This week we sat down for a chat with Steve Hedrick, Chairman, President, and CEO of AVN Corporation, right in the heart of South Charleston, West Virginia. Now, Steve's not your average CEO. He's got this cool mix of petrochemical savvy and military know-how from his West Point days. And boy, does he have some stories to share! From the importance of being understanding as a leader to the magic that happens when teamwork kicks in, Steve spills the beans on how he's been steering the AVN ship through some tough times. He's all about creating a workplace where everyone feels like they belong, where growth isn't just a buzzword, but a real, tangible thing. And let me tell you, we’ve got him talking about everything, from how AVN went from non-profit to for-profit, and the challenges of managing a distributed team. Plus, Steve's not shy about sharing some heartfelt tales from his own journey, giving us all a peek behind the curtain of leadership, shedding light on the tough decisions leaders often face and offering advice on building resilient, empathy-driven amazing teams.Key Takeaways:What is the importance of empathy in leadership roles, and how does it contribute to overcoming challenges with resilience and adaptability while leading through change?How can leaders manage a transition and sustain motivation while cultivating a culture of continuous improvement?What role does discipline play in Steve Hedrick's motivation and leadership approach?How does Steve Hedrick cultivate unity in diversity and collaboration within a geographically dispersed team?Key Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:37) The Essence of Building Amazing Teams: Empathy and Leadership(05:53) Empathy in Leadership: A Military Perspective(09:57) The Evolution of AVN Corporation: From Nonprofit to Industry Leader(13:52) The Challenges of Managing a Distributed Team(24:06) Leading Through Hard Times(27:39) Discipline Over Motivation(29:12) Steve's Five Tacos of Appreciation(32:34) Closing ThoughtsConnect with Steve:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-hedrick-b5398313/Website: https://avncorp.com/Build Stronger, Connected, More Engaged Teams:https://heytaco.com/Use Coupon Code: AMAZINGTEAMS for 15% off for the first 3 months.About the Amazing Teams PodcastWe started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco. Please share your feedback with us here: https://amazingteams.com/feedback.

Malia Shoji, the head volleyball coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, really dives deep into what it takes to build a successful team. She talks about how important it is to have strong connections among team members, a commitment to growth, and everyone being on the same page with their goals. Before taking on this role, Malia had a great run at Utah, where she helped lead the team to six NCAA Tournament appearances in a row. She played a big part in getting players recognized as First Team All-Americans and achieving high national rankings. In our chat, Malia shares her approach to creating a team culture that's not just about winning games, but also about having healthy relationships within the team. We get into the nitty-gritty of what it's like to start a new program, how team values evolve over time, and why things like being genuine, open, and dedicated are so crucial to a team's success. She tells some personal stories from her volleyball journey, highlighting how important it is to recognize and nurture both the skills players show on the court and the qualities they bring off the court. We also get into some coaching tactics, like how to give effective feedback and the impact that Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules have on college sports. And to cap it all off, Malia shares some advice for parents who have kids in sports. Key Takeaways & Timestamps:What’s the importance of deep connection, commitment to growth and a clear mission within your team?What’re some practical strategies for embedding team values both on and off the court?How can you use the Development Pyramid to drive your team members through feedback and growth?Where does coaching volleyball align with building an amazing team?(00:23) Introduction(02:00) The Core Values of a Successful Team(05:57) Deep Connections: The Essence of Team Building(07:56) Commitment in Action: Beyond Individual Needs(09:43) Family Influence: Volleyball and Beyond(14:07) On-Court vs. Off-Court: Balancing Skills and Team Chemistry(16:01) Celebrating Growth: The Butterfly Moments(19:10) Navigating Feedback and Recognition in Team Dynamics(22:04) The Development Pyramid: A Framework for Growth(25:16) Advice for Parents of Young Athletes(26:47) Recruitment Philosophy and Building a Team Culture(28:06) Navigating NIL and Athlete Retention in College Sports(29:58) Personal Motivation and the Impact of Coaching(33:46) Sharing the TacosMentions:The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday, Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel RuizConnect with Malia:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malia-shoji-77228513/Build Stronger, Connected, More Engaged Teams:https://heytaco.com/Use Coupon Code: AMAZINGTEAMS for 15% off for the first 3 months.About the Amazing Teams PodcastWe started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco. Please share your feedback with us here: https://amazingteams.com/feedback.

Hey friends! Recently, we had the pleasure of chatting with Lloyd Fobi, a senior technology leader and former soccer coach. Lloyd brings a wealth of insight on building empathy and trust within teams. We kick things off talking about Lloyd's leadership approach - caring for people while still holding them to high standards. He shares a story from his first week leading a new team, using engaging questions to break down assumptions and get to know them as human beings. The heart of our conversation explores how to practically build empathy on a daily basis. Lloyd stresses understanding each person's strengths so you can elevate them, not trying to change people to fit some predefined box. We also discuss the importance of selflessness and serving your team, whether through difficult conversations or even just taking support calls to understand people's day-to-day reality. Other gems Lloyd shares: looking for teammates based on how they treat each other rather than pure skill, the power of hope and trust emerging through shared hardship, and how to keep showing appreciation after the honeymoon phase ends. If you lead people, or simply want to lead with more empathy, don't miss this chat!“Practicing empathy does more for the person giving than the person receiving, which is a strikingly interesting feeling to go through.” - Lloyd FobiKey Takeaways:(00:00:57) - Introduction and Background to Llyod Fobi(00:01:49) - Building Amazing Teams through Empathy and Care(00:04:51) - Building Trust in a New Environment (00:09:48) - Lloyd's Transformation of His Coaching Philosophy (00:14:29) - Bringing the Intensity of the Sports World to the Business World(00:16:46) - Selflessness and Team Success (00:18:22) - Motivation and Continuous Improvement (00:22:13) - Managing Weaknesses and Leveraging Strengths (00:27:27) - The Power of Empathy and Giving (00:29:11) - Giving Tacos (00:35:13) - Conclusion and GratitudeMentions:Read the book Tribal Leadership to learn about the five stages of team development and how to build an amazing team.Check out the book Legacy by Steve Kerr to understand the principles of building a successful team, as exemplified by the All Blacks.Consider reading the book The Go-Giver for insights on the principles that make a great leader and team member.Connect with Lloyd:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyd-fobi/Build Stronger, Connected, More Engaged Teams:Start now at https://heytaco.com/Use Coupon Code: AMAZINGTEAMS for 15% off for the first 3 months.About the Amazing Teams PodcastWe started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco. Please share your feedback with us here: https://amazingteams.com/feedback.

Liz is the head of Wheeling Country Day School, an independent private school in Wheeling, West Virginia, established in 1929, almost 100 years ago. She’s also the founder of EDGE. which is a virtual and campus based tutoring center that specializes in helping students aged 4 to 24 with language-based learning differences. She also was the coxswain for the rowing team at Princeton University.Key Takeaways:Know how to motivate your team to perform beyond their capabilitiesAwareness of your full responsibility as a leaderGood communication at all levels to help the business stay on courseHow to handle failure and the psychological effectsThe value of authenticity in building relationshipsBeing intentional about what to focus on and spend your timeCreating opportunities and taking the responsibilityWhy you should acknowledge the wins and celebrate the teamTactics to avoid burnoutHow to empower your team to be resourcefulConnect with Elizabeth Hofreuter:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethhofreuter/Website: https://www.wcdsedu.com/Build Stronger, Connected, More Engaged Teams:https://heytaco.com/Use Coupon Code: AMAZINGTEAMS for 15% off for the first 3 months.About the Amazing Teams Podcast:We started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco. Please share your feedback with us here: https://amazingteams.com/feedback.

Brad Williams is the CEO and Co-Founder of WebDevStudios, a WordPress website design and development agency. His company of over 40 people has done work for Microsoft, Campbell’s Soup Company, Starbucks, and so many more. Work like this can only be done with amazing teams, so listen in as Brad shares how they’ve accomplished this while maintaining a remote work model from the very beginning. In the modern world of distributed work places, this episode is a must-listen!Key Takeaways:Why it’s important to give back and how your team can benefit.How to build a company culture without a water cooler.How team relationships affect client relationships.What not  to overlook when identifying and mitigating team conflict.When and how to engage with and listen to your team.Why you shouldn’t take yourself too seriously.What Brad implements from his time in the Marines (and what he doesn’t).Mentions:S’Up: https://sup2.playplay.io/Jackbox.tv: https://jackbox.tv/Connect with Brad:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamsba/ Website: https://webdevstudios.com/ About the Amazing Teams PodcastWe started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco. Please share your feedback with us here: https://amazingteams.com/feedback.

Chris Coffey is the Head of Engineering at CollegeVine, which is a networking platform for connecting high school students with colleges and advisors. After working as a software engineer, Chris transitioned into management where he has learned what it takes to build an amazing team. Today, we’ll hear how Chris uses the ‘working with me document’ to explain his values and mental models, encourages small wins to keep his team motivated, and cultivates an ownership mindset within his team.Key Takeaways:How to transition from a technical to a managerial role.Leveraging a ‘working with me’ document to set expectations for how your team can work with you.Setting up and utilizing feedback loops in organizations.How to give feedback in a remote environment.Cultivating an ownership mindset is a learned skill.The wonders of quick wins in building newly formed teams.Starting an open-door quitting policy and how it works.MentionsWork with Me Document: https://www.foldl.io/posts/my_readme/Connect with ChrisLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismcoffey/ Team Canopy: https://www.teamcanopy.com/CollegeVine: https://www.collegevine.com/ About the Amazing Teams PodcastWe started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco. Please share your feedback with us here: https://amazingteams.com/feedback.

Katie Regan is a seasoned communications professional with over 15 years of experience in business, PR, crisis management, brand, and change communication. As the founder and CEO of the Kirkpatrick Group, she leads a small but powerful team of remote communication experts, specializing in reputation and crisis management for Fortune 500 companies, higher education, and the industrial sector. With a core team of 14, all female professionals, Katie's team-centric approach is rooted in her early experiences, including playing on the women's soccer team at Robert Morris University, shaping her philosophy of achieving common goals through collaboration and mutual support. Throughout her career, she has been a part of exceptional teams, emphasizing shared vision, collaboration, and a culture of appreciation.Key TakeawaysTransition from Managing to Leading:Shift from project management to leading people for a more impactful leadership style.Focusing on creating an environment that fosters team collaboration and growth.Effective Communication in Team Decisions:Honesty is the best policy; own up to errors and communicate transparently with the team.Communicate decisions and opportunities in a way that minimizes surprises and fosters understanding.Trial Periods for New Hires:Three-month trial periods allow both the employer and employee to assess the fit and mitigate risks.Building Trust and Empowering Team Members:Trust team members with tasks traditionally handled by the leader.Provide training and empowerment to build a more independent and capable team.Expressing Gratitude:Regularly acknowledging and appreciating team members' contributions builds a positive and motivated work environment.Connect with KatieKatie Regan on LinkedInKirkpatrick GroupAbout the Amazing Teams PodcastWe started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco. Please share your feedback with us here: https://amazingteams.com/feedback.

Diana Futrovshy is the Managing Director at CRA Admired Leadership. She advises clients on how to engage employees, generate organizational alignment, and build leadership credibility. She has expertise in designing strategic messages, developing communication strategies, and executing large-scale change initiatives. Diana also has experience in leading CRA’s proprietary cascade process, a series of carefully orchestrated team conversations that foster employee understanding of business priorities and generate alignment among all levels of the organization.In this episode, Diana shares her views on what constitutes an exceptional team, emphasizing that it goes beyond having a group of skilled individuals. We delve into the concept of Player-Led Teams, which are often more successful than hierarchical teams because they promote leadership among all members and prioritize collaboration rather than top-down control. Diana shares some insights on how teams can become more player-led. Additionally, we explore the idea of Admired Leadership, which involves identifying the behaviors of successful leaders and teaching them to others. Connect with DianaDiana Futrovshy on LinkedInAbout the Amazing Teams PodcastWe started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco. Please share your feedback with us here: https://amazingteams.com/feedback.

Michael Stevens and Mary Gretz are partners at the law firm Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad. They share insights on finding the right people for their team. Michael emphasizes the importance of competency and being a good human being, while Mary focuses on the evolving interview process, emphasizing culture and the value of asking the right questions.The conversation delves into the challenges of virtual work, maintaining trust, and building strong connections within the team. Michael and Mary talk about the firm's unique approach to hiring, including a group chat interview on the candidates' cell phones to assess their communication skills. The episode highlights the significance of personal connections and the balance between professionalism and personal engagement in a work environment.Reflecting on what makes an amazing team, Michael values the rhythm, trust, and support within the firm. Mary emphasizes a symbiotic relationship, where the company cares about its people, and individuals genuinely care about the company and their team members. The discussion concludes with insights into how Michael and Mary demonstrate care, transparency, and accountability in their roles as leaders.About the Amazing Teams PodcastWe started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco. Please share your feedback with us here: https://amazingteams.com/feedback.Thanks for listening! Doug & Una

Erin Corr Miller is a progressive Human Resources and People Development professional passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). With her empathetic leadership style and keen understanding of the power of coaching, Erin has been a driving force in implementing and operationalizing successful DEI strategies within the organizations she has worked with. Additionally, she is a certified Agile Coach and is Certified in Crucial Conversations.Connect with Erinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/erincorrmillerAbout the Amazing Teams PodcastWe started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco. Please share your feedback with us here: https://amazingteams.com/feedback.Thanks for listening! Doug & Una

Daniel Todd is the Founder and CEO of Influence Mobile, a company that builds products that reward people for everyday activities. Our conversation with Daniel reveals his strategies and tactics for creating an environment where people don't want to leave. Hear how he's built an amazing team by hiring the right people and how he's navigating the ever-evolving landscape of meaningful work.Connect with DanielDaniel Todd on LinkedInhttps://www.influencemobile.comAbout the Amazing Teams PodcastWe started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco. Please share your feedback with us here: https://amazingteams.com/feedback.Thanks for listening! Doug & Una

Doug Dosberg and Una Japundza share their motivation for starting the Amazing Teams Podcast and what an amazing team means to them.About Doug DosbergDoug founded HeyTaco, a peer-to-peer recognition platform designed to make recognizing people more enjoyable and rewarding. The platform includes gamification features that help to connect people better and increase engagement. Doug is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in web design and development. About Una JapundzaUna has over a decade of experience building and leading sports, sales, and operations teams. From college volleyball to running a tech company’s business development team, Una combines her theoretical knowledge with practical experience to build high-performing and connected teams. Connect with Doug on LinkedInConnect with Una on LinkedInAmazing Teams Podcast website