Join leadership and workplace culture expert Sarah Noll Wilson as she shares her insights on fostering genuine connection in agencies. With nearly 20 years of experience, Sarah discusses the evolution of workplace communication and the importance of psychological safety and trust. She highlights the challenges leaders face in managing talent and bridging the gender gap in leadership roles. Discover actionable strategies to create a culture of respect, inclusivity, and emotional maturity, ensuring your team feels valued and engaged in today's work environment.
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insights INSIGHT
Evolving Workplace Dynamics
The workplace has changed; employees now have a stronger voice and more options.
This shift, coupled with societal trends, has created new complexities in workplace dynamics.
insights INSIGHT
Generational Differences and Resilience
Younger generations have grown up with different technologies and parenting styles, impacting resilience.
Their brains are wired differently, influencing how they approach work and challenges.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Intentional Relationship Building
Experiment with new ways to connect with your team, especially in virtual or hybrid environments.
Be intentional about building relationships and communication, rather than relying on autopilot or old methods.
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In 'The Anxious Generation', Jonathan Haidt examines the sudden decline in the mental health of adolescents starting in the early 2010s. He attributes this decline to the shift from a 'play-based childhood' to a 'phone-based childhood', highlighting mechanisms such as sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, and perfectionism that interfere with children’s social and neurological development. Haidt proposes four simple rules to address this issue: no smartphones before high school, no social media before age 16, phone-free schools, and more opportunities for independence, free play, and responsibility. The book offers a clear call to action for parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments to restore a more humane childhood and end the epidemic of mental illness among youth.
In this episode of Build a Better Agency, Drew McLellan sits down with leadership and workplace culture expert Sarah Noll Wilson to unpack one of the biggest challenges agency owners face today—building real culture and connection in a rapidly changing workplace.
Drew and Sarah explore how generational shifts, post-pandemic workplace dynamics, and evolving expectations have reshaped the employer-employee relationship. They discuss why traditional leadership approaches—like assuming loyalty comes from salary or benefits alone—no longer work and how agency owners can foster genuine commitment and engagement. Sarah shares eye-opening insights on the importance of psychological safety, trust, and open communication, explaining why employees today expect to be seen, valued, and respected in ways that differ from the past.
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by shifting workforce expectations, struggled to retain top talent, or wondered how to get your team to care as much as you do about the business, this conversation is a must-listen. Tune in to gain practical strategies for fostering a workplace culture that works—not just for you, but for your employees and the success of your agency. A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
Understanding the generational shift in workplace dynamics
Navigating emotional engagement in leadership roles
The importance of aligning agency culture with values
Rethinking how to build trust and commitment
Addressing the challenges of hybrid and remote work environments
Experimenting with new strategies for relationship-building
Embracing intellectual humility to foster collaboration
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