The Conversation with Clinton M. Padgett

In this episode, Clint sits down with Scott Tannenbaum, President of the Group for Organizational Effectiveness and co-author of the popular book “Teams That Work,” to discuss the science behind effective teamwork, why talented individuals don't always make great teams, and what leaders can do to improve collaboration and performance. Drawing on decades of research, Scott challenges common assumptions about teamwork and explains why building a successful team requires more than simply assembling the best people. This is the first part of a two-part conversation.Topics Covered:The science behind what makes teams successfulWhy teamwork is a business imperative, not just a feel-good exerciseHow AI and changing workplace dynamics are reshaping teamworkThe difference between a group and a teamWhy liking your teammates doesn't necessarily lead to better performanceThe importance of psychological safety and creating an environment where people feel comfortable speaking upThe seven drivers of team effectivenessHow to build teams with the right balance of individual skills and teamwork capabilitiesWhy adding too many superstar performers can actually hurt team performanceLessons from sports about collaboration, coordination, and putting the team firstLinks:Scott’s website - https://www.groupoe.com/company/leadership-team/ Scott’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stannenbaum/ Scott’s book, “Teams That Work” - https://amzn.to/4A1AuPi 

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Zach Mercurio – researcher, leadership development facilitator, and author of “The Power of Mattering” and “The Invisible Leader” – they explore why human connection is becoming more valuable in the age of artificial intelligence, how leaders can strengthen relationships and build trust, and why making people feel seen, valued, and needed is essential to motivation, confidence, and high performance. This is the second part of a two-part conversation.Topics Covered:Why AI is making human skills like empathy, trust, and relationship-building more valuable than everThe emergence of the “Relational Age” and what it means for the future of workWhat the introduction of ATMs can teach us about AI's impact on jobs and the evolving value of human skillsHow technology and digital communication are contributing to the decline of interpersonal skillsWhy organizations need to develop relational skills with the same rigor as technical skillsHow asking better questions helps leaders build trust, understand employees, and improve communicationThe three essential elements of mattering: feeling noticed, affirmed, and neededWhy recognizing employees' unique strengths and contributions builds confidence and improves performanceHow leaders can balance high performance expectations with meaningful support and encouragementThe difference between compliance and commitment, and why understanding the impact of our work motivates usThe potential psychological consequences of AI replacing opportunities for meaningful work and human contributionWhy small, intentional interactions can make a lasting difference in people's livesLinks:Zach’s website - https://www.zachmercurio.com/Zach’s LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/zachmercurioZach’s book, “The Power of Mattering” - https://amzn.to/4jpzdg0Zach’s book, “The Invisible Leader” - https://amzn.to/4jqMyEL

In this episode, Clint talks with Zach Mercurio – researcher, leadership development facilitator, and author of “The Power of Mattering” and “The Invisible Leader” – about why feeling valued and knowing that our contributions make a difference are fundamental human needs, and how leaders can create environments where people feel seen, appreciated, and motivated to do their best work. This is the first part of a two-part conversation.Topics Covered:How a chance encounter with a cab driver inspired Zach's career studying purpose and meaningful workThe powerful story of a university custodian whose supervisor transformed the way she viewed herself and her workWhat it means to matter and why feeling valued and adding value are essential to motivation and well-beingThe important differences between belonging, inclusion, and matteringWhy the need to feel significant isn't a generational preference, but a fundamental human needThe connection between mattering, employee engagement, and high-performing teamsWhy people can feel increasingly lonely despite being more connected than everHow small acts of attention and recognition can make employees feel seen and appreciatedWhy leaders play a critical role in creating a culture of significanceWhy compensation and recognition programs alone can't replace the experience of feeling genuinely valuedLinks:Zach’s website - https://www.zachmercurio.com/Zach’s LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/zachmercurioZach’s book, “The Power of Mattering” - https://amzn.to/4jpzdg0Zach’s book, “The Invisible Leader” - https://amzn.to/4jqMyEL  

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Shawn Vanderhoven, Partner at The Wiseman Group and bestselling author of “Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World,” Shawn explains how leaders can create the right balance of clarity and challenge to help their teams do their best work. From embracing “productive uncertainty” and defining measurable success to establishing team norms and recognizing each person’s unique strengths, Shawn shares practical ways leaders can reduce distraction, build shared commitment, and create an environment where people can thrive.This is the second part of a two-part conversation. Topics Covered:How “productive uncertainty” creates the right balance between safety and stretchWhy teams need a clear and measurable definition of successHow to turn broad ambitions into specific success measuresThe difference between success measures and the lead actions that drive themWhy involving your team in setting priorities builds shared commitmentHow a “distraction inventory” can reveal what’s stealing your team’s focusCreating “house rules” that protect time and reduce unnecessary distractionsHow to “pause up” and get your boss involved in protecting your team’s focusWhy leaders should know their team members’ superpowers and kryptoniteHow understanding each person’s “native genius” helps leaders assign the right workWhy recognizing when an employee is struggling can have an outsized impactHow making people feel seen strengthens focus, engagement, and belongingLinks:Shawn’s website - https://thewisemangroup.com/who-we-are/our-team/shawn-vanderhoven/ Shawn’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnvanderhoven/ Shawn’s book, “Pause” - https://www.pausebook.co/ 

In this episode, Clint sits down with Shawn Vanderhoven, Partner at The Wiseman Group and bestselling author of “Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World” to discuss why doing more doesn’t always lead to better results and how leaders can create the space their teams need to focus on the work that matters most.Drawing on research with leaders and teams across more than 150 major companies, Shawn explains why constant interruptions, competing priorities, and an endless stream of “quick” requests can prevent even the most talented people from doing their best work. He and Clint discuss the difference between a bias toward action and a bias toward impact, the hidden cost of task switching, and why effective leadership increasingly requires the courage to make real trade-offs.This is the first part of a two-part conversation.Topics Covered:Why focus has become one of the biggest obstacles to doing great workThe difference between a bias toward action and a bias toward impactWhy great leaders “tune in before they jump in”How seemingly small interruptions can derail hours of productive workWhy multitasking doesn’t work and the hidden cost of task switchingHow many major priorities one person can realistically manageThe “Red Queen effect” and why moving faster doesn’t always move you forwardHow hidden work quietly overwhelms teamsWhy leaders need to uncover their team’s true workloadWhat happens when everything is treated as a top priorityWhy saying no to important work is essential to making an impactHow strategic pauses can help teams create greater focus, clarity, and momentumLinks:Shawn’s website - https://thewisemangroup.com/who-we-are/our-team/shawn-vanderhoven/ Shawn’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnvanderhoven/ Shawn’s book, “Pause” - https://www.pausebook.co/ 

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Dr. Sherry Turkle, MIT professor and author of “Artificial Intimacy,” they discuss what happens when we begin outsourcing not just our work, but our thinking, relationships, and most meaningful human experiences to artificial intelligence.Sherry discusses the difference between empathy and compassion, why students who rely on AI to summarize books may be missing the most important part of reading, and how the pursuit of efficiency can come at the expense of developing essential skills. She also explains why boredom and solitude are critical to childhood development and why learning to be alone helps us build stronger relationships with others.The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Sherry shares her experiences with an unauthorized AI version of herself and her experiment with creating a chatbot that could speak to her grandchildren after she’s gone. Clint and Sherry also examine the increasingly personal roles AI is playing in families, education, and the workplace and what we risk losing when we allow technology to take the place of experiences that help us grow.They close by discussing where AI can genuinely benefit society, the responsibilities of parents and educators, and why Sherry remains hopeful that we can learn to use this remarkable technology without losing sight of what makes us human.This is the second part of a two-part conversation.Topics Covered:Why the ability to simulate empathy is not the same as genuinely caring about another personThe debate over empathy versus compassion in the age of AIHow virtual reality and AI companionship may encourage us to disengage from the physical worldThe implications of using AI to evaluate empathy in job interviews and other professional settingsWhy reading, writing, and the process of learning matter as much as the answers we produceThe difference between developing expertise and simply letting AI complete a taskWhy boredom and solitude are essential to childhood developmentHow AI and social media can influence identity, authenticity, and self-presentationSherry’s experience with an unauthorized AI chatbot impersonating herThe emotional and ethical questions surrounding AI versions of loved ones after deathWhat AI-generated interview summaries can miss about meaningful human experiencesWhy parents and educators have an important role in shaping how the next generation uses AISherry’s hopes for a future in which AI supports human capabilities rather than replacing themLinks:Dr. Turkle’s website - https://www.sherryturkle.com/Dr. Turkle’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherry-turkle/Dr Turkle’s book, “Artificial Intimacy” - https://amzn.to/4rp1Uvy

In this episode, Clint welcomes back Dr. Sherry Turkle, MIT professor and author of the new book “Artificial Intimacy,” as the first returning guest on The Conversation. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is changing not just what we do, but how we understand ourselves and relate to one another.Drawing on decades of research into the relationship between people and technology, Sherry explains why AI’s ability to simulate empathy should not be confused with genuine human understanding. From a touching story about her granddaughter to the growing use of chatbots as friends, companions, and therapists, she challenges us to consider what we may be giving up when we turn to technology to meet our emotional needs.Clint and Sherry also discuss the importance of disagreement in healthy relationships, the impact of AI on children learning what it means to connect with others, and why we need to recognize the technology’s extraordinary capabilities while being thoughtful about the roles we allow it to play in our lives.This is the first part of a two-part conversation.Topics Covered:Sherry’s journey from studying psychoanalysis to exploring the psychology of our relationships with computersHow AI can generate convincing falsehoods and create narratives that make them seem believableThe difference between information, understanding, and lived human experienceWhy simulated empathy and artificial intimacy are not the same as genuine human connectionHow AI companionship may change our expectations of friendship and relationshipsThe importance of disagreement, listening, and finding common groundWhy Sherry believes we need to keep AI “in its lane”The implications of AI companions for children and older adultsWhat parents risk losing when they outsource moments of learning and discovery to chatbotsThe limitations and potential dangers of using AI as a substitute for human therapistsLinks:Dr. Turkle’s website - https://www.sherryturkle.com/Dr. Turkle’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherry-turkle/Dr Turkle’s book, “Artificial Intimacy” - https://amzn.to/4rp1Uvy

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Julian Treasure – award-winning author of “How to be Heard” and internationally recognized expert on listening, speaking, and the impact of sound – Julian explains why listening is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and mastered. He explores the modern listening crisis, why verbal communication is declining, how leaders can become better listeners, and the communication habits that strengthen relationships, reduce conflict, and build trust.This is the second part of a two-part conversation. Topics Covered:Why listening is hearing + attentionThe global cost of poor listening and miscommunicationWhy listening should be taught in schoolsHow texting and technology are changing communicationThe three types of listening: inner, created, and external listeningManaging your inner critic and developing self-awarenessThe importance of listening in leadership and team developmentJulian's RASA framework for effective listeningWhy “Tell me more” is one of the most powerful phrases in communicationThe four “leeches” of communication: fixing, people-pleasing, looking good, and being rightHow to navigate disagreement using the PAVE frameworkHAIL: the four foundations of powerful speaking (Honesty, Authenticity, Integrity, and Love)Why great speakers must first become great listenersLessons from Julian's latest book, “Sound Affects”Julian's mission to regenerate the world's listeningEXCLUSIVE LISTENER OFFER: Get 25% off Julian Treasure’s new Conscious Communication App, featuring daily micro-lessons designed to improve your speaking, listening, and presenting skills.The offer is available to the first 200 people who redeem it.Learn more and get 25% off: https://studio.com/juliantreasure/mcc?c=Y1WUw0JsLinks:Julian’s website - https://www.juliantreasure.com/ Julian’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliantreasure/ Julian’s book, “How to be Heard” - https://amzn.to/4xOJeHu Julian’s book, “Sound Affects” - https://amzn.to/46ajyJq The Listening Society - https://bit.ly/4g1rQJy  

In this episode, Clint talks with Julian Treasure – award-winning author of “How to be Heard” and internationally recognized expert on listening, speaking, and the impact of sound – about why listening has become one of the most overlooked skills in leadership, business, and everyday life. Julian explains the difference between hearing and listening, how sound shapes our behavior and decision-making, why modern environments are often designed with the eyes in mind but not the ears, and what leaders can do to become more conscious listeners. This is the first part of a two-part conversation.Topics Covered:The difference between hearing and listeningWhy every person listens through a unique set of filtersJulian’s concept of “speaking into a listening”How conscious listening improves leadership and communicationThe hidden costs of poor listening in organizationsWhy sound affects our physiology, emotions, thinking, and behaviorHow noise impacts productivity, learning, and healthThe role of silence in communication and personal growthWhy architects and organizations often ignore sound when designing spacesHow brands communicate through sound, whether they intend to or notThe surprising wine experiment that revealed how sound influences buying behaviorWhy leaders should think of communication as giving a gift to their audienceEXCLUSIVE LISTENER OFFER: Get 25% off Julian Treasure’s new Conscious Communication App, featuring daily micro-lessons designed to improve your speaking, listening, and presenting skills.The offer is available to the first 200 people who redeem it.Learn more and get 25% off:https://studio.com/juliantreasure/mcc?c=Y1WUw0JsLinks:Julian’s website - https://www.juliantreasure.com/ Julian’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliantreasure/ Julian’s book, “How to be Heard” - https://amzn.to/4xOJeHu Julian’s book, “Sound Affects” - https://amzn.to/46ajyJq The Listening Society - https://bit.ly/4g1rQJy 

In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Julie Newman, aerospace engineer and author of “Pull Don’t Push,” Julie explains why asking better questions can open entirely new career possibilities. She shares how parents, educators, and leaders can help young people discover engineering by connecting them to meaningful problems, not just job titles. Along the way, she challenges common misconceptions about engineering, discusses the surprising role of creativity and storytelling, and offers practical advice for inspiring the next generation. This is the second part of a two-part conversation.Topics Covered:Why "What problems do you want to solve?" is a better question than "What are you passionate about?"How engineering creates opportunities to make a meaningful impact on the worldThe surprising career advantages of engineering, including earning potential, stability, and work-life balanceWhy creativity, not just math, is one of the defining characteristics of great engineersThe unforgettable story of how NASA landed a Mars rover with a giant inflatable "bouncy ball"Why stories are more powerful than statistics when inspiring future engineersCommon myths about math ability and why they discourage too many students from considering engineeringPractical advice for parents, educators, and STEM advocates on creating outreach that truly inspiresThe free tools and resources Julie has developed to help improve STEM outreach effortsLinks:Julie’s website - https://juliejnewman.com/ Julie’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-j-newman/ Julie’s book, “Pull Don’t Push” - https://amzn.to/4q7vcxW