In this episode, Alyssa Nolte talks with Tim Townsend about leadership, motivation, and what actually drives people at work. They dig into why KPIs often fail, how fear shows up inside big organizations, and what gets lost when work becomes impersonal.

Why You Should Listen

This conversation cuts through corporate theory and gets real about human behavior at work. If you lead teams, work inside large organizations, or feel frustrated by politics and misaligned incentives, this episode gives language and perspective for what you are seeing every day and how to think about it differently.

3 Key Takeaways

1. KPIs can backfire when they reward the wrong behavior and disconnect people from the bigger goal.
2. As teams grow, individual accountability often shrinks unless leaders actively reinforce shared purpose.
3. Personal connection and belief in the work drive better outcomes than measurement alone.

People and Resources Mentioned

• Simon Sinek
• Kevin McLeod
• Grand Designs

This episode looks at how teams actually build things together... and why so many groups still protect their own turf. Alyssa and Beau talk about architecture, construction, leadership, and how shared risk can transform the way people work. Beau explains why craft, coordination, and empathy matter more than ever, especially as AI begins reshaping technical work.

This conversation is worth a listen if you work on any team where silos slow things down. Beau breaks down the real reasons teams clash and offers practical ways to build trust and make collaboration easier.

Key takeaways:

• Better buildings start with better teamwork. You can’t improve outcomes without understanding each person’s risks.
• Craft matters. When quality drops, trust erodes and silos harden. When craft rises, collaboration gets easier.
• AI will reshape the profession. Teams that work with shared values and strong coordination will have a major advantage.

People and resources mentioned:

• Norman Foster
• The Toyota Way
• The Innovator’s Dilemma

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.Connect with AlyssaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPodFollow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod

This episode goes deep into what it takes to grow as a leader. Alyssa talks with Aslak de Silva about how lessons from martial arts can shape the way we lead, recover, and build trust with our teams. Aslak shares how he went from world champion fighter to CEO and why the habits he built in the dojo still drive his success today.

This is a great listen if you want to lead with intention, handle pressure with more control, and build instincts that help you show up better for your team.

3 takeaways
» Leadership instincts come from repetition and feedback, not theory.
» Recovery is part of performance. You can’t lead well if you never reset.
» Owning your mistakes is the fastest way to rebuild trust and grow your influence.

Mentioned
Josh Kosnik
The Black Belt in Leadership (book)
The Black Belt in Leadership podcast

Share your thoughts - send us a text

It's time to say "goodbye" to the Sunday Scaries.

Connect with Alyssa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssanolte/
Subscribe to the Taking Back Monday Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7158635254474272768/
Follow the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakingBackMondayPod
Follow the show on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takingbackmondaypod