The Future Of Teamwork with Dane Groeneveld

In this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld talks with Scott Morris, Founder and CEO of PropulsionAI, to explore the future of HR and the groundbreaking role of AI as a teammate. Scott shares how his unconventional career path – from LAPD officer to C-level HR executive to tech founder – inspired him to create Athena, an AI-powered coach designed to help managers hire smarter, lead better, and scale more effectively. Tune in to hear how AI is changing the future of interviewing, hiring, and teamwork.🔗 Connect with Scott on LinkedInKey Takeaways:00:00 Introduction to the Future of Teamwork Podcast01:33 Meet Scott Morris: From LAPD to HR Innovator04:43 The Human Toll of Mis-Hiring07:06 The Concept of Fit in the Workplace08:56 Introducing Athena: AI as a Teammate14:54 The Role of AI in HR and Recruitment25:04 The Importance of Front-Loaded Hard Work25:22 Dynamic Team Planning and Succession26:17 Onboarding to Results: A New Approach26:32 Athena's Role in Performance Measurement27:20 Creating Target Results and Performance Charters29:24 The Tragic Reality of Employee Engagement30:54 Outcome-Based Job Descriptions34:57 The Role of Managers in Employee Success42:55 The Future of AI and Human Collaboration46:16 Final Thoughts and How to Connect

Cerys Goodall, Founder of The Goods and COO at Vetster, offers a fresh take on leadership and team dynamics. She discusses the importance of emotional intelligence in hiring and coaching, and why celebrating the 'weird and wonderful' can strengthen teams. Cerys highlights the dangers of fear masquerading as ambition and the need to transform leadership styles to be more collaborative. She also shares insights on cultivating trust within organizations and leveraging storytelling and diversity for a thriving workplace.

In this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld chats with Sabina Nawaz, CEO Coach & Advisor, keynote speaker, and author of You’re The Boss, to explore how pressure – not power – is what corrupts leadership. Sabina shares her powerful personal story of how she went from a once-compassionate manager at Microsoft to someone she no longer recognized under the crushing weight of work, parenthood, and expectations, and the lessons she learned from it.Sabina introduces practical strategies leaders can use to become more effective, self-aware managers, universal "pressure pitfalls" and "power gaps" leaders fall into, and why leaders must get out of the way to allow their teams to thrive. Whether you lead a team or aspire to, this conversation offers a thoughtful and accessible roadmap for navigating the very human side of leadership.Key Takeaways:Pressure corrupts, not power.The importance of empathy in leadership.Creating a supportive environment enhances team performance.Feedback should start with the employee's perspective.Multiple meanings can lead to better problem-solving.Leaders should create a container for team growth.Emotional awareness is crucial for effective leadership.Mattering is essential for team members' engagement.Communication fault lines can hinder team dynamics.Micro habits can lead to significant changes.

In this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld talks with Dan Tocchini, Co-Founder of Take New Ground, a consulting firm focused on maximizing organizational performance and efficiency.Dan breaks down how most workplace conflict stems from unspoken needs, unmet expectations, and the fear of rocking the boat. Dan explores the high cost of avoiding hard conversations and how leaders can unlock deeper trust and stronger alignment by choosing candor over comfort.If you’ve ever struggled to get your team on the same page, or sensed misalignment but didn’t know how to surface it, this episode is a masterclass in courageous leadership and creative conflict resolution.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction to the Future of Teamwork Podcast01:37 Meet Dan Tocchini: A Journey in Leadership02:28 Personal Stories and Leadership Lessons04:38 Aligning Personal and Corporate Agendas09:54 The Importance of Difficult Conversations11:52 Case Study: Navigating Team Challenges14:51 Frameworks for Effective Leadership23:15 Building Synergy and Alignment in Teams26:07 Overcoming Fear and Self-Sabotage27:32 The Importance of Clarity in Teams28:25 Effective Leadership Trainings31:47 Coaching and Accountability33:37 Living as Your Word36:23 Addressing Team Dynamics43:30 Founding Take New Ground44:40 Resources and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld chats with Roit Feldenkreis, a globally recognized orchestral conductor, performance coach, public speaker, and CEO of BHZ Consulting. Roit shares how the skills she honed on the conductor’s podium, building trust in minutes, leading without micromanaging, and uniting world-class talent around a shared vision, translate directly to high-performing leadership in the corporate world.Whether you're the CEO of a business or leading a team of any kind, this conversation will shift how you think about leadership, trust, and teamwork.Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction to the Future of Teamwork Podcast01:28 Meet Roit Feldenkreis: Conductor and Entrepreneur02:17 Roit's Musical Journey: From Singer to Conductor04:18 The Magic of Conducting: Leadership Lessons from the Orchestra06:49 Building Trust Quickly: The Conductor's Challenge12:03 Parallels Between Conducting and Corporate Leadership14:46 The Symphonic Leadership Framework and Maestro Method17:35 Core Principles of Effective Leadership25:41 Acknowledging Amazing Professionals26:10 Handling Team Member Resentment26:52 Understanding and Supporting Team Members28:57 Micromanagement and Creativity32:39 The Importance of Purpose in Performance34:32 Balancing High Performance and Well-being38:12 Coaching and Workshops for Leaders42:02 The Isolation of Leadership44:24 Emotional Mastery and Vision48:39 Conclusion and Contact Information

In this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld welcomes back author and collaboration expert Leo Bottary to dive into the second edition of his book Peernovation. With experience working with over 800 groups and teams, Leo shares what he's learned about the dynamics that make high-performing teams thrive – focusing on continuous improvement and celebration, learning (both intentional and collateral), and the Servant Leadership Triad.Whether you lead a team or are part of one, this episode is packed with actionable insight on how to build a culture where people feel seen, supported, and motivated to bring their best selves to the table.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction to the Future of Teamwork Podcast01:41 Meet Leo Bottary: Founder of Peernovation02:03 Diving into Peernovation's Second Edition03:16 The Learning Achieving Cycle05:06 The Role of Psychological Safety09:00 The Power of Asking for Help15:29 Celebrating Achievements and Reflecting on Gains23:56 Quarterly Review Cycle Insights24:15 Embracing Intelligent Failure25:33 Intentional and Collaborative Learning28:31 Coaching and Collateral Learning30:34 Intentionality in Leadership33:52 Commitment and Team Dynamics40:40 Asynchronous Meetings and Participation43:33 Balancing Outcomes and Outputs

In this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld sits down with Cheri Torres and Jackie Stavros, co-authors of Conversations Worth Having and co-founders of the Conversations Worth Having Institute.Cheri and Jackie share how their 25-year journey with Appreciative Inquiry led them to a powerful framework for transforming communication in teams, communities, and everyday life.Together, they explore how the kinds of conversations we have – whether they build up or break down – shape our relationships, leadership, and ability to collaborate. Whether you're leading a team, navigating family dynamics, or rethinking how to give feedback, this episode offers actionable insights into how meaningful dialogue can spark productivity, trust, and positive change. Enjoy 30% off the CWH Foundations Course with the code: FUTUREOFTEAMS Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction to the Future of Teamwork Podcast01:40 Meet the Guests: Cheri Torres and Jackie Stavros02:18 The Journey to Conversations Worth Having02:36 Understanding Appreciative Inquiry03:26 The Power of Conversations in Building Relationships04:41 Practical Applications of Appreciative Inquiry05:12 The Infinite Game: Moving Beyond Competition06:04 Curiosity in Leadership06:55 The Two Methods for Conversations Worth Having09:10 Implementing Conversations Worth Having in Teams11:47 The Conversations Worth Having Institute15:18 Expanding the Impact of Conversations Worth Having16:04 The Importance of Feedback and Feet Forward21:07 Transforming Internal Dialogue25:36 Operationalizing Conversations Worth Having26:32 Moving Forward with Organizational Change27:12 Appreciative Inquiry and the Five Ds30:12 SOAR Framework Explained31:10 Balancing Individual and Collective Aspirations34:41 Implementing Rapid SOAR in Meetings39:45 Prototyping and Strategic Conversations43:16 Leadership and Control in Strategic Conversations45:05 Getting Started with the Two Practices

In this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld chats with Tony Martignetti, Chief Illumination Officer at Inspired Purpose Partners, TEDx speaker, and author of Climbing the Right Mountain and Campfire Lessons for Leaders. Tony shares his unconventional journey from biotech finance executive to leadership coach and storyteller, driven by a personal experience with burnout and disconnection. They discuss how storytelling, rituals, and play can unlock deeper connections in teams. If you’re a leader looking for new ways to build real connection and authenticity within your team, this episode will leave you inspired.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction to the Future of Teamwork Podcast01:30 Meet Tony Martignetti: Leadership Advisor and Author03:20 Tony's Journey: From Burnout to Illumination08:27 The Power of Conversation in Teams11:11 Bringing Your True Self to Work19:29 The Birth of the Virtual Campfire Podcast23:17 Igniting the Fire: Empowering Teams to Sustain Growth24:07 Lifecycle of Team Engagement: When to Rekindle the Flame25:22 Virtual vs. In-Person: The Efficacy of Team Building27:33 The Power of Play: Rediscovering Joy in the Workplace29:50 Dressing Up for Success: Breaking the Professional Mold33:09 Climbing the Right Mountain: Lessons from Leadership36:11 Creating the Right Environment: Leadership and Team Dynamics41:30 Final Thoughts and Ways to Connect

In this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld sits down with Van Lai-DuMone, founder and CEO of worksmart Advantage and author of What If Pigs Can Fly? to explore how creativity can transform the workplace. Dane and Van explore the power of divergent and convergent thinking, how to build psychological safety through play, and why the “worst idea ever” might be the best place to start. If you're looking for practical tools to boost innovation and connection in your team, this conversation is filled with insights you’ll want to take back to your next meeting.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction to the Future of Teamwork Podcast01:47 Meet the Guest: Van Lai-DuMone Background and Journey04:07 The Birth of worksmart Advantage07:34 Creativity in the Workplace: Tools and Techniques11:28 The Power of Divergent and Convergent Thinking12:42 Building Trust and Psychological Safety17:14 The Role of Creativity in Team Development24:38 The Importance of Creative Tools25:14 Embracing Creative Chaos26:15 Creativity in Everyday Work27:04 Creative Exercises for Meetings28:09 The Value of Process Over Results28:34 Creativity Across Different Functions29:41 Transitioning with Creativity31:09 Introducing the Book: What If Pigs Can Fly?31:45 Framework for Following Curiosity39:37 Applying Creativity in Personal Life42:42 Final Thoughts on Creativity and Curiosity

In this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld interviews Jenna Cohen, Senior Vice President of Team Effectiveness at LEAD3R. They have a thoughtful discussion on the evolving role of organizational development and how effective teams are designed, not just built.Dane and Jenna explore why proactive planning and culture-setting are key to long-term success, how to create the right conditions for teams to thrive during change, and the importance of mid-level leadership and peer alignment in cross-functional work. Plus, Jenna shares innovative exercises for building strong team dynamics.Whether you're an executive, team leader, or just passionate about building healthier organizations, this episode offers insights on how to make team effectiveness a strategic advantage.Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction to the Future of Teamwork Podcast01:21 Meet Jenna Cohen: Journey into Team Effectiveness05:49 Exploring Organizational Effectiveness08:09 Proactive vs. Reactive Team Strategies15:58 New Leader Assimilation and Team Dynamics20:53 Creating a Culture of Feedback and Reflection26:48 Respecting Time and Productivity27:28 The Power of Reflection and Intention28:48 Effective Team Dynamics and Superpowers29:50 Storytelling and Personal Journeys39:25 Building Community and Connection43:33 The Importance of Diverse Perspectives49:20 Concluding Thoughts on Teamwork and CommunityResources:Lifeline - River of Life Exercise: https://lead3r.com/enspira_podcast/the-future-of-teamwork-organizational-effectiveness-team-design-for-change-with-jenna-cohen/