The Wake You Leave Behind: Carl Smith on Team Culture, Trust, and Not Being a Control Freak

In this episode of the Amazing Teams podcast, we sit down with Carl Smith, owner of the Bureau of Digital. Carl shares his journey from agency owner to community leader, reflecting on the role of people, motivation, and creativity in the workplace. He and his guests explore how to balance introversion and extroversion, lead with empathy, and create space for learning through failure. The conversation highlights the power of community, the emotional weight of leadership, and the lasting impact of our actions— “the wake” we leave behind.

We dive into:

• Why ‘PEOPLE’ are the core of what makes work better
• How allowing failure supports team growth
• The role of chaos in fostering creativity
• How strong communities protect themselves from negativity

Chapters

• 0:00 The Importance of People in Work
• 3:12 The Evolution of the Bureau of Digital
• 5:55 Navigating Work Dynamics and Personal Challenges
• 9:10 Creative Work and Productivity Strategies
• 11:52 The Role of Leadership and Team Dynamics
• 15:01 Balancing Introversion and Extroversion in Work
• 17:55 The Impact of Leadership on Team Morale
• 21:00 Learning from Failures and Building Trust
• 24:01 Creating a Supportive Community
• 30:00 Gratitude and Recognition in Teams