June 25, 2025

EP59: Creating A Thriving Team with Leigh Smith

47 minutes

In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast we discuss the essential elements of creating a thriving team. Leigh shares his extensive background in engineering, sales, and product development, emphasizing the importance of purpose, communication, and structured processes in fostering team success.

Leigh Smith is a former CTO and now founder of Vantage Effect. He has years of industry in a variety of varied tech companies.

Show Links

Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/

Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com

Leigh Smith LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighivansmith/

Takeaways

Every team has the potential to thrive.

A thriving team is characterized by open communication and challenge.

Confidence within the team is crucial for success.

Purpose and vision guide team direction and decision-making.

Structured communication enhances focus and productivity.

Realistic expectations lead to accountability and pride in work.

Collaboration requires balancing individual productivity with team support.

Leaders must foster an environment of trust and openness.

Understanding the problem is key to effective solutions.

Regular reflection and improvement are essential for team growth. Communication impacts team dynamics significantly.

Intra-team communication is often more effective than inter-team communication.

Leaders must avoid dominating discussions to empower their teams.

Roles and responsibilities should include both individual and team accountabilities.

Respectful challenge fosters a culture of innovation and improvement.

Breaking down projects into smaller tasks enhances manageability.

Investing in personal development is crucial for team success.

Effective storytelling is a vital skill for all team members.

The collective knowledge of a team is greater than individual expertise.

Accountability leads to confidence and quality in team outputs.

Keywords

thriving teams, team dynamics, leadership, communication, team success, team collaboration, team purpose, agile methodology, team roles, accountability, team dynamics, communication, roles and responsibilities, respectful challenge, personal development, thriving teams, engineering teams, accountability, effective leadership, team success

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