Building Better Cultures

In this episode of Building Better Cultures, Scott McInnes talks to Alan Stracey, a certified ADHD Coach and Founder of WhereFocusGoes, to explore the nuanced world of neurodiversity. They discuss how understanding and accommodating neurodivergent conditions can transform workplace culture and unlock individual potential. 

In this episode, you'll discover: 

What is neurodiversity and how do neurodiverse conditions manifest? 


The importance of language and perception around neurodiversity in workplaces 


Practical strategies for supporting neurodiverse colleagues and leaders 


The role of coaching, especially ADHD coaching, in empowering high performers 


Legal protections and Disclosure: When and how to share a diagnosis 


The Manual of Me: A tool for fostering understanding across teams 


Timestamps: 

00:00 - Welcome & the importance of audience engagement 02:49 - Alan's background and journey to neurodiversity advocacy 04:14 - Personal impact of ADHD diagnosis and newfound understanding 09:15 - Defining neurodiversity and common conditions 10:40 - Social versus medical models of neurodiversity 11:33 - The situational nature of neurodiverse experiences 14:02 - Language and workplace perceptions around neurodiversity 15:35 - Challenges in disclosure and reducing stigma 16:46 - Legal protections and practical steps for disclosure 18:09 - Supporting neurodiverse colleagues: practical tips 20:37 - The Manual of Me: empowering inclusive teams 21:32 - Common misconceptions about coaching and ADHD coaching approach 28:19 - How coaching helps neurodiverse individuals rediscover their brilliance 35:59 - The power of space and time for reflection in coaching 36:20 - Supporting colleagues with neurodiverse conditions and the importance of understanding 

Resources: 

Blog for seeking a diagnosis 

Blog about reasonable adjustments in the workplace 

The Manual of Me
 

Connect with us: 


LinkedIn  |  YouTube  |  Instagram 

 

Connect with Alan Stracey: 

LinkedIn |  Website

In this episode, Scott McInnes welcomes Wema Hoover, founder of Be Limitless Consulting, to explore the impact of AI on leadership, culture, and work. They discuss how organisations can leverage AI while maintaining a human-centered approach, fostering innovation, and managing change across generations. 

In this episode, you'll discover: 

The rapid evolution of AI and its influence on the workplace over the past 15 months 


Strategies for integrating AI responsibly through clear guardrails and purpose-driven behaviours 


The importance of human-centered engagement and curiosity in AI adoption 


Cross-generational collaboration and overcoming resistance to change 


Practical steps for building resilient, high-performing teams amid technological shifts 


The future of human-AI hybrid workforces and maintaining organizational culture 


Timestamps: 

00:00 - Introduction: The rapid pace of AI change and its impact on organisations 02:16 - The hype versus the reality of AI applications in the workplace 03:50 - Building guardrails and foundational policies for responsible AI use 05:27 - Learning from healthcare: AI enhancing human connection 06:34 - The importance of human-centered behaviors in AI integration 08:14 - How to align AI initiatives with purpose and culture 09:19 - Addressing fears of job displacement and focusing on human skills 10:34 - Managing resistance and promoting organisational change for AI adoption 12:17 - Creating cross-generational AI experimentation platforms 

  

Resources: 

Leading with Heart in an AI-Driven World 


Unlocking The Collective Genius Across Generations By Integrating the 6th Generation, AI 


Human-Centered AI in Healthcare Interview with Alex Voskanian 


 


Connect with us: 

LinkedIn  |  YouTube  |  Instagram 

 
 
 

Connect with Wema Hoover: 

LinkedIn |  Website

In this week's episode, host Scott McInnes has an insightful conversation with Stephen Baer, founder of Engagency, as they explore the core principles behind building resilient organisational cultures that thrive on trust, purpose, and people-centered leadership. 

 

In this episode, you'll learn: 

The true drivers of employee engagement and retention 


The role of middle management in fostering a culture of trust 


Strategies to communicate purpose and strategy effectively 


Leadership behaviours that inspire and empower teams 


The impact of organisational culture on financial performance 


Practical tips for small organisations to deepen connection 


 

Key Takeaways: 

Why the "Velcro vs. glue" analogy is essential for understanding employee retention 


Insights into why 79% of employees are disengaged and how to change that 


The importance of investing in middle management training and emotional intelligence 


How trust and vulnerability in leadership can transform company culture 


Real-world examples from Microsoft and Home Depot illustrating leadership's impact on performance 


Practical steps for leaders to connect with even the most privacy-focused employees 



The secret to storytelling and recognition that boosts engagement internally 


 

Timestamps: 

00:00 - Introduction and episode overview 

 01:23 - Why do people stay or leave organisations? The trillion-dollar engagement question 

 02:41 - Building organisational loyalty with glue vs. Velcro analogy 

03:56 - Why engagement metrics haven't improved over years 

04:26 - The three critical components of business success: purpose, strategy, people 

05:57 - The importance of investing in middle management and leadership training 

06:46 - Cultivating a feedback-rich environment for younger generations 

08:43 - How leadership tone from the top influences culture 


09:36 - Examples of leadership transformation at Microsoft and Home Depot 

11:46 - The power of trust: From conflict to high performance 

13:17 - The role of failure as a learning tool in companies like WD-40 

14:43 - Leadership styles and cultural impact: Nadella vs. Balmer, Blake vs. Nardelli 

16:59 - The importance of authentic leadership and empowering employees 

18:08 - Creating psychological safety and facilitating open conversations 

21:17 - The role of purpose in engaging both employees and customers 

22:19 - How purpose and values cycle through the organization to drive loyalty 

24:42 - How organisations can craft authentic purpose 

26:27 - Connection versus engagement: which drives better loyalty? 

27:36 - The three pillars of emotional engagement: greeting, knowing, growing 

30:07 - Connecting with non-involved employees and maintaining empathy
31:58 - Using storytelling to reinforce culture and recognition 

34:15 - Practical tips for small organisations to enhance connection and culture 

35:32 - How to reach Stephen Baer and further resources 

 

Resources: 

Stephen's Book: https://stephenbaer.com/#book-section 

Patrick Lencioni - Overcoming The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide: https://www.tablegroup.com/product/overcoming-the-five-dysfunctions-a-field-guide/ 

Connect with us: 

LinkedIn  |  YouTube  |  Instagram 

 

 Connect with Stephen Baer: 

LinkedIn |  Website | Podcast

In this special bonus episode, Scott McInnes and his colleague Sadhbh O'Flaherty are joined by Communications Consultant at Gallagher, Maddison Grigsby, to explore the latest insights from the 'State of the Sector' report on internal communications, focusing on the readiness gap, strategic alignment, and human-centric communication.  Maddison shares expert advice on improving manager effectiveness, change management, and leveraging AI for better engagement. 

 

Key Takeaways: 

The evolution of internal communication practices and the importance of continuous improvement. 


The "Readiness Gap": understanding the misalignment between technological potential, leadership expectations, and employee experiences. 


Six key risks impacting organisational readiness: audience burnout, budget constraints, line manager effectiveness, information overload, lack of inclusion of communicators in decision-making, and lack of clear direction. 


The significance of strategy clarity, shared understanding, and alignment in achieving organizational goals. 


The critical role of managers in communication effectiveness and how to empower them with practical tools and frameworks. 


Importance of change management versus change communication, and how emotional responses influence organisational change success. 


The impact of human-centric approaches, including tone of voice, narrative, and bite-sized content adapted for attention spans. 


The persistent neglect of management communication tools and the opportunity for AI to streamline messaging, measurement, and feedback. 


The cultural shift needed to support managers and improve communication effectiveness across organisations. 


 

Chapters: 

00:00  Celebrating 150 Episodes and Reflecting on Growth 

01:23  Introduction to the State of the Sector Report and Key Stats 

02:25  Focus on the Readiness Gap in Organizations 


05:44  Understanding the Six Key Risks Contributing to the Readiness Gap 

10:07  The Power of Strategy and Shared Understanding 

11:00  Leadership's Role in Clarifying Vision and Strategy 

12:29  The Importance of Repetition and Clarity in Communication 

12:57  Addressing Change and Emotional Responses in the Workplace 

15:01  The Significance of Empathy and Human Emotion in Change Management 

15:56  Embracing Continuous Change as the New Norm 

17:04  The Skill Set of Change Communications and Internal Comms 

18:52  Psychology and Employee Resilience in a Volatile Environment 

22:56  The Role of Tone of Voice and Storytelling in Engagement 

36:26  The Impact of Human-Centric Communication and Simplicity 

42:22 The Power of Storytelling and Narrative in Internal Comms 

44:39 The Shift Toward Authentic and Human Tone of Voice 

48:57 Leveraging AI for Simplified and Impactful Communication 

49:17 Practical Tips for High-Performing Teams and Manager Effectiveness 

50:41 The Importance of Listening and Feedback Loops 

51:56 Closing Remarks and Resources for Better Internal Communication 

  

Keywords: 

internal communication, change management, employee engagement, leadership, AI in HR, communication strategy, organisational change, employee trust, storytelling, human-centric communication 

 

Resources: 

State of the Sector Report - https://ajg.com/employeeexperience/state-of-the-sector  Website link with more Information: inspiringchange.ie/stateofthesector 

 

Connect with us: 

LinkedIn  |  YouTube  |  Instagram 

 
Connect with Maddison Grigsby: 

LinkedIn  |  https://www.ajg.com/employeeexperience/

In this episode of the Building Better Cultures Podcast, host Scott McInnes speaks with Glenda Kirby, Chief Customer Officer at Poppulo, about the evolving role of leadership communication in a fast-changing workplace. 

They explore how trust, transparency, and empathy form the foundation of strong organizational cultures, particularly in a world shaped by hybrid work, constant change, and emerging technologies like AI. Glenda shares practical insights from her experience helping global organizations communicate with millions of employees, as well as lessons from her leadership roles at LinkedIn and Indeed. 

You will walk away with actionable ideas on communicating through change, building trust within teams, and developing leadership skills such as clarity under pressure, empathy, and authenticity. 

Keywords: 

Leadership communication, internal communications, organisational culture, trust in leadership, empathy in leadership, clarity under pressure, employee engagement, hybrid work, change management, communication strategy, workplace culture, leadership development, Poppulo, employee experience. 

Key Takeaways: 

Trust is built through consistent and transparent communication.  


Communication is no longer occasional - it's continuous.  


Middle managers are a critical communication channel.  


Clarity matters more than ever. 


Empathy is a leadership skill that must be developed.  


Act on feedback.  


Timing and accuracy are essential during change.  


Authenticity strengthens culture.  


Belonging is becoming increasingly important.  


Chapters: 


00:00 – Introduction to the episode and guest 01:00 – Glenda Kirby's background and Poppulo's global reach 03:00 – Why trust is central to strong workplace cultures 05:20 – Communication overload and cutting through the noise 08:50 – The growing complexity of leadership roles 12:20 – Why organizations still underinvest in communication skills 15:00 – Simple communication techniques leaders can use immediately 18:50 – The importance of empathy and authenticity in leadership 21:00 – Acting on employee feedback and building trust 24:40 – Understanding how different people receive communication 29:00 – Leading teams through constant organizational change 33:00 – The risk of over-communication during uncertain times 35:40 – Final reflections and leadership quick-fire questions 37:30 – The leadership skills that matter most today 

 

Connect with us: 

LinkedIn YouTube Instagram 

 

Connect with Glenda Kirby: 

LinkedIn