In this episode of Analog Leader, Fritz sits down with former BYU basketball player, entrepreneur, physical therapist, and coach Skyler Halford to talk about what it really takes to get the best out of people.

Skyler shares his journey from walking on at Utah State to becoming a First Team All-American at Salt Lake Community College and earning a scholarship to BYU. Along the way, he learned that great teams aren’t built simply by putting talented people in the same room—they’re built by understanding individual motivations, creating trust, and getting people to buy into something bigger than themselves.

The conversation explores the parallels between coaching athletes and leading employees, including why every person has a different “agenda,” how leaders can adapt their feedback style, and why knowing what motivates each member of your team matters more than treating everyone the same.

Skyler also shares several practical leadership tools you can use immediately, including his 1–10 check-in method, weekly employee conversations, and the “power statement” he used as an 88% free-throw shooter to control his mindset under pressure.

Whether you’re coaching a basketball team, running a business, or stepping into your first supervisory role, the principle is the same: great leaders learn what makes their people tick.

Learn more about Skyler:

Halford Hoops: HalfordHoops.com
Halford Hoops Physical Therapy: HalfordHoopsPT.com

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Alayne’s story is a powerful reminder that difficult circumstances may change how your life looks but they do not have to eliminate what you love.

Learn more about Alayne Wadsworth:
https://alaynewadsworth.com/

Follow Alayne on Instagram:
/ lannie_lane

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In this episode of Analog Leader, we sit down with keynote speaker, author, and leadership facilitator Mark Carpenter to talk about what it means to lead like a person, not like a position.

Mark shares how leaders can create better workplaces by listening intently, communicating intentionally, and recognizing people individually. He also explains how storytelling can help leaders communicate important lessons, build trust, and connect everyday work to a greater purpose.

From the difference between leaders people love and leaders they leave, to the dangers of putting processes ahead of people, this conversation is full of practical insight for anyone learning how to lead others.

#AnalogLeader #Leadership #PeopleLeadership #HumanLeadership #FrontlineLeadership #Storytelling #MarkCarpenter

Todd shares what a career in relationship-based sales and leadership taught him about listening, earning trust, and seeing potential in people before making judgments.

After being told to fire two employees on his first day, Todd chose to observe, ask questions, and understand who they really were. One of those employees eventually became responsible for training across the entire company—a transformation Todd credits to listening and giving her room to contribute.

From putting relationships ahead of transactions to recognizing that a manager’s way is not the only way, this conversation is a practical look at the analog skills every new leader needs: curiosity, communication, trust, consistency, and follow-through.

To learn more, visit: https://analogleader.com

Trenton shares how he manages customer-facing teams, including a call center of roughly 75 employees, and why he believes leaders must treat their employees like customers if they expect those employees to take care of the real customers.

From knowing what matters in an employee’s personal life to helping frontline leaders balance relationship and accountability, this conversation is a practical look at the analog skills every new manager needs.

To learn more, visit: https://analogleader.com/

In this episode of Analog Leader, Fritz Black sits down with Jeremy Garcia, Executive Pastry Chef at Stein Collection, to talk about what leadership looks like inside a high-pressure, five-star kitchen.

From last-minute guest requests to high turnover, demanding standards, and the pressure of creating unforgettable experiences, Jeremy gives a behind-the-scenes look at the human side of hospitality leadership.

After spending 30 years in HR, leadership development, and coaching, Taryn shares the leadership qualities she believes matter most, why frontline leaders are often set up to fail, and how simple human-centered skills can transform workplace culture. She also shares her personal journey of being laid off, reinventing herself, launching a business, and finding purpose through meaningful travel experiences.

If you're a supervisor, manager, entrepreneur, or anyone looking to become a better people leader, this conversation is packed with practical insights and real-world experience.

In this episode of Analog Leader, John Tall shares what he’s learned from years in sales, from knocking doors to leading teams and navigating executive conversations.

We talk about trust, emotional intelligence, reading the room, handling rejection, recognizing people well, and why great sales is really about caring enough to understand people.