Episodi

  • The Middle Manager Squeeze

    The Middle Manager Squeeze
    Jul 28 2026
    When organizations struggle with engagement, execution, or retention, leaders often look to the top (or the front lines) for answers. But the real pressure point is often in the middle. In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Beth Sunshine explores why middle managers are the foundation of a healthy workplace culture and what happens when they're expected to drive performance without the support they need to succeed. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026 Company Culture Report, Beth discusses: ☕ Why middle managers are the "load-bearing beams" of organizational culture ☕ How competing pressures from leadership and employees create strain ☕ The hidden warning signs of middle manager disengagement ☕ Why unsupported managers lead to inconsistent execution, lower engagement, and higher turnover ☕ Practical ways leaders can better equip managers with clarity, coaching, and support Key findings from ENGAGE 2026 include: - Only 37% of middle managers are engaged. - Only about one-third fully trust company leadership. - 57% have considered leaving their organization in the past year. - Only 43% say they're motivated by their company's vision. - Only about half feel they receive enough feedback and support for their own growth. - Just 36% say organizational change feels manageable. ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/home
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    7 min
  • You Have a Feedback Problem (And You Probably Don’t Know It)

    You Have a Feedback Problem (And You Probably Don’t Know It)
    Jul 21 2026
    Most leaders believe they're giving enough feedback. The data tells a different story. In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Kate Rehling explores why feedback is one of the most overlooked drivers of employee growth and engagement—and why many organizations are treating it as an occasional event instead of an everyday habit. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026 Company Culture Report, Kate discusses: ☕ Why feedback should be a development tool—not just a way to correct mistakes ☕ How infrequent feedback creates uncertainty, disengagement, and inconsistent performance ☕ Why positive reinforcement is essential for building confidence and accelerating growth ☕ The feedback gap managers face—and why supporting them is critical to developing everyone else ☕ Four practical ways to make meaningful feedback a consistent part of your culture Key findings from ENGAGE 2026 include: - One in four employees receives feedback only once per year. - Only 37% receive meaningful feedback on a weekly basis. - 40% of employees say they don't receive enough meaningful feedback. - Nearly half of employees don't believe their manager helps them grow. - Only half of middle managers feel supported in their own development. Meaningful feedback isn't reserved for annual reviews or difficult conversations. It's an ongoing practice that builds confidence, strengthens performance, and helps people reach their full potential. Learn how creating a stronger feedback culture can drive engagement and growth across your organization. ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/home
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    6 min
  • The Trust Deficit: How Accountability Without Credibility Backfires

    The Trust Deficit: How Accountability Without Credibility Backfires
    Jul 14 2026
    Does More Accountability Actually Improve Culture? Accountability is essential. But without trust, it can have the opposite effect leaders intend. In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Beth Sunshine explores why raising expectations alone doesn't create stronger performance. Instead, when accountability isn't supported by trust and consistent leadership, it often leads to compliance, hesitation, and disengagement. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026 Company Culture Report, Beth discusses: ☕ Why accountability without trust creates caution instead of commitment ☕ How inconsistent leadership behaviors quietly erode credibility ☕ The difference between employees taking ownership and simply checking the box ☕ Why middle managers play a critical role in reinforcing trust and accountability ☕ Practical ways leaders can build accountability through consistency, follow-through, and clear communication Key findings from ENGAGE 2026 include: - Employee trust in leadership has declined from 70% in 2023 to 56% in 2026. - Only 44% of employees say their manager consistently follows through. - 86% of employees who wouldn't recommend their company say leaders don't consistently follow through. - Only about one-third of middle managers fully trust organizational leadership. Strong accountability isn't built through higher standards alone. It's built when employees trust that expectations are fair, leaders are consistent, and commitments are honored. Learn how trust transforms accountability from compliance into genuine commitment. ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/home
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    6 min
  • Purpose Is Table Stakes (But It's Not Enough)

    Purpose Is Table Stakes (But It's Not Enough)
    Jul 7 2026
    Is Purpose Enough to Keep Employees Engaged? Most employees say they have a sense of purpose in their work. So why are engagement levels still so low? In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Kate Rehling explores why purpose is an important foundation—but not enough on its own to create an engaged workforce. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026 Company Culture Report, she explains why employees can care deeply about their work while still feeling disconnected from the organization they work for. In this episode, you'll learn: ☕ Why purpose and engagement aren't the same thing ☕ The difference between finding meaning in your work versus believing in your organization's mission ☕ Why feedback, recognition, trust, and development matter just as much as purpose ☕ How the Four Engagement Elevators help organizations turn purpose into lasting engagement Key findings from ENGAGE 2026 include: - 92% of employees say they feel a sense of purpose in their work. - Only 34% would highly recommend their company as a great place to work. - One-third of employees aren't motivated by their company's long-term vision. - 39% say they don't receive enough feedback. - 37% don't feel meaningfully recognized. Purpose gives people a reason to care. A strong culture gives them a reason to stay. Discover how leaders can connect purpose to everyday employee experiences to build higher engagement and stronger organizational performance. ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/home
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    7 min
  • Have Core Values? Your Employees Probably Can’t Recite Them

    Have Core Values? Your Employees Probably Can’t Recite Them
    Jun 30 2026
    Do Your Core Values Actually Drive Behavior? Most organizations have core values. But can your employees actually name them? In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Beth Sunshine explores why core values often become wall art instead of a guide for everyday decisions—and what leaders can do to change that. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026 Company Culture Report, Beth discusses: ☕ Why knowing your core values is the first step toward living them ☕ The surprising gap between executives and middle managers when it comes to understanding company values ☕ How inconsistent hiring, recognition, and accountability quietly undermine culture ☕ Why employees pay more attention to leaders' actions than the values posted on the wall ☕ Practical ways to embed your core values into hiring, coaching, recognition, and performance conversations Key findings from ENGAGE 2026 include: - 89% of organizations have defined core values—but only about half of employees know what they are. - 70% of executives can name their company's core values, compared to just 40% of middle managers. - 73% of employees say leaders fail to consistently model company values. - 85% say leaders tolerate behaviors that contradict those values. If your organization wants stronger alignment, greater accountability, and a healthier culture, it starts by making your core values part of how work actually gets done—not just what hangs on the wall. ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/home
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    7 min
  • Why Your Culture Problem Looks Like an Operations Problem

    Why Your Culture Problem Looks Like an Operations Problem
    Jun 23 2026
    Culture Problem… or Operations Problem? Most leaders don’t think they have a culture problem. Instead, they’re asking questions like: Why is execution so slow? Why are we losing good people? Why does everything feel harder than it should? In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Beth Sunshine explores why many of the challenges organizations label as operational issues are actually culture issues in disguise. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report, Beth breaks down: ☕ Why turnover, slow execution, and low morale often stem from culture—not process ☕ The hidden costs of low trust, poor communication, and unclear expectations ☕ Why hiring, engagement, and accountability problems are frequently misdiagnosed ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/home
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    10 min
  • Culture Metrics: What Engagement Surveys Can (and Can't) Tell You

    Culture Metrics: What Engagement Surveys Can (and Can't) Tell You
    Jan 8 2026
    In this episode, Dan Kessler, President of Energage, joins Beth Sunshine to explore how data and action come together to create thriving workplace cultures. Drawing on insights from millions of employee surveys and thousands of companies, Dan shares how organizations can move beyond measuring engagement to activating it. Dan has some amazing takeaways, like: - Why employee engagement data reveals what leaders can’t always see — and how assumptions can quietly derail culture. - Why “survey fatigue” isn’t real (it’s actually inaction fatigue) and how authentic follow-through restores trust. - And how middle managers, often caught between leadership and employees, play a pivotal role in turning insights into cultural momentum. Energage: https://www.energage.com/ Dan Kessler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-kessler-40b4a11/ Evaluate Your Company Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/quick-culture-assessment Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Culture Over Coffee: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/culture-over-coffee-podcast Up Your Culture: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/
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    38 min
  • Culture Snapshot - Culture Isn't a Vibe: The Systems Behind Great Workplaces

    Culture Snapshot - Culture Isn't a Vibe: The Systems Behind Great Workplaces
    Dec 18 2025
    Culture isn’t just something you feel. It’s something you build. In this short Culture Snapshot episode, we’re breaking down why great cultures aren’t powered by perks or positivity alone. Instead, they run on systems: the intentional habits, behaviors, and leadership practices that create clarity and consistency. We’ll also walk through the four “engagement elevators” that help organizations turn good vibes into lasting strength, reminding leaders that when culture runs on systems, it can thrive no matter the storm. Evaluate Your Company Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/quick-culture-assessment Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Culture Over Coffee: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/culture-over-coffee-podcast
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    5 min