Send us a text Change is constant — but leading through it doesn’t have to be chaotic. In this episode of The Business Building Blocks Podcast, Kristina explores two foundational models for understanding and leading people through change: The Prochaska & DiClemente Stages of ChangeThe Kubler-Ross Change CurveDiscover how to recognize what stage your team is in, how to respond as a leader, and how to prevent burnout and relapse during transformation. 🎧 Listen now to learn how to move from ...

Send us a text What if your next tough conversation could actually build trust, unlock creativity, and spark change? In this episode, Kristina walks you through the GROW model — a practical leadership and coaching framework that helps you turn every problem-solving moment into progress. You’ll learn: 1. How to use the GROW framework in real conversations 2. The one question that unlocks better solutions 3. How to turn feedback into forward momentum 🎧 Watch now and start leading with curiosi...

Send us a text Ever wondered why your team doesn’t follow through—no matter how clear you are? It’s not your communication. It’s not your expectations. It’s the lack of consistent consequences. In this episode of The Business Building Blocks Podcast, Kristina Schmitt breaks down the ABC Model of Leadership—Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence—and why consistency in feedback, both positive and corrective, builds stronger teams and lasting trust. 🎧 Tune in to learn: How to use the ABC mode...

Send us a text Ever wondered why you keep repeating the same patterns — in leadership, business, or life? In this episode, Kristina Schmitt breaks down one of the most powerful frameworks ever created: Thoughts → Feelings → Behaviors → Results. You’ll learn how to shift your mindset, identify the thoughts holding you back, and create real change that lasts. 💡 Topics Covered: How your thoughts shape your leadership outcomesWhy “fake it till you make it” only works short-termHow to reverse-en...

Send us a text Leaders everywhere preach empowerment—but most miss the mark. Why? Fear of letting go, lack of clarity, and unclear expectations. In this episode, Kristina Schmitt shares how to move beyond the buzzword and create empowered teams that thrive. ✅ Discover the #1 leadership tool to make empowerment work ✅ Learn the fears that hold leaders back—and how to overcome them ✅ Get practical steps for building clarity in delegation 🎧 Don’t just talk about empowerment. Do it right. 📺Watch ...

Send us a text Leadership doesn’t have to be lonely. In this episode of the Business Building Blocks Podcast, Kristina Schmitt unpacks the power of community—why leaders need it, how to build it, and what it means for both business and personal growth. 👉 What you’ll discover in this episode: Why leaders carry more weight than they’re designed to holdThe 3 keys to finding and building the right community (Be Intentional, Be a Joiner, Be Selective)Why “the average of the 5 people you spend the ...

Send us a text When life gets overwhelming, decisions become harder. Whether at work, in leadership, or at home, clarity often feels out of reach. In this episode of the Business Building Blocks Podcast, Kristina Schmitt sits down with Amy Day, a Stanford-trained decision educator and co-creator of the VIDA Method. The VIDA (Values, Internal Operating System, Decision Process, Action) Method harnesses the latest neuroscience research to provide a clear, step-by-step guide to better decision...

Send us a text ❌ False harmony. ❌ Passive “it’s fine.” ❌ Side-bar gossip. These are the signs of a team avoiding conflict—and it’s holding them back. In this episode of the Business Building Blocks Podcast, Kristina Schmitt breaks down how leaders can mine for conflict: creating safe, productive space for arguments that build trust, buy-in, and real results. 👉 Discover how to stop fearing conflict, and start using it to transform your team. 📺Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ct8GExPrtQw ...

Send us a text Ever been on a team that started strong but quickly hit walls of conflict, confusion, or silence? At first, everyone’s excited. But then—expectations clash, tensions rise, and suddenly it feels like you’re stuck instead of moving forward. The truth? Every team goes through these phases. The difference between a team that thrives and a team that falls apart… is leadership. In this episode of Business Building Blocks, I unpack the 5 stages of team development—forming, storming,...

Send us a text Ever feel like you’re carrying your team instead of leading them? The problem isn’t always laziness or incompetence. Sometimes, it’s misaligned vision, unclear expectations, or the wrong role fit. In this episode, I unpack how leaders can stop micromanaging, clarify what matters, and empower their teams to actually do what they were hired to do. In this episode, Kristina Schmitt unpacks the skill vs. will framework, the importance of clarity, and how to create a culture where p...

Send us a text Does your mindset affect your profit? On this episode of the Business Building Blocks Podcast, I sit down with Suzanne Longstreet to uncover how hidden beliefs—like unworthiness, fear, or not-good-enough—sabotage leaders and their bottom line. We discuss: Why profit problems often start with mindsetThe neuroscience behind breaking sabotaging patternsReal stories of leaders who doubled or tripled revenue through mindset shiftsHow to rewire your unconscious mind for successProfit...

Send us a text Sometimes, the best way to help someone isn’t by giving them the answer—it’s by letting them talk until they find it themselves. In this episode, I share the real-life stories that taught me the value of verbal processing—from a frustrating night with algebra homework to coaching leaders in high-stakes environments. You’ll learn why speaking out loud changes how the brain works, how leaders can create more confident and capable teams, and how YOU can use this approach to stop t...

Send us a text 🎧 Are you putting off change because it feels too big? In Episode 63, I reveal how moving my podcast setup (from a freezing basement to a card table upstairs!) sparked a mindset shift that leaders and high achievers need to hear. Using the Toyota Kata framework, I show you how experimenting with small, flexible changes can lead to major progress—without fear, overwhelm, or perfection paralysis. Tune in to learn the simple way to build momentum in leadership, personal growth, or...

Send us a text 💼 What’s really your job as a leader? If you’re overwhelmed, constantly doing, and your team still isn’t performing the way you hoped—this episode is for you. Most leaders jump straight to results... But without a clear vision and intentional team development, you're just managing chaos. In this episode, I break down the 3 essential roles of a leader: 1️⃣ Create and share a vision 2️⃣ Develop your team 3️⃣ Get results (yes, it comes last—and here’s why) Whether you’re leading a...

Send us a text He was “the bird lady’s son” growing up, worked in jail, threw a javelin on a national stage, and never planned on being a general manager — but Jason Spalding’s leadership story might just change the way you show up at work. 🐝 “It's always about people.” That’s the one lesson he carried across rebar, sports, union tables, and the boardroom. And now, he's sharing how humility, inclusion, vulnerability, and evolution form the foundation of what he calls HIVE Leadership. In this ...

Send us a text 🚨 “It’s not the people. It’s not the process. It’s not even the product. It’s YOU.” That’s the hard truth Andrew Oxley had to face after burning out in a high-powered career, chasing success but losing himself in the process. He thought switching jobs would fix the problem — but the problem followed him. 👉 Why? Because the way we lead follows us into every role, every business, every team. In this episode of the Business Building Blocks Podcast, we talk about: 🔹 Why most lea...

Send us a text "I broke down after mowing the lawn. Not because I was tired—but because of what it represented." When I became a single mom, mowing the lawn became one of the most emotionally exhausting tasks of my life. Not because it was hard physically. But because it was new, unfamiliar, and loaded with stress I didn't expect. Change does that. Even simple things can feel like mountains. In this episode of the Business Building Blocks Podcast, we unpack: Why most change efforts fail witho...

Send us a text I brought them in. I gave the feedback. I thought it was done. But nothing changed. Ever felt that? Like you’re repeating the same conversation over and over — and wondering if it’s you? Here's what I’ve learned: 💬 ‘That’s not accompanied accountability. That’s sink or swim.’ If you’re a leader, parent, coach, or just someone trying to help people grow — this episode is for you. In real life, feedback isn’t one conversation. It’s walking with someone while they’re still learnin...

Send us a text 😳 I snapped. I got defensive. And I shut down. All because of one piece of feedback. I was further into my career than you’d think. I should’ve handled it better… but my body went into full panic mode. Not because the feedback was harsh— …but because of the shame I’d attached to it. 💭 What if feedback doesn’t have to feel like failure? What if your reaction isn’t a flaw—but a clue? 🎧 Episode 57 is raw, real, and it’s for every high-achiever who’s ever felt wrecked by a single c...

Send us a text "I got into my first 'dream job.' It was everything I thought I wanted. Big name. Big opportunity. But within a few months, I felt completely drained. I realized—I was hiding who I really was just to survive the culture. I didn’t even know what my core values were back then. All I knew was that something didn’t feel right." In this episode of the Business Building Blocks Podcast, Jenny Barkan and I dive deep into masking in the workplace—what it is, why we do it, and how it slo...