Management Muse

Ep 83 - Wellness That Works: Leading with Calm in High-Pressure Jobs

What if the key to workplace wellness isn’t what you do, but how you respond?
In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi talks with management coach Belinda Block about embedding well-being into high-performing work. From collapse to clarity, Belinda shares how nervous system regulation, small behavioral shifts, and smarter boundaries can help managers lead with more presence and less pressure.
This episode spotlights the invisible skills that steady a team: emotional regulation, responsive leadership, and staying present under pressure. Whether you’re quietly burning out or guiding a team through a heavy lift, you'll get accessible tools you can apply right away; no sweeping initiative required.
Episode Highlights:
Why wellness starts with what you can control
How to respond instead of react
The power of self‑regulation at work
Tools that make wellness easier to integrate with your team
How competition and tracking can boost wellness initiatives
The link between presence, performance, and realistic expectations
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ITHGHw-ZgRs
About Belinda Block:
Belinda Block is a management coach with a Ph.D. in industrial psychology who helps high-performing leaders lead more effectively without burning out. Drawing on experience across industries like pharma, finance, and media, she focuses on executive presence, time management, and team leadership. Her coaching blends behavioral science with real-world strategy to help managers stay focused, grounded, and impactful.
*Learn more about Belinda here!
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Want to Go Deeper? Check Out Our Recommended Reading:
Shiba, Koichiro, et al. “The Association between Meditation Practice and Job Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study,”  PLoS One. May. 2015;10(5). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4449168/ 
David, Susan, and Congleton, Christina. "Emotional Agility." Harvard Business Review, Nov. 2013, https://hbr.org/2013/11/emotional-agility
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Ep 82 - Chameleons at Work: The Science of Self-Monitoring and Success

Self-monitoring, when wielded well, is one of the most powerful personality traits in the workplace. In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin explore what it means to be a high or low self-monitor, and how that affects everything from career trajectory to team dynamics.
Are you a social chameleon who adapts easily to any room? Or someone who always says what they think, no matter the context? Both approaches have advantages—and pitfalls. The key is knowing how to work with both types.
Drawing on foundational research by psychologist Mark Snyder and insights from decades of leadership consulting, Cindi and Geoff break down how self-monitoring shapes management, influence, and even ethics. You’ll leave with a sharper lens for reading behavior, and a better playbook for managing your own.
Episode Highlights:
What the self‑monitoring assessment actually measures
High vs. low self-monitors: strengths and tradeoffs
The importance of understanding your company’s social network
Why high self-monitors are more likely to get promoted
The compensating behaviors both sides must master
How culture and context factor shape impact
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ob_2xRMH1IA 
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Want to Go Deeper? Check Out Our Recommended Reading:
Kilduff, M., & Day, D. V. (1994). “Do Chameleons Get Ahead? The Effects of Self-Monitoring on Managerial Careers.” Academy of Management Journal, 37(4), 1047–1060. https://web.mit.edu/curhan/www/docs/Articles/15341_Readings/Self-presentation_Impression_Formation/Kilduff_Day_1994_Do_chameleons_get_ahead.pdf 
Snyder, Mark. (1974). “Self-Monitoring of Expressive Behavior.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 30(4), 526–537. DOI:10.1037/h0037039
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Ep 81 - Company Culture that Leads Itself: AI, Alignment & Shared Leadership with Torben Nørby, Part 2

Want less micromanagement and more momentum? Start with culture.
In Part 2 of our conversation with leadership expert Torben Nørby, we shift from diagnosing cultural drift to designing companies to thrive in a changing world. This episode dives into shared leadership, the role of AI in shaping behavior, and the power of culture to reduce friction and unlock performance.
Cindi and Torben explore what it takes to build aligned and adaptive organizations when change comes fast and complexity is high. From the pitfalls of control-based management to the possibilities of contextual AI application, they chart a course for leaders who want to empower and encourage high performance in their teams.
Whether you're navigating organizational change or adapting to AI’s growing role in management, this episode is essential.
Episode Highlights:
Why it’s time to stop talking about leaders and start talking about leadership
How a strong culture often helps managers
The power of asking “What do we want?” instead of “What’s broken?”
The case for more shared leadership
How managers can leverage AI
Determining your company’s culture
*Watch Part 1 of this conversation!
 
About Torben Nørby:
Dr. Torben Nørby is the CEO of People & Performance, the author of The Contextual Leader, and the creator of the Contextual Leadership AI Bot (CLAI). With more than three decades of leadership experience, Torben is a leading authority on contextual leadership, which is helping executives align strategy, culture, and behavior to improve organizational performance.
Torben has advised thousands of leaders across industries on how to adapt their leadership and shape their operating environments. His work blends practical insight with psychological depth, offering senior leaders ways to build alignment, empower teams, and lead meaningful cultural change.
 
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9x6e5YnphrQ
 
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Want to Go Deeper? Check Out Our Recommended Reading:
Bradford, Nichol. “Navigating the AI Landscape: Is Culture the Key to Success?” Society for Human Resource Management, 13 October 2024, https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/flagships/ai-hi/navigating-the-ai-landscape--is-culture-the-key-to-success- 
Fitzsimons, Declan. “How Shared Leadership Changes Our Relationships at Work.” Harvard Business Review, 12 May 2016, https://hbr.org/2016/05/how-shared-leadership-changes-our-relationships-at-work. 
 
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Ep 80 - Culture Doesn’t Have to Crawl: Torben Nørby on Changing Fast and Getting it Right, Part 1

Think culture change has to be slow and painful? Think again.
In this episode, Cindi Baldi is joined by leadership strategist Torben N rby to challenge the belief that culture change is a long, uphill crawl. Spoiler: it doesn’t have to be, if you get the context right.
Torben explains how most organizations don’t explode—they erode, slowly sliding out of alignment as they grow and the world shifts around them. Cindi and Torben break down the anatomy of culture change and introduce a smart framework leaders can use to shift culture without wrecking trust or clarity. From international business case studies to the current work-from-home debate, they explore what it takes to lead rapid and lasting cultural shifts.
This episode is for anyone ready to redesign a work culture. You’ll walk away with practical tools for evaluating your current culture, for aligning behavior with values, and for creating space for continuous improvement. 
*Tune back in next week to hear Part 2 with even more insight!
Episode Highlights:
How deliberate interventions can build strong cultures
The risk of drifting out of alignment as your organization grows
The importance of context in culture change
How to act without overcorrecting
What global case studies reveal about adaptable organizational cultures
Why shared leadership drives more sustainable and effective culture shifts
About Torben Nørby:
Dr. Torben Nørby is the CEO of People & Performance, the author of The Contextual Leader, and the creator of the Contextual Leadership AI Bot (CLAI). With more than three decades of leadership experience spanning the Danish military, global retail, and international consulting, Torben has become a leading authority on contextual leadership, which is helping executives align strategy, culture, and behavior to drive real organizational performance.
Drawing on both rigorous research and experience, Torben has advised thousands of leaders across industries on how to adapt their leadership styles and shape their operating environments. His work blends practical insight with psychological depth, offering senior leaders ways to build alignment, empower teams, and lead meaningful cultural change.
Check out Torben’s book, The Contextual Leader
 
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ve70VwxTE_U
Purchase your copy of The Uncertainty Playbook
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Ep 79 - The Authenticity Trap: When Real Goes Wrong in Leadership

Authentic leadership is a hot topic. But what if bringing your whole self to work is a terrible idea? In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin tackle the tension between being real and being reckless. What if being authentic doesn’t make you a better manager, just a more difficult one? 
From the importance of self-monitoring to the paradox of power, Cindi and Geoff unpack what it means to show up at work without blowing up. You’ll learn why awareness matters more than rawness, how emotional regulation helps you meet the moment, and why the best managers actually aren’t always authentic.
Whether you're steering a team or quietly questioning your coworker’s fourth overshare of the week, this conversation brings clarity (and a few laughs) to one of the most misguided ideas in modern work culture.
Episode Highlights:
Why bringing your authentic self to work isn’t always a good idea
The importance of alignment and awareness
How and why many leadership trends are self-defeating
The dilemma of power
How leather jackets (and other stuff) can change a leader
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rEvWlLV_ORY
 
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Sign up for our newsletter and let us know what topic you’d like to hear next!
 
Want to Go Deeper? Check Out Our Recommended Reading:
Pfeffer, Jeffrey. Power: Why Some People Have It — and Others Don’t. Harper Business, 2010. https://www.amazon.com/Power-Some-People-Have-Others/dp/0061789089 
Snyder, Mark. “Self-Monitoring of Expressive Behavior.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 30, no. 4, 1979, pp. 526–537. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0037039
 
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Ep 78 - AI, Healthcare, and Getting Your Mindset Right for Disruptive Times

What if AI didn’t replace employees but instead became their most powerful partner?
In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi continues her conversation with Stacy Edgar, co-founder of Venteur, to examine how AI may positively disrupt our lives. Their discussion moves from personalized medicine and easier work to the pivotal choices leaders face when technology sparks systemic change.
At the center is a necessary mindset shift toward embracing what’s possible. Leaders who invest in employees and use AI to amplify human capability grow the pie; those who don’t risk shrinking it.
Listen in to learn what it takes to lead an organization that thrives along with AI. 
Check out Part 1 of this conversation here.
 
Episode Highlights:
How AI is transforming work
The expanding promise of personalization in business
What self-driving cars suggest about systemic change
Why people and AI are better together
The risks of controlling behaviors and fear-driven leadership
The mindset for leading through disruption
Why everyone should watch Terminator
 
About Stacy Edgar:
Stacy Edgar is the co-founder and CEO of Venteur, an AI and digital health startup helping employers reimagine health insurance. Venteur works with businesses to lower healthcare costs while empowering employees to feel more confident in their healthcare journey.
Before launching Venteur, Stacy spent 15 years in global development and foreign policy. She has helped dozens of organizations generate billions of dollars in new business.
 
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iXFzw5V6LCw
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Sign up for our newsletter and let us know what topic you’d like to hear next!
 
Want to Go Deeper? Check Out Our Recommended Reading:
Kober, Gregg. “AI-First Leadership: Embracing the Future of Work.” Harvard Business Impact, 24 Jan. 2025, https://www.harvardbusiness.org/insight/ai-first-leadership-embracing-the-future-of-work/
Li, D. M., et al. “A Critical Look into Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare.” Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, vol. 8, 05 Marc. 2025, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frai.2025.1545869/full 
 
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Ep 77 - Rethinking Employee Healthcare: Why Better Benefits Equals Better Business

What if the way you structure your employee healthcare benefits could become one of your strongest management tools?
In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi talks with founder Stacy Edgar about why the dominant employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI) model is increasingly misaligned with today’s workforce, and how leaders can reimagine benefits as a driver of culture, loyalty, and performance.
They unpack the history of how U.S. employers became the primary providers of health insurance, the risks of sticking with outdated “one-size-fits-all” plans, and the emerging opportunities in flexible, employee-centered models of coverage. Stacy shares stories of organizations that have reduced costs while improving employee morale, along with cautionary tales of leaders who cut corners and paid for it in turnover and diminished trust.
This episode is a conversation about innovative leadership and daring to reconsider the status quo. If you want to recruit and retain top talent, reduce hidden costs, and configure your culture with today’s expectations, you’ll want to listen in.
Episode Highlights:
How smarter coverage leads to healthier employees and a healthier bottom line
Why workplace healthcare is overdue for disruption
The risks of “one-size-fits-all” group health plans
How alternatives like ICHRAs enable personalized, employee-driven coverage and cost savings
The hidden costs of doing the minimum
How thoughtful benefits can fuel culture, retention, and performance
How U.S. employers became the de facto providers of health insurance 
About Stacy Edgar:
Stacy Edgar is the co-founder and CEO of Venteur, an AI and digital health startup helping employers reimagine health insurance through a consumer-centric lens. Under her leadership, Venteur works with businesses to lower healthcare costs while empowering employees to feel more confident and in control of their healthcare journey.
Before launching Venteur, Stacy spent 15 years in global development and foreign policy, dedicated to ending global poverty. She is recognized for her expertise in business development, having helped dozens of organizations generate billions in new business.
 
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VR8CgHqY-xw
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Want to Go Deeper? Check Out Our Recommended Reading:
Edgar, Stacy. “This Labor Day: Is It Time to Rethink the Social Contract on Employer-Sponsored Health Care?” Venteur, 1 Sept. 2025, www.venteur.com/blog/this-labor-day-is-it-time-to-rethink-the-social-contract-on-employer-sponsored-health-care
Weismann, M. F. “How the Great Resignation and COVID Unemployment Have Eroded the Employer-Sponsored Insurance Model and Access to Healthcare.” American Journal of Law & Medicine, vol. 49, no. 1, 2023. Cambridge University Press.
*Bonus: Watch the SNL skit Stacy mentions in the episode here!
 
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Ep 76 - Why Hiring Your Friends Can Be a Great Idea — Or a Terrible One

Most of us have been told not to mix friends and business but friendship can make work great with built-in trust, loyalty, and an easy rapport. Other times, it can go sideways fast, straining the business and the relationship. 
In this episode, Cindi Baldi digs into the upsides and downsides of hiring friends. Through stories of businesses that flourished with friendships and others that fractured under the weight of blurred boundaries, Cindi explores the key questions you should ask before bringing a friend onto your payroll. Along the way, she unpacks how to spot red flags, set the right expectations for managing a friend, and to know whether the friendship is strong enough to handle work pressures. 
You’ll learn why friendship can be a competitive advantage, why conflict is often harder to navigate when it’s personal, and how to make thoughtful choices to protect the business and the underlying relationship. Whether you’re tempted to bring a friend onto your team or already managing one, this episode offers practical insights to help you make the right call.
Episode Highlights:
Why hiring friends sometimes leads to loyalty, trust, and great teamwork
Common pitfalls—like blurred boundaries, favoritism, and unspoken expectations
How to tell whether the friendship is ready for the pressures of work
Strategies for setting clear agreements and roles up front
Ways to protect the friendship even if the job doesn’t work out
🎥 Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Kzc2kM94vNc
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Ep 75 - Everything Is a Negotiation: Lessons on Getting What You Want Without Ruining Relationships

Most people don’t think of themselves as negotiators, but the truth is that we negotiate all the time. Whether you’re navigating salary talks, agreeing on deadlines with your team, or trying to convince a toddler to leave Target without a meltdown, the tools of bargaining and negotiation are at work.
In this episode, Cindi Baldi talks with negotiation expert Jen Burris about mistakes people make when bargaining and how to prevent them. Through stories of salary negotiations, car deals, and high-stakes bargaining, they explore what it means to negotiate with confidence and purpose. Along the way, they unpack why negotiation can feel especially uncomfortable for women and how better preparation and mindset changes can fuel success.
You’ll learn why doing your homework matters, how to avoid common traps like overreaching or settling too fast, and why sometimes the best deal is walking away. Whether you’re looking to boost your existing bargaining skills or in need of a negotiation refresh, this episode can help you approach your next deal with more confidence, better preparation, and less fear.
Episode Highlights:
Why negotiation is a skill everyone needs
What thoughtful preparation looks like
When vulnerability can sometimes strengthen your position
How identity and experience influence negotiation behavior
What to watch out for when a negotiation is underway
Why no deal is sometimes the best deal
About Jen Burris:
Dr. Jen Burris is the Department Head and Associate Professor at Southeastern Louisiana University. She specializes in teaching courses on negotiations and leadership development. Jen holds a PhD in management from Louisiana State University. Her dissertation was titled Reevaluating the “magic spell:” Examining empowerment, stress, and workplace outcomes.
 
🎥 Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XmD9vvAcQMc
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Want to Go Deeper? Check Out Our Recommended Reading:
Brady, G. L., Inesi, M. E.., & Mussweiler, T. (2021). The Power of Lost Alternatives in Negotiations. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.
Fisher, R., Ury, W., & Patton, B. (1991). Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.
 
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Ep 74 - Why Good Managers Sometimes Resent Their Customers — and How to Stop It

Most customers are great, but it only takes a few bad ones to wear you down. In little time, these difficult interactions can color your perspective, leaving even the most dedicated managers feeling drained, avoidant, or even resentful. This week on the podcast, Cindi Baldi explores how bad customers and clients can wear people down , why it’s more common than we admit, and how we can keep our sanity even in the face of difficult interactions.
In this episode, Cindi reveals how negativity bias and identity protection can cause managers to lose sight of the vast majority of customers who are actually wonderful. She offers practical strategies to reframe hard moments, reset individual and team energy, and protect your people.
If you’ve ever dealt with a difficult customer and wondered how they got into your head, this podcast is for you.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why managers sometimes grow to dislike their customers
What your energy might be saying about you 
A simple reframe that can shift how you handle tough customers 
Dealing with difficult customers
The mindset and message your team needs to stay sane
 
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k3QMLqP5jVs
 
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