Mark Cruth: Agreements, Alignment, Explicit, Foundations | Work 20XX Ep39

Mark Cruth, Principal Modern Work Coach and Advocate at Atlassian, has been knee deep in the Atlassian system of work for years. A driving force behind Atlassian’s Team playbook, and a big fan of starting from templates, Mark has been helping organizations implement better ways of working.  

Such a treat to sit down with Mark at the Atlassian Team ‘25 event in Anaheim, California. He walked me though some of this foundational team effectiveness philosophies, starting with alignment around goal, clear working agreements, clear roles and responsibilities, and an emphasis on getting closer with the teams one step removed, upstream, and downstream, to stay aligned. 

Please join me in welcoming Mark Cruth to the Work 20XX podcast 

Let’s make things more explicit. More communication, fewer assumptions. 

Thanks again Mark.

Editor's Note:
Recorded 2025-Apr-10, 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.

Links and References 

Mark Cruth

LinkedIn 
‍https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcruth/

‍Mark Cruth dot com
‍https://www.markcruth.com/

‍YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-mPY1t3CBUotyjt_A8HqhA

‍Instagram - @ferociously_curious https://www.instagram.com/ferociously_curious/

‍Experts Unleashed Podcast with Dominic Price 
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaD4FvsFdarTF2XwsbSn9mfbGcqSjk2ST
‍Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0wGSYnV0kHtfMpA6OUXkDD
‍Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/experts-unleashed-with-dominic-price/id1763101232

Select Atlassian Workplace Resources mentioned in the interview. 

‍Atlassian Goals 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/platform/platform-apps/goals

‍Atlassian Loom 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/software/loom

‍Atlassian Network of Teams 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/team-playbook/plays/network-of-teams

‍Atlassian Modern Work Manifesto 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/blog/work-management/modern-work-manifesto

‍Atlassian Network of Teams 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/team-playbook/plays/network-of-teams

‍Atlassian Outcomes vs Outputs 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/product-discovery/resources/handbook/outcomes#outcomes-vs-outputs

‍Atlassian Roles and Responsibilities 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/team-playbook/plays/roles-and-responsibilities

‍Atlassian Rovo 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/software/rovo

‍Atlassian System of Work 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/system-of-work

‍Atlassian Team Playbook 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/team-playbook

‍Atlassian Team Poster
‍https://www.atlassian.com/team-playbook/plays/team-poster

‍Atlassian Team Working Agreements 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/team-playbook/plays/working-agreements

‍Atlassian Teamwork Collections 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/licensing/teamwork-collection#managing-roles

‍Atlassian Williams Racing 
‍https://www.atlassian.com/enterprise/atlassian-williams-racing

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A selection of other mentions from the interview 

2025-May-03
Dominic Price v2: Curiosity, Impact, Listen, Value | Work 20XX podcast with Jeff Frick Ep38
‍https://www.work20xx.com/episode/dominic-price-v2-curiosity-impact-listen-value-work-20xx-ep38

2024-Dec-19
‍A festive Experts Unleashed season one reflection with Mark Cruth | Experts Unleashed | Atlassian
Atlassian YouTube Channel 
‍https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mGTdkCsFGg&list=PLaD4FvsFdarTF2XwsbSn9mfbGcqSjk2ST&ab_channel=Atlassian

2024-Nov-21
‍Eliminating performance management and other “best practices” with Patty McCord
‍Experts Unleashed with Dominic Price 
‍https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/eliminating-performance-management-and-other-best/id1763101232?i=1000677827304
‍https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m65ZWuKxwr0&list=PLaD4FvsFdarTF2XwsbSn9mfbGcqSjk2ST&ab_channel=Atlassian 

2024-Aug-16
‍Unlocking elite human performance with Dr. Andy Walshe
‍Experts Unleashed with Dominic Price
‍https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-elite-human-performance-with-dr-andy-walshe/id1763101232?i=1000665660827 
‍https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRMN-zFIPrI&list=PLaD4FvsFdarTF2XwsbSn9mfbGcqSjk2ST&ab_channel=Atlassian

2024-Jun-02
‍AI: Lessons from the past and hopes for the future w/ Genevieve Bell | Experts Unleashed | Atlassian
Atlassian YouTube Channel 
‍https://youtu.be/H3f5QOQTYU4?si=X5a6MrhS8Qwp5dFh

2024-April-26
‍Optimize your mindset with coach Ben Crowe | Experts Unleashed | Atlassian 
Experts Unleashed with Dominic Price 
Atlassian YouTube Channel 
‍https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgsjC0ZyBHo&ab_channel=Atlassian

2023-Mar-24
‍The definitive guide to remote meetings that don’t suck
‍Distributed Work, Atlassian Blog
https://www.atlassian.com/blog/distributed-work/the-definitive-guide-to-remote-meetings

2024-Feb-01
‍Dominic Price: Experiment, Feel, Safety, Learning | Work 20XX podcast with Jeff Frick Ep23
‍https://www.work20xx.com/episode/dominic-price-experiment-feel-safety-learning-work-20xx-ep23

‍The Social Dilemma
‍Netflix 2020 
‍https://www.netflix.com/title/81254224
‍https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11464826/
‍https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Social_Dilemma 
‍https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_social_dilemma
‍

2016-Sept-22
‍Start with why - how great leaders inspire action | Simon Sinek | TEDxPugetSound
TEDx Talks YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ZoJKF_VuA&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

2016
‍General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR]
‍https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation

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Additional links and references 

2024-Dec-04
‍CloudTalks with Mark Cruth 
‍REVYZ | Backup + Manage for Atlassian YouTube Channel 
‍https://youtu.be/OF-6ba_hvJc?si=y2wj5I6Jz8sHx_TA

2024-Aug-26
‍Mark Cruth Talks Frankly to Martin Seibert at Atlassian Teams 24
‍Seibert Group (English) YouTube Channel 
‍https://youtu.be/T0JadGBOfOc?si=PcA-NSDqptlgRQ5J

2024-Aug-14
‍What is a Modern Work Coach? w/ Mark Cruth | Confluence | Atlassian 
‍Atlassian Confluence YouTube Channel 
‍https://youtu.be/ptWfSN9fykY?si=epRcljoCwIQrs10f

2024-Jul-25
‍What Mark Cruth Taught Me About Building a ROCKSTAR Team! 
‍Apetech Tech Tutorials YouTube Channel 
‍https://youtu.be/IreK1Xpe3Z4?si=3JjDyHvA_M40b-2Q

2024-Jul-13
‍Mark Cruth Config & Cruise - Loom & Jira updates 
‍Apetech Tech Tutorials YouTube Channel 
‍https://youtu.be/T85qxOZaeJQ?si=bnh_ULptaipnpTAf

2024-May-22
‍Mark Cruth, of Atlassian, on improving workplace team collaboration, efficiency, and alignment
‍eMarketing Association YouTube Channel 
‍https://youtu.be/tCyUTcRUYcg?si=WytouBjZVCNOoLUy

2024-May
‍Redefining Teamwork with Mark Cruth at Atlassian Team ‘24
‍Via Techstrong TV Vimeo 
‍https://vimeo.com/941817339

2024-May-17
‍Interview with Mark Cruth | Techstrong TV Interview at Team ‘24 | Atlassian 
‍Atlassian YouTube Channel 
‍https://youtu.be/Mfhsqp6oD8Q?si=NvEQJ_J09WIGO6xN

2024-May-16
‍Mark Cruth Config & Cruise
‍Salto YouTube Channel
‍https://youtu.be/PGSN5RFtXF4?si=Uh26Y0GVSNrPI7lr

2024-April-30
‍The Science Behind High-Performing Teams with Mark Cruth! @Atlassian  
‍International Institute for Learning YouTube Channel 
‍https://youtu.be/Jv4sjWU6j6g?si=2O1hkt6_t7BqL1gK

2024-Jan-03
‍Life of a Modern Work Coach with Mark Cruth | Confluence | Atlassian
‍Atlassian Confluence YouTube Channel 
‍https://youtu.be/CFpA5DRTAJE?si=j58fIVfnW8pKPQe-

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