Management Muse

Ep 41 The Hidden Power of Praise at Work

In this episode, Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin explore the art of giving meaningful and effective praise in the workplace. They discuss the transformative power of specific, personalized recognition and explain how well-timed praise can deepen work relationships and encourage better performance.
Cindi and Geoff also tackle the common pitfalls of recognition, from overly general compliments to the painful predictability of formal programs like employee-of-the-month awards. With practical strategies to help busy leaders maintain a culture of timely and authentic appreciation, this episode is packed with actionable tips to give your praise a lasting impact.
Join us to learn how thoughtful recognition can boost morale, strengthen your team, and improve work performance.
 
Episode Highlights:
Learn the psychology behind reciprocity and praise in the workplace.
Understand why specific and timely praise is essential for motivating teams and building a strong workplace culture.
Identify and avoid common pitfalls like overpraising or ineffective recognition programs.
Discover when to acknowledge team members for maximum impact.
Learn how to adapt your recognition approach to suit different personality types at work.
 
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Ep 40 How to Start a Successful Side Hustle Without Quitting Your Job

Have you ever wondered about starting a side hustle? In this episode of Management Muse, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin dive into the world of side hustles, exploring their potential to provide financial stability, personal growth, and career transformation. Cindi and Geoff discuss how side hustles can be a launchpad for entrepreneurship, a way to rediscover joy in work, or a vital release valve when a full-time job feels stagnant. They also examine the challenges of balancing side hustles with full-time responsibilities and share practical tips for making side hustles work without becoming overwhelming.
 
Join us in this episode to learn how side hustles can enhance your career, bring renewed purpose to your work, and help you take control of your professional path.
 
Episode Highlights:
Understand how side hustles can foster creativity and lead to entrepreneurial opportunities.
Discover the hidden risks of side hustles and how to avoid burnout while balancing priorities.
Learn key strategies to ensure your side hustle aligns with your long-term career goals.
Learn how pursuing a side hustle can lead to unexpected career opportunities.
 
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Ep 39 How to Get Paid What You’re Worth and Avoid Salary Pitfalls

Are you leaving money on the table when it comes to your salary? In this episode of Management Muse, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin discuss the pitfalls of salary negotiation and why so many people are underpaid. Cindi and Geoff share examples of underpaid managers and give practical advice on how to most effectively advocate for yourself and make more money by avoiding the most common compensation mistakes. 
 
Whether you’re negotiating a new job or asking for a raise in your current one, this episode equips you with tools to more effectively navigate pay discussions and increase your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why managers and other professionals are often underpaid.
How to identify and avoid hidden pitfalls in salary negotiations.
The role of self-advocacy in ensuring fair compensation for your work.
Simple strategies to prepare for more effective pay discussions.
 
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Ep 38 Preventing Burnout: Keeping People Productive for the Long Haul

Is burnout silently draining the energy and productivity of your team? In this episode of Management Muse, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin tackle the challenges of workplace burnout and its impact on even—and perhaps especially—your most loyal employees. Cindi and Geoff explore burnout’s three-part progression, discuss ways to recognize the early warning signs of exhaustion, and talk about the role managers play in fostering a healthier, more balanced workplace.
 
Tune in to gain practical insights to recognize and reduce burnout early, support your team effectively, and build a workplace culture that includes both well-being and high performance.
 
Episode Highlights:
Discover the stages of burnout and learn why high achievers are especially at risk.
Identify the red flags of burnout.
Discover the connection between loneliness, burnout, and employee morale.
Find out how leaders can break the burnout cycle and promote lasting success.
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Ep 37 Why Prestigious Organizations Sometimes Breed Toxic Work Cultures

In this episode of Management Muse, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin dive into the complex dynamics of high-status organizations and their potential to create toxic workplace cultures. They explore how a steady influx of eager talent can lead to exploitative practices, why instability at the leadership level often creates fear and distrust, and how unchecked competition undermines collaboration. Drawing insights from diverse industries like tech, entertainment, and the military, this episode reveals the hidden costs of prestige and provides actionable strategies to build healthier, more supportive workplaces.
Tune in to learn how to recognize and address toxic behaviors, create a culture of trust, and promote sustainable success in competitive environments.
 
Episode Highlights:
The paradox of prestige and how it can cause harmful workplace dynamics.
Why employee fear and leadership instability are often fellow travelers of toxic work cultures.
How organizational toxicity develops and ways to prevent its growth.
Strategies for leaders to build supportive and sustainable work environments.
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Ep 36 When Empathy Backfires at Work and How to Fix It

In this episode of Management Muse, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin dive into the complexities and unexpected challenges of empathy in the workplace. They explore how empathy, while important to connect people during challenging times, can sometimes backfire. EMpathy’s errors include unintentionally sidelining an employee’s concerns, downplaying the true pain of our experiences, and jumping too quickly into problem-solving mode. Through compelling stories and examples, Cindi and Geoff talk about how well-intentioned  empathy can go astray and they offer practical strategies to get our empathy back on track.
 
Episode Highlights:
Understanding when sharing our stories can unintentionally take the oxygen our of conversations and ways to prevent it.
The importance of sense-making and listening in delivering empathy.
Common empathy missteps and how to avoid them.
Practical advice for managers on providing the right level of support.
How to improve our empathetic responses to build trust and cohesion.
 
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Ep 35 Ethically Sensitive People at Work

In this episode, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin delve into the challenges of having ethically sensitive individuals at work and the impact they have on teams. Through an engaging story about a friend who almost blew-up an important work relationship over a perceived ethical breach, Cindi and Geoff illustrate the challenges that come with highly ethically sensitive people. They explore why ethically sensitive people are important for maintaining organizational integrity, but they also require extra patience and consideration.
Tune in to this episode for actionable insights on managing ethically sensitive people and for tips on building a culture of integrity.
Episode Highlights:
Real-life examples of how ethical sensitivity can create workplace challenges.
The role of ethically sensitive colleagues as early detectors of potential issues.
Strategies for managers to support the strengths of ethically sensitive people.
Advice for ethically sensitive people to constructively voice their concerns.
Tips on maintaining balance between high ethical standards and workplace harmony.
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Ep 34 The Dark Side of Similarity and How Hiring for “Likeness” Can Hurt Team Success

In this episode of Management Muse, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin explore the dark side of similarity and its surprising impact on team dynamics and workplace culture. They reveal how hiring for similarity can sometimes backfire, creating unexpected obstacles to growth, trust, and innovation. Through thought-provoking insights and real-world examples, Cindi and Geoff unpack the importance of balancing shared values with diverse perspectives to drive creativity and problem-solving.
Tune in to this episode to learn how to build a culture that thrives on both unity and diversity, setting the stage for organizational growth and resilience.
 
Episode Highlights:
The unexpected ways similarity can create conflict within teams.
How social identity and psychological group membership influence behavior.
The benefits of prioritizing value-based similarity over surface-level traits.
Real-life examples of how diversity in experience can help solve problems and spark innovation.
Practical advice for leaders on balancing diversity and similarity to cultivate a thriving work environment.
 
Resources:
Kacmar, K. Michele, et al. "Surface-level actual similarity vs. deep-level perceived similarity: Predicting leader-member exchange agreement." Journal of Behavioral and Applied Management 10.3 (2009): 315.
Guillaume, Yves RF, Felix C. Brodbeck, and Michael Riketta. "Surface‐and deep‐level dissimilarity effects on social integration and individual effectiveness related outcomes in work groups: A meta‐analytic integration." Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology 85.1 (2012): 80-115.
Negative effect of similarity. Thompson, Maryah E., "Black Sheep Effects on Juror Verdicts" (2018). Theses and Dissertations. 369. https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/369
Haslam, S. Alexander, Stephen D. Reicher, and Katherine J. Reynolds. "Identity, influence, and change: Rediscovering John Turner's vision for social psychology." British Journal of Social Psychology 51.2 (2012): 201-218. 
 
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Ep 33 Too Many Cooks: The Chaos of Co-CEOs

In this episode of Management Muse, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin dive into the challenges of co-leadership, where two bosses manage the same people or department. With insights from their 19 years of consulting, they share real-life stories of co-CEO arrangements gone wrong, revealing how role conflict, ambiguity, and lack of clear responsibilities create inefficiency and division. Learn why these setups rarely work, how they lead to inefficiency, and why employees often end up placating the more demanding boss.
 Whether you're an organizational leader or part of a team, this episode offers valuable advice on navigating and improving co-leadership dynamics.
 
Episode Highlights:
See how co-CEO and co-boss setups often lead to unforeseen challenges that seriously harm organizations.
Learn why unclear responsibilities in co-leader roles create confusion that slows down team efficiency.
Discover why employees gravitate toward the stricter boss in shared leadership situations and how that impacts team dynamics.
Get actionable strategies to prevent management overlap and keep your team functioning smoothly.
Explore how having two bosses in charge can trigger lasting organizational dysfunction and conflict.
 
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Ep 32 Navigating Family Dynamics in Business with Barry Couch

In this episode of Management Muse, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin dive into the challenges of running a family business with management legend Barry Couch. Barry shares his experience of building a company with his son, Brant, and his lessons learned from blending family and work. From setting boundaries to earning respect and managing different leadership styles, Barry offers practical insights for navigating the complex dynamics of family in a professional setting.
Whether you’re part of a family business or interested in leadership, this episode provides valuable takeaways for balancing personal relationships with business success.
Episode Highlights:
Discover how Barry and his son Brant transformed their family business while maintaining a strong personal bond.
Learn the crucial boundaries that kept their family relationships intact while scaling the company.
Explore how contrasting leadership styles can sometimes create a powerful force for positive change.
Find out how role-playing tough scenarios helped Barry and Brant avoid common family business pitfalls.
Barry Couch is the Chair and Founder of HealthSure, a company specializing in insurance, risk management, and quality programs for healthcare organizations. With decades of experience, Barry has redefined self-insurance through innovative strategies, helping hospitals and medical groups across America manage complex risks. Known for his strategic thinking and people skills, Barry is a sought-after consultant and speaker on leadership and effective management. His expertise has guided companies across the United States.
 
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