Jennifer Wallace on Mattering and the Lasso Way - S3E38 - NYT Best Selling Author of "Never Enough" and "Mattering"

Intro to "Am I Literate?" - Redefining Literacy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence - S3E46

Summary There is a question we keep coming back to. Not as a thought experiment. As a genuine, uncomfortable, sit-with-it question: where does the authority lie now? That is what Kate Arthur put on the table when Garth and I sat down with her for this episode of Season 3. Kate is a thinker at the crossroads of literacy, generative AI, and what it means to know something in a world where the answer is always a prompt away. Her book, Am I Literate?, is the kind of read that does not give you easy answers. It gives you better questions. What struck us most was not the AI conversation, honestly. It was the mental health thread running underneath it. Because if we are honest with ourselves as school leaders, the tools our students are using are changing faster than our understanding of what those tools are doing to them. Kate brought that tension into the open in a way we found clarifying. We talked about the role of storytelling in a generated world, what critical thinking actually demands now, and why you cannot shortcut your way to wellness. Not with a product. Not with an app. Not with AI. This one stayed with us. We think it will stay with you too. Chapters 00:00 introduction to Beard's Book Club and a bit about where this conversation came from 04:53 pulling on the mental health thread in education and why school leaders can't afford to look away 09:40 the intersection of AI and literacy, and the question of where authority lives in a generated world 16:03 how educators and leaders can navigate change without losing what matters most 21:39 preparing students and systems for what learning actually looks like going forward 24:06 Beard's Book Club outro Key Takeaways Gratitude is not a gesture. Kate's reminder that it needs to be specific, timely, and personal landed for us as a leadership reminder more than a wellness tip. We do a lot of general acknowledgment in schools. The specific stuff takes more intention, but it is the only kind that actually lands. You cannot generative AI your way to wellness. Full stop. This line came out of a conversation about mental health in education, and it is one we will be repeating. There is no tool, platform, or productivity hack that replaces genuine human connection. The shortcut does not exist. The authority question is real and it is unresolved. When Kate asked "where does the authority lie now?" in the context of AI-generated knowledge, we felt the room shift a little. As educators, we have built entire systems around the idea that we curate, evaluate, and deliver reliable information. Generative AI has complicated that arrangement in ways we are still working through. Literacy is not a fixed destination. What it means to be literate has always evolved, and Kate makes a compelling case that we are in one of those inflection moments right now. The question for school leaders is not whether to respond. It is how to build the critical thinking and self-regulation muscles that will outlast whatever the current tools are. Storytelling still matters. Maybe more than ever. In a world where content is generated at scale, narrative grounded in genuine human experience carries a different kind of weight. Kate made that case quietly and convincingly. Quotes "Make gratitude specific, timely, and personal." — Kate Arthur "You can't generative AI to wellness." — Kate Arthur "Where does the authority lie now?" — Kate Arthur Resources Am I Literate? by Kate Arthur: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Am+I+Literate+Kate+Arthur Kate Arthur on LinkedIn (G7 and government influence): https://www.linkedin.com/in/katearthur CIS Ontario Impact Report: https://cisontario.org/impact-report Connect with Kate Arthur LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katearthur Twitter: https://twitter.com/katearthur

Culture is Strategy - S3E45 - Wrapping Up Claude Silver - "Be Yourself At Work"

Summary Some leaders manage from a distance. Claude Silver leads from the inside out. As Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia, Claude has built a career around a simple but demanding premise: that how people feel at work is not a soft concern sitting alongside strategy. It is the strategy. In this conversation, Garth and I dig into what that actually looks like in practice, and what it demands of the person at the front of the room. What stayed with me was her clarity about self-awareness. Not as a personality trait you either have or do not have, but as something you build intentionally, day by day, through the way you start your morning and the way you show up when things get hard. This is a conversation for leaders who want to go deeper. Not just into their organizations, but into themselves. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to leading with heart07:05 Claude Silver's journey and what authentic leadership actually means09:54 Knowing yourself and reading your context13:05 How to prepare for leadership before you are ready15:54 Juggling the demands that come with the role18:57 Setting intentions and building emotional intelligence as a practice22:03 Closing thoughts and a gentle challenge24:09 Beard's Book Club outro Key Takeaways Culture is not a byproduct of strategy. Claude makes the case that culture is the strategy, and that leaders who treat it as a downstream concern are building on sand. Getting intentional about the environment you are creating is not a nice-to-have. It is the job. Self-awareness is a daily practice. Knowing your triggers, your tendencies, and your defaults under pressure does not happen through reflection alone. It happens through small, consistent rituals, including the way you choose to start your morning before the day starts managing you. Authenticity at work is not oversharing. Claude draws a helpful distinction between being real and being unguarded. Bringing your full self to work means leading with your values, not leading with your nervous system. Quotes "Culture is a strategy." "Start your day with a mantra of gratitude." "Lead with kindness and compassion." Connect with Claude Silver on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudesilver] or find her book Be Yourself at Work wherever books are sold.

"Be Yourself At Work" - S3E44 - Claude Silver - Chief Heart Officer

Episode Summary In this episode of Lassoing Leadership, Jason and Garth sit down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia and author of Be Yourself at Work. Claude has built her career around a simple but powerful belief: workplaces perform better when leaders focus on the humans first. Throughout the conversation, Claude shares what it means to lead with vulnerability, why emotional intelligence is becoming a core leadership skill, and how leaders can create cultures where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to do their best work. The discussion also explores neurodiversity in the workplace, practical ways leaders can listen more intentionally, and why creating psychological safety isn’t just compassionate — it’s a competitive advantage. If leadership is about influence, Claude reminds us that the most powerful influence often comes from authenticity, empathy, and courage. Key Take Aways: * * Why vulnerability is a leadership strength, not a weakness * * How to infuse empathy into workplace culture * * Supporting neurodiversity and different ways of thinking at work * * Creating authentic, human-centered leadership environments * Practical strategies for listening, connecting, and leading people well * * Vulnerability builds trust. * The best leaders are willing to be human. When leaders show vulnerability, they create space for others to do the same. * Empathy drives performance. * A culture of care and emotional awareness leads to stronger engagement, retention, and results. * Listen for patterns, not just problems. Great leaders listen deeply and notice recurring themes in what their teams are saying. * Neurodiversity requires intention. * Supporting different ways of thinking means creating systems, tools, and spaces where everyone can thrive. * Leaders shape the emotional tone of their organizations. * Leadership is not just about strategy — it’s about setting the emotional framework that allows people to succeed. Soundbites: “Vulnerability is the foundation of true leadership.” “Emotional fluency is the key to effective leadership.” “Keep leading the Lasso way.” Chapters: 00:00 – Opening: Leadership lessons from Ted Lasso 08:49 – Why vulnerability matters in leadership 14:54 – Career transitions and finding meaningful work 20:52 – Responding to real vs. manufactured crises 26:44 – Final reflections on great leadership 36:17 – Beard’s Book Club Outro Claude Silver is the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia and the author of Be Yourself at Work. She is widely known for championing human-centered leadership, emotional intelligence, and workplace cultures where people feel valued, heard, and supported.

Chief Heart Officer .... what's that? - S3E43 - Introducing Claude Silver

Summary In this episode of Lassoing Leadership, Jason and Garth explore what it really means to “be yourself at work” through the lens of Work That’s Worth It and the leadership philosophy of Claude Silver. Together, they unpack why authenticity in leadership is harder than it sounds, especially in environments where professionalism can sometimes become performance. The conversation explores emotional intelligence, psychological safety, vulnerability, and the importance of creating workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and safe enough to grow. From difficult conversations to emotional resilience during the busiest parts of the school year, Jason and Garth reflect on the idea that leadership is not just about driving results. It is about creating the conditions where people can thrive. Themes: Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Psychological Safety, Claude Silver, Organizational Culture, Authentic Leadership, Trust, Compassion, Emotional Resilience, Heart-Centered Leadership Take Aways: * Why authenticity matters in leadership * Psychological safety and creating cultures of trust * Emotional intelligence and emotional agility * The role of vulnerability in leadership * Navigating hard conversations with care and accountability * Emotional resilience during demanding seasons * Building workplaces where people can genuinely belong * Leaders who model authenticity and vulnerability create stronger, safer cultures. * Emotions are not weaknesses to suppress. They are signals worth paying attention to. * Psychological safety fuels innovation, trust, and long-term organizational health. * High care and high expectations are not opposites. They belong together. * Emotional bravery and emotional efficiency help leaders remain steady during stressful seasons. * The best leaders are intentional about the emotional temperature they create around them. About Claude Silver: * The Power of Authentic Leadership: Be Yourself at Work * Building Trust, Resilience, and Psychological Safety * Why Great Leadership Starts with Authenticity * Leading with Humanity in High-Pressure Environments Soundbites: “Ride the wave of emotions. Don’t drown in it.” “Set boundaries and live with them.” “The stories we tell ourselves shape the leaders we become.” “People remember how leaders make them feel long after they forget the meeting agenda.” “Psychological safety is not softness. It is the foundation for courage.” Chapters: 00:00 — Introduction and anticipation for upcoming guest 06:22 — Exploring the idea of being yourself at work 09:13 — Psychological safety and the role of trust in leadership 12:29 — Emotional intelligence and emotionally agile leadership 15:20 — Emotional efficiency, resilience, and leadership strategies 18:31 — Listener engagement and community connection 21:17 — Final reflections on leadership and authenticity

Garth and Jason's Top 3 Time Hacks - S3R42 - Wrapping Up The Happiest Hour with Cassie Holmes

Summary Time is the one resource we cannot make more of. That is the uncomfortable truth sitting at the centre of Cassie Holmes' remarkable book, and it is the thread Garth and I pull on throughout this conversation. Cassie is a professor at UCLA Anderson School of Management, and her research does something rare. It takes happiness seriously as a subject of rigorous study. Not as a feel-good concept, but as something worth measuring, protecting, and designing your life around. What landed for us in this conversation was how directly her work applies to leadership. We spend a lot of time in schools talking about culture and well-being, but we do not always turn that lens on ourselves. This episode is an invitation to do exactly that. If you have ever felt busy but not fulfilled, productive but not present, this one is for you. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Happier Hour08:40 The importance of time in leadership11:41 Strategies for effective time management14:56 Building happiness into your leadership practice17:50 The concept of time empathy20:52 Looking ahead30:10 Beard's Book Club outro Key Takeaways The time audit is where it starts. Cassie's research asks a simple but unsettling question: do you actually know how you are spending your time? Mapping it honestly, without judgment, is the first step toward changing it. Happiness stacking is not a luxury. Layering small moments of genuine enjoyment into your existing schedule is a practice, not an indulgence. Leaders who do this consistently are more present and more effective. Presence is the point. Being physically somewhere and actually being there are two different things. Cassie's work reinforces what we see in schools every day: the leaders who show up fully are the ones people remember. Time empathy matters. Understanding that the people we lead experience time differently than we do changes how we schedule, how we communicate, and how we build culture. It is worth sitting with. The 5AM club is not for everyone, but the principle is. Protecting some portion of your day for what matters most to you is non-negotiable if you want to lead sustainably. Quotes "Get out there and do a little bit of me-search on time."Cassie Holmes "Lead with your heart and be authentic."Jason Rogers "Leverage the power of the 5AM club."Garth Nichols Resources The Happier Hour by Cassie HolmesAtomic Habits by James ClearThe 5AM Club by Robin Sharma Connect with CassieLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cassieholmesTwitter: @cassieholmesUCLA Anderson profile: anderson.ucla.edu