The Team Engagement Podcast

Shawn Richards
  • 4.3 (6)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

We discuss 5 questions in about 15 minutes because leaders know how to be concise! Questions are centered on team engagement and leadership principles for leaders of all experience levels.

  1. 6d ago

    Are You Making Candor Safe? | Kathy Miller

    What does it really take to create psychological safety on a team?  In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Kathy Miller, MAPP, MBA, ACC, Advisor, Author, and Speaker, about psychological safety, making candor safe, staying grounded, growth mindset, emotional well-being, and helping people recognize strengths they may not see in themselves. Kathy believes psychological safety isn't about making work comfortable. It's about making candor safe. Leaders need to be able to receive uncomfortable truths without judgment and respond in a way that encourages people to keep speaking up. How a leader reacts to one person's mistake, question, or difficult truth also teaches everyone else on the team what is safe to say. Kathy also shares how her father helped ground her from an early age. His simple reminder that everyone is a human being, regardless of their role or title, shaped the way she approached leadership and manufacturing. When she entered a challenging manufacturing environment at just 17 years old, his message was simple: "You'll be fine." That confidence stayed with her throughout her career. When it comes to growth, Kathy encourages leaders to recognize that discomfort doesn't always mean you don't belong. Sometimes it means you're being pushed to grow. She shares how one of her greatest strengths as a leader was seeing strengths in people that they didn't recognize in themselves, then giving them opportunities to explore those strengths. Kathy also discusses emotional well-being and the importance of realistic optimism. Leaders can't control everything, but they can separate what they can control from what they can't, pause before reacting emotionally, and provide their teams with clarity, steadiness, and perspective. What You'll Learn: Why psychological safety starts with making candor safeHow leaders' reactions teach teams what is safe to sayWhy uncomfortable truths can become learning opportunitiesHow leaders can buffer their teams from unhealthy pressure above themWhy staying grounded can help leaders navigate challenging environmentsHow a growth mindset can change the way we view discomfortWhy recognizing strengths in others is a powerful leadership skillHow leaders can help people discover potential they don't see in themselvesWhy realistic optimism matters for emotional well-beingHow pausing before reacting can help leaders lead with greater clarity and steadinessWhy people should never be defined by their roles or titlesAbout Kathy Miller Kathy Miller, MAPP, MBA, ACC, is the founder and CEO of MORE 4 Leaders, an executive advisory and leadership development company. A former global manufacturing executive, she has led more than $3 billion in operations and now advises manufacturing executives and HR leaders on turning leadership and culture into measurable operating performance. Kathy is an independent board director, keynote speaker, Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductee, two-time Shingo Award winner, and author of MORE Is Better and Steel Toes and Stilettos. She is passionate about helping others see strengths that they don't recognize in themselves. Connect with Kathy: Kathy's Website: https://www.more4leaders.com More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #GrowthMindset #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalWellBeing #KathyMiller

    Are You Making Candor Safe? | Kathy Miller

  2. Sep 24

    What Can Genuine Leadership Look Like? | Ryan Englin

    What does it really mean to genuinely care about the people you lead? In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Ryan Englin, CEO of Core Matters, about genuine leadership, psychological safety, personal growth, and emotional wellness. Ryan believes one of the most important things leaders can do is show their employees that they genuinely care about them as people, not simply about the work they produce. He also shares the impact of a former sales coach who showed him what genuine leadership could look like through honest feedback, tough love, and a sincere desire to see him succeed. When it comes to growth, Ryan reminds leaders that growth doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. A promotion or bigger title might matter to one person, while another may define growth as getting out of debt, strengthening a relationship, spending more time with family, or achieving an important personal goal. What You'll Learn: - Why genuine care is important to psychological safety - The difference between caring about the work and caring about the person - What genuine leadership can look like in practice - Why honest feedback can still come from a place of care - Why growth means something different to every employee - How leaders can learn what their people actually want - Why comparison can negatively affect emotional wellness - How looking back at how far you've come can change your perspective About Ryan Englin Ryan Englin is the CEO of Core Matters, an author, podcaster, and advocate for frontline employees and the leaders who support them. His work focuses on helping organizations better engage their frontline teams and build stronger connections between leaders, employees, and the customers they serve. Connect with Ryan: Ryan's Website: https://ryanenglin.com Core Matters: https://corematters.com FieldCon: https://fieldcon.io More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #GenuineLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #GrowthMindset #RyanEnglin

    What Can Genuine Leadership Look Like? | Ryan Englin

  3. Sep 17

    Are You As Tenacious As This? | Lara Hamilton

    In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Lara Hamilton, Vice President at Tectonic, about listening, tenacity, growth, and emotional wellness in leadership. Lara shares why creating psychological safety begins with genuinely listening to your team, even when their ideas or suggestions may be delivered differently than you expect. She also shares the story of her mother, whose journey from a difficult upbringing to a leadership role in the insurance industry taught Lara the meaning of tenacity. When it comes to growth, Lara believes leaders don't need to be the smartest person in the room. Instead, she intentionally surrounds herself with people who bring expertise, experience, and perspectives that she can learn from. What You'll Learn: - Why psychological safety starts with genuine listening - How considering someone's intent can change a difficult conversation - What Lara learned about tenacity from her mother - Why leaders should hire people who know more than they do - How humility contributes to a growth mindset - Why stepping away from work can sometimes make you a better leader - How Lara's first job taught her to multitask and think on her feet About Lara Hamilton Lara Hamilton is the Vice President of Helpdesk Realty, a division at Tectonic, where she has excelled for more than 15 years. She is an experienced leader in property management technology and helps teams navigate IT infrastructure and property management software. Lara is passionate about making technology feel human and accessible, mentoring her team, continuous learning, and creating practical solutions that bring greater clarity to business operations. Connect with Lara: Website: https://teamtectonic.com Email: lhamilton@teamtectonic.com Sponsored by Taelor. You're running a company, managing a team, showing up to rooms that matter- and somewhere between all of that, figuring out what to wear fell off the list. Taelor handles it. A personal stylist picks clothes in your size and style and ships them to your door every month. You wear them, send them back- no shopping, no laundry, no thinking about it. Use code SHAWN30 at taelor.style for $30 off your first month. More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #Tenacity #GrowthMindset #PsychologicalSafety #LaraHamilton

    Are You As Tenacious As This? | Lara Hamilton

  4. Sep 15

    Are You Addicted to Your Paycheck? | Greg Mohr

    In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards welcomes back Greg Mohr, Franchise Maven and author of Real Freedom, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, franchising, leadership, and taking greater control of your future. Greg explains why one of the biggest advantages of franchising is having a proven system already in place. Instead of trying to change everything immediately, new franchise owners can learn the system, follow the plan, and introduce new ideas once they understand what already works. Shawn and Greg also explore how technology and AI are changing franchise operations, why the human element still matters, and how good leadership helps create a strong culture within a franchise. Most importantly, Greg challenges listeners to define what success actually means to them. Is it building multiple businesses? Creating more income? Having greater time freedom? Spending more time with family? The right opportunity depends on the life you're actually trying to build. The conversation leads to an important question: Are you addicted to your paycheck? Greg shares why he decided to leave the predictability of corporate life and pursue greater control over his time, income, and future. What You'll Learn: - Why new franchise owners should follow the proven system before changing it - How franchising provides structure while still allowing room for creativity - Why location still matters for many brick-and-mortar franchises - How AI is being incorporated into franchise operations - Why human interaction and leadership remain essential - How to define what success actually looks like for you - Why a franchise should be viewed as an asset rather than simply another job - How a predictable paycheck can sometimes become a ceiling - Why taking the first step can help you create greater control over your future About Greg Mohr Greg Mohr is a franchise expert, entrepreneur, author, and self-described Franchise Maven. After years of owning franchises himself, Greg now helps aspiring business owners explore franchise opportunities that align with their skills, goals, lifestyle, and definition of success. He is also the author of Real Freedom. Connect with Greg: Website: https://franchisemaven.com Sponsored by Taelor. You're running a company, managing a team, showing up to rooms that matter- and somewhere between all of that, figuring out what to wear fell off the list. Taelor handles it. A personal stylist picks clothes in your size and style and ships them to your door every month. You wear them, send them back- no shopping, no laundry, no thinking about it. Use code SHAWN30 at taelor.style for $30 off your first month. More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #Entrepreneurship #Franchising #BusinessOwnership #GregMohr

    Are You Addicted to Your Paycheck? | Greg Mohr

  5. Sep 10

    Is Your Habit of Micromanaging Eroding Trust? | Nathaniel Seitz

    In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Nathaniel Seitz, Founder of Day 91 Solutions, about trust, psychological safety, micromanagement, growth, and emotional wellness. Nathaniel explains how micromanagement can undermine trust, even when a leader genuinely believes they're helping. Instead, he encourages leaders to create a "circle of safety" where employees feel comfortable admitting mistakes, raising concerns, and having honest conversations. Drawing from his own career experiences, Nathaniel shares what it felt like to move from being heavily micromanaged to working for a leader who trusted him to get the job done. That experience shaped his belief that employees need room to make mistakes, learn, and improve. He also discusses why being open to change is necessary for growth, why leaders need to truly disconnect when taking time off, and how continuing to learn can keep leaders and employees moving forward. What You'll Learn: - How micromanagement can erode trust - Why psychological safety starts with trusting your people - How to create a "circle of safety" within your team - Why open-ended questions can lead to better conversations - Why leaders must be open to change before they can grow - How taking real time away from work supports emotional wellness - Why leaders should trust their teams when they're away - How continuous learning can keep your mind and career moving forward About Nathaniel Seitz Nathaniel Seitz is the Founder of Day 91 Solutions, where he focuses on improving onboarding, HR practices, employee experiences, and workplace effectiveness. His philosophy centers on helping organizations support employees beyond the traditional first 90 days. He is also the author of The 91st Day. Connect with Nathaniel: Website: https://www.day91solutions.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielsietz/ Sponsored by Taelor. You're running a company, managing a team, showing up to rooms that matter- and somewhere between all of that, figuring out what to wear fell off the list. Taelor handles it. A personal stylist picks clothes in your size and style and ships them to your door every month. You wear them, send them back- no shopping, no laundry, no thinking about it. Use code SHAWN30 at taelor.style for $30 off your first month. More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #Trust #Micromanagement #NathanielSeitz

    Is Your Habit of Micromanaging Eroding Trust? | Nathaniel Seitz

  6. Sep 3

    Growth Requires Room to Be Unfinished | Dr. Desiree Williams

    In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Dr. Desiree Williams, leadership expert, author, speaker, and healthcare professional, about psychological safety, continuous learning, belief, and emotional wellness. Desiree explains that psychological safety is determined by what happens after someone speaks up. Leaders may say their doors are always open, but employees will pay close attention to how leaders respond when someone disagrees, admits a mistake, asks a difficult question, or delivers bad news. She also shares why leaders don't need to pretend they have every answer. Modeling continuous learning and being willing to say, "I haven't learned how to do this yet," gives teams permission to learn as well. As Desiree puts it, growth requires room to be unfinished.  What You'll Learn: • Why psychological safety is determined by a leader's response  • How curiosity helps leaders respond when employees speak up  • Why believing in someone's potential can transform their confidence  • How leaders can empower people to empower others  • Why saying "I don't know yet" supports a growth mindset  • How leaders can model continuous learning  • Why self-awareness and boundaries are essential for emotional wellness  • How leaders set the emotional temperature for their teams About Dr. Desiree Williams Dr. Desiree Williams is a leadership expert, author, speaker, and healthcare professional whose work focuses on people, culture, and strategy. She helps leaders translate leadership into practical behaviors that strengthen trust, improve culture, and create workplaces where people and performance can thrive. Connect with Desiree: Website:  http://drdesireespeaks.com Sponsored by Taelor. You're running a company, managing a team, showing up to rooms that matter- and somewhere between all of that, figuring out what to wear fell off the list. Taelor handles it. A personal stylist picks clothes in your size and style and ships them to your door every month. You wear them, send them back- no shopping, no laundry, no thinking about it. Use code SHAWN30 at taelor.style for $30 off your first month. More episodes:  https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #GrowthMindset #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipDevelopment #DesireeWilliams

    Growth Requires Room to Be Unfinished | Dr. Desiree Williams

  7. Aug 27

    Feedback Promotes Psychological Safety | Mike Moreau

    In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Mike Moreau, President of Concord Consulting, about feedback, psychological safety, continuous improvement, and emotional wellness in leadership. Mike explains why leaders need to create room for mistakes and regularly invite candid feedback. When people know they can speak openly without being punished for every misstep, trust grows and teams become more willing to experiment, learn, and improve. The conversation also explores the importance of being relentless about growth and pursuing small, consistent improvements. Mike then challenges leaders to examine whether they have become the bottleneck in their organizations and explains how better delegation and accountability can create space for both their teams and themselves to grow. What You'll Learn: • Why making room for mistakes strengthens psychological safety  • How regularly asking for feedback builds trust  • Why leaders need to be prepared to receive difficult feedback  • How a relentless pursuit of small improvements compounds over time  • Why leaders shouldn't become the center of every decision  • How delegation and accountability support emotional wellness  • Why meaningful organizational change often starts with the leader Connect with Mike: Concord Consulting: https://www.concordconsulting.com More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #Feedback #GrowthMindset #MikeMoreau

    Feedback Promotes Psychological Safety | Mike Moreau

  8. Aug 20

    Encourage Curiosity | Lilith Christiansen

    In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Lilith Christiansen, Founder and CEO of HumanGenuity, about psychological safety, curiosity, growth mindset, and emotional wellness. Lilith explains why leaders should actively invite dissent and different perspectives before making decisions. She also discusses the importance of providing context, maintaining consistent accountability, and ensuring leadership behavior matches what the organization says it values. For Lilith, cultivating a growth mindset starts with curiosity. Instead of focusing only on whether an experience produced the desired outcome, leaders can ask what they learned, what they might change, and how that experience can help them approach the next challenge differently.  What You’ll Learn:  Why leaders should actively invite dissent  How context helps teams understand and support decisions  Why consistency strengthens psychological safety  How curiosity creates opportunities for growth  Why setbacks can provide some of the best learning opportunities  Practical approaches leaders can use to support emotional wellness  How gratitude, rest, and reflection can strengthen leadership Connect with Lilith: Website: https://human-genuity.com More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #Curiosity #PsychologicalSafety #GrowthMindset #LilithChristiansen

    Encourage Curiosity | Lilith Christiansen
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4.3
out of 5
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About

We discuss 5 questions in about 15 minutes because leaders know how to be concise! Questions are centered on team engagement and leadership principles for leaders of all experience levels.

Information

  • Creator
    Shawn Richards
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    357
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Team Engagement Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Team Engagement Podcast