The Team Engagement Podcast

Hosted by Shawn Richards

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Episodes

360

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

We discuss 5 questions in about 15 minutes because leaders know how to be concise! Questions are centered on team engagement and leadership principles for leaders of all experience levels.

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60 recent

October 22, 2026Episode 49623 min

Are You Looking for Evidence That You Can Do It? | Nadim Saad

Are you looking for evidence that you can't do something, instead of evidence that you can? In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Nadim Saad, Chief Happiness Officer and founder of The Happy Confident Company, about psychological safety, growth mindset, emotional wellness, and how the way we think about ourselves can shape what we believe is possible. Nadim shares how childhood beliefs can follow us into adulthood. We might tell ourselves we're not good at singing, drawing, or doing math, then unconsciously look for evidence to prove those beliefs right. He explains how understanding the brain's tendency toward negativity and confirmation bias can help leaders and teams challenge those assumptions and recognize their potential to grow. They also explore why psychological safety starts with helping people feel seen, valued, and understood. Drawing on his work with children and schools, Nadim explains how creating space for people to acknowledge their feelings and support one another can strengthen confidence and belonging at work, too. Nadim also shares a practical approach to emotional wellness: acknowledge what you're feeling, identify what you'd rather feel, and focus on what you can do to move toward that state. Instead of staying stuck on why you feel a certain way, ask what might help you feel more motivated, secure, or inspired. What You'll Learn: How childhood beliefs can limit what we believe we can do Why we look for evidence that confirms our existing beliefs How neuroplasticity supports a growth mindset Why psychological safety starts with feeling seen, valued, and understood How leaders can help create a stronger sense of belonging Why acknowledging emotions is better than suppressing them How to move from difficult feelings toward a more useful emotional state Why knowing what you want to achieve gives growth a clear direction How leadership lessons can also improve the way we parent About Nadim Saad Nadim Saad is the Chief Happiness Officer and founder of The Happy Confident Company. Originally inspired by his own parenting challenges, he developed programs that help children build confidence, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and a growth mindset. Through his work in parenting and education, Nadim applies the science of positive psychology to help children and adults develop the skills they need to thrive. Connect with Nadim: Website: https://www.happyconfident.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadimsaad/ More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #TeamEngagementPodcast #Leadership #GrowthMindset #PsychologicalSafety #EmotionalWellness #PositivePsychology

October 15, 2026Episode 49514 min

Is Your Idea of Psychological Safety Too Narrow? | Marta Simeonova

What if the way you define psychological safety is leaving some people out? In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Marta Simeonova, a leadership coach who helps leaders get unstuck, overcome blockers, and create meaningful impact. Marta explains why psychological safety isn't the same for everyone. While some people feel comfortable speaking up in meetings, others may find that expectation intimidating. Leaders need to understand what safety looks like for each individual, create different ways for people to share their thoughts, and show vulnerability themselves. Admitting mistakes and acknowledging what you don't know can help others feel safe doing the same. Marta also shares why growth needs direction. Instead of trying to become a better leader without a clear goal, she encourages leaders to identify the impact they want to have and use that vision as their North Star. When it comes to emotional wellness, Marta highlights the importance of knowing what matters most, setting boundaries, and accepting that meaningful priorities sometimes require trade-offs. She also reflects on how her first job at a small deli in North Carolina shaped her understanding of work ethic and the value we bring to an employer. What You'll Learn: Why psychological safety looks different for different people How leaders can create different ways for their teams to speak up Why vulnerability builds trust How to define the impact you want to have as a leader Why growth needs a clear direction How to protect your priorities through boundaries and trade-offs Why being indispensable isn't always the goal How your work ethic starts with understanding the value you bring About Marta Simeonova Marta Simeonova is a leadership coach who works with leaders who feel frustrated, stuck, or overwhelmed. She helps them identify the impact they want to achieve and remove the blockers preventing them from getting there. Marta spent eight years of her corporate career building and managing global teams. She shares insights on leadership, impact, and overcoming the obstacles that keep people from moving forward. Connect with Marta: Website: https://managetosoar.bg/en/ More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #TeamEngagementPodcast #Leadership #PsychologicalSafety #GrowthMindset #EmotionalWellness #LeadershipDevelopment

October 8, 2026Episode 4947 min

Is Your Behavior a Good Influence On Your Team? | Amie Fox

Is your behavior influencing your team in the way you think it is? In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Amie Fox, founder of A Fox Consulting, about psychological safety, self-awareness, growth mindset, and emotional well-being. Amie shares why psychological safety starts with understanding not only your own behavior, but the impact it has on the people around you. She also explains why leaders should never ask a question unless they are genuinely open to the answer. They also talk about building systems that support growth instead of simply waiting for motivation, defining what emotional wellness looks like for you, and creating the structure to support it. What You'll Learn: Why self-awareness is critical to psychological safety How your behavior can influence the people around you Why leaders need to be open to the answers they receive How curiosity can support a growth mindset Why growth requires habits and intentional systems How leaders can define and support their own emotional wellness Why feeling good at work can help people perform at their best The value of learning hard work from an early age About Amie Fox Amie Fox is the founder of A Fox Consulting, a trainer and keynote speaker who helps founders, HR and operations leaders engage, develop and retain their best people. She is also the author of Mind the Blind Spot: Decision to Done . With more than fifteen years of experience in employee experience, corporate responsibility and disability inclusion, Amie helps leaders turn good intentions into meaningful action. Connect with Amie: Website: https://afox.ie/ More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #TeamEngagementPodcast #Leadership #PsychologicalSafety #GrowthMindset #EmotionalWellBeing #LeadershipDevelopment

October 1, 2026Episode 49317 min

Are You Making Candor Safe? | Kathy Miller

What does it really take to create psychological safety on a team? In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Kathy Miller, MAPP, MBA, ACC, Advisor, Author, and Speaker, about psychological safety, making candor safe, staying grounded, growth mindset, emotional well-being, and helping people recognize strengths they may not see in themselves. Kathy believes psychological safety isn't about making work comfortable. It's about making candor safe. Leaders need to be able to receive uncomfortable truths without judgment and respond in a way that encourages people to keep speaking up. How a leader reacts to one person's mistake, question, or difficult truth also teaches everyone else on the team what is safe to say. Kathy also shares how her father helped ground her from an early age. His simple reminder that everyone is a human being, regardless of their role or title, shaped the way she approached leadership and manufacturing. When she entered a challenging manufacturing environment at just 17 years old, his message was simple: "You'll be fine." That confidence stayed with her throughout her career. When it comes to growth, Kathy encourages leaders to recognize that discomfort doesn't always mean you don't belong. Sometimes it means you're being pushed to grow. She shares how one of her greatest strengths as a leader was seeing strengths in people that they didn't recognize in themselves, then giving them opportunities to explore those strengths. Kathy also discusses emotional well-being and the importance of realistic optimism. Leaders can't control everything, but they can separate what they can control from what they can't, pause before reacting emotionally, and provide their teams with clarity, steadiness, and perspective. What You'll Learn: Why psychological safety starts with making candor safe How leaders' reactions teach teams what is safe to say Why uncomfortable truths can become learning opportunities How leaders can buffer their teams from unhealthy pressure above them Why staying grounded can help leaders navigate challenging environments How a growth mindset can change the way we view discomfort Why recognizing strengths in others is a powerful leadership skill How leaders can help people discover potential they don't see in themselves Why realistic optimism matters for emotional well-being How pausing before reacting can help leaders lead with greater clarity and steadiness Why people should never be defined by their roles or titles About Kathy Miller Kathy Miller, MAPP, MBA, ACC, is the founder and CEO of MORE 4 Leaders, an executive advisory and leadership development company. A former global manufacturing executive, she has led more than $3 billion in operations and now advises manufacturing executives and HR leaders on turning leadership and culture into measurable operating performance. Kathy is an independent board director, keynote speaker, Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductee, two-time Shingo Award winner, and author of MORE Is Better and Steel Toes and Stilettos. She is passionate about helping others see strengths that they don't recognize in themselves. Connect with Kathy: Kathy's Website: https://www.more4leaders.com More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #GrowthMindset #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalWellBeing #KathyMiller

September 24, 2026Episode 49214 min

What Can Genuine Leadership Look Like? | Ryan Englin

What does it really mean to genuinely care about the people you lead? In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Ryan Englin, CEO of Core Matters, about genuine leadership, psychological safety, personal growth, and emotional wellness. Ryan believes one of the most important things leaders can do is show their employees that they genuinely care about them as people, not simply about the work they produce. He also shares the impact of a former sales coach who showed him what genuine leadership could look like through honest feedback, tough love, and a sincere desire to see him succeed. When it comes to growth, Ryan reminds leaders that growth doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. A promotion or bigger title might matter to one person, while another may define growth as getting out of debt, strengthening a relationship, spending more time with family, or achieving an important personal goal. What You'll Learn: - Why genuine care is important to psychological safety - The difference between caring about the work and caring about the person - What genuine leadership can look like in practice - Why honest feedback can still come from a place of care - Why growth means something different to every employee - How leaders can learn what their people actually want - Why comparison can negatively affect emotional wellness - How looking back at how far you've come can change your perspective About Ryan Englin Ryan Englin is the CEO of Core Matters, an author, podcaster, and advocate for frontline employees and the leaders who support them. His work focuses on helping organizations better engage their frontline teams and build stronger connections between leaders, employees, and the customers they serve. Connect with Ryan: Ryan's Website: https://ryanenglin.com Core Matters: https://corematters.com FieldCon: https://fieldcon.io More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #GenuineLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #GrowthMindset #RyanEnglin

September 17, 2026Episode 49111 min

Are You As Tenacious As This? | Lara Hamilton

In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Lara Hamilton, Vice President at Tectonic, about listening, tenacity, growth, and emotional wellness in leadership. Lara shares why creating psychological safety begins with genuinely listening to your team, even when their ideas or suggestions may be delivered differently than you expect. She also shares the story of her mother, whose journey from a difficult upbringing to a leadership role in the insurance industry taught Lara the meaning of tenacity. When it comes to growth, Lara believes leaders don't need to be the smartest person in the room. Instead, she intentionally surrounds herself with people who bring expertise, experience, and perspectives that she can learn from. What You'll Learn: - Why psychological safety starts with genuine listening - How considering someone's intent can change a difficult conversation - What Lara learned about tenacity from her mother - Why leaders should hire people who know more than they do - How humility contributes to a growth mindset - Why stepping away from work can sometimes make you a better leader - How Lara's first job taught her to multitask and think on her feet About Lara Hamilton Lara Hamilton is the Vice President of Helpdesk Realty, a division at Tectonic, where she has excelled for more than 15 years. She is an experienced leader in property management technology and helps teams navigate IT infrastructure and property management software. Lara is passionate about making technology feel human and accessible, mentoring her team, continuous learning, and creating practical solutions that bring greater clarity to business operations. Connect with Lara: Website: https://teamtectonic.com Email: lhamilton@teamtectonic.com Sponsored by Taelor. You're running a company, managing a team, showing up to rooms that matter- and somewhere between all of that, figuring out what to wear fell off the list. Taelor handles it. A personal stylist picks clothes in your size and style and ships them to your door every month. You wear them, send them back- no shopping, no laundry, no thinking about it. Use code SHAWN30 at taelor.style for $30 off your first month. More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #Tenacity #GrowthMindset #PsychologicalSafety #LaraHamilton

September 15, 2026Episode 49043 min

Are You Addicted to Your Paycheck? | Greg Mohr

In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards welcomes back Greg Mohr, Franchise Maven and author of Real Freedom, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, franchising, leadership, and taking greater control of your future. Greg explains why one of the biggest advantages of franchising is having a proven system already in place. Instead of trying to change everything immediately, new franchise owners can learn the system, follow the plan, and introduce new ideas once they understand what already works. Shawn and Greg also explore how technology and AI are changing franchise operations, why the human element still matters, and how good leadership helps create a strong culture within a franchise. Most importantly, Greg challenges listeners to define what success actually means to them. Is it building multiple businesses? Creating more income? Having greater time freedom? Spending more time with family? The right opportunity depends on the life you're actually trying to build. The conversation leads to an important question: Are you addicted to your paycheck? Greg shares why he decided to leave the predictability of corporate life and pursue greater control over his time, income, and future. What You'll Learn: - Why new franchise owners should follow the proven system before changing it - How franchising provides structure while still allowing room for creativity - Why location still matters for many brick-and-mortar franchises - How AI is being incorporated into franchise operations - Why human interaction and leadership remain essential - How to define what success actually looks like for you - Why a franchise should be viewed as an asset rather than simply another job - How a predictable paycheck can sometimes become a ceiling - Why taking the first step can help you create greater control over your future About Greg Mohr Greg Mohr is a franchise expert, entrepreneur, author, and self-described Franchise Maven. After years of owning franchises himself, Greg now helps aspiring business owners explore franchise opportunities that align with their skills, goals, lifestyle, and definition of success. He is also the author of Real Freedom. Connect with Greg: Website: https://franchisemaven.com Sponsored by Taelor. You're running a company, managing a team, showing up to rooms that matter- and somewhere between all of that, figuring out what to wear fell off the list. Taelor handles it. A personal stylist picks clothes in your size and style and ships them to your door every month. You wear them, send them back- no shopping, no laundry, no thinking about it. Use code SHAWN30 at taelor.style for $30 off your first month. More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #Entrepreneurship #Franchising #BusinessOwnership #GregMohr

September 10, 2026Episode 48916 min

Is Your Habit of Micromanaging Eroding Trust? | Nathaniel Seitz

In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast, Shawn Richards speaks with Nathaniel Seitz, Founder of Day 91 Solutions, about trust, psychological safety, micromanagement, growth, and emotional wellness. Nathaniel explains how micromanagement can undermine trust, even when a leader genuinely believes they're helping. Instead, he encourages leaders to create a "circle of safety" where employees feel comfortable admitting mistakes, raising concerns, and having honest conversations. Drawing from his own career experiences, Nathaniel shares what it felt like to move from being heavily micromanaged to working for a leader who trusted him to get the job done. That experience shaped his belief that employees need room to make mistakes, learn, and improve. He also discusses why being open to change is necessary for growth, why leaders need to truly disconnect when taking time off, and how continuing to learn can keep leaders and employees moving forward. What You'll Learn: - How micromanagement can erode trust - Why psychological safety starts with trusting your people - How to create a "circle of safety" within your team - Why open-ended questions can lead to better conversations - Why leaders must be open to change before they can grow - How taking real time away from work supports emotional wellness - Why leaders should trust their teams when they're away - How continuous learning can keep your mind and career moving forward About Nathaniel Seitz Nathaniel Seitz is the Founder of Day 91 Solutions, where he focuses on improving onboarding, HR practices, employee experiences, and workplace effectiveness. His philosophy centers on helping organizations support employees beyond the traditional first 90 days. He is also the author of The 91st Day. Connect with Nathaniel: Website: https://www.day91solutions.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielsietz/ Sponsored by Taelor. You're running a company, managing a team, showing up to rooms that matter- and somewhere between all of that, figuring out what to wear fell off the list. Taelor handles it. A personal stylist picks clothes in your size and style and ships them to your door every month. You wear them, send them back- no shopping, no laundry, no thinking about it. Use code SHAWN30 at taelor.style for $30 off your first month. More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #Trust #Micromanagement #NathanielSeitz

September 3, 2026Episode 48816 min

Growth Requires Room to Be Unfinished | Dr. Desiree Williams

In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast , Shawn Richards speaks with Dr. Desiree Williams , leadership expert, author, speaker, and healthcare professional, about psychological safety, continuous learning, belief, and emotional wellness. Desiree explains that psychological safety is determined by what happens after someone speaks up . Leaders may say their doors are always open, but employees will pay close attention to how leaders respond when someone disagrees, admits a mistake, asks a difficult question, or delivers bad news. She also shares why leaders don't need to pretend they have every answer. Modeling continuous learning and being willing to say, "I haven't learned how to do this yet," gives teams permission to learn as well. As Desiree puts it, growth requires room to be unfinished. What You'll Learn: • Why psychological safety is determined by a leader's response • How curiosity helps leaders respond when employees speak up • Why believing in someone's potential can transform their confidence • How leaders can empower people to empower others • Why saying "I don't know yet" supports a growth mindset • How leaders can model continuous learning • Why self-awareness and boundaries are essential for emotional wellness • How leaders set the emotional temperature for their teams About Dr. Desiree Williams Dr. Desiree Williams is a leadership expert, author, speaker, and healthcare professional whose work focuses on people, culture, and strategy. She helps leaders translate leadership into practical behaviors that strengthen trust, improve culture, and create workplaces where people and performance can thrive. Connect with Desiree: Website: http://drdesireespeaks.com Sponsored by Taelor. You're running a company, managing a team, showing up to rooms that matter- and somewhere between all of that, figuring out what to wear fell off the list. Taelor handles it. A personal stylist picks clothes in your size and style and ships them to your door every month. You wear them, send them back- no shopping, no laundry, no thinking about it. Use code SHAWN30 at taelor.style for $30 off your first month. More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #GrowthMindset #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipDevelopment #DesireeWilliams

August 27, 2026Episode 48715 min

Feedback Promotes Psychological Safety | Mike Moreau

In this episode of The Team Engagement Podcast , Shawn Richards speaks with Mike Moreau , President of Concord Consulting, about feedback, psychological safety, continuous improvement, and emotional wellness in leadership. Mike explains why leaders need to create room for mistakes and regularly invite candid feedback. When people know they can speak openly without being punished for every misstep, trust grows and teams become more willing to experiment, learn, and improve. The conversation also explores the importance of being relentless about growth and pursuing small, consistent improvements. Mike then challenges leaders to examine whether they have become the bottleneck in their organizations and explains how better delegation and accountability can create space for both their teams and themselves to grow. What You'll Learn: • Why making room for mistakes strengthens psychological safety • How regularly asking for feedback builds trust • Why leaders need to be prepared to receive difficult feedback • How a relentless pursuit of small improvements compounds over time • Why leaders shouldn't become the center of every decision • How delegation and accountability support emotional wellness • Why meaningful organizational change often starts with the leader Connect with Mike: Concord Consulting: https://www.concordconsulting.com More episodes: https://teamengagementpodcast.com #Leadership #TeamEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #Feedback #GrowthMindset #MikeMoreau