The Weekly Workplace

Episode #150: Real Talk - Are You the Leader People Need Right Now?

About This Episode
Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored Gallup’s four essentials of leadership: hope, trust, compassion, and stability. We’ve looked at why they matter, how to practice them, and where leaders often stumble. But in this episode, we turn the mirror on ourselves. We share the wins, the misses, and the lessons we’re still learning when it comes to leading with these four needs. From moments where we got it right to times we wish we could redo, this is a candid look at what it really takes to grow as a leader. Because leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about being present, self-aware, and willing to keep getting better.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ Which of the four needs—hope, trust, compassion, or stability—are you working on most right now?
➡️ Drop your responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week! 
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.
References
Gallup. (2025). Global Leadership Report: What Followers Want. World Governments Summit 2025. 
Covey, Stephen M.R. (2008). The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything. Free Press.

Episode #149: Stability in Chaos - What That Looks Like Now

About This Episode
Change isn’t slowing down—employees now face an average of 10 major workplace shifts each year, up from just two a decade ago. No wonder 75% say they’re craving more stability at work. But stability doesn’t mean resisting change—it means being the leader who provides clarity, rituals, and emotional steadiness when everything else feels uncertain. In this episode, we dig into Deloitte’s concept of “stagility”—the balance between stability and agility—and explore how dependable leadership can keep teams grounded without holding them back. You’ll walk away with practical ways to create anchors for your people, from predictable check-ins to emotional consistency, so your team feels safe enough to thrive in the midst of chaos.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ What’s one ritual or routine that keeps you—or your team—grounded? ➡️ Drop their responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week!
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.
References
Gallup. (2025). Global Leadership Report: What Followers Want. World Governments Summit 2025. 
Deloitte. (2025). 2025 Global Human Capital Trends. Deloitte Insights. 
Poynton, S. et al. (2025 March 24). Stagility: Creating stability for workers for organizations to move at speed. Deloitte Insights. 
Rogers, Everett. (1962, 1971, 1983). Diffusion of Innovations. The Free Press: A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Covey, Stephen R. (1989, 2004). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Free Press.

Episode #148: Compassion Isn’t Soft—It’s Smart

About This Episode
Trust, stability, hope, and compassion—Gallup’s 2025 Global Leadership Report found these four needs are what employees want most from leaders, yet compassion is often misunderstood as “being nice” or lowering standards. In this episode, we reframe compassion as a measurable leadership strength that drives psychological safety, creativity, and performance. Drawing on Gallup’s data and fresh insights from the 2025 Compassion Report, we’ll explore how leaders can show care without sacrificing accountability, why compassion is a competitive advantage in today’s divided workplaces, and practical ways to bring it into daily leadership.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ Tell us about a time someone led you with compassion. What did they say or do that made an impact? Or share one way you’ve brought more compassion to your own leadership this month.➡️ Drop their responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week!
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.
References
Gallup. (2025). Global Leadership Report: What Followers Want. World Governments Summit 2025. 
Muhammad Ali Index. (2025). The 2025 Compassion Report. Muhammad Ali Index
Covey, Stephen R. (1989, 2004). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Free Press.
 

Episode #147: Trust is the Metric That Matters

About This Episode
Trust isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s your competitive edge. Gallup’s latest data shows trust in most major institutions is scraping all-time lows, making it harder than ever for people to know who or what to believe. But here’s the upside: when trust is rare, leaders who earn it become unforgettable. In this episode, we break down what trust really looks like at work, how to measure it, and the small, consistent actions that make you the leader people choose to follow.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ Ask your team: “What’s one thing I could do to earn more trust from you this month?”➡️ Drop their responses in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week!
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.
References
Gallup. (2025). Global Leadership Report: What Followers Want. World Governments Summit 2025. 
Brenan, Megan. (2025 July 17). Democrats' Confidence in U.S. Institutions Sinks to New Low. Gallup News. 
Covey, Stephen M.R. (2008). The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything. Free Press.
Lencioni, Patrick. (2002). The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable. Jossey-Bass. 
Covey, Stephen R. (1989, 2004). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Free Press.

Episode #146: Hope Isn't Fluff

About This Episode
Leaders are expected to have vision—but what people really need is hope. This episode dives into how hope drives performance, morale, and resilience, especially in times of uncertainty.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ What’s one hopeful message your team needs to hear this week?➡️ Drop it in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week!
Resources
🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.
References
Gallup. (2025). Global Leadership Report: What Followers Want. World Governments Summit 2025. 
Sinek, Simon. (2011 December 27). Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. Portfolio. 

Episode #145: New Energy. Same Mission.

About This Episode
After a seven-month hiatus and a big team shift, we’re back—and ready to lead out loud. In this kickoff episode, we talk about why we paused, what we’ve learned, and how our newest team member, April, is helping shape the future of The Weekly Workplace.
Get to know us again—and get ready for a whole new kind of leadership conversation.
We Want to Hear From You!
🎙️ What’s one thing you’ve changed your mind about in the last seven months—at work or in life?➡️ Drop it in the comments, DM us, or share it on Facebook or LinkedIn and tag us. We’ll feature a few next week!
Resources
📄 Transcript – Read the full transcript.🎁 Freebie – Grab your free download for this episode.📬 Stay Connected – Love the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague.📚 Explore Our Training – Learn more about our customized workplace training programs.📞 Contact Us – Got questions or ideas? Email us at mti@missouri.edu.
References
Kondo, Marie. (2014). The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Ten Speed Press. 

Episode #144: Celebrating A Legacy of Light - Rae Lyon’s Story

Rae Lyon is retiring! In this special episode, we celebrate Rae's 16 years of service. Hear the impact of her leadership, her wisdom for leaders, and the stories that make her legacy unforgettable.
To share your messages with Rae, email her at lyonra@missouri.edu until January 23, 2025. After that, she can be reached at rae@lyoncoachinggroup.com.
Take the EQ-i 2.0 (Emotional Intelligence) or Six Types of Working Genius assessment.
mti@missouri.edu  I  573.882.2860  I mti.missouri.edu
Submit your episode idea.
Note: The Weekly Workplace will be taking a brief hiatus and pausing new episodes for about a month. In the meantime, we encourage you to revisit our past episodes, share your favorites, and continue engaging with us by liking and following the podcast. Thank you for your support, and we’ll be back soon with more great content!

Episode #143: The Human Side of Transition - Letting Go and Supporting New Leaders

Leadership transitions can be emotional, both for the outgoing leader and the incoming one. In this episode, Dewey, Rae, and Bryana explore how leaders can gracefully step aside, mentor effectively, and support new leaders without micromanaging.
Take the EQ-i 2.0 (Emotional Intelligence) or Six Types of Working Genius assessment.
mti@missouri.edu  I  573.882.2860  I mti.missouri.edu
Submit your episode idea.