Send us a text

What makes a workplace culture truly effective? According to organizational change expert Laurie Clarke, it's found at the critical intersection of talent and design—where people and systems align to create meaningful impact. Join John and Greg as they interview Laurie on her insights of management as a consult for executive leaders.

Clarke brings powerful insights from her two decades working with global CEOs, revealing that supervisors and managers are the essential "glue" holding organizations together. These middle-level leaders face unique challenges, caught between executive directives and frontline realities that often seem misaligned. Her solution is refreshingly straightforward: people fundamentally want to make progress on meaningful work.

Throughout the conversation, Clarke shares transformative examples—like the disengaged call center employee who viewed his job as "just people wanting money" until he understood he was helping fulfill educational dreams and potentially changing life trajectories. This shift in perspective doesn't require additional resources, just clearer connections between daily tasks and meaningful outcomes.

The pandemic-driven remote work revolution forms another fascinating thread in the discussion. Clarke explains how remote work exposed weaknesses in organizational cultures that already existed, creating a "quilt" of individual home environments versus the consistent "corporate blanket" of office culture. While productivity metrics often improved during remote work, innovation declined—highlighting the irreplaceable value of spontaneous in-person collaboration.

Perhaps most valuable are Clarke's practical approaches to cross-training and flexibility. By allowing employees to experience different roles, organizations build versatility while helping people understand their impact across the system. For executives and managers implementing these ideas, she recommends embracing uncertainty—the most effective leaders acknowledge what they don't know, articulate desired outcomes clearly, and give teams autonomy to develop solutions.

Looking to transform your team's culture or navigate organizational change? Connect with Laurie Clarke on LinkedIn or at laurie@laurie-clarke.com for executive coaching, team development, and strategic consulting that builds capability from within.

Support the show

Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell

Send us a text

Join our podcast with John and Greg as they interview Elisabeth Bachman. Elizabeth Bachman is THE go-to person for advanced-level training in Speaking, Presentation Skills, Career Development, and Leadership. With a lifetime spent perfecting the art of presenting, she helps high-level clients get the promotion/job/recognition they deserve — within an organization and within an industry. “Change the way you are perceived by changing the way you communicate.”

Drawing from her unique career in directing more than 50operas around the world and founding her own company, she now helps professionals overcome communication barriers that prevent them from being recognized and advancing in their careers.

At the heart of Elizabeth's approach is a profound insight: men and women often struggle to communicate effectively because they're essentially speaking different languages while using the same words. She reframes this challenge by distinguishing between "single-focus thinkers" (traditionally men) who process one task at a time and "multi-focus thinkers" (traditionally women) who maintain multiple threads simultaneously and value relationships and context. This isn't about gender politics but rather understanding different communication styles to bridge the gap.

The stakes are high—Elizabeth shares research showing organizations with diverse voices in leadership achieve up to 35% higher profits, yet many senior women become so frustrated at not being heard that they exit companies, creating substantial costs in lost talent and recruitment. Through her "Visible and Valued" program and upcoming book, she teaches professionals to adapt their communication style without losing authenticity, using the principles of "awareness, adaptation, and allies."

One compelling success story involves an IT specialist named Janet who had been stuck at senior director level for 13 years despite consistently solving problems. After working with Elizabeth to frame her contributions strategically and engage stakeholders individually, Janet's company created a vice president position specifically for her, later promoting her to CIO.

Whether you're a woman fighting to be heard, a man wanting to be a better ally, or anyone looking to communicate more effectively, Elizabeth's insights transform how we understand workplace dynamics. Her message is clear: strategic speaking gets results when you learn to translate your ideas into a language your audience can hear.

Support the show

Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell

Send us a text

Forget every leadership trend you've heard about—2025 demands one skill above all others: Resilience. This captivating discussion between hosts John Wandolowski and Greg Powell delves deep into why resilience has become the cornerstone of effective leadership in today's volatile world.

Drawing from Forbes Council member Gina Martin's powerful insights, we explore how resilience goes beyond merely enduring challenges to actually thriving because of them. Martin's own journey—arriving as an immigrant with just $300, a child in her arms, and limited English skills, then rising to lead teams of 600 people—exemplifies the transformative power of bouncing back stronger after each setback.

We break down six practical strategies for cultivating this essential leadership muscle: practicing authentic optimism, embracing adaptability, building endurance, developing clear vision, mastering stress management, and creating strong support systems. Through personal stories and hard-earned wisdom, we reveal how these approaches can help you navigate uncertainty while maintaining focus on long-term objectives.

As we navigate political turbulence, cultural shifts, and economic volatility in 2025, this conversation offers a roadmap for becoming the resilient leader your organization desperately needs. Remember, as Nelson Mandela wisely noted, success isn't measured by achievements alone, but by "how many times I have fallen and got back up again."

Ready to strengthen your leadership resilience? Visit authorja.com to connect with us directly or explore successgrowthacademy.com to learn more about the Management by Responsibility program that has shaped our leadership approaches. The true measure of your leadership might not be how you handle success, but how effectively you rise after falling.

Support the show

Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell

Send us a text

Words shape our workplace environments, influencing employee morale, productivity, and relationships in profound ways. Effective leaders understand that conscious communication fosters psychological safety and inclusivity, creating spaces where people can express themselves openly without fear of judgment.

• Words can perpetuate stereotypes or build inclusive environments
• Using positive reinforcement and constructive feedback properly motivates teams
• Recognition of achievements, even through simple "thank you" statements, significantly impacts morale
• Active listening demonstrates respect and builds trust
• Consistency in messaging reinforces reliability and credibility
• Admitting mistakes openly demonstrates integrity and accountability
• Genuine praise strengthens team morale and reinforces positive behaviors
• Tone and timing matter as much as the words themselves
• Thank you cards have tremendous power when they express genuine appreciation
• Finding trusted colleagues who provide honest feedback improves communication effectiveness

Visit successgrowthacademy.com for more leadership resources or find John's book "Building your Leadership Toolbox" on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Contact us at www.authorjaw.com and let us know what you think!

Support the show

Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell

Send us a text

In this Success, Secrets, and Stories podcast, John and Greg are interviewing Ted Santos.

What if the key to transforming both your leadership and relationships lies in understanding conflict at its root? Ted Santos, founder and CEO of Turnaround Investment Partners and author of "Here's Why You Can't Find Love," reveals the staggering $300 billion cost of divorce to corporate America's productivity and offers a revolutionary framework for addressing personal and professional challenges.

Santos challenges conventional thinking with his provocative assertion that "love doesn't create a great relationship; love is a byproduct of a great relationship." Through compelling examples and personal stories, he demonstrates how developing self-awareness and conflict resolution skills can transform both boardrooms and bedrooms. The secret? Understanding that most conflicts arise not from external circumstances but from our unresolved internal triggers.

The conversation is fascinating as Santos explores his "disruptive leadership model," arguing that great leaders must intentionally create problems rather than solve them. Drawing inspiration from figures like Steve Jobs, he illustrates how pushing beyond comfort zones drives innovation and growth. "Either you disrupt yourself or you'll be disrupted by the marketplace," Santos warns, offering practical strategies for navigating change in a rapidly evolving world.

Perhaps most compelling is Santos's method for developing resilient teams by stretching people beyond their perceived limitations while providing unwavering support. Rather than giving step-by-step instructions, he advocates a Socratic approach that helps people build their problem-solving abilities—a technique he perfected while raising his siblings after losing his parents.

Ready to transform your approach to leadership, relationships, and personal growth? Contact Ted at tsantos@turnaroundip.com for a free 30-minute consultation, or find his book at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Support the show

Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell

Send us a text

Leadership transforms lives through wellbeing—this powerful concept forms the backbone of our exploration into how great leaders create environments where people thrive professionally and personally.

When leaders prioritize employee wellbeing, the benefits ripple through organizations in measurable ways: higher engagement, increased creativity, improved productivity, and greater job satisfaction. But what exactly makes leadership so pivotal in creating these positive outcomes?

We break down effective leadership into three essential components. First, fostering a supportive environment through open communication, reducing burnout, and creating genuine belonging. Second, boosting employee development through mentorship and work-life balance. Third, improving efficiency by empowering teams rather than micromanaging them—allowing innovation and resilience to flourish organically.

Research from the Center for Creative Leadership reveals a striking statistic: 72% of leaders report feeling depleted at workday's end. This unsustainable reality emerged more clearly during the pandemic, highlighting how critical community connection and meaningful work relationships are to true wellbeing. Purpose-driven leadership goes beyond meeting targets; it helps people understand why their work matters, infusing daily tasks with meaning and motivation.

Through personal stories—including a successful corporate professional who found greater fulfillment as an entrepreneur and a struggling leader whose health transformed after a guided career transition—we illustrate how prioritizing wellbeing creates lasting positive change. The impact extends far beyond office walls, influencing how people approach challenges, relationships, and aspirations throughout their lives.

Ready to transform your leadership approach? Discover practical strategies in John's book "Building Your Leadership Toolbox" available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, or connect with us directly at www.authorjaw.com to continue this important conversation.

Support the show

Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell

Send us a text

When faced with mounting pressure to make quick decisions, how do you ensure your ethics don't get left behind? This fascinating deep dive explores the neuroscience behind decision-making speed and ethical choices, revealing why our brains tend toward self-interest when we're rushed.

Drawing from the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership's research, we unpack evidence showing that honesty requires both time and clarity. Through compelling examples like Jeff Bezos's "70% information rule" and the Marine Corps' decision-making framework, we discover practical strategies for maintaining moral standards in high-velocity environments.

The research is striking - lab studies demonstrate that participants with little time consistently make more unethical choices than those given space to reflect. Even a simple three-second pause dramatically improves outcomes in negotiations and ethical dilemmas. We explore four powerful techniques to protect your values: gathering the right information (not all information), creating deliberate speed bumps in decision processes, establishing crystal-clear ethical guidelines, and making space for restorative rituals that combat the isolation and threat response triggered by time pressure.

Whether you're leading a team through complex decisions or simply trying to navigate your own ethical challenges at work, these evidence-backed approaches will help you maintain integrity without sacrificing momentum. Take a walk around the block, apply Occam's Razor to simplify complex problems, and remember - good decisions, like good leadership, require appropriate time. Your future self (and organization) will thank you for the investment.

Support the show

Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell

Send us a text

Can optimism truly be a leader's superpower in our unpredictable VUCA world? Join us for an insightful conversation with leadership coach Kelly Frazier Cox as we uncover how realistic optimism can transform challenges into opportunities. Drawing on our own stories and experiences, Greg Powell and I, John Wandolowski, explore the power of saying "yes" to possibilities, even in the face of adversity. We unpack the concept of realistic optimism, where acknowledging difficulties goes hand in hand with believing in the potential for improvement, creating a proactive leadership style that fuels teams with hope and purpose.

From contrasting the mindsets of optimistic and pessimistic leaders to sharing anecdotes from my career in human resources, we highlight how adopting a positive outlook can lead to beneficial outcomes, even in typically pessimistic environments like facilities management. Through personal reflections, we examine how past encounters with leaders of varying attitudes have shaped our own approaches to leadership. Whether you're navigating the volatile waters of a VUCA world or seeking to inspire those around you, this episode promises valuable insights into how optimism can not only transform leaders but also entire organizations.

Support the show

Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell