The Learn-It-All Podcast 96: The Hidden Cost of Fear: Building a Culture That Engages | Tom Willis
Are You Leading a Disengaged Team?
According to Gallup, 70% of employees are disengaged at work, with over half actively looking for new jobs. For a 600-person company, that means 420 people don't really care about what they're doing. This sobering reality costs the US economy $500 billion annually in stress-related absences alone. In this episode, Tom Willis, co-author of "The Great Engagement" and former CEO of Cornerstone, examines how leaders can transform their organizational culture from fear-based to purpose-driven. He explores the crucial connection between engagement and personal aspiration, explains why traditional engagement initiatives often fail, and provides practical strategies for creating a coaching culture that unlocks human potential.
This Episode Covers:
- Why asking "Are you open to feedback?" triggers the same brain response as hearing footsteps in the dark
- How unconscious "cultural mindsets" sabotage engagement and what leaders can do about it
- The paradox of slowing down to speed up organizational effectiveness
- Why engagement without personal aspiration is meaningless
- The critical difference between having "a high need for perfection" versus being "a perfectionist"
- How to "listen the greatness" out of people instead of trying to force development
- The power of switching from fear-based to "agape love" leadership
- The importance of creating psychological safety for authentic coaching relationships
Episode Highlights:
(00:00) Introduction to Tom Willis – Damon and Darren introduce Tom Willis, leadership consultant and culture expert, to discuss building exceptional workplace cultures.
(02:00) The Cost of Disengagement – Tom shares alarming statistics about workplace disengagement and how leaders can take immediate action to address it.
(05:30) Culture Eats Everything – Tom explains why culture is the most powerful tool a CEO has and how leaders can actively shape it.
(08:33) Engagement Equals Action Plus Empowerment – Tom introduces his formula for engagement and shares why empowerment and alignment are key.
(12:00) Overcoming Unconscious Purpose – Tom discusses how fear-based mindsets derail leadership and how leaders can shift to purpose-driven decision-making.
(17:00) Coaching and the Role of Listening – Tom emphasizes the power of listening in leadership and how it unlocks potential within teams.
(21:30) The Elevate System – Tom introduces his behavioral model, Elevate, designed to help leaders assess and adapt their leadership approach.
(33:18) Practical Advice for CEOs – Tom shares advice for CEOs on creating a culture of trust, vulnerability, and accountability.
(40:00) Final Thoughts on Leadership – Tom reflects on the importance of serving others and fostering agape love in the workplace.
About Tom:
Tom Willis brings unique insights to leadership development, having served as both a school superintendent and CEO of Cornerstone. The co-author of The Great Engagement and creator of the Elevate System, Tom combines his education experience—including teaching in Africa—with business acumen from PricewaterhouseCoopers consulting. A graduate of Michigan and Notre Dame, he helps organizations build stronger cultures through conscious leadership practices.
Resources Referenced:
The Great Engagement: How CEOs Create Exceptional Cultures by Tom Willis
The Interchange CEO group
Tom Willis on LinkedIn
Podcast Contact Information:
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: podcast@learnit.com
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