Management Muse

Ep 59 - Why Most PTO Policies are Messed Up and What to do About It

Are your days off helping you recover or just adding to your stress when you come back to a mountain of work? In this episode, Cindi Baldi and Geoff Tumlin unpack the reasons why time off policies often don’t provide real rest. From outdated PTO systems to managers who accidentally undermine vacation and rest, Cindi and Geoff explore how workplace norms and habits can quietly sabotage the rejuvenating value of time off.
Cindi and Geoff discuss why unplugging is difficult for most people, how on-call policies drive down productivity, and what leaders can do to make time off feel safe and restorative. They also share ideas for encouraging people to truly step away and come back to work recharged.
Tune in to learn how to make time off and vacations count for your people and your long-term success.
Episode Highlights:
Why time off often fails to deliver true rest and recovery
How faulty PTO policies harm employee well-being
The negative impact of being on call 
Why managers often discourage meaningful breaks
Practical ways leaders can encourage unplugging and recharging
How better time off policies improve productivity and retention
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/xCAlRrIssl4
 
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Ep 58 - The Surprising Power of People You Barely Know in Success

What if the most overlooked part of your network might be the most powerful? In this episode, Cindi Baldi and Geoff Tumlin explore the surprising influence of weak ties, that is, people you barely know. These weak ties include acquaintances, former colleagues, and people you don’t spend much time with at work and at home. Weak ties often bring fresh ideas, new opportunities, and unexpected support. While these weak ties aren’t part of your inner circle, they can play a critical role in your personal and professional growth.
Cindi and Geoff explain why these weak connections are so powerful and how to best use them. They share practical strategies for reconnecting with your network, for sparking new conversations, and for creating momentum in your career and community.
Tune in to discover how overlooked relationships can lead to lasting opportunities.
 
Episode Highlights:
The surprising value of weak ties (people you barely know) in work and life
How casual connections can unlock new opportunities
Strategies for staying connected without feeling transactional
How close relationships can limit your perspective
Simple ways to reconnect with people 
How to keep your network strong without constant work
 
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/cTlDiMNx-1Y
 
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Ep 57 - Dealing with Difficult People (Live Special)

Why are difficult people so darned frustrating and what can you do about it?In this special live episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi and Geoff Tumlin tackle a common workplace challenge, navigating tough personalities. Whether you’re dealing with a stubborn coworker, an emotionally unpredictable teammate, or a drama-prone peer, this episode explores practical strategies for making progress even in these thorny situations.
Cindi and Geoff break down the most common types of difficult people and what makes them so draining. They explain how to regulate your own reactions, respond constructively, and avoid common traps that make conflict worse. With real-time listener questions and plenty of insights, this conversation will help you manage with more confidence and success, even when things get messy.
Tune in to learn how to manage tough relationships at work without losing your cool.
 
Episode Highlights:
The most common types of difficult coworkers and how to recognize them
Why emotional regulation is the key to managing conflict
How to address frustrating behavior without making things worse
What to do when your boss won’t help
Tools for navigating power, emotional volatility, and office drama
 
Watch this episode on You Tube: https:https://youtube.com/live/86y0hoXhRNI?feature=share
 
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Ep 56 - Why Resilient Leaders Think Big Under Pressure with Adam Willman

What does it take to lead an organization through adversity and come out stronger? In this episode, Cindi Baldi and Geoff Tumlin sit down with Adam Willmann, CEO of Goodall-Witcher Healthcare, to talk about leading during uncertain times and how bold decisions can create long-term stability. 
Adam explores the pressure of making high-stakes decisions, the importance of widespread trust, and how to rally people when they are anxious and concerned. Cindi, Geoff, and Adam also discuss how resilient companies approach uncertainty, turn setbacks into momentum, and increase the odds of long-term success.
Join us to learn how to lead with clarity, build momentum during disruption, and strengthen your organization from the inside out.
Episode Highlights:
The difference between personal and organizational resilience
The key systems that encourage adaptability under stress
The role of communication and clarity in managing disruption
What resilient organizations do differently during high-pressure moments
How leaders can future-proof their teams without creating burnout
 
Adam Willmann is the President and CEO of Goodall-Witcher Healthcare, a critical access hospital in his hometown of Clifton, Texas. A passionate advocate for rural healthcare, Adam helped lead what Kaiser Health News called a “Texas miracle” by establishing a hospital district to secure long-term medical access for his community. Under his leadership, Goodall-Witcher has expanded services, boosted revenue, and forged collaborations across rural Texas. 
 
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/au9gnC8nUvw
 
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Ep 55 - What Makes Family Businesses Succeed or Fail

What really makes a family business succeed? In this episode, Cindi Baldi and Geoff Tumlin sit down with Kip Wilson, a third-generation family business owner, to explore the realities of working with relatives and maintaining business success across generations. Whether you’re thinking about joining a family firm, working in one currently, or thinking about bringing your kids into your business, this episode uncovers what it really takes to make family businesses work.
Kip shares the key lessons from his journey which started as an outsider in his wife’s family business and how he grew, over time, into an insider with legitimate respect. Kip honestly talks about the challenges of earning credibility, building a business, and maintaining strong relationships when home and work are deeply connected. From navigating family dynamics to preparing the next generation for success and succession, Kip shares what it takes to lead a family business.
Join us to learn how to lead with intention, avoid common family business pitfalls, and lay the foundation for lasting success in a multigenerational company.
 
Episode Highlights:
What to consider before joining a family business
How to move from outsider to valued insider
Why trust and shared values matter more than equity positions
Tips for succession planning across generations
How to keep your business strong and your family stronger
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/ZSTHJwCsIk8
 
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Ep 54 - The Surprisingly Positive Power of Gossip at Work

From whispered conversations in the hall to after-hours Slack messages, gossip is everywhere at work. But is it just drama or is all this informal communication trying to tell us something more? While gossip often gets a bad rap, it turns out to play a powerful role in how we build relationships, share values, and navigate uncertainty.
In this episode, Cindi Baldi and Geoff Tumlin dig into the psychology of workplace gossip and reveal what it says about your organization’s culture. They unpack how gossip can be a tool for social bonding, moral signaling, and surfacing unspoken issues and they explain what separates healthy chatter from harmful rumor mills.
Join us to rethink gossip at work and lead with more curiosity, clarity, and confidence.
Episode Highlights:
Why gossip is a natural part of how we make sense at work
The difference between toxic talk and useful social signals
How leaders can learn from what’s being whispered
Why shutting down gossip can backfire and what to do instead
Practical ways to foster transparency, trust, and accountability
 
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/lMSiAgy8WN4
 
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Ep 53 - How to Avoid the Trap of Hero Worship at Work

From ancient myths to Hollywood to modern boardrooms, we’ve been captivated by the idea of the “great leader,” often casting them as visionaries, heroes, or saviors. But do leaders really ride up on a white horse and save the day like in the movies? Why are we so quick to romanticize leadership, and how does that impact the way we function at work?
In this episode, Cindi and Geoff unpack the psychology of leadership myths and explore how charisma, storytelling, and perception shape our understanding of power and influence at work. They reveal the hidden risks of idolizing workplace leaders and what we lose when we confuse confidence with competence.
Join us to rethink what leadership looks like, to avoid the trap of hero worship, and influence with greater clarity, intention, and authenticity.
Episode Highlights:
Why we overvalue leaders and undervalue systems
The hidden consequences of idealizing leadership
How charisma distorts our judgment of competence
What storytelling has to do with power and influence
How to make smarter choices about who you follow and how you lead
 
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/OLfZBnGNA4w
 
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Ep 52 - How to Rethink Risk and Make Smarter Decisions

Are you taking smart risks or are you gambling when you should be hanging on to your precious chips? In this episode, Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin dive into the psychology of risk and loss aversion and explore why we often make irrational decisions when faced with uncertainty. Whether it’s staying in an unfulfilling job, avoiding tough conversations, or making questionable business bets, our perception of risk shapes our careers and lives more than we realize.
Cindi and Geoff break down the hidden forces that drive our appetite for risk (or lack thereof) and offer practical strategies to make smarter choices. They discuss why we cling to bad decisions, how loss aversion influences workplace dynamics, and the difference between reckless risks and strategic moves.
Tune in to learn how to rethink risk, avoid costly mistakes, and make smart bets on yourself.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why we notice losses more than gains—and how that impacts our decision-making
The hidden psychological traps that cause us take bad risks
How to improve our risk assessments
Why leaders and employees reflexively think change is risky and how to overcome the belief
A simple framework to make more confident, calculated decisions
 
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/mRdTOfpVCmQ
 
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Ep 51 - How to Break Free from Either/Or Thinking and Make Better Decisions

Are you unknowingly limiting your choices when making important decisions? In this episode, Cindi and Geoff uncover the dangers of narrow framing, a mental shortcut that causes us to reflexively limit our decisions. Whether it’s choosing between two job offers, deciding whether to take a promotion, or making high-stakes business choices, the way we frame our options can show us new possibilities or potentially limit us with narrow alternatives.
Cindi and Geoff break down common decision-making pitfalls and offer practical strategies to help leaders, managers, and employees expand their thinking. They discuss how to spot when you’re falling into the trap of "this or that" thinking, how to generate better alternatives, and why the best decisions often come from broadening your perspective.
Tune in to learn how to think bigger, make better choices, and create opportunities you didn’t realize were possible.
 
Episode Highlights:
The dangers of narrow framing in decision making and how it limits your choices
The three types of narrow framing and how to quickly recognize them
How to break free from the "this or that" thinking trap
A mindset shift that helps you expand your options and find better alternatives
How leaders and teams can make better decisions by broadening their perspectives
How to use broader thinking to improve decision making in promotions, hiring, and business strategy
 
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/vSvW4Jq6dNg
 
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Ep 50 - The Secret to Saying No Without Harming Your Career

Saying no at work can feel impossible, but saying yes too often can squander your precious time and energy and possibly lead to frustration and burnout. In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi and Geoff explore the reasons why saying no is often hard, and they introduce the WPN method (Warmth, Priority, Nugget) to help you say no with clarity and confidence while maintaining relational goodwill.
Cindi and Geoff also tackle special cases like when your boss keeps piling on work or when colleagues won’t take no for an answer. Whether you’re a manager struggling to push back on overflowing tasks or an employee swamped with requests, this episode will equip you with the tools you need to protect your time, set boundaries, and say no without unnecessary guilt.
Tune in to learn how to say no the right way and gain more control of your work.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why saying no is so hard 
The WPN framework for saying no without damaging relationships
How to set boundaries when your boss keeps asking for more
What to do when people won’t take no for an answer
Why workplace culture plays a big role in your willingness to say no
How saying no effectively can build stronger long-term relationships
 
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