David Burkus, best-selling author and keynote speaker, shares insights on developing The Best Team Ever. He discusses core elements of a great team culture, the relevance of teams during the pandemic, and the launch of his book on location-agnostic teams. The hosts explore psychological safety within teams and the challenges of giving feedback in remote work settings. They also highlight the importance of personal development and trauma healing for navigating team challenges.
A strong team culture is based on common understanding, psychological safety, and pro-social purpose.
Leaders must provide stability and a sense of purpose in times of uncertainty.
Personal development facilitates showing up as the best version of oneself in the team space and contributes to a positive team culture.
Deep dives
Building a strong team culture
A strong team culture is essential for high-performing teams. It is based on three key elements: common understanding, psychological safety, and pro-social purpose. Common understanding involves shared values and clear expectations. Psychological safety creates an environment where team members can express themselves and take risks without fear of judgment or ridicule. Pro-social purpose emphasizes the importance of meaningful contributions and impact. Building a strong team culture requires leaders to model positive behaviors and hold team members accountable.
The challenges of leading in uncertainty
Leaders face the challenge of navigating uncertainty and maintaining team cohesion. In times of stress and panic, it is essential for leaders to provide stability and a sense of purpose. This requires personal development and self-awareness to bring the best version of oneself to the team. Leaders must learn to manage their triggers and emotions, create a calm and clear mindset, and model the desired behaviors. Leading in uncertainty requires a high level of consciousness and adaptability to effectively guide the team through challenging times.
The importance of personal development
Personal development plays a crucial role in being an effective team member. It involves taking responsibility for one's own growth, healing past traumas, and evolving as an individual. Personal development facilitates showing up as the best version of oneself in the team space. It allows individuals to manage triggers and emotions, cultivate a calm state, and tap into their creativity and collaboration skills. Personal development also enhances self-awareness and adaptability, enabling individuals to contribute to a positive team culture and build strong relationships with teammates.
The impact of toxic teams
Being part of a toxic team can have detrimental effects on individuals' well-being, both at work and in personal life. Toxicity in teams can be caused by conflicts, lack of psychological safety, and dysfunctional behaviors. Toxicity not only affects individuals' ability to perform at their best, but also brings negative emotions and stress back to their personal lives. Creating healthy teams that prioritize positive team culture, psychological safety, and respect is crucial in preventing the negative impact of toxic teams on individuals.
The role of behaviors in team dynamics
Behaviors play a vital role in shaping team dynamics and creating a positive team culture. Building psychological safety, showing gratitude, active listening, and respectful disagreement are examples of behaviors that contribute to effective teamwork. Behaviors are crucial in demonstrating trust, empathy, and respect towards teammates. Leaders play a significant role in modeling and holding team members accountable for desired behaviors. By focusing on behaviors and fostering a positive team culture, teams can enhance collaboration, creativity, and performance.
In this episode of The Expansive, Erik Kruger and John Sanei speak with best-selling author and keynote speaker, David Burkus about how to develop, and keep, The Best Team Ever.
David's latest book, "The Best Team Ever" aims to be universally applicable to different work environments, whether remote or not. It offers a model of team culture and actions that suit various scenarios. David also shares three core elements—common understanding, psychological safety, and pro-social purpose—that define a great team culture. These are crucial for high-performing teams.
Learn more about this weeks guest at https://davidburkus.com
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