Google's Martin Gonzalez on building effective teams

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Solving the People Puzzle in High-Pressure Workplaces

I came up as a tech reporter in the early aughts. Over the years, I wrote story after story about startups…what they were doing right and what they were getting wrong.?

It’s always been the case that startups can get so wrapped up in hitting goals and meeting deliverables that they forget about that other part of work: the intangible part, the part that so often makes or breaks a business. The people part.?

And here’s the thing. People issues are not reserved for startups alone. They’re everywhere. According to today’s guest Martin Gonzalez , they grow especially fast and wide anywhere you see a startup-esque pressure cooker: Big goals, tight constraints, and an intense, ambitious environment. This could be your big corporate setting, your local non-profit, or even your private practice.

Imagine this. Not too long ago, you had an idea– it’s your million dollar, or even billion dollar idea. You worked up the courage to put it out into the world, and people are going for it. You’ve got funders, a small but mighty team, and great expectations. Things are ramping up fast and the pressure of the whole project is resting on you. Of course there’s no time for anything but the work. Some nights you even forget about dinner. And yet, you’re missing a silent startup killer.?

Today I’m talking with someone who thinks a lot about the most common mistakes leaders make. Martin Gonzalez is the co-author with Joshua Yellin of the book The Bonfire Moment . He’s also a Principal of Org and Leadership at Google, where he helps senior leaders spot and address their people issues. It’s one of the most important things to get right, and yet it’s often the last item on the agenda.?You can find the episode here , or listen below:

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Hello Monday is LinkedIn News’ weekly podcast about the changing nature of work—and how we must change to keep up. It's hosted by me, Jessi Hempel . Subscribe to the show's newsletter.

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