Leadership Huddle with Geoff Welch

Geoff Welch
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

Leadership Huddle is a resource for developmental leaders who value communicating clearly, helping others smash limiting beliefs, and drawing the best work from themselves and those they lead.  Covering topics related to personal and developmental leadership, self-management,  delegation, and healthy mindsets, Geoff Welch uses each episode to help leaders like you enrich their people and build winning teams.

  1. 11h ago

    They will hate you for this

    Nothing will make a high performer resent you faster than when you ignore the impacts of underperformers.Full stop.You can’t expect your most capable employees to respect you when you won’t address the employee who can’t (or won’t) meet the shared standard.The clearest definition of what you value as a leader is not in the mission statement on the wall or the pretty words you say in meetings. The clearest definition of what you value as a leader is what you will tolerate.Yes, coach people. Yes, offer support. Yes, give people runway when they are trying to upgrade their abilities.But don’t tolerate underperformance just to save yourself from a difficult conversation. TRY THIS: Consider where you might be tolerating behaviors that are making it more difficult for your top performers to respect your leadership.My free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results, without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets

    5 min

  2. 4d ago

    Finding Creative Solutions with Grier Hopkins

    For the record: I didn’t set out to make the Mayor cry.In this episode, I share a rapid-fire conversation with Grier Hopkins, the Mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough to talk about what it actually means to him to lead people well. Grier shares how growing up in Fairbanks shaped his perspective, why understanding people’s backgrounds matters more than having the “right” answers, and how leadership at any level starts with something surprisingly simple: being kind and helping people.We also get into the realities of leading in a tight-knit community, the lessons that only come from “touching the hot stove,” and the humility required to keep learning in public.But the moment that stuck with me most? When a question about modeling leadership to his daughter elicited some unexpected, but welcome, emotion.My free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results, without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets

    25 min

  3. May 31

    The essential role every organization is missing

    I’m thinking about giving up on leadership consulting and becoming a Meeting Czar.I mean, if I really want to help organizations thrive, this is the lever to pull.You’ve probably never heard of a Meeting Czar, likely because it’s a role I made up, but hear me out. The Meeting Czar exists to prevent people from having dumb meetings and ensure the meetings that do happen are actually effective.If you want to have a meeting, send your agenda and invite list to the Meeting Czar. If your agenda is coherent and each invitee is necessary, the meeting can be scheduled.The Meeting Czar attends your meeting and ensures you actually follow the agenda and make coherent decisions with clearly defined work assignments. No one leaves the meeting without complete clarity about what was decided and what happens next.They also follow up to make sure that the work gets done. A well run meeting with clearly defined next steps is still trash if no one actually does anything.Okayokayokayokay. This is obviously a farce.But I bet you’re thinking, “we could really use someone like that around here!”If so, I urge you to start by becoming the Meeting Czar of your own meetings.Make sure every meeting has a clear purpose. (shared ahead of time)Make sure the right people are present to facilitate that purpose.Make sure everyone understands what was decided and what happens next.Make sure the work actually gets done.Yes, contrary to popular belief, planning and follow through are absolutely a part of the time commitment for every meeting you plan.That hour-long meeting on your calendar is actually a 3-hour commitment if you do it right.But if you do it right, you save yourself half a dozen more meetings that don’t accomplish anything.TRY THIS: Before you throw a meeting on the calendar and invite everyone you’ve ever met, define a clear purpose you can share ahead of time and only invite those who are necessary to facilitate that purpose. If the meeting isn’t important enough to invest the time necessary to define a clear, shareable purpose, don’t schedule itMy free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results, without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets

    19 min

  4. May 27

    The Future of Work Is Grey with Dan Pontefract

    When Dan Pontefract started thinking about the future of work, he realized we weren’t just getting older, we were getting it wrong. And that changes everything.In this conversation, I sit down with author and speaker Dan Pontefract to explore a powerful idea: the future of work isn’t young or old, it’s gray. And most organizations are wildly unprepared.Dan introduces the concept of “age debt,” the growing gap between the wisdom organizations need and what they’re actively losing. We talk about the hidden cost of ageism (in every direction), why companies are quietly bleeding institutional knowledge, and how leaders can rethink the role of experience in a multi-generational workforce.One of my favorite moments is his A-HA! moment from the Taylor Swift eras tour that reshaped his thinking about how generations interact.This is a truly accessible conversation about unlocking the potential that’s been sitting right in front of us.Connect with Dan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danpontefract/Website: http://thefutureofworkisgrey.comMy free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results, without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets

    55 min

  5. May 24

    An unexpected leadership lesson from 30,000 true believers

    Earlier this year my beloved Yankees made their first trip of 2026 to Fenway Park to play the rival Boston Red Sox.And while the Yankees swept that 3-game series, the Boston fans provided an incredible example of The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams as they irrationally and erroneously chanted “YANKEES SUCK!” throughout the weekend set.Clarity is Non-NegotiableAbsolutely no one in the stadium was uncertain about who the enemy was or why they hated them. Every participant in the silliest chant ever conceived was completely clear about the unifying power of a shared enemy. Plus, the chant is so simple that anyone can understand and play along instantly. Even when the Red Sox are losing.The Culture is Candid and ConnectedHigh fives with strangers for joining the chorus? Check. Fans encouraging other fans to add their voices to the chant? Check. First time here? We will show you exactly how to join in. Building a stadium-wide declaration is a masterclass in realtime feedback. Ownership is for EveryoneAbsolutely anyone can lead the chant. There is no gatekeeper. If 6 friends feel inspired, they can lead the charge. Or if you, completely on your own, want to start shouting “YANKEES SUCK!” you can be the catalyst that inspires 30,000 voices.Fast, Fearless ExecutionWhen the chant starts to build, there is no dithering from the Fenway Faithful. The chant clearly reinforces an idea they already believe and the culture welcomes all who will rally their voices against the Yankees. Participation is a no-brainer. No overthinking. Just efficient action.The Power of Shared SystemsThe chant itself is a system of sorts. If one fan were to write a scathing diatribe about the Yankees and read it aloud during the 4th inning, it would never be noticed. But by repeating a simple message in unison with thousands of others, the derision becomes a tidal wave crashing down on the field of play. Systems are about creating repeatable, consistent outcomes that are greater than the energy required to make them. That’s exactly what a simple message amplified 30,000 times does.Even if that message is wholly preposterous and lacking a shred of rational evidence. TRY THIS: Consider for yourself…and inquire of your team…if the ethos of your culture is to be FOR something or AGAINST something. There isn’t necessarily a right answer, but it’s important you’re all on the same page. “Let’s Go Yankees” and “Cancer Sucks” are both easy to remember and unify people around an idea. What are you for or against, and how clearly can you define it?My free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results, without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets

    15 min

  6. May 20

    The Culture Advantage with Billy Jenkins and Brandon Hughes

    It’s not often you find two leaders who care as much about how their teams feel as what their teams achieve, but that’s exactly what stood out in this conversation.In this episode, I sit down with Billy Jenkins and Brandon Hughes, Directors of Branch Operations at Credit Union 1, to explore what it really looks like to build strong, connected teams across multiple locations in Alaska.We talk about the power of shared leadership, how culture isn’t something you declare but something you build every day, and why understanding your own strengths might be the most underrated leadership skill out there.Billy brings a systems-driven approach grounded in discipline and intentionality, while Brandon emphasizes relationships, trust, and working through challenges side by side. Together, they offer a compelling look at how complementary leadership styles can elevate not just results, but people.This conversation is a masterclass in balancing structure with humanity…and a reminder that when leaders invest deeply in their people, performance tends to follow.Connect with Billy on LinkedINConnect with Brandon on LinkedINMy free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results, without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets

    1h 1m

  7. May 17

    This is how leaders sabotage themselves

    In just 9 words, and without even realizing it, the woman behind the counter summed up why so many people aren’t as effective as they could be.I was seated across the lobby, reading Lord of the Flies, when the coordinator behind the desk started making calls to confirm appointments and collect some diagnostic information.I wasn’t eavesdropping. Quite the opposite. But there were only a few people in the lobby and her voice was the only sound of note, so it stood out while I was trying to focus on the rapidly decaying society on an island far, far away.Call after call came and went. And then, out of nowhere, she said something that encapsulated the approach of so many well-meaning people.“I’m just doing what they yell at me for.”Okay, so even I can see there are some technical issues with the structure of that sentence – not the least of which is the fact that she said the opposite of what she meant – but I knew exactly where she was coming from.Because this is how so many respond when led by someone who is mostly focused on what they are doing wrong.Instead of going on offense to find creative solutions, explore unexpected opportunities, and go out of their way to do great work, they are reduced to playing defense.They check the boxes that keep them out of trouble and avoid anything out of the ordinary that might attract unwanted attention.When I heard her say those words, I was hearing a person say, “Yes, I understand that this is stupid. But if I don’t do it I get in trouble. So here we are.”The leaders people actually want to follow are able to point out areas of needed improvement without making people feel dumb. They also make sure to offer encouragement around the things their people are doing right.They aren’t just trying to leverage people to achieve an outcome, but they are trying to develop their people and unlock hidden potential.As the people become more capable and more willing to lean into new possibilities, the likelihood of team success (and organizational success) increases.A team that is afraid of getting in trouble is not learning and growing.And a team that is learning and growing will outperform a team that is afraid of getting in trouble.TRY THIS: Celebrate initiative this week. Tell someone you appreciate something they do well. Resist the urge to “yell” at someone when they make a mistake and instead approach them like a coach to find out how to help them avoid that outcome in the future. My free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results, without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets

    16 min

  8. May 13

    The Power of Community in Business with Megan Militello

    She walked away from a business she built, and found something bigger on the other side.In this conversation with Megan Militello, CEO of the Alaska Manufacturing Association and former founder of Elevated Oats, we talk about what it really looks like to build something meaningful, and when to let it go.Megan has a rare ability to see systems, connect people, and turn messy, real-world challenges into forward motion. We talk about how her background in air traffic control shaped her approach to accountability and process, why community is the throughline in everything she’s built, and how she thinks about leadership when there is no clear playbook.She also shares hard-earned lessons from entrepreneurship—the cost of chasing too many ideas, the emotional weight of walking away from something you’ve built, and why being “a little messy” might be a requirement for growth.This is a conversation about building, rebuilding, and bringing people together to solve problems that actually matter.Connect with Megan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganmilitello/Website: http://akmfg.orgMy free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results, without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets

    56 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Leadership Huddle is a resource for developmental leaders who value communicating clearly, helping others smash limiting beliefs, and drawing the best work from themselves and those they lead.  Covering topics related to personal and developmental leadership, self-management,  delegation, and healthy mindsets, Geoff Welch uses each episode to help leaders like you enrich their people and build winning teams.

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