Weekly Posts and Insights
Help or Hinder: The First Agreement of Every Great Team
High-performing teams don’t just set goals—they set norms. In this post, I explain how the Help/Hinder List transforms team culture by making expectations visible and shared. Discover how this simple, early exercise helps teams communicate openly, manage conflict, and build accountability. Includes practical pro-script examples leaders can use to reinforce healthy team behavior in real time.
Teams & Conflict I Direct Application with Matt Harrington
Conflict in teams isn’t something to fear—it’s a sign of growth. In this episode, Matt Harrington unpacks Bruce Tuckman’s famous storming stage of team development and explains why conflict is not only natural but necessary. Healthy disagreement signals that a team is maturing, moving beyond surface-level cooperation, and learning to navigate real challenges together.
Leadership’s Long Game: Why Top Commitment is the Bedrock of High-Performance Teams
The real question for any leader isn’t “Do I believe in teams?” It’s “Am I willing to commit - day after day, year after year - to building and protecting the culture that allows them to thrive?”
Speed, Momentum, and the 20-Mile March
Discover why momentum beats speed in leadership and business strategy. Drawing on insights from Chuck Hollingsworth on the Direct Application podcast and Jim Collins’ Great By Choice, this post explores the 20-Mile March, Agile sprints, and high-performance team practices. Learn how to show quick wins, build sustainable momentum, and lead with discipline in a world obsessed with speed.
Building the Workforce of the Future - Lessons in Culture, Change, and Coffee I Direct Application with Matt Harrington
In this episode of Direct Application, host Matt Harrington sits down with Chuck Hollingsworth - Director of Engineering at Keurig Dr Pepper and a 40-year veteran of manufacturing leadership - for a front-line look at what it really takes to lead through massive change, scale innovation, and build a workforce ready for the future.
The Power of Teams I Direct Application with Matt Harrington
What makes a great team truly powerful? In this episode of Direct Application, Matt Harrington explores the Power of Teams—why teamwork is more than just working side by side, and how the right dynamics create results far greater than the sum of the parts.
Building a Team-Based Community
High-performing teams operate in a sweet spot where task completion, process excellence, and relationship dynamics all align. When those three elements synchronize, progress happens with speed, energy, and resilience. And when one element falters, strong teams adapt in real time to restore balance.
The Power of Teams: More Than the Sum of Their Parts
Teams represent both a philosophical approach and a “means to an end.” Being a team is never the goal, but rather the approach that will determine the success of the goal. However, teaming is also a culture or mindset that transforms the way we interact with other people that, quite frankly, is not always familiar or comfortable for us.
The Leadership Flex of Listening, Honesty, and Trust I Direct Application with Matt Harrington
Welcome to the inaugural interview episode of Direct Application, the podcast where leadership theory meets Monday morning reality. Hosted by Matt Harrington, this show explores how to turn good leadership ideas into better workplaces. In this episode, Matt sits down with Karin Tierney, a seasoned HR consultant with over 25 years of experience in leadership development, organizational culture, and fractional HR.
Building Trust Through Better Listening with Surveys I Direct Application with Matt Harrington
In this Solo Blogcast episode of Direct Application, Matt Harrington unpacks the underestimated power of surveys during strategic planning. Too often, surveys become checkbox exercises - sent out, ignored, and forgotten. But when done right, surveys become powerful trust-building tools that surface real insights and show your stakeholders that their voices matter. This episode dives into the leadership mindset behind meaningful surveying and gives you a checklist to ensure your survey efforts actually drive decisions and build credibility.