THIS Leader Podcast

Claire Laughlin
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

The "THIS Leader" Podcast explores the transformational, high-impact secrets that turn ordinary people into extraordinary leaders! THIS Leader is hosted by Claire Laughlin, an organizational development consultant. She and her guests will explore: How individuals can enhance their leadership impact by showing up as their personal best; how teams can leverage connection and clarity to experience tremendous results; and how organizations can increase trust and engagement and improve outcomes by putting people and relationships at the center of business.

  1. 70. "I've Got Your Back" How Leaders Shape Culture and Commitment

    5d ago

    70. "I've Got Your Back" How Leaders Shape Culture and Commitment

    What happens when a new employee ignores their own good instincts and follows the wrong advice instead? In this episode, I share a personal story about a new employee who found himself caught between what his gut was telling him and the advice of a more senior team member. It's also the story of a manager whose four simple words changed the way he saw himself and his future. In this episode, you'll hear about: Why the "what do I do in this case?" feeling never really goes away. It's not a beginner's problem but a human one. Every new role, manager, and team brings it back at new altitudes.  Why "I've got your back" is a verb, AND a feeling. The difference between the slogan and the substance is whether you actually do something visible to prove it. Backing your people returns their judgment to them. When you validate good instincts and stand between someone and the risk, you give them the confidence to speak up next time. The ripple effect on culture. One leader's choice to back someone or not teaches everyone watching what's safe. Those lessons compound into a culture. Why instinct matters more than many leaders realize. Strong judgment isn't developed through policies and manuals alone. It grows when people are encouraged to think critically, trust their observations, and learn from experience.  Three ways to put "I've got your back" into practice:  Assume positive intent – even before you have a track record to go on. When someone's new, extend trust in low risk situations.  Validate the judgment, not just the feelings. Soothing the feeling misses the transformational lesson. Affirm that their read on the situation was trustworthy. Take visible action. Pick up the phone. Correct the record. Let them see you spend a little of your own capital because this is rocket fuel for helping them feel safe. This week's challenge: Find one person on your team who's standing in that vulnerable, stretching spot right now. Validate their judgment. Tell them their instincts are good and then do something visible that proves you mean it. Resources mentioned: EVOLVE Leadership Development Program — Give your leaders a shared foundation and common language for leadership, supported by facilitated conversations that turn learning into lasting change. Learn more at clairelaughlin.com/evolve Episode 65 on psychological safety with Janet Williams — The perfect companion to this episode. Subscribe & share: If this episode resonated, share it with a leader who needs to hear it. It helps more than you know! To learn more about my services, subscribe to my newsletter, and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me @Claire Laughlin Consulting on Instagram and LinkedIn. Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! New episodes are released weekly, so be sure to subscribe.

    22 min
  2. 69. Team Tune Up: Reclaim, Revive, Refocus

    Jun 2 ·  Video

    69. Team Tune Up: Reclaim, Revive, Refocus

    Even strong teams drift over time. Expectations can become assumptions. Purpose gets overshadowed by deadlines. Relationships become more transactional. And before anyone notices, people are working alongside each other rather than together. It's not a sign that anything is wrong with you or your people. It's just what happens. In this episode, I share a simple framework for bringing your team back into tune: the team reset. Whether your team has drifted or has never really been "set" in the first place, the same three moves apply: Reclaim your standards. Declare your intent out loud, then build team agreements together. Revive your purpose and relationships. Reconnect to your "why" using a simple "TO…(contribution) SO THAT…(impact)" structure, and make real time to genuinely know one another. Refocus your energy. Shorten your goal horizons to create urgency and build in a sense of real progress; cascade goals so everyone sees the line from their to-do list to the mission; and celebrate progress along the way. And if you've ever thought, "yeah, but I don't have time for this team building stuff" I'll address why tending your team is the work, not a distraction from it. You don't have to overhaul everything all at once. Pick one area. Make one intentional adjustment and start your reset. If you'd like help, this is exactly what I do often in a single, focused day: the One-Day Team Reset. Reach out and schedule a consultation, and we'll talk about what your team needs.  Until next time, lead the way! Resources mentioned: Patrick Lencioni's The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Jim Kouzes & Barry Posner's The Leadership Challenge  Simon Sinek's Start With Why Teresa Amabile's The Progress Principle Episode 5 - "Energize Your Team." CITATIONS Amabile, T. M., & Kramer, S. J. (2011). The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work. Harvard Business Review Press. Lencioni, P. (2002). The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Jossey-Bass. (Trust → Conflict → Commitment → Accountability → Results pyramid; via The Table Group.) Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. The Leadership Challenge. — "the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations." (Direct quote.) Sinek, S. (2009). Start With Why. Portfolio/Penguin. Michael Hyatt — "Focus on your why and you won't lose your way." (Direct quote.) Stephen R. Covey — "Stop setting goals. Goals are pure fantasy unless you have a specific plan to achieve them." (Direct quote; widely attributed to Covey but primary book/source unconfirmed — verify before publish.)   To learn more about my services, subscribe to my newsletter, and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me @Claire Laughlin Consulting on Instagram and LinkedIn. Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! New episodes are released weekly, so be sure to subscribe.

    37 min

  3. May 26

    68. Collaborating Effectively, Managing-Up, and Breaking Down Silos

    Much of our leadership stress doesn't come from big crises. It comes from the constant stream of "quick asks," shifting priorities, vague expectations, and the pressure to keep everyone happy without dropping the ball yourself. In this episode, Claire shares a simple framework to help you respond to those requests and to the people above you with confidence, clarity, and a lot less stress. Instead of reacting habitually or making decisions under pressure, you'll learn how to pause, assess, and respond in a way that protects both your relationships and your priorities. In this episode, you'll hear about: The hidden cost of silos: The invisible rework, duplicated effort, and decisions made in a vacuum that quietly drain organizations of precious time, even when the work is technically "getting done." The real problem with cross-functional requests: It's not that you're too busy or that colleagues are unreasonable. It's ambiguity, i.e., not knowing the ask, the urgency, or your role. The ACE Framework: Three steps to ground every response- Assess the ask, Clarify your role, and Engage your stakeholders. How to provide great internal customer service by saying, "Here's what I can do. Here's by when. Here's what I need from you." The proactive prioritization / managing-up conversation: Four questions, ten minutes, once a month to build clarity before the chaos. Why we don't use the tools even when we have them: Three internal barriers and how to move past each. Resources mentioned:  EVOLVE Leadership Development Platform, including the Leadership Essentials six-week challenge. Learn more at https://www.clairelaughlin.com/evolve "Managing Up: The Mid-Manager's Guide to Effective Collaboration" — a short companion guide to this episode Join the Conversation: Navigating a tricky cross-functional request right now? I'd love to hear how you're handling it—reach out on social or through my website. Subscribe & Share: If this episode helped you, share it with a colleague who's in the middle of that push and pull. The more openly we talk about this, the better our organizations get. To learn more about my services, subscribe to my newsletter, and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me @Claire Laughlin Consulting on Instagram and LinkedIn. Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! New episodes are released weekly, so be sure to subscribe. Until next time, lead the way!

    21 min

  4. May 19

    67. Leading Without Losing Yourself: Being A Purpose-Driven Leader

    Leadership has a way of pulling us into constant motion. Decisions to make. Problems to solve. Expectations to meet. And over time, it becomes surprisingly easy to lead from urgency instead of intention. Without even realizing it, many of us drift away from the values, strengths, and deeper sense of purpose that once grounded us. We become highly productive, highly responsible… and quietly disconnected from ourselves. In this episode, Claire introduces the practice of building a leadership identity and makes the case for why it's the foundation of everything else. She explores what it means to develop a leadership identity and why knowing your "true north" is foundational to sustainable, purpose-driven leadership.  In this episode, you'll hear about: How Claire describes leadership identity, and why it goes far beyond your title, role, or performance indicators Four elements that shape how you lead: your values, strengths, learning edges, and role requirements How leaders can slowly drift away from themselves over time even when they deeply care about their work Claire's personal story of discontent, reflection, and the question that changed everything: "Who am I actually trying to be?" How a clear sense of purpose helps you navigate difficult decisions, conversations, and seasons with more confidence and alignment   Resources mentioned:  EVOLVE — Claire's leadership development platform, built for growth-minded leaders who want real tools and real community. Learn more at https://www.clairelaughlin.com/evolve  Free Consultation — Not sure if EVOLVE is right for you? Grab a free call at clairelaughlin.com   What's your WHY? Share your answer with Claire on LinkedIn — she reads every one.  Don't forget to Subscribe & Share: If this episode was helpful, please leave a 5-star review on Apple or Spotify and share it with a friend or colleague! To learn more about my services, subscribe to my newsletter, and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me @Claire Laughlin Consulting on Instagram and LinkedIn. Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! New episodes are released weekly, so be sure to subscribe. Until next time, lead the way!

    22 min

  5. May 12

    66. The Neuroscience of Resilient Leadership with Lisa Alessi

    You're a capable, committed leader, but why does it sometimes feel like your best thinking disappears exactly when you need it most? In this episode, I sit down with leadership coach Lisa Alessi to explore what's actually happening in your nervous system when pressure hits and what to do about it.   What you'll learn in this episode: Why you cannot think your way out of a triggered state and what to do instead How to recognize the four stress responses (fight, flight, fawn, and freeze) in yourself and your team What might happen when the strategies that made you successful as an individual contributor work against you in a leadership role Practical self-regulation techniques you can use in the moment and build into your daily habits How your own nervous system regulation directly impacts the people you lead    Resources mentioned: Lisa's Above/Below the Line handout Lisa Alessi's website  Episode 64: Stop Feeding the Beast   Visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me @Claire Laughlin Consulting on Instagram and LinkedIn. Thanks for listening! New episodes are released weekly. Share with others who might benefit!

    41 min

  6. May 5

    65. Building Psychological Safety at Work with Janet Williams

    Telling your team "it's safe to speak up" isn't enough to create the kind of high-performing teamwork that you're looking for. In this episode, Janet Williams, founder of Progressive Discoveries and a 25-year veteran of complex, high-stakes organizations, joins me to unpack what psychological safety in an organization really is.  Here's what we dig into: Why silence is a signal, not a personality trait. When people stop talking, leaders lose access to their team's best thinking, and often don't even know it's happening. Trust is the copilot. Janet unpacks Stephen Covey's emotional bank account concept and explains why safety can't exist without consistent, daily deposits of trust. Timothy Clark's Four Stages of Psychological Safety- inclusion, learner, contributor, and challenger safety. We also chat about why Janet believes learner safety is the most critical for today's fast-changing organizations. The problem with putting people on the spot in meetings. A simple fix: share your agenda questions in advance so people can come prepared and contribute thoughtfully. Why assessment beats assumption. If you want to know where your team actually stands, a third-party instrument will get you honest answers that a direct conversation won't.  Psychological safety in the workplace isn't soft. It's what makes everything else work. Resources mentioned: Progressive Discoveries Website Janet Williams' LinkedIn Visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me @Claire Laughlin Consulting on Instagram and LinkedIn.Thanks for listening! New episodes are released weekly. Share with others who might benefit!

    46 min
  7. 64. Stop Feeding the Beast - How to Crush Stress by Being Proactive

    Apr 28

    64. Stop Feeding the Beast - How to Crush Stress by Being Proactive

    We all have our "things" that frustrate us to no end— the slow driver in the fast lane, the dish that's always left in the sink by an inconsiderate co-worker, the skyrocketing grocery bill. And without realizing it, we often retell our frustrating stories, amplify our own indignation, and exaggerate the stress that comes with these experiences time and again. In this episode, Claire explores the habit of "feeding the beast" and what it quietly costs us as leaders. In this episode, you'll hear about: How the stories we tell become the lens we lead through (so beware when your stories are negative!) The real cost of reactive leadership, and how your nervous system state is literally contagious to your team. How to use your body as an early warning system to help you catch a stress overload. Four practical self-regulation tools, including 4-7-8 breathing, daily movement, grounding, and your morning routine as infrastructure (not just habit). The philosophy shift I urge you to make. And why becoming someone who actively lowers stress is a foundational leadership practice, not a luxury. Resources Mentioned: EVOLVE — Claire's leadership development platform, built for growth-minded leaders who want real tools and real community. Learn more at https://www.clairelaughlin.com/evolve  Previous episode: How to get unstuck with Dr. Ryan Gottfredson Earlier episode: Love Letter to Life - Claire's morning routine Citations: Porges, S.W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. W. W. Norton & Company. Rock, D. (2008). SCARF: A brain-based model for collaborating with and influencing others. NeuroLeadership Journal, 1, 1–9. — (Referenced in Ep. 9; relevant for threat response/stress activation) Join the Conversation: Are you looking for greater leadership support? What's keeping you up at night? Share your thoughts with me on LinkedIn @Claire Laughlin Don't forget to Subscribe & Share: If this episode was helpful, please leave a 5-star review on Apple or Spotify and share it with a friend or colleague! To learn more about my services, subscribe to my newsletter, and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me on social channels @Claire Laughlin Consulting. Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! New episodes are released weekly, so be sure to subscribe. Until next time, lead the way!

    32 min
  8. 63. How to Get Unstuck with Dr. Ryan Gottfredson

    Apr 20

    63. How to Get Unstuck with Dr. Ryan Gottfredson

    You're working hard. You're skilled. You're committed. So why do the same frustrations keep showing up — in your team, in your organization, and if you're honest, in yourself? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Ryan Gottfredson — Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, professor of leadership at Cal State Fullerton, and global authority on vertical development — to explore the question that changes everything: it's not what leaders need to do, it's who leaders need to be. We dig into: The difference between your Doing Side (talent, knowledge, skills) and your Being Side (mindsets, emotional regulation, internal operating system) — and why most leaders miss their "being" side The three vertical development levels — Mind 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 — and why 64% of adults never move beyond the first What Fifth Gear leadership looks like (urgency, control, high RPMs) and why pushing harder only leads to more burnout How shifting into Sixth Gear allows you to move faster with less strain — and what it actually takes to get there Three levels of Being Side development work: surface, deeper, and deepest — and practical starting points for each Why our fears and unconscious programming, not our lack of skill, are what's really holding us back  Resources Mentioned: Ryan Gottfredson's website & free assessments (Personal Mindset Assessment + Vertical Development Assessment) Becoming Better: The Groundbreaking Science of Personal Transformation by Dr. Ryan Gottfredson The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk The Five Minute Journal by Intelligent Change You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella  Visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me @Claire Laughlin Consulting on Instagram and LinkedIn. Thanks for listening! New episodes are released weekly—share with others who might benefit!

    54 min
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About

The "THIS Leader" Podcast explores the transformational, high-impact secrets that turn ordinary people into extraordinary leaders! THIS Leader is hosted by Claire Laughlin, an organizational development consultant. She and her guests will explore: How individuals can enhance their leadership impact by showing up as their personal best; how teams can leverage connection and clarity to experience tremendous results; and how organizations can increase trust and engagement and improve outcomes by putting people and relationships at the center of business.

Information

  • Creator
    Claire Laughlin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    THIS Leader Podcast

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