Neuroscience Strategies for Leading Teams with Mike Bowler

The Agile Within

Ever wondered how psychological safety can transform your Agile team dynamics? Join me, Mark Metze, as I sit down with Mike Bowler, a seasoned Agile coach with an impressive 20-year journey from developer to expert in human behaviors. We uncover the intricacies of psychological safety from behavioral, psychological, and neuroscience perspectives. Learn how maintaining access to your team's prefrontal cortex is key to unlocking optimal performance and how you can create an environment where everyone feels free to express their ideas and excel.
Unlock the secrets of the S.A.F.E.T.Y.™ Model—Security, Autonomy, Fairness, Esteem, Trust, and You—and understand their evolutionary significance in workplace dynamics. Mike and I put a spotlight on shared experiences and team-building activities as the cornerstone of building trust, especially in a post-COVID remote work landscape. We'll also dive into practical strategies to foster a sense of safety despite individual biases, with actionable experiments like team lunches designed to enhance trust and collaboration.
Imagine using play to resolve team conflicts and boost learning. We explore the power of engaging team members through playful ego states with activities like Lego, which can break habitual patterns and build rapport. You'll hear real-world examples of how these playful approaches have successfully addressed team dysfunctions. We also discuss techniques for building esteem and fairness, emphasizing the importance of recognizing each team member’s contributions. Tune in to discover how these strategies can not only elevate social standing but also combat the pitfalls of perverse incentives, creating a more cohesive and equitable workplace.
Learn about the S.A.F.E.T.Y.™ Model:
https://brainleadership.com/solution/safetymodel/
Six Thinking Hats Technique:
https://www.mindtools.com/ajlpp1e/six-thinking-hats
Free Resources Available on Mike's Site:
https://gargoylesoftware.com/resources/
Followup on Mike's Guest Appearance:
https://gargoylesoftware.com/mike_bowler/followup/
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbowler/

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Chapters

1. Neuroscience Strategies for Leading Teams with Mike Bowler (00:00:00)

2. Psychological Safety in Agile Teams (00:00:06)

3. Building Psychological Safety Through Communication (00:10:35)

4. Building Trust With Playful Approaches (00:19:16)

5. Building Psychological Safety Through Interactions (00:30:28)