The Well-led Podcast

How do great leaders use storytelling to inspire and motivate? And how can you lead effectively through uncertainty when you don’t have all the answers? In this comfyHQ Q&A episode, we explore the power of stories as leadership tools and practical strategies for navigating ambiguity with confidence, clarity, and trust. Tune in for insights that will help you connect, communicate, and guide your te...

The right amount: A conversation about leadership styles. In this episode, Kate Johnson and guest Paul Thornton explore leadership styles: the practical application of different leadership behaviors and how they impact people and organizations. The discussion covers the three primary leadership styles – directing, discussing, and delegating – and how effective leaders adapt their approach based on...

What, why, how: A comfyHQ Q&A In this bite-sized episode of the comfy chairs, we’re diving into two essential leadership questions: How can you delegate effectively without micromanaging? What’s the best approach to giving constructive feedback? Join me as we break down common misconceptions about micromanagement, explore how clarity is the key to delegation, and discover the “what, why, how” of d...

Pull them close: A conversation about grief and loss In this episode of The Comfy Chairs, host Kate Johnson welcomes Justin Clifford, CEO of bereave, for a heartfelt conversation about the critical role of workplace bereavement practices. Together, they delve into how employers can compassionately support employees navigating grief and the profound ripple effects this has on retention, productivit...

Welcome to comfyHQ! New from the comfy chairs. In this first comfyHQ installment of the comfy chairs, we’re answering some of your burning questions and introducing a new format: shorter, focused episodes packed with practical advice. This episode explores what it means to lead with intention, offering actionable insights for leaders who want to make an impact—without overcomplicating things. If y...

Tell me more: A conversation about curiosity and joy What if the secret to joyful, innovative, and resilient leadership lies in a single quality—curiosity? In this episode, Kate sits down with Tatyana Sanikovich, HR consultant and executive coach, to explore how curiosity transforms leadership and team dynamics. Together, they unpack the true meaning of curiosity and offer actionable insights on h...

Envision a leader: A conversation about humanity in leadership. What if leadership wasn't about perfection but about embracing humanity? In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate Johnson sits down with Mandee Bowsmith to explore a new vision for what it means to lead. Together, they take aim at outdated leadership models and champion an approach rooted in psychological safety, emotional intelligen...

Natural to the human mind: A conversation about fear. In this episode of the comfy chairs, Kate sits down with Utkarsh, a coach and consultant, to explore fear as both a challenge and a catalyst for growth. Together, they unpack how fear shapes leadership and personal growth, from navigating rejection and failure to embracing vulnerability with resilience. Utkarsh shares his journey of transformin...

Get ready for comfyHQ, a bite-sized series where your leadership and learning questions take center stage. Submit your hard questions for the comfy chairs here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq Subscribe to the comfy chairs today and get ready for comfyHQ. The work may be hard, but the chairs here are comfy. So, be on the lookout for the first comfyHQ answers, coming January 7th.

Intended for fun: A conversation about team-building. What does it really mean to build a high-performing team? Spoiler: it’s not about icebreakers or quick-fix trust exercises. In this episode of the comfy chairs, we tackle the art and architecture of team building with Jeremy LaDuke, owner of Epic Nine Marketing Outfitters. We dive into the essential mindsets and practices that help leaders crea...

A balance to strike: A conversation about humor at work In this episode of the comfy chairs, host Kate Johnson sits down with Kim Minnick, an HR leader with a knack for weaving humor into the sometimes-rigid landscape of human resources. They dive into the power of humor in the workplace, exploring how it can be a bridge for connection, resilience, and even creativity in day-to-day interactions. K...

Opening up opportunities: A conversation about advocacy and stories. In this episode, I am joined by Thomas Wilson, owner and CEO of R&H Creative Advocacy, to discuss the power of shared storytelling and its role in creating psychological safety and celebrating neurodiversity. Thomas shares his passion for using sensory-friendly settings and inclusive storytelling to empower underserved communitie...

You don’t have to fake anything: A conversation about listening. Deepen your understanding and expand your language about what works best when it comes to listening. In this episode, we focus on how to learn more about the interplay of thoughts, actions, and emotions that occur when we speak and when we listen. With guest Bailey Massey. Connect with Bailey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/...

Greater than myself: A conversation about purpose. Connect with Chase on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-friedman/ Visit his website: https://vanquishmediagroup.com/ Additional resources about overthinking and/or mentioned during our conversation: https://www.greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/how-managers-can-help-frontline-employees-connect-to-purpose https://www.greatplacetowork.co...

It’s your signature: A conversation about character. Connect with David on LinkedIn Visit the Edge Leadership Academy website Subscribe to the Finish Friday newsletter Additional resources mentioned during our conversation: How Are Character and Personality Different Soundtracks by John Acuff The Wisdom of Psychopaths by Kevin Dutton The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment: A description and a video T...

Honoring your word: A conversation about accountability and trust. Visit Wayne’s website: https://www.uglymugmarketing.com/ Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fireyourself/ Mentioned during our conversation: Information from Crucial Learning defining the fundamental attribution error: https://cruciallearning.com/glossary/#fundamental-attribution-error www.one23ltd.com https:...

Is it useful? A conversation about overthinking. Connect with Kim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-witten/ Visit her website: https://www.witten.kim/ Subscribe to her newsletter: https://www.witten.kim/subscribe Additional resources about overthinking and/or mentioned during our conversation: “3 Types of Overthinking and How to Overcome Them” from The Harvard Business Review: http...

Connection that fulfills: A conversation about belonging. Connect with Colleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-saringer-phd/ Visit her website: https://www.colleensaringer.com/ Check out her bi-weekly program, We Built a Bridge, live on YouTube every other Thursday: https://www.youtube.com/@WeBuiltABridge Additional resources and information: Dr. Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon Gener...

Continue to grow & change: A conversation about self-assessment. Celebrate the Comfy Chairs podcast’s 1st birthday with us! Onetwentythree ltd is offering a complimentary Everything DiSC® assessment for one listener. Here’s how to enter: 1) Leave a review of the podcast. 2) Share your email at the onetwentythree ltd website. Everyone who completes these two steps between July 16 and August 13, 202...

Energy in communication: A conversation about communication and anxiety. Connect with Grace on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-cw-liu/ Visit her website: https://gracesoulutions.com/ GraceSOULutions on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraceSoulutions Additional resources mentioned during our conversation: How Anxiety Can Impair Communication: https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/impair...

Constantly narrating your environment: A conversation about storytelling and company culture. Connect with Kim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimrohrer/ Patchwork Portfolio: https://www.patchworkportfolio.com/ Peak HR Learning: http://www.peakhrlearning.com/ I Care Too Much on Substack: https://icaretoomuch.substack.com/ Learn more about the personality and personal style assessments we...

We all have one.: A conversation about stories and identity. Content warning: Please be aware that this episode contains brief references to childhood experiences of abuse. Connect with Shama on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjukta-shams-71642b6/ Visit her website: https://www.caseforsupportconsulting.com/ Listen to her podcast, From Passion to Purpose: https://open.spotify.com/show/59p2...

There is no perfect path: A conversation about career journeys. Connect with Frank on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankesawyer731/ While I couldn’t find the 5 Whys video I mentioned, here’s a short introduction to this concept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_56GhHgGU2U www.one23ltd.com https://www.instagram.com/one23ltd/ Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

I’m now leading myself: A conversation about supporting managers. Connect with Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bwalch/ Visit his company website: https://www.shiftfocus.com/ Check out these articles, written by Brian: https://digital.akbizmag.com/issue/january-2024/aspirational-experiments/ https://digital.akbizmag.com/issue/march-2024/create-inevitable-progress/https://digital.akbi...

It’s cool to be you.: A conversation about authenticity Connect with Ingafay: http://ingafay.com/ https://facebook.com/ingafayunplugged https://www.youtube.com/@ingafayunplugged https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingafay/ Information about Julia Cameron and Morning Pages: https://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/ Read more about authenticity and emotional intelligence: https://www.inc.com/j...