Sinking teams, swearing and safety with Adrian Baillargeon

My guest this week is team performance expert and author Adrian Baillargeon who shares his fascinating journey from corporate work in Saskatoon, Canada, to becoming an independent consultant in Australia via Major League Baseball in Africa!  We delve into the importance of creating a sense of belonging within a team, the impact of poor leadership decisions, and how to turn around a sinking team.  Exploring the concept of teams that ‘swear by each other, not about each other’, and Adrian's book of the same name, we discuss how teams can create a sense of trust and authenticity, allowing for honest conversations. Despite his competitive sports background, Adrian’s not just about the homeruns, he believes in the power of collective achievement: we can get more runs on the board together than we can alone.  Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/team-development-adrian-baillargeon  Key Moments  Planet Human: The defunding of the national space mission [00:00:04]  Planet Zoë:  Working with the New South Wales DPI and young farmers on the topic of risk and resilience. [00:02:31]  Adrian's background and journey from Saskatoon to Melbourne [00:04:41] Leadership and creating a sense of belonging [00:11:04] Discussion on the role of leaders in creating a sense of belonging and the impact it has on individuals. The impact of poor relationships on sinking teams [00:13:59] Exploration of the indicators and consequences of being in a sinking team, including mental health issues and lack of progress. The groundwork for effective teamwork [00:20:07] Creating agreed behaviours, promises, and psychological safety in teams. Teams that swear [00:22:38] Exploring the positive and negative aspects of swearing in teams and its impact on trust and team performance. The power of feedback [00:29:51] The importance of receiving feedback in a safe environment and how it can be used for personal growth and development. Creating a sense of belonging [00:31:24] The value of feedback that may initially be painful to receive and how it can lead to personal improvement and skill development. The concept of the infinite game [00:37:12] Exploring the difference between finite games and infinite games in business and leadership, and the importance of thinking about the bigger picture and long-term goals. Recognising and understanding team roles [00:42:24] The conversation focuses on the importance of recognising and understanding the roles of different teams within an organisation, specifically the leadership team and the team being led. The regular cadence of engagement [00:48:39] Discussion on the importance of regular engagement and a sample agenda for daily or weekly stand-up meetings.