Teaming with Possibility

What role does humour play in teams? Whether it’s laughter, play or simply seeing the lighter side of things, there’s plenty of research that points out the benefits of humour. But when can humour backfire, and how do you manage it? Send your questions (and favourite jokes!) to Simon at podcast@simondowling.com.au

In this episode, Simon takes a moment to reset his intentions around the podcast - and get back in the groove. We then dive into the idea of a team’s conversational intelligence. Because the way a group engages with each other and with important topics can make or break not just relationships, but value. Say hello to Simon at podcast@simondowling.com.au

Meetings. Some people seem to love them. Some people hate them. But not all meetings are made equal. And if there’s been one constant theme throughout 2023, it’s that teams aren’t doing meetings as well as they could. If the last episode was all about “Finishing Strong”, then this episode is about setting your team up for success by taming the meeting beast. Send your questions or suggestions for future episode themes to podcast@simondowling.com.au

Every team enters phases of finishing. Projects, tasks, quarters, years… How you finish matters. It not only leaves you with a sense of pride and achievement - it sets you up for a strong start to the next chapter. In this first episode for Season 2, recorded with only 7 weeks left in 2023, Simon reflects on the 3 things every team should be thinking about now to ensure they finish strong. A great way to start Season 2! After you listen to this episode, why not go back and listen to Episode 4 - Conjuring Up a Shared Vision - which was all about starting strong! You can find the YouTube video Simon mentions in this episode >> https://shorturl.at/aioDR Send your questions or suggestions for future episode themes to podcast@simondowling.com.au

Teams can be noisy places. Distractions, meetings, corridor conversations - all of which can make it hard to get the important work done. So much so, it can sometimes be hard to get important work done. Contact Simon at podcast@simondowling.com.au

Your team’s culture - and performance - is shaped by the patterns of behaviour embedded within the team. These are habits, and often they’re a sign of what the team is truly “addicted” to - the things you value above all else. In this episode, Simon looks at some common team habits and underlying addictions - and what it takes to reshape those. (Book reference: “Atomic Habits” by James Clear) If you enjoy this episode, please help get this podcast in front of more people like you - all you need to do is hit subscribe and leave a rating. Contact Simon at podcast@simondowling.com.au.

You often hear leaders talk about the importance of hiring for 'cultural fit'. But is that always such a good idea?? What if the REAL strength in teams actually comes from DIFFERENCE? In which case, is there a better way to think of the different kinds of people you need in your team to achieve balance? In this episode, I look at the importance of understanding different team archetypes, and how that can help you to build diversity in skills, perspectives and experiences. If you enjoy this episode, please help me to get this podcast in front of more people like you - by following and leaving a rating. Contact Simon at podcast@simondowling.com.au.

Why do so many teams get caught in conversations that are ‘easy’, but not important. So often, opportunities to tackle big picture questions are wasted as people get stuck “in the weeds”. In this episode, Simon explores why this happens, and how you can prevent it. If you enjoy this episode, please help get this podcast in front of more people like you - all you need to do is hit subscribe and leave a rating. Contact Simon at podcast@simondowling.com.au.

“How often should our team meet?” I get asked this question a lot, and I think it’s for a couple of reasons. First up, most teams are struggling in some way to get meetings right. Second, meetings have such an impact on a team’s culture and its ability to get stuff done. In this episode of Teaming with Possibility, I examine what a “healthy diet” of meetings looks like - and share the 6 things that every team should balance its meetings around. You can find the YouTube video I mention in this episode at https://youtu.be/1GIUwXX1JqQ If you enjoy this episode, please help me to get this podcast in front of more people like you - all you need to do is hit subscribe and leave a rating. Contact Simon at podcast@simondowling.com.au.

“What do you think underpins every great team?” That’s a question someone asked me recently and, after a moment of reflection, two things came to mind: connection and co-creation. In this episode, I explore what ‘co-creation’ really means, and why so many teams get it wrong. And why it’s such an important ingredient to success. I then share 4 ways in which teams can build their co-creation muscle. If you enjoy this episode, please do me a favour and hit ‘subscribe’ and leave a review - it will help me to share these ideas with a wider audience. You can also get in touch with me at podcast@simondowling.com.au.

There’s a clichéd and slightly irritating expression, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” But what about when teamwork become the stuff of nightmares? In this episode, Simon talks about the very real problem of over-collaboration, and how it’s killing people’s motivation, productivity and creativity - not to mention its effect on wellbeing. So what can you do to deal with it? Simon shares 3 tips for taming the collaboration beast when it gets a little carried away. If you enjoyed this, don’t forget to leave a review and subscribe. You can also get in touch with Simon at podcast@simondowling.com.au.

Every great team is bound together by one thing: energy. Being part of a team will either energise you or deplete you of energy - which feeds straight into your work and your wellbeing. How energised is your team? How do they make each other feel? And what role do you play in that? In this episode, I share a few ideas for how you can positively influence the energy that flows through your team. If you’d like to check out the YouTube video I mention in this episode, you can find it at https://youtu.be/FhY2IFFsuW4 Email me your thoughts, questions and suggestions at podcast@simondowling.com.au

As your team sets sail into a new year, a new quarter, a new initiative, a new phase… it’s so important to align around a shared picture of success. This is more than just ‘strategy’ - it’s about aligning a team’s energy and sense of purpose. In this episode, Simon shares one of the most effective (and fun) ways your team can conjure up a shared vision. All you need is your favourite time machine… imagined, of course! Send your questions or suggestions for future episode themes to podcast@simondowling.com.au.

In this episode, Simon reflects on some of the things he’s noticed in teams over the last year, and in the Christmas spirit makes 3 wishes for every team in 2023! A couple of comments from Simon about things he mentions in the episode: “Sparketype is a great way to start a rich conversation in your team about each other’s strengths. It’s a free online profiling tool, and although I’ve got no idea how ‘scientific’ it is, the few times I’ve used it, it led to some great conversations. You can find the tool at www.sparketype.com.” “I also started to tell you when the next episode will be released and then completely forgot to mention the actual date! I’ll be back after a break with Episode 5 on 17 January 2023. See you soon.” Send your questions or suggestions for future episode themes to podcast@simondowling.com.au

To do great work, teams need to let their differences collide. Different ways of working, different experiences, difference opinions.... it's those differences that give teams depth and underpin their strength. But all those differences can quickly lead to tension and conflict too. In this episode, Simon explores what it means to embrace the differences and find constructive ways of working through them. Let's 'talk turkey'!

Working in teams can be a risky business - certainly at an interpersonal level. High performing teams are great at challenging one another, giving and seeking feedback, and debating important topics. All of which takes a certain level of courage. So how do you foster that kind of courage in your own team? In this episode, Simon explores 4 practical ways teams can respond to that question. www.simondowling.com.au

What do you get if you put a group of people together and call them a "team"? Unfortunately, the answer isn't necessarily "a team". Because the one thing every group needs is a clear and shared commitment to what teaming even means. In this very first "pre-season" episode, Simon explores the role of commitment in teams.