The High Five!

The HuddleWhat’s top of mind for us this week? Rebuilding. Between career shifts, layoffs, and leadership changes, Greg wrote about the importance of rebuilding professional connections, and Brett reconnected with an old colleague through Chicago Camps’ Tent Talk—proving that sometimes, the right conversations happen at the right time.The Review: This Week’s TopicThe middle management trap: why it’s failing and how to fix itMiddle management used to be the stepping stone to leadership. Now? It’s a high-stress, low-reward role that no one wants. Companies are piling impossible expectations onto managers while stripping away the resources and training they need to succeed.We break down three key questions:What’s one thing you wish someone had told you before stepping into management? .Why are future leaders avoiding management roles? How do we fix it? We also published two new Teamangle articles this week:How shared language enhances team cohesionAvoid misinterpretations: developing a shared language for your teamThe AskWe’re launching our Same Team Partners newsletter—subscribe now at sameteampartners.com/subscribe. Our first issue drops on Tuesday!The Hit ListReading:Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future by Reid Hoffman Writing:DOGE isn’t making government more efficient—it’s just destroying people’s lives Your network is broken. Fix it like a human. Watching:Yellowstone Pivoting in Life: How to Use Your Transferable Skills with Betty Chan & Sean Murphy Listening:Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones by Madonna The High FiveThis week’s high five goes to Kris Fulton, who has been a game-changer in helping us refine our marketing strategy. We’re makers, not marketers—but she is showing us the way. Huge high-five for the impact Kris has already made! Thank you!

The Review: This Week’s TopicThere is no ‘AI’ in team: Why leaders shouldn’t panic about job takeoverYou’ve seen the headlines: “AI is coming for your job.” But is it, though? We dive into Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s recent comments on AI’s actual impact—and why it’s still far from replacing human teams. AI may be great at crunching data, but it still struggles with judgment, creativity, emotional intelligence, and, you know, basic context.We break down three key questions:Do you see AI as an asset or a threat for teams? Where do you see AI helping vs. hurting team collaboration? How should leaders talk about AI with their teams? Also, fun fact: We have a There Is No AI in Team T-shirt. Because why not?We also published two Teamangle articles (...from our forthcoming book):Start strong: defining roles at project kickoff for team alignmentWhy clear role definitions boost productivityThe AskWe’ve got two events for you:The Huddle: Drive Meaningful 1:1s – March 12 at 12 PM ET (FREE). A 30-minute interactive session to help you make 1:1s more productive and meaningful.Power Play: Elevating Your 1:1s for Impact – March 26 at 12 PM ET (PAID). A hands-on workshop packed with strategies and exercises to turn check-ins into game-changers.The Hit ListWhat we’re reading, listening to, and watching this week:Reading:Right Leader, Right Time by Robert Jordan and Olivia WagnerAI Will Replace You: Leaders Who Refuse to Evolve Will Be Left Behind by Lolly Daskal – Listening:Severance: ODESZA Alligator Bites Never Heal by DoechiiWatching:The White Lotus season 3The High FiveThis week’s high five goes to The Huddle and Power Play. We’re launching a new playbook and two events to help leaders improve their 1:1s. It feels great to get this out into the world—high five to that!

In this conversation, we discuss the concept of resilience in leadership, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics over individual endurance. We explore the challenges leaders face in maintaining resilience, the pitfalls of the hero mindset, and strategies for fostering collective resilience within teams. The HuddleWe're busy making more!We've got our next playbook ready to launch. Get ready to make your 1:1s better!Greg is working on our first "Huddle," which will be a free workshop session on 1:1sBrett is talking Teamangle at Chicago Tent Talks on March 4The ReviewWe dig into Brett's recent Same Page post, Resilience is not enough: leadership in 2025 requires more. This conversation explores how leaders can foster collective resilience by shifting away from the hero mindset and embracing shared responsibility. Key topics include:The challenges leaders face in maintaining resilienceThe pitfalls of the hero mindset in leadershipStrategies for building resilience within teamsThe importance of adaptability in uncertain environmentsWe also published two new Teamangle articles this week:Building bridges: practical steps for effective cross-functional collaborationHow the right tools drive team alignment and efficiencyThe AskOur first shipment of Teamangle Conversation Cards is out in the wild. Grab your deck today!The Hit ListBrett:Reading: Language: Why We Hear More Than WordsListening: Songs About You Specifically - Album by MICHELLEWatching: SNL 50 Concert - The Culps do Kendrick LamarEating: Post Malone OreosGreg:Reading: The Experience Economy By B. Joseph Pine II & James H. Gilmore Reading: The New Yorker 100The High Five!High five to resilience for keeping us moving, keeping us connected, and reminding us that we’re stronger together!

The moment we’ve been waiting for is finally here—Teamangle Conversation Cards are officially live! We dive into the origin story of the cards, why they’re a game-changer for team discussions, and how they help leaders facilitate conversations that actually matter. The HuddleBig things happening this week:Teamangle Conversation Cards are live! Brett joined The Agile Network as an expert! Use the promo code SAMETEAMPMC33 for a 33% discount on membership.The ReviewThe Teamangle Conversation Cards nare live and we are so excited to share them with you! In this conversation, we break down:Why we created the cards.How they help teams uncover alignment (or misalignment).Why the right questions drive meaningful conversations.Bonus: We reveal our favorite cards and why they matter.Plus, we published two new Teamangle articles this week:Creating consistency: how a clear cadence enhances team communicationWhy rhythm in communication builds trust and dependabilityThe AskGrab your Teamangle Conversation Cards! Try them in your next meeting, use them in your one-on-ones, or set aside time to explore just one or two questions with your team.The Hit ListBrett:Reading: Council Post: Resilience: The Most Coveted Leadership Skill For 2025Listening: Hostile Government Takeover - EDM Mix by AGiftFromToddThe original TikTokGreg:Listening: Future Past, Duran Duran Watching: The GriftersThe High FiveWe did it—the Teamangle Conversation Cards are officially launched! Also, we’ve got fresh Same Team hats and tees in the store—so grab some swag while you’re at it!

This episode dives into the biggest shake-up in project management in years—the PMI and Agile Alliance merger—and why digital project management (DPM) might be the missing piece in this new landscape. But not before Brett relives the glory days of the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, hoping for a win this weekend at Super Bowl LIX.The HuddleWe’re hitting the road—join us in person for some hands-on learning!Brett is set to facilitate a workshop at the Digital PM Summit this October in Portland, OR.Greg will be leading a workshop at Agile 2025, July 28-30 in Denver, CO.The ReviewThe recent merger between PMI and the Agile Alliance marks a pivotal moment for the project management industry, bringing together two historically opposing methodologies under one roof. This moment presents an opportunity for DPM to take its rightful place at the table—bridging the gap between Agile’s flexibility and PMI’s structured approach to create a more effective, people-first approach to project leadership.We explore:What does this merger mean for the future of project management?How this shift could impact teams.What we’d say to PMI and Agile Alliance leaders.We also published two new Teamangle articles this week:Unlocking team creativity through structured brainstormingWhy structured brainstorming creates innovative solutionsThe AskWant to hear more about fixing dysfunctional teams? Check out our Digital Project Management podcast episode with Galen Low: How To Identify & Fix Project Team Dysfunction Using Teamangle. Let’s make project teams stronger—one conversation at a time!The Hit ListBrett:Reading: When the mentor feels like an imposterListening: It’s a Mirror by Perfume GeniusWatching: Super Bowl LIXGreg:Reading: Unreasonable HospitalityListening: We, Arcade FireWatching: Night AgentThe High FiveWe sent our first proposal of the year! Get in touch if you want to work with Same Team!

This week on The High Five, we dive into the PMI and Agile Alliance merger, and share a bit about our involvement in the upcoming Agile 2025 conference—Brett will be curating a track, and Greg will be speaking. This week's conversation centers around Greg's Same Page article, Only Teams Can Drive Real Transformation, where we break down why so many top-down transformations fail and why real change has to start at the team level. We also tackle some big questions: How can you tell when a transformation effort is doomed? What actually makes change stick? And how can organizations better equip team leaders for success? If you’ve ever been stuck in a never-ending “transformation” initiative, this one’s for you.The ReviewWe break down Greg’s article, Only Teams Can Drive Real Transformation, which explores why top-down change efforts fail and why true transformation must start at the team level. We discuss the biggest pitfalls in transformation initiatives and what organizations can do to better support team leaders in driving real change.Plus, this week's Teamangle topics:How documentation became a pillar for team transparencyKeeping Everyone Informed: Documenting Decisions and Next StepsThe AskFollow us on Linkedin. Engage with us on Linkedin! We'll be posting more video and content updates, and we value your feedback, hot takes, likes, or whatever you want to contribute.The Hit ListBrett:Reading: Town Hall Meeting: Agile Alliance + PMIListening: Big Ideas by Remi WolfWatching: A Real PainGreg:Reading: Manifesto for World RevolutionListening: Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! - EnigmaWatching: SiloThe High FiveWe're wrapping up work on our second playbook, which is all about conducting valuable one-on-one meetings. We can't wait til you get it!

While recapping his whirlwind day as a tourist in Dubai—where he presented Teamangle at the Dubai International Project Management Forum—Brett reflects on the value of meaningful connections. This ties into a critique of Airbnb’s CEO dismissing one-on-one meetings as a waste of time and comparing listening to employees to playing therapist—a mindset Brett sees as toxic bro culture masking as innovation.The discussion highlights the value of one-on-ones, the harm of toxic leadership rhetoric, and how leaders can create inclusive workplaces by fostering trust, empathy, and psychological safety. Balancing ambitious goals with supportive environments is key to better leadership.The ReviewThis week, we discuss Brett's Same Page article, Avoiding one-on-ones? That’s not leadership, that’s toxicity and the themes of the article surrounding the need for one-on-one meetings and how toxic bro culture has no place at work, no matter the industry.Plus, this week's Teamangle topics:Encouraging every voice: making team meetings inclusiveThe transformative effect of inclusivity on team morale and successThe AskWe want to hear from our listeners! What's on your mind? What topics resonate for you? Drop us a note at highfive@sameteampartners.com. We'd love to connect and hear what's top-of-mind for you. Who knows, maybe we'll bring it up on the show!The Hit ListBrett:Reading: How tech billionaires screwed us allListening: Stampede, Orville PeckWatching: RÜFÜS DU SOL - Live from Joshua TreeGreg:Reading: Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated CultureListening: Splinter - Sneaker PimpsWatching: American PrimevalThe High FiveBelieve it or not, the Teamangle Conversation Cards are shipping! Check out our shop next week to grab yours. And maybe grab a t-shirt too!

This week, we’re diving into Greg’s latest article: Teams are still struggling with energy, purpose, and morale: Here’s how to help. If your team’s feeling the strain lately, you’re not alone—and we’re unpacking why it’s happening and what leaders can actually do about it. We also break down some hard truths about today’s workplace climate:Plus, we dig into a Teamangle hot topic: Why knowing when a task is truly ‘done’ can boost team satisfaction. Turns out, clear definitions of completion = happier, more efficient teams.And speaking of global insights—Brett’s heading to Dubai for the DIPMF Conference to talk all things Teamangle! Big shoutout to our listeners tuning in from around the world—hello out there! 🌍It’s a packed episode full of insights, real talk, and global adventures. Don’t miss it!The ReviewThis week we talk about today's workplace climate, and how some leaders may be struggling to motivate teams. Greg reviews advice for how leaders can help teams and themselves in his article, Teams are still struggling with energy, purpose, and morale: Here's how to help.Plus, this week's Teamangle topics:Why knowing when a task is ‘done’ boosts team satisfactionHow clear definitions of completion improve team efficiencyThe AskJoin our next Teamangle webinar on January 23 at noon ET. Register now!The Hit ListBrett: Reading: 'Career Catfishing': 1 in 3 Gen Zers Accepted a New Job and Didn't Show Up on Day OneListening: The Smiths , Live Aus Der Markthalle Hamburg 1984Watching: PenelopeGreg:Reading: Project Hail Mary by Andy WeirListening: Grizzly Bear VeckatimestWatching: Squid GameThe High FiveThis week, we're high-fiving the kick-off to a great year and our Replay and Reset activity, which we've received great feedback on. Check it out and get your year off on the right foot.

Dive into a cheerful holiday conversation as the hosts tackle the trials of last-minute shopping and procrastination. They introduce the Replay and Reset activity to reflect on the past year and set goals for 2025. Heartfelt holiday greetings transition to discussions about incredible young jazz musicians Domi and J.D. Beck. The talk flows into festive music favorites while binge-watching Stranger Things and delving into holiday literature. Finally, they share plans for rejuvenating over the break and teasing an exciting upcoming webinar!

This episode builds on Brett’s blog about leadership’s tough lessons from 2024’s failures. We’re tacking on our thoughts to the article and putting our “lessons learned” spin on things. We break down what went wrong in 2024 and how leaders can turn failure into growth. We also preview our upcoming free Teamangle webinar on January 23, share this week’s Teamangle articles, and dive into actionable ways to make 2025 your team’s best year yet.The ReviewThis week, we reflect on failure stories and the key lessons they offer, inspired by Brett’s blog post, Turning 2024’s business failures into lessons learned. Key takeaways include:The Fine Line Between Bold and Confusing: What teams can do to balance boldness with clarity.Trust and Testing: We highlight how leaders can rebuild trust and prepare teams for the unexpected.Turning Mistakes into Momentum: Learn actionable ways to reframe mistakes into growth opportunities for your team.We also recap two new Teamangle articles:Start strong: defining roles at project kickoff for team alignmentWhy clear role definitions boost productivityThe AskFollow us on TikTok for Brett’s snarky leadership tips, guaranteed to make you laugh and rethink how you lead your team.The Hit ListBrett’s PicksListening: XO by Elliott SmithReading: YesMadam HR blunder - is it even real? Watching: The PenguinGreg’s PicksListening: Tony Thriller Chill Beats Co. Presents: A Lofi Christmas Story, Vol. 1Watching: Stranger ThingsWatching: Pro Chefs Blind Taste Test Every Instant RamenThe High FiveThis week’s high-five goes to our webinar attendees who helped make it a success! Thanks for your enthusiasm and commitment to building better teams. Join us for a repeat performance on January 23 at noon ET.