Reframing Defiance as a Signal, Not Insult

In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, our hosts John Kaplan and John McMahon are joined by Susan Lucia Annunzio, the “CEO Whisperer” and President of the Center for High Performance. With over 25 years of expertise in leadership and organizational culture, Lucia shares her insights on fostering sustainable growth by treating people well, the importance of leveraging brain power, and the generational dynamics impacting today's workforce. They delve into strategies for leaders to harness the unique strengths of Gen Z, overcome organizational toxicity, and create environments where innovation and accountability thrive. Tune in to explore how to unlock potential within your teams and drive profitable growth.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Connect with Susan Lucia Annunzio.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanannunzio/

Learn more about the Center for High Performance: https://centerforhighperformance.com/ 

Get Lucia’s books: https://centerforhighperformance.com/category/books/

Read the Guide on Six Critical Priorities for Revenue Leadership in 2026: https://hubs.li/Q03JN74V0

Enjoying the podcast? Sign up to receive new episodes straight to your inbox: https://hubs.li/Q02R10xN0

HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT

[00:03:08] Lucia's Journey and Mission
[00:06:18] The Importance of Treating People Well
[00:08:22] Return on Brain Power
[00:10:17] Challenges in Leadership and Management
[00:30:25] Generational Differences and Gen Z
[00:33:39] The Most Rejected Generation
[00:34:23] Technological Savvy and Social Media Influence
[00:36:03] Gen Z's Desire for Purpose and Socialization
[00:37:53] The Impact of Overprotection and Fear
[00:40:21] Work Environment and Remote Work Preferences
[00:43:37] The Future of Work and Leadership
[00:53:30] Empowering Gen Z in the Workplace

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

[00:06:56] “A great strategy without allowing people to use their brains will never maximize its potential.”
[00:08:41] “Companies leave money on the table because they don’t allow people to challenge assumptions.”
[00:10:57] “The number one differentiator of sustainable growth... was the people in the group felt valued.”
[00:13:41] “People work for people. When you look authentic, people begin to trust you.”
[00:21:55] “Most Gen Zs prefer to work in person, learn socialization skills, and make friends.”
[00:28:35] “Resilience comes from making mistakes, learning from them, and getting back up again. But when you make a mistake and people keep you down, you become a victim.”
[00:32:32] “Ask for help. Tell your boss you want to be a star player and want to know what good looks like.”
[00:38:13] “Anybody can be good. But how do you become great? That’s what’s going to give you satisfaction.”

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