The Managing with Mind and Heart Podcast

What's the most important skill a manager can have? Showing your team that you genuinely care about them. In this episode, we explore why care and respect aren't just "nice to have," they are the foundation of psychological safety, trust, and high morale. With research-backed insights and practical tips, we show how people-leaders can start building stronger, more human-centered teams. Other episo...

What makes a team truly effective? In this episode, we dive into the research-backed model from  Teams That Work by Eduardo Salas and Scott Tannenbaum, which explores the "Seven Cs" that drive team success: Capability, Coordination, Cooperation, Communication, Cognition, Conditions, and Coaching. Together with Anna Gibson , we break down what each of these elements means in practice and how they c...

"The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated." – William James Can you remember a time when a manager made you feel genuinely seen and appreciated? In this episode, we explore why recognition matters, not just for motivation and morale, but for building trust and stronger relationships at work and beyond. We'll break down the skill of giving meaningful appreciation, and...

Micromanaging burns people out, but being too hands-off leaves them confused. In this episode we talk about how to find the sweet spot by creating Individual Success Plans (ISPs) with your team. We'll walk through the steps for setting clear goals, defining success, and making sure managers and employees know how to support one another. The result? More ownership, more accountability, and better r...

We previously released this episode on December 18, 2024. We're excited to revisit some key ideas before we dive into fresh, exciting topics soon. In this episode, Ethan Nash introduces the Challenge-Competency Continuum, a framework for understanding how stress impacts employee productivity. Picture an upside-down "U" with productivity on the y-axis and stress on the x-axis. Too little stress lea...

We previously released this episode on September 5, 2024. We're excited to revisit some key ideas before we dive into fresh, exciting topics soon. "Mindsets really, really matter because they set us up for learning. I don't know any leader or organization that doesn't want their employees to be engaged, to have high morale, to be learning and innovating." In this episode of The Managing With Mind...

We previously released this episode on August 15, 2024. We're excited to revisit some key ideas before we dive into fresh, exciting topics soon. "In so many ways, we can't be more of one thing without being less of another. The ability to recognize that I can't be everything -- and that there are tradeoffs for the best things that I bring to the table -- is really what the strengths based perspect...

We previously released this episode on August 1, 2024. We're excited to revisit some key ideas before we dive into fresh, exciting topics soon. In this episode, Ethan Nash is joined by MIT Sloan's Deborah Ancona , founder of the MIT Leadership Center, author of the new book xTeams, and contributor at the Harvard Business Review. They explore the concept of "family ghosts" — a term coined to descri...

On this episode of the Managing with Mind and Heart , host Ethan Nash tackles the nitty gritty of email best practices, from formatting to feedback.   Links:   #122 — Feedback Over Email #102 — The Magic Email Text the word "LEADING" to 66866 to be added to Nash Consulting's monthly newsletter. Just practical management skills and tips. And just once a month. Pinky swear. Feedback on this episode?...

On this episode of the Managing with Mind and Heart Podcast, Ethan Nash is joined by Nash Consulting's own Akpene Torku Sims. They discuss how to identify an employee's strengths, and consider why assigning roles and responsibilities without considering individual talents is detrimental to the business and workplace morale.   Text the word "LEADING" to 66866 to be added to Nash Consulting's monthl...

"Being willing to let people make mistakes is a bit of a sacrifice because when you choose not to over define the behaviors, people will learn from trial and error." Autonomy is one of the biggest drivers of motivation. But finding ways to give employees freedom in their jobs can be challenging. Tune in as Ethan and Mike explore this critical topic. This episode  originally released back in 2023. ...

On this episode of the Managing with Mind and Heart Podcast, hosts Ethan and Mike Nash explore workplace communication hierarchies and dynamics, including when skip-level meetings are appropriate and when they risk turning into going "over someone's head." The host duo digs into the nuances of open-door policies and how thoughtful, intentional communication can empower employees and management, le...

This episode of the Managing with Mind and Heart podcast explores the nuances of giving feedback over email. Join hosts Ethan and Mike Nash as they discuss which types of input are best suited to written communication, and which are more effective delivered in person. Links: #111 – Awareness of Your Power Differential #113 – Moderating Your Power Differential Text the word "LEADING" to 66866 to be...

In this episode, Ethan Nash discusses the 6 "thinking hats" teams can employ for better decision making, and all the good that can come from intentionally coordinating approaches. "Imagine you're with your team making a decision," Ethan invites listeners to consider. "You collectively decide to wear one of the six hats at the same time. By doing this, we can help ensure that our different approach...

It's easy for team projects to stall or implode with miscommunication and finger-pointing, and it may be first nature to blame emotional intelligence or individual shortcomings. But the real issue might be simpler: a lack of clear accountability. In this episode, hosts Ethan and Mike Nash explore the power of Single Point Accountability (SPA) through a real-world case study. Learn how assigning on...

Ever wonder what our live leadership development workshops are like? This episode is a short clip of a live workshop we put on a couple of months ago. If you sign up for this online workshop series, use this code at checkout to get a 25% discount: MINDANDHEARTPOD We edited out any voices of participants, plus all the group work, breakout rooms, and Q/A, so you'll just hear Ethan. In this episode,...

In this episode, Ethan Nash unpacks the idea of the "Trust Bank Account," where every act of integrity is a deposit. But the goal isn't to save endlessly; it's to spend that trust strategically. When you do, you actually strengthen the trust you've built, and build the foundation of a really strong team.  Text the word "LEADING" to 66866 to be added to Nash Consulting's monthly newsletter. Just pr...

Ever wonder what our live leadership development workshops are like? This episode is a short clip of a live workshop we put on a couple of months ago. If you sign up for this online workshop series, use this code at checkout to get a 25% discount: MINDANDHEARTPOD We edited out any voices of participants, plus all the group work, breakout rooms, and Q/A, so you'll just hear Ethan. In this episode,...

In this episode, host Ethan Nash discusses the four categories of feedback: feedback on ideas, on performance, on skills and competencies, and on style. A functioning team, he explains, is comfortable giving and receiving all types of feedback.   Ethan wraps up the episode with some discussion questions for managers to gauge their teams' comfortability with feedback, with the goal of creating a cu...

Ever wonder what our live leadership development workshops are like? This episode is a short clip of a live workshop we put on a couple of months ago. If you sign up for this online workshop series, use this code at checkout to get a 25% discount: MINDANDHEARTPOD We edited out any voices of participants, plus all the group work, breakout rooms, and Q/A, so you'll just hear Ethan. In this episode,...

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou In this episode of the  Managing with Mind and Heart , host Ethan Nash breaks down the core principles of coaching, a must-have skill for any manager. Listen in to sharpen your coaching game and lead with authenticity, curiousity, and care. This...

Join our upcoming online workshop series of our cornerstone program, " Managing with Mind & Heart. " "There is an inherent power to the nature of our work, and there's a separation because of that."   In this episode of the Managing with Mind and Heart Podcast , hosts Ethan and Mike Nash discuss the concept of the inevitable "power differential" that exists between managers and employees. Taking a...

Ever wonder what our live leadership development workshops are like? This episode is a short clip of a live workshop we put on a couple of months ago. If you sign up for this online workshop series, use this code at checkout to get a 25% discount: MINDANDHEARTPOD We edited out any voices of participants, plus all the group work, breakout rooms, and Q/A, so you'll just hear Ethan. In this short epi...

Join our upcoming online workshop series of our cornerstone program, " Managing with Mind & Heart. " "We're always more sensitive to the power differential looking up at those that have power over us, and we sometimes completely miss it looking down at those we have power over." The power differential is an inherent part of management — managers have power over their employees.   In this episode o...

Ever wonder what our live leadership development workshops are like? This episode is a short clip of a live workshop we put on a couple of months ago. If you sign up for this online workshop series, use this code at checkout to get a 25% discount: MINDANDHEARTPOD We edited out any voices of participants, plus all the group work, breakout rooms, and Q/A, so you'll just hear Ethan. In this short epi...