Hi Reader,

One of our primary hopes for this newsletter is that you regularly find new sources of inspiration to strengthen the connection and performance of your team.

That same motivation led us to create a YouTube channel last year.

We’ve found that some stories and lessons are more effectively explored through dialogue and video. There’s something powerful about watching a team in action, hearing how leaders think through challenges, and unpacking what is actually happening beneath the surface.

The channel has become a place where we can do exactly that, through full-length podcast conversations, shorter team-building insights, and new clips we share just about every week.

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Leading-Together​

It has become a place where we can explore these ideas more deeply through:

• Full-length podcast episodes
• 5–10 minute team building insights
• Shorts - little 60-90 second clips of inspiration

If you haven’t spent much time there yet, here are a few places you might start.

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Learning from Culture - Hulu’s The Bear

Some of the clearest insights about leadership and teams come from observing culture in environments where it is on full display.

That is one of the reasons we explore examples from shows like The Bear. In our breakdown, we focus on Richie’s transformation when he spends time working inside a healthy, high-functioning team.

What becomes clear is that his potential was not missing—it had simply never been fully unlocked.

When he steps into a team with clear standards, shared purpose, and intentional ways of working, something shifts. His energy changes and his contribution becomes more focused and meaningful.

The talent was always there. The environment is what brought it out.

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Conversations with Thought Leaders

We also use the channel to learn directly from people shaping how we think about leadership.

In our conversation with Zach Mercurio, author of The Power of Mattering, we explore the difference between caring about people and caring for them, and why that distinction has such a profound impact on how people experience their work.

What becomes clear is that leadership is not just about what we do, but about how people experience us. The presence we bring, the attention we give, and the way we show up all shape the environment others are working within.

These conversations help move beyond concepts and into the lived experience of leadership.

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Learning from Examples in Sports

Sports offer a unique window into how teams come together.

Because everything is visible, you can see in real time how teams communicate, how they respond to pressure, and how leaders influence the environment around them. The dynamics that are often harder to recognize inside our own organizations are on full display.

That makes sports a powerful place to study both leadership and Teamship. You can see how trust is built, how roles are clarified, and how teams either come together around a shared purpose or struggle when those elements are missing.

One example of this can be seen in our conversation with Fozzy Whittaker, where we explore the contagious nature of joy and optimism within a team.

Fozzy shares where his sense of joy comes from and how he intentionally taps into it, even in demanding environments. What becomes clear is that the emotional tone a leader brings is not neutral. It has a direct impact on how others show up, how teams respond to challenges, and how energy spreads across a group.

It is a powerful reminder that leadership is not just about direction and decision-making, it is also about the environment we create through our presence.

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Your Support Fuels Us

If you find the content helpful, subscribing is a simple way to support our work. It helps more leaders discover the channel, which allows us to continue creating content focused on building strong, healthy teams.

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Leading-Together​

And if someone comes to mind who would benefit from it, feel free to share it with them as well.

We’re grateful to be able to do this, and we hope the Leading Together YouTube channel becomes a meaningful source of inspiration for you and your team.

-Shaun & Joe

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Enjoying this newsletter?​ You’ll love the conversations happening on our Leading Together Podcast and YouTube channel, where we dive deeper into how you can build a high performing leadership team ​​​

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Get Our Book

In today's fast-paced business environment, creating a healthy and high-performing organization is more challenging than ever. That's where At the Heart of Work comes in - a practical guide that introduces the 6 Levers Framework, designed to help leaders like you align people and systems effectively.

Whether you're leading a small team or an entire organization, the insights from this book will equip you to build a resilient, purpose-driven workplace where teams thrive.

Order At the Heart of Work Now! Now available as an audiobook!

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Upcoming Events & Opportunities:

• Our next Leading with Intention series begins in May, registration is now open!​