#76: First Team First

What happens when leaders stop leading from silos and start leading as a true first team? The First Team is defined by Patrick Lencioni in his book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team as the team you prioritize over the team you manage. 

In this episode, Amanda sits down with the leadership team from Catherine's Health Center to explore how intentionally investing in trust, vulnerability, and shared accountability transformed the way they work together. Rather than operating as individual department leaders, they've built a culture where the executive team puts the success of the organization ahead of their individual department's priorities—creating stronger relationships, better decisions, and a healthier workplace for everyone.

Together, they discuss the practical habits that have strengthened their leadership team, the challenges they've overcome, and why building a "first team" is foundational to organizational excellence. Whether you're leading a health center, a department, or any mission-driven organization, this conversation offers practical insights into creating a leadership culture where collaboration isn't just encouraged—it's expected.

Books Mentioned in This Episode

• Mastering Leadership the Coleman Way by Melissa Stratman
• What the Heck is EOS? by Gino Wickman & Tom Bouwer (EOS®)
• Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
• Strong Ground by Brené Brown

Guests:

Megan Erskine, CEO

Sara Brooks, COO

Dustin Maynes, CFO

Mark Contreras, CMO

Host: Amanda Laramie

Thanks for listening! 

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