Shannon Waller's Team Success: Recent Episodes

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Do you take time to connect the dots for your team, or leave them guessing at the bigger picture? In this episode, Shannon Waller explains why context is one of the most valuable things a leader can give. Learn how a few simple communication habits can prevent confusion and missed handoffs, move things forward faster, and give your best projects more momentum.

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Show Notes:

• Great teamwork starts with context because people do their best work when they understand the bigger picture and where their piece fits.
• Don’t assume people already know what you know; this creates confusion, missed handoffs, and unnecessary frustration.
• Explain why something matters before you dive into what needs to be done so team members can make better, more confident decisions.
• Point out who’s involved, who decides, and who needs to be kept in the loop so nothing gets dropped.
• Ask yourself, “What’s missing here?” before you move ahead because one missing person or detail can stall everything.
• Make introductions and connections for people instead of leaving them to figure out the maze on their own; great leaders remove friction by making the right introductions at the right time.
• The more context you share, the less your team hesitates, second-guesses, or duplicates effort.
• When people feel informed and included, they show up more confidently and take ownership of their piece.
• The goal is not just communication, but momentum: helping the team move faster with less confusion and more ownership.
• Connecting the dots is one of the simplest ways to make teamwork easier, more strategic, and more successful.

Resources:

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug

Unique Ability®

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Have you ever said something very clearly only to watch it completely miss the mark? In this episode, Shannon Waller explains why effective communication starts with meeting people where they are, not where you are. She also shares how self-awareness, curiosity, and a few simple questions can help you connect, reduce drama, and get better results with anyone.

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Show Notes:

• Great communication starts with awareness of how other people receive information, not just how you prefer to deliver it.
• Our natural instinct is to assume everyone processes information the way we do, but that’s rarely true.
• Tools like Kolbe, PRINT®, CliftonStrengths®, and DISC can help you understand how someone is wired to receive information.
• Most workplace drama comes down to miscommunication and misalignment, not bad intentions.
• When you translate your message into the other person’s language, they’re far more likely to stay open and engaged.
• Saying “that’s an interesting idea” gives someone space to be heard without committing you to agreement.
• Validation doesn’t mean abandoning your standards; it means creating enough safety for better thinking.
• Connecting with someone emotionally before correcting them keeps them open instead of defensive.
• When people feel heard, they’re more likely to refine their own ideas and contribute stronger solutions.
• Three simple questions can guide any conversation:
• Where are they right now?
• What do they need from me first?
• How can I help them stay open?
• The goal is not to be right faster; the goal is to get to a better answer together.

Resources:

Kolbe

Working Genius®

CliftonStrengths®

DISC Assessment

PRINT®

The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

Connected Parenting by Jennifer Kolari

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Do you keep holding on to someone because you believe in their potential, even when the results aren’t there? In this episode, Shannon Waller explains why betting on potential can drain your team, lower your standards, and delay progress—and why capability is the better standard for building a stronger, more successful team.

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Show Notes:

• Potential means someone might be able to do the job someday, but capability means they can do it now, reliably.
• Building your team based on potential instead of capability creates stress, delay, and disappointment.
• Capability shows up as repeatable, consistent, count-on-able performance in the role, at the required level, and with the right stakes.
• Believing in someone’s potential can feel generous and supportive, but it may actually be postponing a necessary decision.
• The longer you protect potential, the more you may be punishing the capable people on your team.
• Holding someone to your idea of their potential can create unnecessary pressure, frustration, and time in “The Gap.”
• Great leaders look for more than possibility; they spot real capability and build roles around it.
• When someone is in the wrong role, the kindest thing you can do is tell the truth and address it directly.
• Sometimes the issue isn’t the person, it’s the fit, and moving them or exiting them creates clarity for everyone.
• If you want a stronger team, stack it with people who can consistently deliver today, then help those capabilities grow.

Resources:

Unique Ability®

The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

Kolbe A™ Index

Working Genius®

DISC Assessment

PRINT®

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Do you ever feel like you spend more time following up than moving forward? In this episode, Shannon Waller reveals how consistent, count‑on‑able team members reduce mental drag, speed up execution, and protect your client experience—and why occasional brilliance is never a substitute for reliability.

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Show Notes:

• Consistency creates certainty, and certainty is one of the most valuable things a team can give an entrepreneur.
• A truly valuable team member is someone you can count on without having to think about them.
• Consistency does not mean being boring, robotic, or perfect; it means showing up in a reliable way that others can trust.
• The four Referability Habits™—show up on time, do what you say, finish what you start, and say please and thank you—create trust inside a company as well as with clients.
• Inconsistent behavior creates “open files,” mental drag, and unnecessary management costs for leaders and teammates.
• When someone is working in their Unique Ability®, they follow through without prompting, move projects forward faster, and consistently raise the quality of your team’s results.
• Quiet, dependable team members often create more long-term value than dramatic people with flashes of occasional brilliance.
• If you’re constantly checking, wondering, following up, or building backup plans, inconsistency is already costing you.
• Entrepreneurs need to treat consistency as a measurable form of value, not just a nice personality trait.
• A consistency audit can quickly reveal who creates confidence, who creates question marks, and where role fit may be off.
• Clear coaching around expectations can improve consistency, but repeated inconsistency is often a sign that a person is in the wrong role or the wrong company.
• The more consistent your team is, the more freedom you gain to focus on growth, innovation, and the overall future of your company.

Resources:

Unique Ability®

4 Ways To Increase Your Credibility And Referability—Fast

The Kolbe A™ Index

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

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Entrepreneurs are brilliant at solving everyone else’s problems, but often get stuck in their own because they won’t fully leverage support. In this episode, Shannon Waller and Terry Pham discuss the five biggest delegation roadblocks, how to build a true strategic partnership with your executive assistant, and why letting go is the fastest way to 10x your impact.

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Show Notes:

• A truly great executive assistant (EA) is a strategic partner with a “heart of hospitality” whose strengths complement your own, anticipating your needs and future points of friction so you can stay in your Unique Ability®.
• Terry’s five delegation roadblocks show up in almost every entrepreneurial business.
• “It takes too much time so I’ll just do it myself” is usually a bad math problem where five-minute tasks, repeated all year, slowly add up to days of lost focus.
• “No one can do this like me” is only true for activities in your Unique Ability; everything else should be delegated so you can spend your best hours on the thinking, relationships, and creativity that actually grow the business.
• “I didn’t know I could delegate this” is common for rugged individualists who’ve built unconscious competence and simply stopped seeing tasks that could be handed off.
• “I actually enjoy doing it” often hides a procrastination strategy where you choose familiar, low-stakes tasks like emails, meetings, and quick fixes over the strategic, uncomfortable work only you can do.
• “I don’t believe I deserve support” is usually about ego or false humility and can stop entrepreneurs from fully using an EA even after they’ve hired one.
• Reframing support around impact, contribution, and your company’s bigger future makes it easier to receive help without getting stuck in self-judgment.
• Monthly “stop, start, continue” conversations in both directions, plus daily SSS feedback (short, soon, specific), clear up unspoken expectations, improve teamwork and performance, and keep frustration from building up under the surface.
• The courage to fully delegate is often triggered when you commit to a bigger goal that simply cannot be reached if you keep doing everything yourself.
• Entrepreneurs who aren’t willing to grow, let go of control, or treat people respectfully are not ready for an EA and will burn through support quickly.
• If you treat an EA as a cost instead of an investment, you’ll miss the massive multiplication in time, energy, and opportunity they can create for you.
• The best EA relationships are built on mutual respect, shared values, and a genuine desire to protect each other’s Unique Ability and well-being.

Resources:

Superpowers

Setting the Table by Danny Meyer

Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

Unique Ability®

How To Sell Transformation Using This One Question

The D.O.S. Conversation® by Dan Sullivan

The Kolbe A™ Index

Superpowered by Shannon Waller, Steven Neuner, and Ryan Cassin

The Eisenhower Matrix

The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan

Frequency Assessment

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In this episode, Shannon Waller explains why every entrepreneur is really running two companies: the Present Company that generates cash today and the Future Company that drives 10x growth tomorrow. Discover how to ground yourself in current reality while intentionally designing your bigger future using elimination, automation, delegation, and your core company foundation.

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Show Notes:

• Every entrepreneur is actually running two companies at once: the Present Company that pays the bills today and the Future Company that holds your 10x growth.
• The Present Company is your day-to-day reality—current team, current offers, current clients, and the cash flow that funds everything else.
• The Future Company is where your biggest innovation, differentiation, and profit potential live, which is why visionaries find it so energizing and compelling.
• Your core company foundation—Unique Ability®, hero target, and D.O.S.® (dangers, opportunities, and strengths)—stays constant whether you’re operating in your Present or Future Company.
• When you clearly understand your hero target’s D.O.S., you create a near monopoly on value because you know exactly how to help them.
• Entrepreneurs naturally over-focus on the Future Company and can unintentionally starve the Present Company, but your job as a leader is to treat both companies as a polarity to manage rather than a problem to solve.
• Strong leadership means you’re grounded in what’s working now while also intentionally designing what will make your company 10x more valuable in the future.
• A smart first step is to eliminate uncertainties in the Present Company by getting better data, clarifying expectations, and closing any confusing communication loops.
• Look for ways to automate or delegate repeatable processes so you can create consistency, save mental energy, and keep the current business running more smoothly with less effort.
• Use the capacity you free up to elevate, differentiate, and innovate—designing new offerings, entering new markets, or deepening value for your best hero clients.
• Notice whether your current conversations with team members are mostly about maintaining the Present Company or about building capabilities for the Future Company.
• Your Future Company needs equal respect and attention, because without conscious innovation and 10x thinking, your Present Company will eventually be outpaced by the market.
• Make it explicit with your team which conversations are about your Present Company and which are about your Future Company so everyone knows the context they’re operating from.
• Regularly revisit your core company foundation so that every new Future Company idea is anchored in what you do best for the people you most want to be a hero to.
• Remember that your Present Company and Future Company are both expressions of the same Unique Ability, and your leadership is what keeps them aligned and profitable over time.

Resources:

10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Unique Ability®

Do You Know What’s Keeping Your Clients Awake At 3 A.M.?

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Most entrepreneurs avoid conflict, but that’s exactly where your biggest growth is hiding. In this episode, Shannon Waller and leadership expert Matthew Abrams unpack how to turn tension into a strategic advantage using simple, practical tools that make hard conversations easier, deepen trust, and accelerate team performance in every area of your life and business.

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Show Notes:

• Conflict is not a problem to avoid, but rather a signal that you or your team are out of alignment and ready for growth.
• There are only two kinds of conflict: the kind that connects you and the kind that damages the relationship.
• Productive conflict means honoring both the relationship and the result instead of over-indexing on one at the expense of the other.
• When leaders avoid hard conversations, team members shut down, withhold their best thinking, and show up only in the areas that feel safe.
• Misalignment in a leadership team leads to people rowing in different directions, accountability breaking down, and performance dropping.
• Teams that get good at conflict move through uncertainty faster and come out of challenges with stronger relationships and better results.
• Our brains are wired to treat conflict like physical danger, so the amygdala hijacks us into a fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response to keep us “safe.”
• When leaders protect relationships instead of telling the truth, people walk on eggshells, feel disoriented, and never bring their full capability to the team.
• Being kind as a leader means having clear, direct conversations about what needs to change, not being “nice” and then exiting people later.
• The healthiest teams treat honest feedback as something precious because it gives people what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear.
• High‑performing leadership teams practice vulnerability loops, where one person shares a hard truth and the other receives it with openness instead of defensiveness.
• The most powerful growth happens in the edge zone between comfort and panic, where conversations are uncomfortable but still safe enough to stay present.
• Relationships are the primary vehicle for your development as a leader because they push you to edges you would never explore on your own.
• To stay in the edge zone and out of panic, you need practical tools to calm your nervous system.
• A single slow, intentional breath can bring your neocortex back online so you can respond creatively instead of reacting from fear.
• Saying “I am sensing … ” or “I am feeling … ” names your inner experience, keeps you in your own lane, and instantly lowers the emotional temperature.
• Building a richer emotional vocabulary helps you move from vague frustration to precise, useful self-awareness in heated situations.
• Using “I” statements rather than “you” statements is a simple, powerful marker of emotional maturity in conflict conversations.
• Active listening—paraphrasing what you heard and asking “Am I getting it?”—slows conversations down and makes people feel deeply heard, while phrases like “That makes sense to me” validate the other person’s experience without agreeing with their interpretation or ceding your position.
• When both parties feel accurately heard, they are far more willing to disagree and still commit to the decision the team needs.
  • The P.E.A.C.E. Process gives leaders a repeatable framework for preparing for any hard conversation instead of winging it:
  • P: Pursue alignment by explicitly naming what you and the other person both care about so it becomes the two of you versus the issue, not you versus them.
  • E: Extract the facts by describing what actually happened in neutral, indisputable terms before you ever move into analysis or emotion.
  • A: Assess the story and emotions by being honest about the meaning you made and the feelings that came with it, knowing your story may not be accurate but is real for you.
  • C: Compassionately spar, with both of you sharing your perspectives while actively validating each other’s experience.
  • E: Express needs and make a request by translating your emotions into a concrete ask that would restore trust and alignment going forward.
• One of the biggest leadership upgrades is decoupling your intent from your impact so you can hear how your actions landed without getting defensive.
• Many entrepreneurs carry an unconscious belief that they must always be right, which shuts down curiosity and keeps others from bringing their best thinking.
• Inviting dissent and saying “Help me understand” signals to your team that you value truth and alignment more than protecting your ego.
• Respect is the non‑negotiable foundation of healthy conflict because without mutual respect no one will invest in repairing the relationship.
• Most of your behavior in conflict is driven by subconscious beliefs and identity, so lasting change requires updating your internal operating system.
• Neuroplasticity means you can rewire your beliefs and patterns at any age if you are willing to do the reflective work.
• A key leadership shift is moving from beliefs you inherited from parents, culture, or old roles to beliefs you consciously design from your own values.
• Feeling like an imposter often simply means you’re in the courage phase of The 4 C’s Formula®, stretching beyond your comfort zone into your next level.
• Instead of resisting imposter syndrome, you can treat it as evidence that you’re growing and that new capabilities are being built.
• Using conflict as a practice arena—not a pass/fail test—lets you experiment with new behaviors without demanding perfection from yourself.

Resources:

Inviting Genius by Matthew Abrams

Kolbe A™ Index

Working Genius®

PRINT®

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

EOS® Worldwide

Your Life As A Strategy Circle by Dan Sullivan

The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge

Crazy Good Talks®

The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan

Unique Ability®

The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

The Collaborative Way®

Inviting Genius

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Are you and your team slowing growth by overthinking every decision? In this episode, Shannon Waller shares practical frameworks to speed up decision-making without sacrificing wisdom. Learn how to use the 40-70 rule, distinguish between Type 1 and Type 2 decisions, and free your team to move faster with confidence.

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Show Notes:

• Most entrepreneurial companies lose momentum, not from bad decisions, but from decisions that take far too long.
• The speed of your decision-making sets the speed of execution for your entire company.
• People tend to make every decision using their own natural configuration rather than matching the strategy to the size of the decision.
• Visionaries often prefer to move fast with minimal information, while expert team members prefer deeper research and detail.
• Treating every decision like a high-stakes, irreversible choice creates friction, bottlenecks, and frustration on all sides.
• The 40-70 rule gives you a practical “good enough” guideline so decisions don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis.
• Less than 40 percent of the information is usually guessing, while more than 70 percent is usually slowing you down.
• Jeff Bezos’s Type 1 and Type 2 decision model helps you match the level of analysis to the real risk of the decision.
• A Type 1 decision is high-stakes and hard to reverse, so it deserves more time, research, and perspectives.
• A Type 2 decision is reversible and more experimental, so it should be made quickly so you can learn and adjust.
• Asking “Can I undo this later?” is a simple filter that keeps you from overbuilding analysis around reversible decisions.
• You can use dollar amounts or impact thresholds to predefine what counts as a Type 1 versus a Type 2 decision in your company.
• When leaders treat everything as a Type 1 decision, teams learn to escalate instead of taking ownership.
• Giving explicit permission for Type 2 decisions frees your team to act rather than waiting for you to approve every move.
• Many team members will not “ask for forgiveness later” unless you first give them permission and clear boundaries.
• Tools like The Experience Transformer® turn every decision, good or bad, into a structured learning opportunity.
• When people only follow instructions, they don’t build real decision-making capability or take full responsibility for outcomes.
• You can coach your team by asking what happens if we go in each direction, rather than just answering the question for them.
• Over time, routing all decisions through a small group at the top builds bureaucracy and slows down innovation.
• Protecting agility means designing decision frameworks that keep power and problem solving as close to the front line as possible.
• Entrepreneurial companies win by making small, reversible decisions quickly and iterating based on real feedback.
• Clear decision rules create confidence for you and your team, which leads to faster action and better learning.

Resources:

Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers
Kolbe A™ Index
PRINT®

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Are you treating your Strategic Assistant® like a task-taker or as a true support partner? In this episode, Shannon Waller shares seven practical ways to build a stronger working relationship so you can save time, reduce friction, and create more ease in your day-to-day business.

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Show Notes:

• Your Strategic Assistant is not there simply to take orders but to help manage the moving parts of your business and life.
• The best support relationships start with knowing each other’s strengths, needs, and natural working styles.
• Profiles like Kolbe, PRINT®, CliftonStrengths®, and Working Genius® can help you understand your own style and your assistant’s strengths.
• The Communication Builder is a great tool that helps you understand how each of you prefers to give and receive information, especially under stress.
• This is a relationship, not a transaction, so commitment and mutual respect are non-negotiable.
• Frequent communication creates better support, fewer misses, and a much smoother day-to-day rhythm.
• Daily huddles, project check-ins, and regular strategic meetings keep both of you aligned.
• Your Strategic Assistant should have enough context and clarity to help manage the details that keep you moving forward.
• Be willing to be managed because support partners often see the timing, structure, and follow-through more clearly than you do.
• Your Strategic Assistant is an essential “Who” on your team, often helping with the work that makes everything recur smoothly.
• Great partnerships are built on humor, grace, and a willingness to learn when things don’t go perfectly.
• The goal isn’t a short-term arrangement, but a long-term relationship that grows with you and strengthens your productivity and impact over time.

Resources:

Kolbe A™ Index

Working Genius

CliftonStrengths

DISC

PRINT

Unique Ability®

The Communication Builder

Who Not How by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

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Are you hanging on to a team member you already know is wrong for your company? In this episode, Shannon Waller talks about the real cost of waiting. You’ll hear practical examples of wrong-fit scenarios, why your best people and clients feel it first, and how to make clear, respectful decisions that strengthen your whole team.

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Show Notes:

• Once you know someone is a wrong-fit team member, your only strategic option is to take action, not wait.
• Delaying a tough people decision implicitly tells your best team members that you’re willing to tolerate mediocrity.
• Keeping a wrong-fit person costs you twice: your best team members lose morale, and your clients feel the drag in service and results.
• Your A-Players will eventually ask themselves why they should keep going above and beyond if you allow B and C performance to stand.
• The right team culture feels like an all-star team where everyone is growing, contributing, and pulling in the same direction.
• There are different levels of wrong-fit—from the new hire who can’t do the job to the long-term “legacy” team member your company has outgrown.
• High producers with bad habits, poor teamwork, or misaligned values are often the most expensive wrong fits in your organization.
• If someone’s values clash with your culture, they’ll build their own agenda inside your company.
• People who stop growing eventually slow down your entire company’s growth, no matter how long they’ve been with you or how nice they are.
• Legacy team members can hold the business emotionally and operationally hostage if you don’t intentionally capture their knowledge and evolve the role.
• Clients can usually see wrong-fit behavior before you act, and they’ll quietly question your standards when you don’t address it.
• When you uphold your standards and let a wrong-fit person go, your best team members often feel relieved and more loyal.
• Taking decisive, thoughtful action—legally, ethically, and gracefully—protects your culture and signals to everyone that you mean what you say.
• Moving a bright person into a better-fit role is a powerful way to protect your culture, keep great talent, and honor their Unique Ability®.
• Thinking about a people issue doesn’t create progress; taking clear action is how you learn what works and what doesn’t.
• Your job as the entrepreneur is to build and protect a high-standard Unique Ability® Team that can deliver the top-quality experience your clients are paying for.

Resources:

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

Kolbe A™ Index

Unique Ability

Process Suite

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Are you still trying to be well-rounded instead of simply doing more of what you’re best at? In this episode, Shannon Waller shows how connecting your various profile results reveals a natural success strategy you can actually trust. Learn how to stop fixing weaknesses, redesign your role around your true strengths, and create bigger and better results with less effort.

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Show Notes:

• Many entrepreneurs collect profile results, but few connect the dots into a clear picture of how they’re actually wired to create value.
• When you see yourself through CliftonStrengths®, Kolbe, PRINT®, and Working Genius® together, you get language that explains your best decisions, habits, and leadership style.
• Your natural strengths are not random; they’re your built‑in differentiator and the reason you’re here to create value for specific people.
• Profiles are most powerful when you translate the labels into real strategies for how you sell, lead, make decisions, and structure your days.
• Talent multiplied by deliberate investment—practice, skill-building, and knowledge—turns into a strength that can deliver near‑perfect performance on demand.
• When you finally take your own strengths seriously, you stop trying to copy other leaders and start winning by being more deeply yourself.
• Knowing your top strengths lets you design a success strategy that feels natural rather than forcing yourself into roles that drain your energy.
• When you’re honest about where you’re genuinely useful (and where you’re not), you can structure your role so your best abilities are always front stage.
• You don’t need to become organized or methodical if that’s not how you’re wired; you just need the right people and systems in place so your strengths can stay front and center.
• Letting go of who you “should” be and fully owning how you’re actually designed frees up massive mental and emotional energy.
• Any strength, taken to an extreme, turns into a weakness, so your job is to find the sweet spot where it creates the greatest positive impact.
• Activities that sit in your non‑strength zones create a negative return on your time and will limit your entrepreneurial growth.
• Operating only in what you’re merely competent at leads to flat, 1x results and a constant sense that work is harder than it should be.
• Even Excellent Activities—where you’re skilled but not energized—deliver only linear gains and leave you less time and energy for the tasks you’re uniquely suited to.
• When you build your schedule around your true strengths and passions, your efforts can create 10x returns and start to feel like energized play.
• Unique Ability® is where your greatest talent and passion meet a real result for the people you most want to be a hero to.
• As a leader, your responsibility is to know your own strengths and intentionally bring out those of every team member you rely on.
• Helping your team see their profiles as a “winning strategy” gives them permission to stop fixing weaknesses and start compounding what already works.
• When everyone leans into their strengths, you can divide and conquer, freeing up each person to do more of what they’re great at and less of what they’re not.
• Seeing people as a kaleidoscope of motivations and capabilities keeps you curious, appreciative, and far less likely to make limiting assumptions.
• The more fluent you become with strengths language, the easier it is to spot right‑fit roles, ideal collaborations, and the next strategic hires.
• ​Designing teamwork around complementary strengths makes big goals feel lighter, more creative, and more joyful for everyone involved.
• Connecting the dots on your strengths and your team’s strengths is one of the fastest ways to make work more profitable, more fulfilling, and more fun.

Resources

Kolbe A™ Index

Working Genius

CliftonStrengths

PRINT

Unique Ability

StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath

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Do your A-Players know how much you value them? In this episode, Shannon Waller explains why top talent is often the easiest to overlook and the high cost of taking them for granted. She also shares a practical five-part formula to ensure your best people feel utilized, appreciated, and rewarded so they never want to leave.

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Show Notes:

• Your A-Players are the top 10 percent of available talent for a role, consistently performing at a high level while fully living your company’s core values.
• A-Players make your life easier by consistently delivering easier, faster, better, and cheaper results, which is exactly why they’re so easy to unintentionally take for granted.
• When you overlook your best people, they often take on more and more responsibility, leading to burnout, resentment, and eventually disengagement or departure.
• Top talent will leave if they don’t feel seen, appreciated, rewarded, or fairly compensated for the extraordinary value they’re creating.
• The real financial cost in most companies isn’t A-Players’ compensation, but the time and energy spent managing misaligned team members who don’t live your values.
• Retaining A-Players starts with treating them as an opportunity, not a given, and being intentional about how you invest in their growth, rewards, and future with your company.
• Appreciation is a performance strategy, so make a habit of specifically acknowledging the results and effort your A-Players make in language that really lands for them.
• Reward your A-Players with meaningful financial recognition tied to their results, remembering that their excellence is already saving you money and complexity elsewhere in the business.
• Maximize your A-Players by giving them real opportunities to grow, learn, and expand their capabilities so they can see a bigger future for themselves inside your organization.
• Refer your A-Players internally by championing their reputation, talking them up to others, and making sure the rest of the organization knows how great they are and what they contribute.
• It’s also important to protect your A-Players from being dragged down by B- and C-Players because top talent wants to work with other top talent and will leave if you tolerate drama and low standards.
• Treat retaining A-Players as a core entrepreneurial strategy because when you take great care of them, they take great care of your company, your clients, and your freedom.

Resources:

Topgrading by Brad Smart and Geoff Smart

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

Unique Ability®

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Do you know which people on your team are truly irreplaceable—even by AI? In this episode, Shannon Waller explains why Unique Ability®—where superior skill meets passion—is the one thing you’ll never want to replace. Learn how to recognize the four levels of ability, redesign roles around true uniqueness, and build partnerships that multiply results instead of competing with technology.

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Show Notes:

• AI can easily replace work by someone who is merely competent or even excellent at it, but it can’t duplicate the creativity and energy that come from someone operating in their Unique Ability.
• ​The activities you do fall into four categories—incompetent, competent, excellent, and Unique Ability—and each level has a radically different impact on your confidence, cash flow, and company culture.
• ​Incompetent activities drain energy, create frustration and failure, and cost your business money every time you or your team touch them.
• Competent work looks fine from the outside, but because anyone can do it, it’s exactly the kind of activity AI will do faster, easier, and cheaper than humans.
• ​Excellent work showcases superior skill and a strong reputation, but without passion it becomes stagnant, boring, and increasingly vulnerable to automation in data-heavy professions.
• Unique Ability sits where superior skill and genuine passion intersect, creating automatic creativity, innovation, and value that no algorithm can project into the future.
• ​When people work in their Unique Ability, they naturally see opportunities, make insightful “bets” about the future, and generate new approaches that AI can only imitate after the fact.
• Your first job as an entrepreneur is to stay in your own lane of Unique Ability and stop spending time on activities that consistently go sideways when you’re involved.
• ​Your second job is to surround yourself with team members with complementary areas of Unique Ability so you have true partners, not just staff members filling roles.
• ​When each person stays in their lane, there’s no internal competition—just complementary strengths that make results happen quickly without adding complexity.
• There has never been a strong market for incompetence, and AI is now compressing the market for merely competent and excellent work as well.
• ​At the same time, technology is massively expanding opportunity and demand for people with true Unique Ability because their ideas and judgment multiply what the tools can do.
• Knowing yourself is the starting point, and the more accurately someone understands themselves, the more you can trust how they will show up in your business.
• Tools like Kolbe, CliftonStrengths®, Working Genius®, PRINT®, and other profiles give you different angles on your strengths, instincts, and best-fit environments.
• ​Encourage your team to do the same work so you can see, in writing, how each person is wired and where they’re most capable of creating value.
• Deliberately move team members out of incompetent and merely competent activities, delegating or automating them so human talent is never wasted on low-value work.
• ​Recognize that excellent work is a transition zone, not a destination, and coach your best people toward spending more of their time where they’re uniquely energized.
• ​Over time, you’ll find you only want to work with partners who are as uniquely great and passionate in their arenas as you are in yours.
• When everyone is operating within their Unique Ability, you get faster progress, less drama, and the kind of results no AI (and no traditional hierarchy) can match.

Resources:

Kolbe A™ Index

Working Genius®

CliftonStrengths®

DiSC® Profile

PRINT®

The Predictive Index

Unique Ability®

The Team Success Handbook by Shannon Waller

The Self-Managing Company by Dan Sullivan

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Every entrepreneur knows the cost of team drama, but few realize how much they’re unconsciously feeding it. In this conversation, Shannon Waller explains how to move from victim-based reactions to an empowerment mindset, using simple coaching questions that turn conflict into progress and leave your team more capable after every challenge.

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Show Notes:

• The classic Drama Triangle shows up anytime people fall into the roles of victim, persecutor, and rescuer in their relationships and workplaces.
• Entrepreneurs are especially vulnerable to the rescuer role because they see people struggling and want to jump in and fix things.
• Rescuing feels helpful in the moment but quietly reinforces victimhood and keeps team members dependent on your time, energy, and problem solving.
• The Empowerment Dynamic replaces victim, persecutor, and rescuer with creator, challenger, and coach so everyone gains more agency and responsibility.
• Seeing yourself as a creator means owning your part in any situation and focusing on the outcome you want instead of the problem you’re facing.
• Framing people or circumstances as challengers turns “persecution” into a stretch opportunity that provokes learning, growth, and better thinking.
• Showing up as a coach means asking provocative questions and offering support instead of taking over and doing the work for someone else.
• The core messages of the empowerment roles are “I can do it,” “You can do it,” and “How will you do it?”, which keep power and action with the individual or team.
• Great entrepreneurial coaching is “bossy with love”: direct, future-focused, and challenging, but delivered with genuine care and confidence in the other person.
• Language is a useful early-warning system; victim, persecutor, and rescuer thinking all show up first in how people describe what is happening.
• When someone puts all the authority outside themselves, you have an opening to coach them back into ownership.
• Asking “What would you be willing to do differently next time?” shifts people out of blame and into practical, self-chosen next actions.
• Your real job as a leader is not to solve every problem but to help other people take effective action toward the bigger future you’re building together.
• Taking responsibility does not mean being perfect; it means being able to respond, own your contribution, and commit to a better approach next time.
• Most people are quick to extend grace once someone has fully owned their part in a breakdown and clearly stated what they will do differently.
• Coaching yourself first—especially where you feel like a victim or persecutor—makes your leadership more authentic and significantly reduces drama in your company.
• Asking for help is not weakness; it’s a courageous form of self-coaching that brings in the right “Who” before small issues become full-blown drama.
• ​Moving from the Drama Triangle to The Empowerment Dynamic creates a culture where people expect challenges, learn quickly, and solve problems together.
• An empowered team that sees itself as creative, challenged, and coachable will occasionally fail but can rapidly diagnose what happened and come back stronger.

Resources:

The Karpman Drama Triangle

The Power of TED by David Emerald

Kolbe A™ Index

Shifting From Victim To Creator with The Power of TED Author David Emerald

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Are you treating your team like a line item—or like your greatest multiplier? In this episode, Shannon Waller shares why a small, smart investment in your team’s self-awareness and capabilities can pay off in better decisions, less drama, and a lot more freedom for you as the entrepreneur.

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Show Notes:

• Investing in your team’s growth is one of the simplest ways to hit bigger goals without working harder yourself.
• Profiles like Kolbe and Working Genius® give team members self-knowledge that leads to greater confidence, mutual understanding, and improved communication.
• When people feel like an investment instead of a cost, they naturally bring more creativity, commitment, and initiative to the business.
• Entrepreneurs who invest in their team create multipliers who run with ideas instead of dependents who wait to be told what to do.
• The right kind of training gives you clear thinkers, confident decision makers, and proactive problem solvers instead of order takers.
• Knowing your team’s strengths and striving instincts makes leadership feel lighter and more natural because you stop trying to force people into the wrong roles.
• Role alignment protects you from one of the most expensive entrepreneurial mistakes: smart people stuck in the wrong seats.
• When team members spend most of their time in their Unique Ability®, your culture gets more energized, collaborative, and attractive to top talent.
• Focusing on strengths instead of fixing weaknesses speeds up progress and keeps your best people excited about growing with you.
• Using profiles strategically shows you exactly where you need complementary capabilities instead of pushing yourself to be good at everything.
• When people are self-aware, they move through tough moments with less drama and more clarity, so the team can stay focused on results.
• Developing “leaderful” team members means people at every level provide direction in their area of expertise instead of waiting for permission.
• Treating people as entrepreneurial partners rather than employees shifts them into owner-like thinking about results and client impact.
• A well-developed team is a safer and more predictable investment than a marketing campaign because you can see the behavior and results up close.
• Capability-building gives you back time as team members take on complex, draining tasks and solve problems without escalating everything to you.
• Networked, interdependent teams allow capable people to act autonomously within clear roles.
• Investing in your team is one of the most powerful retention strategies because people stay where they feel seen, valued, and developed.
• Even simple, low-cost assessments can quickly pay for themselves in better decisions, saved time, and fresh opportunities.
• You don’t need to implement every profile or tool at once; pacing your investments keeps the focus on doing great work, not constant workshops.
• Bringing in experts to deliver assessments and coaching lets you upgrade your team quickly and efficiently without derailing daily operations.
• Building a Self-Managing Company® requires self-managing, self-aware people who are well-trained, trusted, and energized by the roles they play.​

Resources:

Kolbe A™ Index

Working Genius®

CliftonStrengths®

DiSC® Profile

PRINT®

The Predictive Index

Unique Ability®

The Team Success Handbook by Shannon Waller

The Self-Managing Company by Dan Sullivan

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Do you find yourself easily triggered in conversations with your team? In this episode, Shannon Waller explains why not taking things personally is a real leadership superpower. You’ll learn how to spot your triggers, pause before reacting, turn feedback into useful data, and keep your team creative, honest, and collaborative—even under stress.

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Show Notes:

• Not taking things personally keeps you calm, confident, and fully present even when everyone else is stressed or reactive.
• Taking things personally usually means you’ve mistaken someone’s words or behavior as a verdict on your worth instead of information about them or the situation.
• When you stay centered, you naturally become more curious, collaborative, and open to problem solving rather than defending your ego.
• Leaders who take feedback personally quickly derail conversations because the focus flips from solving the issue to protecting egos and justifying decisions.
• Teams learn very fast what is and isn’t safe to talk about when a leader gets triggered, which shrinks honesty, creativity, and growth over time.
• Much of what feels like a personal attack is actually stress, unclear expectations, or clashing perspectives that can be resolved once everyone calms down.
• Internalizing criticism drains enormous mental and emotional energy that could instead fuel innovation and strategy.
• Emotional detachment creates a small but crucial space between stimulus and response so you can choose your reaction.
• Detaching is not apathy; it means caring deeply about the result while refusing to base your self-worth on anyone else’s mood or opinion.
• You can remind yourself that other people’s reactions are about their perspective and state of mind, not a measure of your value as an entrepreneur or leader.
• Highly empathetic leaders need clear internal boundaries so they can sense other people’s emotions without absorbing or acting out those feelings.
• When you feel triggered, it’s completely appropriate to pause, take space, and reset rather than pushing through an unproductive conversation.
• Recentering on the bigger purpose or result you’re creating together makes it much easier to drop ego battles and refocus everyone on progress.​
• When you stay grounded instead of triggered, you give your team permission to calm down, think clearly, and bring their best ideas forward.

Resources:

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

PRINT®

Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss

No Ego by Cy Wakeman

The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More by Jefferson Fisher

Jefferson Fisher on YouTube

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Are you holding yourself—or your team—to an impossible standard? In this episode, Shannon Waller unpacks the real differences between high standards and perfectionism. She also explains how to build a culture of confidence, speed, and accountability so your team can deliver great results, move faster, and actually enjoy the process—without getting stuck chasing an unattainable ideal.

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Show Notes:

• Having high standards helps you feel confident and stay clear on what really matters, unlike perfectionism, which can drain your energy and slow you down.
• Perfectionism usually comes from fear—fear of messing up or not being good enough—while high standards come from caring about great results.
• Aiming for “really good” instead of “perfect” will help you get more done, faster, and with less stress.
• The 80% Approach™ is a great way to keep projects moving forward. Instead of trying to do everything yourself or make every detail flawless, take your work to 80% complete and then hand it off so others can add their expertise. It’s an easier, more collaborative way to avoid getting stuck chasing “perfect.”
• It’s all about teamwork, letting go of control, and trusting that “good and moving forward” beats “perfect and stalled.”
• When your team shares the workload and plays to their strengths, things flow better and no one hangs on to tasks out of worry.
• Make your standards clear and explain why they matter. When people understand the purpose, they step up with better quality.
• Don’t worry if things aren’t perfect; mistakes are just opportunities to learn and improve next time.
• Perfectionism is often a habit we inherit; choose to shift your mindset to focus on progress, not perfection.
• Not every task needs your full-on perfectionist energy—save that for what truly matters to you.
• When you combine high standards with smart teamwork and self-awareness, you create a culture where trust and innovation thrive.

Resources:

Kolbe A™ Index

The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

The 80% Approach by Dan Sullivan

Unique Ability®

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers

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What does integrity really mean, and how does it change the way you show up for your team? In this episode, Shannon Waller explains why it’s the foundation for trust, clarity, and consistent results in business. She also shares practical ways to align with your true strengths and create teams where everyone can contribute their best.

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Show Notes:

• Integrity isn’t just how you show up for others; it’s about being truly whole with yourself.​
• When you’re honest about what comes naturally to you, everything feels easier and smoother.
• Ignoring your strengths or forcing yourself into a role that doesn’t fit typically leads to friction and drama.
• The more you understand yourself, the more likely you’ll love what you do every day.​
• People you can count on usually know themselves really well; that’s the kind of self-awareness teams thrive on.​
• It’s not always easy, but it helps to be brave enough to pause, check in with yourself, and admit when something just isn’t a good fit.
• Being authentic is contagious. When you’re comfortable in your own skin, your energy supports everyone around you.​
• Exploring who you truly are with profiles and assessments like Kolbe, PRINT®, CliftonStrengths®, and Working Genius® makes your work and your life so much richer.​
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help, use tech, or lean on coaching if you’re figuring out what fits best. You don’t have to do it alone.​
• Feeling whole on the inside makes it much easier to deliver on your promises and build the kind of team everyone wants to be part of.

Resources:

Kolbe A™ Index

Working Genius®

CliftonStrengths®

DiSC® Profile

PRINT®

Myers-Briggs®

Unique Ability®

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Are you still growing as a leader, or have you slipped into comfort mode? In this episode, Shannon Waller explores why ongoing leadership development is essential for entrepreneurial success and how embracing new challenges—and even a little discomfort—keeps you and your team dynamic, resilient, and thriving. Learn strategies for self-disruption, intentional learning, and genuine team growth.

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Show Notes:

• Growth-minded leaders don’t coast; when you’re comfortable, it’s a sign to shake things up.​
• The world, your team, and your own thinking are changing fast, so staying curious (and humble) is part of the job.​
• Notice if energy or creativity feels flat—that’s your cue to try something new, however small.​
• Don’t let “status” turn into comfort; keep looking for ways to contribute and stretch yourself, even if it feels awkward at first.​
• The best disruptions start with you—not market forces, not your competitors, and not your team.​
• Surround yourself with people who challenge you, not just cheer for you. Being in a learning community keeps you fresh and inspired.​
• Sometimes, growth means admitting you don’t have all the answers and that’s not just okay, it’s leadership in action.​
• If you catch yourself resisting new tech or just sticking to familiar ways, be honest: Is it time for a reset or a break?​
• Find mentors and colleagues who will hold up a mirror and gently push you to think again. Trust and safety power real growth.​
• You set the tone: when you’re learning and stretching, your team feels invited to do the same.​
• Remember, it’s collaboration and care (not perfection!) that make leading a team both fulfilling and effective.​
• Try something brand new, even if you’re not great at it. Your own willingness to experiment is contagious.​
• If you’re bored or stale, set a bigger goal that excites you (and makes you nervous)—it’s the surest way to pull everyone forward.​
• Leadership is about caring—about your people, your clients, and your own development.

Resources:

KolbeCon

Genius Network®

EOS® Worldwide

No-Drama Leadership by Marlene Chism

From Conflict to Courage by Marlene Chism

The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan

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Are you playing to your strengths—or stuck slogging through steps that drain your energy? This episode explores how organizing and aligning your team’s areas of Unique Ability® can improve productivity and results. Discover practical strategies for visualizing processes, delegating wisely, and creating good handoffs so everyone can do what they do best—and love most—every day.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• When everyone’s doing what they love and are great at, work feels lighter, faster, and way more fun.
• This is your chance to make sure every person is running with their strengths, not getting bogged down by tasks that drain them.
• Don’t get stuck doing things you’re merely competent at—aim to spend your best time in your “unique” zone and support your team to do the same.
• Owning what you’re not good at is not only liberating, it’s the secret to better teamwork and smarter systems in any entrepreneurial business.
• Try not to fall into “rugged individualism”; asking for help and relying on your team’s strengths isn’t just smart, it’s essential for real progress.
• Pick one key process in your business and gather the team to map out each step and who’s responsible—simple changes here can lead to huge improvements.
• Mapping out your team’s process together can uncover simple fixes and spark big ideas about how things could be easier.
• If something feels complicated, document it visually; the bottlenecks and opportunities become much clearer, especially when you work as a group.
• Process mapping isn’t just practical; it can actually be a lot of fun, especially if you break out the whiteboard or some sticky notes.
• Try to bring a playful spirit to documenting and improving your processes—a little laughter and some big post-its can go a long way, and you might be surprised at how much your team enjoys it.
• Good handoffs are everything: be clear, be kind, and let others shine instead of white-knuckling tasks you don’t enjoy.
• When you pass the baton to the person who’s excited to run with it, your whole workflow speeds up and everyone’s energy goes up too.
• When your team’s strengths line up with their tasks, friction disappears and the impact on your clients and business expands.
• Watch out for the “delegation death grip”—if you’re finding it hard to let go of a task, you might be holding up the flow, even by accident.
• Avoid “drive-by delegation”—tossing a task at someone without context or support almost always leaves them confused and slows everything down.
• Tech tools help, but starting with a simple, hands-on process map makes everything smoother and less stressful down the line.
• Don’t be afraid to shake things up; swapping roles or trying out new tech tools is just good sense when it keeps your team happy and your systems operating smoothly.
• Training new team members gets easier with clear, visual guides for how things really work in your company.
• Process mapping isn’t just for solving problems; it’s your secret weapon for onboarding new people and capturing valuable know-how, so it sticks with your company, not just your current team.

Resources:

Unique Ability®

Kolbe A™ Index

Your Business Is A Theater Production: Your Back Stage Shouldn’t Show On The Front Stage

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

The Impact Filter™

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Is your leadership style accidentally putting your team on the defensive? When people feel threatened, they stop thinking creatively. In this episode, negotiation expert Derek Gaunt shares how Tactical Empathy®—the same approach used by hostage negotiators—can build deep trust and psychological safety, transforming tough conversations into your greatest advantage for alignment, innovation, and growth.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Tactical empathy—the intentional use of emotional intelligence to recognize and articulate another’s perspective—is the foundation of every effective negotiation or sensitive leadership conversation.
• Leaders who default to authority build resentment; team members may comply only at the surface level and secretly resist or seek passive revenge.
• Trust, instead of authority, generates loyalty, engagement, and team buy-in, empowering members to stretch beyond their comfort zones for a shared mission.
• Seeking input isn’t just about changing course; it builds “credit” with your team and ensures stronger collaboration and more innovative solutions because people feel known, heard, and included.
• Any conversation where you “want” or “need” something, even a positive opportunity, makes you a perceived threat because you’re asking someone to leave their status quo and face discomfort.
• All team members instinctively react to these perceived threats, but if you remove yourself as a threat, team dialogue instantly shifts from defensive to open, innovative, and solution-focused.
• The C.A.V.I.AA.R.™ mindset (Curiosity, Acceptance, Venting, Identifying, Accusation Audit®, and Remembering) can help you mentally prepare for any difficult conversation, from performance reviews to new growth opportunities.
• An Accusation Audit—pre-emptively naming likely concerns—can help you reduce resistance and create open dialogue, especially when asking for change or sharing tough news.
• Labeling and acknowledging emotions (both your own and others’) moves conversations out of reactive mode and into productive solution-finding.
• Sequencing is key: first, discover perspectives; then, guide with your insights; finally, lead the way to action and accountability.
• Documenting challenging conversations isn’t just HR best practice—it’s a strategic tool for creating clarity, ensuring accountability, and protecting your company’s culture and momentum.
• Avoiding tough conversations keeps organizations stuck, while proactively engaging with conflict builds resilience and better results.
• It’s important to not only know your default conflict personality (assertive, analyst, or accommodator) but to adapt it to connect with different types on your team.
• True influence aims for a mutually beneficial outcome, unlike manipulation, which is solely self-serving.
• The highest cost of avoiding a difficult conversation isn’t discomfort—it’s the stagnation and misalignment that silently drain your company’s potential.

Resources:

Ego, Authority, Failure by Derek Gaunt

The Black Swan Group

Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss

What You Need to Know About Tactical Empathy®

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Do you believe shielding your team from tough realities helps them perform at their best? In this episode, Shannon Waller challenges leaders to look beyond good intentions and empower their teams by sharing the whole story. She also explains why trust, transparency, and real challenges, not protection, give entrepreneurial teams the confidence and capability to solve problems and drive growth.

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Show Notes:

• Protecting your team from reality may come from a place of empathy and care, but it limits their growth and independence.
• Trusting your team means giving them the full picture, even when it’s difficult.
• Shielding people from challenges sends a message that they can’t handle complexity or bad news.
• Transparency in leadership invites ownership and responsibility from your team instead of dependence.
• Facing tough situations together builds team resilience and innovation.
• Teams deprived of real information struggle to make strategic decisions and align with company goals.
• True learning, confidence, and capability come from dealing with setbacks directly and adapting.
• Organizing workflow is different from hiding reality; help your team do great work by managing priorities without hiding challenges.
• Entrepreneurial leaders excel when they trust their teams to rise to challenges and participate fully in shaping business outcomes.
• The best leaders share context and invite team input, knowing that creativity and solutions come from everyone, not just the top.
• Real empowerment comes when your team feels capable, included, and trusted with even the hard truths.
• Reflect on when you learned the most: was it when someone trusted you with responsibility or when they shielded you from reality?Resources:

The Great Game Of Business: The Only Sensible Way To Run A Company by Jack Stack

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Have you delegated a key responsibility but still find yourself constantly pulled back into the details? In this episode, Shannon Waller reveals how an underperforming team member keeps you stuck in the weeds, how to spot the red flags, and why making a change is essential for your growth and your company’s momentum.

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Show Notes:

• The clearest sign you have the wrong “Who” is that they keep you operating in the weeds instead of freeing you up.
• Your team members should be building capacity for the entire company, not creating bottlenecks that hold back your other A-players.
• A key signal of a wrong “Who” is a consistent lack of proactive leadership and new ideas in their area of responsibility.
• You must evaluate if a team member has hit their Ceiling of Complexity™ and can no longer grow with the company’s demands.
• The fundamental question to ask is, “If I could rehire for this role today, would I choose this person again?”
• Outgrowing a team member is not a failure but a natural consequence of ambitious entrepreneurial progress.
• Holding on to the wrong person for too long causes you to lose momentum and ultimately leads to resentment.
• Growth, not loyalty, should be the top criterion for evolving a team as the business levels up.
• Your minimum standard for any role should be consistent performance at 80% or above of your defined success criteria.
• The right “Who” for one stage of your company’s growth may not be the right “Who” for the next level.
• You deserve a team that operates with the same unique, creative, and ambitious standards you hold for yourself.
• Courageously making team changes ensures both business and personal freedom for what’s next.

Resources:

Who Not How by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Unique Ability®

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

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How much does trust matter to your team’s performance? In this episode, Shannon Waller interviews Marissa Frois, CEO of The Entrepreneur’s Source, on how empathy, transparent communication, and a family-first culture create extraordinary results. Discover why leading with trust, openness, and a willingness to “fail forward” is the secret to long-term entrepreneurial growth and innovation.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Building true trust in your team is more important than being well-liked as a leader.
• True transparency means being open and honest without a hidden agenda.
• A team without trust becomes defensive, stagnant, and incapable of innovation.
• The most successful leadership transitions blend the wisdom of the past with a readiness to “fail forward” into the future.
• Transparent, two-way communication reduces resistance and drives company culture at every level.
• Giving people a voice makes them more likely to embrace (and champion) change.
• Empathy, positivity, and active inclusion are powerhouse leadership strengths that multiply team engagement.
• Family-first values and work flexibility result in high retention, happier teams, and consistently rising results.
• Encouraging risk-taking and learning from failure leads to greater innovation and accelerates growth.
• True teamwork levels hierarchy, making Unique Ability® contribution more valuable than job titles.
• Leadership clarity means setting high standards and addressing issues in conversation, not by multiplying policies.
• Investing in your team’s well-being and development mirrors the value you create for clients.
• Empathetic leadership is a strategic strength that builds respect and drives performance, not a weakness.

Resources:

The Entrepreneur’s Source

Kolbe A™ Index

Working Genius

CliftonStrengths®

PRINT®

The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan

The Positive Focus®

Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers

Unique Ability®

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

Ego, Authority, Failure by Derek Gaunt

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Do you pour time and money into marketing and sales, only to wonder why some efforts work and others don’t? In this episode, entrepreneur and revenue strategist Kyle Mealy reveals The Next Level Revenue Formula, a simple but revolutionary system to track, measure, and scale revenue with confidence. Learn how to plug leaks, optimize spending, and finally know exactly where your next dollar will come from.

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Show Notes:

• The best entrepreneurial lessons rarely happen in a straight line; every unexpected detour can become an asset when you’re willing to connect the dots and use what you’ve learned.
• Don’t let a lack of formal sales or marketing training hold you back. Measuring, experimenting, and looking for patterns can reveal what actually works in your business.
• You can have real confidence about your revenue and cash flow when you measure what matters rather than guessing or hoping for the best.
• Kyle’s “Revenue Cascade” turns the buyer journey into a series of clear steps (like awareness, interest, and decision) so you can quickly spot where things are working and where they get stuck.
• Forget about surface-level numbers like website visits; what really counts is how well you’re moving people along each step toward a sale.
• If your business depends on just one superstar or “rainmaker,” it’s time to build a system everyone can use so you’re no longer vulnerable to a single point of failure.
• Instead of worrying about how much you’re spending on sales and marketing, use ROASS (Return On All Sales And Marketing Spend) to see if those dollars are actually driving results.
• Putting data first makes everything easier because you get to diagnose issues with numbers and fix what matters most, instead of relying on gut feelings.
• Even modest improvements at the close of your sales process can make a huge impact, so celebrate those small tweaks that deliver big results.
• You’re not alone if sales or marketing feels confusing; bringing everything into one measurable system makes it much simpler and a lot less stressful.
• Building repeatable business systems means you can finally relax, knowing your success doesn’t rest on just one person’s shoulders.
• Every entrepreneur becomes their own bottleneck until they systemize revenue generation.
• The ultimate win: creating a company that manages and multiplies itself, giving you freedom to dream bigger and focus on what excites you next.

Resources:

The Next Level Revenue Formula: How Basic Math Can Yield Breakthroughs for Your Small Business by Kyle Mealy

EOS®

The Great Game of Business

Unique Ability®

Next Level Revenue

The Entrepreneur’s Guide To Cash Confidence

What Is A Self-Managing Company®?

Kolbe A™ Index

Entrepreneurial Leap Academy

More about Kyle

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Do you see fear as a roadblock—or as a catalyst for growth? In this episode, Shannon Waller reframes fear as a powerful tool for entrepreneurs and their teams. Discover how embracing uncertainty sparks innovation, builds resilience, and drives 10x success, and learn why the best leaders don’t avoid fear—they harness it.

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Show Notes:

• Fear isn’t the enemy—it’s your brain’s way of saying, “Hey, this matters.”
• Fear is built into the entrepreneurial journey and can actually fuel your biggest wins.
• The fears that make you the most nervous usually hold the key to your next level of growth.
• Truly great teams know that stepping into the unknown drives learning, experiments, and results.
• The trick isn’t to avoid fear, but to channel it into action and resilience.
• Being okay with fear keeps you pushing boundaries and stops you from getting stuck.
• When you use fear on purpose, it amps up your energy and keeps you alert, especially when things are uncertain.
• Most breakthroughs happen outside your comfort zone—embrace the butterflies.
• Fear isn’t always the enemy; sometimes, it’s a sign you’re about to learn something interesting or chase a new opportunity.
• Looking back, you’ll probably notice it was fear that pushed you into your biggest transformations.
• Gathering up the nerve to do something new builds real skills and lasting confidence.
• Pinpointing what you’re actually worried about makes tackling fear way more manageable.
• Strategic Coach® tools like The Impact Filter™ and The Experience Transformer® help you make sense of fear and turn it into next steps.
• Leading your team through rough patches by talking openly about their worries gets everyone moving forward together.
• Creative solutions come from facing fears head-on, not sweeping them under the rug.
• Don’t let fear hijack your brain—make it work for you, not the other way around.
• Even when the world feels unpredictable, you’re still in the driver’s seat when it comes to how you show up.
• Remind your team how many storms they’ve weathered already—they’re way more resilient than they think.
• Just like muscles grow stronger from resistance, getting through scary stuff makes you tougher and smarter.
• The entrepreneurs who thrive aren’t fearless, they just know how to handle doubt.

Resources:

The Gift Of Fear by Gavin De Becker

The Black Swan Group

Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss

Ego, Authority, Failure by Derek Gaunt

The Impact Filter™

Your Life As A Strategy Circle by Dan Sullivan

Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers

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Is your team operating at full capacity, or have they settled into a comfortable routine? Many teams deliver quality results, but what happens when passion and engagement wane? You might find your talented team members holding back, doing just enough to meet expectations, while their true potential remains untapped. In this episode, Shannon Waller explains the subtle difference between excellent performance and Unique Ability®. Here’s how to ignite that spark of enthusiasm and creativity that elevates your team’s performance, keeping them energized and committed to your vision.

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Show Notes:

• Unique Ability is a superior skill that you’re passionate about.
• Unique Ability® Teamwork means the right people are in the right seat using their areas of Unique Ability.
• The differences between 80% Excellent team work and 100% Unique Ability Teamwork are:
  • Unique Ability teams self-manage because they’re intrinsically motivated and engaged in the work and the projects.
  • Excellent teams produce 2x results, while Unique Ability teams produce 10x results.
  • Unique Ability teams collaborate and support each other without competing with each other.
  • Unique Ability teams play full out with a no “defense budget” attitude.
  • Unique Ability teams are always learning and growing, becoming their own internal experts.
  • Unique Ability teams use their past experience as research for improvements in new projects.
  • Unique Ability teams are always alert, curious, responsive, and resourceful.
• The Experience Transformer® tool takes a completed project as a basis for learning.
  • The tools asks:
    • What worked or is working?
      • Often this breaks down into technology, timing, or teamwork.
    • What didn’t work?
      • Usually this is a process breakdown, misunderstanding, misalignment, or miscommunication.
    • Brainstorm: Knowing what we know now, what would we do differently?
    • What’s the new course of action or strategy?
  • Keep what’s working and fix what isn’t.
• DONT’s if you want to maximize your team’s engagement:
  • Don’t shut down new ideas.
  • Don’t micromanage.
  • Don’t demoralize the team.
  • Don’t let 80% effort go on without addressing it.
• “Sometimes you’re failing so slowly, you think you’re winning.”

Resources:

How To Expand Your Team’s Unique Ability®

The 4 Performance Capabilities

10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers

Kolbe A™ Index

EOS®

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Are you holding on too tightly to tasks that drain your energy or block your team’s growth? In this episode, Shannon Waller reveals the mindset shifts and practical tools that help entrepreneurs confidently delegate, let go of micromanagement, and elevate their teams. Discover how to create a bigger future by freeing yourself—and your business—from the delegation death grip.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Most entrepreneurs, even skilled delegators, have at least one area where they struggle to let go.
• Micromanagement often stems from a fear that no one else can meet your standards.
• Shifting from “doer” to “leader” requires letting go of tasks, even if you’re excellent at them.
• The root of micromanaging is usually a mindset of fear, uncertainty, or lack of confidence in others’ abilities.
• Recognizing and naming your fears around delegation are the first steps to overcoming them.
• There are two unhealthy delegation styles: the “death grip” (never letting go) and the “drive-by” (throwing tasks at others without clarity).
• Both micromanagement and drive-by delegation prevent your team from developing the skills and confidence they need to excel in their roles and drive progress forward.
• You must have a compelling “why” to motivate yourself to let go of tasks and delegate effectively.
• The Impact Filter™ is a powerful tool for clarifying your purpose, standards, and desired outcomes when delegating—and setting your team up for success.
• Telling best- and worst-case stories helps your team understand what great performance looks like—and what to avoid.
• Success criteria should be specific, measurable, and written down.
• Delegating “excellent” activities—things you do very well but no longer love—is often the hardest but most necessary step for growth.
• When you articulate your standards and expectations, you demonstrate trust in your team’s unique skills and empower them to meet (and often, exceed) those standards.
• Using tools like The Impact Filter transforms delegation from a risky handoff into a confident, collaborative process.
• Letting go of lower-value tasks frees you to focus on your areas of Unique Ability® and the bigger future you want to create.
• Regularly revisiting your “why” for delegating helps you avoid slipping back into old habits.
• When your brain is “on paper,” your team knows exactly how to win—and you can coach, not control, their progress.

Resources:

Unique Ability

The Impact Filter

TED Talk: Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek

Time Management Strategies For Entrepreneurs (Effective Strategies Only)

The 4 Freedoms That Motivate Successful Entrepreneurs

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

Ego, Authority, Failure: Using Emotional Intelligence Like A Hostage Negotiator To Succeed As A Leader by Derek Gaunt

The Black Swan Group

EOS®

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Are you feeling trapped by your role? Are you looking for more freedom? Shannon Waller asks, “What if you shift your perspective and adopt a partnership mindset?” Challenge the traditional hierarchical thinking that stifles collaboration and results. Instead, imagine an environment where you, and everyone around you, are liberated to contribute your Unique Ability® and show up as your most evolved self, regardless of status or title. Discover how this mindset fosters collaborative teamwork, amplifies contributions, and leads to results and growth, letting you to focus on creating immense value.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Ditch the hierarchy. Treat yourself and others as partners, not just bosses or subordinates, for true freedom and results. Role-based thinking hinders teamwork and collaboration.
• Bring your most evolved version of yourself to work. Instead of your authentic self, show your “front stage” best, even internally.
• Value people who are different from you; they can do what you can’t. Alignment on core values keeps the focus on collaboration toward shared goals.
• Put your ego and authority aside. Partnership means implied equality – focusing on contributing resources, skills, and effort toward shared goals, and sharing risks and rewards. The marketplace only cares if you create value; it doesn’t care about your status.
• Know yourself and your unique contributions. Focus on the situation and the other person, not just yourself, to be a great partner.
• Don’t be trapped by your role or title, even if it’s CEO. Redesign your job to match your unique contribution for greater impact and happiness.
• This partnership mindset allows you to work effectively with people at any status level.
• The goal is to give people freedom to do what they’re best at, play full out, speak up, and contribute fully.
• Dan Sullivan’s solution when team members struggle is to bring in another “Who” that can do that piece of the work effortlessly.
• The Strategic Coach® core values, or P.A.G.E., are:
  • positive and collaborative teamwork
  • being alert, curious, responsive, and resourceful
  • focusing on growth and results
  • providing an excellent first-class experience for clients

Resources:

• Cy Wakeman’s books
  • No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement, and Drive Big Results
  • The Reality-Based Rules of the Workplace: Know What Boosts Your Value, Kills Your Chances, and Will Make You Happier
  • Reality-Based Leadership: Ditch the Drama, Restore Sanity to the Workplace, and Turn Excuses into Results
• Ego, Authority, Failure by Derek Gaunt
• Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss
• Who Not How by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy
• Kolbe
• CliftonStrengths®
• PRINT®

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Do you praise departing team members—or subtly undermine them? In this episode, Shannon Waller breaks down why the way you talk about departures—good or bad—shapes your team’s trust, your reputation, and even who’ll want to work for you. Learn the hidden costs of venting, Dan Sullivan’s graceful approach, and the “true, kind, necessary” rule for classy goodbyes.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• How you talk about former team members defines your reputation—both inside and outside your company.
• Venting about someone who left may feel good in the moment, but it’s a trust killer for your current team.
• If you speak poorly about others after they’re gone, your current team members will begin to wonder what you’re saying about them too.
• The way you handle goodbyes also tells your current team how you’ll handle tough moments with them.
• Every departure is a chance to demonstrate emotional maturity, even when it’s hard.
• Tough conversations should happen before someone departs.
• Great leaders turn departures into goodwill ambassadors, not burned bridges.
• Dan Sullivan’s magic phrase: “People leave for their reasons, not ours.”
• A-players avoid companies with a reputation for badmouthing former employees.
• If you can’t say something genuinely positive about a departure, silence is the wiser choice.

Resources:

The Self-Managing Company by Dan Sullivan

Your Business Is A Theater Production: Your Back Stage Shouldn’t Show On The Front Stage

Team Success Episode: From Conflict To Courage, with Marlene Chism

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Do you ever feel like your team is just going through the motions, missing that spark of connection? Are you noticing behavior that might be quietly undermining your culture? In this episode of Team Success, Shannon Waller dives into a crucial topic that can transform the way you interact with your team to create loyalty and trust. Tune in to learn how to enhance your team’s long-term performance through transformational behavior.

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Show Notes:

• Transactional Behavior: Focuses on what can be obtained from others, treating them as mere tools or cogs in a machine.
• Transformational Behavior: Prioritizes growth, partnership, and collaboration, treating others as human beings and fostering a sense of togetherness.
• Examples Of Transactional Behaviors:
  • Ignoring people in passing.
  • Only reaching out when you need something.
  • Skipping “please” and “thank you.”
  • Being all business all the time.
  • Evaluating people only by their outputs.
  • Acting like hierarchy means superiority.
  • Focusing on tasks rather than the purpose.
  • Dropping tasks on others without context.
  • Treating other people’s time as expendable.
  • Being performative or fake.
  • Failing to give feedback.
  • Protecting turf or withholding information.
• Transformational Practices:
  • Acknowledge and greet people.
  • Show genuine interest in others’ lives and well-being.
  • Use polite language and express gratitude.
  • Bring your whole, most evolved self to work.
  • Recognize efforts and learning, not just results.
  • Treat everyone as a peer and partner.
  • Connect tasks to the larger purpose.
  • Provide context for tasks and decisions.
  • Respect others’ time by being punctual and prepared.
  • Be authentic and own up to mistakes.
  • Offer constructive coaching.
  • Share information freely and foster a culture of abundance.
• “People are sharp. Teams are well-rounded.” —Donald O. Clifton
• “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” —Maya Angelou
• To show up as a great team builder, as a great culture builder, as someone who is building the future of your company, examine these areas of your own behavior and take action immediately.

Resources:

“Taking Control Of Your Ego With Bestselling Author & Speaker Cy Wakeman,” Team Success Podcast 127

“The Referability Habits Mindset” free PDF download

CliftonStrengths® website

“The Entrepreneurial Attitude” free PDF download

Simon Sinek’s TEDx Talk “Start With Why”

The Impact Filter™ download

Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

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Do you ever wish you could predict how a new team member will perform—before they even start? In this episode, Shannon Waller shares why she relies on profiles like Kolbe and PRINT® to build high-trust, high-performance teams. Discover how these tools help you delegate with confidence, eliminate mismatched roles, and leverage each person’s Unique Ability® so your entire team wins.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

Profiles eliminate guesswork by revealing how team members naturally strive, think, and contribute.

Trust and collaboration deepen when you understand a team member’s innate strengths, motivations, and problem-solving instincts.

The Kolbe A™ Index reveals how someone takes action (their striving instincts) and in what situations they’ll resist taking action.

CliftonStrengths® highlights top talents so you can assign roles where people will excel effortlessly.

Working Genius® identifies which parts of a project energize someone (like inventing or executing) and which drain them.

Entrepreneurial teams thrive on adaptability, and profiles create stability by clarifying who does what best.

The strongest teams balance different strengths instead of duplicating the same skills.

Profiles also prevent pigeonholing by showing the full picture of a person’s capabilities, not just one trait.

Hiring based solely on experience is risky—profiles uncover hidden potential that resumes miss.

Using an Impact Filter™ helps you define the “why” behind a project so you can align the right people with the right tasks.

Overall, investing in profiles delivers measurable ROI—better hires stay longer, perform at higher levels, and require less management because they’re operating in their areas of Unique Ability from day one.

Resources:

Kolbe A Index

Working Genius

CliftonStrengths

DiSC® Profile

PRINT

The Impact Filter

Unique Ability

The Talent Impact Profile™️

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Do you hesitate to step into a leadership role, even when you know you have something valuable to contribute? You’re not alone! Many people hold back, think it’s not their job, or believe they lack the authority. But leadership isn’t just for the top of the pyramid. In this episode, Shannon Waller discusses what “situational leadership” is and how you can make a real impact in your organization, no matter your title. Imagine being the go-to person in your area of expertise, confidently guiding your team through uncertainty and change. Listen now for the five mindsets in team members from Liz Wiseman’s book Impact Players that are keys to developing situational leadership.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Strategic Coach® defines leadership as:
  1. Providing direction
  2. Maximizing opportunities
  3. Providing strategies and solutions
• Everyone has an area of expertise, or Unique Ability®, where we can contribute, create value, and provide leadership.
• The executive assistant in charge of an entrepreneur’s schedule is in charge of their entrepreneur’s daily activities and can provide leadership on managing time and relationships.
• Five key points from Impact Players by Liz Wiseman:
  1. Do the job that’s needed, not what’s assigned.
  2. Step up and take ownership.
  3. Adapt and stay flexible.
  4. Make work easier for others.
  5. Deliver with a finish line mentality
• Casting Not Hiring’s 4 x 4 Casting Tool™ measures four quadrants of success:
  1. Performance: being alert, curious, responsive, and resourceful
  2. Results: what is faster, easier, cheaper, or has a bigger impact
  3. Being A Hero: four projects to focus on next quarter
  4. What Drives You/Others Crazy: behaviors you want to avoid
• Permission to speak up and make suggestions is not saying, “My way is the right way.”

Resources:

Unique Ability)

PRINT®: Take the PRINT survey).

Abundance 360, by Peter Diamandis

Superpowered: The Secret That Helps Every Entrepreneur Eliminate the Suck, 10X Their Impact, and Have More Fun in Work and Life by Shannon Waller, Ryan Cassin, and Steven Neuner

Impact Players: How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact by Liz Wiseman

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Is your business stuck because you’re still acting as the de facto COO? In this episode, Ben Wolf of Wolf’s Edge Integrators reveals the three types of number two leaders—Operational, Conductor, and Executive—and how to choose the right one for your growth stage. Learn why the wrong hire can cost you years (and how the MOA Assessment solves this).

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Show Notes:

A great number two leader drives execution—both core operations and key growth initiatives—while ensuring profitability and team alignment.

Entrepreneurs need to shift from being in the business to working on the business by delegating execution to a trusted second-in-command.

Without a strong number two, visionary leaders stay trapped in day-to-day operations, limiting their ability to focus on high-impact growth opportunities.

There are three types of number two leaders: Operational (systems and processes), Conductor (cross-functional alignment), and Executive (scaling expertise).

Hiring the wrong type of number two leader can slow progress and create frustration.

Companies evolve through stages—Survival, Owner-Dependent, Incremental Growth, and Scale—each requiring a different leadership approach.

Fractional COOs can be a strategic bridge, providing the right expertise without the full-time cost, especially in early growth phases.

Corporate-minded leaders often clash with entrepreneurial cultures—look for number twos with both big-company experience and start-up agility.

Trust is the foundation for all business growth. Entrepreneurs have to learn to delegate control, while number twos must earn credibility through transparency.

The MOA Assessment (Mother of All Assessments) helps entrepreneurs identify their current stage, leadership gaps, and the ideal number two profile.

Resources:

Wolf’s Edge Integrators

EOS®

Unique Ability®

The 4 Freedoms That Motivate Successful Entrepreneurs

VisionSpark

More about Ben

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Is your entrepreneur overflowing with ideas but feeling frustrated that no one is listening? This episode reveals how you can step up as a vital sounding board, transforming those fleeting thoughts into actionable plans. Entrepreneurial team expert Shannon Waller explains how enhancing your listening skills makes you an invaluable asset to your entrepreneur. While you get to collaborate creatively with your entrepreneur, you’ll also usher in new solutions that drive growth for your company.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

Be A Great Sounding Board

• Volunteer to listen: When your entrepreneur shares an idea, express interest in scheduling time to learn more about it.
• Capture ideas: Keep a running list of your entrepreneur’s ideas in something that you can access from your phone, like Trello or Asana, anytime a new idea comes up. Before the discussion, make a note about what intrigued you about the idea or what questions you immediately have.
• Be present: Clear your mind and focus on the conversation. If you’re distracted, your entrepreneur will sense it and share less.
• Listen generously: Use phrases like, “Tell me more” to invite deeper discussion. Lean in physically to show engagement.
• Create a safe space: Make it comfortable for the entrepreneur to express their thoughts, even if they lead to a “bad idea.”
• Capture the summary of main points: This is easy to do with Strategic Coach® tools, but even typing out the key points discussed afterwards takes the idea from the “make it up” stage closer to “make it real.”

Characteristics Of A Great Listener

• Enthusiastic and curious: Show genuine interest in the ideas being shared.
• Translates back: Reflect back what you hear using phrases such as, “It seems like … ” or “It sounds like … ”
• Great interviewing skills: Ask questions about what intrigues you and what the context is—what the problem is that this idea solves. Or, repeat the last three words to confirm that you’re listening and encourage further expansion.
• Add your viewpoint: Adding your own thoughts shows you’re listening and thinking about what is said.

Tools For Effective Conversations

• Use Strategic Coach tools: Tools such as The Strategy Circle and Impact Filter can help guide discussions.
  • The Strategy Circle®: Identify goals, obstacles, and strategies.
  • The Impact Filter™: Discuss the purpose, importance, ideal outcome, and success criteria.
  • Certainty/Uncertainty Focus: Explore what is known and unknown about the idea to get more clarity about who should be doing what.

Approach With The Right Mindset

• Be curious, not ego-driven: Focus on the entrepreneur’s ideas rather than seeking personal recognition.
• Use your strengths: No matter your strengths, lean in to them to balance your entrepreneur’s strengths.
• Enjoy the process: Embrace the creative act of ideation with your entrepreneur.
• Be open: Keep an open mind to new ideas, but also be willing to let them go if they turn out to be not worth pursuing.

Final Thoughts

• Transformational impact: Your role as a sounding board can lead to significant breakthroughs for the entrepreneur and the team.
• Recognize your skills: You may already possess these listening skills. Acknowledge and enhance them for greater impact.
• Make it real: Your engagement can help flesh out creative ideas by taking them out of the headspace and into the action space.

Resources:

Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss, CEO and founder of The Black Swan Group

The Strategy Circle: Your Life As A Strategy Circle by Dan Sullivan

The Impact Filter

Strategic Coach Ambition Series quarterly books

What is the Collaborative Way®?

CliftonStrengths®

Tools for capturing ideas on the go: Trello, Asana

Inside Strategic Coach podcast with Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller

questions@strategiccoach.com

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Are your team leaders still growing, or have they become too comfortable? In this episode, Shannon Waller discusses why leaders need to be led and how entrepreneurs can create environments where their leadership teams continue to grow, adapt, and welcome feedback. Learn how to avoid the trap of entropy and cultivate a team that embraces change and collaboration.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Entrepreneurs get their feedback from the marketplace, but your internal leaders may not get the same level of direct input, requiring intentional direction from you.
• Great entrepreneurial leaders embrace The 4 C’s Formula®—Commitment, Courage, Capability, and Confidence—and continually repeat the cycle of growth.
• It’s the responsibility of those in leadership positions to ensure their team leaders are continually growing, stretching, and expanding their areas of Unique Ability®.
• Without guardrails and feedback, even the best leaders can go off course, which makes structured communication and open dialogue key.
• While corporations tend to have established growth paths and feedback mechanisms, entrepreneurial companies often demand team members take a more proactive, self-directed approach.
• Entropy, or the gradual decline into disorder, can take over if there’s no conscious effort to maintain uniqueness and encourage growth in your organization.
• Resisting change is a warning sign of stagnation. Encourage your team to challenge the phrase, “We’ve always done it this way.”
• Prioritize leading people over simply managing them; let technology handle inputs while you focus on providing direction and leadership to your team.
• Create psychological safety for your leaders by encouraging open and honest communication so they feel comfortable sharing feedback and voicing concerns.
• It’s also important that your leaders receive feedback not only from you, but also from their teams, so you can build a broader culture of trust.
• If you want to cultivate Unique Ability® Teamwork, you have to put effort and energy into making it happen—encourage collaboration and welcome new ideas and input regardless of job descriptions.

Resources:

Unique Ability®

The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan

The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design by Richard Dawkins

EOS®

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Do you get the impression there are people on your team trying hard to prove themselves? In this podcast episode, teamwork specialist Shannon Waller discusses the critical importance of self-awareness and the freedom to be oneself within a team environment. Understanding your strengths and embracing your true self is not just for personal benefit; it serves as a strategic advantage for entrepreneurial teams.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• 1. The Problem With Proving Oneself + The idea of proving oneself seems positive, showing hard work and ambition, but it can often lead to focusing narrowly on self-evaluation instead of collaboration. + The self-focus can lead to “head trash” where people measure themselves against the ideal and end up in “The Gap,” where they’re constantly frustrated that they aren’t further ahead than where they are.
  2. The Value Of Self-Awareness
     • Knowing one’s strengths and weaknesses is essential for effective teamwork.
     • This self-awareness allows greater appreciation for others’ complementary strengths, which can be combined to more efficiently complete collective goals.
     • Knowing your own weaknesses helps you stay away from committing to roles on projects you’re not best suited for, thereby preventing bottlenecks.
     • When people know what their strengths are, they’re free to be more creative within those areas.
  3. Growing Great Leadership
     • In Dan Sullivan’s newest Ambition Series book, Growing Great Leadership, he explains how being a great leader includes demonstrating your own growth using The 4 C’s Formula®.
     • The 4 C’s Formula: Commitment to a scary new project means having to experience courage to try something new with many unknowns in order to gain new capabilities that give you greater confidence to tackle the next big commitment, renewing the cycle.
     • For a company to expand, each person, each team, and each capability needs to be constantly getting better through 4 C’s growth.
  4. Profiles To Help You Know Yourself
     • Kolbe: How you take action.
     • PRINT®: Your motivations.
     • CliftonStrengths®: Your strengths and non-strengths.
     • DISC: Your personality and behavioral style.
     • Working Genius®: Where you thrive on team projects.
  5. Growth Over Perfectionism
     • Perfectionists won’t try something unless they know they can nail it the first time.
     • Entrepreneurial companies need growth-minded people who are willing to take risks, try, and learn from both success and failure.
  6. Strategic Advantage
     • “Success is the freedom to be yourself.” —Kathy Kolbe
     • People who have the freedom to be themselves are open-minded, curious about other people, trustworthy, collaborative, productive, creative, and successful.
     • When people don’t have to focus inwardly, trying to prove themselves, they’re free to be more strategic and focused on the best end results.Resources:
       The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy
       Growing Great Leadership by Dan Sullivan (coming soon)
       The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan
       Kolbe (Kolbe.com)
       PRINT
       CliftonStrengths
       DISC: Personality Insights
       Working Genius
       Unique Ability®

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Do you understand the transformative power of hiring the right number two leader? In this episode, Shannon Waller and Alec Broadfoot discuss the essential qualities of an effective second-in-command and the critical role of a structured interview process in identifying top talent. Learn how assessments and strategic questioning can improve your hiring strategy and drive lasting success.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Understanding the role of a number two leader is crucial for entrepreneurial success.
• Hiring the right second-in-command can significantly improve your business operations.
• Most entrepreneurs face people problems, not process problems.
• A number two leader should oversee daily operations, freeing up visionaries to focus on their areas of Unique Ability®.
• The right number two leader will thrive on the challenges that visionaries find tedious.
• Letting go of certain responsibilities can lead to increased joy and energy for visionary leaders, ultimately driving profit.
• The Talent Impact Profile™ (TIP) is a valuable tool for identifying the right characteristics in a number two leader.
• Building a strong partnership with your number two can transform both your business and personal life.
• A structured interview process is essential for identifying the right number two leader.
• Common mistakes in interviewing include relying solely on “gut” feelings instead of data-driven insights and ignoring cultural fit. Candidates need to align with your company’s values.
• The best time to fire a poor performer is during the interview process.
• The average interview predicts success about 14% of the time, but using an assessment tool can raise your success rate to upwards of 52%.
• Once they’re hired, it’s crucial to provide the new leader with ongoing support and clear expectations to ensure they can thrive in their role.

Characteristics of a successful second-in-command:

• Strategic thinking: The ability to think critically and plan effectively.
• Planning and organization skills: A knack for creating and implementing processes.
• People orientation: A focus on developing and nurturing team members.
• Coaching ability: Enjoyment in holding others accountable and managing performance.
• Strong communication skills: The capacity to convey information clearly and effectively.
• Right fit: Compatibility with your company culture and values.

Resources:

Vision Spark

Hiring Your Right #2 Leader by Alec Broadfoot

Delegate Solutions

How The Best Get Better® by Dan Sullivan

Unique Ability®

Talent Impact Profile™

Kolbe A™ Index

The Team Success Handbook by Shannon Waller

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Are you looking to upgrade your teamwork? Do you realize that you have really high standards? Today, Shannon Waller talks about building partners within entrepreneurial teams. What does it mean to have team partners rather than employees or staff, and how do you build the ultimate dream team in your business? If you’re tired of micromanaging, find out how Shannon achieves crazy fast results with team members who act as partners.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Shannon has realized she only wants to work with partners, not employees, not staff.
• One example of a three-way partnership is the Teamwork Triad, which consist of three people who have a Unique Ability® in separate but equal areas of “make it up” (creative vision), “make it real” (execution), and “make it recur” (sustainability).
• Great partnerships are built around each person being honest about their strengths and areas of Unique Ability.
• Unique Ability is made up of those activities at which you are capable and confident, but also most love to do.
• Do you know what you’re uniquely exceptional at that you should be doing all the time? Do you know what you should not be doing?
• Having Imposter Syndrome simply means you’re growing and still somewhere in the first three scary stages of The 4 C’s Formula®—commitment, courage, or capability—and not yet at the last stage, confidence.
• To be a great partner, you can’t be shy and humble about the things you’re really good at.
• You can’t be a partner when you’re doing what you’re incompetent or merely competent at.
• You also can’t be a partner when you’re doing what you’re excellent at but have no passion for.
• When partners work together in Unique Ability® Teamwork, everyone is committed and energized by what they’re doing.
• How can you tell when you have the right partners working together? You get the highest quality results at crazy fast speeds.
• Being a partner means stepping outside of your preconceived ideas about your role to share the best of yourself: your heart, brain, and will.

Resources:

Kolbe

Unique Ability

The Team Success Handbook by Shannon Waller

The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan

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Are your business processes slowing you down? In this episode, Shannon Waller reveals how to revamp and revitalize your workflows for better results. Learn the importance of documenting processes, assigning the right people to tasks, and setting clear expectations, and discover how small changes can lead to big improvements in efficiency and motivation.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

The Importance Of Documenting Processes

• Document and communicate processes clearly to eliminate bottlenecks and misunderstandings.
• Regularly review and update processes to adapt to changes in technology, market, or team composition.

Tools And Visualization

• Use a simple flowchart to visualize and optimize workflows.
• Think of processes as a relay race, focusing on smooth handoffs between team members.

Process Improvement Strategies

• Identify areas where processes are creating friction or frustration, and prioritize these for improvement.
• Aim to make processes faster, easier, cheaper, and with a bigger impact through collaborative problem solving.
• Be open to completely overhauling a process if it’s not delivering results or if team members are disengaged.

Team Alignment And Roles

• Ensure the right people are in the right roles for each step of your processes, aligning with their Unique Ability®.
• Be specific about timing expectations for each process step to maintain momentum and avoid delays.

Communication And Expectations

• Clearly articulate expectations, including deliverables, quality standards, and deadlines.
• Document successful processes and make them accessible to the team for future reference and training.

Real-World Application

• Example: Shortening a 12-week process to three weeks by involving new team members and incorporating new technology.
• Focus on creating win-win situations where team members enjoy their roles and processes are optimized.

Resources:

Unique Ability®

Kolbe A™ Index

Process Street

Process Suite

Leverage

Process! How Discipline And Consistency Will Set You And Your Business Free by Mike Paton and Lisa González

Playbook Builder

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Do you take the time to acknowledge your team’s contributions, or do you overlook their strengths? In this episode, Shannon Waller explores the transformative power of genuine praise in the workplace. Discover how effective recognition can improve team morale, fuel innovation, and drive overall success in your business.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Is guilt a necessary emotion, or is it just a societal construct that holds us back?
• Entrepreneurs can get overwhelmed because they hold on to tasks they feel guilty about delegating.
• Take notice of people who are isolating themselves: are they feeling remorse, regret, or shame?
• Excessive or misplaced guilt leads to negative self-perception and stress without resulting in constructive change.
• Is misplaced guilt preventing you from taking positive action and making progress?
• To avoid situations that will lead to guilty feelings, stay away from commitments where you cannot easily deliver on what’s needed—in other words, stay within areas of your Unique Ability® and strengths.
• Learning about herself through her Kolbe, PRINT®, and CliftonStrengths® profiles has directed Shannon toward areas that result in more productivity, more profitability, and creating more value.
• Common triggers include failing to meet personal or professional expectations and neglecting personal well-being in favor of work commitments.
• Cultural and societal factors contribute significantly to feelings of guilt, often rooted in childhood experiences.

Strategies To Overcome Or Avoid Guilt:

1. Reframe Your Mindset
   • Question your beliefs about guilt: Is it really true that you’re failing if you don’t respond immediately? Does what you’re feeling match the urgency of the situation?
2. Set Clear Boundaries
   • Establishing boundaries between work and personal life is crucial for maintaining mental health.
   • Free Days™ are essential for rejuvenation; without them, we risk burnout by constantly checking that nothing slips by at work.
3. Communicate Expectations
   • Clearly communicate your expectations with team members regarding response times to avoid causing unnecessary guilt.
   • Also be clear with your clients about not being available 24/7.
4. Have Confidence To Say No
   • When opportunities don’t align with your priorities, it’s okay to say no graciously.
5. Be Compassionate With Yourself
   • If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not taking risks and, therefore, not growing.
   • If you own a mistake, forgive yourself and ask forgiveness of others, then take steps to ensure you don’t make the same mistake again. You’re not failing; you’re learning.
6. Build A Supportive Network
   • Shame isolates people. A support network helps people grow.
   • Instead of criticizing the person, look to what the behavior was that didn’t work and solutions for improvement.
7. Let Go Of Control
   • You can be in charge, providing energy and electricity, but you don’t need to be in control of everything.
   • Great leaders aren’t perfect; they’re honest, provide direction, and don’t make people feel guilty when they’re not perfect.
   • Encourage the team to play offense, not defense so they won’t be made to feel shame, regret, and remorse.

Shannon’s recipe for no guilt: center yourself doing your best work with your best audience.

Resources:

Kolbe

PRINT

CliftonStrengths

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Do you take the time to acknowledge your team’s contributions, or do you overlook their strengths? In this episode, Shannon Waller explores the transformative power of genuine praise in the workplace. Discover how effective recognition can improve team morale, fuel innovation, and drive overall success in your business.

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Show Notes:

• Effective praise is a powerful tool for leaders: Acknowledging achievements creates a positive and collaborative environment and encourages continued excellence among your team members.
• Praise should be genuine and heartfelt: Authenticity is crucial; insincere praise can be perceived as manipulative and may damage trust within your team.
• Recognize individual strengths: Everyone has unique strengths, and acknowledging these not only boosts confidence and morale but also reinforces the value each person brings to the team.
• Immediate recognition is key: Timely praise reinforces positive behavior and creates a stronger connection between actions and acknowledgment.
• Understand how your team prefers to receive praise: Some people appreciate public recognition, while others prefer private acknowledgments or handwritten notes. Knowing their preferences strengthens the impact of your praise.
• Specificity matters: Instead of vague compliments, provide detailed feedback about what was done well. This helps to clarify expectations and reinforces good work.
• Acknowledge the effort behind achievements: Recognizing the challenges or obstacles someone overcame to achieve results adds depth to your praise and shows that you value their hard work.
• Use praise as a developmental tool: Highlighting what people do well can encourage them to build on those strengths and pursue further growth in their roles.
• Create a culture of appreciation: Regularly practicing praise within your team creates an atmosphere where everyone feels valued and motivated to contribute their best work.
• Encourage peer-to-peer recognition: Fostering an environment where team members acknowledge one another’s contributions can improve collaboration and strengthen relationships within the team.

Resources:

The Collaborative Way®

Perplexity

The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan

Unique Ability®

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Have you ever noticed that the word “busy” is often used as an excuse and stops further action and progress? In this episode, Shannon Waller tackles this word that’s all too common in our vocabularies, yet is significantly unproductive. Join Shannon on this productive rant to discover why we should eliminate this word from our conversations and how we can communicate more effectively about our time and priorities.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

The Problem With “Busy”

• Busy is a stop sign in conversations, offering no real information or specificity.

What “Busy” Really Means

• When we say we’re busy, we’re often saying something isn’t a priority for us.

“Busy” As A Statement Of Overwhelm

• Recognize busy for what it often is—a statement of feeling overwhelmed.
• What is truly overwhelming us? Let’s address those specific issues.

The Cultural Implication Of “Busy”

• Society often pressures us to appear busy as a badge of honor. But being busy doesn’t equate to being productive or profitable.
• “A tightly scheduled entrepreneur cannot transform.” Dan Sullivan

“Busy” As An Excuse

• Using busy as an excuse can lead to missed opportunities.
• Saying we’re busy may be a less-than-transparent way of avoiding things we don’t want to do.
• Strive for honesty and clarity in your commitments and desires.

Taking Action

1. Productive, Useful Relationships

• When someone labels you as busy, engage in a curious and open conversation to explore why they perceive you that way. This can uncover assumptions and lead to a healthier relationship by understanding each other’s time and priorities.

2. Self-Coaching Through “Busy”

• Feeling busy? Coach yourself through what’s really going on and what’s overwhelming you. Then, reprioritize your commitments to align with your true values, goals, or three crucial results.

3. Communicate Transparently

• “That’s not a priority for me right now” is more authentic and constructive than “I’m busy.”

4. Build In Space To Connect

• Even if you have an “energetic,” lily pad calendar with back-to-back meetings, you can also build in buffer time to reflect, decompress, offload, and check in with people.

We want to hear from you!

Has this conversation about busy struck a chord with you? Do you have strategies for communicating more effectively about your time and priorities? Share your thoughts and experiences with us at questions@strategiccoach.com.

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Are you leveraging your entrepreneurial company’s unique advantage? In this episode, Shannon Waller reveals how, by getting your team to focus on activities where they have both superior skill and passion, you can ensure your business is always growing, always innovating, and always multiplying its success—and eliminate boredom and stagnation for good.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Entrepreneurial companies have a distinct advantage over bureaucratic organizations because of their flexibility, innovative spirit, and capacity to cultivate a culture that prioritizes individual strengths and passions over conformity and rigid ways of thinking.
• This culture is founded on the Unique Ability® model, which consists of four levels: incompetent, competent, excellent, and unique capabilities, with unique being the most impactful. Here’s what they mean:
  • Incompetent: These tasks are areas where team members struggle to achieve results, often leading to negative impacts. Entrepreneurial companies can minimize time spent on these activities, allowing them to concentrate on more productive endeavors.
  • Competent: While team members may perform adequately in these areas, they often only meet minimum standards. In bureaucratic settings, employees may feel compelled to remain in this zone due to comfort and familiarity, but this does not foster growth or innovation.
  • Excellent: At this level, team members demonstrate superior skills, leading to effective teamwork and often financial rewards. However, remaining in this zone for too long can result in stagnation, as people may become bored and less engaged.
  • Unique: This is where the true potential lies. Areas of Unique Ability combine superior skill with passion, resulting in high energy, motivation, and creativity. Entrepreneurial companies have the opportunity to help their teams focus on these abilities, which can lead to significant competitive advantages
• If you want to maximize your company’s potential for success and innovation, strive to have at least 50% of your team’s time spent in their Unique Ability and the other 50% on excellent abilities.
• It’s also important to eliminate tasks that fall under the “incompetent” category, as these activities cost your company money and limit productivity.
• Procrastination on certain tasks is a sign of incompetence in that area, even if the person technically has the capability to do it.
• To prevent team members from boredom and stagnation, move them away from merely competent tasks as quickly as possible.
• Be aware of the “Excellence Trap,” where team members become too comfortable in their superior skills and resist moving toward their Unique Ability.
• It’s essential for entrepreneurs to foster a company culture that encourages and rewards Unique Ability® Teamwork, as this is where the 10x multiplier effect occurs in terms of productivity and innovation.
• To help shift your team members toward working in their areas of Unique Ability, it’s important to regularly engage in conversations with them about what they excel at and love doing.
• Even minor incompetent tasks can consume significant mental energy. Freeing team members from these tasks is essential for maximizing productivity and creativity.
• It’s important to create flexible systems and job descriptions that allow team members to focus on their excellent and unique capabilities, even if it means creating unconventional role structures.

Resources:

Unique Ability®

Book: Unique Ability® 2.0: Discovery by Catherine Nomura, Julia Waller, and Shannon Waller

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Are you overwhelmed by the daily grind, in a state of “suck,” with an overflowing inbox, double bookings, and a constant feeling of putting out fires? Ever thought about hiring an assistant but not convinced it’s worth the money, time, and effort to bring one on board?

In this episode of Team Success, host Shannon Waller sits down with Steven Neuner and Ryan Cassin, her co-authors of Superpowered: The Secret That Helps Every Entrepreneur Eliminate the Suck, 10x Their Impact, and Have More Fun in Work and Life. Shannon, Steven, and Ryan will shift your mindset about hiring an assistant so you can step out of the chaos and settle on nothing less than 10x growth and freedom.

Download Episode Transcript

Resources:

• • Buy Superpowered: The Secret That Helps Every Entrepreneur Eliminate the Suck, 10x Their Impact, and Have More Fun in Work and Life by Shannon Waller, Steven Neuner, Ryan Cassin
  • Sign up for the free Superpowered resources
  • Visit Ryan and Steven at superpowershq.com
  • Strategic Coach

Show Notes:

Constant State Of Suck

• Many entrepreneurs can end up in a “constant state of fire drill” before they decide to hire an assistant.
• The setup for failure: “Most entrepreneurs show up in the worst possible, least collaborative, lowest energy state to go make one of the most important, most influential, most meaningful hires they’re going to make in their business.” —Steven Neuner

Mindset Shifts Required Before Hiring

• Steven coaches desperate entrepreneurs to shift their mindset to see hiring as an investment of time rather than an investment of money.
• Investing time to grow the relationship with a new assistant pays exponentially higher dividends down the road in both your business and personal life.
• Another important mindset shift is being courageous and vulnerable enough to let someone else see the backstage of your business.

Entrepreneurial Executive Assistant

• This role requires the assistant to delegate and manage up, rather than the other way around.
• The assistant’s Unique Ability® frees you to stay in your own Unique Ability lane.
• Entrepreneurs must think of their assistant as a partner on their growth journey, one in which the assistant will also be growing professionally and personally.
• Entrepreneurial assistants, like entrepreneurs, don’t like getting bored; they will want to lead, take initiative, and be creative in areas outside of your Unique Ability.

The Secret

• Many people think of an assistant as someone to whom they can delegate stuff they don’t want to do.
• The “secret” is that your assistant can be your all-around support partner who can give you superpowers and help you expand what you think is possible.

The Superpowered Scale

1. Resignation
2. Desperation
3. Frustration
4. Delegation
5. Superpowered

Impact On Entrepreneur Support Partners

• Leveraged support partners find opportunities to respond to challenges, grow, and achieve fulfillment in parallel with their entrepreneur.
• Many support partners grow into new responsibilities, new roles, and new connections in the organization.
• With so much core institutional knowledge, they can also become coaches and trainers for new hires.

Onboarding Process For Support Partners

• First 30 Days: Know You
• Second 30 Days: Understand You
• Third 30 Days: Anticipate You

Don’t Settle For Faux Freedom

• Becoming Superpowered means going beyond the standard level of support to exploring a whole other dimension where 10x growth and freedom are possible.

Read Superpowered: The Secret That Helps Every Entrepreneur Eliminate the Suck, 10x Their Impact, and Have More Fun in Work and Life for practical strategies on leveraging all the capabilities of an entrepreneurial executive assistant so you can expand your own freedoms.

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Are you inadvertently sabotaging your entrepreneurial company by hiring corporate talent? In this episode, Shannon Waller reveals the pitfalls of bringing corporate mindsets into entrepreneurial environments. Learn how to identify candidates with true entrepreneurial spirit, ask the right interview questions, and build a team that thrives on innovation, contribution, and rapid growth.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Corporate hires can be a risky choice for entrepreneurial companies due to fundamental differences in mindset and work approach.
• The meaning of “responsibility” differs greatly between corporate and entrepreneurial environments.
• Corporate backgrounds often emphasize status and hierarchy, while entrepreneurial companies value contribution above all.
• Red flags in interviews include candidates prioritizing salary, time off, team size, and office location over potential contributions.
• Corporate titles can be detrimental in entrepreneurial settings, as they focus on status rather than results.
• Unique Ability® titles that highlight an individual’s value creation are preferable in entrepreneurial companies.
• When hiring, look for candidates with entrepreneurial backgrounds or experience, such as childhood businesses or side hustles.
• Former corporate employees who felt constrained or stifled in their previous roles may thrive in entrepreneurial environments.
• Entrepreneurial companies offer more freedom, innovation opportunities, and faster-paced environments compared to corporate structures.
• Hiring managers should prioritize candidates excited about contributing to company growth rather than personal status.
• Diversity in thinking and problem-solving approaches is crucial for entrepreneurial teams rather than hiring clones of existing team members.
• Successful candidates should be willing to work independently, be hands-on, and make a direct impact on the business.
• Entrepreneurial companies should emphasize their unique culture and growth opportunities when recruiting to attract the right talent.
• Hiring the right people is challenging but critical for maintaining an entrepreneurial culture and driving business success.
• Entrepreneurs should trust their instincts during the hiring process and be wary of candidates who don’t align with the company’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Resources:

Unique Ability

The Kolbe A™ Index

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Are you an authentic leader? Do you find it easy or hard to be transparent with your team? In this episode, Shannon Waller discusses the power of authenticity and transparency in leadership. She shares practical strategies to build trust, engage your team, and create psychological safety so that everyone feels safe to express their ideas and take risks. If your team doesn’t seem to take risks, this will be an eye-opening episode to listen to.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• It’s more important for your team to trust you than to simply like you.
• Being transparent means being open, honest, and authentic without hidden agendas.
• Our brains are wired to perceive threats more than safety.
• Without trust, teams become defensive and stagnant.
• When team members feel safe to take risks and voice their ideas, this leads to greater innovation and success.
• Strategies For Transparency:
  • Share insights from leadership meetings openly with your team.
  • Provide more information rather than less to avoid misunderstandings: use The Impact Filter™ tool to share your thinking and intentions.
  • Explain the reasoning behind decisions and include awareness of the emotional impact on the team.
  • Use “I” statements to express your feelings without blaming others.
  • Acknowledge your limitations and ask for help when needed.
  • Ask open-ended questions without leading toward a specific answer. Be willing to listen genuinely.
  • Close the loop on discussions by sharing outcomes and reasoning behind decisions.
  • Regularly check in on how team members feel about decisions.
• Stay straightforward and avoid manipulative tactics; focus on solutions instead of creating unnecessary drama.
• Understand your own triggers and emotional responses to better manage interactions with your team.
• Regularly assess where you can improve transparency in your leadership approach:
  • Where have you felt like it was appropriate to be open and honest?
  • Where do you feel held back?
  • Where do you take things personally?

Resources:

EOS®: Entrepreneurial Operating System®

The Impact Filter

Kolbe

PRINT®: Team Success Podcast, episode 224, “Uncovering ‘The Why Of You,’ With Debra Levine”

CliftonStrengths®

Working Genius®

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In this episode, Shannon Waller and guest Steve Heroux discuss the importance of sales coaching and understanding Sales DNA profiles. Steve addresses the negative perceptions of sales and the challenges entrepreneurs face in hiring effective salespeople, and offers actionable insights to transform sales culture. Tune in for a fresh perspective on finding and nurturing great sales talent!

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Effective sales coaching is essential for developing a high-performing sales team and should focus on individual strengths and weaknesses.
• Understanding the Sales DNA profile can help identify the unique strengths of salespeople, allowing for tailored coaching and training strategies.
• The sales profession often suffers from a negative perception, with many seeing salespeople as pushy or manipulative, which can hinder effective selling.
• Sales leaders play a crucial role in shaping the culture and practices of their sales teams. Poor leadership can perpetuate negative stereotypes about sales.
• Finding the right salespeople is challenging, which means entrepreneurs must prioritize hiring individuals who align with the company’s values and customer needs.
• One-size-fits-all training programs are ineffective. Custom training based on the Sales DNA profile can lead to better results.
• Trust is a critical component in sales. Building genuine relationships with clients can counteract the negative stereotypes associated with sales.
• Many entrepreneurs struggle with sales because they excel in product development but lack sales expertise, leading to potential business failures.
• Defining an ideal customer profile helps sales teams focus their efforts on prospects that are more likely to convert and benefit from the product or service.
• Teaching salespeople to say no to unsuitable prospects is vital; just because someone is willing to buy doesn’t mean they should.
• Salespeople are motivated by personal goals and family needs. Leaders should align company objectives with these motivations to foster engagement.
• There is a need for a cultural shift in how sales is perceived and practiced, moving away from aggressive tactics to a more consultative approach.
• Providing sales teams with the right tools and resources, including training and technology, is essential for empowering them to succeed.
• The sales landscape is constantly evolving; ongoing training and development is necessary to keep sales teams competitive.
• Focusing on building long-term relationships with clients rather than short-term sales can lead to greater success and customer loyalty.

Resources:

The Sales Collective

Steve Heroux on LinkedIn

Book: Sales Is Not a Dirty Word: The Definitive Guide for Success in Sales by Steve Heroux

Book: To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Persuading, Convincing and Influencing Others by Daniel Pink

Book: Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek

Book: The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness by Todd Rose

Book: Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

Unique Ability®

The Kolbe A™ Index

CliftonStrengths®

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In this episode of Team Success, host Shannon Waller is thrilled to talk with special guest Marlene Chism, an expert on workplace drama and how to handle it effectively. Their long discussion is full of great communication and listening strategies to help you have that difficult discussion you’ve been avoiding. Shannon highly recommends all senior leaders read Marlene’s latest book, From Conflict to Courage: How to Stop Avoiding and Start Leading, for more practical wisdom on managing conflict at work. Listen now to find out the three words that heal any conflict.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• The Karpman Drama Triangle consists of three roles:
  • Victim: Feels powerless and blames others.
  • Persecutor: Lashes out and is hard to get along with.
  • Rescuer: Tries to fix everything for others.
  • Denial: Added by Marlene in the center for Avoiders who say, “I don’t do drama.”
  • People aren’t just one thing; they cycle through each regularly.
  • Getting out of the drama triangle means becoming a Creator.
• Regulation Before Resolution:
  • Regulating your emotions before approaching conflict allows you greater clarity, empathy, and a solution-oriented mindset.
• Emotional Awareness And Emotional Integrity:
  • Accept that you have negative feelings.
  • Represent yourself and your own feelings, not anyone else’s.
• Responsible Language:
  • Ask questions.
  • Speak to the vision.
  • Focus on the outcome you want.
  • Avoid generalization, blame, resentment, lack of choice, and justification.
• Radical Listening:
  • Acknowledge the other person’s feelings: “It sounds like … ”
    • Similar to Chris Voss’s “Tactical Empathy.”
    • Similar to the Collaborative Way’s “Generous Listening.”
  • Avoid trying to come up with a solution.
  • Avoid telling a related story about yourself.
  • Notice your own emotions without expressing them.
• “Don’t argue with other people’s feelings.” —Shannon Waller
• The Inner Game: External conflict starts when there is internal conflict.
  • “Drama: the obstacle to peace or prosperity.” —Marlene Chism
  • Work on your own clarity first because “the one with clarity navigates the ship, and everyone else shovels coal.”
  • Be self-aware without being self-obsessed.
  • Fulcrum Point Of Change: Nothing happens until you are willing to release your resistance to change.
  • The “story” in your head about what is happening is the source of your suffering, not the other person, not the situation.
• Three-part approach for leaders:
  • Establish a foundation: Examine what’s happening that shouldn’t happen to go into conversation with intention.
  • Achieve leadership and employee clarity: Have the conversation and come to an agreement.
  • Maintain accountability: Follow up two weeks after conversation.
• Specific strategies for difficult conversations:
  • State intentions up front to reduce anxiety and defensiveness.
  • Keep the discussion focused on constructive outcomes.
  • Focus on the opposite of the issue to create a positive intention.
  • Address observed behaviors and their impact rather than making accusations or generalizations about a person’s character.
  • Use company values and vision to guide the intentions.
  • Share the “story” you’re telling yourself about the situation.
  • Say, “Walk me through what your perspective is.”
  • Ask, “What do you want?” and “Would you be willing … ?”
  • When you get denial or defensiveness: “That may be, but here’s what I need.”
• Three common responses to conflict are the 3 A’s: Aggression, Avoidance, and Appeasing.
• Resistance is almost always based on the need to be right.
  • Three magic words that will heal any conflict: “You were right.”
• The “LABOR” principles for difficult conversations:
  • L
  • Ask for what you want.
  • set B
  • Own your stuff.
  • Represent yourself.
• Major organizational problems can often be traced back to conversations that should have happened but didn’t.

Strategic Coach® Tools For Clarity:

• Use The Impact Filter™ to get your thoughts down on paper, get some emotional distance from them, and get really clear about purpose, ideal outcomes, success criteria, and so on before jumping into difficult discussions.
• Dan Sullivan’s tool for new hires, the 4 x 4 Casting Tool™, is included in the upcoming Ambition Series book, Casting Not Hiring, out in October 2024.
  • This tool lets new hires know exactly what results and behaviors are expected from them, how they can exceed expectations, and what is unacceptable.
• “The problem is never the problem. The problem is that you don’t know how to think about the problem.”—Dan Sullivan

Resources:
From Conflict to Courage: How to Stop Avoiding and Start Leading by Marlene Chism

marlene@marlenechism.com

Marlene Chism on LinkedIn

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

Karpman Drama Triangle

The Power of TED (The Empowerment Dynamic) by David Emerald

PRINT®: Team Success Podcast episode 224, “Uncovering ‘The Why Of You,’ With Debra Levine”

The Impact Filter download

Your Life As A Strategy Circle by Dan Sullivan

Casting Not Hiring by Dan Sullivan and Jeffrey Madoff, includes example and explanation of The 4 x 4 Casting {Available October 2024}

Kolbe

Unique Ability®

The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Chris Voss, “What is Tactical Empathy? How It Can Help in Negotiations at Work”

“What is the Collaborative Way®?”

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In this episode, Shannon interviews IT By Design founder Sunny Kaila, who shares his inspiring journey from taxi driver to successful entrepreneur and offers insights on leveraging talent markets and expanding businesses internationally. Tune in to discover his proven strategies for multicultural collaboration, and learn how to access global talent to drive your business forward.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

Sunny shares his story of moving from India to New Jersey at 17, working various jobs to support his family, and eventually putting himself through college to study computer engineering.

His entrepreneurial journey began in 2003 when he started IT By Design, which has now grown into a global company.

Sunny also discusses his book The Secret To Building Winning Global Teams, sharing insights into how his company successfully integrates global talent to provide 24/7 IT services.

His tips include:

• The rise of remote work has created opportunities for borderless hiring, allowing businesses to tap into a global talent pool.
• Building a global team can lead to significant labor cost savings of 30-70%, leading to greater profitability and overall business valuation.
• Effective multicultural collaboration is essential for managing diverse teams and can improve both cash flow and company culture.
• Investing in a strong learning and development division is key to equipping team members with the necessary soft skills and cultural understanding to work remotely effectively.
• Transitioning from direct sales to collaborating with competitors can expand your reach and create mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Understanding the unique needs of different markets is crucial for tailoring your approach to team management and service delivery.
• Implementing a 24/7 operational model allows for continuous service and support, which is vital for technology-driven businesses.
• Leaders must adapt their management styles to effectively lead remote teams, focusing on communication and cultural alignment.
• Maintaining a balance between cost efficiency and employee well-being is essential to sustaining a positive company culture.
• Using innovative strategies to manage rising operational costs can help businesses remain competitive in an evolving market.
• Regularly assessing and adjusting your team structure can lead to improved performance and adaptability in a changing business landscape.
• Sharing best practices and experiences can help other leaders navigate the complexities of building and managing global teams.

Resources:

Book: The Secret To Building Winning Global Teams by Sunny Kaila

Unique Ability®

CliftonStrengths®

The Impact Filter™

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Do you take the time to reinforce your team’s strengths, or do you simply take their strengths and talents for granted? In this episode, Shannon Waller explains the benefits of reinforcing team strengths rather than fixing weaknesses. Learn why this counterintuitive approach can boost morale, productivity, and even your bottom line.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

Growing Strengths

• People often take their natural abilities for granted.
• When people realize their capabilities are valuable to others, they will invest more time and effort into developing them further.

Gallup’s Framework For Understanding Strengths

• Talent: A natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving.
• Investment: Time spent practicing, developing skills, and building knowledge.
• Strength: The ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance in a specific task.
• Raw talent alone is not enough; it must be combined with investment to become a true strength.

Mindset For Talent Development

• To recognize individuality and uniqueness in others, leaders must first acknowledge and develop their own Unique Ability®.
• This mindset may be challenging for leaders who believe:
  1. They need to be all things to all people, or
  2. People are basically all the same
• Dan Sullivan has said a key aspect of running a Self-Managing Company® is the willingness to be ignorant:
  • Leaders don’t need to know every detail of their operation if they trust their team members to use their unique strengths to excel in their respective roles.

The Difference This Can Make

• Benefits of reinforcing your team’s strengths:
  • Builds habits
  • Improves team dynamics and collaboration
  • Increases productivity
  • Increases creativity
  • Supports more fulfilling careers
  • Reduces workplace problems
  • Supports self-managing team members

Recognizing And Nurturing Unique Talents

• Give people feedback: “Hey I really appreciate it when you do this; it really makes a difference. You do this faster than anyone else on the team does.”
• Ask the question: “Is this something you really enjoy doing too?”
• Unique Ability combines excellent skills with passion, joy, endless energy, fascination, and a constant desire for improvement.

How To Take Action

• Pay attention and take action when someone volunteers to do something no one asked them to do, and they are exceptional and energized by it.
• Speak out about what’s working to reinforce the things you want to see more of.
• Use The Impact Filter™ tool from Strategic Coach® to clearly communicate expectations for specific tasks and projects.
• Read the upcoming book in the Ambition Series coming in Fall 2024, Casting Not Hiring, and download the 4 x 4 tool. The 4 x 4 is used to communicate to team members the overall expectations for their role and teamwork.
• The 4 x 4 tells team members how they can excel in their performance by:
  1. Being alert, curious, responsive, and resourceful
  2. Focusing on results that are faster, easier, cheaper, and bigger
  3. Being a hero to you
  4. Avoiding the things that drive you crazy
• Use The Communication Builder with your team members to understand each other’s work preferences, communication styles, and stress responses.

Resources:

CliftonStrengths®

Unique Ability

The Communication Builder

The Self-Managing Company by Dan Sullivan

The Impact Filter

Casting Not Hiring by Dan Sullivan and Jeffrey Madoff (coming Fall 2024)

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Are you looking to maximize your teamwork with your executive assistant? In this episode, Shannon Waller dives deep into the key strategies for a successful strategic partnership. From finding the right person to implementing daily habits and strategic planning meetings, you’ll discover how to triple your productivity effortlessly and elevate your teamwork to superpower status!

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

1. Finding The Right “Who”: It’s crucial to hire someone who thrives in a support role and complements your working style. Use tools like DISC and CliftonStrengths to ensure compatibility.
2. Communication Builder: This tool helps identify communication preferences and patterns, preventing conflicts and fostering better teamwork. It’s available for free at yourteamsuccess.com.
3. Daily Meetings: Regular check-ins, ideally daily, help keep both parties aligned and focused. Starting these meetings with a Positive Focus® elevates your energy levels, boosts productivity, and enhances confidence.
4. CC On Emails: Copying your assistant on relevant emails ensures seamless information transfer and task delegation.
5. Access To Email And Calendar: Granting your assistant full access to your email and calendar allows them to manage your schedule effectively, freeing you up to focus on high-priority tasks.
6. Appreciation: Regularly expressing gratitude and acknowledging each other’s contributions strengthens the partnership and boosts morale.
7. Strategic Planning Meetings: Holding these meetings every five to six weeks helps you plan and prioritize upcoming tasks and projects, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

Resources:

Books

Superpowered: The Secret That Helps Every Entrepreneur Eliminate the Suck, 10x Their Impact, and Have More Fun in Work and Life by Ryan Cassin, Shannon Waller, and Steven Neuner

Tools And Concepts

The Team Success Toolkit

Unique Ability®

The Impact Filter™

Profiles

The Kolbe A™ Index

PRINT® Why of You

CliftonStrengths®

Working Genius®

DISC Profile

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Do you feel as though you have a really talented team but that not everyone is aligned on the direction you’re going? In this episode, Shannon Waller describes how a lack of leadership can be undoing your team’s potential. By the end, you’ll learn practical strategies to ensure that everyone is on the same page, working toward a common goal.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

Unique Ability® without a clear goal or purpose:

• Unique Ability® Teamwork thrives when each team member is focused on what they love to do best.
• However, without a clear goal, intention, or purpose, the strengths and talents of team members can go astray, or worse, sabotage the work of the overall business.
• This can lead to individuals pursuing their own interests rather than working toward a common goal.
• Over time, team members accustomed to a lack of direction may develop an entitlement attitude and resistance to being pulled back in.

Impact On Team Performance:

• Without clear leadership and direction, Unique Ability Teamwork may result in individuals contributing their intellect but not their full commitment or passion.
• Projects may suffer from delays, lack of creativity, and a lack of coordination among team members, akin to a rowing team rowing out of sync.

Solution:

• Shannon suggests a proactive approach. Leaders should:
  1. Double-check their own clarity on goals and intentions.
  2. Communicate these clearly to the team.
  3. Ensure alignment through open conversations.
• Using tools like The Impact Filter™ can help articulate purpose, importance, ideal outcomes, and success criteria, fostering a shared understanding and commitment among team members.
• The collaborative approach opens projects up to the collective intelligence, as different team members bring diverse insights and considerations to the table.

Resources:

The Team Success Handbook by Shannon Waller

PRINT®

Kolbe

Radical Candor

Unique Ability Teamwork

Wanting What You Want by Dan Sullivan

The Impact Filter

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Ready to level up your teamwork? In this episode of Team Success, Shannon dives deep into her love for profiles and assessments like Kolbe and PRINT and how she uses them to understand team members better. She explains how profiles help build trust, provide a road map for effective teamwork, and streamline the process of getting to know team members’ motivational needs and strengths. She also shares tips for how to use profiles to make the hiring process easier, faster, and better. Listen now to learn all about how to use profiles to unlock your own team’s success!

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Personality profiles and assessments are essential, reliable tools for anyone hoping to understand their own or someone else’s motivations, needs, and natural strengths.
• They provide a road map for building trust and providing effective support.
• In a fast-paced work environment where personal interactions are limited, profiles offer a shortcut to quickly gain insights about your team members—like what you can expect from them, their strengths, and their motivators—that would otherwise take significant time and effort to uncover.
• When used correctly, profiles shouldn’t box people in, but rather generate insightful questions and deepen understanding, fostering teamwork by aligning team members’ motivations and strengths with their roles and responsibilities.
• By understanding and appreciating the complementary skills of those on their team, individuals can leverage one another’s strengths to produce exponential results.
• Profiles are also a valuable hiring tool, especially for roles in sales or leadership.

These profiles include:

• Kolbe A™ Index: Measures conative strengths or natural tendencies in problem-solving and productivity.
• Working Genius®: Identifies where individuals naturally excel in a project’s lifecycle, from ideation to execution.
• CliftonStrengths®: Highlights individual talents and potential areas for development.
• DISC: Provides insights into personality traits related to work style and interactions.
• PRINT®: Reveals underlying motivators and how they influence behavior in professional settings.

Resources:

Kolbe A Index

Working Genius

CliftonStrengths

DISC Profile

PRINT

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Are you struggling with a lack of alert, curious, responsive, and resourceful people in your business? Here, Shannon Waller takes a look at the frequently overlooked importance of the language you use when talking about the people operating in your business. By shifting your mindset regarding this one term, you can unlock the full potential of your team and elevate their performance. Tune in to learn how to transform your team into a powerhouse of unique individuals making impactful contributions together.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• The language you use to refer to the people you’ve hired to work with you (“staff,” “employees,” or “team members”) reflects different mindsets and can impact engagement and performance.
• The term “staff” suggests bureaucracy, formality, and viewing people as fulfilling roles rather than as unique and creative individuals.
• “Employee” is more neutral but can still imply a transactional, replaceable view of team members.
• Referring to people as “team members” emphasizes their unique contributions and the collaborative, team-based nature of the work.
• How you think about your people is reflected in your actions.
  • “Staff” and “employees” are frequently counted as FTEs and costs.
  • Businesses think of costs as something to minimize, to make as efficient as possible, and to be cut as necessary to improve profits.
  • People who are treated as costs—like the office paper supply—can feel they’re being treated as things and not as people.
• Treating team members as investments rather than costs leads to better results.
  • With investments, you put a little in to get a lot more in return.
  • When you nourish unique capabilities in people, their contributions expand in ways you could not have predicted.
• When people don’t work out as investments:
  • Have you made sure you’ve found the right people who are motivated by their work and aligned with your business?
  • Do they have the capacity for their role?
  • Keeping bad investments is not good for your business in the long term. You may need to subtract so you can multiply.
• Dan Sullivan says, “I’m just a team member here. I just have a unique set of skills, and that’s what I want to do. I need a ton of other people to make the projects that I want to be a part of happen.”
• Dan’s commitment to his own Unique Ability® contribution to the business reinforces his commitment to supporting the Unique Ability contributions of everyone else on his team.
• Ask your team how they feel about the language used to describe them. Pay attention to how you refer to people no matter whom you’re speaking with.
• People want to know they’re valued as individuals and trusted to find opportunities to contribute the best way they know how.

Resources:

Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute

EOS®: Entrepreneurial Operating System®

“A Conversation With Kathy Kolbe: Conative Intelligence & The Importance of Caring First,” Team Success Podcast, ep. 259.

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

Unique Ability

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On this special episode of Team Success, Shannon Waller is joined by her dear friend and former colleague Nicole Pitcher, a Strategy and Planning Support Partner who played a pivotal role in Shannon’s professional development and contributed to her legendary approach to teamwork. They discuss how, while working at Strategic Coach®, Nicole transformed the standard executive assistant role into a Strategic Support Partnership. They also explore how this kind of relationship leverages both parties’ strengths and keeps entrepreneurs committed and accountable to their goals. Nicole’s evolution offers invaluable insights into how shifting standard support roles into dynamic partnerships can drive entrepreneurial success. For any entrepreneur looking to not only maximize their productivity but also achieve a better work-life balance, this episode is a must-listen!

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• In today’s entrepreneurial world, there is a growing need for assistants who can think strategically, anticipate the needs of their employers, and manage the moving parts of a business.
• Nicole shares how she evolved the role of an executive assistant into this role, which goes beyond traditional administrative tasks to engage deeply in strategic planning and decision-making processes.
• As Shannon says, “If you don’t have an assistant, you are one.”
• Most entrepreneurs have a ton of ideas but don’t necessarily have the skills or bandwidth to follow through on them.
• A good Strategic Support Partner should understand how to translate your vision into actionable tasks. They’re essentially the bridge between your ideas and the practical execution of those ideas.
• They also need to take a personalized approach to vision translation based on your unique strengths and weaknesses.
• Self-awareness is a crucial first step for entrepreneurs seeking support. By recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, you can identify areas where help is needed and find the right support partner to complement your skills, all of which leads to a more intentional approach to goal setting and commitment.
• Profiles are your best ally here. Every good working relationship should start with assessments like Kolbe and Working Genius® (linked below).
• Avoid the temptation to hire somebody who’s just like you. They don’t want to do the work that you don’t want to do either!
• It’s important to view this relationship as a partnership rather than a traditional hierarchical relationship. (In other words, equal but different, not lesser and greater.)
• This approach fosters mutual respect and leverages each person’s strengths.
• Many entrepreneurs also don’t know how to effectively use their assistants. They may hire someone with the expectation that the assistant will handle emails and other administrative tasks, but they struggle to provide direction and guidance.
• Entrepreneurs who make commitments, set goals, and hold themselves accountable are objectively more successful than entrepreneurs who don’t.
• Strategic Support Partners play a vital role in helping you stay on track and fulfill your commitments, ultimately leading to long-term success and growth in your business.
• It’s common for entrepreneurs to become the bottleneck in their own business when they are unable to make decisions, set priorities, or manage their time effectively. This also makes them feel trapped and overwhelmed.
• By working with a Strategic Support Partner to address time management issues (and putting everything in a calendar that you follow!), you can better focus your energy and alleviate overwhelm.

Resources:

Unique Ability®

Book: The Team Success Handbook by Shannon Waller

Superpowers

More about Nicole Pitcher

Profiles:

The Kolbe A™ Index

PRINT® Why of You

CliftonStrengths®

Working Genius

DISC Profile

Tools:

The Impact Filter™

The Positive Focus®

Top Teamwork Tips

Communication Builder

View Details

On this special episode of Team Success, Shannon Waller is joined by her dear friend and former colleague Nicole Pitcher, a Strategy and Planning Support Partner who played a pivotal role in Shannon’s professional development and contributed to her legendary approach to teamwork. They discuss how, while working at Strategic Coach®, Nicole transformed the standard executive assistant role into a Strategic Support Partnership. They also explore how this kind of relationship leverages both parties’ strengths and keeps entrepreneurs committed and accountable to their goals. Nicole’s evolution offers invaluable insights into how shifting standard support roles into dynamic partnerships can drive entrepreneurial success. For any entrepreneur looking to not only maximize their productivity but also achieve a better work-life balance, this episode is a must-listen!

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• In today’s entrepreneurial world, there is a growing need for assistants who can think strategically, anticipate the needs of their employers, and manage the moving parts of a business.
• Nicole shares how she evolved the role of an executive assistant into this role, which goes beyond traditional administrative tasks to engage deeply in strategic planning and decision-making processes.
• As Shannon says, “If you don’t have an assistant, you are one.”
• Most entrepreneurs have a ton of ideas but don’t necessarily have the skills or bandwidth to follow through on them.
• A good Strategic Support Partner should understand how to translate your vision into actionable tasks. They’re essentially the bridge between your ideas and the practical execution of those ideas.
• They also need to take a personalized approach to vision translation based on your unique strengths and weaknesses.
• Self-awareness is a crucial first step for entrepreneurs seeking support. By recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, you can identify areas where help is needed and find the right support partner to complement your skills, all of which leads to a more intentional approach to goal setting and commitment.
• Profiles are your best ally here. Every good working relationship should start with assessments like Kolbe and Working Genius® (linked below).
• Avoid the temptation to hire somebody who’s just like you. They don’t want to do the work that you don’t want to do either!
• It’s important to view this relationship as a partnership rather than a traditional hierarchical relationship. (In other words, equal but different, not lesser and greater.)
• This approach fosters mutual respect and leverages each person’s strengths.
• Many entrepreneurs also don’t know how to effectively use their assistants. They may hire someone with the expectation that the assistant will handle emails and other administrative tasks, but they struggle to provide direction and guidance.
• Entrepreneurs who make commitments, set goals, and hold themselves accountable are objectively more successful than entrepreneurs who don’t.
• Strategic Support Partners play a vital role in helping you stay on track and fulfill your commitments, ultimately leading to long-term success and growth in your business.
• It’s common for entrepreneurs to become the bottleneck in their own business when they are unable to make decisions, set priorities, or manage their time effectively. This also makes them feel trapped and overwhelmed.
• By working with a Strategic Support Partner to address time management issues (and putting everything in a calendar that you follow!), you can better focus your energy and alleviate overwhelm.

Resources

Unique Ability®

Book: Index

How A Strategic Support Partner Can Change Your Life, with Nicole Pitcher appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Raise your hand if you’re a perfectionist. Do you often find yourself focusing on what’s not working and feeling constantly frustrated? When your team checks in with you on a project they’re working on, do you tend to focus on the parts that need to be fixed? The parts that aren’t completed yet? “What about X, Y, and Z?”

In this episode of Team Success, Shannon Waller discusses why it’s critical to work and lead from “The Gain,” not “The Gap.” She explains the concept of The Gap And The Gain™, one of the foundational concepts of Strategic Coach® that has helped tens of thousands of people improve their relationships with their teams, families, and everyone else. Don’t miss this episode for practical methods to create psychological safety within the team, foster a positive environment, and drive growth within your team.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

Shift Your Focus To Progress, Not Perfection

• When you measuring progress from where you started (The Gain) rather than against an ideal (The Gap), you celebrate how far you’ve come and focus on what is working.
• Acknowledging The Gain builds confidence and motivation within yourself and your team.
• Remember: Progress, not perfection, is the key to growth.

Cultivate Psychological Safety For Your Team

• Studies (see links below) have shown that top productive and profitable teams share just one thing in common: everyone trusts and respects one another. Researchers refer to this aspect of group culture as “psychological safety.”
• Psychological safety in a team has repeatedly shown to have a bigger impact on the team’s performance than any other factor, including collective intelligence.
• As a leader, your job is to help people stay in The Gain instead of The Gap; otherwise, they are going to play defense, not offense.
• If people are defensive, they’re not taking risks, and if they don’t take risks, your company can’t grow.
• When there is psychological safety, team members can own their mistakes because they are allowed to make them to learn from them.
• Dan Sullivan, co-founder of Strategic Coach, says, “When there’s a problem with a person, 99% of the time it’s not the person; it’s the system.”
• Being an “impact” leader means always measuring progress and looking for improvement ideas to improve results.

Strategies For Staying In The Gain

• Positive Mindset: Use the Strategic Coach online web app WinStreak® to track your top three wins every day and set up three wins for tomorrow.
• Short-Circuit The Amygdala: You can use tools such as The Experience Transformer® to turn negative experiences into valuable learning opportunities without overreacting or placing blame.
• Describe The Circumstance:Begin by objectively describing the situation that did not go as planned, focusing on facts rather than emotions.
• Identify Successes:Acknowledge aspects of the experience that worked well to recognize positive elements amidst challenges.
• List Areas For Improvement:Pinpoint specific aspects that did not contribute to the desired outcome to identify areas for enhancement.
• Brainstorm Solutions:Encourage creative brainstorming to generate ideas for improvement based on the identified challenges.
• Implement A New Approach:Develop a revised plan, incorporating insights gained from the experience to guide future endeavors.
• Encourage Learning:Treat failures as learning opportunities and promote continuous improvement for culture and company growth.

The Strategic Coach P.A.G.E. core values:

• P = Positive and collaborative teamwork.
• A = Alert, curious, responsive, and resourceful.
• G = Focus on growth and results.
• E = Provide an excellent, first-class experience.

Key Take-Aways

1. Keep yourself in The Gain.
2. No one likes working with a leader who is always in The Gap.

If you have any questions or comments, reach out at questions@strategicoach.com.

Resources:

The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

The 21-Day Positive Focus®

Edmondson, Amy. (2011). Psychological Safety, Trust, and Learning in Organizations: A Group-level Lens. Trust and Distrust in Organizations: Dilemmas and Approaches.

Charles Duhigg, “What Google Learned From Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team.” New York Times, Feb. 25, 2016

The WinStreak web app is also available as an app for Android phones.

The Experience Transformer article: “Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers”

The Impact Filter™ download

P.A.G.E.: “The Importance Of Core Values In Business”

Impact Players by Liz Wiseman

“Geometry” For Staying Cool & Calm by Dan Sullivan

View Details

Raise your hand if you’re a perfectionist. Do you often find yourself focusing on what’s not working and feeling constantly frustrated? When your team checks in with you on a project they’re working on, do you tend to focus on the parts that need to be fixed? The parts that aren’t completed yet? “What about X, Y, and Z?”

In this episode of Team Success, Shannon Waller discusses why it’s critical to work and lead from “The Gain,” not “The Gap.” She explains the concept of The Gap And The Gain, one of the foundational concepts of Strategic Coach® that has helped tens of thousands of people improve their relationships with their teams, families, and everyone else. Don’t miss this episode for practical methods to create psychological safety within the team, foster a positive environment, and drive growth within your team.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

Shift Your Focus To Progress, Not Perfection

• When you measuring progress from where you started (The Gain) rather than against an ideal (The Gap), you celebrate how far you’ve come and focus on what is working.
• Acknowledging The Gain builds confidence and motivation within yourself and your team.
• Remember: Progress, not perfection, is the key to growth.

Cultivate Psychological Safety For Your Team

• Studies (see links below) have shown that top productive and profitable teams share just one thing in common: everyone trusts and respects one another. Researchers refer to this aspect of group culture as “psychological safety.”
• Psychological safety in a team has repeatedly shown to have a bigger impact on the team’s performance than any other factor, including collective intelligence.
• As a leader, your job is to help people stay in The Gain instead of The Gap; otherwise, they are going to play defense, not offense.
• If people are defensive, they’re not taking risks, and if they don’t take risks, your company can’t grow.
• When there is psychological safety, team members can own their mistakes because they are allowed to make them to learn from them.
• Dan Sullivan, co-founder of Strategic Coach, says, “When there’s a problem with a person, 99% of the time it’s not the person; it’s the system.”
• Being an “impact” leader means always measuring progress and looking for improvement ideas to improve results.

Strategies For Staying In The Gain

• Positive Mindset: Use the Strategic Coach online web app WinStreak® to track your top three wins every day and set up three wins for tomorrow.
• Short-Circuit The Amygdala: You can use tools such as The Experience Transformer® to turn negative experiences into valuable learning opportunities without overreacting or placing blame.
• Describe The Circumstance:Begin by objectively describing the situation that did not go as planned, focusing on facts rather than emotions.
• Identify Successes:Acknowledge aspects of the experience that worked well to recognize positive elements amidst challenges.
• List Areas For Improvement:Pinpoint specific aspects that did not contribute to the desired outcome to identify areas for enhancement.
• Brainstorm Solutions:Encourage creative brainstorming to generate ideas for improvement based on the identified challenges.
• Implement A New Approach:Develop a revised plan, incorporating insights gained from the experience to guide future endeavors.
• Encourage Learning:Treat failures as learning opportunities and promote continuous improvement for culture and company growth.

The Strategic Coach P.A.G.E. core values:

• P = Positive and collaborative teamwork.
• A = Alert, curious, responsive, and resourceful.
• G = Focus on growth and results.
• E = Provide an excellent, first-class experience.

Key Take-Aways

1. Keep yourself in The Gain.
2. No one likes working with a leader who is always in The Gap.

If you have any questions or comments, reach out at questions@strategicoach.com.

Resources:

The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

The 21-Day Positive Focus®

Edmondson, Amy. (2011). Psychological Safety, Trust, and Learning in Organizations: A Group-level Lens. Trust and Distrust in Organizations: Dilemmas and Approaches.

Charles Duhigg, “What Google Learned From Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team.” New York Times, Feb. 25, 2016

The WinStreak web app is also available as an app for Android phones.

The Experience Transformer article: “Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers”

The Impact Filter download

P.A.G.E.: “The Importance Of Core Values In Business”

Impact Players by Liz Wiseman

“Geometry” For Staying Cool & Calm by Dan Sullivan

The post Stuck In The Perfection Gap? Try Leading From “The Gain” appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Before important client meetings, are you and your team running around handling last-minute logistics? How prepared does your team feel going into the meeting? In this episode, Shannon Waller discusses the value of bookending client meetings with clearings and debriefs to elevate the overall experience for clients and team members. Here’s the why and how of Strategic Coach’s backstage process that prepares the team for delivering exceptional front stage results.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

Clearings Before Meetings:

• Positive Focus®: Starting with the Positive Focus exercise allows everyone to:
  1. Feel energized and excited by reflecting on a recent win.
  2. Get present and shift their focus from past or future distractions.
• Preview of the day: Providing an overview of what to expect during the day:
  1. Helps everyone get familiar with the agenda, timing, and their roles.
  2. Focuses the team on key conversations or key points to make.
• Setting intentions: Everyone states what they want to be true at the end of the experience, thereby creating a shared vision they’re all aligned on.

Debriefs After Meetings:

• Reflection and sharing: Debriefs at the end of the day provide an opportunity for team members and clients to reflect on the experience, share insights, and discuss key takeaways.
• Continual improvement: By discussing what worked well, areas for improvement, and any insights gained, the team can continually enhance their performance and refine their approach for future meetings.
• Leaving on a positive note: As a final wrap-up, each person shares the value they got from the meeting.

Benefits Of Clearings And Debriefs:

• Being present: The team has greater engagement in, participation in, and ownership of a superb client experience.
• Centering the results for the client: By focusing on what will allow clients to leave feeling more confident and motivated, the team can stay responsive to delivering a more personalized and impactful experience.
• Psychological and emotional preparation: The team is alert and responsive to client needs, ready to expand and elevate the thinking in the room. Everyone is more confident, clear, and prepared to take action to achieve the agreed upon-result for the client.
• Transformational experience: When the team is focused on the clients, they have the opportunity to create unexpected value for them, elevating the interaction from a transactional experience to a transformational one.

Teams can incorporate clearings and debriefs with meetings, coaching sessions, workshops, or any other key client interactions to significantly enhance the overall experience for both clients and team members. At Strategic Coach®, we also have clearings and debriefs for internal team meetings so that we can continually improve our internal experience. Though the goal is to constantly improve client satisfaction, this always has to include elevating the experience for team members too.

Resources:

Article: “Your Business Is A Theater Production: Your Back Stage Shouldn’t Show On The Front Stage.”

Free tool kit download, including The Positive Focus®

EOS®: Entrepreneurial Operating System®

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How would you like to learn a strategy for improving creativity, connection, and collaboration within your team that’s as simple as saying the word “yes”? In this episode, Shannon Waller explains how graciously saying yes to your team members’ ideas is an easy yet powerful way to foster deeper conversations and collective problem solving, and dives into the importance of cultivating a positive environment for idea sharing. With actionable techniques for leaders, entrepreneurs, and team members to harness the power of teamwork and practical ways to validate and engage with new ideas, this is one episode you won’t want to miss!

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Finding aspects of an idea to say yes to can significantly increase collaboration and creativity within your team.
• Team productivity depends heavily on whether entrepreneurs can create a positive space for sharing ideas.
• To foster this kind of idea-sharing culture, it’s important to acknowledge and respect the mindset of individuals who are brave enough to come to you or their team leaders—people who stand higher above them in the company’s hierarchy whether it’s explicit or not—with their ideas.
• There are practical techniques you can use for engaging with and validating new ideas, all of which promote constructive dialogue and problem solving.
• Team collaboration only gets better when you seek out and engage with new ideas from individuals whose thinking profiles and striving instincts differ from your own.
• Graciously finding parts of an idea to support, rather than outright rejecting ideas that aren’t perfect in their entirety, can also lead to deeper conversations and more effective teamwork.
• You can create a more collaborative environment for discussion when you try to find common ground with whatever idea is being pitched to you.

Resources:

Working Genius

The Kolbe A™ Index

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In this episode, Shannon Waller talks about the dangers of the “Excellent Trap.” Are there activities you have superior skills but no passion for? Are you bored with them but resisting having someone else take them on? Let Shannon convince you why you should let go of these “Excellent,” but not “Unique Ability,” activities. Shannon has useful advice on how to identify the activities, when it’s time to let them go, and who to hand them off to.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes

Signs To Look Out For:

• Loss of passion: If you find yourself going through the motions without the same level of excitement or interest as before, it could be a sign that you’ve outgrown the activity.
• Boredom and lack of challenge: Activities that were once stimulating may become routine and unchallenging over time, leading to lack of interest.
• Others who show skill and energy: Pay attention to people around you who show a keen interest in the tasks you excel at but no longer feel passionate about. These individuals may bring fresh ideas and creativity to the table.

Benefits Of Passing Off Tasks:

• New perspectives: Allowing someone else to take over tasks can bring in new perspectives and innovative approaches that you may not have considered.
• Freeing up time: By delegating tasks that no longer fire you up, you free up time to focus on activities that engage your creativity and align with and help you grow your Unique Ability®.
• Team growth: Passing off tasks can also contribute to the growth and development of your team members, providing them with opportunities to showcase their skills and creativity.

Steps To Take:

1. Self-reflection: Identify Excellent activities where you have superior skill but lack passion. For comparison, also make a list of your Unique Ability activities, those you find endlessly fascinating and motivating. Pick one or two Excellent activities to let go of.
2. Identifying potential candidates: Keep an eye out for individuals within your team or network who exhibit enthusiasm and creativity in the areas you are considering passing off.
3. Initiating conversations: Approach potential candidates and discuss the possibility of them taking over the tasks. Observe their reactions and eagerness to explore these responsibilities.
4. Transition planning: Once you find a suitable candidate, plan a smooth transition of responsibilities, ensuring that the handover is seamless and well-communicated.

Conclusion:

Recognizing when to pass off activities where you excel but lack passion is a crucial step toward personal growth and team development. By entrusting tasks to individuals with a fresh perspective and enthusiasm, you not only free yourself from mundane (to you!) responsibilities but also foster a culture of collaboration and growth within your team. Embracing this mindset of delegation and empowerment can lead to enhanced creativity, efficiency, and overall success in both personal and professional endeavors.

Resources:

Unique Ability® 2.0: Discovery by Catherine Nomura, Julia Waller, and Shannon Waller

The Road Less Stupid by Keith Cunningham EOS®: Entrepreneurial Operating System®

Unique Ability® Teamwork

Questions for Shannon: questions@strategiccoach.com

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Looking for ways to improve your team’s performance and create a positive work environment? In this episode of the Team Success podcast, host Shannon Waller interviews entrepreneurs Mark O’Donnell, Kelly Knight, and CJ DuBe’ about their new book, People: Dare to Build an Intentional Culture, which focuses on the importance of creating an intentional culture within organizations and how it impacts the success of a business. They delve into topics such as the difference between accidental and intentional cultures, the concept of “right people, right seats,” and the mindset required for leaders to build and maintain a thriving culture. If you’re looking to transform your organization and create a culture that attracts and retains top talent, this episode is a must-listen.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes

1. Building an intentional culture requires courage and boldness. It’s not an easy task, but it is essential for the success and growth of any organization.
2. By being intentional about the values, behaviors, and mindsets that shape your culture, you can create a workplace that attracts and retains top talent, fosters collaboration, and drives long-term success.
3. The concept of “right people, right seats” is crucial for building a high-performing team. It involves finding individuals who align with your core values and possess the skills and capacity to excel in their roles.
4. It’s also about surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals who align with the company’s mission and purpose. This ensures that everyone is working toward a common goal and contributes to a positive and productive work environment.
5. By ensuring that each team member is in the right seat, you can maximize productivity, minimize conflicts, and create a harmonious work environment.
6. Genuine care and concern for your team members is a powerful force that can transform your business. When leaders prioritize the well-being and growth of their team members, it creates a culture of trust, loyalty, and engagement.
7. The accountability chart is a powerful tool that helps you define the structure of your business and ensure that each individual is in the right seat. It goes beyond the traditional organizational chart by focusing on accountability and aligning roles with core values.
8. Regularly reviewing and adjusting the accountability chart is essential to maintaining a healthy and high-performing culture.
9. Building an intentional culture requires courage and focus. It involves being deliberate in hiring individuals who align with the company’s values and ensuring they’re in roles where they can thrive.
10. Leaders must also have a growth mindset and be willing to have honest conversations to address any issues and support the development of their team members.
11. It’s essential for leaders and managers to provide feedback, address performance issues, and make necessary changes to ensure that team members are in roles where they can thrive and contribute to the company’s success.
12. When you empower teams with a shared purpose and passion, you create an environment where team members not only feel valued, but motivated and excited to contribute meaningfully to the success of your company.

Links

The Kolbe A™ Index

EOS®: The Entrepreneurial Operating System®

PRINT® Why of You

Unique Ability®

The Team Success Handbook by Shannon Waller

People: Dare to Build an Intentional Culture

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Ever been micromanaged? Doesn’t feel great, right? And it’s easy to react emotionally to it. But why is your entrepreneur or team leader micromanaging? It’s likely not because they don’t trust you. In this episode of Team Success, host Shannon Waller breaks down why leaders micromanage, then coaches team members through an effective strategy to solve the problem. She also has tips for managers to unlock the source of the anxiety that is leading to their micromanaging their teams.

Download Episode Transcript

Show Notes:

• Failing to address micromanagement can lead to a lot of distraction and a lack of focus on results.
• Micromanagement is not always about not trusting team members with their responsibilities.
• Micromanaging is often a response to an emotion the micromanager hasn’t fully explored yet.
• Shannon recommends the team member who is feeling micromanaged start a conversation with the micromanager to ask about the bigger picture, including what the best-case and worst-case scenarios look like to them.
• Both parties can work through The Strategy Circle® thinking tool together so everyone is clear on not just the end goal but how each obstacle will be tackled.
• Confidence can be further established by reporting progress at regular and frequent times.
• If you find yourself becoming a micromanager, examine your own worries and fears.
• Identify the best- and worst-case scenarios to gain clarity on your anxieties.
• Communicate your concerns transparently to your team to foster trust and support.
• Self-awareness and understanding others’ perspectives are crucial in addressing micromanagement issues.
• Addressing micromanagement improves communication, collaboration, trust, and overall productivity.

Resources:

Your Life As A Strategy Circle by Dan SullivanThe Team Success Handbook by Shannon WallerA Beginner’s Guide To Unique Ability

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Do you know what makes a good leader? The answer might surprise you! In this episode of the Team Success podcast, renowned thought leader Kathy Kolbe, founder of the Kolbe Index, joins Shannon Waller to delve into the realm of conative intelligence. The pair explore the impact of emotional leadership, the limitations of cognitive intelligence, and the power of understanding one’s Kolbe MO, along with how embracing conation can drive entrepreneurial success. With valuable insights and real-life examples (plus an inside look into Kathy’s inspiring life and business journey), this episode provides actionable strategies for any entrepreneur looking to harness conative intelligence, foster effective teamwork, and elevate their leadership approach.

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Show Notes:

• To make more confident entrepreneurial decisions and refine your leadership approach, it’s essential that you leverage your natural conative intelligence.
• Similarly, when you understand the conative differences within your team, you can leverage individual strengths more effectively.
• If you want to foster commitment and drive success in your company, you must get emotional buy-in. When people are emotionally engaged in a project, they produce better, more creative work, and they do it faster too.
• A great way to do this is to connect individual goals and personal priorities with team objectives. This is emotional leadership.
• You can practice emotional leadership by showing genuine care and understanding for your team’s affective priorities. In other words, foster an environment where team members are aligned with their personal goals.
• Cognitive intelligence only gets you so far. If you’re constantly fighting your Kolbe MO, everything you do will feel difficult—and not very fun.
• You can empower your team’s creativity and problem-solving abilities by identifying and utilizing individual conative strengths effectively.
• The worst thing you can do is assemble of team of people with the same conative strengths. Success happens when you put different strengths together.
• A good leader should prioritize open discussions about conative differences and their impact on creativity, leadership, and teamwork within your organization.

Resources:

Unique Ability®

The Kolbe A™ Index

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Are your team members growth oriented? How do you foster that mindset in your company? Today, Shannon Waller breaks down the January Strategic Coach® team meeting in which each of the 100+ team members thought through their personal growth and contributions for the upcoming year. How did it work, and how does that investment translate to the success of the business?

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Show Notes:

Motivated For Growth

• The ROI for investing in your team’s personal and professional goals is team members becoming self-managing and growth-oriented.
• For the kick-off meeting of the year, the 100+ team members at Strategic Coach spent three hours thinking about their values, their intentions for the year, and their areas of growth.
• The meeting began with asking everyone to share their intentions for the year based on their values and PRINT® motivations.

Celebrating The Previous Year’s Achievements And Progress

• Next, the team walked through The Positive Focus® exercise to reflect on achievements and progress from the past year.
• Everyone was asked to write down three business achievements and two personal achievements from the previous year.
• For each achievement, they wrote its significance and why they viewed it as progress.
• Then, they considered what further progress they could make on those achievements and what their first action would be.
• In small breakout groups, they then shared one or two of their achievements, allowing for 20 minutes of celebration and connection.

Connecting Past To Future

• Next, Strategic Coach founder and lead coach Dan Sullivan led the team through the Triple Play™ exercise, which involves reflecting on and finding connections between three past accomplishments or experiences.
• The insights Shannon gained through this exercise gave great clarity to her 2024 intentions, distilling the lessons of the past year into ideas for a bigger future.

Creating A Bigger Future

• One of Strategic Coach’s favorite mantras is, “Always make your future bigger than your past.”
• Strategic Coach co-founder and CEO, Babs Smith, shared the 10-year vision and three-year vision for the company.
• This set the stage for an exercise called The Bigger Future™, which helps make ambitious long-term plans more concrete.
• This exercise has people envision their six-year ambitions, then work back to the three-year capabilities they’ll need to develop, and then the one-year challenges that will move them toward those.

Expanding Capabilities Expands Positive Impact

• Expanding individual capabilities expands the positive impact of each team member’s Unique Ability®, which creates a growth path for a Unique Ability organization.
• Encourage team members to pursue self-directed growth rather than having growth paths dictated to them.
• Give them ownership over their development goals but provide them with the capabilities to achieve them.
• Look for job candidates who are self-motivated learners who bring their own drive and initiative.

Benefits Of Investing In Team Member Growth

• By investing in team members’ personal and professional growth, leaders can gain their gratitude, develop more capable teams, and create loyalty within the organization.
• This can result in lower team member turnover and higher retention of high-performing individuals.
• Even if team members do leave after being supported, they may become raving fans who recommend the company.

Resources:

The Positive FocusThe Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin HardyThe Self-Managing Company by Dan SullivanUnique AbilityUnique Ability TeamworkWanting What You Want by Dan SullivanEOS®: Entrepreneurial Operating SystemPRINT: Team Success Podcast, episode 224, “Uncovering ‘The Why Of You,’ With Debra Levine”Deirdre Van Nest of Crazy Good Talks

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Have you ever wondered how to transform your experiences into opportunities for future growth? Discover the power of celebrating wins in this episode of the Team Success podcast. Join Shannon Waller as she delves into the important difference between boasting and celebrating achievements and learn how sharing wins with team members not only fosters a positive company culture and supports individual growth, but also provides valuable opportunities for strategic reflection. She also shares practical tips for creating a celebratory environment and leveraging small wins to achieve big business goals. For any entrepreneur seeking to cultivate a supportive, growth-oriented atmosphere while driving sustained business success—this episode is for you!

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Show Notes:

• Encourage a work environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their wins and accomplishments to create a positive and supportive workplace culture.
• You can also seek out communities or mentorship programs that celebrate your successes and provide constructive feedback rather than criticism.
• Celebrating wins is not just about acknowledgment; it’s also an opportunity to analyze successful strategies and implement them for future endeavors.
• As a business leader, you can foster a culture of mutual recognition and support by celebrating team wins and encouraging your team to do the same for each other.
• To create a motivated and enthusiastic work environment, start every meeting with a Positive Focus®, allowing team members to share their achievements and exciting developments.
• Advocate for taking manageable steps toward business goals to gradually build momentum and sustain progress without causing overwhelming fear or resistance to change.
• Integrate the concept of celebrating personal and professional accomplishments into the company culture, similar to how close-knit family members might share and support one another’s achievements.
• Tracking your company’s achievements and progress is a great way to keep team members motivated and show how small wins lead to big results over time.

Resources:

The Positive Focus

One Small Step Can Change Your Life by Dr. Robert Maurer

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Join team success expert Shannon Waller as she dives into the art of supporting your entrepreneur. Are you seeing through their lens, anticipating their needs, and proactively contributing to the owner’s vision? Learn the power of a simple four-word question that will have your entrepreneur celebrating you. And, find out entrepreneur and coach Dan Sullivan’s ultimate compliment to a team member.

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Show Notes:

“Managing up” means:

• You’re looking out for your entrepreneur.
• Taking a leadership perspective, which is the wider view, not only focused on the tasks in front of them.
• Knowing your entrepreneur’s long-term vision for themselves, for your team, and for the company.
• Getting feedback and having strategic conversations.
• Having a helper mindset: “How can I help?”
• Communicating your needs—technology, training, resources—to be much faster, make things easier, and achieve a bigger result.
• Your entrepreneur can say, “I never think about you”—because you take ownership, and they never have to worry about you.
• Assuming positive intent and digging deeper to understand the logic of strategies you disagree with. Use The Strategy Circle® thinking tool to help see the goal and obstacles and suggest alternative strategies.
• Speaking up when you see potential train wrecks; yes, it is your place to say something when you see something others don’t.

Resources:

Your Life As A Strategy Circle by Dan Sullivan

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Ever felt the pressure to prove yourself in a new role or venture? Join Shannon Waller in the latest episode of The Team Success Podcast as she uncovers the hidden downsides of the “proving game” in business. Through a revealing coaching dialogue, Shannon explores the impact of seeking validation and highlights the unexpected barriers it presents to effective teamwork. Discover actionable insights and strategies that empower entrepreneurs to cultivate genuine success and authentic leadership within their teams. If you’re ready to challenge conventional thinking and unleash the true potential of your business, this episode is a must-listen!

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Show Notes:

• Most people feel like they need to prove themselves when starting a new role, and that’s okay. Just be mindful of how that may impact your ability to work with a team.
• One strategy? Avoid making everything about yourself. Stay open to feedback by focusing on others and reflecting on your progress.
• You can also build quiet confidence by seeking validation less and focusing on others more.
• Strive to be calm and confident, as these qualities broaden your perspective and enable creativity. When you’re stressed, your focus narrows.
• Understand how fears of failure or job security can hinder creativity and teamwork.
• Recognize that being new doesn’t mean you immediately need to prove your worth to everyone. Focusing too much on yourself impedes the learning and growth that are essential to thriving in a new role.
• If you notice someone eager to prove themselves in a new role, have open and positive discussions with them without a specific agenda.
• Encourage team members to be confident (while avoiding arrogance). This promotes a calm and creative environment for teamwork.
• To avoid frustration, focus on tracking your success and recognizing your achievements.

Resources:

The Positive Focus®

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In previous episodes, Shannon has talked about the Teamwork Triad—are you curious to see how it plays out in real life? In this episode, Shannon interviews entrepreneur, author, and podcast host Chad Willardson about his Unique Ability® Dream Team. Learn how to find extraordinary executive assistants who not only support you, but sit in the Teamwork Triad seats that will help you achieve 10x growth.

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Show Notes:

• Chad Willardson is an entrepreneur, author, and podcaster from Southern California. He left Merrill Lynch in 2011 to start his own company, Pacific Capital, a wealth management firm serving entrepreneurs.
• Teamwork specialist Shannon Waller and Unique Ability specialist Julia Waller introduced the idea of a Unique Ability “Dream Team” to support Chad beyond his business. This team, called the Teamwork Triad, includes a Visionary, an Innovation Manager, and a Focus Manager.
• Chad found two extraordinary people he knew would be the right fit through LinkedIn.
• Maddie was hired to be Chad’s Strategic EA and handles business-related tasks. Chad calls her his left brain.
• Oriya was hired to be Chad’s Operational EA and focuses on personal tasks, marketing, travel planning, and calendar management. Because of her interests and skills in design, Chad calls her his right brain.
• What each member of the triad is responsible for can be summed up by “make it up” (Chad, the Visionary), “make it real” (Maddie, the Innovation Manager), and “make it recur” (Oriya, the Focus Manager).
• Chad’s main requirement was to find and hire high-caliber individuals who align with his vision and have the mental horsepower to handle complex tasks.
• The team uses tools like Asana, Microsoft Teams, and Google Docs for communication and task management.
• Regular communication and collaboration are keys to success for a team that works mainly remotely but meets bi-weekly in person. The team meets weekly and has in-person collaboration sessions every other week to align on goals and projects.
• The trust and empowerment Chad gives his team leads to his own increased freedom and success as an entrepreneur.
• Chad used assessments like Kolbe, CliftonStrengths®, PRINT®, and Working Genius to understand each of their strengths and how to best work together.
• Chad asked ChatGPT to assess potential clashes given everyone’s assessments, gave its response to Maddie and Oriya, and had them discuss how they would avoid territorial dangers.
• From the beginning, Maddie and Oriya forged their friendship and working relationship based on mutual respect for each other’s separate interests and areas of Unique Ability.
• Because of how Chad has empowered them, Maddie and Oriya find ways to help each other without having to get Chad involved, thereby keeping his capacity free for his own Unique Ability projects.
• Maddie and Oriya have been attending their own workshops with Strategic Coach® to learn how to use tools such as The Weekly Planner and The Impact Filter™, which further simplify communication and delegation for all three.
• Maddie and Oriya have collected their tips on how entrepreneurs can most effectively work with two executive assistants: “EA Collaboration Guide.”
• Freed up from daily business operations, Chad is leveraged to think about bigger opportunities beyond his business, such as Free Zone collaborations with other 10x entrepreneurs.

Resources:

Books:

• Stress-Free Money: Overcome These Seven Obstacles to Find Financial Freedom
• Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest
• Fit for Wealth: 7 Breakthrough Strategies for Elite Health and Abundant Wealth

Podcasts:

• Smart Money Parenting

Financial learning app for kids: GravyStack

EA Collaboration Guide:

• Detailed version PDF
• QuickStart version PDF

Pacific Capital website

Personal assessments:

• CliftonStrengths website
• Kolbe
• PRINT: Team Success Podcast, episode 224, “Uncovering “The Why Of You,” With Debra Levine”
• Wonderlic
• Working Genius

Productivity:

• Asana
• ChatGPT
• Microsoft Teams
• TripIt

Other resources:

• EOS: Entrepreneurial Operating System
• Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization, by Dave Logan, John King, Halee Fischer-Wright

Strategic Coach concepts, tools, and books:

• The Strategic Coach® Program
• Free Guide to The Entrepreneurial Time System® PDF download: “The Entrepreneur’s Guide To Time Management”
• Free Impact Filter worksheet PDF download
• The Team Success Handbook by Shannon Waller
• Unique Ability Teamwork article: “What Are Unique Ability Teams?”
• Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

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In this thought-provoking episode, entrepreneur and team coach Shannon Waller delves into the crucial factors that drive action and engagement. Drawing from personal experiences and insights, Shannon highlights the importance of not only intellectual stimulation but also emotional connection and personal motivation when it comes to the creative process, and shares how ideas progress from the mind to the heart and gut, unlocking the willingness to take action. If you’ve ever wanted guidance on how to overcome the barriers that hinder progress and productivity, tune in now!

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Show Notes:

• In order to take action on new ideas or information, make sure they resonate on an emotional level, not just an intellectual one.
• If an idea doesn’t resonate emotionally, seek out conversations and discussions with other people to gain a deeper understanding and emotional connection.
• If you’re not engaged on three levels—head, heart, and gut—you won’t take action.
• Look for personal excitement and a sense of achievement or “win” when engaging with new information.
• When working with teams, ensure that new ideas engage all three levels. They should make cognitive sense, excite people emotionally, and provide opportunities for personal contribution through action.
• Proper strategic planning when making major decisions, where you consider all aspects of the project before taking action, is also essential. Haphazard approaches don’t work.
• To avoid lack of engagement and poor or incomplete results, fully engage and commit to projects you’re interested in.
• Recognize how your environment influences your behaviour too.
• Motivation is the starting point in the creative process. Once you understand this, everything gets easier.

Resources:

The Kolbe A™ Index

The Strategy Circle

The Impact Filter™

Who Not How™

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Shannon Waller, entrepreneur and team coach, chats with the brilliant Jill Young, EOS® Implementer and coach, about the tools leaders need to alleviate frustration and handle tough issues. They dive into proven EOS® and Strategic Coach® tools, including the Accountability Chart™, Rocks, and Quarterly Conversations, that help entrepreneurs resolve stuck situations. Jill provides tactical coaching wisdom on implementing these tools with care and concern to unlock team engagement and prevent problems.

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Show Notes:

• Effortless LMA: Lead, manage, hold accountable.
• The cost of not using tools.
• Tools as energy management.
• No defense budget: Spending time, money, and energy to set up the team and culture so that people don’t have to play defense. Accepting that mistakes happen.
• In corporate cultures, you have one opportunity, one pitch.
• Staying just below the line of recognition to keep changing, iterating, growing.
• When you don’t know who is accountable for what, fingers point everywhere and in other places, causing frustration and preventing movement forward.
• Five foundational EOS tools: Accountability Chart, Rocks, Scorecard, Level 10 Meeting™ (L10), and the Vision Traction Organizer™ (VTO).
• Strategic Coach foundational tools: The Positive Focus®, The Gap And The Gain™, The Impact Filter™, The Strategy Circle®, and The Experience Transformer®.
• Sixth bonus tool: The Weekly Planner to integrate time and activities according to The Entrepreneurial Time System®.
• How to decide what tool you need.
• Chris Voss’s tips for tactical empathy in negotiation: “It seems like … ,” “It sounds like … ,” and repeat the last three words.
• The Coaching Habit seven great questions, including: “What’s on your mind?” and “What else?”
• You need to build trust to speak with brutal honesty.
• Use with care and concern for the other person to avoid weaponizing tools and concepts.
• Tools don’t work if your team is not aligned, not allowed to collaborate, not given voice to have opinions heard.
• Your team’s Kolbe, CliftonStrengths®, and PRINT® profiles and individuality. The Fire Department Tool: Solve the immediate emergency quickly and efficiently. But investigate the cause after to solve the root problem.
• The Quarterly Conversation using the LMA (Lead, Manage, Hold Accountable) Tool to informally discuss what’s working, what’s not working, and improvements to make.
• Agenda for the conversation called 5-5-5, discussing the company’s five core values, the five Rocks (crucial results), and five roles from the Accountability Chart.
• Three outcomes from the Quarterly Conversation: one thing for leader to do, one thing for direct report to do, one thing that won’t change so everyone can stop talking about it.
• When you ask yourself, “What should I do?” instead ask, “What tool should I use?” Download free EOS tools at eosworldwide.com. Download the Fire Department or Do-Over tool at www.jillyoung.com.
• Download free Strategic Coach tools at yourteamsuccess.com and strategiccoach.com. Effortless collaboration.

Resources:

Jill Young: website with downloads; LinkedIn

EOS: Entrepreneurial Operating System

Impact Filter download

Your Life As A Strategy Circle by Dan Sullivan

Kolbe

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future Peter Thiel

Certainty/Uncertainty tool: “A Tool For How To Handle Uncertainty In Leadership”

The Experience Transformer tool

The Accountability Chart tool

The 21-Day Positive Focus

The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan

Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss

Chris Voss’s Master Class

Kolbe: The Conative Connection: Uncovering the Link Between Who You Are and How You Perform by Kathy Kolbe

ClliftonStrengths website

PRINT: Team Success Podcast, episode 224, “Uncovering “The Why Of You,” With Debra Levine”

Take the PRINT survey

“Bob Newhart – ‘Stop It‘”

How to Be a Great Boss by Gino Wickman, René Boer

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Do you know what makes a good leader? As an entrepreneur, it’s your job to provide the vision and direction your team needs in order to thrive, but just because you’re supposed to do it doesn’t mean it comes naturally to you. Fortunately, great leadership is a skill that can be improved over time. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller outlines a powerful leadership framework that’s not only easy to understand and implement but sure to deliver exponential results. She reveals the three essential elements that fuel effective leadership, shares tools and strategies for implementing them into your business, and explains exactly what can happen if you don’t. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to enhance your leadership skills and elevate your entrepreneurial journey!

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Show Notes:

• The Transformational Leadership Framework consists of three key elements: know thyself, know the other person, and know the goal.
• “Know thyself” means understanding your own strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations, and it’s crucial for effective leadership—and makes you more trustworthy.
• When you don’t know what unique value you bring to the table, it can be challenging to understand and engage others in a way that taps into their mental, emotional, and motivational energy, which is your job as a leader.
• Understanding the people you work with—and how to work with them—is equally as important.
• If you assume everybody shares the same strengths and striving instincts as you do, effective teamwork can’t happen.
• Similarly, having a clear and shared purpose is essential for achieving the impact or project results you want.
• Assessments like Kolbe, CliftonStrengths®, and Working Genius can make a big difference in how well you understand yourself, show up in your role, and work with others.
• They also help everyone understand which stages of a project they’re good at and enjoy, providing valuable insight into where they fit in within a team or project.
• Recognizing and respecting others’ unique strengths, capabilities, and ways of thinking can improve meetings, work relationships, and overall results.

Resources:

The Kolbe A™ Index

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®

CliftonStrengths

PRINT® Why of You

DISC®

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Imagine you’re in the mind of someone applying for a job at your company. Are they seeing the real picture of who you are as a team and as a business? Why would they want to work for you? Shannon Waller invites Jeremy Macliver, author of Hire Better People Faster, to explain how to draw the right people into choosing to work for you. Jeremy’s Core Fit Hiring System flips the usual HR process of “hunting” or “farming” for talent to “fishing” amongst the best candidates.

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Show Notes:

FINDING AND HIRING GREAT TEAM MEMBERS

• How do you attract passionate people who may not have traditional qualifications but align with the company’s values?
• The Core Fit Hiring Process begins by getting clear on what the company’s core values and vision are.

DIFFERENT MODELS FOR HIRING

• Most companies focus on “hunting” or “farming” methods of finding talent, which are both expensive and take a long time.
• Jeremy’s Core Fit Hiring Process instead focuses on “fishing”: creating an attractive job offer that appeals to the right type of candidate.
• Company leadership must do the exercise to define core values and vision even if they think they already know this information.

LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE

• Be fully authentic in articulating your business’s core values and identity, and those candidates who resonate with and share your personality will show up.
• Compensation being equal, people would rather work for a “why” they’re aligned with.
• Even companies in industries like steel manufacturing, that were initially skeptical of defining core values, have found the exercise helps connect the team when leaders share what really matters to them.

THE 6-STEP SYSTEM

• Find, Automate, Interview, Onboard, Engage, and Assess.
• Three main sections of the book: Attract, Onboard, and Maintain.

TREAT RECRUITING AS MARKETING

• Sometimes teams have to lower annual goals not because of a lack of clients but an inability to hire enough team members.
• Recruiting talent requires treating it as a marketing priority and involving all team members.
• Why not shift recruitment to the marketing team instead of HR?

JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND JOB ADS

• Make your job ad exciting and clear about what the role is.
• Keep job ads to 1,500 words to get search engines to recognize them but still stay concise.
• Be direct in job ads about the company culture:
• Mentioning a fast-paced, hard-driving environment screens out candidates who don’t want high-intensity work.
• More people should be repelled from your job ad than attracted by it.
• Reinforce this in the interview stage.
• Focus less on compensation and benefits, and more on a why-driven mission and culture where candidates will fit in.

2-4-12 LAUNCH FORMULA

• To improve onboarding success, outline expectations and responsibilities over the first 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks for a new team member.
• The process of the 2-4-12 Launch helps to gradually transition responsibilities versus an abrupt shift, which sets new hires up for success and avoids blaming failures on lack of training.

HOW TO RETAIN BETTER TEAM MEMBERS

• Focus on retention so that current team members are not leaving while you’re trying to grow the team.
• Deliver on promises to team members to retain them.
• Ensure alignment between a company’s values and a team member’s values.
• Not having the people you need is a real obstacle to growth and thinking bigger.

Resources:

Hire Better People Faster by Jeremy Macliver

Kolbe

EOS®: Entrepreneurial Operating System

Visual Thinking by Temple Grandin

10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More By Doing Less by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Who Not How: The Formula To Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Start With Why by Simon Sinek

Team Success Handbook by Shannon Waller

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

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Shannon delves into effective strategies for capturing and communicating the wisdom inside your business and backing it up with practical tools like Asana or Trello. Imagine simplifying complex procedures, discovering unexpected potential in your team, and gaining confidence through well-documented methodology. You’ll get acquainted with ideas that enhance team collaboration, boost productivity, and even raise the valuation of your business. This is more than just a productivity tip—it’s about making everything and everyone in your organization more valuable.

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Shannon delves into effective strategies for capturing and communicating the wisdom inside your business and backing it up with practical tools like Asana or Trello. Imagine simplifying complex procedures, discovering unexpected potential in your team, and gaining confidence through well-documented methodology. You’ll get acquainted with ideas that enhance team collaboration, boost productivity, and even raise the valuation of your business. This is more than just a productivity tip—it’s about making everything and everyone in your organization more valuable. Download Episode Transcript

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Are you looking for a new strategy to help attract and retain really great talent? Unlock the secret to captivating your audience and igniting your entrepreneurial journey with Deirdre Van Nest, renowned storytelling expert and coach. In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon and Deirdre reveal the transformative power of the “Why Story”—a potent tool that distinguishes entrepreneurs from their competition and resonates deeply with clients, customers, and team members. Through practical frameworks and real-life examples, you’ll learn how to craft a compelling Why Story that showcases your mission, values, and leadership qualities. You’ll also discover how vulnerability and authenticity can strengthen personal connections and build trust. Join us in uncovering the art of storytelling and its profound impact on entrepreneurial success in this dynamic and inspiring episode! Download Deirdre Van Nest's Information Sheet Download Episode Transcript

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Are you getting lost in email? Discover the art of efficient email management and reclaim valuable time with our latest episode of The Team Success Podcast! In this episode, Shannon chats with renowned speaker, coach, and storytelling strategist Deirdre Van Nest about her game-changing email filtering system. You’ll learn how to delegate email tasks, set clear expectations, and leverage automation to streamline communication, plus gain actionable strategies for prioritizing valuable connections, protecting your energy, and optimizing productivity. Whether you’re seeking to automate your inbox or delegate email handling entirely, this episode offers invaluable insights and practical tips to help entrepreneurs reclaim control over their email overload and focus on what truly matters. Download Deirdre Van Nest's Information Sheet Download Episode Transcript

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Have you noticed that your teams are becoming siloed, only respecting their own agenda but not appreciating those of other teams? Today, Shannon Waller uses The Front Stage/Back Stage Model® and The Experience Transformer® to break down those silos. Shannon shares a recent experience she had as head of marketing, where she noticed tension between teams and how the teams were working together, and what she did to turn it into a Unique Ability® Teamwork growth opportunity. Download Episode Transcript

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Have you ever wondered what habits separate the highest performers from those who struggle to complete their to-do lists? In the sixth and final episode of this Team Success mini-series in partnership with Superpowers leaders Steven Neuner and Ryan Cassin, the trio delve into the nine essential habits that are the key to every high performer’s success. (Hint: You can’t do it alone!) From time blocking and daily syncs to letting your executive assistant become your project manager and even giving other high-performing team members their own EAs, this episode has all the information you need to empower your business, maximize your productivity, and keep you working firmly in your Unique Ability®. Don’t miss out!

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Shannon Waller dives into a common challenge for a 10x growth team: how to support team members who need assistance without triggering feelings of insecurity. You know they need help to free up their valuable time, but how can you make them feel supported, not threatened? Shannon has tips on fostering Unique Ability® Teamwork and growth mindsets to prevent territoriality and roadblocks to team creativity. Download Episode Transcript

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Shannon Waller dives into a common challenge for a 10x growth team: how to support team members who need assistance without triggering feelings of insecurity. You know they need help to free up their valuable time, but how can you make them feel supported, not threatened? Shannon has tips on fostering Unique Ability® Teamwork and growth mindsets to prevent territoriality and roadblocks to team creativity.

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Shannon Waller, Steven Neuner, and Ryan Cassin return for the fifth in a series on how entrepreneurs can hire and work with an executive assistant. In this episode, discover the five common pitfalls that can ruin your relationship with your executive assistant before it’s even begun. Dive into costly mistakes like being abrasive, hoarding tasks, and adopting a short-term mindset. Stay tuned to the end for Steven’s bonus pitfall. Learn Steven and Ryan’s hard-won strategies to develop your relationship with your assistant and empower them as a proactive partner so they can help you 10x your growth. Download Episode Transcript

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Shannon Waller, Steven Neuner, and Ryan Cassin return for the fifth in a series on how entrepreneurs can hire and work with an executive assistant. In this episode, discover the five common pitfalls that can ruin your relationship with your executive assistant before it’s even begun. Dive into costly mistakes like being abrasive, hoarding tasks, and adopting a short-term mindset. Stay tuned to the end for Steven’s bonus pitfall. Learn Steven and Ryan’s hard-won strategies to develop your relationship with your assistant and empower them as a proactive partner so they can help you 10x your growth. Download Episode Transcript

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Are you putting yourself into “The Gap” without even realizing it? In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller talks about a common issue faced by many leaders: comparing themselves to other effective leaders. She explores the many pitfalls people face when trying to emulate others, including diminished confidence, performance, and teamwork, and reveals what to focus on instead to become your best, most authentic self. Tune in to learn more about how you can lead with authenticity—and authority!

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As an entrepreneur, are you tired of micromanaging and wish your team could read your mind to make the decisions you’d make? In this episode, Shannon Waller talks through giving permission to your team, a key step toward having a Self-Managing Company®. Learn how to reduce the risks—for yourself and for them—so your team can take the lead without continually asking for permission. Shannon walks you through the tool that will help everyone get on board and come away empowered to take action.

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As an entrepreneur, are you tired of micromanaging and wish your team could read your mind to make the decisions you’d make? In this episode, Shannon Waller talks through giving permission to your team, a key step toward having a Self-Managing Company®. Learn how to reduce the risks—for yourself and for them—so your team can take the lead without continually asking for permission. Shannon walks you through the tool that will help everyone get on board and come away empowered to take action.

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Are you an entrepreneur struggling to manage your workload? Are you considering hiring an executive assistant, but not sure where to start? Look no further! In episode four of this six-part series on all things assistants, Shannon Waller and Superpowers partners Steven Neuner and Ryan Cassin discuss the benefits of having an executive assistant and share practical tips for developing a successful relationship with them in the first 90 days. You’ll learn about coaching and scoring systems, the importance of communication, and the pitfalls of overloading your assistant. Listen now to unlock new levels of productivity, freedom, and growth in your business!

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In part 3 of Shannon Waller’s interview with Superpowers partners Steven Neuner and Ryan Cassin, they get into the details of finding and training a Strategic Assistant® who will grow alongside you and free you up to achieve more, faster. Listen in to learn how to overcome resistance, invest in the perfect partnership, and foster open communication for long-term, transformative payoffs.

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If you own a family business or know someone who does, this podcast is for you. Seventy to ninety percent of American businesses are family owned, and they each come with a special set of challenges, opportunities, and strengths. In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller and Matt Curry, an entrepreneur with a five-generation history in family business who’s experienced firsthand the transition of inheriting a company, do a deep dive into all things family businesses—the good, the bad, and the uniquely satisfying. They explore not only the difficulties that can arise, but the many surprising benefits of working with family, plus concrete strategies for navigating the complexities successfully.

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Will Duke is a business owner who has been using Strategic Coach® concepts to help his clients think differently about security. Here, Will tells Shannon Waller how he discovered the difference between a “compelling offer” and a “convincing argument.” Entrepreneurs are great at crafting compelling offers for those around them, but what does it mean if you can’t get your team on board? Here’s how to identify when a compelling offer is actually a disguised convincing argument.

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Welcome back to all things assistants! In episode one of this six-part series, Shannon Waller and Superpowers partners Steven Neuner and Ryan Cassin explored why having an assistant is crucial for any entrepreneur looking to improve their productivity, profitability, and overall quality of life. In this episode, they discuss the difference between a virtual assistant, an executive assistant, and a virtual executive assistant, and share a simple formula for deciding which one is a right fit for you and your goals. Listen in to learn more!

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Do you ever wish you had an assistant, but feel like it’s a luxury you can’t afford (or don’t deserve)? For many entrepreneurs, investing in a support person can feel like a selfish and even frivolous expense, but the reality is, a good executive assistant can mean the difference between constant burnout and a thriving entrepreneurial life. It may be one of the easiest relationships to overlook, but it can also be the most transformative—and profitable. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller and Superpowers partners Steven Neuner and Ryan Cassin talk all things assistants: why you need one, what to look for, and common mistakes to avoid. Listen now to learn more!

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Those who pay a lot of attention to other people’s positions, titles, accomplishments, or money unknowingly create a gap in those potential partnerships. Shannon Waller instead sees all people, no matter their status, as potential collaborators. Listen as Shannon explains how to unlock the superpower that creates teamwork opportunities with anyone.

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Is email eating into your time? Do you have to keep asking what’s happening with projects and waiting for a response? If you want to boost the results in your business, listen in as Shannon speaks with efficiency expert Nick Sonnenberg about his new book, Come Up for Air, and learn about his simple yet powerful “CPR” framework.

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You’re going back and forth with a team member over something you disagree about, when they say, “Sure.” That “sure” makes Shannon Waller crazy. It means that the person has shut down and isn’t fully in agreement. If you’re committed to team success and having a Self-Managing Company®, Shannon has tips for how to re-engage both sides in this conversation.

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It’s one of the hardest conversations you’ll have as an entrepreneur. You want the business to have a bigger future, but someone on your team isn’t aligned with that growth. Ben Laws is here this week to talk Multiplication By Subtraction and how to do it so everyone wins.

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Are you keeping pace with yourself? Are you aware of all the progress you’ve made—all your wins, all the things you’ve learned, and all the capabilities you’ve grown? Or are you more focused on a future ideal you’d like to reach? In this episode, Shannon walks you through the importance of keeping pace with yourself and how it affects your confidence, performance, and personal growth. Keep listening to learn more!

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Not having the right person in a leadership role in your business is costly on many levels: recruitment and resource expenses, opportunities lost, your culture poisoned, and on top of that, more stress and less freedom as the business owner. An industry leader in hiring for critical roles in entrepreneurial businesses, Alec Broadfoot has the formula for avoiding all of that. In this conversation with Shannon, Alec outlines his process—with an outstanding success rate that is 36% better than the industry average—for hiring and retaining the right people.

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You may not know this, but if you’re the visionary in your business, your team may think of you as the chaos agent. Why? In this episode, Shannon explains how to set up this one crucial bit of context when you’re discussing new ideas with team members so you can prevent teamwork chaos, confusion, resentment, and frustration.

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Have you ever wondered when to bring someone else onto a project—and when not to? That makes most of us! Every person on your team wants to be useful, but not everyone knows how or when their contribution will make the most impact. That’s where the “When The Who Is You” exercise comes in. Listen in as Shannon walks you through this simple, quick exercise designed to help you facilitate incredible Unique Ability® Teamwork and take the guesswork (and guilt!) out of asking for help.

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For years, people have jokingly used the term “ADHD” to explain their distractions and mistakes. But now there’s a growing awareness of neurodiversity as a different way of processing experiences, which, in addition to some challenges, also comes with certain abilities and advantages. In this episode, Shannon interviews Peter Shankman, keynote speaker and author of Faster Than Normal, about his experience of learning how to capitalize on his ADHD and how companies can benefit from including team members who are neurodivergent.

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Entrepreneurial companies thrive when their team members are engaged and bring their whole selves to work. It’s more fun, and it produces great results. But if the entrepreneur forgets to genuinely connect when handing off tasks and doesn’t seem to care enough to check in along the way, they risk having their team members drift off into disengagement. Here’s how to make sure that never happens.

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While many profiles are great at identifying types of people and how they work best, the PRINT® profile is unique in the way it simply and powerfully answers the root question, “Why?” In this episode, Shannon speaks with Debra Levine, the PRINT profile’s co-creator, about how you can bring this unconscious yet vital aspect of[...]

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Life as a busy entrepreneur often involves meetings, appointments, and deadlines. But are you the best person to organize these in your calendar? A Strategic Assistant® with a talent for scheduling can help you stay on track toward your goals and be more productive and present in your day. In this episode, Shannon explains how[...]

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Many people perform exceptionally well and achieve all the hallmarks of success, but inside they just don’t feel it. In this episode, Shannon speaks with Ted Bradshaw, whose six-point path can help you “catch up with yourself” and enjoy the life you’ve created. Download Episode Transcript

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Surely having a great company culture is entirely a good thing, right? Well, there’s a challenge: Sometimes team members who aren’t a right-fit anymore don’t want to leave—because they like it there too much! In this episode, Shannon offers her perspective on this unique situation, plus actionable tips for when and how to have tough conversations with team members who are no longer carrying their weight. Download Episode Transcript

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Surely having a great company culture is entirely a good thing, right? Well, there’s a challenge: Sometimes team members who aren’t a right-fit anymore don’t want to leave—because they like it there too much! In this episode, Shannon offers her perspective on this unique situation, plus actionable tips for when and how to have tough[...]

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Surely having a great company culture is entirely a good thing, right? Well, there’s a challenge: Sometimes team members who aren’t a right-fit anymore don’t want to leave—because they like it there too much! In this episode, Shannon offers her perspective on this unique situation, plus actionable tips for when and how to have tough[...]

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Get everyone in your business playing the same game—and winning it. In this episode, Shannon chats with Daniel Hammond, co-author of Customer Driven Leadership. Download Episode Transcript

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Get everyone in your business playing the same game—and winning it. In this episode, Shannon chats with Daniel Hammond, co-author of Customer Driven Leadership.

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Get everyone in your business playing the same game—and winning it. In this episode, Shannon chats with Daniel Hammond, co-author of Customer Driven Leadership. Download Episode Transcript

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You depend on your senior team leaders, so of course you want to hold onto them. But sometimes even a phenomenal worker isn’t actually a good fit for your culture. Listen in as Shannon helps you hear the whispers you might rather avoid and build a company where everyone is fully aligned and engaged with[...]

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You depend on your senior team leaders, so of course you want to hold onto them. But sometimes even a phenomenal worker isn’t actually a good fit for your culture. Listen in as Shannon helps you hear the whispers you might rather avoid and build a company where everyone is fully aligned and engaged with[...]

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You depend on your senior team leaders, so of course you want to hold onto them. But sometimes even a phenomenal worker isn't actually a good fit for your culture. Listen in as Shannon helps you hear the whispers you might rather avoid and build a company where everyone is fully aligned and engaged with you and your goals.

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Shannon speaks with Jenna Spencer, who helps business coaches, entrepreneurs, and visionaries find the right assistant. This person, Jenna says, can extend the leader's capabilities in an almost magical way that feels like getting to have your cake and eat it too. Find out about her process and her crucial rules for creating a great collaborative partnership.

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When someone gives you feedback, it’s a chance to transform what isn’t working into something better. But feedback isn’t always easy to hear, so Shannon shares some tips and resources to help you master these important opportunities for self-discovery and growth. Download Episode Transcript

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When someone gives you feedback, it’s a chance to transform what isn’t working into something better. But feedback isn’t always easy to hear, so Shannon shares some tips and resources to help you master these important opportunities for self-discovery and growth. Download Episode Transcript

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When someone gives you feedback, it's a chance to transform what isn't working into something better. But feedback isn't always easy to hear, so Shannon shares some tips and resources to help you master these important opportunities for self-discovery and growth.

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Shannon talks with podcast expert Matt Halloran who shares a treasure chest of tips for creating a show that people want to listen to—and that gets measurable results!

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When everyone in an entrepreneurial business shares the leader’s vision and works toward it, everybody has a chance to succeed. But some individuals are focused solely on their own advancement—seeking status, dividing and conquering. In this episode, Shannon explains why this behavior is toxic to an entrepreneurial culture and how to make sure everyone on[...]

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Shannon Waller talks to entrepreneurial HR specialist Alex Swiech about the new realities of hiring after “The Great Resignation.” Together, they walk through a step-by-step hiring process that helps both the entrepreneur and the candidate get what they want from a working relationship.

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Shannon Waller talks to entrepreneurial HR specialist Alex Swiech about the new realities of hiring after "The Great Resignation." Together, they walk through a step-by-step hiring process that helps both the entrepreneur and the candidate get what they want from a working relationship.

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What is the growth path in an entrepreneurial company? In the absence of a traditional corporate hierarchy, how do you expand your contribution and get rewarded for it? Your team members want to know! In this episode, Shannon reveals the simple steps you can take to help team members recognize their strengths, grow their capabilities,[...]

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All of us have had experience with family businesses. They represent over two-thirds of privately held companies in the U.S., yet few people understand the unique challenges (and opportunities) that owning one presents. It requires a much more emotional approach to business than owning a traditional corporation—but that doesn’t mean emotion runs the show. In this episode, Shannon talks with Family Business Fanatic and EOS Implementer® Sara B. Stern about her simple, step-by-step guide to family business succession—Start Here: A Guide for Family Business Succession—and explores why family businesses need to be crystal clear on their core values and ownership philosophy if they want their companies to remain healthy many years down the line.

Just launched! Married to The Family Business: A Handbook for Spouses of Family Business Owners by Sara B. Stern, available for purchase here: https://www.thesagepages.com/ Get 25% off with discount code "coach"

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If you’re stepping into a leadership role, remember that your primary responsibility is to provide direction. If you’re stepping out of a leadership role, make sure your community knows there’s someone in charge whom you believe in.

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Shannon talks with Alec Broadfoot and Kate Norton of VisionSpark, who’ve discovered how to identify and hire those elusive “innovation managers” who can turn an entrepreneur’s wildest ideas into practical results.

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We can all benefit from having regular conversations with professional friends who energize us, challenge us, and expand our thinking. Reach out and build your own “thinking partner network”!  

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What are you called to do? What contribution do you want to make to this world? Whatever your answer, delegation is the key to accelerating and multiplying your efforts—the ultimate freedom, growth, and retention strategy. In this episode, Shannon talks with Emily Morgan about her deep, fun, and practical new book on the subject of[...]

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In order to shift your behavior, shift your mindset first. If you’re not seeing the results you want, stop for a moment to think about your thinking. This is the way to make a higher level of personal and professional growth your new normal. It isn’t easy, and it takes courage, but it can spark[...]

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In this episode, Shannon talks with Jerry Lujan in depth about The WHY Institute’s new “WHY.os” profile, which helps you understand what motivates you at your core so you can better filter opportunities and consistently show up as your best self. Learn more about The WHY Institute.

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You hire someone who’s smart, interesting, presents beautifully … then doesn’t produce the results you expected. What’s going on? In this episode, Shannon shows how entrepreneurs and their team members can go beyond a mere intellectual understanding of a role to engage the team member’s emotions and mindset, so they can connect personally with the[...]

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In some ways, Mark Fujiwara and Justin Breen couldn’t be less alike, and this makes for a perfect collaborative partnership. (Together, they’ve built a network that helps other entrepreneurs establish connections like theirs.) Listen in as Shannon walks them through a range of profiles that explain why their differing talents and shared values line up[...]

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When someone leaves your company, that’s it, right? Once they’re out the door, the relationship’s over. Or is it? In this episode, Shannon talks about the advantage of keeping an abundance mindset and remembering that, as Dan Sullivan says, “People do things for their reasons, not for your reasons.” She explains how handling endings graciously[...]

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Serial entrepreneur Dan Rogers knows his place: the future. Whether he’s a week, a month, or a year ahead in creating the vision of an organization, he knows he needs collaborative partners to send insights back to—people with the talents and perspectives to make his ideas real in the present. In this episode, Shannon and[...]

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“Distributed work” and “work-from-home” have turned our lives into an endless game of attention span Whack-A-Mole. So in this episode, Shannon explains why it’s so important to take charge of your own time and attention—giving yourself protected periods to think, to produce, and to unwind. She walks you through Strategic Coach’s Entrepreneurial Time System and[...]

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Many entrepreneurs agonize over hiring an executive assistant and put it off as long as they can, despite knowing that their growth and freedom depend on it. That’s where Ryan Cassin and Steven Neuner’s company Superpowers (superpowershq.com) comes to the rescue, custom matching successful entrepreneurs with the right work-from-home, U.S.-based executive assistant. In this episode, Shannon finds out how Superpowers attracts, trains, and pairs assistants with entrepreneurs and what it takes for a business leader to empower someone else to lead them so that they’re free to be the boss. Free Strategic Coach download for executive assistants: “My Top Teamwork Tips” by Nicole Pitcher

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In The Strategic Coach® Program, entrepreneurs discover that they have a lot more freedom than they’d imagined. But that’s true for the team members in an entrepreneurial business too. In this episode, Shannon describes “The Four Freedoms” that are the key to finding and keeping really great people.

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Jaime Taets defines a positive company culture as a place where people leave every day better than when they came in—and she has the measurements and tools to help businesses create that culture. Hear how she fosters leadership and the other L-word (yes, love) to inspire loyalty and stellar results at a time when millions[...]

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Are you looking for new and better ways to attract great talent to your team? In this episode, Shannon shows you how to take the capabilities you already use with your clientele and apply them to attract phenomenal new team members. This is crucially important now, during the current “Great Resignation,” when employees have a[...]

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It’s not that team members don’t want to do hard work—they do. But they want to do meaningful hard work. This is where AI can help—not as a buzzwordy technological magic wand, but simply as a teammate whose specialty is taking on the repetitive, time-consuming tasks that prevent people from making their best contribution and[...]

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Do you bet on yourself? How can you know what’s the best bet for your capabilities, skills, and mindsets? In this episode, Shannon shares some great tools for getting to know yourself better, and some powerful questions to ask, so you can determine which opportunities offer the biggest payoffs for your unique qualities.

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In July of 2021, Jayson Lowe drove away from his businesses and didn’t return for six weeks. As Dan Sullivan says, “You never know how good your team is until you leave.” By giving his team an opportunity to run things themselves, Jayson confirmed how very good they were. Not only did he enjoy irreplaceable[...]

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An entrepreneur’s job is to make things up and then make them real. But sometimes there can be a huge gap between your vision and the implementation of it. So how do you connect those dots? In this episode, Shannon Waller unpacks the difference between strategies and tactics, and shows you how to use two[...]

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How do team members grow in entrepreneurial organizations where there’s no obvious “ladder”? In this episode, Shannon talks to teamwork efficiency expert Nick Sonnenberg about his newest breakthrough, “Dynamic Role Optimization,” which gives entrepreneurs a system for divvying up and swapping activities within their businesses. He explains how you can apply this system, starting with[...]

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“I’m great, you’re not.” Sound familiar? Forty-eight percent of American institutions are founded on this principle, which encourages team members to focus on their own strengths (and others’ weaknesses) in order to get ahead. It’s individualistic, it’s hierarchical, and it’s completely counterproductive. But entrepreneurial organizations are different. Based on the idea that “we’re all great,”[...]

The post The Difference Between Hierarchies And Triads — And Why It’s So Important appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Labor shortages, burnt out employees, unprecedented turnover—we’ve all heard the news. The pandemic has changed a lot about the way people work and what they expect from their employers, and that means companies need to step up their game if they want to attract amazing team members … and keep the ones they’ve got. In[...]

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Do you often find yourself checking up on your team members to ensure things are on track—or worse, remembering to check up on them at 3 a.m., or in the shower, or while driving to work? It’s a common trap entrepreneurs fall into and a big waste of mental and emotional energy. It’s also completely[...]

The post Closing Black Holes And Open Files: A Simple Guide For Accelerating Teamwork appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Have you ever wondered how to be a great “Who” in the spirit of WhoNotHow™? Many of us find it easier to recognize what we need help with than what we have to contribute, but learning how to best show up for others is a skill everyone can learn. In this episode of the Team[...]

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Most of us can remember having some version of “The Talk” with our parents—and how uncomfortable it was for everyone involved. But studies show parents feel more comfortable talking about sex and drugs with their kids than money… and best-selling author and financial expert Chad Willardson is out to change that. In this episode of[...]

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Team members come and go all the time (whether by choice or otherwise). That’s the reality of business. But that doesn’t make it any less difficult for the team members left behind. When you don’t have a graceful exit strategy in place, progress can easily grind to a halt as people struggle to process their[...]

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In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller sits down with Impact with Influence founder and celebrated author Geeta Nadkarni, who’s developed a proven (and wildly successful) formula for helping coaches become experts in their field and attract more high paying clients than they can handle. She talks about her latest book, How[...]

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It’s hardly a secret that most entrepreneurs carry a lot on their shoulders … but that doesn’t mean it’s a prerequisite for the job. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller explores the very common (and totally avoidable) issue of entrepreneurial burnout. She shares common reasons why you feel obligated to say[...]

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Change is inevitable, and never has that fact been more relevant than today. Teams and individuals no longer have a choice about whether to adapt and change, because the alternative is getting left behind. That means the number one skill entrepreneurs need if they want to support their teams and continue growing their business is[...]

The post How To Increase Your Adaptability Quotient, with Ross Thornley appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Is there some poor behavior in your company that you’ve been tolerating, or issues you’ve been ignoring? Well, your silence is making it worse. If team members don’t know they’re not acting in alignment with your values, or worse, know they can get away with breaking the rules, nothing will ever change, and you’ll find[...]

The post Nip It In The Bud: Your Best Solution For Stopping Poor Behavior In Its Tracks appeared first on Your Team Success.

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The word “diversity” comes up a lot in discussions around workplace culture and decorum, but few of us truly understand what it means. We think of the big three—gender, race, sexuality—and forget about all the other differences that make us truly diverse. Because that’s really what it’s all about: difference. And it’s the work of[...]

The post The Real Meaning Of Diversity — Author Interview With Justin Jones-Fosu appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Every entrepreneur dreams of having a company that manages itself—of being able to leave the office feeling confident that their team can make decisions that will benefit the company without needing to ask permission first. But that’s not often the reality. The thing is, your company and your team are only as strong as your[...]

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For many us, the phrase “Artificial Intelligence” conjures up images of a bleak, joyless future where machines have taken over and humans have to fight for their place in the workforce. But that’s the Hollywood version of AI, not the reality. The fact is, AI can significantly improve the lives of your team members—and your[...]

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Dominant, decisive, doer: Does this sound like you? If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you want things done and you want them done now, and if no one steps up to the plate, you can’t help leaping in … whether you’ve got the necessary expertise or not. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon[...]

The post Power Vacuums And Dominant Personalities: Why Successful Entrepreneurs Know When To Step In—And When To Take A Step Back appeared first on Your Team Success.

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In order to build a Self-Managing Company®, you need self-managing team members, and that starts with you. It starts with empowering your team to think critically, react creatively, and work collaboratively. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller interviews EOS Implementer®, coach, and best-selling author Jill Young on her latest book, The[...]

The post The Importance Of Teaching Your Team Members To Think Collaboratively — Author Interview with Jill Young appeared first on Your Team Success.

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In this new era of remote work, building and maintaining relationships can feel almost impossible. But it’s also more important than ever. It’s strong relationships, not simple transactions, that make for a fulfilled, connected, and productive team—and happy clients. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller walks you through her best strategies[...]

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Incentive plans are some of the most valuable methods of increasing team member productivity, cultivating an engaged workforce, and maximizing a company’s potential. Yet most entrepreneurs don’t understand how to create or use them to their best advantage. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller interviews Alex Freytag, author of Profit Works,[...]

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As an entrepreneur, most of your time should be spent working on your business, not in your business. That means it’s up to your team members to represent you and your company … and it’s up to you to ensure they feel safe, supported, and appreciated enough to do it well. In this episode of[...]

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When it comes to your business, company culture is everything. No matter how great your product or service is, if you can’t attract, retain, and make the most of great talent, you’ll always be fighting an uphill battle. But as our teams have transitioned from working in person to remotely, our strategies for keeping them[...]

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You became an entrepreneur to escape the confines of the corporate world and invest your energy in results, not arbitrary demands on your time and effort. And that means the last thing you want is a team member with a corporate attitude slowing down the energy and innovation of your business. In this episode of[...]

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Do you struggle with staying focused and on task? Are your energy and attention leaking in all different directions? You’re not the only one … and there IS help! In this episode of the Shannon Waller’s Team Success podcast, Shannon interviews Kary Oberbrunner, a longtime Strategic Coach® client and the author of Unhackable: Close the[...]

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Are you actively building trust among your team members? Research shows that a connected team is a productive team, and as a team leader, it’s up to you to start building those bridges. It may feel like getting down to business is the fastest route to getting results, but there’s plenty to be gained by[...]

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Have you taken on projects only to later find you were lacking the enthusiasm to complete them? Tune in to Shannon Waller’s discussion on how to refine your decision-making, steer clear of wrong-fit projects, and excel as a hero to the right audience.

The post The Cost Of Not Being “Energetically Committed” appeared first on Your Team Success.

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It’s difficult to plan for the future when life feels uncertain, and that’s a reality we’ve all been living with this year. However, even though we don’t know what 2021 will bring, we can still make progress toward our goals. We can still plan to provide great leadership, to engage in incredible teamwork, and to[...]

The post How Are You Looking At 2021? appeared first on Your Team Success.

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There are plenty of reasons why teamwork falls apart: poor communication, unclear expectations, lack of leadership … but more often than not, it comes down to reliability. No matter how professional, skilled, or charming you are, if people can’t depend on you to show up on time, do what you say, finish what you start,[...]

The post The #1 Silent Teamwork Killer—And How To Avoid It appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Every entrepreneur is on a first-name basis with unpredictability. It’s just a part of the deal, and nowhere is that more true than when it comes to sales. But what if there were a way to actually create a process for sales that can be taught, replicated, and proven to work? In this episode of[...]

The post The Four Keys To Success For Sales Leaders — with Guest Mark Cox appeared first on Your Team Success.

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As an entrepreneur, you’ve worked really hard to become an expert in your field. You know your clients expect the best, and you assume you’ll be rewarded for your knowledge. However, that’s just the starting point. It’s the bare minimum required to get your clients in the door. If you want to actually retain them[...]

The post Why It’s Not Enough To Be An Expert appeared first on Your Team Success.

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In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller speaks with Patti Mara, a successful entrepreneur, longtime coach for Strategic Coach®, and author of UpSolutions, an incredibly useful book for any entrepreneur looking to take their value creation and relationship-building skills to the next level. In the interview, Patti shares the three mindset shifts[...]

The post Turning Teams Into Heroes And Customers Into Raving Fans: An Interview With Patti Mara appeared first on Your Team Success.

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When life gets unpredictable and planning for the future feels impossible, successful entrepreneurs don’t just give up on their goals. They change tactics. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller walks you through a simple and effective process for managing uncertainty, communicating expectations to your team and clients effectively, and working toward[...]

The post Shorten Your Stride: The Entrepreneurial Secret To Navigating Uncertainty appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Every one of us struggles with focus throughout the day, especially in times of stress or uncertainty, and it can be easy to blame technology for our lapses in concentration. But what if the problem weren’t about the things outside of us … but what’s going on inside? What if it were more about how[...]

The post How To Become “Indistractable”: Author Interview With Nir Eyal appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Have you noticed a shift in team member engagement since the pandemic? Times of crisis or rapid change often bring out the best (and worst) in people, leaving most entrepreneurs with a team composed of those eager to pull their weight … and those only looking to get by. But what does engagement actually look[...]

The post How To Tell If Your Team Members Are Engaged appeared first on Your Team Success.

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When was the last time you took a step back and looked at the systems controlling your business? Whether you’ve put thought into them or not, they exist, and they’re affecting every aspect of your business and life. So what if, by just investing a few purposeful hours of your time, you could save yourself[...]

The post How To Create Systems That Allow You To Work Less And Make More With Guest Josh Fonger appeared first on Your Team Success.

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As an entrepreneur, you’re responsible for providing leadership to everyone on your team, and you may find this becomes increasingly difficult during periods of instability and change. At Strategic Coach, we’ve thought long and hard about the best ways to take care of our team members and help them stay productive when stress is running[...]

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There are plenty of great assistants out there in the world, but not all of them are great for you and your business. In this second of two installments of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller continues her interview with entrepreneur Tim Francis, the owner of Great Assistant, a thriving business that has helped hire[...]

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There are plenty of great assistants out there in the world, but not all of them are great for you and your business. In this first of two installments of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller interviews entrepreneur Tim Francis, the owner of Great Assistant, a thriving business that has helped hire over 300 great[...]

The post How To Find A Great Assistant Part 1 — With Guest Tim Francis appeared first on Your Team Success.

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It’s become clear that in order to eliminate systemic racism, every one of us needs to be more than just not racist. We need to be actively anti-racist, and that begins with awareness, empathy, and honest, open conversations. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon and Strategic Coach® team member Forsythe Olafioye sit[...]

The post A Conversation On Anti-Racism And Teamwork appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Starting a business is scary, and adding someone to the payroll might be the last thing on your mind—even though it’s the first step toward exponential business growth, freedom, and satisfaction. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller shares why overcoming a scarcity mindset is the most important thing you should do[...]

The post WhoNotHow™ For Startups: Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Your Team Success.

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When times are normal, some projects take priority and others get left on the back burner. But when scary times hit? That’s when it’s time to get them on the table—and off your to-do list. Every one of us has projects and goals sitting on the back burner, and rightly so. When times are normal,[...]

The post How To Keep Growing During Scary Times appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Are you finding it even harder to disconnect from work now that you’re working from home? Here’s why free time is so important—and how to take it effectively. Entrepreneurs have always been notorious for overworking and under-resting, and the global shutdown has only made this problem worse. If your office is your home and your[...]

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Frustrated by the challenges of virtual meetings? Shannon Waller has some simple, effective tips for transforming your Zoom meetings from tiring to terrific. We all know meetings over Zoom can be a drag. Between the tech difficulties, lack of engagement, and distractions from pets, spouses, and kids, you might be wondering if you and your[...]

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Being a salesperson is tough, and it’s only gotten tougher during these uncertain times. Reaching out to strangers multiple times a day when you’re feeling anxious and they’re feeling anxious takes a lot of courage, after all. But there are things sales teams and their leaders can do every day to not only make this[...]

The post The Secret To Selling Boldly In An Era Of Uncertainty appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Every one of us has had to give up the future we expected to enjoy in the coming weeks and months, and you’re not alone if you’re grieving that loss—or feeling like all of your goals and aspirations have been put on hold. But there’s a difference between your future changing and your future disappearing,[...]

The post How To Take Back Your Future With One Question appeared first on Your Team Success.

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The global shutdown has forced nearly all of us away from our offices and cubicles and into our living rooms, and many are feeling the strain. As an entrepreneur and team leader, you may be wondering how to best support your teams during this challenging transition. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon[...]

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Whether or not you think of yourself as a leader, all of us are responsible for providing leadership during tough times. Our teams, our co-workers, our families, and our friends all look to us for guidance when things feel scary and uncertain, and how we react (or don’t react) can make all the difference in[...]

The post 4 Ways To Provide Leadership During Challenging Times appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Is loyalty to legacy team members hurting your business? Entrepreneur Paul Abel shares his story of transformation and how making the decision to downsize from 44 to 14 team members changed the trajectory of his business. Learn how to recognize wrong-fit team members and the steps to gracefully letting them go in this episode of[...]

The post How Entrepreneur Paul Abel Added $1 Million To His Bottom Line appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Finding it harder than ever to stay focused in today’s world? In this episode of Team Success, Shannon Waller shares secrets to avoiding distraction and procrastination. Learn how to help your brain stay attentive so you can increase your output and your value.

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Do you leave your team members in the dark? In this episode of Team Success, Shannon Waller discusses the incredibly high cost of not communicating with your team. Learn why sharing what’s true, real, and on the horizon for your company is critical to building trust and getting the results you want.

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What does giving great feedback really look like? In this podcast, Shannon Waller breaks down how to give clear, effective feedback no matter the situation. Learn the key to connecting and appreciating people so they’re always open to what you have to say.

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“I’m the worst parent in the world” is something Jennifer Kolari hears often in her work with families. Tune in as she and Shannon Waller talk about what it means to be a parent today. Learn why the methods of the generations before us don’t work anymore and why the CALM technique is life changing.

The post Moving From Reacting To Responding With Jennifer Kolari, Author Of Connected Parenting appeared first on Your Team Success.

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How do you keep yourself relevant and tuned in to what’s coming next? In this episode of Team Success, join Shannon Waller in a conversation on continual learning and constant growth. Discover strategies against stagnation and ways to make sure you’re always future-ready.

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At twenty-six, Nick Sonnenberg was making millions as a financial engineer and walked away from it all to become an entrepreneur. Shannon Waller sits down with him to discuss his business success, his next book, and the ticking time bomb he believes entrepreneurs can no longer ignore. Discover how to optimize your life and leverage[...]

The post Get Leveraged With Nick Sonnenberg, Entrepreneur And Author Of Idea To Execution appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Is your company culture so great that it keeps people past their due date? Join Shannon Waller in this episode of Team Success for a conversation about team members who aren’t keeping pace. Learn the difference between a great culture fit vs. a great capability fit and how to have reality conversations with love.

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How refined are your adaptability skills? In this episode of Shannon Waller’s Team Success, Shannon is joined by the creator of the Adaptability Quotient, Ross Thornley. Discover how un-learning and letting go of what got you here is key to understanding what will you get there.

The post What’s Your Adaptability Quotient? – With Entrepreneur And Expert Ross Thornley appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Have you ever considered that your company’s intellectual property is walking out the door at 5 p.m. every day? Shannon discusses why consistency and processes are key to instantly increasing the value of your company.

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Is hiring one of your organization’s pain points? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller is joined by entrepreneur and hiring specialist Alec Broadfoot. A trusted and sought-after resource by business owners, Alec discusses the ripple effect one key hire can have on your entire organization.

The post How To Crack The Code When It Comes To Making Great Hires, With Entrepreneur And Hiring Expert Alec Broadfoot appeared first on Your Team Success.

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When it comes to their role at work, are your team members overly protective? Join Shannon Waller for an insightful discussion on the dangers of protective team members. Learn how to coach your team out of a scarcity mindset and discover why all great entrepreneurs encourage an open work environment.

The post Letting Go Of The Death Grip: How To Encourage An Open Environment appeared first on Your Team Success.

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How often do you use the words “no rush” at work? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller explains the importance of direct and clear communication. Discover why the success you experience, in any role, depends strongly on your ability to communicate powerfully.

The post “No Rush.” One Of The Worst Things To Say When You Want To Get Results appeared first on Your Team Success.

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How do you handle the things that worry you? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses why it’s important for our well being to take our worries seriously. Learn why the things that keep you up at night are an opportunity to create solutions and momentum.

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In the second of a two-part episode, Shannon Waller is joined by author of Polarity Management, Barry Johnson. Listen in as they discuss how to improve leadership and teamwork by learning how to leverage your polarities in business.

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How do you solve an unsolvable problem? Barry Johnson, author of Polarity Management, speaks with Shannon Waller about the difference between a problem to solve and a polarity to manage. Discover why polarity thinking is the advantage you need to outperform competitors.

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Is your ego affecting your ability to collaborate? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, join Shannon Waller in a discussion on how to collaborate well. Learn four strategies that guarantee better teamwork and what’s necessary when it comes to co-creating.

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Are you a strong interviewer? Many of us are capable of interviewing someone, but interviewing someone well is a different story. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller shares her strategies for having an engaging and powerful conversation. Learn how to listen generously and extract the wisdom that makes for a memorable[...]

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“What if we were consciously always developing soul sense so that we were living from the deepest part of ourselves?” asks coach and author Adrienne Duffy. In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, join Shannon Waller in an interview about growth and how to stretch yourself internally as much as you do externally. Discover[...]

The post Unlocking Your Soul Sense With Coach And Entrepreneur Adrienne Duffy appeared first on Your Team Success.

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What happens when your team learns their Unique Ability and suddenly it’s all they want to focus on? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller shares strategies for freeing up your team’s time that don’t require hiring but being resourceful instead.

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Are you moving through the world as the highest version of yourself? Join Shannon Waller in a discussion with speaker and New York Times bestselling author Cy Wakeman to discover the importance of deconstructing your ego and the strategies you can use to overcome it to become your most evolved self.

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Have you been doing what you’re doing for so long now that nothing seems new anymore? Join Shannon Waller for this episode of The Team Success Podcast, and learn how to maintain a spirit of curiosity. Discover why coming from a place of genuine interest impacts your relationships and the success of your company.

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Are you stuck on the treadmill to success? Entrepreneurs often buy into lies about what it means to be successful. They convince themselves being over-committed, over-scheduled, and overwhelmed is par for the course. Join Shannon Waller and entrepreneur and author, Janelle Bruland, to learn how to lead a life of significance over a life of[...]

The post The Real Meaning Of Success With Janelle Bruland, Entrepreneur & Author Of The Success Lie appeared first on Your Team Success.

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We all have habits that work well for us but are ineffective when it comes to teamwork. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, join Shannon Waller in discovering the benefits of paying attention to the areas where we get ourselves into trouble—because learning how to hack your habits is the answer to high-level[...]

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Shannon Waller will never forget the time she excitedly told a colleague about a new idea and was met with the response, “Can you please just tell me what’s going to stay the same?” Join her as she shares how to bridge the divide between natural innovators and stabilizers and the strategies behind how to[...]

The post How Not To Scare Your Team With Your New Ideas appeared first on Your Team Success.

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How do you recognize your team members who operate behind the scenes? One of the biggest challenges in teamwork is making sure the people who work Back Stage feel the same love and appreciation as those Front Stage. Tune in to Shannon Waller’s discussion on why this has a huge impact on team morale.

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Every brand needs a voice, but how do you know if a podcast is the right medium for you? Join Shannon Waller in an interview with entrepreneur and podcast specialist Paul Colligan. Discover where podcasting is going, its advantages over other technology, and the necessary question to ask yourself if you think you’re missing out.

The post Should You Start A Podcast? Everything You Need To Know, With Expert Paul Colligan appeared first on Your Team Success.

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When exactly is the right time to onboard new team members? Tune in to Shannon Waller’s discussion on how to get really resourceful about hiring. Learn when to do it, how to do it, and why it’s the answer to freeing you up and leveraging your team.

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Have you built a team who’ll stick with you until the end or are they warm bodies getting you to the next hill? Join Shannon Waller and entrepreneur Kent Pilcher in their conversation about what extraordinary leadership looks like. Discover why all great leaders know that significant business growth starts with the growth of your[...]

The post How To Create A Team So Good They Could Replace You, With Entrepreneur Kent Pilcher appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Are the majority of your team members different from you or just like you? Join Shannon Waller as she discusses a different type of diversity—talent diversity. Learn where you might be holding on to certain biases, the benefits of having different perspectives, and the strategies that go into assembling a team that thrives differently.

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How do you keep your relationships alive? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller is joined by relationship expert and podcaster Neil Sattin. Learn why the things we don’t talk about are so important and why how you make others feel plays a larger role in connecting than you think.

The post How To Upgrade Your Relationships, with Expert Neil Sattin appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Is your creativity a product of inspiration or frustration? Tune in to The Team Success Podcast to hear Shannon Waller discuss how we innovate. Learn why changing your perceptions around frustration and inspiration could lead to new opportunities for creativity.

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What is your client’s experience when they pick up the phone to call your company? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller speaks with entrepreneur Michael Zusman about how he’s revolutionized the first impression. Learn why trust and your brand reputation depend on the first point of contact with your clients.

The post How Entrepreneur Michael Zusman Is Transforming First Impressions appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Would your contribution be bigger if you knew you had the support to make it happen? Shannon Waller talks about the power of permission in the workplace and why it’s a fundamental aspect of leading a successful team. Discover what it takes to inspire initiative and contribution.

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Want more fulfillment? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller talks with Dr. Jeff Grove about his journey into entrepreneurship. Learn about “promoting to failure,” how to fix the slow leak, meeting rhythms, and the importance of trust, transparency, and vulnerability.

The post How To Make The Jump From Specialist To Entrepreneur With Dentist Jeff Grove appeared first on Your Team Success.

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When it comes to teamwork, we tend to be great at talking about our expectations of other people but terrible at communicating the things that drive us crazy. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller talks about the importance of recognizing what unhinges you. Learn why being clear about your triggers is[...]

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Have you ever been frustrated when you thought someone was going to do something but then didn’t follow through? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses the distinctions between can, want, and will. Learn what to listen for when asking for commitment from your team, family, or friends.

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What projects in your life have zero momentum right now? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses the power of killing projects. Recognize the ones that aren’t going anywhere—and why it’s a growth process that takes courage to call them quits.

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How are you making yourself young again? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses the importance of taking time off so you can rejuvenate, renew, and restore. Learn why Free Days are key to working smarter and how you can get back to being your best, most energetic self.

The post Escaping Time Traps: Free Days appeared first on Your Team Success.

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What could you accomplish if you actually dedicated specific, uninterrupted time to it? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller talks managing and making the best use of your Focus Time. Learn the importance of giving yourself the freedom to concentrate on your business—and see the magic that happens when you do.

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How often is your mind on your to-do list instead of in the present moment? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses the importance of including Buffer Time in your schedule. Discover why it’s key to freeing up your headspace and simplifying your time.

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What are your personal productivity habits? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses what it feels like to live with a short attention span and its impact on productivity. Learn how to find your own unique formula for productivity and confidence.

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What are your gratitude practices? Shannon Waller brings the Extraordinary Coach Culture mini-series to an end with an episode all about gratitude. Discover why being grateful will set you apart in the marketplace and is also key to attracting and retaining great team members.

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Are we only as good as our last success? In episode 14 of the Extraordinary Coach Culture series, Shannon Waller discusses why it’s important to stay useful. Learn why consistently re-evaluating your contribution is crucial to avoiding stagnation at work.

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What’s the secret to finding a great new hire? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller goes in-depth with Colin Sprake on his unique approach to hiring. Learn everything from how he puts together a job posting to the questions he asks in an interview.

The post How To Improve Your Hiring With Colin Sprake Of Make Your Mark Training & Consulting appeared first on Your Team Success.

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How often do you take risks at work without worrying about the outcome? In episode 13 of the Extraordinary Coach Culture series, Shannon Waller discusses what it means to have no “defense budget” and why it’s a valuable part of our culture. Learn why “psychological safety” is fundamental to great teamwork.

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Do you ask of others what you’re not doing yourself? In the twelfth episode of the Extraordinary Coach Culture miniseries, Shannon Waller discusses how important trust, integrity, and transparency are to your organization. Learn why honesty makes for a happier and more productive team.

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How does your clientele feel walking into your office? In episode eleven of the Extraordinary Coach Culture series, Shannon Waller discusses why graciousness and putting people at ease is a fundamental value at Strategic Coach. Learn why we put class first when it comes to client experience.

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How often do you take inventory of the things that aren’t working in your life and do something about it? In the tenth episode of the Extraordinary Coach Culture series, Shannon Waller talks authenticity and integrity and why any real progress starts by telling the truth. Learn why this habit is life-changing and how you[...]

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Do you have what it takes to work in an entrepreneurial environment? In the ninth episode of our special Extraordinary Coach Culture series, Shannon Waller gets real on what it means to work with entrepreneurs. Learn why having a “No-Entitlement Attitude” is crucial and why we believe in creating, not complaining.

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In the wise words of Dan Sullivan, “People do things for their reasons, not yours.” In the eighth episode of Extraordinary Coach Culture, the miniseries, Shannon Waller talks respect and appreciation. Learn why maximizing your culture of respect is key for creativity and setting up the framework for gracious relationships.

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If you want your team to grow, create an environment where they’re encouraged to do so. In the seventh episode of the Extraordinary Coach Culture miniseries, Shannon Waller discusses why stretching, growing, learning, and confronting the things you haven’t done before are part of the healthiest approach to life.

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The purpose of life is life — not work. In the sixth episode of Extraordinary Coach Culture, the mini-series, Shannon Waller defines Free Days and why we love it when team members take them. Learn the value of establishing a company culture where rejuvenation is an expectation.

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In a world where our experiences mean everything, what experience are you providing your clientele? In part five of our Extraordinary Coach Culture series, Shannon Waller explains the Front Stage/Back Stage Model and why she wants you to ditch corporate management philosophies and run your business like a theater.

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If you’re not changing and evolving, you’re probably going to be left behind. In episode four of our Extraordinary Coach Culture series, Shannon Waller talks about the three things that keep people coming back to Strategic Coach and how we maintain a company culture that’s always growing.

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Looking back three years from today, what has to have happened for you to be happy? In part three of our special Extraordinary Coach Culture series, Shannon Waller explains The D.O.S. Conversation and why it’s a phenomenal way to connect with your clients and assess how you can create value for them.

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Give team members the space to be themselves and they’ll never want to leave. In the second episode of this special series dedicated to our Extraordinary Coach Culture, Shannon Waller dives into Unique Ability, a fundamental touchstone of our company. Learn why it’s key to high retention rates.

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What are the best technological solutions available in the marketplace right now? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller gets the inside scoop from Emily Morgan on technology and support systems that are putting entrepreneurs ahead of the curve: Asana Trello Wufoo Zapier Slack Zoom Customized Mass Email Through Gmail Acuity Scheduling[...]

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There is tons of “stuff” that gets in the way of being mentally present. In this special episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses The Positive Focus—a profound strategy to cultivate presence and a “glass half-full” mentality. This is a conversation dedicated to recognizing progress and achievement to build confidence.

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Sally Hogshead knows what it’s like to feel like part of you has died. A severe car accident left her paralyzed, nearly mute, and barely able to smile at 10 years old. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller talks with Sally about how losing her identity led her to develop “How[...]

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Why are we always aiming to please? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses the importance of getting comfortable with saying “no” when we know we’re overcommitting ourselves. Learn how to consciously draw your own boundaries to avoid creating messes.

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How often do you find yourself playing the “victim”? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller is joined by David Emerald—author of The Power Of TED. Be part of their powerful discussion about empowerment, ownership, and becoming the creator of your own life.

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What would you love to never do again? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller encourages entrepreneurs to invest in a strategic support team that can leverage their ideas and free up their time. Letting people into your inner circle is the key to making your future that much bigger.

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“I’m always looking for a partner, not an employee.” In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses the difference between hiring an emotional partner who is invested in your end results as opposed to someone who’s just fulfilling a task—and why it all comes down to mindset.

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Acknowledgment is underrated—it’s free, and it’s one of the best ways to expand the confidence and commitment of your team members and the value they contribute. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller shares what really great acknowledgment looks like when it’s done well.

The post Why “Great Job” Isn’t Always Great Acknowledgment appeared first on Your Team Success.

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Firing isn’t easy. Sorting out personnel issues can be one of the most difficult parts of growing a business—our empathy and loyalty get in the way. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller shares tips on how to get really good at letting go.

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Situations with team members aren’t always black and white, so how can you tell when someone really isn’t a right-fit for your company? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses scenarios that signal it’s time for you to subtract to multiply.

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When good people are the wrong fit for your company—let them go. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller talks to Jeff Van Straten about trusting your gut and Jeff’s real-life experiences of using “Multiplication By Subtraction” to build better teams.

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Are you holding on to a team member you know you’ve outgrown? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller goes deep on clues to look for when a team member is doing more harm than good in your organization—and why you need to take action right away.

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Regardless of what stage of growth your company’s in—how you communicate and collaborate is fundamental to reaching new levels of success. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller and Collaborative Way experts discuss miscommunications and miscues.

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Are you taking your A-players for granted? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller talks appreciating and protecting your A-players and the negative impact C-players can have on your team.

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What happens when you keep team members on board who are no longer thriving in your organization? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses the positive impacts of saying goodbye to wrong-fit team members.

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Amy Bruske, co-author of Business is Business: Reality Checks for Family-Owned Companies, knows exactly what it takes to uphold a family business. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Amy and Shannon Waller discuss why family businesses are a unique type of team.

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Do projects look the same time and time again? Are you consistently getting the same results or having the same breakdowns? In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller explains why she swears by iterative teamwork and why it could be one of your most innovative breakthroughs yet.

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In the game of entrepreneurship, you either create rules that allow you to win or ones that cause you to lose. The same goes for delegation—and knowing how and when it can be used to your advantage. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller shares secrets on how to succeed every time[...]

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There’s a difference between high standards and standards so high, it’s nearly impossible to achieve them. Perfectionism is hazardous and can have a major impact on teamwork and morale. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller shares strategies for overcoming unrealistic standards.

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If the expression on your face could talk, what would it say? The look on our faces can say so much without saying anything at all. The danger is what this is potentially communicating to your team. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses why transparency is so important.

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If someone asked you to make a list of the activities you find irritating, procrastinate on, or aren’t competent at, what would be on it? You’re the most important resource your company has so how you spend your time is critical. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller talks about “firing yourself”[...]

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Speaking up and challenging the status quo can be terrifying—but it’s also the key to transparency and openness in the workplace. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses how to speak up well and what to do when you don’t get the answer you want.

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The greatest investment you can make is in hiring the right team members. But the hiring process can be grueling and tough to navigate—and it can also take a lot of time and money. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller lends Strategic Coach wisdom on constructing the team you really want.

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One of the most effective ways to build a healthy and positive company culture is by establishing ways team members can show appreciation for one another. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller reminds listeners not only how much appreciation nourishes us, but how it adds meaning to our lives.

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How do you know when it’s the right time to hire a new team member? Recognizing when it’s necessary to bring someone on board and having the confidence to take the plunge is critical to major growth. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller coaches listeners on what can be one of[...]

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Stepping into a leadership role is something that many of us aspire to do. But often, we don’t realize that when you become a leader, you’ll be shifting from doing things to influencing others. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses the major mindset shift that’s so important to consider when[...]

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Conversations about company culture and team member engagement have become more and more important in today’s business world. Christian Cotichini, CEO of HeroX, is a pioneer in this regard. He has eliminated managers, refuses to do performance reviews, and would rather work with millennials. Listen in to this second chat between Shannon and Christian as[...]

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The difference between entrepreneurial and corporate workplace culture has a significant impact on team members, including the ways in which they experience growth in these organizations. In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller explains why knowing yourself is the key to making massive strides in any entrepreneurial business.

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Experiencing workplace burnout is like running a marathon you haven’t trained for—it leaves you feeling drained and unaccomplished. One of the biggest dangers fast-growing companies face is not being educated on how to prevent burnout, and team members can end up frustrated and unmotivated. In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller talks[...]

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When given the choice, are you a creator or a complainer? We’ve all been in situations that haven’t gone according to plan, but what a lot of people don’t realize is how much control they actually have over these experiences. In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller gives clarity to the fact[...]

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There is a very small percentage of people who are actually good at saying no. Whether we’re caught off guard or are trying to please someone, we’re all guilty of committing ourselves to things we don’t have time for. And this is how messes happen. In this episode of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller[...]

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Regardless of where you work, meetings are the norm. They’re an opportunity for minds to meet, collaborate, and strategize on future business ventures. But what percentage of these meetings is productive, directed, and useful? In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller gives the formula for maximizing meetings.

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If procrastinating feels bad, why do we all do it? In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller explores the psychology of procrastination, explaining why our good intentions don’t always materialize into reality. Learn how to take advantage of short sprints, rewards, and others’ talents to stop falling into the easy trap of[...]

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When you get tired, other people get stupid. Does this sound familiar? In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller stresses the importance of taking time away from your business to restore and rejuvenate. Recognizing when you’re operating from a creative, mechanical, or reactive zone can change the direction of your teamwork to[...]

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Are the leaders in your company aligned with your value system? In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller discusses why it’s so important to be transparent with your team on issues of ethics and integrity. Learn strategies for building an organization that operates with high integrity and why it’s so important to[...]

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Why is our status so important to us? In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller calls attention to status-driven individuals and the negative impacts they can have on teamwork. To have a thriving team and company, put unique talents before status and do away with standard titles so that people aren’t chasing[...]

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Do you believe the world is generous and that there’s plenty to go around? Or do you feel that the world is happening to you and there will never really be enough? In this episode of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller goes in depth about how your mindset drives everything. Discover whether you’re operating[...]

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In this special edition of The Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller has the opportunity to speak once again with Emily Morgan, founder and president of Delegate Solutions. They expand on the conversation they had in the previous podcast episode, Working With Virtual Teams, and take a more in-depth look at remote workers and the future[...]

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What is an individualistic vs. Unique Ability® mindset? In this podcast, Shannon Waller goes in depth on why the success of your company starts with the perspectives held by both you and your team members. Where do you sit on the spectrum? Give yourself the freedom to look at things from an entirely new perspective.

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In this special edition of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller interviews Kent Pilcher, owner and president of Estes Construction, about the leadership development program he created for his team, how he helps his leaders grow, and how he shifted his own leadership style from “telling” to collaborating.

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What are you tired of doing but afraid of letting go of? In this podcast, Shannon Waller discusses the dangers of The Delegation Death Grip. We’re all guilty of holding onto things we shouldn’t, but delegating is the only way to free ourselves to move on to bigger and better things.

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In this special edition of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller chats with Strategic Coach’s Unique Ability Specialist, Julia Waller, about their recently published book, Unique Ability 2.0: Discovery. Julia and Shannon offer great insights and tips on how to discover your natural and best abilities that can create the most value for the people[...]

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In this special edition of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller talks to Christian Cotichini, CEO and co-founder of HeroX, about the importance of having a strong company culture to bring together increasingly geographically disperse and virtual teams. Christian shares the four core values that are central to the HeroX culture, the thinking behind them,[...]

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Author and speaker Richard Abraham shares how you can bring your sales relationships to a higher and more profitable level. In this engaging and enlightening conversation, Shannon and Richard discuss “Mister Shmooze,” a character from the book of the same name that Richard created as a composite of the ideal attributes of the best salespeople[...]

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Dr. Henry Cloud talks to us about making “Necessary Endings” to achieve growth and success. Leadership coach and clinical psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud talks with Shannon and shares that “Necessary endings do not come because something is wrong; they come because you are still alive.”

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Author and psychologist Dr. Robert Maurer shares “The Kaizen Way” to make lasting life changes. Shannon and Dr. Maurer have an enlightening conversation around the idea that we only need to take very small steps in order to accomplish our biggest life goals.

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Learn how to elevate your team’s “tribal culture” with author Dave Logan. Dave Logan and Shannon talk about the five stages of Tribal Leadership and the three things you can do to leap forward.

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Find out how to become “Business Brilliant,” with New York Times bestselling author Lewis Schiff. Shannon and Lewis discuss how some of the highest-earning entrepreneurs have achieved their wealth, and lay out the action steps to take in order to achieve similar entrepreneurial success.

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Shannon talks “The Hugging Culture” with Jack Mitchell, author of Hug Your Customers and Hug Your People. They discuss the importance of developing personalized, individualized relationships with both customers and team members as a route to building a successful entrepreneurial company.

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Would you like to facilitate faster, more successful delegations and handoffs to your team members? In this episode, Shannon discusses the concept of specific trust—trusting a specific person with a specific task that you know falls into their area of Unique Ability® so you’ll be freed up to do more of what you’re best at.

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Do you have the habits in place that show others that you’re a reliable and referable person? In this episode, Shannon discuses The Referability Habits—the four relationship habits that make a powerful difference in the way your customers, teammates, and strategic partners view you.

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Do you often find yourself frustrated with team members who don’t have the same sense of urgency as you do? In this episode, Shannon discusses the difference between fast- and even-paced personalities and how the key to successful teamwork is having alert and responsive team members.

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In this special edition of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon interviews Mark C. Winters, co-author with Gino Wickman of Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business. Listen to their engaging conversation about the importance of having both “Visionary” and “Integrator” leadership in your growth-oriented[...]

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Are you wiling to delegate the things you’re not great at in order to free yourself up to focus on your areas of passion and creativity? In this episode, Shannon discusses The 4 C’s Formula of commitment, courage, capability, and confidence, and how applying this framework can help you let things go to free up[...]

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In this special edition of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller interviews Stefan Wissenbach, a highly successful entrepreneur, author, and the creator of The Engagement Multiplier. Learn the difference having an engaged team can make to your company and simple steps to increase your overall engagement.

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Does your organization have top-notch teamwork? Entrepreneurial Team Expert Shannon Waller outlines her top five strategies to bring your teamwork to the next level.

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In this special edition of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller interviews Jim Sheils, author of The Family Board Meeting. Jim, a successful businessman with a Self-Managing Company®, discusses the challenges of balancing work and home life, and talks about how he came up with a solution in the form of The Family Board Meeting[...]

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In this special edition of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller interviews Dan Kuschell, co-creator of the Genius Network® Hiring Model. Dan offers valuable tips for any growth-oriented organization looking to attract and hire top-level talent.

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In this special edition of the Team Success Podcast, Shannon Waller interviews Ari Meisel, author of Less Doing, More Living: Make Everything In Life Easier. Ari shares his wisdom on how you can do less and be more productive, freeing up your time to do the things you love and spend it with the people[...]

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Are you rewarding the behaviors you want to see more of in the workplace? In this episode, Shannon discusses why it’s important to focus on rewardable rather than punishable behaviors and how creating a company culture that emphasizes what’s working will enable your team members to grow, innovate, and take the risks you need them[...]

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Are you having both tactical and strategic planning conversations with your team? In this episode, Shannon emphasizes the importance of balancing the tactical, day-to-day aspects of the business with the long-term, strategic planning needed to drive your organization toward its bigger future.

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Are you fostering the kind of environment that will allow you to successfully lead your company for the next 25 years? In this episode, Shannon discusses how Simon Sinek’s latest book, Leaders Eat Last, inspired and elevated her thinking around leadership and longevity.

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Are you setting your Unique Ability® Team up for success? In this episode, Shannon discusses why it’s important for entrepreneurial teams to include project managers who will transform great new ideas into reality.

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Are you willing to be vulnerable with your team members? In this episode, Shannon discusses how the absence of trust within your organization is a huge danger and offers strategies on how you can work to build trusting relationships within your team.

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Learn key strategies for working successfully with virtual teams. In this episode, Shannon interviews virtual expert and business owner Emily Morgan of Delegate Solutions. Read more about Working With Virtual Teams.

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Is your team experiencing internal challenges as your growing company becomes more and more successful? Changing roles and responsibilities as your small, intimate team expands to meet your new organizational needs is not always a smooth transition. In this episode, Shannon offers communication tips and strategies on how you can minimize your team’s growing pains.

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Do you share your enthusiasm with your team when you get excited about projects you’re working on? In this episode, Shannon discusses why it’s important to express what you’re passionate about in order to emotionally connect with your team and engage them in what matters to you.

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Are you focusing your time and energy on your Unique Ability® , doing the things you’re best at and most passionate about? In this episode, Shannon discusses how messes can happen when you drift into other people’s areas of expertise and the importance of staying on your side of the line. Read more about Staying[...]

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Are you fully maximizing your team’s potential? In this episode, Shannon discusses the concept of the Unique Ability® Team and offers tips on how to take the best advantage of the talents of the people around you.

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Have you or or any of your team members inherited a mindset that is preventing you from achieving successful teamwork? In this episode, Shannon discusses the various mental obstacles that prevent us from being optimal team players and offers tips on how to overcome them.

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Are you self-aware? Do you know what your own strengths, talents, preferences, and non-strengths are? In this episode, Shannon discusses why self-awareness is essential to successful teamwork. Read more about The Key to Team Success: Know Thyself.

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Do you value leadership over management? There is ongoing debate about whether leadership or management is more important. In this podcast, Shannon discusses why you need both to accomplish your entrepreneurial goals. Read more about Leadership & Management.

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Are you self-aware enough to know when you’re displaying an attitude of entitlement in your workplace? In this episode, Shannon discusses the importance of having a No-Entitlement Attitude and why there is no room for egotism when it comes to creative and cooperative teamwork.

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What do some of the most successful entrepreneurs, entertainers, and visionaries have in common? The ability to persevere when faced with obstacles in the way of their goals and dreams. Listen as Shannon discusses the key entrepreneurial attitude of resilience and how we can all benefit by seeing our mistakes and breakdowns as learning opportunities.

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Are you able to remain confident and calm during emotionally-charged situations? In this episode, Shannon offers tips and resources that will help you manage your own strong emotions and deal with the strong emotions of others, both in and out of the workplace. Read more about Learning How To Handle Strong Emotions.

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What are the best ways for you to give and receive information? In this episode, Shannon discusses the common misconceptions we have about communicating with others and walks through The Communication Builder exercise to help you take your teamwork to the next level.

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In this episode, Shannon discusses how approaching people from a place of gratitude and appreciation can powerfully transform your key relationships, both in and out of the workplace.

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Do you operate at a fast or even pace? Shannon explains why it’s important to be aware of the different speeds at which you and the people around you think, talk, and perform tasks, and how this knowledge can transform your communication skills.

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“Having a high performer on the team doesn’t always win you the game.” Shannon talks about the dangers of having team members who are more concerned with their title, salary, and the corner office than with how they’re creating value and contributing to the company’s overall success.

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Are you a Rugged Individualist? Growth doesn’t happen with an “I can do it better myself” attitude. In this episode, Shannon offers practical steps and strategies to strengthen your delegation skills and capabilities.

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Are you bringing the same high-level skills to your communication with your own team as you bring to your sales conversations with clients? Learn how to leverage your teamwork by treating your Back Stage team as a Front Stage audience. Read more about Selling Backstage.

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“Multiply your results by subtracting a wrong team member in order to achieve exponential growth.” Listen as Shannon discusses this formula for your team’s success.

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Drawing on a recent behind-the-scenes tour of Disney World, Shannon discusses why it’s so important for positivity to be a part of your company’s values. Read more about Positive Company Culture.

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Shannon discusses why team members need to take responsibility for their errors and recognize their successes by taking an ownership attitude over their work.

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Shannon discusses why it’s important for entrepreneurial companies to focus on the results produced rather than the time and effort it takes to get the job done.

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Shannon discusses how to break through the trap of perfectionism and take action to make things happen in your company.

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Shannon discusses the benefits of team members adopting a mentality of collaborative partnership with their entrepreneurs and team leaders.

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Shannon discusses the difference between bureaucratic and entrepreneurial mindsets. Read more about The Entrepreneurial Mindset.

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Shannon discusses how to be a resourceful team member and a coachable entrepreneur.

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Shannon discusses the importance of being alert, curious, responsive, and resourceful in the workplace.

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