You've probably heard "leadership versus management" debates many times, but Kristen and Mike break it down in a way that actually makes sense. This isn't about which one is better - spoiler alert: you need both. Instead, they explore how these distinct skill sets work together and why understanding the difference can transform your career. From Confucius to Navy SEALs, they share practical insights on when to lead people versus manage systems, common myths that trip up even experienced professionals, and why the best leaders toggle between both modes throughout their day. If you've ever wondered whether you're managing when you should be leading (or vice versa), this episode will give you the clarity to know which hat to wear when.

Highlights:

• The Core Distinction: Leadership = vision and inspiration ("why" and "what"). Management = operations and execution ("how")
• Kotter's Framework: Leadership establishes direction, aligns people, motivates. Management plans/budgets, organizes/staffs, controls/problem-solves
• Why Both Matter: Successful leaders toggle between both modes throughout their day
• Leadership can be learned through study and practice - you're not born with it
• Common Myths Debunked: Leadership isn't higher status than management, you can lead from any role, both require ongoing development
• The Coaching Approach: Keeps you focused on vision and mentorship while avoiding micromanagement
• Managing Systems, Leading People: Manage processes, lead and inspire the people within them
• Continuous Growth: Leadership development is lifelong, requiring constant learning and self-reflection

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Start With Why by Simon Sinek
• Good to Great by Jim Collins
• Turn the Ship Around by Captain L. David Marquet
• The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
• Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
• Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

Kristen and Mike kick off their new Buzzword Breakdown series by tackling psychological safety, a term often referenced in leadership discussions without clear explanation. Created by Harvard professor Amy Edmondson, psychological safety is the belief that you won't be punished for speaking up with ideas, questions, or concerns. Research shows it's the #1 predictor of high-performing teams - more important than who's on the team. Despite its importance, many misconceptions exist around what psychological safety actually means and how to create it. Whether you lead a team or are part of one, understanding this concept can transform your workplace relationships and help everyone do their best work.

Highlights:

• Introduction of the new Buzzword Breakdown series format
• Amy Edmondson coined "psychological safety" in 1999 while researching hospital teams
• Psychological safety is a team concept that predicts high performance (Google's Project Aristotle)
• Myth: It's about being nice (Reality: It's about candor with respect)
• Myth: You can declare a space "safe" (Reality: Actions create it)
• Myth: It's a luxury (Reality: It's essential for effective teams)
• Signs of low safety: silence in meetings, blame culture, fear of failure
• Signs of high safety: challenging ideas without fear, open discussion of mistakes
• Leaders create it through: admitting uncertainty, sharing lessons from mistakes, thanking people for speaking up

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson
• Amy Edmondson on LinkedIn
• HBR: What Is Psychological Safety?
• HBR: What People Get Wrong About Psychological Safety
• McKinsey: What is Psychological Safety?
• Previous Love and Leadership episodes:
  • #37 Workplace Buzzwords
  • #31 Motivating Employees
  • #38 How to Win Friends and Influence People
  • #17 Interview with Rebecca Yang

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

We originally aired this episode in October prior to the election, and are sharing it again today because we find it more relevant than ever!

Leaders today face a unique challenge: supporting their teams' mental wellness during a very high-stress period. In this episode, Kristen and Mike explore this timely topic with licensed therapist Megan Romano. They discuss how leaders can navigate the emotional minefield of turbulent political times, from recognizing their own triggers to creating a psychologically safe environment for their teams. Megan shares practical techniques for emotional regulation and emphasizes the importance of leaders modeling vulnerability and self-care. This episode offers invaluable insights on how to lead with empathy and resilience during turbulent times.

About Megan:

Megan Romano (M.S., LMFT) is a New York-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in trauma therapy. With extensive experience in inpatient rehabilitation and online therapy, she has treated clients globally and trained therapists in various settings. She is certified in treating disruptive behavioral disorders, crisis intervention, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral disorders. She provides therapy for individuals, families, and couples, addressing a wide range of challenges. She has received "The Best of Brooklyn Award for Counseling and Mental Health" for nine consecutive years. She is also the founder of Human Nation™, a mental health resource, and the inventor of a patent-pending trauma intervention that is 100% effective and substance-free.

Highlights:

• The importance of leaders recognizing and regulating their own emotions before addressing their team's concerns.
• Techniques for emotional regulation, including breathing exercises and identifying physical signs of stress.
• The value of taking timeouts during tense meetings to allow for emotional processing.
• The role of vulnerability in leadership and how it can foster trust and psychological safety.
• The concept of "tend and befriend" as a positive stress response in the workplace.
• The importance of authentic check-ins with employees and listening to learn rather than to respond.
• Tips for finding the right therapist and normalizing mental health care in the workplace.
• The benefits of proactive therapy for leaders, even without a specific crisis or diagnosis.

Links and Resources Mentioned:

• Human Nation™ website
• Megan Romano Therapy
• Megan’s LinkedIn profile
• Psychology Today
• Zocdoc
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

Kristen and Mike dive into Dale Carnegie's classic "How to Win Friends and Influence People" - a book that's approaching its 90th anniversary yet remains powerfully relevant. Mike reveals he's read (or rather, listened to) the book nearly 10 times, often before starting new jobs to ground himself in core leadership principles. The couple explores why this 1936 bestseller has sold over 30 million copies and continues to influence modern leadership thinking. Unlike most leadership books, Carnegie's approach focuses on genuine human connection rather than strategy or tactics. As you listen, you'll discover timeless principles that can transform not just your leadership approach, but all your relationships through small yet powerful changes in how you interact with others.

Highlights:

• Carnegie's core message: Leadership is about making people want to do things, not forcing them
• Principle 1: Don't criticize, condemn, or complain - criticism puts people on defensive
• Principle 2: Give honest and sincere appreciation - not flattery
• Principle 3: Arouse in the other person an eager want - talk about what they want
• The book emphasizes remembering names as "the sweetest sound" to any person
• Good listening is highlighted as more important than talking for effective communication
• "The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it" - a principle both hosts struggle with
• Mike shares examples of seeing these principles successfully applied in hospitality leadership
• Carnegie's focus on understanding others' perspectives aligns with the improv principles Kristen teaches

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
• Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
• Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
• It's Your Ship by Michael Abrashoff
• The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
• How to Say It for Women by Phyllis Mindell
• Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

Kristen and Mike get into the fascinating world of workplace buzzwords that are trending in 2025. From "anti-perks" to "coffee badging," these terms reveal a lot about our current work culture and employee-employer relationships. The couple unpacks these buzzwords with their characteristic humor and practical insight, examining what each trend reveals about the evolving workplace. Whether you're dealing with "quiet hiring" at your organization or considering a "lazy girl job" for better work-life balance, this episode offers a revealing look at the language shaping our professional lives and what it means for leaders at all levels.

Highlights:

• "Anti-perks": Workplace policies framed as benefits that actually negatively impact employees
• "Bare minimum Mondays": Employees intentionally reducing workload on Mondays to combat burnout
• "Coffee badging": Briefly appearing at the office to satisfy return-to-office mandates before heading home
• "Conscious quitting": Employees leaving companies whose values don't align with their personal ethics
• "Quittok": The trend of posting or livestreaming resignations on TikTok
• "Employee Experience (EX)": The physical, digital, and cultural elements affecting how employees feel about work
• "Ghost jobs": Fake job listings companies post without actually intending to hire
• "Industry hopping": Professionals moving between different sectors throughout their careers
• "Job cuffing": Increasing engagement during uncertain times to avoid layoffs
• "Lazy girl jobs": Roles prioritizing work-life balance over career advancement

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• AIHR Article: 27 Trending HR Buzzwords You Need to Know
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• "Take This Job and Shove It" by Johnny Paycheck

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

Kristen and Mike sit down with Andrea Fleischfresser, an executive coach with over 20 years of experience in HR and coaching. Andrea shares her journey from working in Italy to building her coaching practice in the US, where she discovered that cultural backgrounds significantly influence leadership styles and workplace dynamics. Through her work with clients from diverse cultures, Andrea has observed how deeply ingrained cultural norms affect everything from communication styles to feedback delivery and meeting participation. She explains why some leaders struggle when relocating to different countries - not because they lack skills, but because leadership expectations vary dramatically across cultures. Whether you're managing a global team or working with colleagues from different backgrounds, this conversation offers practical insights to help navigate cultural differences and become a more effective leader.

Highlights:

• Andrea's international experience in Italy shaped her understanding of cross-cultural leadership challenges
• Cultural backgrounds influence workplace behaviors even for second or third-generation immigrants
• American workplace culture values individualism and task orientation, while other cultures prioritize relationships and collective decision-making
• Americans use "low context" communication (direct), while many Asian, South American and Southern European cultures use "high context" communication (indirect)
• What looks like disengagement to an American might be respectful listening in another culture
• Historical contexts (agrarian vs. hunter-gatherer societies) may have influenced Eastern and Western cultural values
• In relationship-based cultures, trust comes from personal connection; in American culture, trust is built on reliability
• Feedback styles vary widely - some cultures are very direct, while Americans often use the "sandwich" approach
• Leaders should ask team members "How can I best support you?" rather than applying one-size-fits-all approaches
• Understanding your own cultural biases is essential for effective cross-cultural leadership

About Andrea:

Andrea Fleischfresser, MCC is an Executive & Leadership Coach and Corporate Facilitator with 20 years of experience in HR and Coaching. She specializes in helping leaders maximize their strengths, improve team performance, and achieve goals through increased trust, cohesion, and collaboration. With over two decades of international experience, Andrea offers a unique perspective on effective global leadership, shaped by her deep understanding of diverse cultural landscapes. She is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) recognized by the International Coaching Federation.

Connect with Andrea:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreafleischfresser
• Website: https://www.destinationyoucoaching.com

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

Is your team more afraid of sharing a bad idea or missing out on a great one? In this episode, Mike and Kristen dig into what truly makes a culture innovative - and it's probably not what you think. Most companies claim to value innovation, but few actually design their culture to support it. Through a framework Kristen calls the "Improvation Matrix," they explore how openness to new ideas and commitment to execution create the foundation for genuine innovation. Plus, Mike takes a delightful detour through the Museum of Failure (featuring gems like Colgate Lasagna and Limeade Oreos) to illustrate why embracing failure might be the most important element in fostering creativity. Whether your team is stuck in stagnation, drowning in noise, or trapped in rigid thinking, this episode offers practical strategies to shift your culture toward true innovation.

Highlights:

• Kristen introduces the Improvation Matrix with two axes: openness to new ideas and level of commitment
• Teams can exist in four states: Stagnation, Noise, Rigidity, or Innovation depending on their culture
• The "Yes, And" mindset from improv fosters divergent thinking and gives creative ideas room to breathe
• The Museum of Failure showcases products like New Coke and Colgate Lasagna as examples of how even successful companies fail
• Three levels of listening: listening to respond, listening to hear, and listening to understand
• The Golden State Warriors' "Strength in Numbers" philosophy demonstrates how supporting teammates leads to success
• Incorporating play at work reduces stress, improves cognitive function, and enhances creativity

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Museum of Failure
• Episode #7: 10 Ways Improv Makes You a Better Leader

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

In the second part of their deep dive into Will Guidara's Unreasonable Hospitality, Mike and Kristen explore the leadership lessons that transformed Eleven Madison Park into the world's best restaurant. From breaking traditional fine dining rules to creating moments of surprise and delight for guests, Guidara's approach proves that true hospitality extends beyond simply serving excellent food. His philosophy challenges leaders to build strong teams, empower staff through trust, and create authentic connections with those they serve. Whether you lead a team of two or two hundred, this episode reveals how small, thoughtful gestures—what Guidara calls "grace notes"—can turn ordinary service into extraordinary experiences that leave lasting impressions.

Highlights:

• Breaking traditions: Prioritizing authentic guest connections over rigid fine dining rules
• Hiring for the "why": Finding people who genuinely care about hospitality over experience
• Team choreography: Using subtle hand signals for seamless service coordination
• The Miles Davis approach: Identifying 11 guiding principles after a critic's feedback
• The "important to me" card: Building partnership through respecting what matters deeply to others
• Empowering staff: Giving team members control of specialized programs before they're fully ready
• The Dreamweaver role: Creating a position dedicated to personalizing guest experiences
• Grace notes: Small gestures that create lasting impressions, like plating a NYC hot dog for tourists
• Balancing excellence and warmth: Finding harmony between perfect service and authenticity
• Scaling culture: Maintaining core values while growing and trusting others to lead

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
• Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
• Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell
• Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com