Podcast Resources Blog About Offsites
Courses
EVOLVE Leadership Blueprint Simplify Amplify Thrive Masterclass Coaching for Excellence Building a High Trust Workplace Supervisory Skill Building The Six Types of Working Genius®
Schedule a Consultation

THIS Leader Podcast   

69. Time for a Team Tune Up

June 2, 2026

Have you ever looked around your team and thought: "Nothing is broken... but I think we could do better."?
So, they're meeting their metrics, showing up, playing well together (more or less), getting work done. But somehow the energy has become sluggish, and that's not a sign anything's wrong. It's just what happens.
This week, we explore the reasons that even healthy teams drift out of alignment over time and I share a practical framework to help you tune things back up before disengagement becomes a bigger problem.
If your team feels a little flat lately, this conversation is for you.

 

Listen Now
Photo of Claire Laughlin with the words "with Claire Laughlin"

Listen Now

Instruments don't stay in tune. Strings stretch. Wood shifts. Time does what time does. And eventually, a perfectly good piano slides quietly out of tune. You don't have to do anything wrong for it to happen. You just have to do nothing. The same is true of teams.
Even high-performing teams drift over time. Expectations get fuzzy. Relationships lose a little depth. Purpose gets buried beneath deadlines and day-to-day demands. Before long, things still look fine on paper, but the energy, connection, and momentum that once made the team great aren't quite what they used to be.


In this episode, we'll walk through the three R's—Reclaim, Revive and Refocus. Reclaim your standards by building team agreements everyone helps create, Revive your purpose and relationships by reconnecting to your "why," and Refocus your energy with clear, short-horizon goals that actually create momentum.

Mock up of podcast episode on phone with air pods Episode #69 "Time for a Team Tune Up" with Podcast cover art
THIS Leader Podcast
69. Time for a Team Tune Up
37:24
 

"Resetting your team is not one more thing on your plate. It's the thing that clears your plate. It's a gift to every single person on that team, including you."

69: Time for a Team Tune Up

Even strong teams drift over time. Expectations can become assumptions. Purpose gets overshadowed by deadlines. Relationships become more transactional. And before anyone notices, people are working alongside each other rather than together. It's not a sign that anything is wrong with you or your people. It's just what happens. 

In this episode, I share a simple framework for bringing your team back into tune: the team reset. Whether your team has drifted or has never really been "set" in the first place, the same three moves apply:

  • Reclaim your standards. Declare your intent out loud, then build team agreements together. 
  • Revive your purpose and relationships. Reconnect to your "why" using a simple "TO…(contribution) SO THAT…(impact)" structure, and make real time to genuinely know one another.
  • Refocus your energy. Shorten your goal horizons to create urgency and build in a sense of real progress; cascade goals so everyone sees the line from their to-do list to the mission; and celebrate progress along the way.

And if you've ever thought, "yeah, but I don't have time for this team building stuff" I'll address why tending your team is the work, not a distraction from it.

You don't have to overhaul everything all at once. Pick one area. Make one intentional adjustment and start your reset.

If you'd like help, this is exactly what I do often in a single, focused day: the One-Day Team Reset. Reach out and schedule a consult, and we'll talk about what your team needs. (include the consultation (Calendly) link here)

Until next time, lead the way!

 

Resources Mentioned:

 

Citations:

  • Amabile, T. M., & Kramer, S. J. (2011). The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work. Harvard Business Review Press.
  • Lencioni, P. (2002). The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Jossey-Bass. (Trust → Conflict → Commitment → Accountability → Results pyramid; via The Table Group.)
  • Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. The Leadership Challenge. — "the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations." (Direct quote.)
  • Sinek, S. (2009). Start With Why. Portfolio/Penguin.
  • Michael Hyatt — "Focus on your why and you won't lose your way." (Direct quote.)
  • Stephen R. Covey — "Stop setting goals. Goals are pure fantasy unless you have a specific plan to achieve them." (Direct quote; widely attributed to Covey but primary book/source unconfirmed — verify before publish.)

 

To learn more about my services, subscribe to my newsletter, and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me on social channels @Claire Laughlin Consulting.

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! New episodes are released weekly, so be sure to subscribe.

Until next time, lead the way!

 

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
REVIEW ON APPLE

Episode transcript

Click here to view the full episode transcript.

Transcript

Subscribe for weekly inspiration

Get it delivered right to your inbox!

Enter your name and email below and you'll get the inside scoop when we release a new episode on the podcast plus weekly leadership inspiration. We know you're not one to miss out on a good thing!

ClaireLaughlin.com needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at anytime. See our privacy policy for terms and conditions and to learn how we protect your data.

About your Host

Claire Laughlin, MA, Organizational Development Consultant

Hi! I'm Claire Laughlin, and I love helping leaders like you create workplaces where people truly thrive.

For over two decades, I've been rolling up my sleeves alongside teams and organizations, using hands-on methods that actually work (because let's face it - theory only gets you so far!). 

I specialize in teaching leaders how to engage their teams, helping managers become more effective facilitators, and showing people how to work better together.

I'm also a master facilitator for the Six Types of Working Genius® - a fantastic tool that helps you understand and leverage your natural talents.

When I'm not helping leaders like you build happy, high-energy workplaces, I'm enjoying a hike in the forest with my dog Fiona, spending time with my family or curled up with a great book.

Photo of Claire Laughlin looking at her dog

Listen Now

Let's keep the party going!

We have tons of great episodes waiting for you! Check them out on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Podcast cover art with the words "Episode 68: Collaborating Effectively, Managing-Up, and Breaking Down Silos"

68. Collaborating Effectively, Managing-Up, and Breaking Down Silos

“Hey, can you take this on?” It’s a simple question that we hear from colleagues all the time. But when the request lands, your brain starts doing the math:
In this episode, I share a framework for navigating these moments with more clarity and professionalism. Join me to explore what it means to collaborate well across teams, provide great internal service, and “manage up” before saying yes until you’ve actually considered the cost.

More on this episode
Podcast cover art with words "Episode 67: Leading Without Losing Yourself: Being A Purpose-Driven Leader"

67. Leading Without Losing Yourself: Being A Purpose-Driven Leader

“I’m just trying to get through this week.”
“I haven’t had time to think.”
“I’ll figure it out later."

Little by little, urgency starts leading your life for you.

In this episode, I reflect on what it means to stop leading on autopilot and reconnect with your true north, i.e., the values, purpose, and inner clarity that shape intentional leadership.

More on this episode