Ep. 49: Building Team Cultures That Nurture People and Potential with Dr. Kensa Gunter
Today we’re exploring a topic that’s both fundamental and fascinating: the symbiotic relationship between team culture and the people who are part of it. How do these elements influence each other, and what can we do to ensure they contribute positively to both individual and collective success?
Joining us in this exploration is Dr. Kensa Gunter, a pioneer in the field of performance psychology. Dr. Gunter has an impressive background as a licensed psychologist and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Her approach isn’t just about enhancing performance on the field; it’s about nurturing well-being and mental health to foster overall life success, and she’s on the front lines doing this work as the Director of Mind Health for the NBA.
Dr. Gunter’s work emphasizes the importance of a supportive, inclusive environment where every team member feels valued and understood. This kind of environment, she argues, is essential for developing psychological safety—a key ingredient in a thriving team culture.
The Living, Breathing Organism of Team Culture
Dr. Gunter explains that while individuals bring their own values, personalities, and behaviors to the team, the existing culture also profoundly affects how they behave and interact. This interaction creates a feedback loop where culture and individual influence perpetually evolve in response to each other.
Think of team culture as a garden, where each plant represents a team member. Just as a garden’s health depends on the quality of its soil, sunlight, and water, so too does a team’s culture depend on the environment created by its leaders, members, and the environment they’re in. A toxic environment can stifle growth, leading to dysfunction and underperformance, while a nurturing environment can promote flourishing and success.
Actionable Steps for Cultivating a Thriving Team Culture
1. Observe and Adapt: Start by observing the existing cultural dynamics of your team. What are the spoken and unspoken rules? How do people communicate? Understanding these elements can help you identify what needs to be nurtured or changed.
2. Create Psychological Safety: Ensure that all team members feel safe to express themselves without fear of judgment or retaliation. This involves fostering open communication, showing empathy, and encouraging vulnerability.
3. Set Common Goals: Aligning everyone’s efforts towards common goals creates a sense of purpose and unity. Make sure these goals are clear, achievable, and go out of your way to make sure each team member understands how they are contributing meaningfully to the team’s goals.
4. Promote Inclusivity: Make a conscious effort to involve every team member in decision-making processes and discussions. This not only enhances engagement but also ensures a diversity of perspectives, enriching the team’s approach to challenges and opportunities.
5. Practice Flexibility: Be ready to adapt your leadership style and strategies as the team evolves. What works for one group at a certain point in time may not work for another or even the same group later on.
6. Encourage Development: Invest in the personal and professional development of your team members. This can include training, workshops, or simply creating opportunities for growth within the team structure.
7. Reflect and Adjust: Regularly take time to reflect on the health of your team culture. This can be through formal assessments or informal check-ins with team members. Use this feedback to make informed adjustments.
Bringing it Home
As Dr. Gunter highlights, the interplay between individuals and the team culture is intricate and ongoing. By understanding and intentionally shaping this dynamic, leaders can cultivate a team environment that not only supports peak performance but also fosters well-being and personal growth.
Thank you, Dr. Gunter, for sharing your invaluable insights and experiences. For those looking to delve deeper into creating effective team cultures, I highly recommend Patrick Lencioni’s “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” a fantastic resource that Dr. Gunter advocates for understanding and overcoming common challenges in team dynamics.
Remember, the spaces between us in a team matter just as much, if not more, than the individuals themselves. Let’s keep exploring and expanding these spaces to create teams that aren’t just functioning but truly thriving.
Until next time, let’s keep heading into the lab and transforming theory into action!
Learn more about Dr. Kensa Gunter
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