Kara List

The Better Conversations Podcast

Business EN ↓ 92 episodes

Welcome to The Better Conversations Podcast—where we believe that thriving workplace cultures are built in everyday conversations. I’m Kara List, and after years of leading teams, coaching leaders, and navigating the messiness of work and life, I’ve learned this: as leaders, the words we say, and the ways we say them, matter more than we think. Every week, I’ll give you real tools for real conversations—like how to give feedback with confidence and clarity, lead truly connected 1:1s that actually matter, run staff meetings your team doesn’t secretly hate, and all the chats in between!

Author

Kara List

Category

Business

Podcast website

www.heykaralist.com

Latest episode

Jul 6, 2026

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Episodes

How Leaders Make Their Teams Feel HEARD! | #17 16.08.2024

Have you struggled with communication and feeling unheard in the workplace? As leaders, it's crucial to ensure our team members feel truly listened to and valued. In this episode of the The Culture Keepers podcast, leadership coach Kara List dives into the art of listening well—a critical skill for improving workplace culture and reducing conflict. Discover actionable strategies to become a mo...

STOP Trying to Be A Well-Rounded Leader! | #16 08.08.2024

We have been wired our whole lives to be well-rounded.  But here is the truth, well-rounded TEAMS are better than well-rounded leaders.  In this podcast episode, we discuss why you should stop focusing on being a well-rounded leader and instead focus on being a strengths-based leader with a well-rounded team.  Grab my FREE Leadership Ultimate Resource List: https://www.heykaralist.com/list GET MY...

The 4 Questions You MUST ASK As A New Manager. (And The Ones To Avoid) | #15 02.08.2024

If you are new to management and leadership, before you jump into new big projects in the workplace, pause to ask your staff teams these important questions during your initial one-on-one meetings. 1. What parts of your job do you love the most? 2. What are the qualities of the best leaders you've had? 3. What are the team's greatest opportunities for growth? 4. Do you have any worries or...

FAILING FORWARD: Turning Mistakes Into Success | #14 24.07.2024

Today we dive deep into the concept of "failing forward," using the powerful quote by Danny Meyer: "The road to success is paved by mistakes well handled." Discover how embracing failure and learning from mistakes can lead to greater success in your leadership journey. We'll explore practical tips and strategies to help you turn setbacks into stepping stones and leverage fa...

7 Signs That You Might Be A Bad Boss | #13 17.07.2024

If you are a leader and desire a thriving workplace culture, the first step is self-awareness. We've all experienced bad bosses, but how can we remove our blind spots and identify if we're heading in that direction? Join me as I explore 7 key signs that you might be a bad boss and the ONE THING they all have in common. Not only do we uncover these red flags, but we also discuss the single...

How To Deal With A Difficult Boss: 4 Strategies For Survival and Success! |#12 11.07.2024

Are you struggling with a bad boss and a toxic work environment? In this episode, we dive into expert tips on how to deal with your bad boss and survive a toxic workplace. Learn effective strategies for managing up, handling workplace stress, and navigating office drama. Discover practical advice on dealing with difficult bosses, improving your professional development, and resolving workplace con...

The Challenge with Assuming the Best in Others | #11 02.07.2024

In this episode of The Culture Keepers Podcast, we explore the challenge of assuming the best in others, even when it's difficult. Learn about the fundamental attribution error, Hanlon's Razor theory, the pitfalls of making character judgments, and how to shift your mindset for better relationships and leadership. Through relatable stories and practical insights, Kara shares strategies to...

Who is Responsible for the State of Your Workplace Culture? (PART 2) | #10 20.06.2024

Today, we shift our focus to the individual contributions of employees. Last week we explored the leader’s responsibility for stability and value, and today we will look at how that foundation organically leads to community and results.  Every person is responsible for their contribution to culture and we will deep dive into what that looks like more specifically in today’s episode.  If your Workp...

Who's Responsible For The State Of Your Workplace Culture? (PART 1) | #9 11.06.2024

Today, we delve into the crucial role of leadership accountability in shaping workplace culture. Leaders are held accountable for the overall health and stability of the workplace environment, while individuals are responsible for their contributions. We'll explore how leaders ensure stability and add value to the culture. This is the first part of our two-part series, focusing on leadership a...

Why Your Mission Statement Isn't Effective, and How to Fix It! | #8 04.06.2024

A mission statement is often that old document collecting dust in a file cabinet. They can be wordy, outdated, or ineffective. Even when we have great mission statements, we might be unsure how they work in daily practice. So, why do mission statements matter, and how can we use them to bring clarity to our teams and success to our organizations? Discover the formula you need with an example from...

How to Make Changes at Work Without Pushback | #7 29.05.2024

How Healthy is your Workplace Culture? Take the 3 minute quiz to find out: https://www.heykaralist.com/quiz As leaders, we're always eager to drive positive change within our organizations. However, implementing changes can be a delicate process that requires careful consideration of our team's well-being and the overall organizational culture. Let's navigate this journey together with...

How to Balance Respect and Friendship as a Boss | #6 21.05.2024

Take the quiz and get your WORKPLACE CULTURE SCORE: https://www.heykaralist.com/quiz We all want to be respected in our leadership role, and we should also want to connect and care personally for our people. So how do we do both? Where is the line? In this episode, we will discuss the 4 safeguards that you can put into place today that will help you get that professional and personal relationship...

Why We Struggle to Get Work-Life Balance Right | #5 14.05.2024

30 Sure-fire Interview Questions to find your team's perfect fit: https://www.heykaralist.com/interview Discover why there's no prize for overworking or just getting by at work. Our motivations for how much we work reflect our deeper desires for a balanced life, health, and top-notch performance. Join me as we explore professional and personal equilibrium strategies while delivering except...

How to Master Drama-Free Conflict Resolution | #4 07.05.2024

In leadership and work, one thing's for sure - where there are people, there's bound to be conflict. It's just part of the deal. But here's the kicker: let that conflict simmer, and it's an instant culture killer. I don’t have to tell you this though, right? This is a part of your day-to-day. It's probably one of, if not your absolute, least favorite parts of the job. So, w...

What to do with an Underperforming Employee | #3 29.04.2024

One of the most challenging situations you'll find yourself in as a leader is when you have an underperforming employee. If that's where you find yourself now and you're unsure of what to do next, you're in the right place. We're going to lay it all out here today! Free gift:  ⁠ 4 Steps to Drama-Free Conflict Resolution ⁠ ⁠⁠ Find me on Instagram ⁠⁠

The Secret to a Team that Thrives on Feedback | #2 29.04.2024

Leaders spend a lot of energy trying to figure out how to be the best givers of feedback. The problem is... you can be the best giver of feedback in the whole entire world, but if you are giving feedback to a person who is unable to receive it... then it just doesn't matter how good you are at delivering the feedback. So as leaders who want to build healthy cultures with great feedback systems...

How to Build Teams That are Happy and High-Performing | Episode 1 29.04.2024

There's a LinkedIn report that states the number one reason people leave their jobs is a toxic workplace culture. That's right, it's not necessarily because the salary is bad... (they might even stick around with a bad salary if there's a great workplace culture)... But if the workplace culture is toxic, that's the number one reason people quit their jobs. So why isn't work...

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