Sep 25, 2019 | 3 min read

Open Communication and Frameworks for High Performing Teams with Eric Foster

By: Patrick Emmons

Open Communication and Frameworks for High Performing Teams with Eric Foster

Open communication and high performing teams don’t just appear out of nowhere. In order to have a team that gels, you need to put in the work to create a space in which all team members know the vision of your company, have clear expectations, and know how to course-correct when things go awry.

Eric Foster, a CIO with experience spanning multiple technology firms, sat down to speak with Pat and Shelli on his three-part framework for creating high performing teams. Eric also explains why it is so important that you spend time thinking about the culture you want and how to go about creating it. Listen in for tips and book recommendations so you have the tools you need to create an unstoppable team.

  • [00:23] - This week: Eric Foster
  • [01:25] - Individual all-stars or a high performance team: Reflecting on the 2004 US Olympic Basketball team
  • [03:06] - 3-part framework for improving team effectiveness:
    • [04:26] - Clarity
    • [06:00] - Accountability
    • [07:08] - Course correction
  • [09:34] - Integrating external resources
  • [15:16] - Building high-trust environments
  • [21:00] - Creating a strong culture
  • [27:38] - Building trust as a leader
  • [28:32] - Retaining great people
  • [29:32] - The Leadership Cube for aspiring leaders
  • [32:15] - Serving the organization

Eric Foster has been a technology executive in a variety of industries, including Distribution, BioPharmaceuticals, Medical Products, Advertising and Financial Services. He has been CIO for two Fortune 500 companies, Univar and Baxalta, and has served in IT leadership positions at Baxter International and Heller Financial, as well as CTO for Publicis Groupe. He started his career in consulting at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). He has a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Illinois.

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This podcast episode was produced by Dante32.

About Patrick Emmons

If you can’t appreciate a good sports analogy, movie quote, or military reference, you may not want to work with him, but if you value honesty, integrity, and commitment to improvement, Patrick can certainly help take your business or your career to the next level. “Good enough,” is simply not in his vernacular. Pat’s passion is for relentlessly pushing himself and others to achieve full potential. Patrick Emmons is a graduate of St. Norbert College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Mathematics. Patrick co-founded Adage Technologies in 2001 and in 2015, founded DragonSpears as a spin-off dedicated to developing custom applications that improve speed, compliance and scalability of clients’ internal and customer-facing workflow processes. When he is not learning about new technology, running a better business, or becoming a stronger leader, he can be found coaching his kids’ (FIVE of them) baseball and lacrosse teams and praising his ever-so-patient wife for all her support.

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We interview leaders from early-stage start-ups to billion-dollar enterprises who distill their lessons from their victories and their failures. Learn how these high-performing leaders organize their teams, establish a growth-minded culture, and leverage new technologies such as DevOps and Cloud.