Mastering Workplace Culture

🎙️ New Mastering Workplace Culture episode! From association leadership to flying cars, Tim Jackson explains why workplace culture is the connective tissue that enables progress. Leaders now understand that they can't confine culture to a single industry—it shows up wherever people must align around a mission, coordinate under pressure, and adapt as change accelerates. In this wide‑ranging conversation, Tim Jackson draws on decades of experience across association leadership, the automotive industry, public policy, and emerging mobility to show how culture shapes outcomes at scale. Tim reflects on what it takes to build healthy, high‑functioning cultures inside member‑driven organizations—especially when boards, staff, and stakeholders bring competing priorities to the table. He describes strong leadership alignment as riding a tandem bike: Everyone must pedal together, of course. But direction, trust, and coordination—which must come from the leader holding the handlebars—make all the difference. The conversation then moves into the automotive world. Tim offers an insider's perspective on how dealership and manufacturer cultures have evolved—from overcoming long‑standing stereotypes to raising the bar on customer experience, teamwork, and quality. He explains why the most successful dealerships focus equally on employee experience and customer trust, and how cooperation has replaced high-pressure commission based selling models of the past.  Tim goes on to share that culture is tested most during disruption. Tim recounts how auto dealers and associations navigated COVID—balancing safety, continuity, and constantly changing regulations while meeting the responsibilities to both employees and communities. In moments like these, culture wasn't a "nice‑to‑have." Instead, it was the infrastructure that enabled leaders to respond with clarity.  Finally, the conversation looks ahead as Tim shares insights from his bestselling book, Dude, Where's My Flying Car?, explaining why he shifted from skeptic to believer in advanced air mobility. He unpacks what's actually happening behind the scenes with EVs, air taxis, flying cars, affordability, and why collaboration, trust, and leadership culture will ultimately determine how quickly these technologies integrate into everyday life. ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00–00:30 — MWC intro 00:30–01:10 — Welcome and Tim's Intro 01:10–03:12 — Tim Jackson's association leadership and automotive roots 03:12–04:45 — Why culture is always the first leadership problem 04:45–06:41 — The "tandem bike" metaphor for boards and executives 06:41–08:15 — Managing competing member priorities without fragmentation 08:15–09:38 — How alignment enables associations to scale impact 09:38–11:10 — The "We Card" campaign and changing public behavior 11:10–13:26 — National advocacy wins and long‑term leadership impact 13:26–14:35 — Turning the Denver Auto Show into a growth engine 14:35–15:58 — Culture alignment across dealers and stakeholders 15:58–18:20 — What the best car dealerships do differently 18:20–22:24 — Employee experience and customer trust rise together 22:24–25:10 — Why car quality reshaped the industry's reputation 25:10–28:07 — Teamwork replaces pressure selling in modern dealerships 28:07–31:05 — Innovation raises expectations—and prices 31:05–34:39 — The cultural trade‑off between features and affordability 34:39–36:55 — COVID exposed fragile organizational cultures 36:55–39:24 — Leadership decisions under constant uncertainty 39:24–43:10 — Why strong culture mattered more than strategy in crisis 43:10–47:39 — Associations and dealers navigating disruption together 47:39–50:15 — From skeptic to believer in flying cars 50:15–52:21 — Air taxis vs personal flying vehicles explained 52:21–55:30 — Why advanced air mobility adoption will be gradual 55:30–57:45 — Episode wrap‑up and final leadership reflections 57:45–58:21 — MWC outro   📣 Join the Conversation If this conversation expanded how you think about leadership, culture, and innovation: 👍 Like this episode to support thoughtful dialogue about work and the future 🔔 Subscribe to Mastering Workplace Culture for weekly leadership conversations 💬 Comment with the culture or leadership insight that stood out most 🔗 Share this with someone navigating change, innovation, or organizational growth #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #AutomotiveLeadership #FutureOfMobility #PeopleFirstLeadership


The just-dropped episode of the Mastering Workplace Culture podcast features a deeply human conversation with Sarah Cole, founder and CEO of Cole Forums and a leader who brings ethics, vulnerability, connection, and real‑world courage into every room she creates. Sarah has spent more than 30 years advising boards, general counsel, senior executives, and CEOs—all while building high‑trust peer forums where leaders can finally speak openly about the challenges they can't discuss anywhere else.  What makes Sarah's work powerful is its simplicity: Great leadership is first about being a good human. Sarah explains how culture, risk, compliance, integrity, employee engagement, and innovation all trace back to humanity—the choices leaders make, the behaviors they reward, and the environments they create. Throughout this conversation, Sarah shares how loneliness at the top inspired her to build a safe, confidential space where leaders can be vulnerable, challenge each other respectfully, and support one another without ego. She reveals why curated groups of no more than 15 people unlock deeper honesty, and how trust becomes the fuel for real growth.  Sarah also explores: • The intersection of compliance and culture—and how "doing the right thing" is contagious • Why vulnerability from one leader emboldens others to be braver in their own roles • How organizations can prepare for AI by strengthening culture, not just strategy • Why leaders must show integrity first if they expect others to follow • How peer support can transform real‑time decision‑making • The link between personal resilience and ethical leadership • The role of younger generations who expect authenticity, purpose, and respect at work • The growing importance of leader self‑awareness and emotional maturity As Sarah puts it, culture is what leaders reward, tolerate, and ignore—not vague values written on the wall. And when leaders learn to show up with humanity, consistency, and courage, everything else in the organization changes.    ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00–02:20—Sarah's background: ethics, governance, risk, and human behavior 02:20–04:30—The human core of culture and why leadership begins with humanity  04:30–06:30—Why senior leaders feel isolated—and how Cole Forums was born 06:30–08:30—Vulnerability, trust, and creating safe spaces for high‑stakes leadership 08:30–10:20—Why curated groups stay small and why every voice must be heard 10:20–12:30—Protecting community trust by refusing transactional "networking" 12:30–14:45—Building integrity‑based networks in a high‑pressure industry 14:45–17:00—Why legal and compliance roles are shifting toward business partnership 17:00–19:30—Leadership resilience and "you don't have to be brilliant, just keep showing up" 19:30–22:30—How peer conversations are changing real‑world leadership behaviors 22:30–24:00—WhatsApp groups, rapid support, and the rise of trusted peer circles 24:00–26:30—Why culture failures are tied to silence, fear, and visibility gaps 26:30–29:00—Preparing next‑gen leaders through industry‑academic partnerships 29:00–32:00—Vulnerability as a leadership tool—and why leaders must go first 32:00–34:00—Personal integrity, difficult decisions, and walking away from misalignment 34:00–39:00—Culture as risk mitigation; why doing the right thing still matters 39:00–42:00—Generational shifts: what younger leaders expect from workplaces 42:00–46:00—AI, uncertainty, and why culture is an organization's best preparation 46:00–49:00—Learning moments vs. failure; behavioral science insights 49:00–56:00—Personal stories, family, career pivots, and the humanness behind leadership 56:00–60:00—Legacy, purpose, and lifting all boats by building better leaders 
 If Sarah's approach to courage, trust, and human‑centered leadership resonated with you: 👍 Give this video a like to support conversations that make leadership more human 🔔 Subscribe for weekly insights from real leaders shaping workplace culture 💬 Comment with one leadership behavior you believe creates trust 🔗 Share this with someone who's building culture, community, or integrity in their organization #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #EthicalLeadership #PeopleFirstLeadership #BusinessIntegrity


The newest episode of Mastering Workplace Culture features a rare, open conversation with Joel Anderson, CEO of Petco and longtime culture‑focused retail leader. From Toys "R" Us to Walmart to Five Below to Petco, Joel has spent three decades proving that culture—done intentionally—drives passion, discretionary effort, and performance at massive scale.  Joel shares how his "People → Passion → Performance" leadership playbook began with an hourly associate's hand‑painted mural in Lubbock, Texas, and why it has guided every team he has led since. He explains why culture cannot start with metrics, how leaders get people "on the bus," and why discretionary effort—not pressure—ultimately transforms stores, teams, and the customer experience.  He also reflects deeply on large‑scale culture transitions: • Walmart: Reviving local store culture and connecting hourly teams back to a mission much bigger than their daily tasks. • Five Below: Scaling from 361 to 1,600+ stores by formalizing values and behaviors for the first time—moving from "values through osmosis" to a structure that could grow nationwide. • Petco: Rewriting the company's values from scratch and shifting a legacy organization from playing not to lose to playing to win, all anchored in pet‑focused passion and human dignity.  Joel's storytelling reveals what culture really looks like through the eyes of a CEO: Messy, human, imperfect, and deeply personal. He shares how leaders must build self‑esteem, create teams, and celebrate people—not just outcomes. And he offers practical insight for leaders at every level: Focus on strengths, understand superpowers, and build systems that help people succeed. This is a conversation about people, purpose, and performance—and how the right culture unlocks all three.   ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00–02:00 — Welcoming Joel Anderson, CEO of Petco, longtime retail leader 02:00–04:00 — His retail journey and early culture roots 04:00–07:30 — Walmart's culture: strengths, gaps, and the "people first" shift  07:30–10:00 — The "People → Passion → Performance" mural story 10:00–13:00 — Why leaders must start with people, not performance 13:00–15:00 — Changing the conversation with store leaders 15:00–18:00 — Mission boards, engagement, and activating passion locally 18:00–21:00 — Why Five Below energized him and what he saw in the founders 21:00–24:00 — Creating Wow Town: an experiential culture hub 24:00–27:00 — Building Five Below's first-ever values + behaviors 27:00–32:00 — Proving culture drives performance (the 2017 breakthrough) 32:00–36:00 — Petco: playing to win vs. playing not to lose 36:00–40:00 — Rewriting Petco's values + defining "Foster the Fun" 40:00–45:00 — Rolling out new values and behaviors across the organization 45:00–48:00 — The power of superpowers: focusing on strengths, not deficits 48:00–50:00 — Gung Ho, worthwhile work, and leading with humanity 50:00–53:00 — Life outside work: family, golf, milestones, and roots 53:00–56:00 — Joel's advice to young culture leaders 56:00–57:00 — Final reflections on values, gratitude, and team celebration  We're confident Joel's leadership insights will help you see culture through a new lens. So, please: 👍 Give this video a like to support people‑centered leadership 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with real culture builders 💬 Comment with the culture principle you're taking back to your team 🔗 Share this with a leader who's navigating culture change at scale #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #RetailLeadership #PeopleFirstLeadership #BusinessTransformation


The newest episode of Mastering Workplace Culture offers a candid, human-centered dialogue with Susan Thorn, a healthcare executive whose leadership style blends clear vision, empathy, and a firm grasp of operational needs.  A former registered nurse, Susan now serves as a senior leader at Community Health System, where she oversees the welfare of over 11,500 employees. Her approach is grounded in a straightforward conviction: tThose who are most directly involved in the work possess the most critical understanding. Susan discusses her experiences, from her early work managing the COVID-19 response to her current leadership role across the system. She explains how a strong organizational culture can provide stability in a field facing burnout, staff shortages, workplace violence, and constant operational demands. Susan's stories highlight the realities of culture work in a major trauma hospital: •Long‑tenured teams disrupted by organizational transitions • Clinicians with exceptional patient skills but strained colleague relationships • Leaders need to rebuild trust by showing up physically on the units • Frontline staff eager to speak transparently—once leaders establish safety • Hiring for cultural alignment before technical skill • The "maintenance" required to sustain a healthy culture long‑term • Coaching leaders who must model respect even on hard days She also describes the ongoing balance between operational safety and human warmth—especially as workplace violence rises across the healthcare sector. Her approach blends engineering discipline with compassion: Design systems, educate teams, anticipate risks, and make workplaces both safe and humane. This conversation is a clear look at what values‑based leadership requires in an environment where pressure never fades. Susan's work demonstrates how culture becomes a form of workplace engineering—a system that protects, empowers, and sustains the people who care for others every day.   ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00–00:31 — Opening MWC 00:31–02:07 — Introducing Susan Thorn and her unique background in nursing, safety, and system design 02:07–03:00 — Early connection with Chris & Mark during the COVID crisis 03:00–04:41 — Joining Community Health System: first impressions of a family‑based culture 04:41–06:00 — Early surprises, long‑tenured staff, and navigating cultural shifts 06:00–08:00 — From director to leader of 11,500 employees: "I take care of the people who take care of the people" 08:00–09:00 — The ongoing battle against burnout, staffing shortages, and workplace violence 09:00–10:34 — Why listening is the starting point for rebuilding values‑based culture 10:34–12:00 — Coaching senior leaders to model visibility, presence, and alignment 12:00–14:00 — Aligning brilliant clinical talent with values like respect and civility 14:00–16:00 — Workplace engineering: building culture like maintaining a bridge 16:00–17:00 — "Red carpet" employee experience from day one 17:00–19:00 — Why you can't "fix" culture by fixing one person 19:00–21:00 — Coaching misaligned clinicians and hiring for culture first 21:00–24:00 — Partnering with UCSF residents and creating safe learning environments 24:00–27:00 — Balancing psychological safety with physical safety amid rising violence 27:00–30:00 — The two cultures in healthcare: patient‑facing excellence vs. internal misalignment 30:00–33:00 — How psychological safety reveals the real state of culture 33:00–35:00 — The reality of subcultures—and why leaders must communicate the path forward 35:00–37:00 — Asking "What have I forgotten?" and keeping communication open 37:00–39:00 — From bedside nurse to culture shaper: expanding impact through system design 39:00–41:00 — Strategy during crisis: listening sessions, fractional improvements, and data‑driven wins 41:00–43:00 — Engineering respect into daily practices 43:00–45:00 — Why rollout fails when you forget to "take the people with you." 45:00–47:00 — Managing bad days, sustaining respect, and avoiding relational damage 47:00–49:00 — Personal wellbeing, resilience, and how Susan stays grounded 49:00–51:00 — Compersion: leading with compassion as a cultural advantage 51:00–52:00 — Closing MWC If Susan's perspective on culture, safety, and frontline‑first leadership resonated with you, help this message reach more leaders: 👍 Give this video a like to support conversations that center on real human experience 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes that explore culture through lived leadership 💬 Share your biggest insight about building safety—physical or psychological—in your own workplace 🔗 Send this episode to a leader in healthcare who needs encouragement and clarity right now #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #HealthcareLeadership #OrganizationalCulture #PeopleFirstLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceSafety  

The newest episode of the Mastering Workplace Culture features an honest, compelling conversation with Amber "AJ" Jordan, CEO of Desert Sage Health Centers—a rural healthcare organization that transformed culture, strengthened leadership, and rebuilt trust across multiple sites through values‑driven alignment and measurable accountability. AJ shares how a single team conflict sparked her search for a stronger cultural foundation. What began with a book full of Post‑it notes led to a multi‑year journey grounded in transparency, data, and consistent leadership behavior. She describes the moment she realized she couldn't improve culture through isolated fixes—the entire organization, beginning with the executive team, needed shared expectations, clearer communication, and a common language.  This episode takes you inside the realities of culture change in a close-knit rural setting: Young managers learning to lead, long‑standing interpersonal history, the strain of limited staffing pools, and the unique challenges of small‑town relationships. AJ explains how data‑driven insights, leadership vulnerability, Lean foundations, and repeated Executive Team Effectiveness surveys shaped a culture where respectful behavior mattered as much as performance.  You'll hear how AJ and Desert Sage handled: Bringing frontline providers and clinicians into values‑based leadership Coaching high performers who struggled with interpersonal behavior Addressing skepticism from staff convinced that nothing would change Expanding culture work from executives → managers → staff Moving into a brand‑new medical building while protecting team  morale Innovating an innovative drive‑through element to the clinic based on patient feedback Creating a leadership pipeline that elevated people from entry‑level roles to major responsibilities This is one of the clearest examples of how culture becomes a core operating system — not through slogans, but through repeated alignment, shared vulnerability, and daily accountability.   ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00 Bold Leaders, No Buzzwords (Opening Narration) 00:21 Welcome + Introducing Amber "AJ" Jordan 00:45 Who AJ Is and the Reality of Rural Healthcare 02:07 The Post‑It Filled "Culture Engine" Book 03:36 Team Conflict That Sparked a Culture Journey 05:06 Why "Good" Wasn't Good Enough 06:49 Discovering Measurable Culture Tools 07:18 CEO Alignment + Building the Case for Culture 08:55 Why Site Alone Can't fix Culture 10:34 Young Managers, Small‑Town Dynamics, Healthcare Stress 12:09 Accountability: The Long‑Standing Challenge 13:51 The First Survey Results: A Painful Wake‑Up 15:44 Leadership Scores All Over the Map 17:31 Translating Clinical Strengths into Leadership Skills 19:04 Lean Foundations: Respect + Continuous Improvement 20:20 Skepticism, Naysayers, and Peer‑to‑Manager Transitions 22:42 Leaders Go First: The Multi‑Year Rollout Strategy 24:38 Beneficial Attrition + Coaching Interpersonal Outliers 27:00 The "Green‑Green" Breakthrough Moment 30:23 Culture as a Continuum: Progress Over Perfection 34:23 Applying Culture During a Massive Building Move 37:54 Innovating the Drive‑Through Clinic 41:30 Accountability: The Hardest Cultural Value 43:14 Leadership Development + Internal Promotions 45:39 AJ's Advice for CEOs: Transparency + Vulnerability 48:07 Olympic Reflections on Human Performance 52:12 Desert Sage as a Culture Success Story 54:26 Closing Narration + Call to Action
 Whether you're leading culture in a small organization in a small town or a large global corporation, we're sure AJ's culture story resonated. So please support more conversations that highlight real cultural transformation: 👍 Give this video a like to elevate people‑centered leadership 🔔 Subscribe to Mastering Workplace Culture for more in‑depth transformation stories 💬 Comment with the insight you're taking into your own culture work 🔗 Share this episode with a leader navigating organizational change   #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #PeopleFirstLeadership #HealthcareLeadership #BusinessTransformation  

This episode of Mastering Workplace Culture features a powerful and personal conversation with global executive Kris Malkoski, whose track record includes transforming brands, rebuilding cultures, leading global turnarounds, and proving that respect‑driven leadership produces extraordinary business results. Kris shares the story behind revitalizing World Kitchen, ARC International, and Newell Brands—each with unique challenges, legacy issues, and leadership dynamics. From dysfunctional boards and cultural resistance to siloed teams and disengaged workforces, Kris explains how a clear vision, cross‑functional alignment, and accountability created measurable transformation. Her "win as one team" mindset, paired with consistent values‑based leadership, increased engagement, improved profitability, strengthened trust, and built award‑winning workplaces worldwide. This conversation highlights the reality of culture work: cCourageous decisions, transparency, the discipline to model values, and the willingness to lovingly let misaligned high performers go. Kris brings heart, wisdom, and honesty to every story—from tripling profitability at ARC in 18 months to turning siloed teams at Newell into collaborative innovators—and even the joy of becoming a grandmother. For anyone who cares about leadership, culture, or the power of aligning the "what" with the "how," this episode offers a masterclass in transformation from someone who has lived it at scale.   ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00 – 02:30 — Welcome + Kris's global leadership background  02:30 – 05:15 — World Kitchen: dysfunctional boards, private equity pressure, and cultural decline 05:15 – 06:30 — Creating a unified vision and the link between culture + business performance 06:30 – 08:15 — Resistance: leaders who feared culture change or viewed it as a "waste" 08:15 – 10:40 — Training global leaders, dissolving fiefdoms, and establishing shared expectations 10:40 – 12:00 — Accelerating engagement and building momentum across 3,000 employees 12:00 – 16:00 — Acquisition insights: high‑performing subcultures and cross‑pollinating excellence 16:00 – 18:28 — Sustaining a culture transformation across global sites 18:28 – 22:30 — ARC International: lack of community, Kaizen events, and tripling profit in 18 months 22:30 – 23:48 — "Better Together": a unified identity that lifted pride and belonging 23:48 – 26:00 — Personalized leadership: walking the floor, elevating dignity, transforming relationships 26:00 – 29:10 — Respect as daily practice: leadership modeling and contagious behavior shifts 29:10 – 31:40 — Newell Brands: silos, trust rebuilding, rewriting values, and lifting performance 31:40 – 34:40 — Reducing regretted departures + rebuilding internal talent pathways 34:40 – 38:00 — Letting go of misaligned high performers and protecting culture standards 38:00 – 40:15 — Graco success story: share gains through unified culture 40:15 – 43:00 — Kris's personal leadership evolution, biases she overcame, and early career lessons 43:00 – 45:20 — Diversity, respect, and building teams that reflect broader perspectives 45:20 – 47:00 — Sustaining a culture: accountability, calibration sessions, and values‑based ratings 47:00 – 48:56 — Why more executives struggle with culture—and how Kris guides them 48:56 – 50:30 — Culture legacy: leaders Kris developed and where they are today 50:30 – 53:20 — Joys of grandparenthood + closing reflections 
 If Kris's leadership journey inspired you, help us spread these lessons to leaders who need them: 👍 Give this video a like to support human‑centered leadership 🔔 Subscribe to Mastering Workplace Culture for more culture‑shaping insights 💬 Comment with the lesson you're taking into your own leadership journey 🔗 Share this episode with a leader ready to align values with performance #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #PeopleFirstLeadership #BusinessTransformation #CultureChange

In this powerful Mastering Workplace Culture conversation, David Mollitor Jr. shares the remarkable journey of transforming Consolidated Electrical Contractors (CEC) from a traditionally hard‑driving construction company into a people‑first, values‑anchored organization. This episode highlights a rare behind‑the‑scenes look at a blue‑collar business choosing respect, clarity, and cultural consistency over outdated pressure tactics that once dominated the industry. David walks us through saving 15 jobs in the mid‑90s, navigating explosive growth followed by a devastating recession, and rebuilding a company where 200 employee‑owners now contribute to a shared legacy. You'll hear how a call to Ken Blanchard reshaped the company's direction, why CEC committed to cultural accountability, and how one leader known for intensity became one of the company's strongest culture champions. You'll also experience vulnerable reflections on leadership, organizational rebirth, employee ownership, and the deeply personal shift that led David to redefine success—not through volume or status, but through meaningful impact on people's lives. The episode closes with a heartwarming look at his newest role: becoming a grandfather and watching the next generation grow. This story is a reminder that culture is not a slogan—it is a daily commitment, a leadership discipline, and a long‑term investment in human potential. ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00–02:30 — Introductions + David's early career 02:30–06:00 — Saving 15 employees and restarting an aging company 06:00–09:00 — Confronting entrenched construction‑industry behavior 09:00–14:00 — Rapid growth, hard lessons, and the recession crash 14:00–17:00 — The "do‑over" mindset and discovering Gung Ho! 17:00–19:00 — The pivotal call to Ken Blanchard 19:00–24:00 — Acknowledging the need for cultural reconstruction 24:00–29:00 — Managing skepticism and blue‑collar resistance 29:00–34:00 — Aligning the executive team with values and behaviors 34:00–39:00 — A major leadership transformation inside CEC 39:00–42:00 — Training breakthroughs and real‑time behavior practice 42:00–48:00 — Why culture requires intentional professional guidance 48:00–53:00 — Leadership legacy and redefining personal success 53:00–57:00 — The emotional impact of a people‑centered company 57:00–59:00 — David welcomes a new chapter as a grandfather 
 If this conversation expanded your perspective on leadership and culture, help more leaders discover this message: 👍 Like this episode to support meaningful workplace conversations 🔔 Subscribe for more transformative stories on Mastering Workplace Culture 💬 Comment with the moment that reshaped your understanding of leadership 🔗 Share this episode with someone ready to build a healthier workplace #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #PeopleFirstLeadership #ConstructionLeadership #ESOP

  Culture change isn't quick… but the work is a solid investment. Tim Steinbeck, CEO of GRE HERC Services, joins the Mastering Workplace Culture podcast for a raw, grounded conversation about what change really looks like when moving a blue‑collar workplace from siloed habits to a culture built on "STEAM" values: Safety, Trust, Accountability, Ethics, and Mutual Respect. From shift‑to‑shift friction and accountability battles… to longtime employees leaving because "you can't pay me enough to be nice to these people"… this talk pulls back the curtain on what real culture transformation feels like inside a 24/7 operational environment. If you lead people — especially on the plant floor, in facilities, or in field‑based work — you'll hear your world in this conversation. ⏱️ This Episode's Chapter Guide 00:00 – Intro What Mastering Workplace Culture is all about — real talk, zero jargon. 00:31 – Meet Tim Steinbeck 46 years in energy, leading a major operational takeover in Minneapolis. 02:00 – Why the Culture Wasn't Working COVID isolation, expectations drifting, communication slipping. 03:45 – Finding "Good Comes First" The moment the culture reboot started making sense. 04:25 – Building STEAM (Safety, Trust, Accountability, Ethics, Mutual Respect) values Creating values the plant team could actually use. 05:55 – The First Signs of Change Frontline reactions, peer feedback, and slow, uneven progress. 07:47 – Leadership Buy‑In ("Are you crazy, Tim?") How senior leaders responded when culture alignment became a priority. 09:00 – When Values Reveal Who Won't Stay Some employees chose to leave — and why that mattered. 11:20 – Old Habits vs. New Expectations Breaking behaviors built over decades. 14:00 – What's Working — And What Still Isn't New hires, legacy teams, and continued pushback. 17:30 – Respect & Accountability The issues leadership keeps running into. 20:20 – Post‑Pandemic Realities Four siloed teams, weak handoffs, and baked‑in independence. 22:30 – Did They Ever Hit Pause? How the team stayed committed even when things got tough. 24:00 – Frontline Frustrations Why operators say they're not being heard. 26:00 – The Middle‑Manager Squeeze Supervisors caught between pressure and values. 28:00 – Are People Enjoying Work More? Tim's honest take on the culture shift so far. 30:40 – Big Leadership Transitions New faces, new roles, and keeping momentum going. 39:00 – CEO Drop‑In Chats Tim's plan to meet operators where they are. 41:50 – Lessons Tim Wishes He'd Known Vulnerability, consistency, and starting sooner. 48:00 – What He'd Do Differently More conversations, fewer gaps. 51:40 – Cabin Life! Ice fishing, Minnesota summers, and family time. 54:30 – Final Thoughts Safety, warmth, and staying connected.   If this conversation resonated, don't forget to: Like this video to support more real conversations about workplace culture Subscribe for future interviews with leaders who tell the truth Comment with your biggest takeaway (or what you're struggling with in your own culture) Share this with someone who leads a team and needs to hear it (maybe your boss)   #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #GoodComesFirst #CultureTransformation #EmployeeExperience #MasteringWorkplaceCulture  

In this episode of Mastering Workplace Culture, Katelyn Taylor, Director of Marketing Communications at Boise State University, reveals the hard decisions and practical steps she took to rebuild a toxic team culture. From spotting the waving red flags to hiring for respect and results, this conversation provides leaders a roadmap for transforming any workplace—no matter how tough the starting point. 👉 If you're serious about building a healthier, higher‑performing team, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and drop a comment sharing your biggest culture challenge! #MasteringWorkplaceCulture #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #RespectAndResults #ChangeLeadership #EmployeeExperience  

Discover the leadership philosophies that helped turn WD‑40 into a globally admired organization. In this episode of Mastering Workplace Culture, hosts S. Chris Edmonds and Mark S. Babbitt sit down with Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of the WD‑40 Company — widely known as a Culture Architect. Garry shares the principles that helped expand WD‑40 into 176 countries while building a culture grounded in trust, accountability, belonging, and values that guide behavior and performance. From authentic care to the concept of positive attrition, he explains how leaders can cultivate workplaces where people feel safe, connected, and motivated to do their best work. You'll learn: How values‑based leadership fosters engagement and trust Why accountability is an act of care — not punishment How belonging drives performance What "positive attrition" really means How WD‑40 sustained its values through the pandemic How to maintain a strong culture across global teams Perfect for leaders, HR pros, culture strategists, and anyone passionate about building people‑first workplaces. ⏱️ Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction  00:31 Meet Garry Ridge  02:44 Garry's Journey with WD‑40  03:46 Building a Global Culture  05:46 Values‑Based Leadership  09:34 The Tribe Philosophy  11:22 Challenges & Resistance  23:41 Accountability that Works  28:02 Overcoming Obstacles with Values  29:39 Why Values Matter in Business  30:18 Thriving During the Pandemic  31:13 Employee Engagement & Safety  32:58 The Power of Belonging  36:26 Global Expansion & Cultural Differences  38:16 Values in Divisive Times  50:28 Addressing Toxic Behavior  53:51 Final Thoughts & Resources 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like the video  💬 Comment below: What value most influences your workplace culture?  🔔 Subscribe for more insights on leadership and workplace culture  📤 Share this episode with a leader or HR professional! #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #GarryRidge #WDCOMPANY #ValuesBasedLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #OrganizationalCulture #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessLeadership #MasteringWorkplaceCulture

Welcome to Mastering Workplace Culture! In this kickoff episode, hosts S. Chris Edmonds and Mark S. Babbit share why they launched this podcast and what you can expect. We go beyond corporate jargon to explore practical strategies for building cultures that value respect and results equally.   ✅ Why culture change isn't a quick fix ✅ How leaders can manage performance AND values ✅ Real-world success stories from Fortune 100 companies to nonprofits   If you're ready to challenge assumptions and create a workplace where people thrive, this podcast is for you.   📧 Have questions or guest ideas? Email us at authors@goodcomesfirst.com   #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #RespectAndResults #Podcast