The Smart Thinking Podcast

In this episode Ted explores how differing perspectives—"one person’s heaven is another person’s hell"—create friction in teams and families. He uses a crowded Glacier National Park hike to introduce four behavioral profiles: naturalists, enthusiasts, wannabes, and hostages. Ted connects the hiking story to leadership and change management, explaining how to match approaches to people's skill and will, restore agency, and use empathy, pacing, and clear roles to move initiatives forward. Listeners will get practical strategies for facilitating conversations, assigning meaningful roles, and bridging gaps so groups can work together toward shared outcomes.

This is an engaging conversation between Ted and Jonathan Reynolds who met in Kansas City after Jonathan had keynoted at the 2026 EOS conference. Jonathan is an enthusiastic leader and a creative problem-solver who has nearly 20 years of experience in recruiting and talent strategy. He is the CEO of Titus Talent Strategies, and he has helped over 1500 organizations build better workforces and cultures. Jonathan is also the author of Right Seats, Right People: A Leader's Guide to Hiring and Developing Top Talent, where he introduced his Head, Heart, Briefcase approach to understanding the whole person when making hiring decisions.  He and Ted also share energy and mindset!

Are you coachable? Take a listen as we explore the behaviors of those who are and are not coachable. This episode identifies the four types of people in coaching and shares reflections and actions to make you more coachable and a better coach of others.  The Rookies Rookies are the fresh faces who walk in with wide eyes and open notebooks. They’re new to the organization, and they know it, which makes them wonderfully hungry to learn. When you work with a Rookie, expect lots of questions, quick enthusiasm, and a genuine willingness to try things your way. They may stumble as they find their footing, but they bounce back fast because they see every correction as a gift rather than a criticism. The magic of coaching a Rookie is watching growth happen in real time. Give them clear direction, celebrate their small wins, and be patient with the learning curve, and you’ll find they often become some of your most loyal and dedicated teammates. The Know Betters Know Betters greet feedback with a polite “Thanks, but...” and then explain why their way works just fine. They’re confident, experienced, and often genuinely skilled, which is exactly why change can feel unnecessary to them. When you work with a Know Better, expect some pushback, a healthy dose of debate, and the occasional “I’ve already tried that.” Here’s the bright side: that confidence comes from somewhere real, and when a Know Better finally buys in, they become powerful champions of the idea. The key is to coach through curiosity rather than correction. Ask them questions, invite their expertise into the solution, and let them discover the new path themselves. When they feel respected, the “but” slowly softens into an “and.” The Considers Considers are the thoughtful processors who need a little room to breathe before they commit. Hand them feedback on the spot and you might get a quiet nod, but give them a day and they’ll come back with insight you never expected. When you work with a Considerer, expect pauses, follow-up conversations, and decisions that are deliberate rather than impulsive. They thrive when they’re offered options instead of orders, because choosing their own path helps them own it fully. Don’t mistake their silence for resistance; it’s reflection in action. Give them time, offer a few clear choices, and check back in, and you’ll see thoughtful, lasting change that sticks. The Gratitududers Gratitududers are the energizers who hear feedback and immediately respond with “Thanks, and... can you show me more? Can I try this? Can we take it further?” They don’t just accept coaching, they run with it and ask for the next level. When you work with a Gratitududer, expect enthusiasm, momentum, and a steady stream of ideas and requests. They see every piece of feedback as a doorway to new possibilities, and their excitement is contagious for everyone around them. The only thing to watch for is keeping pace with their energy, so help them prioritize and focus their many “can we” ideas into meaningful action. Coaching a Gratitududer is like adding fuel to a fire that’s already burning bright, and it’s one of the most rewarding experiences a leader can have.    

Fall is a season of change for many of us smart thinkers and as a result we need to be prepared. How about a sequence of texts to help you be perseverant, learn from mistakes, be more creative when facing constraints, help teams collaborate through it all, be a better writer/communicator and then reflect on how you are doing and who you are! Well, below is a list of texts that Ted is recommending for this fall! Get Back Up, Heather Wilson and Dave Goldfein From Mistakes to Meaning, Michael Lynton & Joshua Steiner Inside the Box, David Epstein Begin with We, Kyle McDowell Good Writing, Neal Allen & Anne Lamott Home Body, Rupi Kaur Song: Lost Cause, Louise, Lately 

What if we could hear about the future? Well, you can on this episode as Ted discusses how Australian laws around cell phones and social media have positively impacted learning and student wellbeing. Australia is a great study of what “to do” in order to support the growth of young people. Principal Lars Anderson from Thornbury High School near Melbourne, Australia gives us insight into what the positive consequences have been with cell phones bans for the last six years and how the social media prohibitions for children under 16 are impacting children at his school. This is a great conversation about the ways in which technology can be successfully unraveled and how one school has shifted their methods in order to better support students.