You’ve probably heard that hiring the best talent is the key to building a high-performing team. But what if that’s only half the truth? Thankfully, today’s guest will reveal what it really takes to build the best team ever.

Today’s guest is David Burkus. One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David’s forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are changing how companies approach leadership, teamwork, and collaboration.

A skilled researcher and inspiring communicator, David is the bestselling author of five books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. Since 2017, David has been ranked multiple times as one of the world’s top business thought leaders.

In this episode, David shares why the best teams aren’t necessarily the most talented—they’re the ones with the strongest culture. He breaks down three key elements that make teams thrive, including the incredible story of Alan Mulally’s turnaround at Ford Motor Company.

Plus, in the extended episode available to Podcast+ members, we dive into practical ways to get your team actively involved in cultivating a strong culture.

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Conversation Topics

(00:00) Introduction
(01:15) What makes a team the best team ever?
(03:40) Why the “team” makes the talent, not the other way around
(06:32) The three core elements of high-performing teams
(10:15) How Alan Mulally saved Ford through cultural change
(20:10) Culture is not built; it’s cultivated
(21:13) Steps to start moving your team culture in the right direction
(26:59) How gratitude and impact statements improve motivation
(28:09) A great manager David has worked for
(30:22) Keep up with David
(33:53) [Extended Episode Only] How team members can actively participate in cultivating a strong culture
(38:43) [Extended Episode Only] The importance of specificity in team communication

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here

- Visit my website for more here

- Upskill your team here

- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here

Keep up with David Burkus

- Follow David on LinkedIn here

- Subscribe to David’s YouTube channel here

- Grab a copy of his book Best Team Ever! Here

Free PDF Guides for Manual of Me and Team Charter

David is providing members of Podcast+ with two guides - The Manual of Me and Team Charter which he speaks about in the extended episode.

Originally conceived by Ben Dattner, Manual of Me is a really useful tool for showing people how they can best work with you.

The Team Charter is a living document that will be used to develop shared understanding and expectations about working together as a team moving forward.

To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

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345: The Shocking Truth About High-Performing Teams with David Burkus

The Modern Manager