The hottest Teamwork Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Saying No to Drama, Disorder, and Failure: Creating a Great Leadership Team

The Leadership Lab • 59 implied HN points • 29 Jan 23
💼 Business Leadership Teamwork Communication Effectiveness Coaching
  1. Improving consciousness, connection, and effectiveness are key for creating a great leadership team.
  2. Being conscious helps improve connection and effectiveness by focusing on truth and taking responsibility.
  3. Working on connection involves improving communication, getting to know team members deeply, and understanding motivations.

The power of yes

Sunday Letters • 179 implied HN points • 07 Aug 22
💼 Business Leadership Negotiation Teamwork Collaboration Communication
  1. Saying 'yes, and...' helps create better conversations and collaboration. It opens up more possibilities instead of shutting them down.
  2. In negotiations, aiming for a quick agreement might seem good, but exploring deeper can lead to greater benefits for both sides.
  3. A 'yes' mindset encourages listening and empathy, helping everyone involved to find better solutions together.

getting stuff done

Midnight Musings • 19 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership Teamwork Management Execution Culture
  1. It's really important for everyone on a team to be clear about what success looks like. When everyone understands the goals and expectations, it helps avoid frustration and saves time.
  2. Planning is key before starting projects. When people know their roles and the project scope from the beginning, things go smoother and it's easier to stay on track.
  3. Good communication can make a big difference. Sharing information openly helps build trust and keeps everyone on the same page, leading to better teamwork and collaboration.

Bad communication is always your fault

Sunday Letters • 199 implied HN points • 03 Apr 22
🚌 Education Communication Leadership Teamwork Problem Solving Personal Development
  1. Effective communication is a shared responsibility. If someone doesn't understand you, it's worth examining how you can express your thoughts more clearly.
  2. People generally want to understand each other. If communication fails, it's important to explore what might be blocking the other person from grasping your message.
  3. Assuming good intent can help improve communication. If you treat every miscommunication as your responsibility, it can lead to better conversations.

Building more Psychological Safety on teams using the power of fish!

PeopleStorming • 39 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Teamwork Psychological safety Workshops
  1. The Stinky Fish exercise is a tool to help teams surface worries and fears in a safe space, promoting open dialogue and confronting concerns.
  2. The exercise, rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy, can be used at the start of projects to create psychological safety in the team.
  3. Steps include providing context, allowing team members to jot down 'Stinky Fish', sharing in a circle, and emphasizing the value of open communication for team success.
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Is the team for you or are you for the team?

Sunday Letters • 119 implied HN points • 18 Sep 22
💼 Business Leadership Management Teamwork Organizational Design Human Resources
  1. Think of leadership like an upside-down org chart. The people doing the work should be at the top, and the manager is there to support them. It shows that the team's work is what truly matters.
  2. Managers shouldn't push team members into roles they aren't excited about. Instead, they should place people where their skills fit best, benefiting the team.
  3. The team exists to achieve goals together, not to serve the manager's needs. As a manager, your job is to help the team solve their problems, not the other way around.

Humility in leadership

Sunday Letters • 179 implied HN points • 07 Mar 22
💼 Business Leadership Management Teamwork Ego Trust
  1. Leadership is more about humility than ego. Good leaders focus on building teams and serving others rather than seeking personal glory.
  2. Delegating tasks shows trust and humility. When leaders do everything themselves, it can lead to team disengagement and increased pressure.
  3. Healthy leaders help their teams shine. They prioritize the success of their team over their own needs or recognition.

Building Bridges

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership Organizational dynamics Teamwork Networking
  1. Leadership potential involves connection and building bridges between people and organizations beyond operational delivery and political skills.
  2. Strategic leaders build bridges to foster cohesion and unity of purpose, enabling effective decision-making and problem-solving in dynamic environments.
  3. Bridge builders in organizations facilitate interconnectedness, reduce factionalism, and enhance speed and alignment in achieving strategic goals.

Sports after a Stolen Childhood

Variations on a Theme • 19 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
🎾 Sports Emotions Pandemic impact Teamwork Resilience
  1. Sports provide children with the opportunity to experience success and failure in a short period, helping them learn to navigate intense emotions.
  2. Experiencing emotional highs and lows in sports is crucial for children's emotional development and teaches them to control powerful feelings.
  3. The pandemic deprived children of valuable experiences in sports, impacting their emotional growth and development negatively.

RDEL #22: How does gratitude influence the stress levels of software engineers?

Research-Driven Engineering Leadership • 19 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Productivity Leadership Teamwork Gratitude
  1. Gratitude has a significant negative relationship with perceived stress and fatigue in software engineers - more gratitude means less stress and fatigue.
  2. Women software engineers reported higher levels of stress and fatigue on average compared to men in the study.
  3. Showing gratitude in software engineering teams can reduce stress, increase happiness, and boost productivity - leaders should prioritize cultivating a culture of gratitude.

How to Run a Data-Driven Engineering Org Without Being a Performance Tyrant

Dev Interrupted • 88 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
💼 Business Management Data-driven Leadership Teamwork Productivity
  1. Stack ranking is natural human behavior, but it may not be suitable for engineering teams.
  2. Data-driven does not mean stack ranking; software development teams are more like bands where everyone depends on each other.
  3. Avoid data-driven leadership anti-patterns by knowing your 'why', measuring more than individual stats, and not relying on easily available metrics.

Asking the dumb questions

Sunday Letters • 159 implied HN points • 08 Nov 21
🚌 Education Learning Mindset Teamwork Communication Development
  1. When you're new to a situation, it's good to watch and listen first. This helps you learn more about what's going on.
  2. Asking 'dumb' questions can be really powerful. They often bring up thoughts that others on the team might be too shy to voice.
  3. Encouraging new team members to ask questions keeps the team flexible and open to change. Celebrating these questions can help everyone grow.

What I really miss in retirement

Ben’s Blog 🏉 🧠🧑‍💻 • 40 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Retirement Mental health Community Teamwork Happiness
  1. Being part of a team striving towards a common goal brings a sense of purpose and fulfillment in retirement.
  2. Belonging to a community or family and contributing to something greater than oneself is vital for health and happiness.
  3. Connecting with others and slowing down to be part of a team can lead to long-term satisfaction, unlike pursuing individual success hastily.

Humility in leadership

Sunday Letters • 99 implied HN points • 24 Apr 22
💼 Business Leadership Organizational Teamwork Management Strategy
  1. Leadership should be about helping others, not just about personal achievement. Think about how you can support your team instead of just focusing on being at the top.
  2. An inverted org chart can help visualize leadership as a service. Instead of one person at the top, imagine the leader at the bottom, supporting the team that does the work.
  3. Making decisions in leadership requires humility. It's important to delegate and build trust, as this creates a more effective and supportive team environment.

How to ask questions

Splattern • 19 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Workplace Socializing Teamwork Personal Growth Culinary
  1. Think carefully before asking questions. It helps if you try to solve the problem by yourself first, as this can lead to new ideas.
  2. Building social connections with coworkers is important. Joining in on conversations can strengthen teamwork and collaboration.
  3. Having support from coworkers, like feedback on your work, can really boost your productivity and motivation.

"My favorite colleague"

The Daily Developer • 19 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
💼 Business Professionalism Communication Teamwork Leadership Self-Improvement
  1. Describing someone as your favorite colleague is a significant compliment as it reflects trustworthiness, professionalism, and skill.
  2. Proactively updating colleagues on your progress can elevate how they perceive you, improve your preparedness, and set a good example for the team.
  3. Taking the initiative to communicate with your team members will not only earn you more respect but also enhance collaboration and productivity.

Ask your team this simple question: 'What can we subtract?'

The Kahneman Bot • 19 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
💼 Business Product Management Innovation Simplicity Teamwork
  1. Subtraction can be more effective than addition in problem-solving. Always ask 'What can we subtract?'
  2. In product development, companies like WhatsApp, Canva, and Apple have succeeded by simplifying their interfaces and products.
  3. To incorporate subtraction in product processes, reduce cognitive load, optimize notifications, and reassess onboarding. Team exercises like 'Subtract the Obvious' and 'Worst Feature Elimination' can help identify what to remove.

Psychological Safety

Fish Food for Thought • 16 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💼 Business Teamwork Data-driven Decision Making Psychological safety Human Interaction Collaboration
  1. Psychological safety is crucial for team success, more than individual skills or composition.
  2. Google's Project Aristotle highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills in successful teams.
  3. Data-driven decision-making is essential, but human elements like trust and open communication are critical for team success.

The Power of Recognition in Engineering Leaders: A Deep Dive into the Philosophy and Practice

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 19 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
💼 Business Leadership Management Philosophy Teamwork Recognition
  1. Recognition is more than just giving rewards; it's about appreciating each person's contributions. A simple thank you can boost team morale and motivation.
  2. Philosophers like Hegel and Honneth highlight that recognition helps people feel valued and fosters teamwork. When team members feel respected, they work better together.
  3. Leaders should be careful to recognize everyone fairly and genuinely. It's important not to overlook quieter team members and to give meaningful recognition without overwhelming the team.

untitled map app says goodbye

an email from eugene • 1 HN point • 30 Apr 24
💼 Business Startup Investment Teamwork Health Failure
  1. Building a startup with remote cofounders is challenging; physical proximity is crucial in the early stages.
  2. When combining a project with a full-time job, clear agreements on expectations and future plans are essential to prevent stalling and conflicts.
  3. Discussing and establishing clear responsibilities and boundaries with your cofounder from the beginning is crucial to avoid uncertainty and mismatched expectations.

Scrum - use the good parts too!

Nikola’s Substack • 1 HN point • 20 Apr 24
💼 Business Management Productivity Teamwork Project management Leadership
  1. Consider streamlining meetings in Scrum - fewer, more effective meetings can be beneficial.
  2. Simplify story points and estimations in Scrum by setting straightforward guidelines to avoid confusion and enhance planning.
  3. Maintain the core strengths of Scrum like sprint structure and the Scrum Master role, while adapting them to best suit the team and project needs.

Shape of "Trust" - Pt 3: Roads - When Teams Lack Trust

Building Rome(s) • 7 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
💼 Business Teamwork Leadership Communication Trust Conflict resolution
  1. Trust is vital for effective teamwork, based on collaborative problem-solving, honesty, respect, mutual support, and open communication.
  2. Undermining factors of trust among teams include ego, politics, incompetence, and failure of leadership.
  3. Technical Program Managers (TPMs) can address challenges by promoting humility, managing relationships, identifying struggles, and advocating for transparency.