To bring specialists into teams with different skill sets takes good communication and a knowledge of the history of the team you’re integrating. Doing this well means everyone can point their skills at solving problems.

Ash Winter is an experienced software tester who has a particular interest in how teams and organisations work. Ash has been a software tester for over 15 years, and has experience as a consultant, helping organisations improve their testing processes.

In his role he’s seen a wide range of team structures and sizes, and he’s particularly focused on the challenges and opportunities of being a specialist within a team.

Three reasons to listen

• Understand the unique challenges and opportunities of being a specialist in a cross-functional team
• Explore the impact of team history and dynamics on integrating new specialists
• Learn about the evolving role of software testers and their influence in modern development teams

Episode highlights

• [00:09:14] Testing teams
• [00:14:29] The problem with "embedding" into a team
• [00:16:30] The Spotify model
• [00:19:48] Communities of practice
• [00:22:57] Agile methodologies with multidisciplinary teams
• [00:28:05] The benefits of a coaching qualification
• [00:30:19] Ash's book recommendation
• [00:31:42] Takeaways from Dan and Pia

Links

• Connect with Ash via LinkedIn
• Team Topologies: Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow, by Matthew Skelton & Pais Manuel
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni
• The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement, by Eliyahu Goldratt
• The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win, by Gene Kim
• Leave us a voice note

Workplaces need to provide better support and flexibility to parents coming back from having a child. And more needs to be done to redress the imbalance of working mums vs working dads.

Jessica Heagren is the founder of Careers After Babies, and an advocate for gender equality in the workplace, particularly for women coming back after maternity leave. Jess has conducted extensive research on the career impacts of having children and has published a report uncovering some surprising statistics that don’t all make for happy reading.

Three reasons to listen

• Explore the challenges and solutions for women returning to work after maternity leave
• Understand the impact of traditional gender roles on shared parental leave and workplace dynamics
• Learn the importance of empathetic and inclusive line management in supporting working parents

Episode highlights

• [00:10:54] The Careers After Babies report
• [00:12:07] Gender pay gap
• [00:13:57] Why only 15% of couples talk about who works
• [00:16:25] The 7 themes from the report
• [00:21:57] "Everyone's replaceable"
• [00:25:51] What the next generation of parents holds for the worwkplace
• [00:27:48] The need for more empathy
• [00:33:34] Have the conversation
• [00:34:48] Jess' media recommendation
• [00:36:15] Takeaways from Dan and Pia

Links

• Connect with Jessica via LinkedIn
• The Equal Parent: Why Sharing the Load Matters, by Paul Morgan-Bentley
• The Careers After Babies report
• Leave us a voice note

Effective leadership means understanding the needs of all stakeholders, not just your team members. When teams broaden their thinking to their customer base, to the wider ecology, and even to future generations, they make more effective decisions.

Professor Peter Hawkins has a lifetime of experience working on systemic team coaching, leadership development, and organisational change. He’s a pioneer in integrating strategic and culture change along with leadership development, and he emphasises the importance of connecting personal, team, organisational, and ecological levels of change.

Three reasons to listen

• Learn about systemic team coaching and how to effectively integrate stakeholder perspectives into team dynamics
• Understand the importance of collective purpose in team development and how it drives effective collaboration and learning
• Explore the concept of the pracademic, and the value they bring to team coaching environments

Episode highlights

• [00:07:26] Finding the learning edge
• [00:09:42] As practical as a good theory
• [00:11:04] Minimum stakeholder map
• [00:14:32] Leadership is a team sport
• [00:16:21] The 5 disciplines of highly effective teams
• [00:19:29] Where does psychological safety fit in?
• [00:22:12] What can you uniquely do that the world of tomorrow needs?
• [00:24:13] Reframing how we tackle problems and people
• [00:25:41] Peter's media recommendation
• [00:27:17] Takeaways from Dan and Pia

Links

• Connect with Professor Peter Hawkins via LinkedIn
• Systemic Coaching: Delivering Value Beyond the Individual, by Peter Hawkins and Eve Turner
• 5 disciplines of high performance teams
• Leave us a voice note

Life-altering events can reveal the strength and resilience of the human spirit, highlight the value of a supportive network, and reveal the power of compassion and understanding.

Both of this episode’s guests have had first-hand experience in this area. Returning to the podcast is Gillian Coutts, who suffered a stroke in 2022 and has been on a long road to recovery. By her side, along with Gillian’s husband Steve and her family, has been Gillian’s business partner, Jenny Steadman, who has dealt with her own serious health concerns.

This 100th episode is a testament to the power of the We Not Me spirit, and demonstrates what the combination of grit and grace can achieve.

Three reasons to listen

• Hear a powerful story of resilience and recovery
• Learn about the importance of teamwork and support networks during difficult times
• Understand the impact of life-altering events on personal and professional relationships

Episode highlights

• [00:10:37] Gill's life-changing moment
• [00:18:08] What Gill experienced while in a coma
• [00:20:20] Gill's journey of recovery
• [00:27:03] The role of mindfulness in Gill's recovery
• [00:30:07] Strengthening relationships
• [00:39:06] A hopeful future
• [00:43:47] Takeaways from Pia and Dan

Links

• Support Gill’s GoFundMe campaign
• Leave us a voice note

Sport is more than just a game. It serves as a unifying force, bringing people together across generations and cultures. It teaches us valuable lessons about leadership, teamwork, and resilience, and it helps build a sense of community and belonging.

Patrick Skene is the Chief Creative Officer at Culture Pulse, where he engages multicultural communities across various sporting events. He’s also a storyteller, writing about sport, exploring its deeper meaning and significance beyond just being a game.

Three reasons to listen

• Discover how sport serves as a unifying force, engendering a sense of community, and teaching valuable lessons about leadership and teamwork.
• Understand how sport can replace traditional forms of conflict and build positive relationships among diverse communities.
• Explore how sport instils respect for elders and promotes intergenerational bonding.

Links

• Connect with Patrick via LinkedIn
• Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, by Adam Grant
• Leave us a voice note

Episode highlights

• [00:08:04] Sport as a microcosm of human society
• [00:11:37] Why leadership matters
• [00:14:54] Why sport matters at a deep cultural level
• [00:20:38] The consequences of lack of teamwork
• [00:24:59] Engaging different cultures from our own
• [00:27:34] One size does not fit all
• [00:30:01] Patrick's media recommendation
• [00:32:07] Takeaways from Pia and Dan

There’s a wealth of untapped wisdom and information within our teams, but too much goes unspoken. By choosing curiosity, making it safe for others to share, and creating opportunities to ask and listen, we can access these insights, enrich our understanding, and improve our decision-making.

Jeff Wetzler is a human potential and learning expert with a background in business and education. His new book discusses how to tap into the expertise of those around us, and he joins Dan and Pia to share some of the key insights raised through his extensive research into team communication.

Three reasons to listen

• Understand how the quality of your questions can impact the effectiveness of problem-solving within a group
• Learn about ways to enhance communication and connection within teams
• Discover how to tap into the hidden wisdom and expertise of people around you for unexpected breakthroughs

Episode highlights

• [00:05:09] What are we thinking but not saying?
• [00:08:50] What are people not telling us?
• [00:10:25] What holds us back?
• [00:14:35] The "Ask" approach
• [00:26:36] Shut the heck up
• [00:27:34] Three impacts of asking
• [00:30:17] Paraphrase and test
• [00:32:11] Jeff's book recommendation
• [00:33:16] Takeaways from Pia and Dan

Links

• Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life – Jeff’s book
• Remaking the Space Between Us: How Citizens Can Work Together to Build a Better Future for All, by Diana McLain-Smith
• Discover what Squadify can do for your team
• Leave us a voice note

What can you bring into the workplace that can significantly strengthen team bonds, enhance individual self-expression, and contribute to a healthier work environment?

Mette Oscar Pedersen is a facilitator who’s worked with communities, companies, and other groups to bring joy and connection to their work.

In this episode, you’ll

• Learn how to increase connection and empathy in the workplace
• Understand the benefits of incorporating joy into your daily routine
• Discover ways to enhance your relationships with colleagues

Episode highlights

• [00:07:36] Breaking down the fear of moving in public
• [00:14:25] Strengthening community
• [00:19:38] Long-lasting benefits with your colleagues
• [00:21:27] Movement begins at home
• [00:22:43] Mette's book recommendation
• [00:24:38] Takeaways from Pia and Dan

Links

• Connect with Mette via LinkedIn
• The Dance Cure: The surprising secret to being smarter, stronger, happier, by Dr Peter Lovatt
• Discover what Squadify can do for your team
• Leave us a voice note

People often don't speak up in meetings out of fear, a sense of futility, a lack of confidence, or because they just can't be bothered. But active participation and speaking up can significantly advance visibility and career prospects. So leaders and participants alike need to take responsibility for making meetings meaningful and encouraging open communication.

Betina Szkudlarek is a professor in International Management at the University of Sydney Business School. Betina has conducted extensive research on why people often do not voice their opinions and what can be done to encourage people to speak up. In this episode, she shares findings from her research, and offers practical steps for both leaders and participants to ensure everyone’s voice is heard…not just the loudest.

Three reasons to listen

• Understand the common reasons why people often refrain from speaking up in meetings and how it impacts team dynamics
• Learn strategies to encourage active participation and meaningful discussions in meetings
• Discover the importance of restructuring meeting formats to facilitate better engagement and contribution from all attendees

Episode highlights

• [00:08:13] What Betina found in her research
• [00:12:09] Common reasons people don't speak up
• [00:15:34] Administrative bloat
• [00:17:52] Disengagement in meetings
• [00:22:16] Making space for introverts
• [00:25:53] What participants can do in meetings
• [00:29:55] How family dynamics play out in meetings
• [00:32:04] Make just one contribution
• [00:33:14] Betina's media recommendation
• [00:34:54] Takeaways from Dan and Pia

Links

• Connect with Betina via LinkedIn
• Doing Silence: How Silence Is Produced in Meetings – Betina’s research
• The Stupidity Paradox: The Power and Pitfalls of Functional Stupidity at Work, by Mats Alvesson and Andre Spicer
• Harnessing the power of silence – Episode 85, with Bastian Overgaard
• Leave us a voice note