Leadership Huddle with Geoff Welch

Geoff Welch
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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. 1D AGO

    You can’t offer clarity you don’t have

    In my 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams workshops we do an exercise in which participant leaders write a “movie synopsis” for the projects their team is involved in.The goal is to accurately describe the project in the shortest, simplest language so it can be easily understood by anyone on the team.Team members will still need Puzzle Box Clarity about the detail and minutiae, but this synopsis is a way of encapsulating what DONE looks like in a way that is intentionally shareable. And a funny thing happens as these leaders are crafting these short, punchy summaries: they realize they don’t have the clarity they need to do it well.The exercise is designed to get them to break the project down to its essence, but that process often reveals that they need more clarity from their own leaders.Your people will never have more clarity about what DONE looks like than you do.That makes it incumbent upon you to ask the smart (and “dumb”) questions of those above you to ensure you are crystal clear about what you are asking of your team.TRY THIS: Ask your people, “Can you describe what DONE looks like for project X in one sentence?” Don’t expect eloquent answers, it’s your job to give them an eloquent synopsis, but pay attention to what they seem sure of and where they seem hesitant. You’ll know exactly where you need to increase clarity pretty quickly.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

    13 min

  2. 5D AGO

    How to Lead with Purpose and Presence with Erika Smith

    I don’t think I’ve ever had someone tell me that a major inflection point in their career was the desire to wear slacks to work.But here we are.In this conversation, I sit down with Erika Smith, Chief Operating Officer at Credit Union 1, to explore the unlikely, adventurous arc of her leadership journey. From small-town barista to executive, from detours to Australia to “mad scientist mode,” and from overthinker to someone who intentionally creates space for others to grow.Erika shares how cross-country skiing became both therapy and metaphor, why vulnerability is the real engine of leadership, and how she uses personality frameworks to better understand her team (and herself).We dig into what it means to lead with clarity during transformation, why connection is the heartbeat of her work, and the moment she realized her job is ultimately about creating opportunities for others to thrive.This episode is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when you pair thoughtful speed with deep authenticity.Connect 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

    52 min

  3. JAN 28

    Visionary Leadership in Uncertain Times with Leah Boltz

    Leah Boltz was never going to accept that her daughter wouldn’t be able to play at the neighborhood park. So she led a charge that resulted in more than 25 accessible parks across her city. Leah Boltz, is the Principal for Marketing, Business Development & Community Outreach at Bettisworth North, and in this conversation we talk about how one inaccessible park turned into a citywide movement, how a terrifying TEDx talk became a launchpad for her career, and what it means to be a non-technical principal in a highly technical firm.Leah shares candid insights on saying yes to the right things, aligning your work with what you care about most, and giving feedback that actually helps people grow. We also dig into visionary leadership in uncertain times and how she’s helping guide a firm celebrating its 50th anniversary into its next chapter. If you care about community, clarity, and courageous leadership, this conversation is for you.Connect with Leah 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

    55 min

  4. JAN 25

    The real reason I can't stop thinking about John Wick

    I’m sure someone has sorted out how many people John Wick kills across his cinematic run, but I fear I can’t count that high.I know the violence in these movies is severe and ever present, but I think about John Wick every single day when I dive into my work around leadership and building teams that produce outsized results.After all, John Wick might be the poster child for producing outsized results.During the opening sequence of the second movie, one crime boss is talking to another crime boss, describing exactly why John Wick is such an interminable force.“John Wick is a man of focus, commitment, and sheer [censored] will.”And that’s the crux of it all, right there.Did John Wick have what Liam Neeson would call “a very particular set of skills”? Absolutely.But the thing that made him terrifying was his focus, commitment, and will.He proved himself to be a wholly unstoppable force along the way and every day I want to capture just a fraction of that relentlessness.When you think of John Wick, you might think of a guy who dispatched scores of enemies.But I think of a model of unyielding focus and persistence. TRY THIS: How would adopting John Wick’s focus, commitment, and sheer will change the outcomes you experience? What would be different if you adopted just a trace of his relentlessness? When you get knocked down those merciless Montmartre steps, get back up and keep climbing.”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

    9 min

  5. JAN 21

    How to Stop Overthinking and Start Connecting with Sara Berry

    Sara Berry knew that the corporate world wasn’t meeting all of her creative needs, but she didn’t know what to do about it.And then the dots connected and she discovered her super power.Sara is the owner of Out of Office Studio and her background in corporate learning gives her a unique vantage point. She’s lived on both sides of the “I know I should… but ugh, do I have to?” dilemma faced by people trying to leverage video to build their businesses and grow their brands. In this conversation we dig into what really holds people back from getting on camera and why video has become the fastest path to building trust in a noisy digital world.She breaks down the mental movies people play before pressing record, the surprising fears that derail even the most capable leaders, and why our scrappy, imperfect attempts matter so much more than polished production.We talk storytelling, leadership, mindset, and how creating 100 pieces of content changed her business (and her confidence) forever. If you’ve been overthinking your way out of visibility and connection, this episode will feel like someone turned the lights on.I love all my guests, but Sara just might take the prize for the most gracious guest ever. We were disconnected no less than 3 times during this chat, all due to my internet, and she rolled with the punches like a pro.Connect with Sara 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

    47 min

  6. JAN 18

    What if you're wrong?

    The next time you wake up at 3AM convinced of impending doom, I want you to ask yourself a question.What if I’m wrong? It’s fascinating to me how many smart people I know (and work with) who will ask this question non-stop about every strategy and tactic they deploy.They say, “I think I should go left…but what if I’m wrong?”They say, “I think the market is shifting and we need to adapt now…but what if I’m wrong?”They say, “I think this presentation is going to really wow the execs…but what if I’m wrong?”But as soon as they identify a problem they are completely convinced of their razor sharp insight.“That thing I said in the meeting is going to haunt me.” Full stop. No uncertainty at all.HA!The next time you are worried about something, just remember that the REAL problem is that you’re sure you’re right.TRY THIS: When fear and worry inevitably tap you on the shoulder, don’t just accept what they tell you, start an argument.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

    4 min

  7. JAN 14

    Getting Good at Awkward with Henna Pryor

    I was sure this interview was going to be awkward…In this episode, I sit down with workplace performance expert, speaker, and author of “Good Awkward,” Henna Pryor to unpack why discomfort, uncertainty, and “butterflies” are not obstacles to growth, but signals that you’re doing something that matters. We talk about why awkwardness isn’t a personality trait, how leaders accidentally create the conditions they say they don’t want, and why naming discomfort can actually accelerate trust, influence, and performance.Henna shares powerful stories from her own career pivot, practical strategies leaders can use to normalize experimentation, and why mental skills, not just technical skills, are the real competitive advantage in today’s workplace.We also dig into influence, authenticity, and what she calls “signal integrity” in a world full of noise, AI, and polished highlight reels.If you lead people, build teams, or are trying to grow without losing your nerve, this conversation will give you language, perspective, and courage to lean into the awkward moments that fuel real progress.Connect with Henna: LinkedIn //  WebsiteMy 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

  8. JAN 11

    You can't trust AI

    A few months ago I needed to thaw a roast and it was the exact moment my relationship with AI started breaking down.Not knowing the best way to thaw this roast or how long it would take, I asked ChatGPT for some help. I gave it the size of the roast, the temp of my freezer, the temp of my refrigerator, and the day/time I needed the roast to be ready to go in the oven.It cited a number of sources to support its recommendation, quoting a very specific number of hours it would need to be in the fridge and telling me when I’d need to move it into the fridge. Except the date/time it told me was 24 hours earlier than the number of hours required.I pushed back on the information and it replied:“Ha! You’re absolutely right — thank you for catching that. My math was fine; my calendar awareness, however, seems to have been on vacation.”   Of all the things I thought AI might struggle with, math (or calendar awareness) was absolutely not one of them.Since then, I’ve been increasingly aware of inaccuracies in the information it provides, but its confidence never wanes.Time and time again it has returned faulty information with the absolute assurance that it is correct.On a few occasions it has outright lied.I asked it for a podcast recommendation for a friend who was interested in X, Y, Z and it happily provided one. Except when I went to look for it, the episode didn’t exist. Assuming a simple error, I probed further and the AI told me it made it up.It’s time that the running joke about how inaccurate a tool like Wikipedia can be should apply to AI as well.AI is going to be the scapegoat for a great many leaders who are abdicating critical thinking, but only a poor craftsperson blames their tools.You’re going to have to edit what it writes for you.You’re going to have to verify what it presents as fact.You’re still going to have to think for yourself.And that’s a really good thing.TRY THIS: Maintain a healthy sense of skepticism about the feedback you get from AI tools. If you expect to be able to cut and paste what it generates without editing or verifying a few facts, you are going to find out (sooner than later, and likely in embarrassing fashion) that it isn’t infallible. 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

    22 min
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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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