Gary Keller’s handwritten note on "Misery." Plus, spot the risks and fix them before they cost you your best people in meetings, in culture, and in honest conversations.
say their manager sets the culture of their workplace.
40%
say their manager fails to frequently engage in honest conversations about work topics.
36%
say their manager doesn't know how to lead a team.
$223B
is the cost of turnover due to workplace culture in the last 5 years.
Our Aha: Your title might read “team leader” instead of “manager,” but your position as a leader is the same. Your leadership matters to the people you work with and your market center culture relies on leaders to stay strong.
Our Aha: Use this list as a checklist to improve.
1. Is the main topic a must hear about?
2. Is the agenda designed to solve immediate problems and teach topics of the moment?
3. Does the meeting start and stop on time to respect everyone's day?
The Cost of Ostracism
Ostracism: The act of ignoring or excluding someone.
Our Aha: It hurts to be “the last to know.” When people feel left out, the risks of anger, unproductive behavior, and turnover increase. When people work less, they get left out more, creating a loop of weakened morale.
Shadow conversations happen when team members discuss problems in the hallways, texts, or side chats instead of addressing them directly with the group or leader. It’s “shadow” because it sits in the background — unseen, unofficial, and often undermining trust.
According to a 2019 study in the Journal of Applied Psychology, men are more likely to report being a victim of ostracism. When in doubt, widen the room: CC someone on an email or include someone in a meeting.
Top Leadership In-Person Masterminds in Austin, TX November 17 - Top 100 Team Leaders November 18 - Top 100 OPs (Single Market Center) November 19 - Top 50 OPs (Multiple Market Centers)
THE LEAD™ is an exclusive leadership newsletter brought to you by KW's executive team.
Edition 7 | September 2025
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