Cracking the code of successful teams | Max Hunter | TEDxVUAmsterdam

Summary

Max Hunter introduces 'Togethership,' a leadership skill combining togetherness and leadership to foster cohesive, resilient teams. Drawing from his experience, Hunter emphasizes the importance of a positive Monday morning feeling for motivation and productivity. He shares a story of a struggling team that, through trust-building and shared aspirations, overcame obstacles to achieve remarkable progress. Hunter outlines the four keys to 'Togethership': bringing people together, connecting on a human level, building vulnerability-based trust, and co-creating solutions. He encourages leaders to unlock this potential in their teams for greater success and employee satisfaction.

Takeaways

• 🚀 'Togethership' is a leadership skill that combines togetherness and leadership to create a cohesive, resilient, and effective team.
• 🌟 Max Hunter, with over 20 years of experience, emphasizes the importance of creating a positive team environment where people look forward to Monday mornings.
• 🎯 The 'Chief Joy Officer' role is about fostering a workplace where employees are excited to make a difference and contribute to a positive culture.
• 📈 Research shows that a positive employee experience can lead to up to three times the return on assets and more than double the return on sales.
• 🔥 Leaders often face a 'bad Monday morning feeling' due to issues like people escalating problems, toxic workplace culture, and constant firefighting.
• 💡 The story of a team in a challenging situation demonstrates how investing time in togethership activities can lead to breakthroughs and solutions.
• 🔍 The 'wall of frustration' and 'wall of hopes' exercises are tools used to identify and address what's holding a team back and what they aspire to achieve.
• 🌱 The ancient tribal structure of humans, where togetherness and trust were crucial for survival, provides a foundation for modern team dynamics.
• 🔑 The four keys to togethership are: bringing people together, connecting on a human level, building vulnerability-based trust, and co-creating solutions.
• 💼 A simple exercise to start implementing togethership is asking team members what's on their plate outside of work and genuinely listening to their responses.

Q & A

What is the concept of 'Togethership' as described in the script?

Togethership is a leadership skill that combines the words 'togetherness' and 'leadership' to create a cohesive, resilient, and effective team.

What is the significance of the Chief Joy Officer role in the context of Togethership?

The Chief Joy Officer role is significant because it aims to create a positive work environment where people look forward to Mondays, which is a key aspect of fostering Togethership.

How does the script suggest improving the 'Monday morning feeling' to enhance employee experience?

The script suggests improving the 'Monday morning feeling' by creating a positive work culture that fosters Togethership, which can lead to increased motivation, productivity, and effectiveness.

What is the impact of a negative Monday morning feeling on a team according to the script?

A negative Monday morning feeling can lead to decreased motivation, productivity, and effectiveness, and can be caused by issues like people escalating problems, toxic workplace culture, and constant firefighting.

What is the 'wall of frustration' exercise mentioned in the script and how does it help in building Togethership?

The 'wall of frustration' is an exercise where team members post their frustrations and obstacles on a wall. It helps in building Togethership by identifying and addressing the issues that hinder the team's progress.

How does the script link the concept of Togethership to ancient tribal behavior?

The script links Togethership to ancient tribal behavior by highlighting how humans thrived by coming together in tribes, sharing stories, and having each other's backs, which is the foundation of the Togethership concept.

What are the four keys to unlocking Togethership as outlined in the script?

The four keys to unlocking Togethership are: 1) Bringing people together intentionally, 2) Connecting on a human level, 3) Building vulnerability-based trust, and 4) Co-creating solutions together.

Why is it important to share stories and laughter in building Togethership, according to the script?

Sharing stories and laughter is important because it helps in connecting on a human level and there is physiological evidence that shows benefits to bonding when people laugh together.

What is the role of vulnerability in building trust within a team as described in the script?

Vulnerability plays a crucial role in building trust within a team by allowing members to share their struggles and needs, fostering a deeper level of understanding and support among team members.

How can the simple question 'What have you got on your plate right now?' help in fostering Togethership?

Asking 'What have you got on your plate right now?' helps in fostering Togethership by encouraging team members to share their personal and professional challenges, which can lead to increased empathy and support within the team.