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Lead Culture with Jenni Catron

Art of Leadership Network

Healthy leadership creates healthy culture.

On LeadCulture with Jenni Catron, you’ll gain practical leadership development insights to help you lead with clarity and build a thriving organizational culture. Drawing from decades of executive experience and conversations with trusted business leaders, Jenni equips CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and managers with tools to strengthen team health, align vision and values, and create workplaces where people and performance thrive.

If you’re serious about growing as a leader and building a values-driven culture that lasts, you’re in the right place.

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20 episodes
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Avg 30 min
English

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August 27 · 36 min
339 | The Hidden Reason Middle Management Is Burning People Out with Adam Tarnow
In this episode, Jenni talks with leadership development specialist and author Adam Tarnow about why middle management feels like an impossible role, and why it may actually be the most important one in an organization. They unpack the tension of carrying responsibility without full control, and Adam shares a practical framework for navigating the stress of leadership without burning out. In this episode, Adam explains why the middle is where execution happens, why so many managers feel stuck in a “valley,” and how leaders can regain a sense of agency by focusing on what they can control. He also offers a simple sentence-based tool from his book The Fog of Work that helps leaders move from overwhelm to action. Key Topics Jenni introduces the episode by framing culture as either a strategic asset or a liability, especially during growth, merger, or crisis. Adam shares why he wrote The Fog of Work and why middle managers became his focus after years of living in that role himself. They discuss how middle management used to be a respected position, and how pop culture turned it into a punchline. Adam explains why middle managers are often the “verbs in the sentence” of an organization - the people who make execution happen. The conversation highlights the pressure of being a player-coach: managing your own work while leading others. Jenni names the “they” problem - the tendency to blame vague forces instead of recognizing personal influence and agency. Adam describes middle management as a valley where problems roll downhill and collect, creating stress, ambiguity, and accountability without full control. He introduces the idea that the real question is not “How do I get out?” but “How do I get through?” Adam shares the fog clearing sentence: “I don’t control blank, but I do control blank, so I will blank.” They connect the middle of an organization to the middle of a story, where growth, character, and transformation happen. Jenni and Adam both emphasize that leaders can improve culture by focusing on what they can influence directly, especially within their own teams. The episode closes with encouragement for senior leaders to equip middle managers with practical tools, not just expectations. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
August 20 · 12 min
338 | Communication in Team Culture with Special Guest River
In this episode, Jenni Catron and her 11-year-old nephew River explore the fundamentals of team culture through engaging stories and insights. River shares his unique perspective on support, communication, focus, and the impact of individual roles in shaping a positive culture. Takeaways: Support is the most important aspect of culture. Effective communication is crucial for team success. Focus and commitment drive team performance. Everyone has a role in shaping culture, regardless of age. Positive culture can be maintained or ruined by individual actions. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest River 01:00 Why we call it Switch Week and family traditions 01:30 River introduces himself and his love for sports 02:27 River shares his thoughts on support in culture 02:56 Support in sports and teams 03:23 The importance of communication in team culture 04:21 Learning from communication in pickleball 05:16 Communication during baseball games 05:45 The impact of fast plays and clear communication 07:16 Focus and distraction in sports 08:11 The responsibility of leaders and team members in culture 09:12 The influence of positivity and encouragement 09:36 Recognizing individual roles in culture 10:31 Culture as a fragile ecosystem 11:00 River’s perspective on culture and youth influence 11:31 Closing thoughts and call to action We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
August 12 · 19 min
337 | Protecting the Rhythms that Keep You Healthy, Purposeful, and Present as a Leader
In this episode of Lead Culture, Jenni Catron shares what she learned during an extended summer break and why stepping back can be essential for sustainable leadership. She reflects on the tension between doing and being, the challenge of slowing down, and how time away revealed deeper questions about purpose, significance, and identity.Jenni opens with a reminder that culture does not take care of itself and that leaders must lead with intention. She then shares how her sabbatical included time with friends and family, reading, rest, and intentional disconnection from social media, email, and Slack. Even though the break was restful, it also surfaced a struggle many overachievers face: feeling significant only when they are productive.A major takeaway from the episode is that nothing magical happened on sabbatical — and that was the point. Instead of chasing big ideas or a new vision, Jenni focused on stillness, presence, and making space for what matters most. She describes how this time helped her recognize the importance of creative space, mental rest, and the right-brain work of meaning-making and reflection.Jenni also connects her personal experience to a broader cultural insight, referencing Arthur Brooks’ research on how modern life often overvalues efficiency and problem-solving while undernourishing meaning, creativity, and human connection. She shares how this tension was made even more vivid in the wake of an EF3 tornado in her community, where people rallied together and reminded her that people are the point. Key Takeaways Healthy leaders need rhythms that sustain them. Rest is productive when it creates space for meaning and clarity. Leaders often confuse being with doing. Creativity, stillness, and reflection are essential leadership practices. People should remain the priority, even in busy or crisis-filled seasons. Questions Jenni Asks Leaders What can you do that disrupts your rhythms and lowers your heart rate? How can you disconnect your doing from your being? Are you making space for quiet, creativity, and presence? What rhythms do you need to lead in a healthy, sustainable way? Resources Mentioned Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer The Sabbatical Journey by Alan Briggs The Meaning of Life by Arthur Brooks Jenni’s book Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-given Influence Closing Encouragement Jenni ends by encouraging leaders to protect the rhythms that keep them healthy, purposeful, and present — not only for their own well-being, but for the health of their teams and cultures. To connect with Jenni, email jennicatron@get4sight.com. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
June 16 · 20 min
336 | Why Intentional Rest Is a Leadership Strategy
As the 4Sight Group celebrates its 10th anniversary and Jenni Catron marks a personal milestone year, she shares why she is stepping away for a four-week sabbatical for the first time in her career. In this honest conversation, Jenni reflects on nearly three decades of nonstop work, the lessons she has learned about burnout, and the importance of creating margin before exhaustion forces it. She discusses what led her to make this decision, what she hopes to gain from the experience, and how intentional rest can help leaders gain perspective, renew their energy, and lead well for the long haul. Whether a month-long sabbatical feels possible or not, this episode offers a challenge for every leader: What would intentional rest look like for you this summer? From disconnecting on vacation to stepping away from social media or simply creating space to slow down, Jenni encourages listeners to prioritize rhythms of rest that support healthy leadership and thriving organizations. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
June 4 · 37 min
335 | The Missing Key to Employee Engagement: Why Appreciation Matters More Than Recognition with Dr. William Attaway
In this episode, Jenni sits down with Dr. William Attaway, CEO of Appreciation at Work, for a conversation about what it really means to help people feel seen, known, and valued at work. Drawing from decades of leadership coaching and his work with organizations across a wide range of industries, William shares why appreciation is different from recognition—and why that distinction matters more than most leaders realize. Together, Jenni and William explore how appreciation impacts employee engagement, retention, productivity, and trust, while offering practical ways leaders can build cultures where people thrive. You'll hear insights on: Why recognition rewards performance, but appreciation values the person How leaders can maintain both high accountability and genuine encouragement The connection between clarity, trust, and employee engagement Why self-awareness is one of the most important leadership disciplines What healthy leaders do consistently that struggling leaders often neglect How to navigate workplace uncertainty and technological change without losing the human element of leadership Throughout the conversation, Jenni and William reinforce a core leadership truth: culture is built one interaction at a time. When people feel seen, heard, and valued, they engage more deeply, contribute more fully, and help create the kind of culture everyone wants to be part of. Dr. William Attaway is the CEO of Appreciation at Work, founder of Catalytic Leadership, author of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference, and host of the Catalytic Leadership Podcast. Learn more about his work at appreciationatwork.com and catalyticleadership.net. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#334
May 19 · 19 min
334 | 5 Summer Leadership Strategies to Boost Team Culture and Employee Engagement
What happens to workplace culture during the summer? In this episode, Jenni Catron explores how leaders can work with the rhythms of summer instead of fighting against them. Learn practical ways to improve employee engagement, prevent team disengagement, and strengthen organizational culture through intentional leadership. Jenni shares five simple but powerful strategies including flexible schedules, smarter meetings, summer team activities, and prioritizing high-impact work that can help leaders boost morale and maintain momentum during the busiest vacation season of the year. Download the Summer Engagement Conversation Guide We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#333
May 6 · 40 min
333 | 7 Keys to Building Remarkable Teams (and the Traps That Hold Them Back)
What does it actually take to build a remarkable team? In this episode, Jenni Catron talks with Slingshot Group CEO Tim Foot about the patterns they’ve both seen across hundreds of teams including what works, what doesn’t, and where things tend to break down. Tim shares the seven key signatures of remarkable teams, along with the common traps that quietly stall progress. From misalignment and unclear messaging to avoiding healthy conflict, this conversation helps you see where your team may be getting stuck and what to do about it. At the center of it all is a simple idea: if your mission matters, your team matters more. The Biggest Takeaways: The 7 key signatures that shape healthy, high-performing teams Why team awareness matters just as much as self-awareness Where most teams drift out of alignment (and how to catch it early) The difference between functional teams and teams that produce real impact How to approach conflict in a way that strengthens—not fractures—your team Next Steps Take the team assessment: reachingforremarkable.com Get the book: Reaching for Remarkable by Tim Foot Share this episode with your team and use it to start a conversation About Our Guest Tim Foot is CEO and President of Slingshot Group, where he works with organizations to build strong, healthy teams through staffing and coaching. His work focuses on helping leaders move teams from simply getting by to doing meaningful, aligned work together. You can learn more about Tim here. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#332
April 21 · 21 min
332 | The Culture Code: How Great Leaders Use Language to Shape Winning Teams
What if the biggest problem in your organization isn’t strategy—but culture? In this episode, leadership and culture expert Jenni Catron unpacks a shocking reality: only 31% of U.S. employees are engaged at work—and most leaders don’t know how to fix it. You’ll discover why traditional “core values” exercises fail, how culture is actually formed, and the powerful (often overlooked) role language plays in shaping team behavior. Through a fascinating example from The Masters golf tournament, Jenni reveals how intentional language reflects deeper values—and how you can apply the same principle to your organization. This episode will help you: Understand why your current values aren’t driving results Learn how strong leaders create clarity, trust, and engagement Turn vague values into actionable behaviors your team lives daily Build a culture that performs under pressure—not just when things are easy If your team feels disconnected, inconsistent, or stuck, this is your roadmap to building a culture that actually works. Register for the Values Intensive Workshop here. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#331
April 7 · 45 min
331 | Hidden Leadership Blind Spots That Are Hurting Your Team with Tyler Dickerhoof
What if the biggest barrier to your leadership isn’t what you see, but what you hide? In this episode, Jenni Catron sits down with leadership mentor Tyler Dickerhoof to unpack a reality every leader faces: unresolved fears and insecurities don’t disappear—they show up in how we lead. Through honest storytelling and hard-earned insight, Tyler shares how these hidden patterns often surface as intensity, isolation, inactivity, or insensitivity—behaviors that quietly undermine trust, relationships, and culture. This isn’t just a conversation about awareness. It’s about ownership. Jenni and Tyler challenge leaders to stop managing symptoms and start addressing root causes. Because when you face what’s beneath the surface, you don’t just grow personally—you lead more effectively, build healthier teams, and create cultures where people can actually thrive. If leadership has felt harder than it should, this episode will help you name what’s really going on and give you a path forward. Learn more about Tyler here. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#330
March 24 · 21 min
330 | How to Influence Company Culture at Any Level (5 Proven Leadership Behaviors)
If you’ve ever wondered “How can I influence company culture if I’m not in senior leadership?”—this episode is for you. In this episode of the Lead Culture Podcast, Jenni Catron breaks down one of the most common leadership challenges: how to improve team culture from any role, not just the top. Whether you’re a mid-level manager, emerging leader, or executive trying to activate your team, you’ll learn practical, proven ways to shape a healthy, high-performing workplace culture. Jenni shares 5 essential leadership behaviors that drive culture, including how to: Influence culture without formal authority Build a positive team environment through everyday actions Take ownership of team engagement and performance Communicate in a way that builds trust and respect Stay motivated and aligned with your purpose at work You’ll also discover why culture isn’t owned by leadership alone—it’s shaped by every person on the team and how small, intentional actions can create outsized impact across your organization. If you’re searching for answers to: How do I improve workplace culture? How can managers influence team culture? What are the best leadership habits for building strong teams? This episode gives you clear, actionable strategies you can start using immediately. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#329
March 10 · 49 min
329 | How to Build a Strong Workplace Culture That Drives Growth and Retention with Heather Broeder
What does it really take to build a culture people want to be part of? In this conversation, Jenni Catron sits down with Heather Broeder, Executive VP at Refined Technologies, to explore how intentional culture-building drives healthier leaders, stronger teams, and better business outcomes. Heather shares how her company has made culture a true differentiator through leader development, shared language, meaningful recognition, second-chance hiring, and a deep commitment to purpose. This episode is full of practical wisdom for leaders who want to move culture from a nice idea to a daily reality. Don't miss the next Free Masterclass. Save your seat here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zrfd5aSgS4yHgpMV56TSOg We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#328
March 4 · 59 min
328 | Patrick Lencioni on Shared Language, Working Genius, and Thriving Team Cultures
In this episode of the Lead Culture Podcast, Jenni Catron sits down with renowned leadership expert and bestselling author Patrick Lencioni to explore his groundbreaking framework, The Six Types of Working Genius. Lencioni—best known for The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and his work on organizational health—shares how the Working Genius model helps leaders and teams understand the kinds of work that energize them and the tasks that drain them. When teams gain a shared language for how people are wired to contribute, collaboration improves, frustration decreases, and culture becomes healthier. Patrick explains the six types of work required in every project—Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, and Tenacity—and how each person typically excels in two of these areas. By identifying these strengths, leaders can build more balanced teams, place people in roles where they thrive, and reduce unnecessary guilt and judgment in the workplace. Throughout the conversation, Catron and Lencioni discuss: Why organizational health is more important than strategy alone How the Working Genius framework improves team communication Why many leaders unintentionally place people in the wrong roles How shared language around strengths transforms team culture Practical ways leaders can use the model to hire, develop, and align teams Whether you’re new to the Working Genius assessment or already using leadership tools like DISC, Myers-Briggs, or the Enneagram, this conversation will help you rethink how work gets done—and how understanding your team’s natural gifts can unlock greater engagement, productivity, and purpose. If you want to build a healthier culture, lead people more effectively, and help your team do their best work, this episode is a must-listen. Take the assessment here with 20% off. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#327
February 24 · 17 min
327 | One Year of Culture Matters: A Framework for Helping Your Team Grow, Thrive, and Be Unstoppable
In this special anniversary episode of the Lead Culture Podcast, Jenni Catron celebrates one year of Culture Matters, her USA Today bestselling book on building healthy organizational culture. If you’re a leader looking for practical tools to strengthen your team culture, improve workplace alignment, and create a clear culture strategy, this episode is for you. Jenni revisits the core principles of the Lead Culture Framework—a five-phase leadership framework designed to help leaders assess their current culture, define their desired culture, build a strategic culture plan, equip their teams, and commit to ongoing culture development. Leaders across industries are using this proven model as a step-by-step “how-to” guide for building high-performing teams and closing culture gaps before they turn into crises. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why organizational culture requires proactive leadership—not crisis management How to assess gaps in your workplace culture with clarity and confidence The five essential phases of a sustainable culture strategy How to create alignment around values, beliefs, and behaviors Why culture conversations feel vulnerable—and how to lead them well Practical steps to start building a thriving team culture today Whether you’re leading a small team, a growing organization, or an established company navigating change, this episode will equip you with actionable leadership tools to strengthen team alignment, boost engagement, and create a healthy, high-performing culture. If culture work has been sitting on your back burner, this conversation will challenge and inspire you to take the first step—because your leadership shapes everything, and culture truly matters. Learn more about CultureMattersBook.com Get the LeadCulture Course Anniversary Sale Here. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#326
February 18 · 41 min
326 | How to Stay Human in the Age of AI: A Leadership Conversation on Culture, Governance, and Innovation
AI isn’t just a tech conversation—it’s a leadership conversation. In this episode, Jenni welcomes AI strategist Jackie Celske for a timely discussion on leading with wisdom, clarity, and conviction in a rapidly evolving digital world. As AI moves from novelty to necessity, leaders are faced with real questions: How do we reduce fear? How do we protect our culture? How do we ensure innovation makes us more human—not less? Jackie shares practical insights on AI training, governance, team readiness, and the widening talent gap—along with a powerful reminder that empathy, discernment, and emotional intelligence are still our greatest leadership assets. This episode will challenge you to think beyond cost-cutting and instead ask: How can we steward this technology in a way that strengthens people and builds thriving teams? Learn more about Jackie here. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
February 10 · 23 min
325 | Why Self-Awareness Is the Secret Weapon of Great Leaders (and Healthy Cultures)
Culture doesn’t break down because leaders lack effort or good intentions—it breaks down when there’s a gap between how leaders show up and how teams experience that leadership. In this episode, Jenni Catron builds on last week’s conversation about the Clarity Cascade—mission, vision, strategy, and structure—and takes it one level deeper. The focus shifts from who is on the team to how well leaders are equipping people to fully engage once clarity is in place. Jenni unpacks why self-awareness is one of the strongest predictors of leadership success and how emotional intelligence directly shapes organizational culture. Drawing on research, real-world leadership experience, and the LeadCulture Framework, she explains why competence alone isn’t enough—and why leaders must develop both self-awareness and others’ awareness to build healthy, high-trust teams. You’ll also hear why tools like personality assessments and Patrick Lencioni’s Working Genius can be powerful culture-shaping resources when used well—not as labels, but as shared language that improves collaboration, alignment, and momentum. If you’ve clarified roles, strategy, and structure but still feel like your team is getting stuck, this episode will help you identify what might be missing—and how growing emotional intelligence can unlock the next level of effectiveness. This conversation sets the stage for Jenni’s upcoming webinar with Patrick Lencioni, where they’ll dive deeper into how Working Genius strengthens teams and accelerates culture health. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#234
February 3 · 23 min
324 | How to Turn Your 2026 Strategy Into Results: The Clarity Cascade Every Leader Needs
You’ve done the work. You cast the vision. You built the strategy. So why does execution still feel slow, stalled, or stuck? In this episode of the Lead Culture Podcast, Jenni Catron unpacks a challenge leaders face every year—especially as they move from strategic planning into real-world execution. Teams aren’t failing because they don’t care. They’re struggling because clarity is breaking down in the system. Jenni introduces a powerful framework she calls The Clarity Cascade, showing how results depend on more than just a strong strategy. You’ll learn how mission, vision, strategy, structure, and role clarity must intentionally cascade together to create momentum—and why most leaders stop one step too soon. This episode will help you: Identify why your team feels busy but isn’t making progress Understand how organizational structure either fuels or blocks execution See why misaligned org charts create confusion, frustration, and disengagement Clarify roles and responsibilities so every team member can confidently contribute Audit your structure to ensure it actually supports your strategy If your 2026 goals feel solid but results aren’t showing up yet, this conversation will help you uncover the invisible barriers holding your team back—and give you practical next steps to realign for impact. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#323
January 28 · 36 min
323 | How Anthony Lambatos Built a Best Place to Work (Without Perks or Fluff)
What if building a great culture isn’t about perks, personalities, or one big initiative—but about the small, intentional choices leaders make every single day? In this episode of the LeadCulture Podcast, Jenni Catron sits down with Anthony Lambatos, President of Footers Catering & Events and founder of MIBE (Make It Better Every Day), to unpack what it really takes to create a workplace where people thrive—and why culture must be treated as a daily discipline, not a one-time project. Anthony shares the behind-the-scenes story of transforming Footers from a high-stress, old-school hospitality environment into one of the most recognized “Best Places to Work” in Colorado. Along the way, he reveals the pivotal mindset shift that changed everything: realizing his job wasn’t just to run events—it was to create an environment where people could do their best work and grow as humans. Together, Jenni and Anthony explore: Why serving your people first leads to better results for customers, clients, and the bottom line How leaders unintentionally stall culture by hoping it will “stick” without ongoing focus The four convictions that shaped Footers’ culture—and how they show up in real, practical ways Why language, onboarding, and everyday behaviors matter more than perks or benefits How leaders at every level can (and must) take ownership of protecting the culture If you’re a leader who feels the gap between the culture you want and the one you’re currently experiencing, this conversation offers both clarity and hope. You don’t need a complete overhaul—you need one intentional step forward. Because great cultures aren’t built overnight. They’re built when leaders commit to making it better every day. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
January 20 · 36 min
322 | The Trust Recession: Why Leadership Isn’t Working Like It Used To
Trust is at the center of everything leaders want—but in today’s skeptical, information-saturated world, trust is harder to earn than ever. In this episode of the LeadCulture Podcast, Jenni Catron sits down with financial coach, business owner, and speaker MJ Pittman for a timely conversation on what he calls the trust recession—and why it places an even greater responsibility on leaders. Together, they unpack why likability isn’t the same as trust, how predictability creates psychological safety, and what leaders often overlook when they assume trust should already exist. MJ brings a fresh lens by blending financial principles with leadership realities, offering practical frameworks leaders can actually apply. From understanding why trust is rooted in safety—not charisma—to exploring the five questions every person is subconsciously asking before they trust a leader, this conversation challenges leaders to rethink how trust is built, sustained, and repaired. If you’re leading in uncertain times, navigating team skepticism, or wondering why clarity and consistency matter more than ever, this episode will give you language, insight, and actionable next steps to lead with greater credibility and confidence. Key takeaways include: Why we’re experiencing a “trust recession” in organizations The difference between likability and trust—and why it matters How predictability builds safety in both calm and stressful seasons The five questions people ask before they trust a leader Why trust is a learnable leadership skill—not a personality trait This is a must-listen for leaders who want to strengthen culture, deepen influence, and lead in a way that earns trust over time—not just goodwill in the moment. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#321
January 12 · 23 min
321 | 5 Leadership & Culture Shifts You Can’t Ignore in 2026 (And How to Act on Them Now)
In this episode, Jenni Catron explores five leadership and culture trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for leaders in organizations of every size. She begins with a conviction that development is now a non-negotiable—for employers investing in their people as a core retention strategy and for employees staying competitive in a rapidly evolving workplace. Jenni also addresses the growing need for human-AI synergy, helping leaders discern where AI can accelerate results and where cultures must double down on the uniquely human elements of work. From shifting dynamics in the job market to the competitive advantage of healthy, fully integrated culture plans, Jenni offers practical insight drawn from current research, reading, and real conversations with the leaders she serves nationwide. You’ll walk away with perspective to start the year fresh, evaluate your own development plan, and take concrete steps using the LeadCulture Framework as a true “culture operating system” that aligns expectations, processes, and daily employee experience. Jenni closes with encouragement for 2026 and her word for the year—Believe—inviting leaders to dream bigger and build environments where teams can grow, thrive, and be unstoppable. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!
#320
Dec 17, 2025 · 28 min
320 | A Sneak Peek Inside the LeadCulture Network
We’ve gathered some of the best moments from our live LeadCulture Network trainings and compiled them into this episode—giving you an exclusive look at what it means to lead with clarity, build unstoppable teams, and create a culture that thrives. In this episode, you’ll hear highlights from sessions that tackle the real challenges leaders face every day: Clarity vs. Confusion: How small gaps in role definition, priorities, or expectations quietly erode culture—and what you can do to stop it. The Unseen Work of Culture: Why building high-performing teams isn’t about flashy strategies—it’s about the unglamorous, consistent work of modeling values, equipping managers, and owning your influence. Leading Through Transitions: Real-life lessons on managing team changes, handling leadership misalignment, and turning setbacks into culture-strengthening opportunities. Engagement That Lasts: Practical ways to build trust, empower your team, and create an environment where engagement—and results—follow naturally. Remote & Hybrid Teams: Strategies to keep your culture alive and thriving, no matter where your team works. This episode is more than a compilation—it’s a crash course in actionable insights that you can start applying immediately. If you’ve ever wished for a behind-the-scenes look at high-impact leadership, this is it. Last Chance: The LeadCulture Network is closing enrollment for founding members on December 31. Don’t miss your opportunity to access monthly live trainings, Q&As, video teachings from Jenni, and 6 months of support from a dedicated LeadCulture Coach. Join now and equip your team to grow, thrive, and be unstoppable in 2026. We need your help to get the LeadCulture podcasts in front of more leaders! There are three simple things you can do that truly help us: Review us on Apple podcasts Subscribe - we’re available wherever you listen to podcasts. Share - let your friends know about the podcast by sharing your favorite episode on social media!

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