Do you find yourself easily triggered in conversations with your team? In this episode, Shannon Waller explains why not taking things personally is a real leadership superpower. You’ll learn how to spot your triggers, pause before reacting, turn feedback into useful data, and keep your team creative, honest, and collaborative—even under stress.

Show Notes:

• Not taking things personally keeps you calm, confident, and fully present even when everyone else is stressed or reactive.
• Taking things personally usually means you’ve mistaken someone’s words or behavior as a verdict on your worth instead of information about them or the situation.
• When you stay centered, you naturally become more curious, collaborative, and open to problem solving rather than defending your ego.
• Leaders who take feedback personally quickly derail conversations because the focus flips from solving the issue to protecting egos and justifying decisions.
• Teams learn very fast what is and isn’t safe to talk about when a leader gets triggered, which shrinks honesty, creativity, and growth over time.
• Much of what feels like a personal attack is actually stress, unclear expectations, or clashing perspectives that can be resolved once everyone calms down.
• Internalizing criticism drains enormous mental and emotional energy that could instead fuel innovation and strategy.
• Emotional detachment creates a small but crucial space between stimulus and response so you can choose your reaction.
• Detaching is not apathy; it means caring deeply about the result while refusing to base your self-worth on anyone else’s mood or opinion.
• You can remind yourself that other people’s reactions are about their perspective and state of mind, not a measure of your value as an entrepreneur or leader.
• Highly empathetic leaders need clear internal boundaries so they can sense other people’s emotions without absorbing or acting out those feelings.
• When you feel triggered, it’s completely appropriate to pause, take space, and reset rather than pushing through an unproductive conversation.
• Recentering on the bigger purpose or result you’re creating together makes it much easier to drop ego battles and refocus everyone on progress.​
• When you stay grounded instead of triggered, you give your team permission to calm down, think clearly, and bring their best ideas forward.

Resources:

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

PRINT®

Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss

No Ego by Cy Wakeman

The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More by Jefferson Fisher

Jefferson Fisher on YouTube

Are you holding yourself—or your team—to an impossible standard? In this episode, Shannon Waller unpacks the real differences between high standards and perfectionism. She also explains how to build a culture of confidence, speed, and accountability so your team can deliver great results, move faster, and actually enjoy the process—without getting stuck chasing an unattainable ideal.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Having high standards helps you feel confident and stay clear on what really matters, unlike perfectionism, which can drain your energy and slow you down.
• Perfectionism usually comes from fear—fear of messing up or not being good enough—while high standards come from caring about great results.
• Aiming for “really good” instead of “perfect” will help you get more done, faster, and with less stress.
• The 80% Approach™ is a great way to keep projects moving forward. Instead of trying to do everything yourself or make every detail flawless, take your work to 80% complete and then hand it off so others can add their expertise. It’s an easier, more collaborative way to avoid getting stuck chasing “perfect.”
• It’s all about teamwork, letting go of control, and trusting that “good and moving forward” beats “perfect and stalled.”
• When your team shares the workload and plays to their strengths, things flow better and no one hangs on to tasks out of worry.
• Make your standards clear and explain why they matter. When people understand the purpose, they step up with better quality.
• Don’t worry if things aren’t perfect; mistakes are just opportunities to learn and improve next time.
• Perfectionism is often a habit we inherit; choose to shift your mindset to focus on progress, not perfection.
• Not every task needs your full-on perfectionist energy—save that for what truly matters to you.
• When you combine high standards with smart teamwork and self-awareness, you create a culture where trust and innovation thrive.

Resources:

Kolbe A™ Index

The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

The 80% Approach by Dan Sullivan

Unique Ability®

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers

What does integrity really mean, and how does it change the way you show up for your team? In this episode, Shannon Waller explains why it’s the foundation for trust, clarity, and consistent results in business. She also shares practical ways to align with your true strengths and create teams where everyone can contribute their best.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Integrity isn’t just how you show up for others; it’s about being truly whole with yourself.​
• When you’re honest about what comes naturally to you, everything feels easier and smoother.
• Ignoring your strengths or forcing yourself into a role that doesn’t fit typically leads to friction and drama.
• The more you understand yourself, the more likely you’ll love what you do every day.​
• People you can count on usually know themselves really well; that’s the kind of self-awareness teams thrive on.​
• It’s not always easy, but it helps to be brave enough to pause, check in with yourself, and admit when something just isn’t a good fit.
• Being authentic is contagious. When you’re comfortable in your own skin, your energy supports everyone around you.​
• Exploring who you truly are with profiles and assessments like Kolbe, PRINT®, CliftonStrengths®, and Working Genius® makes your work and your life so much richer.​
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help, use tech, or lean on coaching if you’re figuring out what fits best. You don’t have to do it alone.​
• Feeling whole on the inside makes it much easier to deliver on your promises and build the kind of team everyone wants to be part of.

Resources:

Kolbe A™ Index

Working Genius®

CliftonStrengths®

DiSC® Profile

PRINT®

Myers-Briggs®

Unique Ability®