Humanergy Leadership Podcast

David Wheatley interviews Dr. Thomas Kraus about his book "If Your Culture Could Talk." Dr. Kraus, a renowned thought leader in organizational culture and decision-making, discusses how leadership actions directly impact culture. He shares a story about a leader named John who learns to understand and change organizational culture through personalized interactions with a culture entity. Dr. Kraus emphasizes the importance of genuine communication, listening, and appropriate action in leadership. He also highlights the gap between leaders' intentions and the actual impact of their decisions on organizational culture, using examples like a technology company's layoff notice to illustrate his points.Learn more about Humanergy's work: https://www.humanergy.com Join the Humanergy community on LinkedIn. Sign up for our FREE leadership workshops.

What does it take to build a thriving professional network and create leadership tools that stand the test of time?In this episode of the True Success Blueprint podcast, host Mimi Mitrius talks with Humanergy co-founders John Barrett and David Wheatley about two foundational TrueSuccess Goals:Grow a strong network of Humanergy professionalsBuild and refine world-class intellectual assets and toolsThey discuss the mindset behind Humanergy's generous, people-first approach and how that has shaped a high-trust, high-impact network. You'll also hear how tools like the Four Choices, Red Path/Green Path, and their custom 360 Leadership Assessment evolved—and why they remain relevant after decades of use.If you're a decision maker focused on sustainable leadership, talent development, or team performance, this episode offers insight into building for long-term impact.Topics covered:How values shape lasting partnershipsWhy generosity leads to stronger networksHow Humanergy tools are developed, tested, and refinedThe power of immersive 360 feedbackLessons from 25 years of leadership coachingLearn more at https://humanergy.com#LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #TrueSuccess #Humanergy #TeamPerformance #LeadershipTools #OrganizationalHealthLearn more about Humanergy's work: https://www.humanergy.com Join the Humanergy community on LinkedIn. Sign up for our FREE leadership workshops.

What does it really take for leadership training to stick? In this episode of the Humanergy Leadership Podcast, Jim Marshall explores the deeper dynamics of personal and professional growth - what works, what doesn't, and why. Drawing on decades of experience, Jim introduces two powerful frameworks: the Four Stages of Competence and the Growth Chain. Through vivid real-world stories (like a training session that didn't land... until it finally did), Jim unpacks why “aha” moments, repetition, and accountability are essential for lasting transformation. Whether you lead teams, facilitate training, or simply want to build better habits, this episode offers actionable insight for creating real change, not just one-time lessons.Learn more about Humanergy's work: https://www.humanergy.com Join the Humanergy community on LinkedIn. Sign up for our FREE leadership workshops.

Clients who are delighted become partners. In episode two of the TrueSuccess Blueprint, Mimi sits down with John Barrett and David Wheatley to unpack two core goals: delighting clients by delivering real, visible value, and building a healthy, diverse client base that sustains the business over time. They share how to meet clients where they are, evolve offerings based on feedback, make impact easy to see for sponsors, and avoid over-reliance on a few accounts. Expect practical moves, hard-won lessons from 2009–2010, and stories of tools that improve life at work and at home.Learn more about Humanergy's work: https://www.humanergy.com Join the Humanergy community on LinkedIn. Sign up for our FREE leadership workshops.

David Wheatley, Judy Brown, and Rick Eigenbrod discuss the challenges of leadership in times of turbulence, emphasizing the need for new approaches. They highlight the concept of "BANI" (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible) as a replacement for VUCA, noting the familiarity and ineffectiveness of traditional terms. The conversation underscores the importance of leaders adapting to rapid change, fostering reflection and conversation as actionable steps, and encouraging a shift from seeking clarity to seeing things differently. They also explore the impact of AI on leadership, suggesting it should enhance human capabilities rather than replace them.Learn more about Humanergy's work: https://www.humanergy.com Join the Humanergy community on LinkedIn. Sign up for our FREE leadership workshops.

How do you build a business that does good, and does well? In this episode, Mimi, John, and David discuss how Humanergy has balanced social impact with financial responsibility. They share real-world stories of choosing purpose over profit, and how financial freedom fuels long-term vision.Learn more about Humanergy's work: https://www.humanergy.com Join the Humanergy community on LinkedIn. Sign up for our FREE leadership workshops.

Accountability that actually gets work done. In this First Friday session, Humanergy coach Quay Eady shows how to turn good intentions into consistent results using FACET: Focus, Accountability, Compelling Motivation, Easier to Do, and Tracking. Learn to coach one clear priority, create owner-led commitments, tie work to purpose and recognition, remove roadblocks, and measure what matters. No micromanagement, just development. Use FACET in one-on-ones and performance reviews to cut overwhelm, raise trust, and ship results.Learn more about Humanergy's work: https://www.humanergy.com Join the Humanergy community on LinkedIn. Sign up for our FREE leadership workshops.

What drives long-term business success that's both profitable and purposeful? In this series kickoff episode, host Mimi is joined by Humanergy co-founders John Barrett and David Wheatley to introduce the 8 TrueSuccess Goals—a practical, values-based framework that's powered their boutique leadership firm for over 25 years.You'll hear the origin story behind the goals, why they must be pursued as a complete set, and how they've shaped decision-making, client impact, and sustainable growth. Whether you're leading a team or building a business, this series will inspire and equip you with a proven blueprint for success.Learn more about Humanergy's work: https://www.humanergy.com Join the Humanergy community on LinkedIn. Sign up for our FREE leadership workshops.

David shares some great leadership books to explore this summer as the podcast takes a few months off:Don't feed the elephants by Sarah Noll WilsonCEO Excellence by Dewar, Keller & MalhotraKeep Going by Joseph Marshall IIIThe Ideal Team Player by Patrick LencioniMake Your Bed by William McRaven

David talks about Humanergy's Leadership Pyramid and how the best leaders are oriented to the bottom four steps... Authentic Respect, Listing, Summarizing and asking powerful questions

Jim Marshall shares thoughts on how to help your team when they are feeling overwhelmed. Using a framework of four levers... Prioritize, Delegate, Work smarter & harder, Delay/stop & renegotiate. 

David shares more from our What Great Teams Do Great series, based on the book of the same name.  This time, what to do when your team disagrees with the organizational direction

David shares a story from his police training days about he was trained to deliver a baby and how it provides some great cues for leading in a crisis.

David talks about what to do when a member of the team has low morale and is starting to bring the others down.  Part of the What Great Teams Do Great series based on our book of the same name

David is joined by Judy Brown and Rick Eigenbrod to build on Dr. Martin Luther King's letter from a Birmingham jail - and to ask what is the letter that only you can write? At the heart of the chat we ask what do you have to say to the world and challenge you to think about what you don't think about

David Wheatley presents to Humanergy's First Friday work session about how a Personal Board of Directors can help when you are feeling overwhelmed.  Continuing the metaphor of our backpack being full, David looks at how coaches, mentors, sponsors and friends can help, if only you'd ask

Mimi Mitrius introduces the newest Humanergist Quay Eady and digs into her coaching style, her history and what brings her to Humanergy

Humanergy's David Wheatley talks with Erin Tolefree, CEO & President of Baldwin Richardson Foods. They discuss:What is is like to be both second and third generation in family business leadershipThe lessons learned from her father and grandfatherWhat set her up for successBest practices she has learned along the way

John Barrett talks about how we can use Artificial Intelligence to help when we are feeling overwhelmed and our virtual backpack is overloaded.  Among his suggestions are: Think of AI as a super-smart, literal and naive intern, who can't read your mind but who has unlimited time and access to information. And who will provide you exactly what you ask for with high probability. Use AI to help you use AIWhat is an effective prompt to …..?What questions do you have for me to better answer my request?Provide the AI the parameters for exactly what you want (don't worry about the HOW)E.g.Answer as a thought leader who has deep understanding and practical experienceYour audience is junior employees who are smart and inexperienced in the workplaceDefine the key thinking and provide 3 practical actions they can take to be better team membersProvide references and a list of further resources for deeper understandingAdopt a 3 iteration approachGive feedback and/or adjust request and ask for another suggestionHe also mentions a couple of resources...https://www.therundown.ai/subscribe Use the Prompt Engineer GPT by The AI Report to 10x your prompts.  

Humanergy's Chief Questions Asker, David Wheatley, takes a look at another of our What Great Teams Do Great issues - this time, what to do if the team leader is struggling to keep focused on success and holding the team accountable. 

Humanergy's Chief Questions Asker, David Wheatley, takes a look at another of our What Great Teams Do Great issues - this time, what to do if the team meetings are not as productive as they could or should be... one solution is to stop having meetings! Listen in to find out what he suggests you replace them with

Jeannette Stawski shares some thoughts on Prioritization and how we can get a handle on our busyness including the power of the Eisenhower Matrix

Humanergy's Lance Satterthwaite talks about how to manage when you are pushed to do more with less. This is part of our First Friday work sessions. He covers three strategies...Strategy 1 - Let things spill over:Be wise about what will and won't get done.Strategy 2 - Get a larger bucket:Increase efficiencies where possible.Ask for help, delegate, and coach othersAdvocate for increased resources.Work longer hours when necessary.Strategy 3 - Change what is flowing into the bucket or the pace in which it is flowing:Engage in crucial conversations with stakeholders.Clarify key deliverables.Prioritize the work and make a game plan.

Humanergy's Jim Marshall takes the backpack analogy and applies it to how we feel loaded down during any role transition - and what we can do to stay fit, lessen the load and ensure the smoothest transition

David shares some thoughts for when you are having one-on-one meetings with your direct reports and how a simple one not document and a prioritization structure can make them more efficient and effective

Corey Fernandez, as part of Humanergy's First Friday work sessions, talks about what makes a powerful questions and how they are particularly valuable in the world of leadership

Mimi Mitrius interviews the Humanergy Leadership Podcast host and founder, David Wheatley to celebrate episode 200. What made him start a podcast, what he has learned and what we can expect in the future.

David talks with Sharissa Sebastian Deppen of the Leadership mastery Alliance about the challenges of being an introverted female leader in a modern work environment and some approaches to greater success

David talks with Sarah Noll Wilson, author of Don't Feed The Elephants about how her new book lines up with What Great Teams Do Great and helps people understand where their challenges are in dealing with conflict and how to address your 'elephant'

Corey Fernandez talks about how to lead with empathy as part of Humanergy's First Friday work sessions

David talks with Judy Brown and Rick Eigenbrod about how we can make good decisions about the health and welfare of our leaders. They delve into how loneliness is the emotion of isolation and how leaders can kick off their teams with some words to limit their isolation.There is a great article we found after recording that mirrors the sentiment... Give your boss a break: See the human behind the role by Kevin Kruse

Guest, Chris Sargent, CEO of United Way of South Central Michigan talks about how non-profits should be looking at how they can collaborate and where they are on the continuum of collaboration. The tool he discusses can be found here, along with Humanergy work supporting non-profit collaboration and merger. 

David talks with Stephanie Hickman Boyse about her experience running Brazeway, a third generation family business, and what she learned along the way

Corey Fernandez looks at #9 in our What Great Teams Do Great issues series, what to do when members of the team are in conflict

David talks with Bill Doherty and our First Friday attendees about the work of Braver Angels to help us have more reasonable conversations in the workplace with people who have opposing political views

Corey Fernandez looks at #8 in our What Great Teams Do Great issues series - how a team handles the 'superstar' who takes all the credit

Lance Satterthwaite presents the compressed content from our September First Friday work session - on being more open to receiving feedback.  Register for our First Friday sessions at Humanergy.com

Corey Fernandez talks about the latest in our What Great Teams Do Great issues series - What happens when your team is risk averse.

David talks with former sports executive Bernie Mullin about his new book Reimagining America's Dream: Making it attainable for all, and the economy, our education system and healthcare (for a start) need to change to provide opportunities for people to prosper.

Corey talks about our 5th issue in the What Great Teams Do Great issue series - how to help a new team that is struggling to get up to speed

David talks about our 6th issue in the What Great Teams Do Great issue series - how to help a team that is struggling to address conflict

David and Judy Brown talk about an experience they had where a jazz band was the keynote speaker at a quality conference and the leadership lessons that were drawn from the event

David discusses the value of formally handing over the keys to someone when you go on vacation.  This discipline helps you take a complete rest and allows others the opportunity to step up, and it takes investment and structure to make happen well

Corey Fernandez talks about another regular team issue from our coaching work around What Great Teams Do Great - how to help a team that is lacking energy and imagination.

Corey Fernandez shares the 3rd in our series of What Great Teams Do Great issues... this one on how to help a team that is struggling to communicate and not sharing information

David talks to Bill Dobbins about his many companies, all operating around Caster Concepts in Albion, Michigan. They talk about how he is thinking and working on next generation transition and how he is using the main business to support smaller ones that meet is conscious capitalism approach.

As part of our What Great Teams Do Great Issues series, David looks at what to do when people are too busy putting out fires to  get the necessary and more strategic work done

David shares some of the work of his colleague Lance Satterthwaite on the symptoms of low-trust and high-trust cultures

As part of our What Great Teams Do Great issues series, David looks at how to address frustration within the team

David talks with Dee Cramer President Matt Cramer about his family business journey and the best practices he recognizes as supporting their third generation success

David talks about what to do when another project or job is added to your role and no one is actively taking anything away. Using the analogy of a backpack, there are some simple steps that will help relieve the tension caused by adding more and more to an already full load