What makes a great follower? And why might developing great followers matter just as much as developing great leaders?

Larry Shyatt has spent more than four decades in basketball as a head coach, assistant coach and mentor. Along the way, he served as an assistant to three Hall of Fame-caliber coaches—Rick Barnes, Billy Donovan and Rick Carlisle—even though Larry was older than all three.

In this episode of Uncommon Impact, Larry shares why he never thought of himself as working for those coaches, but instead as serving the organization and the people around him.

We talk about the courage required to challenge a leader when necessary, the curiosity shared by great coaches, and why Larry once told Billy Donovan he would join his Florida staff only if he made one dollar less than the assistants already there.

Larry also tells the story behind the coaches clinic he has helped build for nearly four decades—an event centered on freely sharing ideas with people who may soon compete against one another. His philosophy is simple: sharing can help preparing.

We also explore giving players ownership, why the people who care about us sometimes tell us what we don't want to hear, and Larry's reflections on the family time he sacrificed during a long coaching career.

Now retired from full-time coaching, Larry continues to invest in coaches, friends and family—and to live out a simple philosophy: give more and take a little less.

About Nathan Whitaker

Nathan Whitaker is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, former NFL executive, Super Bowl champion, leadership speaker, and executive coach.

Learn more:

https://www.nathanwhitaker.com

Subscribe for new episodes of Uncommon Impact every Thursday.

Uncommon Impact explores the people, experiences, and principles that shape extraordinary leaders and teams.

More episodes of Uncommon Impact:
https://nathanwhitaker.com/podcast/

Tansley Stearns, president and CEO of orsa credit union, joins Nathan Whitaker for a conversation about purpose, courage, financial agency, and the responsibility of leaders to expand what their organizations believe is possible.

Tansley shares how orsa’s work with survivors of domestic and economic abuse grew from charitable support into a broader commitment to help women make choices on their own behalf. She explains the thinking behind the Choose the Bear movement, the importance of listening to survivors, and why financial services can become tools for safety, independence, and hope.

Nathan and Tansley also discuss the shame often associated with money, the power of optimism, the value of authentic leadership, and how a compelling purpose can change the way employees understand their work.

For Tansley, uncommon impact means more than giving back. It means building impact directly into the organization’s strategy, products, culture, and future.

Learn more about Tansley and orsa’s work:

Choose the Bear:
https://orsacu.org/community-impact/choose-the-bear

Grow and Give:
https://orsacu.org/savings/grow-and-give

Tansley’s podcasts, newsletter, and other work:
https://tansleystearns.com/storytelling

About Nathan Whitaker

Nathan Whitaker is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, former NFL executive, Super Bowl champion, leadership speaker, and executive coach.

Learn more:

https://www.nathanwhitaker.com

Subscribe for new episodes of Uncommon Impact every Thursday.

Uncommon Impact explores the people, experiences, and principles that shape extraordinary leaders and teams.

More episodes of Uncommon Impact:
https://nathanwhitaker.com/podcast/

What does culture actually look like in the everyday life of an organization?

In this solo episode of Uncommon Impact, Nathan Whitaker reflects on lessons from the podcast’s first four guests and explores two themes that surfaced repeatedly: culture and connection.

Drawing from experiences in coaching, university leadership, the NFL, and international schools, Nathan looks at how culture is shaped not only by formal leaders, but also by assumptions, habits, communication, and the small choices people make every day.

He also considers why communication alone is not enough, how healthy disagreement differs from disrespect, why questions can create ownership, and why we should tell people about the impact they have had while we still have the chance.

The episode closes with a practical challenge: identify the gap between the culture you say you want and what people are actually experiencing—then take one step to close it.

Also featuring a brief appearance from Fezzik, one of Nathan’s most dependable three-legged team members.

Learn more about Uncommon Impact and find additional episodes at:
https://nathanwhitaker.com/podcast/

About Nathan Whitaker

Nathan Whitaker is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, former NFL executive, Super Bowl champion, leadership speaker, and executive coach.

Learn more:

https://www.nathanwhitaker.com

Subscribe for new episodes of Uncommon Impact every Thursday.

Uncommon Impact explores the people, experiences, and principles that shape extraordinary leaders and teams.