On this episode of the McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Adam Malone, founder of the Tenacious Operator. We dove deep into what it really takes to build trust and resilience in teams—whether you’re leading in the boardroom or on the plant floor. Adam shared his journey from navigating distrust in the corporate world to becoming a leadership consultant, and we explored how empathy, authentic communication, and embracing healthy conflict can transform not only your business, but your whole community. If you want to elevate your impact as a leader, don’t miss these powerful insights!

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Download your free episode guide here!

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00:00 "Resilience Amid Nexus of Distrust"

05:25 No "They" in Teamwork

06:13 Empathy Builds Trust in Leadership

11:55 Workplace Communication Challenges

13:01 "Fostering Healthy Conflict Through Humility"

19:12 Embracing Conflict in Leadership

22:12 Merit-Based Diversity Hiring

25:34 Understanding Trust, Bias, and Leadership

27:59 "Communication and Connection Journey"

30:18 "Impact of Empathy and Trust"

34:17 Avoid Assuming Intent

37:46 AirPods and Perplexity Insights

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Here are 3 key takeaways that resonated with me:

🔹 Trust is Built on Empathy and Authenticity: Adam shared that trust hinges on leaders consistently demonstrating empathy ("Do you care about me?") and showing up authentically. When people feel seen and understood, team cohesion and performance soar.

🔹 Healthy Conflict Requires Intellectual Fallibility: Great leaders create environments where it’s safe to disagree and share ideas, addressing issues rather than avoiding them. Embracing the idea that we don’t have all the answers paves the way for better solutions and genuine collaboration.

🔹 The Value of Diverse Teams is Unlocked Through Psychological Safety: It’s not enough to focus on demographic diversity. Adam emphasized that the performance edge comes when teams are diverse and psychologically safe—so every voice can be heard and conflict becomes constructive, not destructive.

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Want to learn more about McCoy Leadership? Check out our website, https://www.mccoyleadership.com/ and don't forget to subscribe to receive all the latest podcast episode.

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Links

Adam's website

LinkedIn

Book Recommendations

It's Your Ship

Unreasonable Hospitality

On this episode of the McCoy Leadership Podcast, we got real about the power of grace, community, and vulnerability in leadership. I opened up about a recent personal tragedy and how the support, forgiveness, and empathy from those around me helped transform pain into purpose. Joined by the insightful Traci Austin, we discussed how offering grace—to others and ourselves—builds true belonging, drives growth, and strengthens teams. If you’re ready to lead with impact, remember: don’t isolate. Lean into your community, be intentional, and start making positive change today.

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Download your free episode guide here!

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00:00 "Tragic Road Incident in Hagerstown"

05:57 Healing Through Grace and Community

08:31 Grace in Leadership and Community

11:18 Therapy, Leadership, and Trauma Healing

16:22 Bitter or Better: A Choice

18:12 Leadership Through Adaptation and Positivity

21:41 "Big Picture vs. Individual Tasks"

26:49 "Reflection on Emotional Impact"

28:14 Behavior's Impact on Others

32:27 Learning to Embrace Help

36:15 Change Starts With You

38:25 Intentional Daily Practices Matter

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Here are three key takeaways for anyone looking to elevate their leadership impact:

• Grace starts with yourself Before you can extend grace to others—at work or beyond—you have to learn how to offer it to yourself. Self-forgiveness lays the foundation for authentic, empathetic leadership.

• Isolation vs. Community When hardship strikes, you have a choice: to isolate and grow bitter, or embrace community and become better. Healing, growth, and transformation almost always happen in connection with others.

• Intentional Daily Change Real change in leadership and life comes from making intentional shifts—no matter how small—every single day. Whether it’s how you build your team, practice gratitude, or seek help, don’t wait for tomorrow to start. Begin today.

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Want to learn more about McCoy Leadership? Check out our website, https://www.mccoyleadership.com/ and don't forget to subscribe to receive all the latest podcast episode.

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Links

Traci's LinkedIn

Trici's Website

On today’s episode of the McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Cynthia Rapaido, a powerhouse in K-12 education and leadership. We talked about the challenges of transitioning from teaching students to leading adults, the game-changing role of mentorship, and how to define—and redefine—your personal “why” as you climb the ladder. Dr. Cynthia dropped insights on building inclusive, thriving school cultures and preparing students for real-world success, plus she shared wisdom from her new book, “Step Up Your School Leadership Game.” If you want actionable strategies to elevate your impact as a leader, this episode is packed with gold.

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Download your free episode guide here!

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00:00 "From Struggle to Teaching Passion"

05:12 Universal Value of Apprenticeships

08:50 Mentorship Toward Principalship Journey

11:16 "Discovering and Evolving Your Why"

17:16 Creating a Positive School Environment

18:58 Bridging Schools and Industry Needs

23:51 "Preparing Students for Opportunities"

28:07 "Should Everyone Be a Principal?"

29:33 "Choosing Leadership in Education"

33:23 "Rapid Fire Leadership Questions"

36:46 AI Advancements and Future Connections

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Here are my top 3 takeaways:

• 💡 Mentorship is Essential: Dr. Rapaido emphasized that real growth happens with strong mentorship—both from within your school and across your professional network. Don’t wait to be assigned a mentor; proactively seek out guidance to expand your perspective.

• 🧭 Your “Why” Will Evolve: Your motivation for leading will shift over time. Dr. Rapaido encourages leaders to regularly reassess their ‘why’—it’s not just about personal growth or compensation. Staying grounded in your purpose is key to navigating challenges and inspiring those you lead.

• 🚀 Hands-On Learning Trumps Theory: There’s no substitute for real-world experience. Whether it’s “student principling” or shadowing others, Dr. Rapaido recommends practical learning opportunities to bridge the gap between theory and day-to-day leadership realities.

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Want to learn more about McCoy Leadership? Check out our website, https://www.mccoyleadership.com/ and don't forget to subscribe to receive all the latest podcast episode.

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Links

Cynthia's LinkedIn

Cynthia's Book

Book Recommendation