People and culture specialist Claire Gray, author of the new book Thriving Teams: When Teams Unite, Align and Achieve, dives into what truly makes a business excel—whether you’re leading a handful of people, working with an evolving group of freelancers, or just starting to build your own crew. Claire shares insights from her extensive experience in leadership development, team dynamics, and her own entrepreneurial journey. We cover the essentials of building strong teams, the difference between simply performing and genuinely thriving, and why understanding your purpose and practicing quality conversations can make all the difference. You’ll also learn practical strategies for fostering psychological safety, empathy, and accountability, even when your team is made up of remote workers or freelancers. Key topics 1. The Essentials of Thriving Teams Key differences between dysfunctional, complacent, performing, and thriving teams Importance of purpose, meaningful work, and strong relationships Psychological safety as a foundation for honest conversations and innovation 2. Leadership Skills and Development Common leadership gaps, especially in small businesses and among new leaders The growing value of “soft” (human) skills like empathy and feedback The three facets of authentic leadership: empathy, assertiveness, adaptiveness 3. Creating Alignment and Accountability Defining clear roles, goals, and behavioral expectations as teams grow Importance of regular, quality conversations to build alignment Shared accountability and giving/receiving feedback within the team 4. Fostering Healthy Team Culture Encouraging healthy debate and curiosity for growth and innovation Building human connection and togetherness, even with remote or freelance teams Incorporating rituals and intentionality in meetings for engagement 5. Practical Steps and Resources Tips for discovering purpose and leveraging team strengths Addressing misalignment or tension through open communication and curiosity Resources like Claire Gray ’s book and practical tools for team development Time-stamped overview 00:00 From Psychology to HR Journey 03:06 Leadership Skills Gap Insights 06:45 "Defining Purpose at Four Levels" 13:07 "Psychological Safety and Team Alignment" 14:08 Fostering Open, Respectful Conversations 17:20 "Psychological Safety and Accountability" 20:46 Empathy, Authenticity, Adaptive Leadership 24:09 "Effective and Intentional Meetings" 30:08 "Fostering Quality Conversations" 31:19 "Thriving Team Insights with Claire" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices