Teamcraft

"The lawyer should be on tap, but never on top. It's got to be the client's issue. It's got to be their fight, and you should be there ready for the advice, ready for putting the case, whatever it is" In this episode, Mark and Andrew welcome Hannah Blom-Cooper, a seasoned civil fraud lawyer and partner at Greenberg Traurig. Hannah provides a fascinating look into the world of litigation, the distinct roles of solicitors and barristers, and the intricacies of insolvency law. She shares her experiences in assembling legal teams under urgent conditions, navigating the heavy regulation in the legal profession, and balancing workloads within her team. Hannah also delves into the challenges of managing vulnerability and uncertainty in law firms, emphasizing the importance of trust and effective communication. Memorably, she introduces her 'Third in line for the Conga' metaphor for leadership and her unique insights into team dynamics. This episode captures the inner workings of legal teams and the skills required to thrive in a high-pressure environment. Pass it on resources In this episode the following resources were mentioned, or recommended by Hannah: Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Grant discussing Hidden PotentialAdam Grant's Hidden Potential, The Science of Achieving Greater Things Chapters Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

In this Teamcraft episode, Mark and Andrew talk about their fascination with the origins and evolution of the word "team", and how it came to indicate near-magical properties of cooperation when compared to other words like ‘group’, or perhaps, ‘committee’... The journey starts with the discovery that there are some misattributions of the word team gaining its special meaning, but that it may well have been emergent in groundbreaking research by the Tavistock Institute in the 1950s and 1960s. The episode uncovers the research carried out by Eric Trist, Ken Bamforth and a number of other Tavistock researchers’ into the newly nationalised British coal industry’s. The forced adoption of a new style of industrialised ‘longwall mining’ had profound long-term, social and psychological impact on miners and mining communities. Mark and Andrew discuss how the Tavistock Institute discovered highly effective ‘composite’ teams working in a Yorkshire coal mine, and laid the foundations for the school of “socio-technical design”—a concept that integrates the technical and social aspects of workplace systems. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:24 - Historical insights on teamwork 00:02:18 - The Tavistock Institute and their research 00:04:34 - History of coal mining in Britain 00:07:17 - Industrial rivalry and mining dangers 00:09:37 - Nationalization and modernization of mines 00:11:20 - Explanation of British mining processes 00:17:26 - Introduction of Longwall Mining System 00:24:17 - Impact of Industrialized Mining on Workers 00:26:16 - Hierarchical Changes and Worker Morale 00:31:15 - Tavistock's Intervention in Mining Practices 00:36:26 - Discovery of Composite Teams 00:40:26 - Principles of Socio-technical Design 00:36:00 - Trist’s principles for a new paradigm of work Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

“We need to put aside our selfish impulses and wants and subsume those for helping make our colleagues successful and ultimately the team successful.” Mark and Andrew are joined by Dave Winsborough, an organisational psychologist, entrepreneur and author. We explore the differences between teams and groups, the challenges of artificial team stimulation, the importance of psychological safety, the power of rituals in teams, and the role of personality in team dynamics. We also discuss the misuse of personality tests and the value of team reflection. This episode highlights the complexities and nuances of teamwork and provides insights for individuals and leaders looking to enhance team performance. Pass it on resources In this episode the following resources were mentioned, or recommended by Dave: Dave Winsborough: Fusion: the psychology of teamsDeeper Signals: https://www.deepersignals.com/Douglas Hofstadter: Godel, Escher, BachMichael Tomasello: Why we cooperateRon Carucci: How leaders fake psychological safetySuzanne Bell: Team Composition and the ABCs of TeamworkChapters 00:00 Intro 01:26 The Misconception of Teams in Organizations 03:55 Team Zeitgeist in Modern Organizations 06:08 The Organic Formation of Effective Teams 07:08 Shared Intentions and Team Dynamics 08:07 The Misinterpretation of Sports Teams in Business 10:18 Implementing Shared Intentions in Team Management 12:23 Psychological Safety and Team Communication 17:48 The Role of Team Building Activities 20:21 Critique of Traditional Team Building Approaches 22:32 Effective Team Building and Followership Training 26:56 Personality Traits and Team Composition 33:02 Using Personality Assessments in Teams 35:31 Deeper Signals: A Modern Approach to Team Assessment 37:22 Balancing Personalities in Team Composition 43:45 Self-Reflection and Improvement in Teams 47:51 Optimizing Team Performance Through Personality Insights 52:57 Quick Fire Questions: Best Team Memory and Red Flags 53:28 Resource Recommendations for Teamwork Insights Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

In 1965, psychologist Bruce Tuckman described how teams move through stages of team maturity, which he christened "forming, storming, norming, and performing". In this episode, Andrew and Mark delve into the intricacies of Bruce Tuckman's famous team development model. They discuss its origins, practical applications, limitations, and the impact on modern team dynamics. We explore Tuckman's background, the history of the model and the paper that introduced it, modern criticism of the model and its relevance in today's organisational contexts. In this episode we talk about: Chapters [00:00:00] Introduction [00:01:30] Origins of the Tuckman Model [00:03:04] Tuckman's Background and Influence [00:08:39] Analysis of Tuckman's paper, "Developmental Sequence in Small Groups" [00:12:50] Critiques of the Tuckman Model [00:17:54] The Stages of the Tuckman Model [00:18:39] The Forming Stage [00:22:45] Impact of Group Dynamics on the Tuckman Model [00:31:04] Alternative View of Tuckman's Behaviors [00:32:33] The Importance of Teamwork as an Ongoing Process [00:37:01] The Norming Phase in Tuckman's Model [00:41:06] Transition from Norming to Performing [00:45:49] The Performing Stage and Leadership Flexibility [00:52:18] The Adjourning Stage: Reflection and Celebration [00:55:19] Final Thoughts on Tuckman's Model Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

In this episode of "Teamcraft," co-hosts Mark Ridley and Andrew Maclaren discuss the evolution of teamwork from its early origins in human and primate ancestors to modern practices in various industries. They explore how teamwork has been influenced by historical, societal, and technological changes, emphasising the adaptability and uniqueness of human collaboration. In this episode we talk about: The Evolution of TeamworkThe Human Capacity for TeamworkThe Role of Communication and TrustThe Influence of Japanese PhilosophyThe Space Age and the Digital AgeSomething to Share: Why We CooperateThe Naked Pilot: The Human Factor in Aircraft AccidentsDigital ApolloChapter Summary 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:00 - The History of Teamwork: From Primates to Early Humans 00:03:00 - The Evolution of Teamwork: From Early Humans to Homo Sapiens 00:04:00 - The Unique Capability of Humans for Teamwork 00:07:00 - The Evolutionary Traits and Brain Development in Humans 00:08:00 - The Concept of Mutualistic and Altruistic Collaboration 00:12:00 - The Role of Communication and Trust in Teamwork 00:13:00 - The Impact of Evolutionary Traits on Modern Teamwork 00:20:00 - The Influence of Japanese Philosophy on Teamwork 00:24:00 - The Role of Language in Teamwork 00:26:00 - The Impact of Digital Age on Teamwork 00:31:00 - The Current State of Teamwork 00:55:00 - Conclusion and Recommendations This podcast episode offers a view of the evolution and significance of teamwork throughout human history, with insights into its current state and future directions. Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

Communication is arguably the most important criteria for a team to exist. Without communication we can't share a goal, distribute tasks or celebrate a success. In this epidsode, Andrew introduces research which considers how teams are created through communication, and Mark reflects on the less obvious but powerful impact that cultural differences have on communication in teams. In this episode we talk about: Something to Share The Culture Map by Erin MeyerAn Officer Not a Gentleman by Mandy HicksonThe Checklist Manifesto by Atul GawandeChapters 00:00:00 - Introductions 00:01:57 - Communicative constitution of teams (CCT) 00:07:29 - Communication is a necessity for teamwork 00:09:39 - Two dimensions in tension 00:14:45 - Cultural differences in communication 00:16:20 - Negative impact of language conventions 00:19:10 - The disruptive power of language 00:25:45 - Checklists 00:34:14 - Teams are nested structures 00:42:48 - But teams rarely form themselves 00:48:59 - Cultural differences in communication 01:03:50 - It's hard to recognise culture when you're in it 01:06:45 - Creative industries vs tech industries 01:13:43 - Does anyone want a cup of tea? 01:15:48 - Takeaways Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

Our guest today is Andrew MacLaren. For those of you who have been following the series, you’ll know that Andrew is the co-host of the Teamcraft podcast. We received some feedback that people would like to hear a bit about us, how we got to be so interested in teamwork and what our own current thinking is on some of the themes we cover in our conversations with guests. Dr Andrew MacLaren is a lecturer based at the CREWS research centre at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. His research is principally concerned with the sociolinguistics of teamwork: how teams communicate. Some of the teamwork projects he is involved in include astronaut communication in deep space exploration and the communication processes of healthcare teams in trauma scenarios. He has researched and authored textbooks, book chapters, peer-reviewed articles and international conference papers on subjects from the British Army in Afghanistan, professional kitchen teams and startup investing. Before entering academia, Andrew spent 10 years working as a tennis coach and as you’ll hear in today’s episode, he still sees a tennis court as his spiritual home. Expect to hear about... Something to Share Talk: The science of conversation by Elizabeth Stokoe Links Andrew on Linkedin Read some recent teamwork articles written by Andrew: There's no 'I' in team, but there is a 'meta' The liability of newness of teams Human Autonomous Teaming: The holy grail of AI Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

If you’ve listened to the podcast so far, you’ll know that Mark is my co-host. We received some feedback that people would like to hear a bit about us, how we got to be so interested in teamwork and what our own current thinking is on some of the themes we cover in our conversations with guests. Mark is a Chief Technology Officer with over two decades of experience that span the dotcom boom and crash and a global technology revolution. Expect to hear about: Something to Share Work Rules! By Laszlo Bock Links https://ridley.co https://www.linkedin.com/in/markridley/ Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

Luke is an international rugby player who plays for Edinburgh Rugby and the Scotland national team. Luke was recently part of Scotland’s successful six nations campaign, where they finished third, their highest finish in recent years. As someone who has progressed through the grass roots of rugby playing for Livingston and Currie Rugby, he has demonstrated his skills both technically and as a leader, recently captaining the Scotland As squad during their tour of South America. Expect to hear about: Something to Share Luke’s ‘Pass it on’ resource is Surrounded by Idiots: The four types of Human Behaviour, by Thomas Erikson Surrounded by Idiots: The four types of Human Behaviour, Thomas Erikson Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

Susie served for 17 years as an Officer in the Royal Navy, where she was a Marine Engineer. After a service career that took her all over the world working on frigates and Aircraft carriers, she retired from the Navy and moved into the private sector, working in oil and gas. From there she moved to the charity sector where she worked as head of external relations for the veterans residences association. After 14 years there, she recently took up the position of Veteran’s Commissioner for Scotland. A public appointment that sees her responsible for the welfare and support for all British military veterans living in Scotland, of whom there are somewhere in the region of 250,000. In her role as Commissioner, Susie holds the Scottish Government and public services to account on how their policies and decisions impact the interests of Veterans. Expect to hear about: Something to Share Susie’s ‘Pass it on’ resource is Nelson: A Personal History, by Christopher Hibbert https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nelson-Personal-History-Christopher-Hibbert/dp/0201408007 Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

Alina is a Global Client Leader at WPP, a leading international marketing communications company. She has over 25 years of experience building global brands for large multinational clients, helping them grow their business through communications, experience, commerce and technology. Originally from the Ukraine and a US national, Alina has lived and worked in the UK, US, Australia and Germany, where she was CEO of Grey Advertising and, later, of DDB Tribal Group. In today’s episode, we hear about Alina’s journey as a young advertising executive in New York to her current leadership role in one of the world’s largest advertising and communications companies. We discuss the importance of high professional standards in teams, the benefits of both working and playing together, how chemistry and shared culture is crucial to high performance, and the unexpected benefits of a scavenger hunt in the woods. Something to Share Alina's ‘Pass it on’ resource are the works of Frances X. Frei, in particular her TED video and podcast. You can also read her article ‘Begin with Trust’ at Harvard Business Review. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-kessel-0857832/ Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

Parser is a software development and digital transformation business, founded by Ricardo and Hernan in 2017 and with clients and offices around the world. Parser offer their clients expertise in Digital Strategy & Transformation, Digital Portfolio Management and Product Development, which is primarily achieved by placing Parser teams within their client’s organisation. As CEO, Ricardo sets and drives Parser’s organisational vision. Before Parser, Ricardo was responsible for building large technology teams, and developed products for the likes of Google, Santander, Ford & Sony As Chief Growth Officer, Hernán is responsible for Parser’s evolution and expansion. He has spent his career helping organisations such as JP Morgan, Disney and Deloitte to design, lead and launch their digital portfolios. In this episode we hear about how Parser approach the challenge of delivering teams into other teams, how even in a technology company the challenges are usually related to people, and how stable teams aren’t always the best way to deliver innovation. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moral/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hernan-griboff-9857411b/ Website: https://parserdigital.com/ Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

Our guest today is Lt Colonel Matt Johns MBE After graduating from University, Matt started his career as an officer in the British Army in 2005, going through the Army’s world-renowned Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. This was an intense period for the UK armed forces with conflict going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, where Matt did multiple deployments as well as time in Kenya and Germany. He then went back to work in the delivery of the officer training programme at the Sandhurst Military Academy. From there Matt retired from the Army and co-founded Fieri leadership and development. A consultancy and education organisation that supports leadership development across all sectors from professional sport to pharmaceuticals. Fieri has a range of top level clients on its books, including Blue chip companies and Premier league football clubs. Expect to hear about: Something to Share Matt’s ‘Pass it on’ resource is Colin Powell’s 13 Rules of Leadership Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-johns-fieri1/ Website: https://fierileadership.com/ Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington

Andrew MacLaren is an academic who researches teamwork. Mark Ridley is an accomplished Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and consultant, who has extensive experience leading and working within with various teams throughout his career. In this introductory episode of the first season, our hosts Andrew and Mark introduce the concept of Teamcraft. They delve into the key aspects of this concept and share insights from their own experiences. Additionally, they discuss the standout moments from the first season and reveal the most surprising moments they encountered during their interviews with their guests. Thanks for listening! Music by Tom Farrington