Weekly Posts and Insights
The One Document Every Team Should Have
High-performing teams don’t happen by accident. A team charter - your team’s roadmap - clarifies mission, goals, roles, and accountability. Drawing on insights from Lencioni, Tuckman, and Deborah Mackin, this post explores why teams stall in the storming stage and how a clear charter acts as a compass to bring them back to alignment, clarity, and results.
Take Your Public Speaking from Panic to Power I Direct Application with Matt Harrington
Welcome to Episode 8 of Direct Application. In this solo episode Matt Harrington shares his best public speaking strategies - whether you’re in a boardroom, on a stage, or sharing a vision with your team. Based on years of speaking to audiences large and small—from chambers of commerce to boardrooms to conferences — Matt reveals the practical techniques that make all the difference between surviving and thriving in front of an audience.
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.
Harrington’s Top Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Public Speaking
Public speaking can be daunting, but with practice, it becomes a powerful tool that can elevate your leadership and communication skills. Embrace these tips, and remember: every great speaker was once a nervous beginner.
Change Champions, Bystanders, and the Toxic Few | Direct Application with Matt Harrington
In this episode of Direct Application, host Matt Harrington dives into the human dynamics of change. Whether you're launching a new vision, strategic plan, or organizational shift, how people respond matters just as much as the change itself. Learn the three core groups you’ll face: the energized Change Champions, the cautious Bystanders, and the disruptive Toxic Few (or Resistors).
Pre-Season Strategic Planning: Discover Before You Decide With Surveys
Surveys and assessments are essential tools for gathering meaningful feedback that informs strategic planning, decision-making, and organizational improvement. This blog explores how to design effective surveys, avoid common pitfalls like survey fatigue, and build trust by using and communicating results. Learn the types of surveys to consider—and why feedback is a gift that should shape, not just support, your leadership.
The Power of Silence (and Writing)
In a world of nonstop noise, true leadership sometimes requires silence. This post explores how journaling and intentional reflection—anchored in the practices of Resonant Leadership—can deepen self-awareness, build resilience, and support authentic leadership growth. Drawing from real retreat experiences and the research of James Pennebaker and Brené Brown, it offers practical tips for starting a journaling habit that heals and empowers.
Influence Starts Within: Influence is Self-Confidence in Action
Influence in leadership begins with a grounded sense of self-confidence—not arrogance, but clarity about one’s values, voice, and impact. When leaders doubt their influence, it often stems from internal narratives rather than external evidence. By exploring personal strengths, seeking honest feedback, and aligning with purpose, leaders can reclaim their presence and lead with authentic influence.
We Hire on Resumes, We Retain Through Relationships: Becoming an "Employer of Choice" on a Limited Budget
In this post, I reflect on my panel presentation where I shared practical, low-cost strategies for becoming an employer of choice through trust, leadership flexibility, and purposeful engagement. I emphasized that retention is driven by relationships—not resumes—and introduces frameworks like CAMP motivation, Greenthumb Leadership, and belief-behavior conversations.