How to Build High Trust Teams That Stay Aligned

When culture feels confusing, growth stalls. In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey sits down with organizational strategist and author Matthew Person to unpack why so many company cultures quietly break down and how his “Square Management System” helps leaders create alignment, trust, and scalable clarity.Matthew brings nearly 25 years of experience helping companies create and capture enterprise value. He’s the creator of the proprietary Square Management System, and author of the upcoming book The Culture of Alignment. Matt has led global M&A strategy for high-growth SaaS businesses in addition to a decade in executive management for professional sports franchises, and he built his career around designing organizations that perform at their best.Matthew introduces a concept he calls constrained independence: the idea that the most effective teams know exactly how much freedom they have to innovate, decide, and act. The result? Happier employees, faster decisions, and cultures that actually scale.What you’ll learn in this episode:How most “culture programs” miss the mark — and what to do insteadWhy alignment is the foundation of high performanceThe four sides of the “culture box” that keep teams moving fast and in syncHow constrained independence creates trust and clarity at scaleWhy intentionally designing your culture fuels growthIf you're wondering how to start designing your company culture, this conversation offers creative ideas and simple steps to take to get started.Follow Matt Person:LinkedIn  |   TownSquare Advisors WebsiteGrowth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.