and empowerment.
But while diversity is invaluable, it doesn’t create equity and inclusion. Creating equity means addressing systemic issues and biases that may affect certain groups more than others. And support for people from less advantaged backgrounds needs to be in place to allow them to thrive.
Sahera Sumar is a leadership consultant who specialises in inclusive leadership and building inclusive cultures. She has worked in both the corporate and non-profit sectors and has a passion for understanding and unpacking leadership in different cultural contexts. She currently works with a steel company located in 10 different countries within Africa, where she focuses on diversity and inclusion and strengthening the leadership capacity of the organisation.
Takeaways from Dan and Pia
Rather than try and understand the myriad and minute differences between various cultures, stick to a simple code of conduct. “Instead of many rules, have one behaviour.”
Central to working with people from different backgrounds is appreciation and acceptance. These are two of Sahera’s five As.
Starting with shared values and behaviours can lead to a long-standing and collaborative team environment.
To bring specialists into teams with different skill sets takes good communication and a knowledge of the history of the team you’re integrating. Doing this well means everyone can point their skills at solving problems.
Ash Winter is an experienced software tester who has a particular interest in how teams and organisations work. Ash has been a software tester for over 15 years, and has experience as a consultant, helping organisations improve their testing processes.
In his role he’s seen a wide range of team structures and sizes, and he’s particularly focused on the challenges and opportunities of being a specialist within a team.
Three reasons to listen
Understand the unique challenges and opportunities of being a specialist in a cross-functional team
Explore the impact of team history and dynamics on integrating new specialists
Learn about the evolving role of software testers and their influence in modern development teams
Episode highlights
[00:09:14] Testing teams
[00:14:29] The problem with "embedding" into a team
[00:16:30] The Spotify model
[00:19:48] Communities of practice
[00:22:57] Agile methodologies with multidisciplinary teams
[00:28:05] The benefits of a coaching qualification
When building a community, shared silence can be golden with Matt Trinetti
13 Jul 2023
00:40:25
Creating a community around a shared interest or passion can lead to unexpected outcomes. Matt Trinetti followed the energy of an idea and provided a space for like-minded people to come together and form a community.
The London Writers’ Salon has grown and evolved over time, with daily writing sessions and weekly interviews with writers, and is now a profitable business formed from a simple idea at the start of the UK’s first covid lockdown.
Takeaways from Pia and Dan
Follow the energy in the conversations you’re having, as more often than not, they’ll lead you to more fruitful decisions.
Collaborating virtually or in person gives us a sense of moving forwards. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to hold space.
Matt’s inclusive vision exposes the falsehood that collaboration can and must only happen in the same physical space.
What will happen when AI joins your team? with Benjamin Dehant
06 Jul 2023
00:34:03
AI has the potential to revolutionise collaboration and teamwork, but it has limitations and potential biases we need to watch out for.
Benjamin Dehant is a specialist with experience using AI in collaboration and teamwork settings. He believes that in the future, every team member will have their own AI assistant that will help us work faster and more efficiently. But with those tools come limitations, and he raises the question of whether we want AI to do everything for us – and make decisions in our best interests – or if we want to maintain the value of doing things ourselves.
Takeaways from Dan and Pia
Governments may not be adequately prepared for the impact of AI. We need proactive governance and preparedness.
We need to make a conscious choice when implementing AI, taking into consideration the potential benefits and risks, and regulating it in a way that benefits society as a whole.
A general AI that knows everything about an organisation can provide valuable insights and data, joining dots together quicker than humans can. This could fuel more efficient and effective collaboration within teams.
We must remain in charge of desired outcomes and not delegate responsibility to AI, especially given the potential for inaccuracies in AI-generated data.
AI is a useful tool for enhancing human decision-making, but we need to remain vigilant and responsible in the process.
The ups and downs removing the hierarchy from a team with Tom McLaughlin
29 Jun 2023
00:51:03
Removing hierarchy and implementing self-management in an organisation can be challenging, but it can also lead to positive changes and benefits for businesses willing to take the leap.
Agency founder Tom McLaughlin felt he needed to let go of some control and delegate more as the company grew. He wanted to remove the hierarchy and power dynamics in the organisation, so worked with an expert in the field of self-management, and set about restructuring his company.
Leaders who put a shell around themselves and are not open to feedback may be immune from criticism, but being open to feedback invites scrutiny and improves the system.
The ultimate accountability for the business falls on the person responsible for the last penny in the bank, and it takes a team of trustworthy individuals to manage tough decisions together.
There's a difference between a role and hierarchical power, so instead of shying away from leadership roles, team members can take ownership and accountability for decisions while still valuing everyone's input.
Team members have the potential to see career opportunities differently in a flat organisation and value the freedom to explore and challenge themselves.
What your team can learn from neurodiversity with Matthew Bellringer
22 Jun 2023
00:37:04
Embracing neurodiversity can bring valuable perspectives, innovation, and organisational endurance to teams. By recognising the strengths that come with neurodivergent conditions, individuals and teams can benefit from a plurality of perspectives and explore new ways of thinking and working together.
Matthew Bellringer is a consultant, practitioner, speaker, and author who focuses on systems engineering, human systems, and ecosystems. They have a background in tech engineering but have always been interested in people more than technology. Matthew has ADHD and an adulthood autism diagnoses, and is a strong advocate for neurodiversity within teams. They are the chair of Neurodiverse IT, a group for neurodivergent IT professionals, and run their own community called Curious Being.
Takeaways from Dan and Pia
Team leaders must consider not only the individual benefits of diversity and inclusion, but also the significance of having diverse views within organisations. Organisations need to be adaptable and able to change and move with the times, rather than being brittle.
Time constraints can prevent meaningful conversations around neurodivergence from happening. By giving ourselves more time and space, more innovative ideas can be co-created. But in order to achieve this, we need to let go of our egos and be open to different viewpoints.
We can build a new team view from diverse perspectives in order to “go our own way together”. It's not just about having different opinions all the time; it's about using these perspectives to come to a better path as a team.
There may be those who, when under pressure, feel that the last thing they need is a “difficult person” coming up with alternative viewpoints. But those voices must be heard and engaged with.
We can also take the opportunity, and the time, to delve deeper into the assumptions underlying viewpoints, as it’s often at this level where we can resolve issues.
Teams need to prioritise creating and maintaining clarity, especially during times of disruption and uncertainty. While purpose and shared goals have held steady in Squadify’s latest Team Tracker data, the importance and presence of more granular aspects like a clear plan and measures of success have dropped, creating a significant clarity gap.
Juliet Hammond joins Dan and Pia to discuss how teams need to focus on defining short-term priorities, experimenting, and reflecting in order to stay aligned and effective in a rapidly changing environment.
Takeaways from Dan and Pia
Teams can create a holistic map for their outcomes, by setting a clear purpose and strategy, along with interdependency and prioritisation choices.
By creating a shared purpose, organisation can bring their teams together and avoid burdening senior leaders with the responsibility of coordinating everything.
Most teams are merely groups of people, rather than coordinated units.
Flexibility is important when setting goals, and while clarity is key, goals should be held lightly and be subject to change while still ensuring that everyone knows what they’re working towards.
Being overwhelmed by ambiguity and finding it difficult to land on a goal is a natural human reaction. But it's important to seek clarity by focusing on what is undeniable and to make micro adjustments to avoid sailing down the wrong route for too long.
Disaster relief, community engagement and being an asset not a liability with Gaz Breen
08 Jun 2023
00:45:37
In times of crisis, community collaboration can be a powerful force for relief efforts.
Gaz Breen's coordinated efforts during the 2022 Burringbar floods demonstrated the importance of identifying our strengths and assets to contribute to a larger effort. Pia witnessed the recovery efforts that Gaz organised, and in their conversation, they discussed the significance of being an asset rather than a liability when facing difficult situations.
Takeaways from Dan and Pia
In a disaster, every team member's contribution is essential. By recognising and utilising individual strengths, the team can work together more effectively to achieve their goals.
It's essential to ruthlessly exclude anything that doesn't help, and prioritise effectively. By doing this, individual strengths can be recognised and utilised, allowing the team to work together more effectively towards.
All team members have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to match their own skills to the wider needs of the team.
If your higher intent is clear, what some might call disobedience, others would call innovation.
Diverse teams need integration and synergy, not simply combining different people together.
Turning a group into a team – Season 5 review with Dan Hammond and Pia Lee
01 Jun 2023
00:21:25
With the challenges of hybrid working and resource constraints, team leaders need to create a shared vision and a set of meaningful goals. By putting the team at the centre and leveraging the interdependencies between members, organisations can achieve greater improvements in performance and outcomes.
In this first episode of the season 6, Dan and Pia look back on highlights from season 5, and what these conversations can teach us about collaboration.