How do you lead high-stakes, no-fail work without burning out yourself or your team?

On this episode of Less Stress, More Joy, Amy sits down with Shelley McDermott, President of FirstRule Group, to explore leadership, stress management, boundaries at work, and building a high-retention team culture.

Shelley leads complex public sector consulting projects — from retirement systems to opioid response initiatives — where the stakes are high and failure isn’t an option. Yet her team thrives.

Her secret? She calls it being a “diplomatic hostess.”

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How to reduce burnout on high-performing teams
• Why psychological safety lowers workplace stress
• The leadership power of “wiggle room” in conflict
• How clarity (roles & responsibilities) reduces overwhelm
• Practical breathing techniques to reset in stressful moments
• Why comparison fuels anxiety — and how to stop it
• How servant leadership builds loyalty and retention
• The importance of boundaries without sacrificing ambition

If you’re a leader, manager, public sector professional, or high achiever navigating workplace stress, this episode offers actionable tools for stress reduction, sustainable leadership, and creating a people-first culture.

Because you can build a wildly successful career without sacrificing your health, your family, or your joy.

Less stress. More joy. And maybe even… cheers to Monday. Order Amy's book 'Cheers to Monday' amyleneker.com/book

Chapters:

00:06 Meet Shelley McDermott & the “Diplomatic Hostess” Superpower

02:41 Leading High-Stakes, No-Fail Work With More Joy

05:08 People-First Culture

08:12 Leadership Lessons

12:58 Team Stressors

19:03 Service as Success + Practical Stress Tips

Shelley McDermott is the President of FirstRule Group — a small, woman-owned business consulting firm headquartered in Olympia, Washington. Everyone at FirstRule has a superpower and Shelley is known as the Diplomatic Hostess — a nod to her leadership style and her love of cooking. Shelley and her business partner Stacy Steck started the firm in 2019 because they wanted to create a different kind of company where they could "hire great people and then love and care for them" knowing that if the consultants felt supported, they would provide great service for clients. You can read more about FirstRule Group at firstrulegroup.com. Shelley and Stacy would love to connect, you can reach them at ShelleyMcDermott@firstrulegroup.com or StacySteck@firstrulegroup.com. Shelley lives in Olympia with her husband, eats at local restaurants, and deeply values being of service.