Charlie Gilkey on Improving Team Habits and Creating a Better Work Environment
Dec 18, 2023
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Charlie Gilkey, founder of Productive Flourishing, discusses the power of teamwork and improving team productivity. They talk about the importance of team dynamics, communication habits, and the impact of broken systems on morale. Charlie emphasizes the need to focus on improving team habits instead of changing individual team members. They also discuss strategies for making unproductive meetings more beneficial, the concept of co-working and body doubling, and the benefits of using integrated workflow tools and team collaboration. Overall, a great conversation for anyone looking to create a better work environment.
Team habits have a significant influence on teamwork and outcomes, and focusing on improving team habits is more effective than changing individual team members.
Trust and belonging are essential elements of effective teamwork, and creating team habits that foster trust and support can strengthen relationships and create a positive work environment.
Small, manageable changes in team habits can make a significant impact over time, and individuals should take the initiative to address team habits and consistently work on refining them.
Deep dives
Improving Team Dynamics and Overcoming Challenges
The podcast episode explores the importance of team dynamics and how they contribute to overcoming challenges and mistakes. It emphasizes the significance of communication and interpersonal power within a team, highlighting that focusing on interpersonal power can be more effective than trying to change individual team members. The episode also discusses the impact of broken systems on productivity and morale within a team. Practical strategies for creating a better working environment and improving team meetings are mentioned. Overall, the episode emphasizes the importance of team habits and the power of working together to achieve extraordinary results.
The Concept of Team Habits
The episode introduces the concept of team habits, which are the unconscious and repetitive behaviors that a team collectively engages in. The speaker suggests that these team habits have a significant influence on teamwork and outcomes. By identifying and addressing the specific team habits that are not working, teams can improve their performance and overall experience. The episode emphasizes that fixing team habits is about changing the system, not changing individual team members. It encourages individuals to take ownership of their team habits and proposes working together to change and improve them.
The Importance of Trust and Belonging
Trust and belonging are discussed as essential elements of effective teamwork. The episode highlights the significance of building trust within a team and creating a safe environment where individuals feel comfortable taking risks and making mistakes. It emphasizes the impact of trust on teamwork and the importance of developing team habits that foster trust and belonging. The speaker suggests that by focusing on clear communication, accountability, and support for one another, teams can strengthen their relationships and create a positive and high-performing work environment.
The Power of Small Changes and Incremental Improvement
The episode emphasizes the power of small changes and incremental improvement in creating a better team and work environment. It suggests that individuals can start by identifying one specific team habit that needs improvement and working on it together. By focusing on small, manageable changes, teams can make a significant impact over time. The episode encourages individuals to take the initiative and be proactive in addressing team habits and improving teamwork. It highlights the importance of consistently working on and refining team habits to achieve extraordinary results.
Building a Positive Team Culture
The episode discusses the importance of building a positive team culture based on communication, trust, and accountability. It emphasizes the need for open and honest conversations about team dynamics and challenges. The episode suggests that by creating a culture of radical candor, where teammates can provide constructive feedback and support each other's growth, teams can enhance their performance and well-being. It encourages individuals to be aware of the downstream effects of broken systems and focus on developing team habits that promote a positive and productive team culture.
This week I was excited to welcome Charlie Gilkey back to the show to talk about his latest book, Team Habits: How Small Actions Lead to Extraordinary Results. Charlie has been on the show before to discuss his previous book Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done. He is the founder of Productive Flourishing, a company that helps professional creatives, leaders, and changemakers take meaningful action on work that matters. He is internationally known as a thought leader on productivity, planning, strategy, and leadership for creative people. Charlie is also the author of The Small Business Life Cycle, and is widely cited in outlets such as Inc., Time, Forbes, the Guardian, Lifehacker, and more. He’s also an Army veteran and near-PhD in philosophy.
In this conversation, Charlie shares his insights on the power of teamwork and discusses his new book, presenting a fresh perspective on improving team productivity. We discuss the importance of team dynamics to overcome challenges and mistakes addressing the significance of individual and team communication habits in enhancing productivity and performance. We also discuss the impact that small issues can have within a team, highlighting the downstream effects of broken systems on morale and camaraderie. Charlie points out the impact of adding new team members and the need to focus on improving team habits rather than changing individual team members.
This is a great talk for anyone who may be struggling to find practical strategies for creating a better working environment. We discuss finding ways to improve team meetings and addressing small problems that lead to inefficiencies while also focusing on how we can be more humane and understanding with our co-workers while continuing to maintain high standards. As we head into the New Year this chat and of course Charlie’s book are great guides to get teams thinking about better communication, improved habits, and most importantly more enjoyable and productive work days in 2024.