People First! with Morag Barrett

Morag Barrett
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Management

People First! with Morag Barrett explores the human side of leadership: workplace relationships, leadership trust, Meaning-FULL Connectivity™, and the Ally Mindset™ practices that drive real results in business and life. In each episode, keynote speaker, executive coach, USA Today bestselling author, and Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches member Morag Barrett sits down with authors, business leaders, and everyday humans to uncover practical ways to strengthen connection, collaboration, and culture in an increasingly disconnected world. Because success in business is powered by relationships. And success in life is fueled by connection. Learn more at skyeteam.com/speaking

  1. High-Performance is Designed, Not Hoped For with Christian "Boo" Boucousis

    May 25

    High-Performance is Designed, Not Hoped For with Christian "Boo" Boucousis

    We love to attribute high performance to talent. Charisma. Intelligence. Experience.But in this week’s People First! conversation with Christian “Boo” Boucousis, we explore a harder truth: High-performing teams aren’t built on talent.They’re built on design.Under pressure, three things matter: A clear missionA disciplined methodThe right mindsetWithout clarity, teams drift.Without method, they scramble.Without mindset, they fracture. The teams that consistently perform don’t rely on brilliance.They rely on alignment. If you’re leading a team in uncertain conditions, this episode will sharpen how you think about performance — not as inspiration, but as architecture. Listen in.

    43 min
  2. Being A Hero is Holding You Back with Bill Flynn

    May 11

    Being A Hero is Holding You Back with Bill Flynn

    What if the leadership model we’ve been celebrating for decades is the very thing holding teams back? In this episode of People First!, Morag Barrett sits down with Bill Flynn — leadership thinker, author of Further, Faster, and longtime student of the science of success — to challenge the myth of the heroic leader. Drawing on 30 years of research and lived experience, Bill shares: Why having one real relationship at work matters more than talent aloneWhy the future of leadership belongs to architects, not heroesThis is a candid, grounded conversation about relationships, opportunity, and what actually creates impact over time.If you care about leadership that scales, cultures that last, and careers built on connection — this episode is for you.

    34 min
  3. When Pushing Harder Keeps You Stuck with Vered Kogan

    Apr 27

    When Pushing Harder Keeps You Stuck with Vered Kogan

    In this episode of People First!, Morag Barrett explores workplace relationships, leadership trust, and human connection with Vered Kogan, discussing how leaders build Meaning-FULL Connectivity™ in increasingly disconnected workplaces. Vered Kogan is an author, speaker, and transformational coach, and joins Morag to explore why so many high-performing leaders feel stuck—despite doing everything “right.” Vered is the co-author of Unstuck, written with Marshall Goldsmith, and her work focuses on helping individuals and organisations overcome the inner barriers that block sustainable growth and change. Together, Morag and Vered unpack the hidden dynamics that keep capable, driven people trapped in cycles of overdrive, self-doubt, and exhaustion—and what it actually takes to break free. In this conversation, you’ll hear: Why pushing harder often increases anxiety, burnout, and resistanceThe difference between knowing what to do and being able to do it consistentlyHow unconscious “protective parts” shape our behaviour without us realising itWhy what got you here may now be keeping you stuckHow perfectionism, overachievement, and control can quietly work against usThe SHIFT framework for creating internal alignment and lasting changeWhy sustainable growth requires inner harmony—not just better habits or disciplineThis episode is for leaders, entrepreneurs, and high achievers who feel pressure to keep performing—but sense that something deeper needs to shift. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing all the right things—so why does this still feel so hard?” This conversation will resonate. Learn More... Website: www.MomentumInstitute.com LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veredkogan/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@VeredKogan  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veredkogan/

    28 min
  4. When Inclusion Isn't Easy with Dr. Riza Kadilar

    Apr 6

    When Inclusion Isn't Easy with Dr. Riza Kadilar

    In this episode of People First!, Morag Barrett explores workplace relationships, leadership trust, and human connection with Dr. Riza Kadilar, discussing how leaders build Meaning-FULL Connectivity™ in increasingly disconnected workplaces. Dr Riza Kadilar is a global executive, leadership thinker, and author of The Contemporary Leader. They first met at Thinkers50 in London — a moment that became a living example of inclusion in action — and that spirit carries through this wide-ranging, honest conversation about what inclusive leadership really requires when things get uncomfortable. This is not a conversation about slogans, policies, or box-ticking. It’s about power, privilege, maturity, and the inner work leaders must do if inclusion is going to move from intention to impact. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why diversity is inevitable — but inclusion is notHow well-meaning leaders unintentionally undermine inclusion through everyday behaviourThe difference between being invited to the party and actually feeling able to danceWhy inclusion is as much an inner journey as a societal oneHow privilege shifts with context — and why awareness matters more than guiltThe paradox of inclusive leadership and the loneliness many leaders experienceWhy exclusion is easier to spot than inclusion — and how that awareness becomes a choiceHow curiosity, discomfort, and humility shape the contemporary leaderThis episode is for leaders who genuinely want to build cultures where people feel seen, heard, and valued — not because it’s fashionable, but because it’s essential for performance, resilience, and humanity. If inclusion feels complicated, uncomfortable, or even threatening at times — you’re not alone. This conversation helps name why. 📘 Learn more The Contemporary Leader (Wiley)Connect with Dr. Riza Kadilar on LinkedIn

    27 min
  5. Trust at a Distance: How Leaders Build Connection in Remote & Hybrid Teams with Peggy Kendall

    Mar 23

    Trust at a Distance: How Leaders Build Connection in Remote & Hybrid Teams with Peggy Kendall

    Remote and hybrid work aren’t going away — but trust doesn’t magically survive the shift. In this People First! episode, I’m joined by Peggy Kendall, researcher, professor of communication studies, and co-author of Trust at a Distance: Six Strategies for Managing Remote Workplaces. Peggy has been studying the impact of technology on communication since the days of MySpace, and her insights couldn’t be more relevant for today’s leaders. Together, we unpack what actually builds trust when teams are dispersed — and what quietly erodes it. In this conversation, we explore: Why trust takes longer to build online — but can be stronger when done wellThe hidden cost of leaders saying “let me know if you have questions”How assumptions, silence, and multitasking quietly damage psychological safetyThe six strategies leaders must use to build trust at a distance: Amplify communication; Clarify direction; Build predictability; Redefine accountability; Create connection; Leverage in-person experiences.Why predictable check-ins matter more than long meetingsHow proximity bias hurts remote employees — often without leaders realizing itWhy hybrid work can increase inclusion, confidence, and access when led intentionallyIf you’re leading a remote or hybrid team — or working in one — this episode will challenge some assumptions and give you practical, research-backed ways to strengthen trust, connection, and performance. 📘 Learn more about Peggy Kendall & the book: Trust at a Distance — available on Amazon Website: PeggyKendall.com Trust Edge Leadership Institute (David Horsager)

    30 min
  6. From Bronze to Gold Leadership: Why Leaders Fail Alone and Win Together with Laura Armstrong

    Mar 9

    From Bronze to Gold Leadership: Why Leaders Fail Alone and Win Together with Laura Armstrong

    In this People First! episode, I sit down with Laura Armstrong — 3x world champion martial artist, international speaker, bestselling author, and creator of The Empowered Protocol — for a conversation about what actually builds resilient, connected, high-performing leaders. Laura spent nearly a decade earning silver and bronze medals before finally breaking through to gold. The difference wasn’t talent, discipline, or sheer force of will — it was support. And that insight now shapes everything she teaches leaders about emotional regulation, safety, team connection, and why going it alone is the fastest way to underperform. This episode challenges the myth of the heroic, solo leader and instead focuses on how grounded, emotionally aware leaders create trust, stability, and results. What we explore: Why leaders sabotage themselves by trying to do everything aloneHow fear shuts down creativity, collaboration, and innovation — often silentlyThe real meaning of resilience (hint: it’s not about powering through)Somatic tools leaders can use to regulate emotion in real timeThe “pause point” that separates reaction from responseWhy calm leadership spreads calm — and panic spreads chaosHow to build the support networks leaders actually needWhy labels and old identities (the “brilliant jerk,” the “tough one,” the “world champion”) eventually stop serving usHow to step into authentic power without posturing or perfectionIf you’re navigating tough conversations, overloaded teams, persistent stress, or a culture where fear is doing more damage than anyone admits, this one offers a practical path forward. 📌 Connect with Laura: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurayarmstrong/ TalkWithLaura.com

    23 min
  7. Calm, Courage, and Command: The Human Side of High-Stakes Leadership with Lt. General Karen Gibson (Ret.)

    Feb 16

    Calm, Courage, and Command: The Human Side of High-Stakes Leadership with Lt. General Karen Gibson (Ret.)

    What does leadership look like when the situation is unclear, emotions are high, and everyone is waiting for you to make the next move? In this episode of People First!, I’m joined by Lt. General (Ret.) Karen Gibson, a leader who has guided teams through war zones, national emergencies, hurricanes, cybersecurity crises, and the aftermath of January 6 - experiences most of us hope will never appear on our calendars. Karen is living proof that no amount of technology or process ever replaces the fundamentals: clarity, steadiness, humanity, and the courage to act before you have the full picture. We explore: • The moment she realized leadership is always a human endeavor • Why timing and triage matter more than certainty • What most leaders get wrong about communication in crisis • The emotional toll teams experience after a major event • The practical skills leaders can build before the next “front-page moment” hits Her stories are gripping. Her lessons are generous. And her message is one every leader in today’s unpredictable world needs to hear.

    28 min
  8. Start With Who, Not Why: Why Knowing Yourself First is The Secret to Integrity and Authentic Leadership with Preston Poore

    Feb 2

    Start With Who, Not Why: Why Knowing Yourself First is The Secret to Integrity and Authentic Leadership with Preston Poore

    In this episode of People First!, Morag Barrett talks with Preston Poore—executive coach, author, and former Coca-Cola leader—about his new book, How Is Greater Than What: The Simple Formula for Success in Leadership. They discuss why how you lead matters more than what you accomplish, the role of identity and integrity in effective leadership, and how to stay grounded in a world shaped by technology and AI. In this episode, you'll learn: Why “start with who” might matter more than “start with why”The link between integrity, trust, and authentic leadershipLessons from Preston’s 30-year corporate careerHow faith, values, and self-awareness shape long-term successPerfect for leaders, managers, and professionals seeking practical insights on character, connection, and culture in the modern workplace. Learn More: https://prestonpoore.com/

    29 min
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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

People First! with Morag Barrett explores the human side of leadership: workplace relationships, leadership trust, Meaning-FULL Connectivity™, and the Ally Mindset™ practices that drive real results in business and life. In each episode, keynote speaker, executive coach, USA Today bestselling author, and Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches member Morag Barrett sits down with authors, business leaders, and everyday humans to uncover practical ways to strengthen connection, collaboration, and culture in an increasingly disconnected world. Because success in business is powered by relationships. And success in life is fueled by connection. Learn more at skyeteam.com/speaking

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