Explore every episode of the podcast The High Five!
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 47 - Leading quiet remote teams | 26 Jun 2025 | 00:36:31 | |
It’s been a month! We hit pause to reassess Same Team’s direction—and we’re feeling good about the shift. In this episode, we unpack why we made that move and what’s been on our minds: AI, project management, burnout, and how remote teams really communicate. The Review Inspired by Brett’s article, When Silence Isn’t a Red Flag: Leading Quiet Remote Teams, we unpack why quiet doesn’t always mean disengaged. Brett shares his own experience leading a remote team where silence was just part of the culture. We explore how to spot the difference between healthy quiet and emotional withdrawal, how your communication style shapes remote teams, and how leaders can create safety and connection, especially for quieter folks. And don’t stop there—check out everything else we’ve published on Same Page this past month!
The Ask Buy our new 1:1 playbook and immediately improve your leadership! https://sameteampartners.com/1-on-1-playbook/ The Hit List Check out the full list on our website: https://sameteampartners.com/thehighfive/episode-47-leading-quiet-remote-teams The High Five This month’s high five goes to… us. For taking a step back, reading the room, and having the wisdom (and courage) to take a new path. Sometimes the best move is knowing when to make one. | |||
| Episode 46 - Enough with the user manuals | 15 May 2025 | 00:23:02 | |
It started with a text on a day off and turned into a whole conversation about burnout, boundaries, and why everyone seems one notification away from snapping. This week, Brett and Greg dig into the limits of "mental load," share a few real-world stress responses, and then turn their attention to a new workplace trend that's doing more harm than good: personal user manuals. If your onboarding doc reads like a dating profile, we’ve got some thoughts. The Huddle The 1:1 Playbook is live! We finally launched the thing—and it's better than we imagined. It’s our most complete guide yet for making 1:1s less awkward and more impactful. The Review Greg’s latest opinion column, Enough with the personal user manuals, critiques the growing trend of workplace "user guides." Sure, they’re well-intentioned. But when they replace actual conversation, they can short-circuit trust, reinforce power dynamics, and turn human connection into a checklist. This week, we unpack:
The Ask Buy our new 1:1 playbook and immediately improve your leadership! Seriously—if you run 1:1s, this is the manual you wish you had. The Hit List What we’re reading, writing, watching, and listening to this week: Listening: The Logical Song (cover by The Greystones) — A bunch of talented kids bring fresh magic to this Supertramp classic. Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves — Grammy gold, and the emotional balm we needed this week. Watching: My Darling Clementine — Greg went full Criterion cowboy and he’s not wrong. A slow burn that hits. The Long Way Round — Ewan McGregor + motorcycles + aging adventure = Brett’s current comfort TV. Reading: Abundance by Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson — Smart, hopeful, grounded. This one’s sneaky good. Writing: Project management is a leadership role. Start acting like it. The Deep Cut 003: Adventure on The High Five This week’s high five goes to: the sweet, sweet thrill of launching a digital product. We made a thing. We put a price on it. We hit publish. That’s worth celebrating. | |||
| Episode 37 - The middle management trap: why it’s failing and how to fix it | 06 Mar 2025 | 00:22:09 | |
The Huddle What’s top of mind for us this week? Rebuilding. Between career shifts, layoffs, and leadership changes, Greg wrote about the importance of rebuilding professional connections, and Brett reconnected with an old colleague through Chicago Camps’ Tent Talk—proving that sometimes, the right conversations happen at the right time. The Review: This Week’s Topic The middle management trap: why it’s failing and how to fix it Middle management used to be the stepping stone to leadership. Now? It’s a high-stress, low-reward role that no one wants. Companies are piling impossible expectations onto managers while stripping away the resources and training they need to succeed. We break down three key questions:
We also published two new Teamangle articles this week:
The Ask We’re launching our Same Team Partners newsletter—subscribe now at sameteampartners.com/subscribe. Our first issue drops on Tuesday! The Hit List Reading:
Writing:
Watching:
Listening:
The High Five This week’s high five goes to Kris Fulton, who has been a game-changer in helping us refine our marketing strategy. We’re makers, not marketers—but she is showing us the way. Huge high-five for the impact Kris has already made! Thank you! | |||
| Episode 36: There is no ‘AI’ in team—Why leaders shouldn’t panic about job takeover | 27 Feb 2025 | 00:18:22 | |
The Review: This Week’s Topic There is no ‘AI’ in team: Why leaders shouldn’t panic about job takeover You’ve seen the headlines: “AI is coming for your job.” But is it, though? We dive into Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s recent comments on AI’s actual impact—and why it’s still far from replacing human teams. AI may be great at crunching data, but it still struggles with judgment, creativity, emotional intelligence, and, you know, basic context. We break down three key questions:
Also, fun fact: We have a There Is No AI in Team T-shirt. Because why not? We also published two Teamangle articles (...from our forthcoming book):
The Ask We’ve got two events for you:
The Hit List What we’re reading, listening to, and watching this week: Reading:
Listening: Watching: The High Five This week’s high five goes to The Huddle and Power Play. We’re launching a new playbook and two events to help leaders improve their 1:1s. It feels great to get this out into the world—high five to that! | |||
| Episode 35 - Resilience and leadership | 21 Feb 2025 | 00:19:51 | |
In this conversation, we discuss the concept of resilience in leadership, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics over individual endurance. We explore the challenges leaders face in maintaining resilience, the pitfalls of the hero mindset, and strategies for fostering collective resilience within teams. The Huddle We're busy making more!
The Review We dig into Brett's recent Same Page post, Resilience is not enough: leadership in 2025 requires more. This conversation explores how leaders can foster collective resilience by shifting away from the hero mindset and embracing shared responsibility. Key topics include:
We also published two new Teamangle articles this week:
The Ask Our first shipment of Teamangle Conversation Cards is out in the wild. Grab your deck today! The Hit List Brett:
Greg: The High Five! High five to resilience for keeping us moving, keeping us connected, and reminding us that we’re stronger together! | |||
| Episode 34 - Introducing the Teamangle Conversation Cards | 14 Feb 2025 | 00:24:19 | |
The moment we’ve been waiting for is finally here—Teamangle Conversation Cards are officially live! We dive into the origin story of the cards, why they’re a game-changer for team discussions, and how they help leaders facilitate conversations that actually matter. The Huddle Big things happening this week:
The Review The Teamangle Conversation Cards nare live and we are so excited to share them with you! In this conversation, we break down:
Bonus: We reveal our favorite cards and why they matter. Plus, we published two new Teamangle articles this week:
The Ask Grab your Teamangle Conversation Cards! Try them in your next meeting, use them in your one-on-ones, or set aside time to explore just one or two questions with your team. The Hit List Brett:
Greg:
The High Five We did it—the Teamangle Conversation Cards are officially launched! Also, we’ve got fresh Same Team hats and tees in the store—so grab some swag while you’re at it! | |||
| Episode 33 - The future of project management | 07 Feb 2025 | 00:25:16 | |
This episode dives into the biggest shake-up in project management in years—the PMI and Agile Alliance merger—and why digital project management (DPM) might be the missing piece in this new landscape. But not before Brett relives the glory days of the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, hoping for a win this weekend at Super Bowl LIX. The Huddle We’re hitting the road—join us in person for some hands-on learning!
The Review The recent merger between PMI and the Agile Alliance marks a pivotal moment for the project management industry, bringing together two historically opposing methodologies under one roof. This moment presents an opportunity for DPM to take its rightful place at the table—bridging the gap between Agile’s flexibility and PMI’s structured approach to create a more effective, people-first approach to project leadership. We explore:
We also published two new Teamangle articles this week:
The Ask Want to hear more about fixing dysfunctional teams? Check out our Digital Project Management podcast episode with Galen Low: How To Identify & Fix Project Team Dysfunction Using Teamangle. Let’s make project teams stronger—one conversation at a time! The Hit List Brett:
Greg:
The High Five We sent our first proposal of the year! Get in touch if you want to work with Same Team! | |||
| Episode 32 - Leadership and transformation | 31 Jan 2025 | 00:27:59 | |
This week on The High Five, we dive into the PMI and Agile Alliance merger, and share a bit about our involvement in the upcoming Agile 2025 conference—Brett will be curating a track, and Greg will be speaking. This week's conversation centers around Greg's Same Page article, Only Teams Can Drive Real Transformation, where we break down why so many top-down transformations fail and why real change has to start at the team level. We also tackle some big questions: How can you tell when a transformation effort is doomed? What actually makes change stick? And how can organizations better equip team leaders for success? If you’ve ever been stuck in a never-ending “transformation” initiative, this one’s for you. The Review We break down Greg’s article, Only Teams Can Drive Real Transformation, which explores why top-down change efforts fail and why true transformation must start at the team level. We discuss the biggest pitfalls in transformation initiatives and what organizations can do to better support team leaders in driving real change. Plus, this week's Teamangle topics:
The Ask Follow us on Linkedin. Engage with us on Linkedin! We'll be posting more video and content updates, and we value your feedback, hot takes, likes, or whatever you want to contribute. The Hit List Brett:
Greg:
The High Five We're wrapping up work on our second playbook, which is all about conducting valuable one-on-one meetings. We can't wait til you get it! | |||
| Episode 31 - Toxic tech bros and one-on-ones | 24 Jan 2025 | 00:27:45 | |
While recapping his whirlwind day as a tourist in Dubai—where he presented Teamangle at the Dubai International Project Management Forum—Brett reflects on the value of meaningful connections. This ties into a critique of Airbnb’s CEO dismissing one-on-one meetings as a waste of time and comparing listening to employees to playing therapist—a mindset Brett sees as toxic bro culture masking as innovation. The discussion highlights the value of one-on-ones, the harm of toxic leadership rhetoric, and how leaders can create inclusive workplaces by fostering trust, empathy, and psychological safety. Balancing ambitious goals with supportive environments is key to better leadership. The Review This week, we discuss Brett's Same Page article, Avoiding one-on-ones? That’s not leadership, that’s toxicity and the themes of the article surrounding the need for one-on-one meetings and how toxic bro culture has no place at work, no matter the industry. Plus, this week's Teamangle topics:
The Ask We want to hear from our listeners! What's on your mind? What topics resonate for you? Drop us a note at highfive@sameteampartners.com. We'd love to connect and hear what's top-of-mind for you. Who knows, maybe we'll bring it up on the show! The Hit List Brett:
Greg:
The High Five Believe it or not, the Teamangle Conversation Cards are shipping! Check out our shop next week to grab yours. And maybe grab a t-shirt too! | |||
| Episode 30 - Teams are still struggling with energy, purpose, and morale | 09 Jan 2025 | 00:18:21 | |
This week, we’re diving into Greg’s latest article: Teams are still struggling with energy, purpose, and morale: Here’s how to help. If your team’s feeling the strain lately, you’re not alone—and we’re unpacking why it’s happening and what leaders can actually do about it. We also break down some hard truths about today’s workplace climate: Plus, we dig into a Teamangle hot topic: Why knowing when a task is truly ‘done’ can boost team satisfaction. Turns out, clear definitions of completion = happier, more efficient teams. And speaking of global insights—Brett’s heading to Dubai for the DIPMF Conference to talk all things Teamangle! Big shoutout to our listeners tuning in from around the world—hello out there! 🌍 It’s a packed episode full of insights, real talk, and global adventures. Don’t miss it! The Review This week we talk about today's workplace climate, and how some leaders may be struggling to motivate teams. Greg reviews advice for how leaders can help teams and themselves in his article, Teams are still struggling with energy, purpose, and morale: Here's how to help. Plus, this week's Teamangle topics:
The Ask Join our next Teamangle webinar on January 23 at noon ET. Register now! The Hit List Brett:
Greg:
The High Five This week, we're high-fiving the kick-off to a great year and our Replay and Reset activity, which we've received great feedback on. Check it out and get your year off on the right foot. | |||
| Episode 29 - Replay and Reset | 19 Dec 2024 | 00:20:00 | |
In this festive holiday edition of The High Five, we explore the Replay and Reset activity—a reflection and action-planning tool designed to help individuals and teams set clear, actionable goals for 2025. With the end of the year fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and reset for the year ahead. We’ll discuss why this framework is effective, share our personal experiences, and offer practical tips for integrating it into your team’s end-of-year planning. As a quick note, we’re taking next week off to enjoy the holidays, but we’ll be back in the new year with fresh ideas and insights to help you kick off 2025 on the right foot. So, grab some eggnog (or your festive beverage of choice), settle in, and let's dive into this year-end tradition together! The Review Replay and Reset — Reflect, refocus, and recharge for 2025 isn't just another blog article! It's an activity designed to help you start your year with focus. We talk about how we've used the exercise and maybe we should do this quarterly. The Ask Have a happy holiday. Reach out to us in the new year to learn more about what we’re working on or to work with us. We are ready! Also, we have a webinar on January 23 at noon ET. Register now. The Hit List Greg:
Brett:
The High Five This week's high five is for breaks! Rest. Relaxation. Resetting. We hope you get some downtime over the holidays. We'll see you in 2025. Thanks so much for being a part of Same Team. | |||
| Episode 28 - 2024's business failures and lessons | 12 Dec 2024 | 00:17:11 | |
This episode builds on Brett’s blog about leadership’s tough lessons from 2024’s failures. We’re tacking on our thoughts to the article and putting our “lessons learned” spin on things. We break down what went wrong in 2024 and how leaders can turn failure into growth. We also preview our upcoming free Teamangle webinar on January 23, share this week’s Teamangle articles, and dive into actionable ways to make 2025 your team’s best year yet. The Review This week, we reflect on failure stories and the key lessons they offer, inspired by Brett’s blog post, Turning 2024’s business failures into lessons learned. Key takeaways include:
We also recap two new Teamangle articles:
The Ask Follow us on TikTok for Brett’s snarky leadership tips, guaranteed to make you laugh and rethink how you lead your team. The Hit List Brett’s Picks
Greg’s Picks
The High Five This week’s high-five goes to our webinar attendees who helped make it a success! Thanks for your enthusiasm and commitment to building better teams. Join us for a repeat performance on January 23 at noon ET. | |||
| Episode 45 - When vulnerability backfires | 08 May 2025 | 00:26:04 | |
This week, we’re talking about vulnerability at work—when it builds trust, and when it just gets awkward. From Foo Fighters to Figma to Greg’s latest Same Page column, we dig into reinvention, recognition, and the fine art of not oversharing. The Huddle Brett’s launching DPM Summer School Greg’s geeking out in Figma and following the latest product drops from Config The Review We all want to work on teams where people can be real—but sometimes vulnerability lands wrong and creates distance instead of connection. This week, we unpack how to spot the line between honesty and oversharing, what leaders can do when the energy shifts, and why timing, tone, and trust make all the difference. Also on Same Page this week:
The Ask Are you in survival mode or living your best life? If you had to rate yourself from 1 (barely making it) to 10 (living the dream), where are you today? Write to us: highfive@sameteampartners.com — we’re listening. The Hit List What we’re reading, writing, watching, and listening to this week: Listening:
Writing:
Watching: Reading:
The High Five The next playbook is in the works. Stay tuned for the drop! | |||
| Episode 27 - Leadership’s legacy problem—and how to solve it | 05 Dec 2024 | 00:18:24 | |
This episode explores the staggering statistics behind leadership mediocrity and discusses why so many managers fall short. We dive into actionable ways to align team goals, share a real story about the power of Teamangle Conversation Cards, and preview our upcoming free Teamangle webinar on December 12. Plus, we sprinkle some lighthearted banter about gym zombies and Brett’s Spotify Wrapped. The Review We discuss Greg's post, Leadership’s legacy problem—and how to solve it, and unpack why 82% of managers struggle with leadership and discuss ways to address the legacy of poor leadership. From aligning team goals to creating accountability frameworks, we highlight how leaders can improve. Plus, we share a real-life example of how Teamangle Conversation Cards helped a team overcome misalignment and foster productive conversations. We also published two Teamangle articles this week:
The Ask If you’ve enjoyed the podcast, join us for our free Teamangle webinar on December 12 at noon ET. Here’s how you can help:
Let’s make 2025 your team’s best year yet! The Hit List Brett’s Picks:
Greg’s Picks:
The High Five This week’s high-five goes to our growing audience! Thanks to all who are signing up for the webinar, joining our email list, and connecting with us on LinkedIn. Your support keeps us inspired and excited to bring you even more great content! | |||
| Episode 26 - A very special Thanksgiving episode. | 27 Nov 2024 | 00:13:13 | |
From Thanksgiving vibes to the memories that make us smile, we’re diving into the holiday vibes, exploring how you can turn your family gathering into a fun team-building experience. team-building experience. Plus, we’re launching our free Thanksgiving Conversation Cards game—perfect for family bonding and keeping the peace at the dinner table. Oh, and we’ll be TikToking all about them this weekend, so stay tuned! Get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even download something your family will actually enjoy this year. The Review Here’s what’s on the table: Turning Thanksgiving into a fun family-building experience
The Ask Do us a favor—share our Thanksgiving Cards far and wide! Seriously, let everyone know. Put it on your Facebook, and don’t worry when your Aunt Sheila can’t find the download button. Just tell her to email us. The Hit List Brett:
Greg:
The High Five This week, we’re high-fiving gratitude. The best teams—and families—offer gratitude to one another. It feels good, strengthens relationships, and builds trust. So this Thanksgiving, take a moment to say thanks. You’ll be surprised how far it goes. Happy Thanksgiving from Same Team Partners! 🦃 🍷 🥧 | |||
| Episode 25 - Bursty communication, team feedback, and making remote work work | 21 Nov 2024 | 00:18:27 | |
In this episode of The High Five, Greg dives into his new project, Unseen, exploring the growing issue of loneliness and how it affects us all. Meanwhile, Brett reacts to a thought-provoking Behavioral Scientist article on "bursty communication," sparking a lively discussion on remote work, collaboration rhythms, and why the “watercooler” metaphor needs a reboot. Plus, a look into this week’s Teamangle posts and exciting updates about the first-ever Teamangle webinar! The Review Here’s what we covered this week:
The Ask We’re hosting our first-ever Teamangle webinar on December 12 at noon ET! Join us to learn about aligning, adapting, and achieving with your team. Register now! The Hit List Brett
Greg
The High Five This week’s high-five goes to us—for sending out email campaigns about Teamangle to all our contacts. It felt a little weird, but hey, this is business. Hate the game, not the player! | |||
| Episode 24 - When icebreakers attack | 14 Nov 2024 | 00:21:50 | |
This week’s episode is full of fun stories, big updates, and practical tips for improving communication for your team. We cover everything from fiery mishaps to the wild world of icebreakers, all while diving into how brevity's power can change how teams communicate. The Review This week, we dive into the power of concise communication and why “less is more” can make all the difference. Key points include:
This week, we published and are talking about:
The Ask Download our first playbook, Your Team Work, Reimagined. This guide introduces the Teamangle framework for diagnosing and enhancing team alignment in communication, collaboration, and culture. It’s packed with insights and a self-assessment tool to help leaders unlock their team’s full potential. Download, read, and share it! The Hit List Brett
Greg
The High Five High five to Rhythm—we’re finally in sync, hitting our stride, and it feels great. Here’s to finding your rhythm and making it work! | |||
| Episode 23 - Why hybrid work isn’t revolutionary—it’s just common sense | 07 Nov 2024 | 00:24:43 | |
This week’s episode is packed with insights, updates, and reflections on hybrid work, our Teamangle content strategy, and more. We start with Brett’s story of waiting 3.5 hours in line to vote, giving him plenty of time to fill out our Election Day Burrito Bingo card, a fun project we pulled together Monday night. The Review This week’s topic focuses on the practicalities of hybrid work and why it shouldn’t be considered revolutionary—it’s just common sense. Brett shares his thoughts on a recent HBR article about Trip.com’s A/B testing of hybrid work, questioning the ethics and practicality of treating work modes as experiments. The conversation also reflects on previous experiences with hybrid work, where flexibility was embraced long before today’s technology made it even easier. This week, we published and are talking about:
The Ask We need your help spreading the word about Teamangle! If you know people who could benefit from Teamangle or have connections in the podcast world, reach out. We’d love the chance to talk about our insights and impact on other platforms. The Hit List
The High Five High fives all around this week for Teamangle! The platform is solid, our offerings are ready, and we’ve got our game faces on. Here’s to an exciting launch and helping teams achieve their best year ever. LET'S GO! | |||
| Episode 22 - Knowing your audience & creating better work cultures | 01 Nov 2024 | 00:17:03 | |
The 2024 Halloween episode is live (we recorded last night before the trick-or-treaters could come and ruin our recording). We start with a "scary" story from Brett's recent post, Work Horror Stories: The Spookiest (and Funniest) Scares From My Career 🎃👻, and then High Five on the first PM for Humans Book Club and the fact that we finally just ordered the Teamangle Conversation Cards so you can hopefully get yours soon! Then, we get to the critical stuff in The Review: Same Team Partners publish three new articles weekly, every week, starting now! This week, we published and are talking about
The Ask Sign your team up for the Teamangle Diagnostic! Teamangle equips you to lead your team to its best year ever. Our diagnostic tool goes beyond surface-level insights, pinpointing real issues with team alignment in communication, collaboration, and culture. We don’t just deliver a report—we give you practical playbooks, workshops, and action plans designed to tackle challenges head-on. It’s team alignment with purpose, helping you create a connected, unstoppable team. Get the insights you need to make 2025 your best year ever. Availability before end of year is limited, so book it now. The Hot List: Brett:
Greg:
The High Five Go Dodgers! Go editorial calendar! Go Joshua Bullock! High Fives all around! Thanks for listening and we hope your Friday Halloween candy hangover subsides soon. | |||
| Episode 21 - Launching Teamangle: A decade of lessons, now a platform for thriving teams | 25 Oct 2024 | 00:25:46 | |
In this episode, we reflect on how the end of Happy Cog Austin eventually led to the creation of Same Team Partners and the launch of Teamangle. We each share our perspective on the emotional journey that began with the closure of the Austin office, eventually sparking a new chapter of helping teams thrive. Brett dives into his keynote at the 12th annual Digital PM Summit, where he introduced Teamangle—a framework built on communication, collaboration, and culture. Tune in to hear how the lessons from those early days shaped Teamangle and why the PM community resonated with tools like the Teamangle Conversation Cards. The Ask Remember the Fyre Festival? It was supposed to be a luxury event, but it became a viral disaster due to a complete breakdown in communication and planning. Teams didn’t talk to each other, promises weren’t realistic, and the whole thing collapsed. The lesson? If your team’s communication, collaboration, and culture are off, it can all fall apart. That’s why there’s Teamangle—the tool to help spot and fix those cracks before it’s too late. Teamangle gives you a clear view of how your team functions, using data and insights to uncover problems in communication, collaboration, and culture before they become significant issues. With easy-to-use conversation tools and workshops, Teamangle helps teams work better together and ensures you don’t end up with your own disaster. Want to make 2025 your team's best year ever? Check out Teamangle today. The Hit List Brett:
Greg:
High Five! This week, we're high-fiving about the completion of another Teamangle diagnostic. If you're interested in learning more, get in touch. We'd love to help. | |||
| Episode 20 - Identifying team communication preferences for better collaboration | 17 Oct 2024 | 00:18:13 | |
This week on The High Five, we dive into the power of identifying team communication preferences for better collaboration through the lens of Brett's most recent Same Page post, Identifying team communication preferences for better collaboration. Every team member brings a unique style to the table, and understanding these differences can unlock trust, productivity, and alignment. Brett explores key takeaways from Mark Murphy’s four communication styles framework, with insights on how tailoring communication leads to smoother teamwork, fewer misunderstandings, and better results. But first, a quick look at recent happenings! Brett just returned from the Digital PM Summit, where he showcased Teamangle and handed out a “There is no AI in Team” shirt—right after an AI-themed presentation. Plus, the Teamangle cards are officially ready to order! The Ask Download Your Team Work, Reimagined, our free playbook, at our website. Discover the new Teamangle framework, tools, and insights to start transforming your team today. The Hit List Brett:
Greg:
High Five!
Tune in now to learn how identifying communication preferences can take your team to the next level—and don't forget to grab your free playbook! 🎧 | |||
| Episode 19 - Navigating challenges for creative teams in 2025 | 11 Oct 2024 | 00:21:21 | |
It's no secret that these are tough times for creative teams. They're being pushed to do more with less. Many are operating under tighter budgets, fewer resources, and higher expectations. Yet, despite these pressures, few teams are evolving their practices or processes to match the demands of this new reality. We've been there, and this week, we're discussing Brett's most recent post on Same Page, Navigating challenges for creative teams in 2025. Brett is a storyteller this week. First is his experience at a haunted prison, followed by a scarier story about when the entire UX department was cut from Happy Cog, and they had to pick up the pieces. We tried to remember the details, which we probably got wrong, but the lesson was to take care of the team first and then worry about process changes. That's partly why we developed the Teamangle, a tool to diagnose and address the heart of team performance: communication, collaboration, and culture challenges. The Ask Download our new playbook, Your Team Work, Reimagined. The Hit List Brett
Greg
High Five! We're so stoked about launching Teamangle. We hope you'll check it out and share it with your networks. | |||
| Episode 18 - Introducing our new team development and leadership framework, the Teamangle | 04 Oct 2024 | 00:19:47 | |
Big news this week on The High Five! We're preparing for the official launch of the Teamangle, a team diagnostic to help uncover, diagnose, and solve challenges in the areas of communication, collaboration, and culture. We're so excited about this launch, and while nothing is live yet, we've had tons of positive conversations with folks about the work we've done so far. Greg wrote Introducing our new team development and leadership framework, the Teamangle to start discussing the concept and dives into how and why we created Teamangle. Brett shares all of the upcoming Teamangle products and opportunities we have lined up for you. We hope you can feel the excitement! The Ask Subscribe to our site at sameteampartners.com so you can receive content updates, and of course, the launch of the Teamangle next week! The Hit List Brett:
Greg:
The High Five Writing and content marketing! Get ready for all the Same Team Partners content coming your way! Have a wonderful week. | |||
| Episode 44 - Burnout and empathy | 24 Apr 2025 | 00:30:08 | |
This week, we talk about burnout: how it builds, how it breaks teams, and how we (as leaders and humans) need to get way better at spotting it. Also, shoutout to Pope Francis for sending a senator to empathy training. If he’s tired of the bullshit, so are we. The Huddle Brett’s prepping for a new panel on explosive career moments, while Greg is mentally checking out under blue skies. Spring is here, but burnout is still top of mind. The Review Burnout isn’t just yours to manage—it’s yours to notice Burnout doesn’t show up with warning lights—it simmers quietly, undermining energy, trust, and momentum. This article outlines the phases of team burnout and makes the case for leaders to notice it early (especially in themselves). We talk through where burnout starts, how we’ve missed the signs, and which phase is the hardest to lead through. Spoiler: it’s not the one you think. Also on Same Page this week:
The Ask Join us for our first-ever live event: The Huddle 🗓 Wednesday, May 7, 2025 🕧 12:30–1:00pm ET Register now—it’s free! The Hit List What we’re reading, writing, watching, and listening to this week: Listening: Writing:
Watching: The High Five High five to everyone choosing empathy and compassion over control and burnout. The world needs more of it—especially at work. | |||
| Episode 17 - Teams have to communicate | 27 Sep 2024 | 00:17:44 | |
Starting this week, we're publishing two new articles per week on our blog, Same Page. Moving forward, we'll be discussing those articles on The High Five. To kick us off, Greg recaps his latest article, Teams have to communicate. In the article, Greg brings up two team personas who solve team problems but might cause more problems due to a lack of communication. We talk about giving individuals and teams authority and autonomy to solve problems, share information, and help everyone succeed. Anyway, we're excited to share more about what we're writing and welcome your perspective too. If you have a hot take on what we're discussing, email us at highfive@sameteampartners.com. THE ASK Buy a shirt at the Same Team Store. More designs and different products are coming soon! THE HIT LIST Greg:
Brett:
HIGH FIVE! Our first playbook is ready to ship! What's the Teamangle anyway? You'll know soon enough. If you're on our mailing list, you'll get first access! Stay tuned. Have a great weekend. | |||
| Episode 16 - Why self-advocacy can help you become an invaluable collaborator | 20 Sep 2024 | 00:19:04 | |
This week, we discuss the Forbes article Why Self-Advocacy Can Help You Become An Invaluable Collaborator, Brett and Greg share their own experiences with self-advocacy and discuss how to encourage self-advocacy and alignment on goals within teams. The Ask We launched a Same Team Store! Go grab a tee and keep and eye out, because more is coming soon! The Hit List: Brett:
Greg:
High Five! | |||
| Episode 15 - Build better teams | 06 Sep 2024 | 00:17:53 | |
The Gods of business consulting and thought leadership have spoken, and the new team "operating system" is called "The Way We Work." Greg found it all in this HBR article, Build Better Teams. It's really good stuff! The exciting part about this is that the principles closely align with what we're doing (and releasing soon) at Same Team Partners. During the review, we discuss the fundamentals of teamwork and building trust. And guess what? We do that work, too! With that said... THE ASK Thank you to everyone who followed us on LinkedIn! This week, please Subscribe to Same Team Partners to receive updates on new content, tools, templates, and products. Big things are going to happen in September! THE HIT LIST: Greg:
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| Episode 14 - Becoming a manager shouldn’t be as hard as becoming a parent | 30 Aug 2024 | 00:18:35 | |
In last week's Hit List, Brett mentioned the Fast Company article Why we’re failing new managers and how we can set them up for success. That article got him thinking about his own experience, so he did what we do at Same Tem Partners. He wrote about it on Same Page. Check it out: Becoming a manager shouldn’t be as hard as becoming a parent. In discussing both articles, Greg and Brett share their experiences as new managers, and how to help new managers succeed, THE ASK Connect with Same Team Partners on LinkedIn. THE HIT LIST Greg:
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| Episode 13 - 4 challenges solo design teams face and how to overcome them | 23 Aug 2024 | 00:18:21 | |
Have you ever experienced the loneliness of being the solo designer or project manager (or insert other job here) in a company? We've been there, and we just found an article on Medium, 4 challenges solo design teams face and how to overcome them, that touches on some of what lone rangers go through and how to cope. We discuss some strategies that have worked for us. THE ASK We just launched our new website! Visit and subscribe to receive updates on upcoming free content and other projects. No spam, pinky promise. THE HIT LIST Greg:
Brett: | |||
| Episode 12 - Don't cancel meetings to be productive, cancel one-on-ones | 16 Aug 2024 | 00:18:35 | |
We've been thinking a lot about 1: 1 meetings at Same Team Partners. This week, while in a research rabbit hole, Brett found the article Don't cancel meetings to be productive, cancel one-on-ones written by Clickup CEO Zeb Evans. His take is that 1:1s for leaders are a waste of time. He offers some practical solutions for his business. We have a hot take on that. The Ask Subscribe to our forthcoming newsletter at sameteampartners.com (And watch for the launch of our new site!) The Hit List
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| Episode 11 - 17 Team-Building Activities for In-Person, Remote, and Hybrid Teams | 09 Aug 2024 | 00:19:37 | |
This week's Review is all about team-building activities, and centers on the HBR article 17 Team-Building Activities for In-Person, Remote, and Hybrid Teams. Greg and Brett share their experiences planning and facilitating team events, and discuss some basic best practices. The Ask: Whether you're a PM or PM-curious, we'd love for you to take this brief survey to help us shape future offerings for those who help others get stuff done. And while you're at it, check out what's coming with Project Management for Humans. The Hit List:
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| Episode 10 - Google’s new Gemini ad showcases Big Tech’s big AI misunderstanding | 02 Aug 2024 | 00:16:24 | |
Same Team has Olympic fever! This week, we're talking about The Olympics, and that Google Gemini ad that suggests little kids should use AI to write fan mail. We have opinions.For reference, here's the FastCompany article referenced in the show: Google’s new Gemini ad showcases Big Tech’s big AI misunderstanding The Hit List:
The Hive Five:
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| Episode 9 - The Art of Asking Smarter Questions | 26 Jul 2024 | 00:18:51 | |
This week, we're discussing HBR's The Art of Asking Smarter Questions. Greg gets into the types of questions the guide recommends, then opens up a discussion with Brett about how phrasing questions, and even better follow=ups can help to build trust and get to better results. The Hit List:
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| Episode 8 - Intuit layoffs include 1,050 'underperformers' | 19 Jul 2024 | 00:15:50 | |
If you follow tech news, you saw last week that Intuit laid off 1,800 employees, with the subtext that they eliminated 1,050 jobs of "underperformers." Greg and Brett unpack that and the "best" ways to fire people. The Hit List:
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| Episode 43 - Not hiding | 17 Apr 2025 | 00:26:09 | |
This week, we're talking about what happens when we stop pretending everything’s fine—and why that’s harder than it sounds. If you're feeling a little fried but still showing up, this one’s for you. The Huddle We kick things off with a moment of awe (and side-eye and plenty of giggles) for Katy Perry’s Blue Origin space launch. Then we get into what’s actually on our minds: the growing sense of solidarity amid burnout. The Review What if it’s not work that’s burning us out? This episode centers around Brett’s Same Page article, which explores the more profound, more existential exhaustion many of us carry. It’s not just about jobs—it’s about the systems we live in, the instability we feel, and the pressure to perform wellness while quietly falling apart. Brett and Greg dig into the emotional weight of this moment. How burnout shows up in remote work, the disconnect between leadership and lived experience, and why we’re probably mislabeling a cultural crisis as a workplace problem. It’s a raw, reflective conversation—and the beginning of something we plan to keep talking about. Also on Same Page this week:
The Ask Join us for our first-ever live event: The Huddle 🗓 Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 12:30–1:00pm ET Register now—it’s free! The Hit List What we’re reading, writing, watching, and listening to this week: Listening:
Writing: Reading: Watching: The High Five This week’s high five goes to not hiding. We’re lucky we can talk about this stuff. We know not everyone can. If you're navigating this moment quietly, we see you. High five. | |||
| Episode 7 - New Hires’ Psychological Safety Erodes Quickly | 11 Jul 2024 | 00:18:57 | |
Greg found an interesting and timely read: Research: New Hires’ Psychological Safety Erodes Quickly via Harvard Business Review. Discussion about onboading, toughened managers and leaders, and embracing soft skills ensues. The Hit List:
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| Episode 6 - Confidence and decision-making | 05 Jul 2024 | 00:19:33 | |
In this episode, Brett and Greg continue the conversation about decision-making, inspired by the CFO article Only 36% of Executives Say Their Decision-Making Style Aligns with the Organization’s. This conversation focuses on the lack of confidence in decision-making and impostor syndrome some leaders experience. The Hit List:
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| Episode 5 - Trust in communications | 28 Jun 2024 | 00:16:50 | |
In this episode, Greg introduces The ineffable importance of corporate communication, an article he found on TidBITS about products losing trust with users over poorly communicated app updates. It inspired thoughts about building trust via communications and maybe a relevant story from the past, The Hit List:
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| Episode 4 - Disagreement in decision-making | 21 Jun 2024 | 00:19:49 | |
In this episode, Brett and Greg discuss decision-making in leadership teams, which was prompted by the CFO article Only 36% of Executives Say Their Decison-Making Style Aligns with the Organization’s. The article is full of interesting statistics, but the conversation focuses on what to do when you disagree with a decision your leadership team is making. The Hit List:
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| Episode 3 - The Purpose of a System is What It Does | 14 Jun 2024 | 00:16:59 | |
In this week's episode, Greg introduces The Purpose of a System is What It Does, a part of a new series that Anil Dash is publishing on Systems. The article considers a broader perspective and application of systems, but Same Team brings it back to what we know: organizations, teams, systems, and processes. The Hit List:
The High Five: More Same Team Time for Brett and Week Four of The Dice for Greg! | |||
| Episode 2 - Going beyond your vocation | 07 Jun 2024 | 00:17:59 | |
This week's episode focuses on a topic that came up with Same Team Partners through an article Brett found called Is the Party Over for Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches? The article touches on how Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches are being let go of organizations that went through agile transformation. Essentially, their job is done there, so now what? The Hit List:
The High Five: Summer Fridays! Yay! | |||
| Episode 1 - Stack Ranking Employees | 31 May 2024 | 00:15:38 | |
In the first installment of the new podcast, Brett and Greg dig in on the topic of "stack ranking employees," which Greg first heard about on the Hidden Brain podcast, Hot take: it's gross, and leaders should take more responsibility for low performers. Each week, Same Team Partners share "The Hit List," a quick hit on what they're reading, listening to, watching, following, and using. This week's Hit List includes: | |||
| Episode 42 - Hold the weight, not the blame | 10 Apr 2025 | 00:19:04 | |
The Huddle What’s top of mind for us this week? Honestly… burnout. Between news cycles, messy calendars, and rising stress levels, we’re seeing a lot of leaders in the proverbial burn unit—emotionally fried, physically drained, and still trying to show up with a smile. That came through loud and clear in our last Huddle, where even the head nods felt tired. The Review Hold the weight, not the blame. This week on Same Page, Greg wrote a post called Hold the weight, not the blame.—a callout to leaders who absorb the emotional mess of misalignment, even when it’s not theirs to carry. We’ve both been there: internalizing failures, over-owning dysfunction, and quietly cleaning up after others while pretending it’s just part of the job. But the truth? That guilt doesn’t serve you—or your team. This one’s for everyone trying to lead through hard times with empathy, but forgetting to offer themselves any in return. Also on Same Page this week: The Ask Join us for our first-ever live event: The Huddle: Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 12:30–1:00pm ET. Register now—it’s free! The Hit List What we’re reading, writing, watching, and listening to this week: Listening: Writing:
Reading: The High Five This week’s high five goes to saying the quiet parts out loud—because it’s time for real talk. | |||
| Episode 41 - Forced efficiency is not a strategy | 03 Apr 2025 | 00:26:53 | |
The Huddle Brett kicks things off with a (minor!) fender bender and a Lady Gaga-fueled beef with Greg about new music. Then we get into the real talk: Everyone’s in a rough spot—burned out, overworked, and just trying to keep up. The Review Forced efficiency: the myth of cutting your way to greatness Brett breaks down what happens when leaders slash people, processes, and budgets—without a real plan—and still expect things to keep running magically. Inspired by Musk-level mayhem and personal experience, this conversation explores how panic is often disguised as "efficiency." Here’s the truth: You can’t cut your way to greatness. Real efficiency isn’t about trimming fat—it’s about building muscle memory. Spoiler: It’s not pizza or “thoughts and prayers.” It’s presence, purpose, and follow-through. Also on Same Page this week: The Ask Join us for our first-ever live event: The Huddle 🗓 Wednesday, April 9, 2025 🕧 12:30–1:00pm ET 🎯 30 minutes of insights, conversation, resource sharing, a few laughs, and a high five to close. The Hit List What we’re reading, writing, watching, and listening to this week: Reading
Listening
Writing Watching The High Five To those who are going through it, we see you going to work and dealing with chaos. | |||
| Episode 40 - Build your own damn culture | 27 Mar 2025 | 00:22:17 | |
The Huddle What’s top of mind this week? Brett’s in presentation mode, while Greg’s prepping for our first Same Team Huddle. One’s on the mic, the other’s setting the stage—both focused on better conversations. The Review: This Week’s Topic Deloitte made it official–Build your own damn culture This week, we unpack Greg’s latest Same Page column, inspired by Deloitte’s 2024 Human Capital Trends report. It challenges the myth that culture should cascade from the top, calling out how rigid systems like SAFe, EOS, and “Agile” often stifle trust and autonomy. Culture doesn’t scale—it fragments. And that’s a good thing. Microcultures drive real engagement and innovation, even if they make execs a little nervous. We explore why top-down culture fails, what default culture looks like, what real leadership requires, and how Teamangle supports culture from the inside out. Also on Same Page this week:
The Ask 🚨 If you’re not reading The Field Report, what are you even doing? 🚨 Sign up now at sameteampartners.com/subscribe and get on the ground floor—we’re only a few issues in. The Hit List What we’re reading, listening to, and watching this week: Listening
Reading
Watching
The High Five This week’s high five goes to the culture champions—the folks who actively build, shape, and nurture the teams they’re on. Whether you’re a leader or the new hire with great vibes, culture doesn’t come from the top, it grows from everywhere. Keep planting seeds. High five! That’s it for this week. See you next time! | |||
| Episode 39 - Leadership advice is broken | 20 Mar 2025 | 00:26:21 | |
The Huddle Greg’s busy figuring out how to scale the Teamangle Diagnostic so teams can stop flying blind, while Brett’s out there making connections and bringing new people into the fold. The Review: Leadership advice is broken: it’s not about you, it’s about them. Somewhere along the way, leadership advice got a little too self-centered—confidence, command, control. But great leadership isn’t about the leader; it’s about the team. The conversation hit on something big: leadership needs a perspective shift. It’s not about looking in the mirror and asking, How do I become a great leader?—it’s about looking at your team and asking, What do they need to succeed? We also posted two Teamangle articles on Same Page this week: The Ask 🚨 If you’re not reading The Field Report, what are you even doing? 🚨 Our weekly newsletter is packed with straight-shooting leadership insights, fresh takes on team dynamics, and the kind of advice that helps—not just corporate fluff. Sign up now and get in on the good stuff. The Hit List Listening:
Reading: Watching: Writing:
The High Five This week’s high five goes to listening to experts—specifically those helping us with marketing! We may resist, we may grumble, but at the end of the day, we’re learning from people who know their stuff. High five to letting go and trusting the process. | |||
| Episode 38 - You have 8 seconds—make them count | 13 Mar 2025 | 00:17:14 | |
The Huddle What’s top of mind for us this week? Expanding our reach. Brett joined The Agile Network as an expert, diving into conversations on Teamangle, communication, collaboration, and digital project management. It’s a whole new audience, and we’re excited to see where it leads. Meanwhile, Greg is celebrating the launch of The Field Report, our new newsletter—and the response has been better than expected! The Review: This Week’s Topic You have 8 seconds—make them count. We’re drowning in information, but attention is in short supply. Studies say our attention spans have dropped from 12 seconds to 8 seconds in just over a decade. Whether that’s accurate or not, one thing is clear: if your team is confused about priorities, direction, or expectations, it’s not their fault—it’s on you. We break down five key questions and discussion that leads to a laugh or two and some insights on what makes Same Team tick. We also published two new Teamangle articles this week:
The Ask We launched The Field Report, our new weekly newsletter! If you want real talk on leadership, team dynamics, and communication delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe now at sameteampartners.com/subscribe. The Hit List Listening:
Writing: Reading: Watching: The High Five This week’s high five goes to The Field Report! We launched it, people read it, and we only had one broken link (so far). | |||