Hosted by Scott McInnes, founder of Inspiring Change, we talk to guests about how really good internal comms, engagement and leadership all contribute to 'Build...
128 | HubSpot’s Culture Code and Leadership Insights for Hybrid Work Success | Eimear Marrinan
Episode Summary: In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes interviews Eimear Marrinan, VP of People Experience at HubSpot, about how HubSpot has built and maintained a thriving corporate culture. The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities of hybrid work, the role of feedback and transparency, and the importance of intentionality in fostering meaningful employee engagement. Eimear shares practical advice and insights into aligning company values with the needs of employees and customers alike. Key Takeaways: HubSpot’s culture code acts as a guiding principle for hiring, management, and decision-making. Constructive, candid feedback fosters personal and organisational growth. Remote and hybrid work require intentional strategies for communication, engagement, and productivity. Managers need upskilling and support to lead effectively in dynamic work environments. Culture is an evolving product shaped by data, feedback, and leadership alignment. Aligning leadership around core principles enhances company mission and employee connection. Challenges faced by Big Tech reveal the need to balance employee well-being with business priorities. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Building Better Cultures Podcast 07:01 HubSpot's Culture Code and Its Importance 12:05 Feedback and Transparency in Organisational Culture 20:04 Intentionality in Communication and Management 25:44 The Importance of Intentionality in Management 36:01 Balancing Family Culture with Business Needs
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127 | From Words to Action: How Storytelling Unifies, Empowers & Transforms Organisations | The Cumberland
EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, Scott discusses the power of storytelling in organisations with Des Moore and Shelly Hayward from The Cumberland Building Society. They explore the importance of a common narrative during transformation, the co-creation process that engaged employees, and the significance of events like Cumberland Calling in celebrating the organisation's story. The conversation emphasises the need for authenticity, emotional connection, and the ongoing evolution of the narrative as the organisation continues its journey. KEY TAKEAWAYS Storytelling is critical for effective communication in organisations. A common narrative helps unify employees during transformation. Co-creation of the story fosters ownership and engagement. Emotional connection is key to engaging employees. Leadership involvement ensures authenticity and inspires trust. TIME STAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Storytelling in Organisations 02:19 Transformation Journey at Cumberland Building Society 07:10 The Importance of a Common Narrative 10:34 Co-Creation of the Cumberland Story 16:47 Cumberland Calling: Celebrating the Story 21:52 Engaging Leaders and Customers in the Narrative 27:15 The Positivity: Celebrating Pride in the Organisation 32:17 Continuing the Story: Future Directions
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126 | Building High-Trust Cultures: Leadership Strategies for Hybrid Work Success | Tim Threipland
Episode Summary In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes welcomes Tim Threipland from FranklinCovey to discuss the critical role of trust in organisational culture and leadership. They explore how trust impacts performance, the effects of the pandemic on work culture, and the importance of intentionality in building high-trust environments. The conversation highlights the need for leaders to extend trust, create psychological safety, and navigate the complexities of hybrid work. Tim emphasises that trust is not just a soft skill but a vital component of business success, urging leaders to focus on measurable outcomes and engage employees in the process of building a trusting culture. Key Takeaways Trust is the cornerstone of effective leadership and thriving organisational cultures. High-trust cultures foster agility, leading to faster decision-making and improved performance metrics. Trust is not just a soft skill—it's a measurable and critical business outcome. The pandemic has spotlighted vulnerabilities in organisational cultures, offering opportunities for growth. Fear-driven, control-oriented leadership erodes trust and limits organisational potential. Psychological safety is the foundation of trust and must be intentionally nurtured within teams. Leaders must actively design and sustain cultures that prioritise trust to achieve long-term success. Employees play a vital role in trust-building by clearly communicating their needs, contributions, and feedback. Trust flourishes through consistent, transparent communication and alignment of expectations. Extending trust as the default approach empowers teams and reinforces a culture of mutual respect. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back 05:02 Understanding Trust in Organizations 11:53 The Impact of the Pandemic on Work Culture 18:01 Navigating Fear and Control in Leadership 25:10 Building High Trust Cultures 29:52 Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts
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125 | The Leadership Edge: Mastering Communication & Connection | Marsha Acker
Have you ever witnessed patterns of communication that didn’t seem helpful or productive in your teams? Leadership and communication go hand in hand, and who better to unravel this intricate relationship than Marsha Acker. As the CEO of Team Catapult, Marsha understands that there is more to leadership than just technical prowess; it’s about understanding people dynamics and creating a safe environment for open and honest communication. Throughout the episode, Marsha dives into the complexities of leadership and effective communication within teams, self-awareness challenges and discusses the significant shift from individual to systemic thinking, shedding light on the growing popularity of team coaching. Key discussions include: 1. A self-leadership quest: How to work with other humans 2. An insight into communication dynamics and the four speech acts 3. Communication patterns in teams and organisations 4. The principle of bringing offline conversations into the room 5. Are leaders holding back from being vulnerable at work? 6. The edge of leaders in navigating fast-paced business environments 7. Change management: The importance of explaining the why 8. The evolution of team coaching and the benefits of coaching as a system 9. Recommendations for leaders navigating change Plus lots more! With a focus on the evolving nature of leadership in today’s fast-paced environment, Marsha emphasises the importance of embracing vulnerability and diverse perspectives. This episode will help leaders drive positive change, improve communication, and build better organisational cultures by understanding speech acts, introducing shared language, and focusing on team dynamics. “It’s impossible, I think, for any one person to be able to have all the answers anymore. But yet, I think that’s an edge. I think it’s leftover from what we believe we think about leaders and what they’re supposed to be able to do, to what they need to do today.” – Marsha Acker. ABOUT MARSHA ACKER LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marsha-acker-3486a72/ Book: https://buildyourmodel.com/ Work: https://teamcatapult.com/ ABOUT SCOTT McINNES: Learn more about Scott McInnes, your host and the Founder and Director of Inspiring Change, by clicking here. ABOUT WORKVIVO: If you’re struggling with communications in this time of new hybrid workplace conditions, click here to explore Workvivo, a collaboration platform that offers seamless digital integration. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider clicking here to rate and review it! This podcast was proudly produced in partnership with Podlad.com
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124 | How To Avoid The High Cost Of Miscommunication | Erin Lebaqz
Can clear communication and the power of the pen have a transformative impact on your business? Absolutely! Get ready to discover all the 'write stuff' as we explore the influence of intentional communication with the founder of High-Value Writing, Erin Lebaqz. In this episode, Erin takes an in-depth look at how leaders can foster trust, respect, and belonging through thoughtful and deliberate writing, creating an environment where people feel supported and acknowledged. Being a good writer isn't solely about getting your message across; it's also about understanding your audience. Erin emphasizes the importance of considering different cultures and generations in your writing and unveils the role of emotion, including the surprising credibility boost that can come from emojis. Key discussions include: The power of writing and the cost of miscommunication Clarity: The key to confusion-free communication Effective communication in a post-pandemic work environment Leadership Models: Can written communication impact organisational culture? Write like a leader: Tips on mastering intentional writing The rising role of emotion in writing Writing for you VS writing for others The key to unlocking your writing confidence Plus lots more! Erin provides all the tips for avoiding the high cost of miscommunication and shares the secret to boosting your writing confidence, reminding us that writing is situational, which we are all experts on. So, hit play now and get ready to build better cultures through the written word! "The biggest connection in today's world between writing and business success is employee retention. People leave workplaces when they don't feel happy or appreciated or their growth is cared about. And where do we get those messages, through communication." – Erin Lebaqz. ABOUT ERIN LEBAQZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinlebacqz/ Work: https://www.highvaluewriting.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@HighValueWriting Get the High-Value Writing book: https://www.amazon.com/High-Value-Writing-Real-Strategies-Real-World/dp/1667805517 ABOUT SCOTT McINNES: Learn more about Scott McInnes, your host and the Founder and Director of Inspiring Change, by clicking here. ABOUT WORKVIVO: If you're struggling with communications in this time of new hybrid workplace conditions, click here to explore Workvivo, a collaboration platform that offers seamless digital integration. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider clicking here to rate and review it! This podcast was proudly produced in partnership with Podlad.com
Hosted by Scott McInnes, founder of Inspiring Change, we talk to guests about how really good internal comms, engagement and leadership all contribute to 'Building Better Cultures'. We tend to shy away from theory and focus more on really practical advice, great stories and best-practice.
About Inspiring Change
At Inspiring Change we help our clients to connect their people to their strategies, their change programmes, their purposes and to each other. We do that by focusing on strategic internal communications, employee engagement and leadership.
For more, see www.inspiringchange.ie
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Ireland