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Ever heard someone talk about leadership and think, “Wow, they really get it”? That was us during our latest Trailblazers Vodcast with the amazing Whitney Walpole, founder and president of Culture Counts. From her energy to her insights, Whitney had us saying “Yaaaay!” right alongside her.
So, who is Whitney? Well, she’s basically a leadership whisperer for small, entrepreneurial companies (150 employees or less, for the detail-oriented among us).
Her mission? To help leadership teams communicate better, respect each other’s wisdom, and actually get stuff done. Revolutionary, right?
Take Away 1: “Do you want to be right, or do you want to be connected?”
This simple, yet seismic piece of advice was a turning point for Whitney in her own life. And let’s be honest, it probably hit all of us squarely in the feels. Whether it’s in marriage, leadership, or that awkward Zoom meeting where someone refuses to turn their camera on, this question cuts through the noise.
Leadership Tip:
When tensions rise, ask yourself: “Do I want to be right, or do I want to stay connected?”
Prioritizing connection builds trust and fosters collaboration. Instead of pushing your point, pause, listen, and seek common ground. True leadership isn’t about being right—it’s about creating a space where everyone can win.
Take Away 2: Leadership Is Not a Weekend Gig
Whitney perfectly called out the absurdity of trying to fix leadership problems in a half-day retreat. It’s like expecting to learn golf in an afternoon (spoiler: you won’t). Leadership is about building “muscle memory” through consistent effort—and yes, sometimes brutal lessons.
Leadership Tip:
Set aside time each week to reflect on one leadership skill you want to improve—like listening, giving feedback, or decision-making. Identify one action to practice daily, like asking open-ended questions in team meetings or giving specific, timely recognition.
Consistency turns effort into expertise, so keep showing up for your team—and yourself.
Take Away 3: Stop Waiting to Speak Up
Whitney candidly shared her early leadership mistakes, including waiting too long to address deal-breaking issues. The lesson? Speak up before the metaphorical Titanic hits the iceberg.
Leadership Tip:
Waiting to address critical issues can sink your team faster than you think. Leadership requires courage to tackle tough conversations early, before problems escalate.
The next time something feels off, set a 24-hour rule—commit to addressing the issue within a day. Start with curiosity: “Can we talk about [specific concern]? I want to make sure we’re aligned before moving forward.”
Timely communication builds trust and prevents small cracks from turning into major fractures.
Our Favorite Whitney Quote:
“Most people know what to do, but when stress hits, skill goes out the window.”
Whitney’s honesty about her own leadership missteps (hello, relatable!) and her practical, compassionate approach to helping teams thrive made this episode one of our favorites. Plus, she’s one of those rare people who makes us feel like we’re all in this together—fighting the good fight to make leadership not suck.
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Culture Counts: Our experience in coaching, consulting and training teams and individuals enables us to powerfully address the unique challenges that arise for our clients, across industries and in all types of leadership positions. Whitney and Sarah have more than 30 years of experience and success helping leaders and teams powerfully shift their inner game and increase their effectiveness in business.
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ExperienceYes is not just in the business of learning and development – we're in the business of team transformation. Imagine a world where we don't just fix teams; we supercharge them.
Through our cutting-edge Team Workshops and Business Relationship IQ program, we turbocharge soft skills into hard results. Picture skyrocketing sales figures, clients delighting customers like never before, and teams achieving feats of innovation and peak performance.
How do we do it? By training teams to nurture an Improv Mindset for agile thinking, boost Emotional Intelligence for unparalleled client relationships, and refine Empathy and Influence to turn every interaction into a game-changer.
Join us in rewriting the playbook on team success. Let's elevate your team to new heights where excellence isn't just a goal – it's the new normal. Together, we'll build a future where every team thrives, every client succeeds, and every innovation sets the world on fire. Contact us if you want to know more!
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