People First! with Morag Barrett

People First! with Morag Barrett explores the human side of leadership: workplace relationships, leadership trust, Meaning-FULL Connectivity™, and the Ally Mindset™ practices that drive real results in business and life.In each episode, keynote speaker, executive coach, USA Today bestselling author, and Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches member Morag Barrett sits down with authors, business leaders, and everyday humans to uncover practical ways to strengthen connection, collaboration, and culture in an increasingly disconnected world.Because success in business is powered by relationships. And success in life is fueled by connection.Learn more at skyeteam.com/speaking

People First! with Morag Barrett is a business podcast hosted by Morag Barrett, with 168 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Morag Barrett hosts People First! with Morag Barrett, a business show with 168 episodes published.

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  Episode #173

  Kindness At Work Isn't Optional with Chester Elton

  Sep 28, 202630 min

  Recognition isn’t a new idea. And yet, engagement continues to decline. In this conversation, Morag and Chester Elton explore why gratitude and recognition remain underutilised—and how leaders can create meaningful change in the moments they control. ⏱️ Key Moments 00:01 From broadcasting to recognition 04:21 Why recognition creates real business impact 09:47 The disconnect: why engagement is still falling 12:09 Broken trust and the employer-employee relationship 14:23 What leaders can control (even in broken systems) 15:50 The ripple effect of appreciation 17:27 Why culture spreads through small teams 18:30 Designing a life of gratitude 20:33 The power of random acts of kindness 22:14 The “gratitude stone” story 25:22 Making kindness a daily discipline 26:48 “You have to choose to be offended” Key Takeaways Recognition is still seen as optional—and that’s the problem Leaders underestimate how much small moments matter Culture isn’t built at the top—it’s built in teams Gratitude isn’t a mindset alone—it’s a practice You don’t need permission to create a better culture around you (00:01) - From broadcasting to recognition (04:21) - Why recognition creates real business impact (09:47) - The disconnect: why engagement is still falling (12:09) - Broken trust and the employer-employee relationship (14:23) - What leaders can control (even in broken systems) (15:50) - The ripple effect of appreciation (17:27) - Why culture spreads through small teams (18:30) - Designing a life of gratitude (20:33) - The power of random acts of kindness (22:14) - The “gratitude stone” story (25:22) - Making kindness a daily discipline (26:48) - “You have to choose to be offended”

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  Episode #172

  Busy Isn't Connected With Rhea Ong Yiu

  Sep 14, 202629 min

  We’re more connected than ever. So why do so many leaders—and teams—feel disconnected? In this episode of People First! , Morag speaks with Rhea Ong-Yiu about the growing gap between doing work and actually connecting at work. They explore: Why transformation doesn’t happen as quickly as leaders expect The difference between “doing” and “being” in leadership Why structure doesn’t restrict people—it can liberate them How AI is amplifying the need for human connection The role of community in creating meaningful work Why showing up matters more than joining another platform This isn’t about adding more to your day. It’s about changing how you show up in it. (01:55) - From expectations to finding your own path (03:39) - The human side of transformation (04:38) - Why change doesn’t happen overnight (05:53) - Structure vs hierarchy—what actually works (06:30) - Creating space for co-elevation (09:08) - AI and the rising need for human connection (10:22) - “Doing” vs “Being” in leadership (14:10) - The shift toward community-led work (16:07) - Building meaningful connection in a digital world (18:41) - Why disconnection isn’t about location (20:15) - Generosity as a leadership practice (21:47) - The power of small, intentional actions (22:14) - Leadership lessons from Coco

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  Episode #171

  We're Not Talking About Menopause With Becca Borden

  Aug 31, 202628 min

  Menopause isn’t a moment. It’s a journey that can last years—and affect how people show up at work every day. So why are we still not talking about it? In this episode of People First! , Morag sits down with Becca Borden to unpack the reality of menopause—and why it’s often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or ignored. They explore: Why menopause is more than a single point in time The wide range of symptoms most people don’t connect How women can go years without understanding what’s happening The role of hormone therapy—and why it’s often misunderstood What women can do to better advocate for themselves Why organizations need to start paying attention This isn’t just a health conversation. It’s a workplace conversation. Key Takeaways Menopause is a long-term transition—not a single event Symptoms are often misunderstood or misdiagnosed Women need better information—and better advocacy tools Small lifestyle changes can make a significant difference Organizations have a role to play in supporting this conversation Learn more about Becca: https://hotstuffcoaching.com/about-menopause-coaching

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  Episode #170

  The People Who Frustrate You Are Your Advantage with Stephen Shapiro

  Aug 17, 202628 min

  We all have coworkers who frustrate us. Different styles. Different approaches. Different ways of thinking. According to Stephen Shapiro , that’s not a problem—it’s your advantage. In this episode of People First! , we explore why teams struggle not because of lack of talent, but because of lack of difference—and how misreading people leads to disengagement, poor performance, and stalled innovation. What You’ll Learn Why teams become “cult-like” (and why that’s risky) How different thinking styles impact innovation The hidden cost of mislabeling people Why strengths can become weaknesses How to build teams that actually perform under pressure The real purpose behind Personality Poker Key Takeaways Innovation needs different perspectives, not agreement Teams often overvalue similarity Misalignment drains energy and performance The people who frustrate you often fill critical gaps High-performing teams value all contributions Connect with Stephen Shapiro Website: theinnovationspeaker.com Personality Poker: personalitypoker.com Book: fulldeckbook.com (00:00) - Introduction (01:54) - Origin story: from game show host to innovation expert (03:19) - What is Personality Poker? (05:38) - The “aha moment” in teams (06:07) - Culture vs “cult” thinking (08:18) - The cost of misreading people (09:14) - Why people disengage or leave (12:17) - The four suits of innovation (13:58) - What happens when teams lack diversity of thinking (15:14) - Why you need people who complement you (17:40) - When strengths go too far (21:25) - Meetings have personalities (25:27) - What leaders should really pay attention to

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  Episode #169

  Why Neurodiversity at Work Is Being Misunderstood With Sandra Crespo

  Aug 3, 202632 min

  We talk about performance, productivity, and potential. But what if we’re misunderstanding how some of our best people actually work? In this episode of People First! , Morag sits down with Sandra Crespo to explore how ADHD and neurodiversity show up in the workplace—and why many systems unintentionally create friction instead of support. What You’ll Learn Why ADHD is often missed—even by high performers The hidden cost of “fixing” vs understanding How leaders misinterpret neurodivergent behaviours Simple workplace changes that unlock performance Why “reasonable accommodations” might be the wrong model How to design environments where people can actually thrive Key Takeaways Neurodiversity is often misunderstood as a deficit Success can mask underlying struggle Small environmental changes can have a big impact Leaders don’t need all the answers—but they need awareness Designing for difference benefits everyone Connect with Sandra Crespo Website: theneurospicysw.com LinkedIn: Sandra N. Crespo (00:00) - Introduction (01:43) - Sandra’s origin story (03:35) - Late ADHD diagnosis and lived experience (06:01) - The moment everything changed (10:28) - Why high performers miss the signs (12:09) - Why this conversation is happening now (14:48) - What leaders get wrong about ADHD (16:01) - A real example of unlocking potential (19:45) - Workplace systems that create friction (23:12) - Rethinking “reasonable accommodations” (26:32) - The SPICY leadership framework

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