Dr. David Burkus shares how to build a career by being part of a team that promotes psychological safety, prosocial purpose, and common understanding. He discusses the significance of teams in the workplace, creating trust and open communication, valuing behind-the-scenes staff, the power of gratitude, and building a successful career and team.
Prioritize team dynamics and culture when considering job opportunities, as it has a greater impact on long-term career satisfaction and success than brand recognition.
Align your goals with the team's objectives to foster collaboration, contribution, and personal growth, leading to opportunities for advancement.
Reflect on the positive aspects of your current team to identify the characteristics you should look for in future teams.
Create a supportive and high-performing team by promoting psychological safety, trust, and respect, and encouraging open communication and valuing diverse perspectives.
When showing gratitude or providing feedback, be specific and quantify the impact of someone's contributions to highlight their value in measurable terms.
Listen and observe as a new manager to understand the team dynamics, individual skills, and preferences, in order to better support and develop team members based on their strengths.
Deep dives
The Importance of Choosing the Right Team
When considering a job opportunity, it is crucial to prioritize the team dynamics over the brand name. Understanding the team's culture, working style, and goals is essential for long-term career satisfaction and success.
Putting the Team's Goals First
As a new team member, prioritize the team's goals over your own for the first year. Aligning your individual goals with the team's objectives will foster collaboration, contribution, and a sense of unity. By focusing on the team's success, you will find opportunities for personal growth and advancement.
Reflecting on the Impact of Your Team
Before transitioning to a new team, take time to reflect on the positive aspects of your current team and what contributed to your success. Understanding the elements that made your team effective will help you identify the characteristics you should look for in future teams.
Building Trust and Respect in Teams
Psychological safety, trust, and respect are crucial in creating a supportive and high-performing team. Leaders should foster an environment where team members feel safe to contribute their ideas, speak up, and take risks. Encouraging open communication and valuing diverse perspectives can help nurture a culture of trust and respect.
Quantifying Contributions in Gratitude and Feedback
When expressing gratitude or providing feedback, be specific and quantify the impact of someone's contributions. Emphasize how their actions or work have benefited you or the team, and demonstrate the value they bring in measurable terms.
Listening and Observing as a New Manager
When inheriting a team as a new manager, prioritize active listening and observation. Take the time to understand the team dynamics, individual skills, and preferences. By doing so, you can better support and develop team members based on their unique strengths.
Creating a Pocket of Excellence within a Larger Organization
In situations where senior leadership may not fully trust or respect the team, focus on creating a pocket of excellence within your own team. Collaborate with fellow team members and your manager to protect and foster a positive team environment.
The Power of Impactful Communication
When communicating with quantitatively-driven individuals, such as those in analytical roles, emphasize the impact and measurable outcomes of their work. Highlight how their contributions have influenced specific results or improved overall performance.
Understanding and Promoting Prosocial Purpose
Recognize the importance of prosocial purpose and how it motivates individuals. Encourage individuals to define and pursue their own meaningful contributions, aligned with the larger purpose and impact of the team or organization.
The Interplay Between Work and Life
Recognize the significant impact that work teams have on overall well-being and satisfaction in life. Toxic team dynamics can negatively affect personal life, while positive team experiences can enhance personal relationships and overall happiness.
Prioritizing Team Dynamics in Career Decisions
When making career decisions, prioritize team dynamics and fit over brand recognition. The right team culture and collaboration will have a more profound impact on long-term career development and success.
Would you like to build a career that leverages your strengths, offer opportunities for growth, and where you are appreciated? Clearly, the answer is yes. So how do you do this? According to Dr. David Burkus, a former business school professor, advisor to executive leadership from organizations including PepsiCo, Fidelity, Adobe, and NASA, and bestselling author of several books including, Best Team Ever: The Surprising Science of High-Performing Teams, you need to be part of a team that promotes psychological safety, prosocial purpose, and common understanding. This gives you a powerful foundation to build your best career. While this may seem nearly impossible, it can be found and done. In this CareerCast, David shares how to simultaneously cultivate your strengths and advance professionally, while building a team that creates positive social and economic value.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
