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. 4d ago

    When Leaders Become The Bottleneck with Atiba de Souza

    When Leaders Become the Bottleneck. Why Letting Go Is the Hardest and Most Important Leadership Skill. Most leaders I work with aren’t trying to control everything. But somewhere along the way they become the person every decision, every problem, and every stalled project flows through. Not because their teams are incapable. Because leadership quietly turns them into the hub of everything. In this week’s People First! podcast, I sit down with author and entrepreneur Atiba de Souza, who wrote The Delegation Trap: It’s Not Them, It’s You. We unpack a tension many leaders recognize: • Why leaders struggle to let go even when they know they should • The hidden cost of the “superhero leader” mindset • Why teams often perform at 80% when leaders don’t create ownership • The shift from doing the work → building a team that thinks like owners One line from our conversation stuck with me: “Good is the enemy of great— and most teams get stuck at good when leaders stay in the middle of everything.” And a question for you: Where might you be unintentionally acting as the bottleneck for your team? Learn more about Atiba here: Website: thedelegationtrap.com  LinkedIn: meetatiba.com

    When Leaders Become The Bottleneck with Atiba de Souza

  2. Jul 6

    Your Intentions Don't Matter with Trevor Blondeel

    Intentions don’t matter. At least not as much as most leaders think. In this week’s episode of People First, I sat down with Trevor Blondeel, founder of Manufacturing Greatness, and we unpacked a moment many leaders quietly recognize. Trevor was running a plant meeting. He explained the plan. Gave direction. Walked out thinking everything was clear. Then his assistant pulled him aside. “You really pissed those guys off.” That moment led to a realization many leaders eventually face: Good intentions don’t guarantee good leadership. Because leadership isn’t judged by what we meant. It’s judged by how our actions land with others. In our conversation we explore: Why good leaders sometimes damage relationships without realizing itThe disconnect that often exists between leadership and the front lineWhy curiosity is one of the most underrated leadership skillsThe three conversations that can transform how teams work together1️⃣ How are we showing up?2️⃣ What are the expectations?3️⃣ Where does accountability sit? Simple conversations.But most teams never actually have them. If you lead people — whether in manufacturing, healthcare, tech, or anywhere in between — this episode is a reminder that the real work of leadership isn’t control. It’s connection. 🎧 Watch or listen here: [YouTube link] And a question for you: When was the last time you asked someone, “How am I showing up for you?”

    Your Intentions Don't Matter with Trevor Blondeel

  3. Jun 22

    Why Strong Workplace Relationships Create Contagious Culture with Kyle S. King and Daniel Freeman

    Culture doesn’t grow from strategy decks or value statements. It spreads. In this episode of People First!, I sat down with Kyle S. King and Daniel Freeman, the organizers behind the Contagious Culture Conference—where I’ll also be speaking this year. Our conversation explored something many leaders overlook: Culture is built through relationships. Not policies.Not posters.Not slogans. Through how people treat each other every day. Kyle and Daniel describe three pillars they see in organizations that create lasting impact: Kindness — how we show up for one anotherCommunity — the relationships that hold teams togetherCapital — the resources that allow good ideas to scaleRemove any one of those, and the culture weakens. But the idea that stayed with me most from our conversation is this: People are hungry for connection again. After years of disruption, remote work, and organizational change, many teams are operating with functional relationships—but very little real connection. And without connection, culture becomes fragile. If leaders want stronger cultures, the work isn’t abstract. It starts with the everyday interactions between people. 🎧 The new People First! episode is live.

    Why Strong Workplace Relationships Create Contagious Culture with Kyle S. King and Daniel Freeman

  4. Jun 8

    CARE: The Leadership Multiplier with Kristin Stapleton

    Care has a reputation problem. Too soft. Too sentimental. Not “serious leadership.” In this episode of People First!, Morag Barrett and Kristin Stapleton explore leadership development, workplace relationships, and why care may be one of the most misunderstood drivers of high performance. Together, they discuss how connection, accountability, respect, and empowerment create stronger teams and more sustainable results. Kristin shares the CARE framework, a practical approach to leadership built on four principles: ConnectionAccountabilityRespect for alternative perspectivesEmpowermentThrough personal stories, leadership lessons, and practical examples, Kristin explains why care is not the opposite of accountability. Instead, it creates the trust, ownership, and collaboration that allow teams to achieve more together than they can alone. Key Takeaways Leadership multiplication begins when leaders move beyond ego and embrace collaboration.Connection creates the foundation for trust, teamwork, and performance.Accountability starts with personal ownership rather than pointing fingers.Respecting different perspectives leads to stronger decisions and innovation.Empowering others creates momentum that spreads across teams and organizations.In This Episode • Why relationships accelerate leadership success• The leadership failure that changed Kristin's career• The airport experience that inspired the CARE framework• How leaders create accountability without blame• Why diverse perspectives improve team performance• The role empowerment plays in multiplying results• Three questions to help identify your unique strengths• Why self-care remains foundational to effective leadership Frequently Asked Questions What does CARE stand for? Connection, Accountability, Respect for alternative perspectives, and Empowerment. Can leaders care about people and still maintain high standards? Yes. Care strengthens accountability, trust, and ownership while maintaining expectations for performance. Why is care important in leadership? Care creates the conditions for stronger workplace relationships, greater collaboration, and sustainable high performance. Related Episodes • Recognition Done Wrong with Chester Elton• Psychological Safety Isn't a Slogan with Bryan Powell• When Inclusion Isn't Easy with Vered Kogan Connect with Kristin Stapleton: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kstapleton-growth-catalyst/YouTube: https://youtu.be/plSFC2bJJVs Connect with Morag Barrett:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moragbarrett/ Website: https://www.skyeteam.com Subscribe to People First! for conversations on leadership development, workplace relationships, team culture, and human connection at work.

    CARE: The Leadership Multiplier with Kristin Stapleton

  5. 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.

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

  6. 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.

    Being A Hero is Holding You Back with Bill Flynn

  7. 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/

    When Pushing Harder Keeps You Stuck with Vered Kogan

  8. 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

    When Inclusion Isn't Easy with Dr. Riza Kadilar
See All (164)

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

Information

You Might Also Like