Why Some Teams Click & Others Crumble with David Burkus

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Gail Davis sits down with bestselling author and leadership expert David Burkus to explore what separates high-performing teams from teams that struggle to connect, communicate, and collaborate.

Key topics in this episode include:

• David’s concept of “fluid teams” and why they’ve become the dominant way modern organizations work
• The two key ingredients that make teams successful: clarity and empathy
• Why communication norms and trust matter more than most leaders realize
• How organizations often try to solve collaboration issues with more meetings and more tools — while missing the real problem
• The role psychological safety plays in creating healthy disagreement and stronger team performance
• Why AI should be viewed as a collaboration tool instead of just a productivity shortcut
• How leaders can strengthen trust, respect, and communication within their teams immediately
• The kinds of organizational challenges that most often lead companies to bring David in to speak