Episodes
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"People spend way too much time in crappy meetings. They suck your soul and they discourage you."
In this episode of Managing with Mind and Heart, Ethan and Mike Nash discuss the importance of a less glamorous yet essential part of the workplace: meeting agendas.
As a follow-up to the recent episode on how to wrap up meetings with clarity and closure, this episode focuses on what happens before the meeting ends. From starting with a check-in and icebreaker to giving participants space to raise their own concerns, they walk through each step of building a thoughtful and effective meeting agenda.
Whether you're leading the meeting or simply participating, understanding the flow and purpose of an agenda can make a big difference. Tune in to learn how to make your meetings more organized, efficient, and engaging.
Check out the Mind & Heart University app!
To get our Effective and Enjoyable Meetings Guidebook, send a note to [email protected].
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.
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode of the Managing With Mind and Heart, hosts Ethan and Mike Nash discuss how one simple tool can bring clarity and focus to your meetings. ABCD stands for Action items, By whens/by whom, Communication, and Decisions, and it's designed to ensure every meeting ends with clear, actionable takeaways. We’ll walk you through how these steps help teams clarify decisions, assign responsibilities, and communicate effectively. Tune in to learn how the ABCD method can transform your meetings and boost team productivity. Don't forget to visit our website and join our mailing list for more insights.
Check out the Mind & Heart University app!
To get our Effective and Enjoyable Meetings Guidebook, send a note to [email protected].
We mentioned the following episodes:
#54 – Committment, Accountability & Results: Building a Cohesive Leadership Team #13 – How to Have One-on-One Meetings That Don't Suck #21 – How to Run Meetings That Don't Suck Your Soul (Part 1) #22 – Tools & Tactics for Meeting Facilitation (Part 2) #23 – Remote Meetings: How to Make Them Worthwhile #64 – You Should Create a Meeting Code of ConductText 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.
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"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 and Heart, Nash Consulting's own Hana Butler joins host Ethan Nash to explore the transformative power of a growth mindset. Coined by Carol Dweck in the 1980s, the term "growth mindset" highlights how our beliefs about learning and failure shape our personal and professional lives. Hana breaks down the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset, showing how each influences our ability to innovate and grow at work. She explains that in a fixed mindset, mistakes are seen as a reflection of who we are, while in a growth mindset, they’re opportunities for improvement.
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.
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In this episode of the Managing with Mind and Heart podcast, host Ethan Nash explores an alternative approach to feedback that goes beyond the traditional “BIR” method (which we talked about back in episode #8 and wrote about here). This framework—where managers identify problematic Behavior, highlight its Impact, and suggest a Replacement—works well when specific behaviors need addressing. But what happens when feedback is based more on intuition or a general feeling about an employee?
Drawing inspiration from the book Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building by Claire Hughes Johnson, Ethan introduces the hypothesis-based coaching approach, which turns potential criticism into open dialogue. By framing intuition-based feedback as a hypothesis rather than a judgment, managers can foster more productive conversations, even when feedback is less clear-cut. Tune in to discover how to navigate these tricky conversations with confidence.
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.
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“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 perspective is all about.”
In this episode, Ethan sits down with leadership coach, consultant, and all-around cool dude Andy Thompson. Andy provides insights on identifying and leveraging strengths, and starts by explaining what a strength really is: a combination of talent, skills, and knowledge, which all exist in unison within a certain context. The duo discusses the importance and how-tos of helping teams discover and harness their strengths collectively. Individual "weaknesses" are inevitable, and the strongest teams tap into one another’s complementary strengths.
Tune in to learn how to realistically balance strengths and weaknesses for personal and team growth.
Links and notes:
Andy's podcast episode on strengths Clifton Strengths FinderText 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.
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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 describe the way familial dynamics influence an individual’s workplace behavior and leadership. Deborah also shares insights from her pioneering research on high-performing teams and innovative leadership.
Resources:
Family Ghosts in the Executive Suite Herminia Ibarra’s idea of provisional selves Immunity to Change model Lindy Greer's Hippo Theory of Leadership Course: Unlocking Your Leadership Signature via Executive Education at MIT "Discovering and Developing" picture cards at xlead.coWe're on YouTube! Watch this episode live on our channel.
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.
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We are excited to invite you to our online workshop series focused on developing leadership skills. You can register for the workshop here or email us at [email protected].
In this episode, Ethan explains the principles behind Nash Consulting's cornerstone leadership development program, Managing with Mind & Heart, and then provides a preview of the Top 15 Management Skills and what they look like in practice.
Text the word “LEADING” to 66866 (or go here) to be added to Nash Consulting’s monthly newsletter. Just practical management skills and tools.
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We're revisiting one of our most popular discussions—navigating the choppy waters of employee reactions after tough feedback. For those looking to dive deeper, consider enrolling in our leadership development program, Managing with Mind & Heart. This course is packed with essential tools not only for this topic but for a wide array of practical and actionable management skills. Learn more and register at www.nashconsulting.com
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.
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“When people step foot into the training, they need to already understand the big picture around this training.”
A training shouldn’t just be a box to check—it should be the impetus for long-term organizational change. In this solo episode, Ethan unpacks strategies for sustaining the momentum after a workshop or training so that the lessons don’t just become the “flavor of the month.”
He shares strategies to ensure long-term impact by getting buy-in from your team, helping them see the big picture, and integrating new knowledge into your existing systems. He also discusses the importance of ongoing education and reinforcement, as adult learning requires repetition, and the necessity of creating accountability to ensure consistent practice. Finally, Ethan suggests how to foster deep involvement, engaging your team in driving the change.
Check out the blog post we did about this topic.
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.
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In this episode, Mike and Ethan Nash explore the power of self-awareness in leadership. Inspired by "The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership" by Chapman, Dethmer and Klemp, they break down the "line" metaphor: being "below the line" means you're closed and defensive, while being "above the line" means you're open and curious. They discuss why self-awareness is the most critical leadership skill, how our brains react to perceived threats, and why it's okay to be "below the line" — as long as you recognize it. Tune in to learn how to check in with yourself and lead more consciously.
We're on YouTube! Watch this episode live on our channel.
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.
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“The bottom line is: in the workplace, I am treating you no differently than anybody else. I’m going to spend the same amount of time with you at lunch. At work, we’re not going to talk about our social time outside of work.”
In this episode, Ethan and Mike Nash discuss the complex dynamics of friendship in the workplace. What is the best approach to being a good friend and a great manager?
The duo interrogates the commonly held belief that friendships with employees are inherently at odds with healthy management and suggests strategies for setting boundaries with friends that you also manage.
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.
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“Having uncontrollable circumstances actually generates a threat response in the brain. When I’m in that fight, flight, or freeze mode at work, I can’t be creative. I can’t be empathetic. I’m in survival mode."
Unlock the secrets of autonomy in the workplace in this episode of The Managing with Mind and Heart Podcast. Discover how self-direction boosts morale, engagement, and productivity. Learn why unnecessary rules kill motivation and how involving others in decision-making empowers teams. We'll break down the four levels: 1) Just do it, 2) Do then tell, 3) Consult then do, and 4) Just don’t do it. Plus, see why shifting from a surveillance to an outcome-based mindset makes all the difference.
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.
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"Managing is a higher calling. It's not just air traffic controlling work, or being a chess master and making sure all the people are doing the right things. Management is - at its core - about equipping and empowering others."
In this episode, Mike Nash dives into a solo conversation on what prevents managers from thriving in their roles. Too often, he explains, managers assume the role of air traffic controlling their people or treating employees as chess pieces in a game that can be won.
Mike explains that a manager can only succeed in their goal of helping their people learn, grow and thrive by looking inward and examining their life, habits and history. He introduces the RAIN framework (Recognize, Accept, Investigate, Nurture) as a way to guide managers in understanding and overcoming the obstacles that hinder their effectiveness.
Listen as Mike shares actionable strategies for navigating the complexities of management and cultivating a culture of trust, collaboration, and growth.
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.
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"The higher up you go on the org chart, the more important it is that leaders are leading from a mindset of 'I work for you' not 'you work for me.'"
In this episode, Mike is joined by Andy Thompson for a fun and enlightening discussion centered on the most important behaviors for executive teams in creating and maintaining healthy organizations. They discuss fizzy water and extra hot coffee, the challenge of pronouncing “anonymity,” why self-care for execs is vital, the importance of asking employees for feedback, hiring execs for high EQ instead of for subject matter expertise, humility, why “walking the talk” (leading by example) is so important for credibility, and more.
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.
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"Before I make my choice about what I'm going to do -- because I'm seeing the 'thing' not being done right, or well, or at all -- ask myself these two questions: Where is the employee in terms of skill? Where is the employee in terms of will? Get that sorted first, and whichever quadrant we land in gives me a lot of clues as to what I need to do next."
In this episode, Mike Nash is joined by Nash Consulting coach Val Jeffords to discuss the Skill-Will Matrix for classifying employees', well, skill and will with a particular task or job. Notably, each typology in the matrix requires different management and leadership approaches, a reality often overlooked in the workplace. Mike and Val discuss how managers often default to corrective action without assessing skill and will, a habit that can have detrimental effects in the workplace and can severely damage morale and trust.
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.
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"By following the Rule of Three, we start to see further possibilities. We get outside of our current paradigms because it forces us to put more cognitive effort into finding other solutions."
In this minisode, Ethan Nash explains the theory and evidence behind the Rule of Three for decision-making. Instead of binary this-or-that/yes-or-no options, the Rule of Three implores decision-makers to give themselves another option before making a final call. Doing so, Ethan explains, pushes decision-makers to consider possibilities they otherwise would have overlooked, leading to nuanced choices that take into account a broader range of perspectives and potential outcomes.
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.
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“Anytime I interact with any member of my team, I’m creating a brand impression. I may create a different brand impression with my CFO than I do with some account manager I’m working with. My leadership brand is going to be based on everybody’s perception of me.”
In this episode, Ethan Nash engages with Skot Waldron, a communication strategist, podcaster, and author of Unlocked: A 52-Week Guide For The Intentional Leader. Drawing on his experience as a brand strategist, Waldron explores the art of crafting a personal leadership brand. The conversation centers on Waldron’s new book, offering key takeaways and lessons on building personal confidence, self-awareness, and a personal leadership brand that communicates the values and priorities of every leader.
You can learn more about Skot and his work at www.skotwaldron.com.
Links:
Skot Waldron on The Managing with Mind and Heart podcast, January 2021
Skot on YouTube, LinkedIn
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
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"This person that we spend 24 hours a day with 7 days a week is yourself. And to live with someone that closely that you don't really like, is hell. Self-compassion is seeing your own goodness and having a 'correct' view of yourself. It includes the ability to give yourself grace, comfort yourself in a time of need, and treat yourself the way you would treat a friend."
Nash Consulting's own Hana Butler joins Mike Nash for a captivating cocktail hour conversation on the crucial topic of self-compassion at work. In this episode, they get into the fundamental questions surrounding self-compassion: What exactly is self-compassion, and why is it so vital in the workplace?
They explore the significance of cultivating self-compassion and its positive impact on individual well-being and overall team dynamics, as well as the challenges that arise when employees and managers struggle to develop this essential skill. Grab your favorite drink, relax, and join us for this thought-provoking exploration of self-compassion in the professional realm.
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.
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"Feeling cared about is feeling safe, which is a primary human need. I can't do my best work – and I probably don't want to do my best work – if I'm in a protected mode. Probably one of the most important abilities of a manager is the ability to communicate through words and actions that they actually care about their employees.”
In this one-on-one conversation between Mike Nash and our colleague, Scott Ummel, this episode delves into the fundamental principles of effective leadership. The duo presents five key attributes of an outstanding boss and shares valuable tips to refine these skills for your own personal growth.
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.
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