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THIS Leader Podcast • Leadership

Episode 16: Leaders Shape Culture with Leadership Expert Jonathan Bissell

May 28, 2025

Photo of Claire Laughlin holding cup of coffee
Hey there! I'm Claire

I'm an organizational health consultant and podcast host who helps leaders build happy, high-energy workplaces.

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THIS Leader Podcast
Episode #16: Leaders Shape Culture with Jonathan Bissell
40:03
 

"The better you get at creating clarity upstream, the fewer problems you'll have downstream."

-Jonathan Bissell

Meet our Guest

Jonathan Bissell is the founder and CEO of High Performance Impact (HPI), where he equips leaders and teams to achieve clarity, cohesion, and alignment. As a Certified Executive Coach and Director of Certification for Patrick Lencioni's Working Genius program, Jonathan has trained thousands of facilitators worldwide to help teams boost productivity and morale.

Read Jonathan's Full Bio

Highlights from this episode:

In this inspiring conversation with leadership expert Jonathan Bissell, we explore how to transform your leadership from reactive to intentional and create the kind of culture where people thrive.

The Foundation: Belief Creates Transformation
Everything starts with a powerful belief: investing in your people pays incredible dividends. When you truly embrace development as a core strategy, you'll create the kind of culture that attracts talent and drives results naturally.

The Upstream vs. Downstream Framework
Imagine spending your days building and developing instead of constantly fixing problems. Jonathan shares a game-changing approach:

  • Upstream time: Proactively developing people and creating clarity
  • Downstream time: Reacting to avoidable problems

Try this: track your time for one week and see the ratio. This simple awareness can transform how you lead.

The 70:20:10 Learning Model
You don't need endless budgets to develop amazing teams. The 70:20:10 learning model developed by the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) suggests that learning happens through:

70% real, on-the-job work experiences and stretch assignments
20% socially through conversations with peers and mentors
10% formal training

The magic happens when you intentionally connect all three.

Creating Clarity That Empowers
Get clear upfront to create freedom for everyone. Share not just what you need, but why it matters and what success looks like. Provide context, set clear parameters, and give room for autonomy within those boundaries.

The Game-Changer: Consistency
Intentionality plus consistency equals transformation. Build simple, sustainable rhythms for development conversations and feedback.

You Are a Culture Creator
You're not just managing within your culture—you're actively shaping it every day. Embrace your role as a culture steward and watch your intentional leadership ripple throughout your organization.

Resources Mentioned:

To learn more about my services and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me on social channels @Claire Laughlin Consulting.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
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About your Host

Claire Laughlin, MA, Organizational Development Consultant

Hi! I'm Claire Laughlin, and I love helping leaders like you create workplaces where people truly thrive.

For over two decades, I've been rolling up my sleeves alongside teams and organizations, using hands-on methods that actually work (because let's face it - theory only gets you so far!). 

I specialize in teaching leaders how to engage their teams, helping managers become more effective facilitators, and showing people how to work better together.

I'm also a master facilitator for the Six Types of Working Genius® - a fantastic tool that helps you understand and leverage your natural talents.

When I'm not helping leaders like you build happy, high-energy workplaces, I'm enjoying a hike in the forest with my dog Fiona, spending time with my family or curled up with a great book.

Photo of Claire Laughlin looking at her dog