Ep. 87 - A Conversation with Andy Thompson: EQ for Executive Teams

"The higher up you go on the org chart, the more important it is that leaders are leading from a mindset of 'I work for you' not 'you work for me.'"

In this episode, Mike is joined by Andy Thompson for a fun and enlightening discussion centered on the most important behaviors for executive teams in creating and maintaining healthy organizations. They discuss fizzy water and extra hot coffee, the challenge of pronouncing “anonymity,” why self-care for execs is vital, the importance of asking employees for feedback, hiring execs for high EQ instead of for subject matter expertise, humility, why “walking the talk” (leading by example) is so important for credibility, and more.  

Ep. 86 - A Conversation with Val Jeffords: The Skill-Will Matrix

"Before I make my choice about what I'm going to do -- because I'm seeing the 'thing' not being done right, or well, or at all -- ask myself these two questions: Where is the employee in terms of skill? Where is the employee in terms of will? Get that sorted first, and whichever quadrant we land in gives me a lot of clues as to what I need to do next."

In this episode, Mike Nash is joined by Nash Consulting coach Val Jeffords to discuss the Skill-Will Matrix for classifying employees', well, skill and will with a particular task or job. Notably, each typology in the matrix requires different management and leadership approaches, a reality often overlooked in the workplace. Mike and Val discuss how managers often default to corrective action without assessing skill and will, a habit that can have detrimental effects in the workplace and can severely damage morale and trust.

Ep. 85 - Minisode: The Rule of 3 for Decision-Making

"By following the Rule of Three, we start to see further possibilities. We get outside of our current paradigms because it forces us to put more cognitive effort into finding other solutions."

In this minisode, Ethan Nash explains the theory and evidence behind the Rule of Three for decision-making. Instead of binary this-or-that/yes-or-no options, the Rule of Three implores decision-makers to give themselves another option before making a final call. Doing so, Ethan explains, pushes decision-makers to consider possibilities they otherwise would have overlooked, leading to nuanced choices that take into account a broader range of perspectives and potential outcomes. 

Ep. 84 - A Conversation with Skot Waldron: Creating Your Leadership Brand

“Anytime I interact with any member of my team, I’m creating a brand impression. I may create a different brand impression with my CFO than I do with some account manager I’m working with. My leadership brand is going to be based on everybody’s perception of me.”

In this episode, Ethan Nash engages with Skot Waldron, a communication strategist, podcaster, and author of Unlocked: A 52-Week Guide For The Intentional Leader. Drawing on his experience as a brand strategist, Waldron explores the art of crafting a personal leadership brand. The conversation centers on Waldron’s new book, offering key takeaways and lessons on building personal confidence, self-awareness, and a personal leadership brand that communicates the values and priorities of every leader.

You can learn more about Skot and his work at www.skotwaldron.com.

Ep. 83 - A Conversation with Hana Butler: The Importance of Self-Compassion at Work

"This person that we spend 24 hours a day with 7 days a week is yourself. And to live with someone that closely that you don't really like, is hell. Self-compassion is seeing your own goodness and having a 'correct' view of yourself. It includes the ability to give yourself grace, comfort yourself in a time of need, and treat yourself the way you would treat a friend."

Nash Consulting's own Hana Butler joins Mike Nash for a captivating cocktail hour conversation on the crucial topic of self-compassion at work. In this episode, they get into the fundamental questions surrounding self-compassion: What exactly is self-compassion, and why is it so vital in the workplace?

They explore the significance of cultivating self-compassion and its positive impact on individual well-being and overall team dynamics, as well as the challenges that arise when employees and managers struggle to develop this essential skill. Grab your favorite drink, relax, and join us for this thought-provoking exploration of self-compassion in the professional realm.

Ep. 82 - A Conversation with Scott Ummel: What Makes An Outstanding Manager

"Feeling cared about is feeling safe, which is a primary human need. I can't do my best work – and I probably don't want to do my best work – if I'm in a protected mode. Probably one of the most important abilities of a manager is the ability to communicate through words and actions that they actually care about their employees.”

In this one-on-one conversation between Mike Nash and our colleague, Scott Ummel, this episode delves into the fundamental principles of effective leadership. The duo presents five key attributes of an outstanding boss and shares valuable tips to refine these skills for your own personal growth.

Ep. 81 - Minisode: On Authenticity

In this solo Minisode, Ethan riffs on the concept of authenticity as a manager. What is authenticity, and what is it not? What does it mean to bring your authentic self to work and show up as an authentic leader? Take a listen and pass it along to a manager you know.

Ep. 80 - A Conversation with Eric Girard: Strategies for New Managers

"Managers have more of an influence on peoples' quality of lives than their therapists or spouses. Managers define reality for their employees. Whether you like your job or not, whether you're productive or not, whether you're happy or not -- inside and outside of work -- it often comes down to the manager. It's something to be conscious of."

Eric Girard is the CEO of Girard Training Solutions, where he specializes in the development of new managers, focusing on their successful transition to their new role and on their team management skills. He's also the author of the new book Lead Like a Pro: The Essential Guide for New Managers. In this episode, Eric joins Ethan to discuss the primary strategies for new managers. 

Resources: Michael Bungay Stanier's book The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

Ep. 79 - Mindsets of Healthy Disagreement (Healthy Conflict Part 4)

“What can I learn from this person I’m in conflict with? What might they know that I don't know? What can I learn about myself through this disagreement?”

In this fourth and final installment of our Healthy Conflict Series, Mike and Ethan get into the adaptive skills that come in handy when dealing with conflict in the workplace. Learn about the internal work of healthy disagreement that can make you a better coworker, boss, and human being. 

Ep. 78 - From Conflict to Collaboration (Healthy Conflict Part 3)

“Certainty is the enemy of change.”

This episode is all about identifying our unique growth opportunities when it comes to navigating conflict. Ethan and Mike further explore the conflict styles and suggest specific adjustments each style can make to improve their ability to collaborate towards positive results with others.

Ep. 77 - A Nerdy Deep Dive on Motivation

“We as humans don't do a great job of anticipating reward for super long-term goals. We tend to be motivated by the here and now.”

Join Ethan for a rather nerdy deep-dive into the topic of motivation. He shares what he’s learned about some of the neuroscience of motivation and practical ways to motivate your team and avoid demotivating pitfalls.

Ep. 76 - Minisode: What’s on Your Management Radar?

“When employees feel cared about by their managers, 60% plan to stay at their company for at least three years. 90% are likely to recommend this organization as a great place to work. 94% say they feel personally engaged in their work, that they feel cared about. 94% say that they have wellbeing in their life.”

Join Ethan for an episode about six game-changers to get on your management radar that will change the way you show up as a leader. (In a good way.)

Ep. 75 - Minisode: How to Receive Feedback

“When we can receive feedback non-defensively, that's how we keep that channel of communication open, that's what allows you to hear the truth, and that's how you build strong teams.”

Join Ethan for a brief episode on how to receive feedback non-defensively and why it is critical for success at work and in life.

Ep. 74 - Consideration & Courage (Healthy Conflict Part 2)

In the second part of our series on healthy conflict, Ethan and Mike examine the different conflict styles. They discuss how each style manifests during a disagreement and the actions of someone who is committed to finding mutually beneficial solutions.

Ep. 73 - What’s Your Conflict Style? (Healthy Conflict Part 1)

“Conflict” is usually seen as a negative experience. And it often is – we tend not to like being in conflict. Yet, disagreement is key to building high-performing teams. So, how can we learn to embrace disagreement, and navigate it in a way that is healthy and leads to positive outcomes, all while maintaining (and building) strong relationships? It starts with understanding our conflict style. Tune in.

Ep. 72 - Solving for Autonomy: Why and How

“Being willing to let people make mistakes is a bit of a sacrifice because when you choose not to over define the behaviors, people will learn from trial and error.”

Autonomy is one of the biggest drivers of motivation. But finding ways to give employees freedom in their jobs can be challenging. Tune in as Ethan and Mike explore this critical topic.

Ep. 71 - Minisode: How to Really Listen

“Listening is one of those skills that if we get excellent at it, it has an outsized effect on our relationships.”

Come join Ethan for a brief episode on the importance of listening with care and respect, and why it truly matters.

Ep. 70 - In Case You Missed It: Psychological Safety: A key Ingredient of High-Performing Teams (Part 1)

This is one of our most popular episodes. Originally aired August 2022.

This episode (and the following episode) is all about psychological safety. Psychological safety is not a “safe space,” nor does it mean everyone gets a round of applause for everything they do. It’s a very real and critical ingredient of high-performing teams, and this is backed by research. It’s the ability for people to speak up and make mistakes without fear of being rejected or “punished,” leading to innovation, creativity, engagement, and more. Mike and Ethan Nash take a tour of psychological safety: what it is, its relationship to trust, why it matters, where it comes, barriers to creating it, and how to start building it among your team. Don’t skip this one.

Ep.69 -The Fairness Factor: Mindsets and Behaviors (Managing For Fairness Part 2)

“It doesn’t really matter whether favoritism is real or perceived. The impact is the same.”

In part 2, Ethan and Mike explore how managers can prevent favoritism in the workplace by being aware of the "friend factor," communicating changes consistently, explaining decisions, asking for input and feedback, and using the SCARF model to reward fairness.

Ep.68 -The F-Word (Managing For Fairness Part 1)

“Humans are really, really sensitive to fairness. As soon as you sense that you're being treated unfairly - whether it's true or not - it’s going to trigger fight, flight, or freeze.”

The big “F” word. Whether real or perceived, the sense of unfairness is one of the biggest morale killers. So, how can we manage in a way to reduce the likelihood that our employees will experience a sense of unfairness and instead experience a sense of safety, belonging, and respect? Tune in.

Ep.67 - Icebreakers! (And How Your Team Can Benefit From Them)

From having fun, building trust, and enhancing psychological safety, icebreakers can be a powerful force in team meetings. Yet, they are often avoided like the plague or poopooed because most of us have had rather awkward experiences with them. In this episode, Mike and Ethan attempt to make icebreakers cool again. Tapping into years of facilitating icebreakers with teams, they share best practices, principles, and a whole bunch of icebreaker questions that you can use with your team today.

Ep.66 - Mindfulness & Management

Mike and Ethan riff on their experience practicing meditation and other mindfulness exercises and discuss why the practice is so beneficial for those tasked with leading others.

Ep.65 - Dealing with Difficult Employee Responses

News Flash! If you’re a manager, you sometimes must deliver corrective feedback to employees. It’s not the fun part of the job, but it’s necessary. And what do you do when those employees respond in difficult ways? That’s the topic of our episode today. We’re hoping that by the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with some general concepts and tools for handling those difficult conversations, especially when you get those trickier responses.

Ep.64 - You Should Create a Meeting Code of Conduct

Meetings really do reflect the culture of the organization. They’re a microcosm.”

The title of this episode tells it all. You should do it and here’s why and how. Whether you have remote or in-person meetings, Ethan and Mike discuss the process of working with your team to build common commitments for ensuring meetings are productive, enjoyable, and foster collaboration and mutual respect among members.

Ep.63 - How To Use the Different Decision-Making Styles

In this episode, Mike and Ethan discuss the six decision-making styles and get practical with them. How do we use these? When should we use them? How do we communicate the style we’re using in a way that our teams understands? In general, how do we take these decision-making options and put them into action? Listen here!

Ep.62 - In Case You Missed It: Building A Cohesive Leadership Team (Part 1)

We really enjoyed creating this episode series on building a cohesive leadership team, and we received great feedback on it. This is part 1 of a 5-part series. See episodes #47, #48, #50, #52, and #54 for the full series.

If a group of people makes key organizational or departmental decisions together, that group of people needs to be healthy before they can expect the rest of the department or organization to be healthy and achieve sustained positive results. And this is the topic of our episode and the next several episodes in this series. Ethan and Mike break down Patrick Lencioni’s 5 Dysfunctions of a Team model and discuss how leadership teams can use the concepts to reach an uncommon level of clarity.

Text the word “LEADING” to 66866 to be added to Nash Consulting’s monthly newsletter. Just practical management skills and tips. And just once a month. Pinky swear.

For more information on Nash Consulting, visit their website at www.nashconsulting.com

Ep.61 - From the Archives: Going from Peer to Boss

This is one of our most popular episodes. Originally aired August 2019

If you find value in this podcast and would like to support us, please leave us a review. It really helps. Thank you for your support.

“It’s important that you acknowledge that this relationship you have with your peers is going to change. It’s just part of the deal. And we need to be prepared for that.”  

I am friends with my peers in the workplace, but I’ve been promoted to now manage these peers. How do I go from peer to manager without making it awkward as hell for everyone? This isn’t an easy question, and the experts don’t always agree on the right answer, but Mike and Ethan still try to tackle it. In this episode, they discuss the pitfalls of failing to make adjustments to your relationships when you become a manager, the first steps to take as a new manager, how to build respect from the get-go, what to do if your former peers challenge your new authority, now to manage your relationship with a best friend that you now manager and other steps to take if you find yourself in this situation.

The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t – Book by Robert Sutton

Ep.60 - From the Archives: S.C.A.R.F. and the Social Neuroscience of Leadership

This is one of our most popular episodes. Originally aired May 2020

If you find value in this podcast and would like to support us, please leave us a review. It really helps. Thank you for your support.

“We can’t afford to not be in the pre-frontal cortex. In the information age, it’s exponentially important to be in that part of our brain.” – Scott Ummel

In this wide-ranging conversation, Ethan and Mike bring on another Nash Consulting trainer and consultant, Mr. Scott Ummel. Scott, our inhouse Wizkid on the social neuroscience of leadership, discusses the concept of S.C.A.R.F. and its impact on how we lead, manage, collaborate and operate in the workplace. S.C.A.R.F. is an acronym for the five things are brains are always scanning for in our environment: Status (our pecking order in a community), Certainty (our need for consistency in our environment), Autonomy (the perception of having control), Relatedness (having a sense of inclusion) and Fairness (the need to be treated equally). Tune in to learn more about how our brains work and how we can use that information to lead well and thrive in the workplace.

We mention several resources, so here they are for you to check out:

SCARF: a brain-based model for collaborating with and influencing others – paper by Dr. David Rock

Leading Well from Within – book by Daniel Friedland, MD

The Body Keeps the Score – book by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind – Book by Yuval Noah Harari

NeuroLeadership Institute – training on the neuroscience of leadership by Dr. David Rock

Goleman EI – classes and training on emotional intelligence by Daniel Goleman

Ep.59 - From the Archives: How to Combat Workplace Negativity

This is one of our most popular episodes. Originally aired May 2020.

If you find value in this podcast and would like to support us, please leave us a review. It really helps. Thank you for your support.

“If you don’t intentionally engineer a workplace culture, it will go bad.”

When Person A has a problem with Person B and they go talk about that problem with Person C, that is what we call triangulation. If this is the way a culture handles angst in general, look out. In this episode, Ethan and Mike tackle the tough problem of workplace negativity and how to build a culture based on trust and respect. They discuss the problems with workplace negativity, why we triangulate, healthy strategies for handling issues with a colleague, and what to do if people are trying to draw you into their negativity. If workgroups all get on the same page with how to handle negativity, amazing things happen. Trust us. Please listen and share.

Ep.58 - Psychological Safety: Mitigating the Power Differential (Part 2)

“As team members, we want to be able to show up and be authentic within reason. But when you also have the power differential, there is much more need and responsibility for you to think about how you’re impacting people around you.” 

In this episode, Ethan and Mike continue their conversation on psychological safety. Part 1 explores what it is, why it matters, and some barriers to creating it. In part 2, the discussion turns to another significant barrier leaders face to creating high levels of psychological safety on their teams: the power differential. This episode explores the outcomes of exaggerating or eliminating one’s power and how mitigating it with tact can create the conditions for a team characterized by high levels of collaboration and performance.

Ep.57 - Psychological Safety: A Key Ingredient of High-Performing Teams

“We all bring different past experiences around psychological safety into our current workplaces. An important practice for every individual on a work team is working to gain some awareness about the transference you might be bringing into that situation.”

This episode (and the following episode) is all about psychological safety. Psychological safety is not a “safe space,” nor does it mean everyone gets a round of applause for everything they do. It’s a very real and critical ingredient of high-performing teams, and this is backed by research. It’s the ability for people to speak up and make mistakes without fear of being rejected or “punished,” leading to innovation, creativity, engagement, and more. Mike and Ethan Nash take a tour of psychological safety: what it is, its relationship to trust, why it matters, where it comes, barriers to creating it, and how to start building it among your team. Don’t skip this one.

Ep.56 - Get These Things On Your Management Radar

“There are these six things we’ve been training managers for years to get on their radar…because they’re game-changers.”

Welcome back to the show! After a slight hiatus, Mike and Ethan are back in action with Season 3, and oh, do we have much in store for you. In this kick-off episode, the duo goes back to the foundation of management to discuss “the manager’s radar.” As you’re preparing for a day of work, you’re naturally thinking about the tasks that need to be accomplished for the day. That’s fine. But if you can get these six additional things on your radar every day, it will be a game-changer for your ability to lead with mind and heart and build teams characterized by high morale and engagement.

Ep.55 - Managing From Afar (Managing REMOTELY Part 2)

“We are now having to manage much more towards results instead of managing the process.”

If you haven’t already, we recommend going back to listen to the first part of this series, episode 51.

Hana joins Mike back on the podcast for a round two conversation all about managing hybrid and remote work teams. Now that so many of us find ourselves supporting some or all of our employees in a variety of remote and in-office situations, we need to learn to flex a new set of management muscles.

Ep.54 - Commitment, Accountability & Results: Building a Cohesive Leadership Team (Part 5)

Ethan and Mike conclude their series on building a healthy leadership team by discussing the interconnectedness between trust, conflict, commitment, and accountability. It’s the combination of these important team skills and behaviors that work together to produce valuable results. Using ideas from the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team model, the guys discuss practical and actionable ways to gain team commitment towards goals and behaviors, and how to hold one another accountable in ways that build psychological safety and produce the desired results.

Ep.53 - Experiments in Listening

Tom Keziah, a consultant and coach with Nash Consulting, is a terrific listener. Listening well really matters – whether it’s in professional or personal relationships. The act of listening with care, respect, and attention is how you build relationships and cultures based on psychological safety. Tom and Mike take us on a tour of best-practice listening skills and behaviors and shows them in action through an experimental demonstration. Whether you are a manager, team member, parent, partner, or friend, there is something to learn here for everyone. Listen in.

Ep.52 - Authentic Conversations: Building a Cohesive Leadership Team (Part 4)

“It’s not the topic of conflict that’s really the issue or the problem, it’s how we do conflict. We can grow towards learning how to do conflict in a way that really meets the needs of everyone in the group and helps us achieve our goals”

Ethan and Mike continue their series on building a healthy leadership team by diving further into the topic of conflict. Conflict among a leadership team isn’t bad…in fact, the ability to authentically engage in conflict is a key behavior of a cohesive and effective leadership team. The cohosts get into a range of topics relating to mastering the art of conflict including what healthy conflict looks like, how to encourage and reward it, and how it can inform and enhance decision-making.

Ep.51 - Managing REMOTELY With Mind & Heart

“The main bias that can get in our way while managing a hybrid workforce is this thing called distance bias. If I have half of my people in the office and they are available, I’m just going to go talk to them more. And unintentionally I will create a fairness issue.”

In this episode, Mike is joined again by consultant and coach extraordinaire Hana Butler. Hana has taken a deep dive into all things remote and hybrid management. Mike and Hana navigate through some of the big and scary challenges leaders face while learning to adapt to the new realities of work.

Inbetweenisode: Growth & Leadership

“We don’t know what we don’t know.”

In this mini-episode, Ethan discusses the Johari Window model and what it can show us about personal growth as leaders, managers, and humans in the world.

Ep.50 - Conflict: Building a Cohesive Leadership Team (Part 3)

“The resolution of conflict is predicated more on how people approach conflict than it is on the nature of the conflict itself.”

If a group of people makes key organizational or departmental decisions together, that group of people needs to be healthy before they can expect the rest of the department or organization to be healthy and achieve sustained positive results. In the first and second parts of this series, Mike and Ethan broke down Lencioni’s 5 Dysfunctions of a Team model for creating a healthy and cohesive leadership team and introduced the concept of building trust. In this episode, consultant and coach Andrew Cline joins Mike to discuss the art of mastering conflict.

Ep.49 - Personalities in the Workplace with Akpene Torku Sims

“If you’re in a group and everyone always tends to agree and process the same way you process, you probably need to bring in some different people to the group.” – Akpene Torku Sims

Please welcome to the show business coach and consultant Akpene Torku Sims (Ezer Unfolding). Ethan and Akpene discuss archery (yes, archery), how Akpene helps clients understand who they are in the workplace and life, recognizing the different ways people show up, introverts and extroverts in the workplace, processing styles, behavior styles, how to recognize tension points in yourself and others, how to make better decisions by diversifying your team, and more. Enjoy!

Ep.48 - Trust: Building a Cohesive Leadership Team (Part 2)

If a group of people makes key organizational or departmental decisions together, that group of people needs to be healthy before they can expect the rest of the department or organization to be healthy and achieve sustained positive results. In the first part of this series, Mike and Ethan broke down Lencioni’s 5 Dysfunctions of a Team model for creating a healthy and cohesive leadership team. In this episode, they discuss the foundation of a healthy and effective team – trust. They discuss what trust on a team looks like, why it matters, all the cool things it leads to, and how to start working on creating a high level of trust today. Stay tuned for our next episode on mastering conflict.

Ep.47 - Building a Cohesive Leadership Team (Part 1)

If a group of people makes key organizational or departmental decisions together, that group of people needs to be healthy before they can expect the rest of the department or organization to be healthy and achieve sustained positive results. And this is the topic of our episode and the next several episodes in this series. Ethan and Mike break down Patrick Lencioni’s 5 Dysfunctions of a Team model and discuss how leadership teams can use the concepts to reach an uncommon level of clarity.

Ep.46 - From the Archives: How to Have One-On-One Meetings That Don’t Suck

Originally aired in October 2019.

“All the time you’re taking with these regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings pays itself back with higher morale, more engaged employees, better relationships, and more trust. So, a few in-depth conversations a week doesn’t seem like too much time to me.”

Running one-on-one meetings, without being hyperbolic, is probably the most important practice that a manager can take on. Don’t believe us? Tune into Ethan and Mike’s conversation and they’ll try to change your mind. In this episode, the boys discuss why running regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings with your employees is vital to your team’s success. Additionally, they get into the weeds about what questions you should (and shouldn’t) ask and how to ask them, how to keep a task-relationship balance in these meetings, why relationship building is different from friendship building, how to prepare for these meetings, how to make these meetings work if you have a ton of employees, and more nitty-gritties.

Ep.45 - Mike Nash Talks to Mark Morrey

Mark Morrey is a leadership mentor and consultant from Vermont. He works with executives and other leaders like Nash Consulting does, and he has a couple of really special and unique focuses. He’s passionate about, for one, reconnecting humanity to the natural world. Another of his unique areas of focus is building community in workspaces.  He calls himself a “human-connection specialist” and works to shift workplaces from places of isolation to communities of human connection. 

Please enjoy this conversation between Mike Morrey and Mike Nash.

You can find out more about Mark and his work here: https://www.aconnectedleader.com/

Ep.44 - How Not to Suck at Managing (Part 7)

“I’m starting to think it might be dang impossible to be really good at delivering these Top 15 Management Skills without a regularly scheduled one-on-one meeting.”

Folks, we’ve made it. This is the final episode of our series on the Top 15 Management Skills, and it’s a goodie. This episode is all about regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings with employees. It’s in these meetings that managers deliver the Top 15 Management Skills. Mike and Ethan riff on the importance of these one-on-one meetings, how they can be used to deliver essential management skills, the benefits you and your employees get from these intentional conversations, and how to run these meetings. (Pro tip: Check out episodes 21 and 22 of season 1 for more on running great one-on-one meetings.)

Please consider supporting us by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or iTunes.

Ep.43 - How Not to Suck at Managing (Part 6)

“Organizations are as healthy as the leaders are skilled.”

Welcome back to Part 6 of this series that is all about the Top 15 Management Skills. Now that Mike and Ethan have broken down each of the skills and discussed some of their implications, it’s time to get really practical. The topic of this episode is how a leader (or manager, if you prefer) can take these skills and deliver them in specific contexts. They discuss two of the three contexts for delivering these skills: Your Availability and Group Meetings. Tune in next episode to learn about the third context: one-on-one meetings.

Please consider supporting us by subscribing and leaving us a review. Leaving us a review helps other people like you find the show. Thank you!

Ep.42 - How Not to Suck at Managing (Part 5)

“If my employees aren't feeling cared about, if their needs aren't met, if they don't feel like I have their back, they are not going to provide good customer service, and my customers are going to be bummed.”

In the fifth installment of our Season 2 kick-off series, Mike & Ethan cover the final of the Top 15 Management Skills. These skills are Be Available and Responsive, Follow Through and Follow Up, Make Your Expectations Clear, and Provide Resources and Training. Managers who practice these skills are more effective and have higher-performing teams. And from our experience, managers who totally neglect these skills tend to suck. Mike and Ethan get in-depth with each skill, providing research examples, personal accounts, and actionable tools along the way.

Please consider supporting us by subscribing and leaving us a review. Leaving us a review helps other people like you find the show. Thank you!

Ep.41 - How Not to Suck at Managing (Part 4)

“How can you hold people accountable if you haven't made your expectations clear?”

In the fourth installment of our Season 2 kick-off series, Mike & Ethan cover three more of the Top 15 Management Skills: Give Recognition and Praise, Make Expectations Clear, and Hold People Accountable. Managers who practice these skills are more effective and have higher-performing teams. And from our experience, managers who totally neglect these skills tend to suck. Mike and Ethan get in-depth with each skill, providing research examples, personal accounts, and actionable tools along the way.

Ep.40 - How Not to Suck at Managing (Part 3)

“Being a good manager is really about being a good human.”

Mike and Ethan are back for the third part of the Season 2 kick-off series. In this episode, they continue to break down the Top 15 Management Skills (according to research) that will make or break your success as a manager. Managers who practice these skills are more effective and have higher-performing teams. And from our experience, managers who totally neglect these skills tend to suck. Mike and Ethan get in-depth with each skill, providing research examples, personal accounts, and actionable tools along the way. This is a multi-part series where the top management skills are explored to help managers build trust and respect, enhance their team’s performance, remove barriers to success, and manage like a rockstar.

Ep.39 - How Not to Suck at Managing (Part 2)

In the second episode of our kick-off Season 2 series, Mike and Ethan dig further into how not to suck at managing. In this episode, the duo breaks down the Top 15 Management Skills (according to research) that will make or break your success as a manager. Managers who practice these skills are more effective and have higher-performing teams. And from our experience, managers who totally neglect these skills tend to suck. Mike and Ethan get in-depth with each skill, providing research examples, personal accounts, and actional tools along the way. This is a multi-part series where the top management skills are explored to help managers build trust and respect, enhance their team’s performance, remove barriers to success, and manage like a rockstar.

Ep.38 - How Not to Suck at Managing (Part 1)

We are back for Season 2 of the Managing with Mind & Heart Podcast! After a short hiatus from the mics, Mike and Ethan Nash get back in the studio to record their most important episodes yet. They break down the Top 15 Management Skills (according to research) that will make or break your success as a manager. Managers who practice these skills are more effective and have higher-performing teams. And from our experience, managers who totally neglect these skills tend to suck. Mike and Ethan get in-depth with each skill, providing research examples, personal accounts, and actionable tools along the way. This is a multi-part series where the top management skills are explored to help managers build trust and respect, enhance their team’s performance, remove barriers to success, and manage like a rockstar.

Do you have topics you’d like for us to cover in Season 2? Give us a shout at contact@nashconsulting.com    

Ep.37 - Your Leadership Team Brand & Gaining Influence the Right Way

“What are they saying [to others] about their job? That reputation caries out through the community and becomes either a recruiting tool or it becomes something that hurts the reputation of that company.” – Skot Waldron

In this wide-ranging episode, Mike and Ethan are joined by leadership and communication coach Skot Waldron. The trio discusses Skot’s unique background and the terrific work he does helping teams and individuals collaborate effectively, improve communication skills, and build their unique brand identity. Skot provides useful insights and tools for building an effective and healthy team, earning influence with the people around you, managing up, creating a brand identity, and so much more. You’re going to enjoy this one.

You can learn more about Skot and his work at www.skotwaldron.com.

Ep.36 - Developing a Growth Mindset Through Self-Compassion

“This is the beauty of self-compassion; it doesn’t mean complacency. It actually means experiencing your setbacks and emotions around those setbacks more fully. And accepting them more fully. It's leaning into your shortcomings and failures and giving yourself the support you need to use it as an opportunity for growth.”

In this shorter episode, Ethan riffs on a topic that he’s been exploring: self-compassion and its relation to developing a “growth mindset.” Our belief at Nash Consulting is that to be an effective leader, you need to be continually growing and developing yourself. Research indicates that staying on this path of growth and development becomes tricky when we beat ourselves up about our shortcomings. Cultivating the skill of self-compassion has shown to improve resilience and our ability to bounce back from failures. Ethan discusses the four stages of development; myths around self-compassion; research from Kristin Neff, Carol Dweck, and others; why self-compassion can stimulate a growth mindset; and tools for cultivating self-compassion and a growth mindset.

Ep.35 - How to Do Consensus Decision-Making

If you find value in this podcast and would like to support us, please leave us a review. It really helps. Thank you for your support.

Mike and Ethan build off their decision-making conversation from episodes #28 (The Art of Decision-Making at Work). They break down the pros, cons, and best-practices for making consensus decisions. Many teams feel that consensus decisions are always best. Research and Nash Consulting’s experience tell a different story. That said, there is always a place for this style of decision if used correctly.

For more information on Nash Consulting, visit their website at www.nashconsulting.com

Ep.34 - Lessons on Leadership from a Former Navy SEAL and FBI Agent

“You can’t hold people accountable unless they know what they’re supposed to be accountable to.” - Errol Doebler

We have a very special and unique episode for you. Errol Doebler, the founder of Leader 193 and author of a new book, The Process, Art, and Science of Leadership joins Mike and Ethan on the show. In this wide-ranging conversation, Errol shares stories from his time as a Navy SEAL and FBI Special Agent and his journey to starting a company. Errol shares his unique perspectives on creating a leadership process, managing behaviors, setting expectations, accountability, managing emotions, applying the Wim Hof Method, and so much more. Go buy his book!

Ep.33 - Learning to Manage Your Mind

“We all evolved to have monkey minds that are looking for negativity because that’s what helped us survive. But when we can learn to pause and recognize the unhelpful stories our minds are telling us, we can begin to see things more clearly and act more wisely.”

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about mindfulness. In this episode, Mike and Ethan attempt to explain mindfulness as an adaptive skill (see episodes #4 and #5), why it has been getting so much attention, and why it’s a skill that leaders can genuinely benefit from practicing. Mindfulness, much like physical fitness, doesn’t happen overnight. It is a journey that takes time, effort, and patience. The Nash team discusses their own journeys in developing the skill, the positive effects it has had on their leadership abilities, and how leaders can use it to become better at their jobs.

Ep.32 - Talking Team Dynamics

Nash Consulting trainer and consultant Hana Butler joins Mike on the show for an enlightening conversation about group dynamics and how to get more out of your team. They discuss the nature of group dynamics in different environments, the different stages of team dynamics, developing healthy and productive team interactions, and so much more.

Ep.31 - Managing Relationships & Yourself

In this very special episode, Ethan brings on a former guest to hijack the studio while Mike is on vacation. Our guest today, Andy Thompson, is an organizational development consultant and family therapist. He also co-hosts a brilliant new show called The Thought Honey Podcast. (Available wherever you get your podcasts.) They discuss content from his show, including the 4 critical questions we are always asking, how to use vulnerability to build trust and why it matters, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and how we can apply it to live better lives. You’re in for a real sweet treat!

Ep.30 - Change Is Hard

“Change is hard, and we are creatures of predictability and consistency. And there is something comfortable about things being the same. And there is something frightening about change.”

Whether we know it or not, change triggers fear. It’s just human. That’s why we resist change. And that’s why systems tend to resist change. If an organization is to remain healthy, it has to understand the fundamentals of creating lasting change. Its ability to adapt and adjust is vital for its success. Ethan and Mike take on the topics of change, how to manage it, how to work through resistance, avoiding “flavor of the year,” sponsorship, and more. Go forth and create change.

Learn more about Prosci here, which we mention in the show.

Ep.29 - Families, Organizations and Systems Thinking

“All systems resist change. And it’s often unconscious.”

In this episode, Mike and Ethan bring on a special guest: Mr. Andy Thompson. Andy, an organizational development consultant, family therapist and all-around cool dude, joins the crew to discuss a fundamental pillar to understanding how to create change in organizations: Systems thinking. Like families, organizations are rooted in a web of interconnectedness. When change is applied to one part of the system, it tends to reverberate across the entire structure. The group discusses how to use this concept to create better and more lasting change in your organization…and in your family life.

Ep.28 - The Art of Decision Making at Work

“Employees just want to know if they are influencing, deciding or neither. That’s the main principle here.”

Does it take your team 23 minutes to make a trivial decision that would take 15 minutes to actually do? Maybe not. But we all can get better at making decisions as a workgroup and as leaders. In this episode, Mike and Ethan discuss the six different decision making styles, how to choose the right style for the right moment, the importance of finding a balance using all the different styles, and how doing decision making right can lead to engagement and efficiency. Make a good decision and give this one a listen.

Ep.27 - S.C.A.R.F. and the Social Neuroscience of Leadership

“We can’t afford to not be in the pre-frontal cortex. In the information age, it’s exponentially important to be in that part of our brain.” – Scott Ummel

In this wide-ranging conversation, Ethan and Mike bring on another Nash Consulting trainer and consultant, Mr. Scott Ummel. Scott, our inhouse Wizkid on the social neuroscience of leadership, discusses the concept of S.C.A.R.F. and its impact on how we lead, manage, collaborate and operate in the workplace. S.C.A.R.F. is an acronym for the five things our brains are always scanning for in our environment: Status (our pecking order in a community), Certainty (our need for consistency in our environment), Autonomy (the perception of having control), Relatedness (having a sense of inclusion) and Fairness (the need to be treated equally). Tune in to learn more about how our brains work and how we can use that information to lead well and thrive in the workplace.

Ep.26 - How to Combat Workplace Negativity

“If you don’t intentionally engineer a workplace culture, it will go bad.”

When Person A has a problem with Person B and they go talk about that problem with Person C, that is what we call triangulation. If this is the way a culture handles angst in general, look out. In this episode, Ethan and Mike tackle the tough problem of workplace negativity and how to build a culture based on trust and respect. They discuss the problems with workplace negativity, why we triangulate, healthy strategies for handling issues with a colleague, and what to do if people are trying to draw you into their negativity. If workgroups all get on the same page with how to handle negativity, amazing things happen. Trust us. Please listen and share.

Ep.25 - The How's, What's and When's of Remote Communication

“It’s your job as a manager that your employees know what they need to know….”

In this special episode, Mike Nash sits down with Eric Ummel, an Executive Vice President for CSAA Insurance Group (a AAA-affiliated company), as they discuss the nitty-gritties of successfully communicating with a remote workforce. When you don’t physically see your employees in the workplace, being a rock star communicator can be difficult. The two long-time friends discuss how to work around the communication barriers inherent in distributed teams, the advantages and disadvantages of digital communication, how information distribution is related to employee morale, how to be an information curator, creating a personalized communication plan with each employee, and much more. Enjoy!

Ep.24 - Dr. Anna Gibson on Managing (Remotely) with Mind & Heart

Your teams need you. Maybe now more than ever. How can you stay engaged with your remote employees, enough for them to feel cared about and respected? In this episode, Mike and Ethan bring on a Nash Consulting coach and trainer to discuss the topic: Anna Gibson, Clinical Psychologist. The cohort discuss ways to show care and support, how to make sure you’re not overstepping with your communication (a tendency when teams shift to working remotely), how to set up systems to make sure your team is efficiently communicating about essential items, how to make one-on-ones worthwhile, and how to foster a healthy remote-working relationship with your team.

Ep.23 - Remote Meetings: How to Make Them Worthwhile

In this episode, we dive into a timely subject: running remote meetings. Remote meetings are tough, but when done right, you can still have effective (and enjoyable) meetings. Mike and Ethan touch on what technologies to use, how to foster an environment of connection, how to create a Virtual Meeting Code of Conduct with your team, and tools for effectively facilitating a remote meeting. If you are now like us and running all your meetings via an online platform, then tune in. (Special Bonus: Tune in to hear Ethan’s best impression of Gollum.)

COVID-19 Special Edition: Managing Ourselves Through Uncertainty

During these times of uncertainty, it’s important that we keep things in perspective and take care of ourselves and our communities. In this special edition episode that was recorded on March 18th, 2020, Mike Nash shares 10 things he’ll be doing and thinking about during this challenging time to help manage his own wellbeing.  

If you find value in this podcast and would like to support us, please go to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to our show and give us a review. Reviews help other people find the show, plus it’s good feedback for us to have. Thank you for your support.

Ep.22 - Tools & Tactics for Meeting Facilitation (Part 2)

We are back for more on meetings! This time, Mike and Ethan Nash discuss tools that facilitators and leaders can use to create a healthy workplace meeting culture. First, they get into different ways a team can work collaboratively to create a meeting “code of conduct” that every team should have. They also discuss why it’s important to foster a culture of openness and safety and how to do it. Then, they dissect some of the skills needed to successfully facilitate a meeting (and why it’s such a hard job) and how to address bad behaviors. If you want better meetings, tune in.

If you find value in this podcast and would like to support us, please go to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to our show and give us a review. Reviews help other people find the show, plus it’s good feedback for us to have. Thank you for your support.

Ep.21 - How to Run Meetings That Don’t Suck Your Soul (Part 1)

“We believe that in many ways, meetings are a microcosm of the workplace culture. You can watch a meeting and see so much about the health of the group. You see respect or lack thereof. You see decision making processes. You see efficiencies or lack thereof. You see how they collaborate. It’s all right there.”

Join Ethan and Mike Nash as they break down how to have effective and enjoyable meetings. They discuss the ingredients of effective meetings, why workplace meetings are creating a work-life balance problem, the roles of a meeting facilitator and notetaker, how to have a great meeting agenda, who to include in meetings, the four items you need to end every meeting with, and other helpful advice on how to have happy workplace meetings. Enjoy!

If you find value in this podcast and would like to support us, please go to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to our show and give us a review. Reviews help other people find the show, plus it’s good feedback for us to have. Thank you for your support.

Ep.20 - Behaviors in the Workplace: Stress, Cultures and More (Behavior Styles Part 6)

Ethan and Mike wrap up our behavior styles series by discussing its relation to trust, stress, cultures, gender, society and more.

If you find value in this podcast and would like to support us, please go to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to our show and give us a review. Reviews help other people find the show, plus it’s good feedback for us to have. Thank you for your support.

Ep.19 - Listeners: The Glue That Holds the Workplace Together (Behavior Styles Part 5)

We have reached our final behavior style of this series! Are you still with us? We hope so, because Listeners are sometimes the most misunderstood of the four styles, so listen up! (No pun intended.) Mike and Ethan break down the top 10 wants, need and expectations of Listeners, and also dive into some of their most common growth opportunities. There are more Listeners in the population than any of the other styles and thank god for that! We need them in our workplaces. They keep the peace, notice when people are treated unfairly, love to help where needed, show empathy towards others and so many more terrific qualities. But like all the styles, these qualities can be a double-edged sword if Listeners are not careful. For instance, it may be harder for them to let go of past wrong doings of others (whether real or perceived), and they might have trouble speaking their truth if it’s contentious. Please join us as we explore Listeners and how they tend to show up in the workplace.

Listeners: The Shortest Podcast Ever (Behavior Styles Part 4.5)

In this episode, Mike and Ethan continue our series on behavior styles by trying to break the record for the shortest podcast ever.

Ep.18 – Conductors: The Big Picture People of the Workplace (Behavior Styles Part 4)

In the fourth episode of our series on behavior styles, we explore the wants, needs and expectations of Conductors. Mike and Ethan open up about their own growth opportunities with the way they show up in the workplace (and in life) since they are both Conductors. We call Conductors our “air traffic controllers” – they have a knack for seeing the big picture, which allows them to charge ahead with a vision of the end result. Because of this, they get past obstacles, take on big challenges and make tough decisions. Due to these abilities, they often find themselves in leadership roles. But as you’ll see, these qualities don’t come without some challenges. If Conductors aren’t careful, they may end up making people feel like pieces on a chessboard, which can be especially damaging if you’re in a management role. Join in as the Nash team dissects all the great things Conductors bring to the workplace, as well as growth opportunities they see for this behavior style.

Have topics you’d like for the Nash team to tackle? Drop us an email with your questions and they’ll take a stab at it! Contact@nashconsulting.com

Ep.17 – Promotors: Influencers of the Workplace (Behavior Styles Part 3)

“If you have Promotors in the workplace with high morale, you’re golden. They can’t help but be influential. What we tell our promotors is ‘you have a superpower. Use it for good, not evil.’ ”

Welcome back! In the third installment of this behavior styles series, Ethan and Mike breakdown the wants, needs and expectations of the second of four styles: Promotors. Given that Mike is a Promoter himself, he takes the lead on this episode (in Promoter-like fashion). Promoters take the lead (see?), jump on new opportunities, get s*** done, help us not get stuck in old patterns and bring a sense of fun to the workplace. These are the kind of people who will be influential…no matter what. That means if you have a Promotor with high morale, that morale will be contagious throughout the workplace. But it’s a double-edged sword. If they aren’t careful, they may end up infecting the workplace with negativity. This episode will help Promoters understand the type of incredible characteristics they bring to the table and how to optimize them, and what some of their growth opportunities might be. Additionally, it will help those who work with Promoters to understand what these folks need to be successful and feel motivated in the workplace. Enjoy!

Ep.16 – Analyzers: Protectors of Quality in the Workplace (Behavior Styles Part 2)

“When trust and respect are high, these differences attract, and they work really well together. And when trust and respect are low, these same differences can be really problematic.”

In the second installment of our series on behavior styles, the Nash team digs into the first of four styles: Analyzers. But before they get into that, they first discuss what behavior styles are and what they are not, and how they are different than other personality assessments.

In the workplace, we need Analyzers. They help us stay the course, make sure things are done right and help raise the bar for quality. At the same time, if they aren’t careful, they can give off an unsavory vibe that says, “you’re not good enough yet,” and they don’t even know they’re doing it. Ethan, an Analyzer himself, shares some of his mishaps when interacting with other styles and discusses some of his growth opportunities as someone with this style. If you access this style or work with someone who does, tune in!

Have topics you’d like for the Nash team to tackle? Drop us an email with your questions and they’ll take a stab at it! Contact@nashconsulting.com

Ep.15 – Humans in the Wild (Behavior Styles Part 1)

“You don’t know what you don’t know about how you show up and how you impact those around you.”

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Why am I surrounded by idiots?” If you have (or if you happen to work with other human beings), you should tune in. Mike and Ethan discuss why understanding your own behavior style can improve relationships in the workplace, and how understanding the behavior styles of others will lead to greater business (and life) outcomes. They break down the four spectrums of human behavior: how we make decisions, how we like our environments, how we accomplish tasks and how we relate to others. 

Have topics you’d like for the Nash team to tackle? Drop us an email with your questions and they’ll take a stab at it! Contact@nashconsulting.com

Ep.14 – The Nuts & Bolts of Reliability

“This is just a huge systems piece. If this is on everybody’s radar, then the system is going to be better off. Things are going to get done. People are going to be more productive.”

This topic isn’t the sexiest, but it’s endlessly important. It’s all about creating a culture of reliability and trust in the workplace. If you’re a manager and give someone a task to complete, what happens if you don’t tell them when you need it by? Furthermore, if you receive a task and don’t ask when it’s needed by, what happens? It often doesn’t get done and people begin to lose trust with each other. Ethan and Mike Nash discuss a very simple, but key, systems piece that they’ve seen turn a culture from one of low trust and low reliability to one that flat out gets s*** done.

Have topics you’d like for the Nash team to tackle? Drop us an email with your questions and they’ll take a stab at it! Contact@nashconsulting.com

Ep.13 – How to Have One-On-One Meetings That Don’t Suck

“All the time you’re taking with these regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings with your employees pays itself back with higher morale, more engaged employees, better relationships and more trust. So, a few in-depth conversations a week doesn’t seem like too much time to me.”

Running one-on-one meetings, without being hyperbolic, is probably the most important practice that a manager can take on. Don’t believe us? Tune into Ethan and Mike’s conversation and they’ll try to change your mind. In this episode, the boys discuss why running regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings with your employees is vital to your team’s success. Additionally, they get into the weeds about what questions you should (and shouldn’t) ask and how to ask them, how to keep a task-relationship balance in these meetings, why relationship building is different from friendship building, how to prepare for these meetings, how to make these meetings work if you have a ton of employees, and more nitty-gritties.

If you’d like a free e-book of great one-on-one questions to ask your employees, shoot us an email at contact@nashconsulting.com and we’ll send you one.

Ep.12 – Fifteen Skills to Rule Them All (Part 2)

“When you’re a leader, success is about helping other people grow. That’s really what we’re talking about here with these skills.”

Geekery is afoot as Mike and Ethan drop a few Lord of the Rings references while they help managers explore the skills they absolutely need to be practicing. The main message of part two of our series on the Top 15 Management Skills is that your job as a manager is to help your employees grow. As a manager, these 15 skills need to be on your radar if you expect to build and sustain morale, establish trust and respect with your employees, get s*** done and help create the workplaces we all want to be in.

Have topics you’d like for the Nash team to tackle? Drop us an email with your questions and they’ll take a stab at it! Contact@nashconsulting.com

Ep.11 – The Top 15 Management Skills (Part 1)

“Some of these other skills you can be challenged in and still be alright, but this one you just have to have if you're a manager."

If you’re following the plot, you’ll remember that in episode #2 Mike got up on his soap box and proclaimed, “skilled managers equal high morale, which equals all those cool things you can’t pay for and you can’t punish for.”

What the hell was he talking about?

Tune into this episode where the overly caffeinated Nash team gives a quick and dirty look at some of the top skills that, according to research, are the biggest bang for your buck in terms of managing people effectively.

Have topics you’d like for the Nash team to tackle? Drop us an email with your questions and they’ll take a stab at it! Contact@nashconsulting.com

Ep.10 – Brain Food for Employees, Dogs & Dolphins (Giving Feedback Part 3)

“Just saying ‘good job’ isn’t always enough – people need to really think about what they did right in order to create a road map for repeating the behavior in the future.”

The Nashes return to their regularly scheduled program in this third and final installment of the feedback series. This episode is all about the power of giving positive feedback! Giving positive feedback has nothing to do with warm-fuzzy feelings and kumbaya circles – it’s about human psychology. The bottom line is that your employees need to know when they’ve done good work and why their work is excellent, or they might not be your employees for much longer. But beware! Giving positive feedback isn’t as straightforward as it sounds: if used incorrectly, it can backfire on an unsuspecting manager. Mike and Ethan will teach you why positive feedback matters and how to use it correctly in order to build employee engagement, create a more productive workplace and get more s*** done.    

Have topics you’d like for the Nash team to tackle? Drop us an email with your questions and they’ll take a stab at it! Contact@nashconsulting.com

Ep.09 – Peer Pressure: How to Go from Peer to Boss

“It’s important that you acknowledge that this relationship you have with your peers is going to change. It’s just part of the deal. And we need to be prepared for that.”  

The Nashes take a break from the feedback series to discuss an issue they’ve been getting a lot of questions about. I am friends with my peers in the workplace, but I’ve been promoted to now manage these peers. How do I go from peer to manager without making it awkward as hell for everyone? This isn’t an easy question, and the experts don’t always agree on the right answer, but Mike and Ethan still try to tackle it. In this episode, they discuss the pitfalls of failing to make adjustments to your relationships when you become a manager, the first steps to take as a new manager, how to build respect from the get-go, what to do if your former peers challenge your new authority, now to manage your relationship with a best friend that you now manager and other steps to take if you find yourself in this situation.

Have topics you’d like for the Nash team to tackle? Drop us an email with your questions and they’ll take a stab at it! contact@nashconsulting.com

Ep.08 – The Graduate School of Feedback (Giving Feedback Part 2)

“There is only one thing, and one thing only, that you are allowed to give feedback about.”

In the last episode, Mike and Ethan Nash broke down the basics of delivering feedback in a way that actually communicates your truth while still keeping you connected relationally to the other person. Now it’s time to crank it up a notch. Welcome to the graduate-level course of giving feedback. In part 2, the Nash team explains why you can only give feedback about one thing: behavior. Not attitudes, not intentions, only behavior. They break down the three elements of good feedback: behavior, the impact of that behavior and replacement behavior. Additionally, they touch on the pitfalls of giving feedback via email or notes…a big no-no.

Ep.07 – The S*** Sandwich (Giving Feedback Part 1)

“The main principle here is that your tone and body language have to give the message that you’re in their corner.”

Ethan gives his dad some tough feedback as they discuss an important topic on which leaders often get bad advice. This episode is on how to give feedback in a way that tells your truth while also keeping you connected relationally to the other person. We’ve often heard leaders proudly claim that they have a “feedback rich culture” in their organization. Although this may be true, these feedback cultures are not always healthy ones. In this episode Mike and Ethan discuss the pitfalls of delivering feedback poorly, why the feedback sandwich (AKA the s*** sandwich) can be problematic, and the fundamentals of successfully delivering difficult feedback.

Ep.06 – The Truth Can Hurt

“As a manager, as a spouse, as a partner, as a parent, as a friend – the message of openness and non-defensiveness is what makes you approachable, it’s what builds trust and respect, it’s what allows you to hear the truth, it’s what allows you to grow.”

Join father and son duo, Mike and Ethan Nash, as they attempt to hack the evolutionary tendency to get defensive. Defensiveness is a fear response, and all our fearless ancestors were eaten by saber-tooth tigers. This episode is all about how to receive feedback non-defensively, even if the feedback is untrue. They discuss why defensiveness is built into us, why it’s not as useful today, how to stay connected with your colleagues so you can hear the truth, and why you simply cannot be an effective manager unless your employees know it’s “safe” to give you feedback.

Ep.05 – Are You Even Listening to Me? (Adaptive Skills Part 2)

“This skill comes pretty naturally to about 30% of the population, and 90% of people think they’re within that 30%.”

In part 2 of our Adaptive Skills series, father and son duo Mike and Ethan Nash get down to the basics of how to grow and develop the most important skills for managerial and personal success. Adaptive skills are the skills that we brought with us from childhood, and they make or break our success as adults. You might be thinking, “If I didn’t bring these skills with me from childhood, I guess I’m screwed.” Wrong! The Nash’s explain the formula for growing and developing these skills, and then dive into a specific adaptive skill that Mike is still working on (hint: it requires him to shut up every so often).

Ep.04 – The Periodic Table of Skills (Adaptive Skills Part 1)

“These are the skills that we brought with us from childhood, and they make or break our success as adults.”

Join Mike and Ethan Nash as they sip on cheap wine and get vulnerable about their growth opportunities. In this episode, they explore one of Nash Consulting’s core principles: the importance of continually developing your adaptive skills. The elder and younger Nash dissect the three different types of skills, discuss the most vital type of skills for managerial and personal success, the relationship between adaptive skills and emotional IQ, and why we must always have one eye on growing and developing ourselves in order to be effective managers.

Ep.03 – With a Great Power Differential Comes Great Responsibility

“Many people spend nearly half their waking hours in relationship with this other person who has power over them, and that’s weird. It’s kind of unnatural, because most people, whether conscious or not, don’t feel comfortable with other people having power over them.”

Mike steps onto one of his favorite soapboxes and Ethan attempts to reconcile with the fact that his father is also his boss. This episode is about the Power Differential: the power managers have over their direct reports, and how to use it for good and not evil. Having another adult in your life who has so much control over your time, tasks and more is a bit…weird. So how do we, as managers, wrestle with the fact that most people don’t like it when others have power over them, while still being responsible for running a productive workplace? Mike and Ethan discuss how to avoid exaggerating the Power Differential without completely eliminating it, and why it’s vital for an organization’s health that managers understand this concept.

Ep.02 – The Peter Principle is Alive & Well (Morale Part 2)

“Employees tend to get promoted until they reach their level of incompetence. This happens all over the place – the Peter Principle is alive and well in the vast majority of organizations.”

If you didn’t listen to episode 1, we recommended starting there before diving in here. In this episode, Mike and Ethan beat their favorite dead horse: a wild mustang named Morale. The two of them dissect the concept of the Peter Principle and why nearly every company falls victim to this dynamic. They also explore the research-based Top 15 Management Skills and discuss why the skills of a manager are directly related to the morale of a workplace.

Ep.01 – Morale: You Can’t Pay For This Stuff (Morale Part 1)

“You can pay employees for their back and their hands, but they volunteer their hearts and their brains.”
– Dr. Stephen R. Covey

Join father and son duo, Mike and Ethan Nash, as they discuss a topic that may cause you to say, “Enough already. The topic of morale has been beaten into the ground.” The Nash’s response to that? No, it hasn’t, because they work with leaders all the time who really don’t understand what morale actually is, why it truly matters, and why we must never stop talking about it. In this episode Mike and Ethan discuss the four sources of morale, why morale is your job as a manager, what you get when you have a low-morale workplace, all the really cool things you get with high-morale, tactics for assessing your workplace’s morale and more. Their bottom line? High morale in the workplace is the only way you’ll get all the cool things you can’t pay – or punish – for.