The Organizational Health Advantage

S6E10: Victim or Agent

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:00:06 +0000

In this episode, Keith and James explore one of the most important mindset shifts leaders can make: to see yourself as a victim of circumstances or as an agent of change.

The conversation centers on three simple but powerful questions: What is our current reality? What needs to change? And what is my responsibility in making that happen?

S6E9: The Working Genius of the CEO

Wed, 27 May 2026 06:00:18 +0000

What does “Working Genius” look like at the leadership level? In this episode, Keith and James explore which types of work leaders must personally own—and which they can delegate.

They make the case that leaders don’t need to excel at all six Working Genius areas, but they must take responsibility for three critical roles: creating space for wonder, driving discernment to clear decisions, and ensuring teams stay focused through galvanizing.

Along the way, they unpack common leadership pitfalls—like skipping strategic thinking, overvaluing personal ideas, or failing to maintain momentum after decisions are made—and offer practical ways to lead more intentionally based on your strengths.

A sharp, thought-provoking conversation for leaders looking to better understand their role in driving clarity, focus, and execution.

S6E8: From Acquisition to Alignment with George Abatjoglou of EMSMC and Liz Hughes

Wed, 13 May 2026 06:00:14 +0000

Rapid growth and acquisitions don’t strengthen organizations on their own—alignment does. In this episode, George Abatjoglou of EMSMC shares how the company transformed from a collection of regional EMS service providers into a unified national organization, and how organizational health became the foundation for navigating change, building trust, and creating lasting alignment across teams. From defining a purpose employees could genuinely connect to—“helping first responders answer the call”—to integrating teams across multiple acquisitions and countries, this conversation explores what it really takes to scale culture intentionally.

George also dives into the practical side of embedding organizational health into daily operations through leadership cascades, recognition systems, storytelling, and values-driven communication that moved beyond posters and mission statements. A must-listen for leaders managing growth, acquisitions, remote teams, or culture transformation while trying to keep people connected to meaningful work.

S6E7: Go first Go Last

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:00:36 +0000

How do great leaders prepare for and run effective offsites? In this episode, Keith and James break down the principle of “Go first, Go last,” showing how leaders can set the tone with vulnerability and clarity, create space for real discussion, and step in at the end to drive decisions.

They share practical techniques for signaling decision confidence, encouraging honest dialogue, avoiding influencing the room too early, and balancing the dual role of participant and facilitator.

While centered on offsite preparation, these insights apply to any team setting—helping leaders build alignment, foster better conversations, and drive more decisive outcomes.

S6E6: Building a High-Performance Leadership Team with CEO of FHI Ryan Wall & guest host David Hoyt

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:00:59 +0000

In this episode of the Org Health Advantage podcast, Keith and James sit down with Ryan Wall, CEO of FHI, to explore his leadership journey in a multi-generational, family-owned business and the role organizational health has played in its evolution. He shares how FHI grew from a labor provider into a broader supply chain solutions company, navigating rapid growth and shifts in its business model while staying grounded in its foundation of "Hard Work Done Right".

Ryan outlines the team norms that reshaped how the leadership team operates, including “Team One” and “Giddy Up,” and explains the company’s strategic anchor of “Lead from the Heart,” which guides decisions through service, care, and measurable impact. The conversation also highlights the influence of his father, the company’s founder—a visionary, high-intensity leader—and how Ryan has developed his own leadership style by bringing greater clarity, structure, and intentional vulnerability.

Along the way, he addresses key leadership challenges while offering practical insights on building aligned teams through clear norms, structured meetings, disciplined decision-making, and well-defined purpose, values, and strategy.

S6E5: How Clarity Holds an Organization Together with CEO of Vari Jason McCann and guest host Jeff Gibson

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:00:33 +0000

Growth doesn’t break companies—lack of clarity does.

In this episode, Jason McCann, CEO of Vari, shares how the company scaled rapidly and how organizational health became the key to navigating both rapid growth and major disruption. From defining core values to leading through crisis, this conversation reveals how clarity and culture drive long-term success.

He also dives into what it really takes to lead at scale—from maintaining alignment across teams to consistently reinforcing values when pressure is highest.

A must-listen for founders, executives, and anyone building teams in high-growth environments.

S6E4: What Gets in the Way of The Five Behaviors?

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

What really gets in the way of high-performing teams?

In this episode, Keith and James unpack the Five Behaviors of Cohesive Teams—and more importantly, the common habits, fears, and cultural patterns that prevent teams from actually living them out. From a lack of vulnerability and avoidance of healthy conflict to unclear decision-making and weak accountability, they explore why teams struggle and how to move forward.

If you’re a leader or team member looking to build stronger trust, have better conversations, and drive meaningful results, this episode will challenge you to lean into the discomfort that real teamwork requires.

S6E3: Is it Time to Revisit Your Organizational Clarity?

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 07:00:59 +0000

Clarity is the stabilizing force inside high-performing organizations — but it must reflect what is authentically true about the business and the team leading it.

In this episode, Keith and James explore the six critical questions of organizational clarity and, more importantly, when it’s time to revisit them. While a company’s core purpose and values should represent its enduring DNA, even those foundational elements can drift, feel inauthentic, or lose their practical impact over time. Meanwhile, strategy, priorities, and roles must be revisited more frequently as markets shift and organizations evolve.

We break down:

The 6 essential clarity questions every leadership team must answer

Which elements should rarely change — and which should be reviewed regularly

How to tell when your purpose or values are no longer authentic

Whether you're a CEO, founder, or executive leader, this conversation will help you diagnose clarity erosion before it turns into organizational confusion.

Because clarity isn’t permanent — but disciplined clarity builds enduring organizations.

S6E2: Becoming a Leader of Leaders, with guest host Alan Millard

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:00:04 +0000

Being a leader is about responsibility.

Being a leader of leaders is about restraint.

In this episode, we explore why the most effective CEOs stop executing — and start designing the conditions for others to lead.

Leadership expert Alan Millard breaks down what it truly means to become a leader of leaders, from why micromanagement limits growth to how great CEOs shift their focus toward the future and intentionally “do themselves out of a job.” You’ll learn how to delegate at the mission level, balance execution with strategy and organization-building, and build resilient teams that thrive without constant oversight. If you’re a founder, CEO, or senior leader ready to step out of the weeds and into real leadership, this episode is for you.

S6E1: Business First, Family Always: Inside the Emotional Systems That Make—or Break—Family Companies with Andrew Keyt

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:00:37 +0000

In this episode of The Org Health Advantage, Keith Hadley and James Felton sit down with Andrew Keyt for a candid conversation on what really makes family businesses thrive—or unravel. From founder-to-sibling-to-cousin dynamics to the hidden “hats” people wear, Andrew reveals why most family enterprises don’t fail from strategy—they fail from unresolved relationships. You’ll hear how healthy governance creates clarity, how leaders earn credibility in the “successor’s curse,” why dividends can mask deeper emotional stories, and how to balance “business first” decisions with “family always” commitment.

S5E16: When the CEO Just Gets It. with Bobby Herrera and guest host Cody Thompson

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:00:41 +0000

What does it look like when a leader truly owns the health of the organization he or she leads?

In this episode of The Org Health Advantage, hosts James Felton and Keith Hadley sit down with Bobby Herrera, CEO of Populus Group and author of The Gift of Struggle. Bobby shares his unforgettable “bus story”—a simple act of kindness that shaped his life and company’s mission—and reveals how purpose and story can transform an organization. Joined by Cody Thompson, COO of Table Group the conversation dives into why trust is the most important business metric, how storytelling fuels growth and clarity, the power of rituals like the carabiner tradition and the Sherpa Award, why onboarding should feel like being welcomed into a community, & lessons on consistency, humility, and building cultures that last generations.

Whether you’re a CEO, team leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with wisdom on leading with heart and creating workplaces where people can truly ascend the mountain.

S5E15: "The Most Important Thing We Don't Focus On"

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 06:00:11 +0000

Most exec teams obsess over the rally cry—what’s most important right now—and then breeze past the everyday measures that keep the business healthy. In this no-guest deep dive, Keith Hadley and James unpack Standard Operating Objectives (SOOs): the vital signs of your organization. Learn how to pick the right 6–10 SOOs, balance leading vs. lagging indicators, tie them to your strategic anchors, and run a fast red/yellow/green weekly rundown that surfaces what matters without drowning in slides. If you want meetings that drive focus—not reports—this one’s for you.

S5E14: Story of Transformation: Trust, Tough Conversations, & The Future of Work with LiveRamp CEO Scott Howe & guest host Nate Nielson

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 06:00:04 +0000

In this episode of The Organizational Health Advantage, hosts James Felton, Keith Hadley, and guest host Nate Nielson sit down with Scott Howe, CEO of LiveRamp, for a candid conversation on leadership, team health, and navigating growth in a fast-moving industry. From his early days at Microsoft to leading one of the world’s top data collaboration companies, Scott shares hard-earned insights on building trust, embracing accountability, and fostering simplicity in complex environments. You’ll hear stories about shrinking a leadership team to make decisions faster, the power of repeating a clear strategy until it sticks, and why confronting tough truths unlocks progress. Whether you’re a CEO, team leader, or aspiring changemaker, this episode offers practical wisdom on building stronger, healthier organizations where trust and clarity fuel results.

S5E13: "Smart" VS. "Healthy": The Real Competitive Advantage in Leadership

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 06:00:07 +0000

Being a "smart" team isn't enough. In this episode of The Organizational Health Advantage, Keith Hadley and Gordon Blocker dig into the healthy side of a business. Do leaders truly buy in to the problems associated with politics and confusion? If not, they won’t find the motivation needed to embrace the hard work of organizational health. Keith and Gordon share real-world stories and offer practical insights for unlocking lasting competitive edge.

S5E12: "Decomplexifying" Strategic Planning with guest host Joyce Schaefer

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 06:00:37 +0000

If you want to bore, confuse or overwhelm someone, just talk about Strategic Planning! In this episode we are joined by fellow PC Joyce Schaefer to attempt to “decomplexify” the notion of Strategic Planning into its most basic parts – what questions we need to answer, how to document it and keep it on the forefront of our minds as leaders so that we put ourselves in the best position to realize our goals!

S5E11: The Messy Matrix

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 06:00:24 +0000

Matrix organizations promise efficiency and innovation—but often deliver confusion and dysfunction instead. In this episode, Keith Hadley and James Felton are joined by UK-based consultant Sophie Dummer to unpack the paradox of the “messy matrix” and how, when grounded in organizational health, it can amplify agility and effectiveness rather than amplifying chaos. Together, they explore the key reasons organizations adopt a matrix structure, the layers of complexity it introduces, and the common dysfunctions they encounter with clients. Most importantly, they outline five essential practices for making a matrix thrive: cultivating self-awareness, leading with vulnerability and empathy, leaning into hard conversations, influencing without formal authority, and aligning around the greater good.

Whether you're leading within a matrix or considering a shift in structure, this episode offers a candid, practical, and hopeful lens for navigating complexity with clarity and purpose.

S5E10: Story of Transformation: “Your HR group probably isn’t strategic enough!” with Joyce Shaefer

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 06:00:12 +0000

Today we’re thrilled to welcome Joyce Schaefer to the podcast—someone who has truly lived out the evolving identity of HR professionals and the strategic power they can bring to the table. In this conversation, we dive into how HR leaders can move beyond traditional administrative roles and step confidently into positions of influence and impact. Joyce makes a strong case for seeing HR professionals as business leaders first, HR leaders second, reflecting a broader shift toward deeper integration within the business.

Together, we unpack the importance of clarity and communication, what it really means to have a seat at the table, and the often-overlooked role of HR as a coach and leadership developer. Joyce also shares how HR can act as a stabilizing, strategic force in talent management—and how vital that becomes in moments of change or crisis. It’s a candid, insightful, and energizing conversation about what HR leadership looks like at its best—and what it means for the future of work.

S5E9: Story of Transformation: Meeting Silence is Corridor Violence; Org Heath Lessons with the ""Podfather"" Rich Arundel, & guest host Joe Kay

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Rich Arendel of Visa with guest host Joe Kay: Dubbed, the “Pod-Father” and carrying the title of “Chief Evangelist” when Currency Cloud which was acquired by Visa in 2021. Rich tells his incredible story of carved out a unique role as an internal champion of organisational health. Working with cross functional go to market “pods” to help drive clarity and cohesion and ensure the most strategic decisions were executed well across all levels of the organization. Learn how to unlock capabilities and a line effort through his unique story – and the meaning of “meeting silence or corridor violence”.

S5E8: The Case for Vulnerability

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode, James and Keith go deep on the Case for Vulnerability. Having seen firsthand the transformative power of vulnerability, they share why teams that can be unguarded with one another consistently outperform those that cannot. Vulnerability accelerates the identification of issues, clears the path to more effective problem-solving, and unlocks access to a wider range of ideas. More than that, it gives people the freedom to be fully human within a team—fostering trust, authenticity, and stronger connections. Join them as they explore how embracing vulnerability isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage.

S5E7: Sustaining Org Health Over Time: Jon Brady, President of Midtown Athletic Clubs

Tue, 20 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Keith interviews Jon Brady, President of Midtown Athletic Club. Driven by a commitment to inspire others to transform their lives, Jon has championed the creation of an Athletic Club made true third space—a place where people are seen as human first through authentic interaction. As Jon often says, “Whatever we do, let’s do it on purpose.” In this episode, he shares the pivotal leadership decisions that reshaped Midtown Athletic Clubs into an Org Health powerhouse, as well as recalls some golden stories from his journey with Table Group. We go deep on team size, meeting cadence, company purpose and values and leaning into a clear strategy that truly differentiates Midtown in the eyes of their members.

S5E6: The 5 Temptations of a CEO

Tue, 06 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode, James and Keith dive into Patrick Lencioni’s first book, The Five Temptations of a CEO. Described as “temptations”, these leadership pitfalls are common, easy to succumb to, and often hard to recognize—but not impossible to overcome. Together, we unpack the destructive impact of choosing status over results, popularity over accountability, certainty over clarity, harmony over productive conflict, and invulnerability over trust.

S5E5: Story of Transformation Matt Salamone with guest host Dan O'Brien

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Keith and guest host Dan O'Brien sit down with Matt Salamone, CEO of HRD Aerosystems. From packing boxes at 8 years old to being promoted to CEO, Dan has grown up with this company, and discusses with us how he has learned to step into difficult conversations by leading with vulnerability, overcoming silos of work within the company, and how Organizational Health has equipped him too step up to embrace the work of a leader.

Special Bi-Lingual Episode: Working Genius con Julio Gonzalez

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In these special episodes, Julio Gonzalez joins as Guest Host to present The Case for Organizational Health—en Español! Perfect for bilingual teams and rollout sessions, we walk through the core models from Patrick Lencioni’s The Advantage, including Las Cuatro Disciplinas and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Along the way, we uncover key language nuances—like how “compromiso” means commitment, not compromise, and why there’s no direct Spanish word for accountability—but that doesn’t mean we can’t practice it!

Link: En la mesa con Julio González Podcast

Special Bi-Lingual Episode: Las Cuatro Disciplinas con Julio Gonzalez

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Link: En la mesa con Julio González Podcast

Special Bi-Lingual Episode: 5 Disfunciones of a Team con Julio Gonzalez

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0000

S5E4: You’re not as focused as you need to be: With Jeff Gibson, Principal Consultant

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Keith and James interview Table Group’s Jeff Gibson, one of the original consultants. They dive deep on the discipline of being focused, exploring the concept of a Thematic Goal (Rally Cry): why a thematic goal is necessary, how it can unlock the performance of your team and how a good thematic goal can even help overcome burnout. We discuss the concept of OKRs, a common methodology used today, and compare/contrast them with Thematic Goals.

S5E1: Does this Translate Across Cultures? With Matt Lashbrook, Principal Consultant

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Matt may hold a Table Group Consulting record—having applied the principles of Organizational Health from Patrick Lencioni’s The Advantage in 19 countries! In this episode, we dive into which concepts translate seamlessly across cultures—and which present challenges. Yet, no matter the location, every team of two or more people will face some level of dysfunction in their pursuit of shared results. Join us as we explore how to honor each organization's unique culture while building a cohesive team culture that brings out everyone’s best.

S5E2: Leading Through Reconciliation: Purpose-Driven Leadership & Healthy Teams with Matt Tresidder

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode, hosts James Felton and Keith Hadley welcome Matt Tresidder, CEO of Leadr, to discuss his leadership journey, personal mission, and how these experiences shaped the development of Leadr, a software platform designed to provide scaffolding for leaders building healthy organizations.

Matt Tresidder is the CEO and co-founder of Leadr, a software platform focused on developing healthy leaders and teams. Originally from New Zealand, Matt previously served as VP of Sales at Pushpay, where he experienced rapid growth from a startup to a company valued at $1.5 billion. His personal mission of "reconcile" drives his passion for restoring what work should be and helping leaders create environments where people love coming to work.

S4E15: Story of Transformation: Daniel Cowan with guest host Matt Lashbrook

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Daniel Cowan has the unique joy of leading a diverse, multi-national, and multi-cultural team at Merck across APAC, facing both the challenges and rewards of uniting people from different backgrounds. In this episode, he shares his approach to leadership—treating individuals as unique human beings while fostering a shared purpose. Discover how he builds a cohesive team that collaborates to achieve meaningful results. His journey will inspire leaders at any level, and his secret to success might just surprise you!

S4E14: Story of Transformation: Jason Johnson, with guest hosts - Casey Thompson and Daniel Massick

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode, James Felton, Casey Thompson, and Daniel Massick are joined by Jason Johnson, CEO of Quick Quack Car Wash. Jason shares his journey, including the challenges of starting a new business, utilizing organizational health principles in making difficult decisions as a CEO, and the value of intentionally creating company culture by consistently driving the core purpose with actionable efforts rooted in mutual service. By setting high standards for character and execution, Jason has reimagined the carwash industry, creating a company culture that values smart, kind, and driven leaders. His ultimate goal is to build an organization that others look to for inspiration in culture and leadership—proving that kindness and a relentless drive to win can go hand in hand.

S4E13: The Leadr Advantage & Scaling Organizational Health - with guest Cody Thompson

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Rolling out organizational health at scale is no small feat—it’s a challenge that many leaders underestimate. In this episode, we dive into how Table Group is tackling this issue by partnering with a company called Leadr to introduce the Leadr Advantage. Our COO, Cody Thompson, shares the story behind this initiative, exploring the reasons we embarked on this journey, the unique features of the platform, and how it’s designed to support leaders through meaningful transformation.

https://www.leadr.com/table-group

S4E12: Kicking off 2025: Rediscovering Why We Lead - with guest Cody Thompson

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we reflect on the core question: Why do we lead? We’re joined by Cody Thompson, COO of Table Group, for a powerful discussion on what happens when leaders lose sight of their purpose. Leadership isn’t a perk or privilege—it’s a responsibility, and often a weighty one. Drawing inspiration from Patrick Lencioni’s book The Motive, we explore the importance of self-evaluation and resetting your mindset as a leader. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to lead with authenticity and intention. Great leadership starts with service. Let’s lead well by serving well.

S4E11: Story of Transformation: Mark Weidick, with guest host – Jeff Gibson

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Keith Hadley and Jeff Gibson discuss organizational health with one of Table Group’s first clients: Mark Weidick, CEO of LeaseCrunch. Mark shares his journey as a first-time CEO, through 20 years of using Table Group principles across several different companies and leadership roles. This episode underscores the value of proven frameworks – Core Values, Five Dysfunctions of a Team and Working Genius - in fostering a productive and fulfilling work environment. Mark shares insights on aligning the team around core values and a shared rally cry, as well as some of the challenges he faced when implementing org health principles.

S4E10: Middle Management - The Other Side of Decisions. With Rick Packer, Principal Consultant

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Keith, James and Rick Packer from Table Group go deep on the crucial role of middle management. They explore how CEOs and senior execs need to effectively engage and enroll the middle of the organization to drive any initiative forward and see the true impact of their decisions. Explore the why, the who and the how for leveraging the best thinkers and influencers in the organization.

S4E9: Story of Transformation and Book Launch: Mike McHargue, That's On Me

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Keith and James are joined by friend, colleague, and author, Mike McHargue. Mike’s first book was published over 6 years ago. His new release, That’s on Me, is an update for our post-Covid world with new stories from seasoned executives sharing their rookie mistakes. This book is the epitome of vulnerability based trust. The stories included are organized around 5 major mistakes: Allowing confusion, Failing to connect, Running truly awful meetings, Hiring too fast / firing too slow and Failing to give elicit feedback. These errors are common, but avoidable if you’re willing to learn from the mistakes of others.

S4E8: Story of Transformation: Jason Smith, with guest host – Joyce Schaefer

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Transformation requires humility and open-mindedness. In this week’s episode, Keith is joined by colleague Joyce Schaefer and Jason Smith, CEO of True North Companies, a privately held insurance brokerage and professional services firm. Jason shares his journey as a new CEO and how his team embraced the values of being hungry, humble, and smart. Together, they’ve built a stronger foundation for growth and execution by using the right tools.

S4E7: Story of Transformation: Gary Gray and Alec Kinard, with guest host - David Hoyt

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000

This week, Keith is joined by colleague David Hoyt and two Hall of Fame clients, Gary Gray and Alec Kinard – former and current CEO of Graydaze Contracting. Gary and Alec discuss how intentional they were with both the process and timing of transitioning leadership. They emphasize how careful consideration and planning led to a rare story of successful succession for the team at Graydaze.

S4E6: Story of Transformation: Guy Ironi, with guest host - Nate Nielsen

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode, James is joined by colleague and friend Nate Nielsen and their client, Guy Ironi. Guy, CEO of ColdTrack - the country’s largest cold and frozen e-commerce fulfillment platform, has experienced firsthand the importance of focus, alignment and trust on a team. His executive team was already filled with smart, competent individuals, but now they are running the company instead of just talking about it.

S4E5: Will the team that got you here, get you there?

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Leaders often confront the need to make significant changes to the team's structure. This may be triggered by a change to the business definition or strategy, a change in focus, the departure of a key person or even the impact of rapid growth. In this episode, Keith and James explore a simple approach for making difficult decisions about the makeup of teams - org design, role definition and, of course, the personality and character of the person needed to fill that role.

S4E4: Story of Transformation: Janet Simpson, with guest host - David Hoyt

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Fellow Table Group consultant David Hoyt and his client, Janet Simpson, join James to discuss the Org Health Journey Janet has undertaken as President of TVS Design. TVS is an award-winning architectural and interior design firm working on well-known building projects around the country. In this episode, Janet discusses creating an executive team; building trust and accountability on the team; developing team norms; and establishing the habit in their meetings of discussing and making decisions on the most important topics.

S4E3: Story of Transformation: Brian Schonbeck, with guest host - Casey Thompson

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0000

James is joined by colleague Casey Thompson and his client Brian Shonbeck, who has successfully built several thriving businesses. In this episode Brian shares: (1) His initial negative beliefs about business consultants; (2) The need to quickly scale knowledge and clarity when experiencing rapid growth; (3) Identifying and communicating Strategic Anchors so employees at every level can make consistently good decisions using the same filters the exec team uses; and (4) His unique “Roast Brian” Monday meeting.

S4E2: Story of Transformation: Len Finkle, with guest host - Bill Weingartner

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Keith is joined by good friend and colleague Bill Weingartner. Together they interview Len Finkle, CEO of Profisee - the fastest growing master data management company in the world. Len shares about the focus, resilience and consistency that it has taken in order to achieve growth, profitability and heightened employee engagement.

S4E1: Series Launch - Client Transformation

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

James and Keith are kicking off a new series all about Organizational Health Transformation. You'll hear stories of transformation from leaders and executives who have put in the work. It's more than just training, offsites, coaching or consulting - we’re going for Transformation!

S3E15: Creating Team Level Clarity

Wed, 01 May 2024 06:00:00 +0000

An exec team that is clear and aligned regarding company values and priorities needs a plan for going deeper with clarity. Exactly how to go about this is a nuanced question, and depends on whether the focus is at the Team Level vs. the Org Level. Listen in for specific advice regarding what to do if your leader hasn’t done the work, as well as a word of warning about the danger of a Matrixed Organization.

S3E14: Why Smaller Teams Have the Advantage

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Hands down, small executive teams have a significant competitive advantage over big ones! Yet - so many leaders opt for larger teams for reasons that make sense, but don’t hold up under scrutiny. Small teams make faster, better decisions and can execute faster than big ones.

S3E13: Unpacking Trust | The Difference Trust Makes on a Team

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode we unpack the base of our Five Dysfunctions pyramid - Trust. How to build it, how to lose it, the benefits of having it and the dangers of lacking it. We explore courage and risk; even when to know whether you can and should trust someone. We end with the charge that slowing down to build trust is the best way to accelerate performance.

S3E12: Power & Followership | How to build it… and lose it.

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode Keith & James explore the meaning of POWER in leadership. Power to do good, to influence, to shape, to solve, to move. We explore an old theory of leadership from researchers French & Raven (1959), called the Five Bases of Power and the implication of their insights for leaders who want to build followership today.

S3E11:Best Practices for New Leader Assimilation

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 07:00:00 +0000

When we change even one member of a team, it becomes a whole new team. Most leaders fail to recognize the impact of bringing a new member onto the executive team. As such, we may overlook the importance of building trust and re-establishing “rules of engagement” that guide our behaviors. And this failure will certainly lead to disappointing results. Email us for a simple “New Leader Assimilation Guide" as our way of saying thanks for listening!

S3E10: The Power of a Team Offsite

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Every team needs to periodically set aside big blocks of relatively unstructured time to talk frankly about the needs and opportunities of the business. In this episode we do a deep dive into the magic of an executive team offsite and what leaders can do to maximize it’s impact. We’ll address some common misses when planning an offsite -- and why some leaders might choose to avoid them altogether -- to their detriment.

S3E9: Are you focused on what is most important?

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 07:00:00 +0000

James and Keith explore the essential discipline of focus! In reality, something right now is more important than anything else in your business or organization. Whether we identify it or not! Our task as leaders is to constantly ask, “What is most important, right now?" We explore the Thematic Goal + Defining Objectives approach used by Patrick Lencioni and Table Group Consultants to help our clients focus. Simple idea, but hard to do in practice.

S3E8: Top 10 Unproductive Meeting Behaviors

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 07:00:00 +0000

James and Keith talk about the ten most unproductive behaviors that derail our best intentions in meetings. If your meetings are already super productive and you are making the best decisions quickly and with seamless and agile execution -- you could sabotage it all by adopting these 10 behaviors.

Don’t let anything on this list ruin your team’s performance on the ultimate playing field for your business function: your meetings.

S3E7: Simple Idea, Big Impact #4: Fist to Five

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Keith & James explore the simple team technique of “Fist-to-Five” as an accelerator of debate and a driver of commitment. Teams use it to drive the efficiency of their conversation and prevent people hijacking meetings by verbally dominating or dropping an opinion bomb at the end of the discussion. Simple, but very impactful.

S3E6: Why We Love the Working Genius

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 07:00:00 +0000

The Working Genius is a powerful new model from the Table Group that helps teams understand how they can drive innovation. It’s not another personality profiler, it’s a productivity tool; and one our clients immediately understand and leverage. Use it to understand self, understand the team and make faster, better decisions with a greater likelihood of successful implementation.

S3E5: Behavior Precedes Performance! – an Interview with Chris McGee

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In today’s episode, Keith & James Felton interview Chris “Geeter” McGee, host of the Los Angeles Lakers Pre & Post Game Show - we discuss the differentiating qualities of the best coaches and best teammates and why these behavioral and character traits are so applicable to all organization. Behavior Precedes Performance!

S3E4: The Impact of Org Health on Business Results – an Interview with Paul Stansik

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode we interview our good friend Paul Stansik, a Partner at Private Equity firm Parker Gale; exploring the impact of leadership and Organizational Health on business results. Paul shares his insights on developing winning Go To Market strategies, the role of the CEO and the importance of Disciplines 3 and 4.

S3E3: Leveraging Team Norms

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode we explore the benefits of creating simple Team Norms – or “Rules of Engagement” for teams. How Norms are different from Core Values? Why do we need them? How do use them, when to change them, and, of course, lots of Team Norm examples. If you want our full list, email us at keith.hadley@tablegroupconsulting.com or james.felton@tablegroupconsulting.com

S3E2: Overcoming Cross-Functional Misalignment

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode we explore how to overcome the “Us/Them” mindset that emerges between units of the same business. Hey – we compete with our competitors, not each other! Learn what executives can do to promote cross-team alignment and productivity. We explore a simple exercise to build trust quickly and align on outcomes.

S3E1: Embedding Health Deep in the Organization – and Interview with Rick Van Arnam

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Interview with Rick Van Arnam, a Table Group Principal Consultant, who has spent the last 3 years going deep with the Anthony Marano Company (anthonymarano.com) in Chicago. As a member of the leadership team, he’s worked to embed “The Marano Way” into the bones of the company. He offers his simple, practical approaches for connecting with people, using peer-pressure and equipping champions to transform entire organizations. You can connect with Rick at rick.vanarnam@tablegroupconsulting.com.

S2E14: On Track to Mastery

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Reaping the full benefits of Org Health requires executive leaders (and their exec teams) to gain a mastery of its frameworks, but many get stuck well before this is achieved. James and Keith describe how to get unstuck and discuss the journey of transformation that is essential for a true mastery of Organizational Health.

S2E15: Find Your Org Health Champions

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

How can leaders bring their whole team along with them to a mastery of organizational health? The most effective way is to identify and leverage their Org Health Champions. In this episode, James and Keith break down the characteristics of an Org Health Champion and discuss how leaders can challenge these individuals to unite the entire team around this work.

S2E13: Simple Idea, Big Impact #3: The Daily Huddle

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode James and Keith explore the power of the simple discipline: 10-minute daily check in with the team you lead! Primary benefits include high awareness, high trust, deeper relationships, fewer emails, no surprises and fewer dropped balls! Try this for 20-days -- 1-minute per person to share their focus; any useful or interesting information and asks for help.

S2E12: Simple Idea, Big Impact #2: Lead with Intent

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

In this second episode of the quick-hits mini-series, Keith and James talk about the 4 Cs - Confused, Curious, Concerned, and Convinced. Using the 4 Cs reveals the intent behind a question or statement and opens the way for clear and honest conversations. This habit is effective not only in the business world, but it can also strengthen relationships in one’s personal life.

S2E11: Simple Idea, Big Impact #1: Above the Line/Below the Line

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

James and Keith kick off a new mini-series - Simple Idea, Big Impact - where they introduce little concepts that make a big difference for Executive teams. The first is called Above the Line/Below the Line. This quick exercise changes the course of meetings that have become stagnant or hostile; it brings teams back into alignment and restores clarity and productivity.

S2E10: Life Cycle of Growth

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode, James and Keith identify 6 conversations that are essential for companies to have at the stage where high growth is expected in order to succeed at the next level. Especially during difficult economic times, these conversations are essential.

S2E9: Leadership Courage

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

A truly great leader is one who has clear personal guiding principles and core values. As attested by many well-known leaders, one of the most critical values is Courage. James and Keith dive deep into what it means to have courage as a business leader; they discuss how vulnerability is so closely intertwined with courage and highlight simple (although not easy) ways that leaders can lead with courage.

S2E8: Leveraging Your Extended Leadership Team

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Organizational Health transformation always starts at the Executive level, but there will not be true transformation unless the work cascades down through the organization. James and Keith make the case for doing the work to extend the Four Disciplines throughout an organization and look at three strategic groups of next-level leaders that Execs can empower to join them in this.

S2E7: Focused vs. Comprehensive Planning

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Leaders tend to make strategic plans at a comprehensive level, focusing on too many details about too many things. While this level of detail is important down the line, it should not be happening at the Exec level. In this episode Keith and James discuss the necessity of Focused Planning, and how this approach helps leaders find strength in simplicity.

S2E6: Crossing the Line from Conflict to Commitment

Wed, 24 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Healthy conflict is a good thing for teams to engage in, because it allows an open-minded search for the best option. But how can Leaders move their team from Conflict to a Decision, that will then be executed fully by all? Join Keith and James as they walk through each part of this critical process. James shares a story of how The North Face exec team executed this perfectly.

S2E5: Mindset Shift: Accountability

Wed, 10 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Accountability. It is a key practice of High-Performing Teams, but, unfortunately, this word connotes something dramatic and uncomfortable for most people. In this episode, James and Keith set out to change this association around the word "accountability" with six simple mindset shifts, which they discuss in-depth in the context of real-life workplace stories.

S2E4: Meeting Masters

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The topic of meetings is one that most Exec teams struggle with, but it is one of the most important to get right to foster a productive and enjoyable team environment. Keith and James discuss how to use the Four Meeting Model to not only make meetings more effective and efficient, but more enjoyable. The two go in-depth on how to implement each of the four parts of the model, and tell stories of Exec teams that utilized different aspects successfully.

S2E3: A Leader’s Role

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0000

"Keith and James reveal the glue that really holds a team together, especially during the important transformation into a cohesive leadership team that has clarity around strategy and culture and succeeds in communicating that clarity. What does it mean for leaders to really "own" this process? What does it take to ensure that clarity is reinforced through all the human systems of a company? Leading a healthy organization is the one thing that a leader cannot delegate to anyone else."

S2E2: Todd Dauchy - Making Hard Decisions

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0000

James and Keith interview Todd Dauchy, CEO of SMA Technologies, about the mixed feelings that come with the immense responsibility of leading a team. It can feel lonely and stressful in important leadership roles; hear about the difficult decisions Todd made to create the team he needed in order to tackle hard issues, one-by-one, until the team and the company were healthy and thriving.

S2E1: Hugh McCutcheon - Championship Behavior

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

James and Keith talk with Hugh McCutcheon, Olympic volleyball coach and current Assistant Athletics Director / Sport Development Coach at the University of Minnesota. Hugh describes his transition from assistant coach to head coach and the importance of finding ways to add value as a member of the team in any position. He sees humility, clear expectations and principle alignment as essential components of all successful teams and thinks of coaches as service providers that create value through authentic influence. Hugh shares how connecting attention to action by rallying around a specific mission creates competitive advantage. Hear more from Hugh McCutcheon about his coaching and leadership philosophy in his new book, Championship Behaviors: A Model for Competitive Excellence in Sports.

S1E14: Three Year Vision

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 08:05:00 +0000

In this podcast, James Felton and Keith Hadley discuss the importance of developing a three year vision. This allows the team to get aligned over a core set of hopes and dreams ...a common picture around the future. The team can then map out how to get the company from where they are to where they want to go over the next three years.

S1E13: Faster Better Decisions

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 08:00:00 +0000

There is a quality that can set a great organization apart from the rest – the ability to make bold, effective decisions in difficult and uncertain times. As you’d expect, it starts with the leader. After all, leaders are deciders. Yet many leaders struggle with this essential duty – making the decision and asking people to commit.

In this podcast, James Felton and Keith Hadley discuss the importance of making faster, better decisions and four fears that often make this difficult.

S1E12: Pat Vihtelic - Leadership Food for Thought

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:55:00 +0000

James interviews Pat Vihtelic, founder and CEO of Home Chef. Home Chef is a subscription based meal kit company that delivers quality meals to millions of subscribers each month. In this podcast, Pat discusses his evolution as a leader, the traits he looks for in his employees, and the successful merger of his company with Kroger, currently one of the largest supermarket chains.

S1E11: Tim Leman - The Edge in Focusing on the Long Game

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:50:00 +0000

James is joined by Tim Leman, the chairman and CEO of Gibson located in South Bend, Indiana. He is on a number of boards and is the author of the book rEvolution: Turn Crisis into Clarity and Ignite Growth. He shares his experiences about creating a healthy company that is built upon a strong leadership model, his hiring practices, and his emphasis on connecting with his employees in a genuine way.

S1E10: Jon Brady - Crafting a Philosophy

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:45:00 +0000

James Felton and fellow colleague Keith Hadley, interview Jon Brady, President of Midtown Athletic Club. Jon shares his unique experiences prior to Midtown that crafted the philosophies he holds today. Jon also shares that he was on the trajectory to having one of the best years yet because he took the time to develop a cohesive team and create clarity that has been adopted company wide. While COVID has presented a challenge to the industry, he's confident that because of the solid foundation, Midtown will continue down its strong path.

S1E9: Keith Hadley - Lessons Learned from 2020

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:40:00 +0000

James interviews Keith Hadley, friend and colleague. They discuss a variety of lessons that they learned from working with leadership teams during 2020.

S1E8: Mitch Bell - The Culture at Marvel Studios

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:35:00 +0000

James interviews Mitch Bell, Vice President and Co-Producer at Marvel Studios. Mitch shares about the culture at Marvel and why it has become so successful over the past several years. He shares that the passion for making these movies, along with several other core values, is what brings back quality staff and loyal fans time and time again.

S1E7: Deb Ellisen - Building Better Teams through TeamSight

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:30:00 +0000

Debbie Ellisen, formerly a Table Group consultant, shares about her experiences transitioning from a career of coaching CEO's and executive teams to being the CEO of a company called TeamSight. TeamSight specializes in helping teams work together more effectively by leveraging the strengths of each team member.

Check out more about the company by visiting https://teamsight.co/ and enjoy a 30-day free trial to find out more.

S1E6: Peter Kim - Layers & Lessons from the Founder of an International Fashion Brand

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:25:00 +0000

James interviews founder of Hudson Jeans, Peter Kim. In this interview, they discuss the challenges and the opportunities that came out of his family background and his experiences establishing a healthy culture at Hudson Jeans. He also will share about the exciting new work he is doing creating a "brand laboratory".

S1E5: Kevin Hambly - Leadership Lessons from a 2-time National Champion

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:20:00 +0000

In this episode, James interviews Stanford volleyball coach, Kevin Hambly. Kevin has had great success over the years coaching at both Stanford and University of Illinois. He attributes a lot of his success to building a positive culture, growing in self-awareness, focusing on peer to peer accountability, and looking for both athletic ability and a positive culture fit when recruiting new players.

S1E4: Ben Westra - The Evolution of a Leader

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:15:00 +0000

James interviews Ben Westra, CEO of WDS Construction. He explains how he evolved as a leader throughout his time working and leading the company.

S1E3: Mike McHargue - Rookie Mistakes

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:10:00 +0000

James is joined by friend and colleague, Mike McHargue. Mike has 20+ years of leadership experience and is now serving as a Table Group consultant. In addition to being a consultant, he recently wrote the book "Rookie Mistakes". In his book, he provides a collection of wisdom and advice from some of the top executives in the US. On this podcast, he shares some of the leadership advice he has gleaned over the years from these leaders and how to apply it into a variety of situations.

To find out more about Mike, feel free to visit his website www.mike-mchargue.com and be sure to check out his book Rookie Mistakes on Amazon.

S1E2: Joyce Schaefer: Strategic HR Business Leader

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:05:00 +0000

This episode is all about the advantage a strategic HR leader brings to an organization. James brings in friend and colleague Joyce Schaefer. Joyce has been with the Table Group for 3 years. Prior to that, she founded the successful company, "Breakthrough ROI". Before starting her own company, she worked at Monsanto for 20 years where she made the unique career transition from accounting to HR. That pivot made her a valuable strategic HR business leader - the basis for our topic today.

S1E1: Keith Hadley - Leading Through Crisis

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Keith Hadley, a Principal Consultant with the Table Group, shares his insights on Leading Through Crisis. Keith brings over 20 years of organizational and strategy leadership to his partnership with The Table Group. Keith provides expertise in helping CEOs build cohesive teams and competitive advantage. Whether he’s consulting to CEOs one-on-one or with their teams, or leading a large workshop, Keith’s passion and excitement are contagious. His skill for helping teams tackle complex issues has made Keith a sought-after advisor.

For more of his articles, please go to keithhadley.com.

S1E0: The Case for Org Health

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 06:55:00 +0000

What is organizational health all about? In short, it is increasing productivity and morale, while minimizing politics and confusion. James and Keith make the case for the powerful and simple discipline of Organizational Health.