Cultivating Team Resilience and Empowerment with Rachel Llanes

Join HUDDL3 CEO Dane Groeneveld and 'People Problem Solver' Rachel Llanes on The Future of Teamwork as they explore the art of nurturing flourishing teams. In this episode, Rachel, founder of the Gardin Group and a Master Resilience Trainer, shares her unique journey from specializing in Marriage and Therapy counseling to reshaping the dynamics of military and corporate teams. Dive deep into the ABCs of human flourishing—Autonomy, Belonging, and Competence—and learn how these fundamental elements intertwine to create thriving, resilient teams. Whether you're a team leader or a member striving for personal growth, this episode is filled with transformative insights and actionable advice, making it essential listening for anyone committed to excelling in the future of teamwork.

Key Takeaways: 

• [00:00] Episode Introduction. Rachel Llanes, a master resilience trainer and founder of The Gardin Group, shares insights on fostering environments where individuals and teams can thrive. 
• [01:59] Dane Groeneveld, CEO of HUDDL3 Group, hosts The Future of Teamwork podcast and is joined by Rachel Llanes, founder of The Gardin Group and a master resilience trainer. They discuss Rachel's work in helping people and teams thrive. 
• [02:47] Rachel’s background. In 2022, she started The Gardin Group to teach senior leaders the critical environmental conditions that organizations need for their people to thrive. 
• [07:49] Rachel observed the same problems in different settings, such as family, military, and corporate teams. Despite having a background in Marriage and Family therapy and working as a personal trainer and resilience trainer for the US military, Rachel's experiences led to developing a system for teaching leaders the soft skills needed for their teams to thrive. 
• [09:29] The ABCs of human flourishing begin with "A" for Autonomy. Autonomy is our basic psychological need to feel respected and empowered. Disrespect and disempowerment trigger negative emotions.
• [10:56] Negative emotions like fear and anger often lead people to shut down or wear a professional mask to conceal their reactions. However, these emotions are signals that indicate something in the environment is off and needs to be corrected. 
• [15:01] It's essential to address issues that affect work performance, team dynamics, and company culture. Appropriately communicating that you've been disrespected can help you advocate for yourself and create a healthier work environment. 
• [18:25] Power differentials can impede transparency in organizations. Leaders should be aware of their authority and consistently seek feedback to create a safe space for open communication. 
• [20:14] Leaders who approach challenges with curiosity and invite others to help create a safe environment for sharing ideas. 
• [25:01] Positive group dynamics, where everyone communicates and works together synergistically, can create an energetic and empowering creative process, whereas negative dynamics can have the opposite effect. 
• [28:07] Belonging is different from fitting in. Belonging means feeling valued, safe, and empowered to be one's true self around others, while fitting in requires changing oneself to conform to the norms of a group. 
• [32:16] To amplify someone's joy when they share good news with you, show genuine interest, and ask them questions that allow them to elaborate on their news. This can be as simple as asking follow-up questions and expressing your happiness for them. 
• [36:01] Rachel shares a personal story about how she unintentionally killed her sister's joy when her sister shared the news of her engagement and pregnancy. Rachel emphasizes the importance of getting it right when people share their joy with us, even if we have concerns about the news. 
• [40:43] The Gardin Group aims to help peo