logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
29m 58s

337: How to Build a Strong Team Culture ...

MAMIE KANFER STEWART
About this episode

Great workshops deliver clarity, improved collaboration, and actionable outcomes.


Now, imagine if you and your team could approach every workday with the same high energy and focus as you feel during a great workshop. That’s exactly what today’s guest is here to help us achieve–building a workshop culture in the workplace.


Meet Alison Coward. Alison is the founder of Bracket, a consultancy that partners with ambitious, forward-thinking companies to help them build high-performing team cultures. She is a team culture coach, workshop facilitator, trainer, keynote speaker, and author of “Workshop Culture: A Guide to Building Teams That Thrive” and “A Pocket Guide to Effective Workshops”. Her clients include Google, Meta, Wellcome, and the V&A. 


With 20 years of experience working in, leading, and facilitating creative teams, Alison is passionate about finding the balance between creativity, productivity, and collaboration so that teams can thrive and do their best work together.


In this episode, Alison and I discuss what a workshop culture is, how it differs from traditional workplace models, and how managers can become effective facilitators.


She also shares insights into what it looks like for a team to adopt a workshop culture, the behavioral changes that come with this shift, tips for translating workshop principles–like creativity, collaboration, and inclusion—into everyday team practices, and more.


Join the conversation now!


Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

  • (00:00) Introduction
  • (02:06) What is a workshop culture?
  • (03:39) Workshop culture vs. traditional work culture
  • (06:12) How managers can become effective facilitators
  • (09:30) Real-world example of a team transitioning to a workshop culture
  • (12:55) Translating big picture ideas into action
  • (14:37) Why every team member is a co-creator of a team culture
  • (17:41) The behavioral changes that come with this cultural shift
  • (21:41) First step in adopting a workshop culture
  • (24:20) How to hold yourself and others accountable for the changes
  • (26:30) A great manager Alison has worked for
  • (27:44) Keep up with Alison
  • (28:14) [Extended Episode Only] The five pillars of a workshop culture
  • (33:26) [Extended Episode Only] What it looks like for teams embracing a workshop culture


Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Upskill your team here

- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here


Keep up with Alison Coward


- Grab a copy of Alison’s book: “Workshop Culture: A Guide to Building Teams that Thrive” here

- Follow Alison on LinkedIn here

- Visit Bracket for more information here


Book Discount: 30% off “Workshop Culture: A Guide to Building Teams That Thrive”


Alison is providing members of Podcast+ 30% off her book “Workshop Culture: A Guide to Building Teams That Thrive”. This book will show you how to create a happy and engaged team through small actions which lead to big results. It features a practical and accessible toolkit to help improve your team’s performance and productivity.


To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.


---------------------


The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.


Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

Up next
Nov 18
384: What Managers Get Wrong About ADHD at Work (and How to Get It Right) with Rita Ramakrishnan
<p>Managers play a crucial role in shaping how employees experience work. But when ADHD enters the mix, good intentions can backfire if not handled thoughtfully. With the right mindset and tools, you can create a space where everyone performs at their best.</p><p><br></p><p>Fortu ... Show More
28m 54s
Nov 11
383: How to Get People to Listen to Your Ideas (Even When You’re Not in Charge) with Tami Reiss
Have you ever had a great idea but struggled to get others on board?You don’t need a title to have influence; you need a strategy.Fortunately, this week’s guest knows exactly how to build credibility and momentum without formal power.Tami Reiss is an expert on influence-driven le ... Show More
31m 27s
Nov 4
382: How to Bring Your Whole Self to Work (Without Oversharing) with Mike Robbins
Are you showing up as your full, authentic self or just the version you think others expect?Authenticity isn’t a matter of oversharing or saying whatever’s on your mind. It’s about honesty balanced with humility and vulnerability, the kind that builds genuine trust and stronger t ... Show More
40m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2024
5 Biggest Team Building Mistakes w/ Netflix Legend Patty McCord
<p>How do the best founders build exceptional teams? Learn how a practical approach to HR can transform the culture at your startup. </p> <p>In this episode, Patty McCord, former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix and author of &#39;Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Respon ... Show More
1h 6m
Sep 9
Dr. Colin M. Fisher: The Hidden Science of Group Dynamics | Strategy and Leadership Podcast
How do you build teams that truly work together instead of falling into dysfunction? In this Strategy and Leadership podcast, Dr. Colin M. Fisher—Associate Professor of Organizations and Innovation at UCL School of Management and author of The Collective Edge—shares two decades o ... Show More
25m 15s
Dec 2024
#207: Geoff Woods—How to Use AI as a Strategic Partner to Grow Your Business
<p>AI is revolutionizing the way businesses operate—but how do you harness it effectively without getting lost in the noise? In this final episode of the Business Made Simple Podcast, Bobby Richards and James Sweeting sit down with Geoff Woods, author of <em>The AI-Driven Leader, ... Show More
42m 15s
Apr 2025
How to Turn Your Customer Base into a Community
“Community” is a buzzword that gets thrown around a lot in the business world. But what does it really mean to build one—and what does it take to make it last? More importantly, how can businesses create communities that drive long-term success? Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of ... Show More
17m 22s
Jul 2025
The Power of Feedback: Building Trust and Leadership
Lauren Fast, chief people officer at iS Clinical, highlights the critical role of feedback, empathy, and trust in today’s workplace. Fast discusses how HR leaders can navigate challenges like layoffs, cost reductions, and employee disengagement while maintaining cultural alignmen ... Show More
30m 15s
Apr 2025
HR Works Podcast: Unleashing Innovation with Creativity, Strategy, and Leadership (Part 1)
In today's fast-paced business world, traditional leadership models often fall short. Tune in as we dive into the groundbreaking concepts of "Layered Leadership" with Lawrence Armstrong, Chairman of Ware Malcomb and author of the new book of the same name. In this episode of HR W ... Show More
11m 3s
Mar 2025
Lars Strannegård: Art in Business, Leadership, and the Skills AI Can’t Replace
<p>In this episode of&nbsp;<em>In Good Company</em>, Nicolai Tangen welcomes Lars Strannegård, President of the Stockholm School of Economics, to explore why art and culture are essential in shaping tomorrow’s business leaders. Strannegård shares how exposing students to creative ... Show More
42m 15s
Aug 28
Group Negotiation Secrets: How to Lead Without Losing Control
In this episode, Kwame Christian sits down with Colin M. Fisher, author of The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups, to explore the hidden psychology of group dynamics. From the dinner table to the boardroom, every group is a negotiation — balancing individual go ... Show More
1h 3m
Nov 2024
Coaching Yourself: Career Coaching Personas for Everyday Engineers, Part One - The Available Manager
<p>In today's episode we discuss the concept of adopting self-coaching personas, and discuss a critical first persona to start with.</p><h2>🙏 Today's Episode is Brought To you by: <a href="https://wixstudio.com">Wix Studio</a></h2><p>Devs, if you think website builders mean limi ... Show More
19m 44s
Sep 21
From managing people to managing AI: The leadership skills everyone needs now | Julie Zhuo (Facebook VP, Sundial CEO, The Making of a Manager author)
Julie Zhuo is the former VP and Head of Design at Facebook (now Meta), author of the bestselling book The Making of a Manager, and co-founder of Sundial, an AI-powered data analysis company. Also, my first-ever podcast guest over 3 years ago!In our conversation, we discuss:1. The ... Show More
1h 36m