UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders

Cohesion Culture
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Hear real-time stories from leaders confessing their most crucial or recent "UH-OH" experiences in business. Learn what their "UH-OH" cost them, steps they took to fix it, and how they planned not to "do that one" again. Hosted by Dr. Troy and Ben-Jamin Toy.

  1. They Still Send Him Thank You Notes

    4D AGO

    They Still Send Him Thank You Notes

    In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Ben-Jamin Toy and Dr. Troy Hall chat with Jim Carlough, a seasoned executive and Chief Sales Officer, to discuss one of the most difficult and often most mishandled moments in leadership: downsizing. Jim shares a candid UH-OH experience from earlier in his career, when following traditional “be firm, be direct, be short” guidance damaged trust, hurt his reputation, and left lasting emotional fallout for employees. He doesn’t sugarcoat the cost, both personal and professional. But the story doesn’t stop there. Twenty years into his career, Jim rethought everything. What followed was a radically human, integrity-driven approach to layoffs built on transparency, empathy, and shared dignity—an approach that resulted in the highest employee satisfaction scores in a 20,000-person organization, even as jobs were being eliminated. This conversation is a masterclass in: Leading under pressureIntegrity as a daily behaviorHow cohesion changes outcomes especially in hard momentsWhat leaders and employees can do when facing transitionIf you think cohesion only matters when times are good, this episode will challenge that belief. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

    36 min
  2. Why Your Biggest Business UH-OH Might Be Your Breakthrough

    JAN 27

    Why Your Biggest Business UH-OH Might Be Your Breakthrough

    What happens when a six-figure mistake forces a leader to look in the mirror? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with entrepreneur and insurance leader David Price for an honest conversation about accountability, ego, and growth under pressure. David shares how a $100,000 operational oversight exposed deeper issues around systems, leadership readiness, and removing himself from the business too quickly. Instead of deflecting blame, he walks through how owning the mistake sharpened his discipline, improved his processes, and ultimately strengthened the company. This conversation goes beyond business mechanics. David opens up about his recovery journey, how discipline is built through repetition, why mistakes are expensive education, and what it really means to act like the leader you want to become before the title shows up. If you’ve ever: Missed something costly at workFelt the sting of accountabilityStruggled with ego, growth, or delegationWondered how leaders turn failures into fuelThis episode will hit home. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

    34 min
  3. The Cost of Scaling Too Fast: A Leadership Lesson (Rerun)

    JAN 20

    The Cost of Scaling Too Fast: A Leadership Lesson (Rerun)

    In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with Ryan DuBois. He’s an endurance athlete at heart, a builder by trade, and the kind of leader who’s learned most of his lessons the hard way. From scaling startups across the Southeast to grinding through 20-hour days in manufacturing, Ryan brings a grounded, people-first view of leadership when things stop going according to plan. Ryan shares his defining UH-OH moment, a rapid expansion that pushed his team beyond capacity and forced a hard reset. The fallout went deeper than operational pain and became a leadership wake-up call. By slowing down, applying lean principles, and choosing readiness over raw output, he learned that if your people aren’t ready, your business isn’t either. The conversation digs into what actually sustains organizations. Why every company is, at its core, in the people business. How transparency earns trust instead of eroding authority. And what leaders should really be looking for when promoting from within. Ryan connects endurance thinking, intentional conversations, and long-term perspective into a leadership approach that favors progress over panic. If you’re a founder moving fast, a leader navigating growth, or someone who wants to lead with more clarity and less ego, this episode is a reminder worth hearing. Sustainable leadership doesn’t come from sprinting harder. It comes from listening well, learning fast, and choosing the long road when it’s the right one. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

    36 min
  4. Using AI Without Losing Trust

    JAN 13

    Using AI Without Losing Trust

    What happens when integrity collides with convenience? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Trevor Crunelle chat with leadership coach, author, and podcaster Kathy Archer for a refreshingly honest conversation about confidence, competence, and the cost of leadership missteps. Kathy shares a pivotal UH-OH moment involving AI, trust, and a leadership value she holds deeply: integrity. What followed wasn’t a public disaster, but something quieter and more dangerous... a crack in trust. Together, they unpack: Why imposter syndrome is often a skill gap, not a character flawHow leaders unintentionally say one thing and model anotherThe difference between niceness and kindness in leadership conversationsWhy confidence grows from competence, not complimentsHow AI can support leaders without undermining authenticityWhy owning mistakes builds credibility faster than pretending they didn’t happenThis episode is practical, direct, and grounded in leadership experience. No motivational posters. No performative vulnerability. Just honest reflection, accountability, and tools leaders can actually use. If you lead people. or want to, this conversation will challenge how you think about trust, growth, and what it really means to be teachable. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

    34 min
  5. Not Everyone Wants the Next Promotion

    JAN 6

    Not Everyone Wants the Next Promotion

    What happens when a leader’s best intentions quietly become a burden? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and guest host, Trevor Crunelle, chat with Chris Lorence for a candid conversation about ambition, assumptions, and an unexpected leadership blind spot. Chris shares a powerful UH-OH moment that emerged from a leadership 360 assessment. While he was widely seen as capable, reliable, and driven, one insight hit hard. His constant push for growth and promotion was experienced as heavy by some on his team. This episode explores the cost of assuming everyone wants the next title, the next role, or the next rung on the ladder. Chris walks through how this realization challenged his self-confidence, reshaped the questions he asks as a leader, and ultimately changed how he defines success, both for himself and for others. You’ll hear lessons on asking better questions, separating personal ambition from team needs, and why being helpful still requires permission. It’s an honest reminder that cohesion isn’t built by pushing people forward, but by meeting them where they actually want to be. If you lead high performers, aspire to the C-suite, or care deeply about developing others, this episode will make you pause and think. Possibly uncomfortably. Definitely productively. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

    34 min
  6. Episode 0 Repost: Ground Zero

    12/30/2025

    Episode 0 Repost: Ground Zero

    This Ground Zero episode sets the tone for UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders. Before the guests, our hosts made their fair share of mistakes. Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy kick things off by sharing their own leadership UH-OH moments. From a simple technical oversight that could have derailed a client experience, to career-limiting behaviors that quietly stalled advancement, this episode gets honest about what mistakes cost leaders and what growth requires. You’ll hear why this podcast exists, how mentors can cut your learning curve in half, and why being teachable matters more than being right. This isn’t about perfect leadership. It’s about learning fast, owning missteps, and acting like the leader you want to become, not just the role you currently hold. If you’ve ever thought “that could’ve gone better,” this podcast is for you. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

    41 min
  7. Trying to Be Everyone’s Friend Cost Me Everything

    12/23/2025

    Trying to Be Everyone’s Friend Cost Me Everything

    What happens when a leader wants to be liked more than trusted? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, John Little shares a pivotal leadership UH-OH from his early career at CNN. This mistake cost him credibility, confidence, and a leadership role. At just 27 years old, John stepped into leadership with good intentions and the wrong strategy: trying to be everyone’s friend. What followed was a lesson in accountability, trust, and the difference between being nice and being kind. John unpacks how avoiding tough conversations, playing favorites unintentionally, and prioritizing approval over clarity eroded trust, and how discovering emotional intelligence and self-awareness helped him rebuild his leadership foundation. This conversation is a must-listen for emerging leaders who want to lead with empathy and backbone, build trust without losing authenticity, and avoid one of the most common leadership traps. You don’t have to know everything. You just need to be teachable. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

    34 min
  8. The Promotion He Didn’t Want and the Price He Paid

    12/16/2025

    The Promotion He Didn’t Want and the Price He Paid

    What happens when success comes faster than wisdom? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Donzel Leggett shares a powerful early-career UH-OH that many emerging leaders will recognize and few will admit. Thrust into management before he even wanted the role, Donzel felt the pressure to prove himself, deliver results, and not let anyone down. He did exactly that. And it nearly wrecked his health, his energy, and his life. Working 16 hour days, pursuing an MBA, and chasing performance at all costs, Donzel ignored the warning signs until one unforgettable moment forced him to confront the truth: success without balance collapses. This conversation is a masterclass on leadership, personal well-being, defining success on your own terms, and why sharpening the axe matters more than swinging harder. If you are early in your career, hungry to win, or quietly burning out, this episode might save you years of learning the hard way. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

    41 min
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Hear real-time stories from leaders confessing their most crucial or recent "UH-OH" experiences in business. Learn what their "UH-OH" cost them, steps they took to fix it, and how they planned not to "do that one" again. Hosted by Dr. Troy and Ben-Jamin Toy.

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