Molly Sands: Clarity, Empowered, Disciplined, Rituals | Work 20XX Ep36
Molly Sands: Clarity, Empowered, Disciplined, Rituals | Work 20XX Ep36
'It’s one of the things I like about science. The whole idea is that we're always wrong, but we're learning. So we're getting we're getting closer. We’re evolving. We’re leaning, we’re getting closer. None of it holds forever. It never does. We always learn new things. - Molly Sands
Molly Sands is Head of Teamwork Lab at Atlassian, where she helps distill what makes teams great, the practices, tools, exercises, behaviors and rituals that great teams tick. Built on first person research, delivered by Molly and team from the Teamwork Lab. Results are published regularly via a number channels including the State of Teams report.
I was able to grab some time with Molly in Anaheim at the Atlassian Team ‘25 show, and surface a wellspring of insight from the latest State of Teams, Personal Productivity, and so much more.
Please join me in welcoming Molly Sands to the Work 20XX podcast
Atlassian’s always done things a bit differently. Born in Sydney, scaling from profit not venture, replacing email with JIRA, and building one of the earliest distributed-first cultures.
Thank you Molly
Editor's Note:
Recorded 2025-Apr-09, Anaheim Convention Center. My first solo onsite recording with some new gear. Missing my rock star production team.
Special shout out to Rob Castaneda and Team ServiceRocket for sharing their booth to enable this recording.
Episode Transcript
Coming Soon
Molly Sands, PhD
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollysands/
Substack
https://substack.com/@workwithdrmolly
Atlassian Bio
https://www.atlassian.com/blog/author/dr-molly-sands
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Select Atlassian Resources
Distributed Work Glossary
https://www.atlassian.com/blog/distributed-work/distributed-work-glossary
Page-Led Meetings
https://www.atlassian.com/team-playbook/plays/page-led-meeting
Personal Productivity Survey
https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/personal-productivity-survey
State of Teams
https://www.atlassian.com/blog/state-of-teams-2025
Workplace Woes - Meetings
https://www.atlassian.com/blog/workplace-woes-meetings
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References from the Interview
2025-Feb-14
2025 is Crazy
By Molly Sands, Molly Sands ‘Work With Dr Molly’ Substack
https://substack.com/home/post/p-157169991
2025-Feb-14
2025 has already shown its cards and it’s going to be a wild ride
By Molly Sands, LinkedIn
2023-April-08
Kate Lister: Research, People, Trust | Work 20XX podcast with Jeff Frick Ep12
https://www.work20xx.com/episode/kate-lister-research-people-trust-work-20xx-12
2023-Feb
Workplace flexibility: Hybrid is hard :(
Lenovo Late Night IT, CIO, with Baratunde Thurston, S2E1, Feb 2023
https://lenovolatenightit.cio.com/workplace-flexibility-hybrid-is-hard/
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Select prior appearances and mentions
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2025-April-22
‘Show don’t tell’ when using data to drive better employee experience, says Atlassian
By Allie Nawrat, Unleash
2025-April-18
Designing the Future or Work with Intention
Hacking HR, LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/designing-future-work-intention-hacking-hr-vgx2c/
2025-April-10
The Science of driving impact together
Super Session with Talia Bailey Plax and Molly Sands
Atlassian Team ‘25
2025-April-09
How Every team can work smarter together
Roundtable with Caroline Dillon, Liz Fosslien, Talia Bailey Plax, Molly Sands, and Miriam Romaniuk
Atlassian Team ‘25
2025-Mar-01
94% of Indian professionals think the most organized people are the most productive: Atlassian Survey,
Atlassian Press Release , Atlassian
CXOtoday News Desk
2024-Dec-11
Atlassian Study: Indian Workers Struggle to Complete Year-End Projects
SMEStreet Edit Desk, SMEStreet
2024-Nov-19
AI Collaboration Report: “Using” AI is not enough - here’s what your organization is missing
Dr Molly Sands, Atlassian Blog
https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/ai-collaboration-report
2024-Sept-26
Atlassian Study Reveals Lost Work Hours Due to Miscommunication
SMEStreet Edit Desk, SMEStreet
https://smestreet.in/infocus/atlassian-study-reveals-lost-work-hours-due-to-miscommunication-7094928
2024-May-17
Interview with Molly Sands | Techstrong TV Interview at Team ‘24 | Atlassian
Atlassian YouTube Channel
https://youtu.be/TmLmWoUASjw?si=emhNd_Lp6_Z2h92c
2024-April-02
Atlassian PhD: Why Meetings Don’t Work, and What to Do Instead (with Molly Sands, Atlassian)
FutureWork YouTube Channel
https://youtu.be/wz34dY95KII?si=nQX52F1jt1C8wk8I
https://www.flexos.work/learn/meetings-dont-work-what-to-do-molly-sands-anywhere-lab-atlassian
2024-Mar-26
Connective Tissue: What Truly Binds and Bonds a Team
CulturatiSummit YouTube Channel
https://youtu.be/8DCE5V9__84?si=5wupuJhJDManPnCw
2024-Mar-21
Working Overtime to Get the Real Work Done: Why 80% Crave Fewer Meetings (New Atlassian Research)
Dan van Rossum, FlexOS
https://www.flexos.work/learn/working-overtime-crave-fewer-meetings-atlassian-research
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Jeff Frick has helped literally tens of thousands of executives share their stories. In his latest show, Work 20XX, Jeff is sharpening the focus on the future of work, and all that it entails.
