Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

Charlie Gilkey on Improving Team Habits and Creating a Better Work Environment

Dec 18, 2023

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.

53:06

Episode guests

Charlie Gilkey

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

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.

Introduction

4min

Team Habits: Power, Systems, and Collaboration

14min

Making the Most out of Unproductive Meetings

2min

Co-Working and Body Doubling

7min

Maximizing Productivity with Integrated Workflow Tools and Team Collaboration

5min

Improving Team Habits and Creating a Better Work Environment

18min

Discussion on Future Episodes, Team Management Book, and Listener Interaction

2min

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.

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