017-Three Habits That Build Better Teams: Listen, Be Real, Recognize

What if what looks like a performance problem is actually a relationship problem?  In this episode of Beyond the Class, Heather McDermott, Senior Director of Learning Innovation at the Chapman Foundation, explores a growing challenge facing organizations today: declining trust, rising stress, and disengaged employees. While many leaders focus on improving results through policies, processes, or accountability measures, Heather argues that performance is often shaped by something deeper - the environment leaders create every day.  Drawing on her experience in organizational culture design and leadership development, Heather reframes performance as an outcome of human experience.   Rather than focusing on large-scale initiatives, Heather highlights three everyday leadership behaviors and provides examples that impact culture and results.  Three Human-Centered Leadership Behaviors That Improve Performance:  Listen with presence and curiosity  Model thoughtful vulnerability  Recognize contributions intentionally    Throughout the conversation, Heather emphasizes that human-centered leadership is a deliberate choice leaders make through daily actions and interactions. These small moments accumulate over time, shaping workplace culture, employee engagement, and organizational performance.    LEVEL UP OPPORTUNITY  Choose one of the three leadership behaviors and focus on it intentionally this week.  At the end of each day, ask yourself:  Did I truly listen?  Did I create space for openness?  Did I meaningfully recognize someone's contribution?  Small, consistent changes can significantly strengthen trust, psychological safety, and performance over time.    RELATED RESOURCES    BLOG: The Leadership Conditions That Shape Performance - https://chapmancommunities.org/the-leadership-conditions-that-shape-performance/  WEBSITE: Caring Workplace program – https://chapmancommunities.org/caring-workplace-program/  AUDIOCAST: 006-Rebuilding Trust: How To Be a Good Leader Even When You Mess Up – https://www.chapmancommunities.org/btc-006/   CHAPTER MARKERS  1 - 00:00 – The Leadership Challenge: Stress, trust, and disengagement  2 - 02:24 – Performance or Environment? Reframing the real problem  3 - 05:22 – Why Organizations Overlook Human-Centered Leadership  4 - 07:41 – Behavior #1: Listening with Presence and Intention  5 - 13:10 – Behavior #2: Modeling Vulnerability Without Oversharing  6 - 16:49 – A Personal Leadership Lesson on Authenticity  7 - 20:31 – Behavior #3: Recognizing Contributions Meaningfully  8 - 24:41 – Small Choices, Big Impact: Culture by Design  9 - 27:05 – Level Up Opportunity: Choose One Leadership Behavior    KEY TAKEAWAYS  Performance challenges are often symptoms of environmental and relational issues rather than talent or effort problems.  Human-centered leadership is a strategic advantage that accelerates engagement, trust, and results.  Listening, vulnerability, and recognition help people feel heard, valued, and motivated to perform at their best.  Culture is shaped by the daily choices leaders make in ordinary moments.  When people feel respected, understood, and trusted, stronger performance naturally follows.