In today’s episode, we dive into the art of building a thriving workplace culture with David Gaylord, CEO and co-founder of Bushbalm, a leader in Bikini Line Skin Care. David shares the inspiring origin story of Bushbalm and how it evolved into a brand found in all Ulta Beauty locations, used by over 4,000 professional estheticians, and boasting a strong social media presence. We explore the unique company culture at Bushbalm, driven by a blend of fun, effectiveness, and the crucial role of...

In episode 11, our hosts Theresa, Erik, and Woz take a deep dive into how financial stress affects employees and what mid-level managers can do to help. While managers might not influence company-wide financial policies, they play a crucial role in mitigating day-to-day financial stress for their teams. Tune into learn more about: Understanding Financial Stress: Theresa kicks off the episode by breaking down the financial stress factors affecting employees globally, such as inflation and...

Welcome to a special Mental Health Month episode where we dive into the top 2024 mental health trends every leader should be aware of. In this episode, we explore the significant role managers play in shaping employee well-being, based on insights from Calm app’s latest report. We discuss two out of three major factors negatively impacting mental health in the workplace: financial woes, technology burnout, and the dual role of managers as both the problem and the solution. (Tune in to our...

In this episode, we're diving into the world of meetings and asking some big questions. Ever wonder why some meetings leave you feeling energized and inspired while others drain you? Or maybe you're curious about how to make meetings more effective and productive? We're chatting about the ups and downs of meetings, from the benefits to the drawbacks. Why is it so important to have a clear purpose and guidelines for meetings? And what happens when meetings become more of a hindrance than a...

Summary In this episode, we explore the difference between being a leader and being a manager. Maybe you've felt unsure about being called a manager before. We understand – being seen as a leader sounds better, right? But can we really use these titles interchangeably? Let's find out. We discuss the unique skills and qualities needed for each role. Leaders inspire and guide towards the future, while managers ensure things run smoothly. We also talk about when each role is most important –...

In this episode, we're talking about performance management. We’ll unpack the importance of  understanding each person's situation while still aiming for the company's goals. We'll discuss being open and flexible when people have problems but still expecting them to do well. We'll also talk about using goals and measurements to track progress and why it's important to treat everyone fairly. We'll look at managing performance for individuals and teams, making sure goals are clear. We'll...

We've got our first guest! This episode we've got Luke Cassidy from Careers with Luke to talk about recruiting. Listen in for tons of info about how leaders at any stage can contribute to the recruiting process. There's also more than a few hilarious stories. To learn more about Luke and connect with him check out Careers with Luke⁠ on LinkedIn and join his newsletter.

There's a lot of talk about giving or receiving feedback but what goes into soliciting feedback? T leads a discussion about asking for feedback and unpacks the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let us know what you think! 1:35 - Woz and Marsh tell a story of a time they received harsh feedback 8:54: Broad vs. Specific ways to get feedback + the importance of reinforcing feedback 17:32: Preparing yourself knowing you may get tough feedback 32:38: Skip-level feedback (ie. getting...

Theresa leads a discussion unpacking what goes into leading teams, how you know that your team is effective, and how a team can find stability through empowerment. Few things we touched on: Donut economy: https://www.kateraworth.com/doughnut/ Patrick Lencioni: https://www.tablegroup.com/topics-and-resources/teamwork-5-dysfunctions/ Homework: Check in with your team about their opinion of how effective the team is functioning. Anchor the judgement of effectiveness in a team metric...

T was a rebellious lifeguard, Marsh learns how to justify speeding to his kids, and Woz keeps us on the rails sharing his takeaways from an impactful conversation. In this episode the trio talks about why they work within the leadership space and why they opted to start a company to continue exploring the craft. Woz references a conversation he had with Sigute Zitikyte, check out her website here. Clifdenconsulting.com

Performance Reviews can be tense. Tense for leaders to give, tense for employees to receive. Marsh, T, and Woz share their takes on Performance Reviews and what can make them go smoothly.

In this episode Marsh, T, and Woz explain the why behind the title of the show and share stories about times when leading people really sucked.