One of the hardest things leaders have to do is communicate change effectively to their teams.

I invited Dr. Rachel Boehm today to help me uncover the key reasons why it can be such a struggle to get everyone on the same page when changes are coming. Dr. Boehm is an expert in organizational psychology and in our conversation, we unpack what might be going on with your people when announcements fall flat or motivation flags, and most importantly, what you can do to better prepare for these conversations and guide your people through organizational change more successfully.

Dr. Rachel Boehm changes how leaders and teams thrive through chaos with customized Science-Backed, People-Proven® strategies. She holds a PhD in organizational psychology and a board certification with the National Center for Health & Wellness Coaching. RB Strategies exists to help small businesses stay in business by giving leaders and employees the skills they need to perform at their best in a high-stakes, deadline-driven, VUCA world through one-on-one and group strategic advisory and coaching.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why good change initiatives often fail.
• How leaders unintentionally create resistance to change.
• What psychological safety really means and what it doesn't.
• Why motivation is fleeting and what leaders can do instead.
• A simple framework for communicating change more effectively.

Mentioned:

• Amy Edmondson | Psychological Safety

Learn More About Dr. Rachel Boehm:

• RB Strategies
• https://substack.com/@drrachelboehm
• Connect on LinkedIn

Learn More About Heather Smith:

• Talent Elevated

What makes a business valuable? Many owners assume it's revenue, growth, or years in operation. But according to business broker and M&A advisor Angie Scheribel, the factors that drive business value are often the same factors that create a healthier, stronger company in the first place.

In this episode, I sit down with Angie to explore what buyers actually look for when evaluating a business, why owner dependency can dramatically impact value, and how culture, retention, leadership, and systems all contribute to a company's long-term worth. Angie also shares a few stories about businesses that had real heart–and one that didn’t–and how that impacted their ability to sell.

Angie Scheribel combines strategic mergers and acquisitions experience, an MBA, and bilingual fluency to help business owners across industries plan and execute successful exits. Known for her empathy and disciplined process, she consistently drives strong outcomes for her clients.

Whether you're planning to sell your business someday or simply want to build a company that can thrive beyond you, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what makes a business truly valuable.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• What buyers really look for when evaluating a business
• How culture and employee retention affect business value
• The hidden risks of owner dependency
• Why every business owner should think about building a sellable business even if they never plan to sell
• How legacy-minded leaders create companies that can thrive long after they're gone

Learn More About Angie Scheribel:

• Transworld Business Advisors of Colorado
• Connect on LinkedIn

Learn More About Heather Smith:

• Talent Elevated

Resources:

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, Daniel H. Pink

A lot of leaders know they want and need to develop a company culture, but they struggle with where to start.

Dave Kuhnert reminds us that competence builds confidence and that clarity is the foundation of competence. In our conversation, we talk about how having clarity of your purpose and values and then bringing that clarity about who we are, what we value, and how that shows up day-to-day work to your team is what really sets the foundation for culture.

We talk about how Dave didn’t become a leader overnight, but developed those skills over decades through repetition, responsibility, and experience. And we also get into servant leadership, which can be a tricky concept to put into practice, and what that actually looks like day to day and when things get tough. Because, as Dave says, servant leadership is not just about handing out candy and being “nice.”

Dave Kuhnert served in the Army Infantry for 23 years, where he served at every level of leadership. He retired in 2011 as a Command Sergeant Major. He subsequently joined CrownQuest Operating in Midland, TX. The culture he helped create there was critical in taking the company from $500 million to $12 Billion in thirteen years.

Dave currently works as a leadership and business coach with numerous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. His book, Servant Leadership, and training materials are used by numerous organizations around the world.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How repetition and progressive responsibility built Dave’s competence and confidence as a leader over the course of his military service
• Why effectively building culture starts with clarity and unity of purpose
• How incentivization structures can help or hurt
• The mental models that help people implement what they’ve learned
• Why servant leadership often gets more challenging as organizations grow

Learn More About Dave Kuhnert:

• Servant Leadership Coaching: https://www.servantleadershipcoaching.com
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kuhnert-22952b1b/
• Servant Leadership: Influencing Others to Get THERE by Leading a Transformational Life: https://bookshop.org/p/books/servant-leadership-dave-kuhnert/e710d2cb13ff6c1b

Learn More About Heather Smith:

• Talent Elevated: https://www.talentelevated.org