The High Five!

The Huddle

What’s top of mind for us this week? Rebuilding. Between career shifts, layoffs, and leadership changes, Greg wrote about the importance of rebuilding professional connections, and Brett reconnected with an old colleague through Chicago Camps’ Tent Talk—proving that sometimes, the right conversations happen at the right time.

The Review: This Week’s Topic

The middle management trap: why it’s failing and how to fix it

Middle management used to be the stepping stone to leadership. Now? It’s a high-stress, low-reward role that no one wants. Companies are piling impossible expectations onto managers while stripping away the resources and training they need to succeed.

We break down three key questions:

• What’s one thing you wish someone had told you before stepping into management? .
• Why are future leaders avoiding management roles?
• How do we fix it?

We also published two new Teamangle articles this week:

• How shared language enhances team cohesion
• Avoid misinterpretations: developing a shared language for your team

The Ask

We’re launching our Same Team Partners newsletter—subscribe now at sameteampartners.com/subscribe. Our first issue drops on Tuesday!

The Hit List

Reading:

• Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future by Reid Hoffman

Writing:

• DOGE isn’t making government more efficient—it’s just destroying people’s lives
• Your network is broken. Fix it like a human.

Watching:

• Yellowstone
• Pivoting in Life: How to Use Your Transferable Skills with Betty Chan & Sean Murphy

Listening:

• Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones by Madonna

The High Five

This week’s high five goes to Kris Fulton, who has been a game-changer in helping us refine our marketing strategy. We’re makers, not marketers—but she is showing us the way. Huge high-five for the impact Kris has already made! Thank you!

The Review: This Week’s Topic

There is no ‘AI’ in team: Why leaders shouldn’t panic about job takeover

You’ve seen the headlines: “AI is coming for your job.” But is it, though? We dive into Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s recent comments on AI’s actual impact—and why it’s still far from replacing human teams. AI may be great at crunching data, but it still struggles with judgment, creativity, emotional intelligence, and, you know, basic context.

We break down three key questions:

• Do you see AI as an asset or a threat for teams?
• Where do you see AI helping vs. hurting team collaboration?
• How should leaders talk about AI with their teams?

Also, fun fact: We have a There Is No AI in Team T-shirt. Because why not?

We also published two Teamangle articles (...from our forthcoming book):

• Start strong: defining roles at project kickoff for team alignment
• Why clear role definitions boost productivity

The Ask

We’ve got two events for you:

• The Huddle: Drive Meaningful 1:1s – March 12 at 12 PM ET (FREE). A 30-minute interactive session to help you make 1:1s more productive and meaningful.
• Power Play: Elevating Your 1:1s for Impact – March 26 at 12 PM ET (PAID). A hands-on workshop packed with strategies and exercises to turn check-ins into game-changers.

The Hit List

What we’re reading, listening to, and watching this week:

Reading:

• Right Leader, Right Time by Robert Jordan and Olivia Wagner
• AI Will Replace You: Leaders Who Refuse to Evolve Will Be Left Behind by Lolly Daskal –

Listening:

• Severance: ODESZA
• Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii

Watching:

• The White Lotus season 3

The High Five

This week’s high five goes to The Huddle and Power Play. We’re launching a new playbook and two events to help leaders improve their 1:1s. It feels great to get this out into the world—high five to that!

In this conversation, we discuss the concept of resilience in leadership, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics over individual endurance. We explore the challenges leaders face in maintaining resilience, the pitfalls of the hero mindset, and strategies for fostering collective resilience within teams.

The Huddle

We're busy making more!

• We've got our next playbook ready to launch. Get ready to make your 1:1s better!
• Greg is working on our first "Huddle," which will be a free workshop session on 1:1s
• Brett is talking Teamangle at Chicago Tent Talks on March 4

The Review

We dig into Brett's recent Same Page post, Resilience is not enough: leadership in 2025 requires more. This conversation explores how leaders can foster collective resilience by shifting away from the hero mindset and embracing shared responsibility. Key topics include:

• The challenges leaders face in maintaining resilience
• The pitfalls of the hero mindset in leadership
• Strategies for building resilience within teams
• The importance of adaptability in uncertain environments

We also published two new Teamangle articles this week:

• Building bridges: practical steps for effective cross-functional collaboration
• How the right tools drive team alignment and efficiency

The Ask

Our first shipment of Teamangle Conversation Cards is out in the wild. Grab your deck today!

The Hit List

Brett:

• Reading: Language: Why We Hear More Than Words
• Listening: Songs About You Specifically - Album by MICHELLE
• Watching: SNL 50 Concert - The Culps do Kendrick Lamar
• Eating: Post Malone Oreos

Greg:

• Reading: The Experience Economy By B. Joseph Pine II & James H. Gilmore
• Reading: The New Yorker 100

The High Five!

High five to resilience for keeping us moving, keeping us connected, and reminding us that we’re stronger together!

The moment we’ve been waiting for is finally here—Teamangle Conversation Cards are officially live! We dive into the origin story of the cards, why they’re a game-changer for team discussions, and how they help leaders facilitate conversations that actually matter.

The Huddle

Big things happening this week:

• Teamangle Conversation Cards are live!
• Brett joined The Agile Network as an expert! Use the promo code SAMETEAMPMC33 for a 33% discount on membership.

The Review

The Teamangle Conversation Cards nare live and we are so excited to share them with you! In this conversation, we break down:

• Why we created the cards.
• How they help teams uncover alignment (or misalignment).
• Why the right questions drive meaningful conversations.

Bonus: We reveal our favorite cards and why they matter.

Plus, we published two new Teamangle articles this week:

• Creating consistency: how a clear cadence enhances team communication
• Why rhythm in communication builds trust and dependability

The Ask

Grab your Teamangle Conversation Cards! Try them in your next meeting, use them in your one-on-ones, or set aside time to explore just one or two questions with your team.

The Hit List

Brett:

• Reading: Council Post: Resilience: The Most Coveted Leadership Skill For 2025
• Listening: Hostile Government Takeover - EDM Mix by AGiftFromTodd
  • The original TikTok

Greg:

• Listening: Future Past, Duran Duran
• Watching: The Grifters

The High Five

We did it—the Teamangle Conversation Cards are officially launched! Also, we’ve got fresh Same Team hats and tees in the store—so grab some swag while you’re at it!

This episode dives into the biggest shake-up in project management in years—the PMI and Agile Alliance merger—and why digital project management (DPM) might be the missing piece in this new landscape. But not before Brett relives the glory days of the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, hoping for a win this weekend at Super Bowl LIX.

The Huddle

We’re hitting the road—join us in person for some hands-on learning!

• Brett is set to facilitate a workshop at the Digital PM Summit this October in Portland, OR.
• Greg will be leading a workshop at Agile 2025, July 28-30 in Denver, CO.

The Review

The recent merger between PMI and the Agile Alliance marks a pivotal moment for the project management industry, bringing together two historically opposing methodologies under one roof. This moment presents an opportunity for DPM to take its rightful place at the table—bridging the gap between Agile’s flexibility and PMI’s structured approach to create a more effective, people-first approach to project leadership.

We explore:

• What does this merger mean for the future of project management?
• How this shift could impact teams.
• What we’d say to PMI and Agile Alliance leaders.

We also published two new Teamangle articles this week:

• Unlocking team creativity through structured brainstorming
• Why structured brainstorming creates innovative solutions

The Ask

Want to hear more about fixing dysfunctional teams? Check out our Digital Project Management podcast episode with Galen Low: How To Identify & Fix Project Team Dysfunction Using Teamangle. Let’s make project teams stronger—one conversation at a time!

The Hit List

Brett:

• Reading: When the mentor feels like an imposter
• Listening: It’s a Mirror by Perfume Genius
• Watching: Super Bowl LIX

Greg:

• Reading: Unreasonable Hospitality
• Listening: We, Arcade Fire
• Watching: Night Agent

The High Five

We sent our first proposal of the year! Get in touch if you want to work with Same Team!

This week on The High Five, we dive into the PMI and Agile Alliance merger, and share a bit about our involvement in the upcoming Agile 2025 conference—Brett will be curating a track, and Greg will be speaking. This week's conversation centers around Greg's Same Page article, Only Teams Can Drive Real Transformation, where we break down why so many top-down transformations fail and why real change has to start at the team level. We also tackle some big questions: How can you tell when a transformation effort is doomed? What actually makes change stick? And how can organizations better equip team leaders for success? If you’ve ever been stuck in a never-ending “transformation” initiative, this one’s for you.

The Review

We break down Greg’s article, Only Teams Can Drive Real Transformation, which explores why top-down change efforts fail and why true transformation must start at the team level. We discuss the biggest pitfalls in transformation initiatives and what organizations can do to better support team leaders in driving real change.

Plus, this week's Teamangle topics:

• How documentation became a pillar for team transparency
• Keeping Everyone Informed: Documenting Decisions and Next Steps

The Ask

Follow us on Linkedin. Engage with us on Linkedin! We'll be posting more video and content updates, and we value your feedback, hot takes, likes, or whatever you want to contribute.

The Hit List

Brett:

• Reading: Town Hall Meeting: Agile Alliance + PMI
• Listening: Big Ideas by Remi Wolf
• Watching: A Real Pain

Greg:

• Reading: Manifesto for World Revolution
• Listening: Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! - Enigma
• Watching: Silo

The High Five

We're wrapping up work on our second playbook, which is all about conducting valuable one-on-one meetings. We can't wait til you get it!

While recapping his whirlwind day as a tourist in Dubai—where he presented Teamangle at the Dubai International Project Management Forum—Brett reflects on the value of meaningful connections. This ties into a critique of Airbnb’s CEO dismissing one-on-one meetings as a waste of time and comparing listening to employees to playing therapist—a mindset Brett sees as toxic bro culture masking as innovation.

The discussion highlights the value of one-on-ones, the harm of toxic leadership rhetoric, and how leaders can create inclusive workplaces by fostering trust, empathy, and psychological safety. Balancing ambitious goals with supportive environments is key to better leadership.

The Review

This week, we discuss Brett's Same Page article, Avoiding one-on-ones? That’s not leadership, that’s toxicity and the themes of the article surrounding the need for one-on-one meetings and how toxic bro culture has no place at work, no matter the industry.

Plus, this week's Teamangle topics:

• Encouraging every voice: making team meetings inclusive
• The transformative effect of inclusivity on team morale and success

The Ask

We want to hear from our listeners! What's on your mind? What topics resonate for you? Drop us a note at [email protected]. We'd love to connect and hear what's top-of-mind for you. Who knows, maybe we'll bring it up on the show!

The Hit List

Brett:

• Reading: How tech billionaires screwed us all
• Listening: Stampede, Orville Peck
• Watching: RÜFÜS DU SOL - Live from Joshua Tree

Greg:

• Reading: Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture
• Listening: Splinter - Sneaker Pimps
• Watching: American Primeval

The High Five

Believe it or not, the Teamangle Conversation Cards are shipping! Check out our shop next week to grab yours. And maybe grab a t-shirt too!

This week, we’re diving into Greg’s latest article: Teams are still struggling with energy, purpose, and morale: Here’s how to help. If your team’s feeling the strain lately, you’re not alone—and we’re unpacking why it’s happening and what leaders can actually do about it. We also break down some hard truths about today’s workplace climate:

Plus, we dig into a Teamangle hot topic: Why knowing when a task is truly ‘done’ can boost team satisfaction. Turns out, clear definitions of completion = happier, more efficient teams.

And speaking of global insights—Brett’s heading to Dubai for the DIPMF Conference to talk all things Teamangle! Big shoutout to our listeners tuning in from around the world—hello out there! 🌍

It’s a packed episode full of insights, real talk, and global adventures. Don’t miss it!

The Review

This week we talk about today's workplace climate, and how some leaders may be struggling to motivate teams. Greg reviews advice for how leaders can help teams and themselves in his article, Teams are still struggling with energy, purpose, and morale: Here's how to help.

Plus, this week's Teamangle topics:

• Why knowing when a task is ‘done’ boosts team satisfaction
• How clear definitions of completion improve team efficiency

The Ask

Join our next Teamangle webinar on January 23 at noon ET. Register now!

The Hit List

Brett:

• Reading: 'Career Catfishing': 1 in 3 Gen Zers Accepted a New Job and Didn't Show Up on Day One
• Listening: The Smiths , Live Aus Der Markthalle Hamburg 1984
• Watching: Penelope

Greg:

• Reading: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
• Listening: Grizzly Bear Veckatimest
• Watching: Squid Game

The High Five

This week, we're high-fiving the kick-off to a great year and our Replay and Reset activity, which we've received great feedback on. Check it out and get your year off on the right foot.

In this festive holiday edition of The High Five, we explore the Replay and Reset activity—a reflection and action-planning tool designed to help individuals and teams set clear, actionable goals for 2025. With the end of the year fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and reset for the year ahead. We’ll discuss why this framework is effective, share our personal experiences, and offer practical tips for integrating it into your team’s end-of-year planning.

As a quick note, we’re taking next week off to enjoy the holidays, but we’ll be back in the new year with fresh ideas and insights to help you kick off 2025 on the right foot. So, grab some eggnog (or your festive beverage of choice), settle in, and let's dive into this year-end tradition together!

The Review

Replay and Reset — Reflect, refocus, and recharge for 2025 isn't just another blog article! It's an activity designed to help you start your year with focus. We talk about how we've used the exercise and maybe we should do this quarterly.

The Ask

Have a happy holiday. Reach out to us in the new year to learn more about what we’re working on or to work with us. We are ready!

Also, we have a webinar on January 23 at noon ET. Register now.

The Hit List

Greg:

• Listening: Domi & JD Beck
• Watching: Stranger Things — Season 4
• Reading: A Producer Attempts to Pitch The Nutcracker

Brett:

• Listening: It’s a Holiday Soul Party by Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
• Reading: Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
• Watching: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

The High Five

This week's high five is for breaks! Rest. Relaxation. Resetting. We hope you get some downtime over the holidays. We'll see you in 2025. Thanks so much for being a part of Same Team.

This episode builds on Brett’s blog about leadership’s tough lessons from 2024’s failures. We’re tacking on our thoughts to the article and putting our “lessons learned” spin on things. We break down what went wrong in 2024 and how leaders can turn failure into growth. We also preview our upcoming free Teamangle webinar on January 23, share this week’s Teamangle articles, and dive into actionable ways to make 2025 your team’s best year yet.

The Review

This week, we reflect on failure stories and the key lessons they offer, inspired by Brett’s blog post, Turning 2024’s business failures into lessons learned. Key takeaways include:

• The Fine Line Between Bold and Confusing: What teams can do to balance boldness with clarity.
• Trust and Testing: We highlight how leaders can rebuild trust and prepare teams for the unexpected.
• Turning Mistakes into Momentum: Learn actionable ways to reframe mistakes into growth opportunities for your team.

We also recap two new Teamangle articles:

• Start strong: defining roles at project kickoff for team alignment
• Why clear role definitions boost productivity

The Ask

Follow us on TikTok for Brett’s snarky leadership tips, guaranteed to make you laugh and rethink how you lead your team.

The Hit List

Brett’s Picks

• Listening: XO by Elliott Smith
• Reading: YesMadam HR blunder - is it even real?
• Watching: The Penguin

Greg’s Picks

• Listening: Tony Thriller Chill Beats Co. Presents: A Lofi Christmas Story, Vol. 1
• Watching: Stranger Things
• Watching: Pro Chefs Blind Taste Test Every Instant Ramen

The High Five

This week’s high-five goes to our webinar attendees who helped make it a success! Thanks for your enthusiasm and commitment to building better teams. Join us for a repeat performance on January 23 at noon ET.