S2025E10 - 2026 E10 Lead with Empower Podcast

The Lead with Empower Podcast is back! Join Empower Leadership's Assistant General Manager, Zack Morello, and President, Dan Jaskot, for a variety of topics all focused on empowering and inspiring 1 Million Individuals to become positive leaders in their communities. This "experiential essentials" podcast is created by team building practitioners for individuals and teams hoping to strengthen their culture, empower individuals to become leaders, and foster a greater sense of collaboration between team members. Episode 10 of the "Lead with Empower" podcast, features the hosts, Zachary and Dan from Empower Leadership, discussing the common challenge of gaining and maintaining attention from a group, titled, "Why won't they listen to me?". The speaker's note that this is a problem regardless of a leader's experience level, applying to professions such as teaching, coaching, and corporate leadership. Wasting time trying to get a group's attention can impact efficiency, especially in situations with limited time, such as at an event or during a sports practice. They explore different methodologies for gaining attention: ● Authoritative Demand: Historically, an old-school approach involved being louder and demanding respect simply by being the adult in front of the group, sometimes involving threats like a consequence if participants talked. However, this methodology may be becoming less effective. ● Simple, Spreading Action: An example is shared of a facilitator, Dr. Teddy France, who started snapping his fingers, leading others to follow, and eventually gaining the attention of a large group without saying a single word. This highlights the method of starting something simple and allowing it to flow into others. ● Focusing on the Positive: Instead of drawing attention to those not participating, the method involves focusing on and celebrating the few who are doing the right thing, which encourages others to follow. This is based on the idea that people want positive reinforcement. ● Involving the Outlier in the Solution: When dealing with individuals who are distracting the group, instead of punishing them (like yelling, getting mad, or removing them), the approach is to positively separate them by asking them to help. This involves them in the solution and leverages their strength of being comfortable being noticed. ● Building Rapport: Establishing rapport through small talk and getting to know individuals before starting can help you gain respect and attention from the group when you do begin. ● Clear Standards and Consistency: Regardless of the tool or tactic used, it needs to be clearly stated and shown, setting expectations for the group. Being consistent with the standard—such as waiting for compliance—is particularly important with youth. The most common tactic the speakers use is verbal-call-and-response: "If you can hear my voice, clap your hands one time". They set the standard that they aim for two claps or less, linking efficiency to having more time for "fun stuff". Other attention-getting tactics include: ● Nonverbal symbols, like a hand raise. ● Verbal call-and-response, such as one organization's staff saying, "Hey, Slade," and the students responding, "Hey, what?". ● In the corporate world, methods include assigning tasks during a meeting to keep everyone engaged and ensuring the content is concise and pertains directly to the group. Find out more at https://lead-with-empower-podcast.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.