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PODCAST

The People Spark Podcast

The People Spark® Podcast is where ag leaders and business owners come for practical tools, real stories, and straightforward strategies to grow stronger people leaders, teams, and businesses. Hosts Kristen Ireland and Erin Mies, HR and leadership consultants with over 35 years of combined experience, share insights from the field and conversations with leaders who have been where you are. From navigating change and improving retention to building culture and leading with confidence, every episode

business careers

All Episodes

39:58

Defining Leadership in Your Organization

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/04/21

What does leadership actually mean in your organization?In this episode, we dig into a shift many organizations are feeling right now. As spans of control grow and roles get bigger, leaders are often pulled back into doing the work instead of leading through their teams. And when that happens, engagement drops, priorities blur, and leadership starts to feel reactive instead of intentional.We talk about what leadership really looks like today: achieving results through your team, not doing

en

30:13

Leading Through the Unknown

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/04/16

Uncertainty can cause leaders to go quiet, but silence often creates more confusion than clarity. In this episode, we talk about how to lead through uncertain times by focusing on what you can control, communicating your intent clearly, and reinforcing the values that guide your decisions.We also introduce one of our fundamental concepts here at People Spark, the Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence, and share how these strategies help leaders stay present and build trust while you and

en

31:24

Are You Playing Golf or Basketball

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/04/07

Leadership isn’t always about teamwork, and it isn’t always about individual performance. Sometimes it’s about knowing which game you’re playing.In this episode, we explore the golf versus basketball leadership analogy, the importance of prioritizing your leadership team as Team One, and how aligning your leadership style with strategy creates stronger, more unified organizations.And along the way, we ask an important question: Are you truly celebrating your team’s wins?---Culture

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27:00

Find Your Peace Out People

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/03/31

Leadership comes with lots of responsibility, pressure, and many moments when you wonder who you can really talk to.In this episode, we explore the reality of the loneliness of leadership and why having trusted peers matters more than many leaders realize. From carrying the weight of responsibility to figuring out what to do after stepping out of the weeds, leaders often find themselves without a clear sounding board.Which can easily lead to why leaders sometimes get pulled back into the

en

35:00

Stepping Out of the Weeds: Let Them Lead

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/03/24

Working managers can get stuck in the weeds, too. Not because they don’t care, but because it feels faster to do it themselves. Over time, that adds up and normally leads to burnout.In this episode, we look at where managers tend to get stuck and how those of us in upper management can better support them, not by jumping in, but by providing clarity, trust, and leaving them room to actually lead.We talk about how to spot whether it’s a motivation issue or a support gap, what questions help

en

27:04

AI Can Help Leaders. It Can’t Lead.

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/03/17

In this episode, we step away from our current conversation about getting out of the weeds as we reflect on our recent experience at the GEAPS Exchange conference, where we presented during a leadership session on coaching, performance conversations, and the growing role of AI in the workplace. While AI can help leaders prepare talking points, analyze data, and think through challenges, it can’t replace the human side of leadership.We also unpack the surprising gap between how often

en

41:03

Steping Out of the Weeds: Feedback

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/03/10

This episode is about feedback, and the leadership habit that quietly puts you right back in the weeds.You know the one.“It’ll just be quicker if I handle it.”“I’ll jump in and do the review.”“I’ll talk to them directly.” When senior leaders step into performance conversations that belong with managers, it can weaken accountability and create confusion fast. We talk about where your voice matters most, how to support your managers without taking over, and how to keep feedback strong without

en

43:00

Stepping Out of the Weeds: Onboarding

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/03/03

Stepping Out of the Weeds: Onboarding is all about the handoff—from "we're hiring" to "you're part of the team." We unpack why onboarding is where so many good hires quietly fall apart, and what leaders can do to keep that from happening. You'll walk away thinking differently about how hiring decisions get made, how much "structure" is actually needed, and how to build early trust without making onboarding a huge production. Simple moves. Big ripple effects. ---Culture Development

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46:55

Stepping Out of the Weeds: A Simple Hiring Framework

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/02/24

Hiring can quietly become one of the biggest drains on leaders, not because it isn’t important, but because it starts to feel heavy, unclear, and too dependent on you.After this episode, we want you to walk away with a clearer head and a simpler way to think about hiring. You’ll start to see where hiring has been running on autopilot, where it’s been shaped by the last person in the role, and where small shifts in clarity can save you months of frustration on the back end.If you’ve ever

en

31:22

Stepping Out of the Weeds: Hiring Decisions

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/02/17

Hiring is one of the fastest ways leaders find themselves stuck in the weeds.In this episode, we kick off a three-part series on stepping out of those weeds. Why do senior leaders often stay deeply involved in interviews and final decisions, and how can that involvement unintentionally create dependency, slow growth, and weaken ownership at the manager level?This is the starting point for shifting hiring from a time-consuming responsibility at the top into a shared, structured process that

en

37:49

Leaders Becoming Better at Tough Conversations

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/02/10

Tough conversations are often the ones we know we need to have, and the ones we delay the longest.In this episode, we talk about why leaders hesitate to step into difficult conversations with their team, from fear of the other person’s reaction to catastrophizing worst-case outcomes before the conversation even begins.So what’s really happening in the moments leading up to these hard conversations? We share practical ways to prepare with clarity, courage, and empathy. You’ll learn how

en

32:33

The Power of Open-Ended Questions

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/02/03

Asking better questions is one of the most powerful leadership skills, and one of the easiest to overlook. In this episode, we focus on the power of open-ended questions and how a small shift in what you ask can completely change the conversations you are having at work. We walk through everyday leadership scenarios where open-ended questions help you slow down, get clearer information, involve your team in problem solving, and avoid solving the wrong issue altogether. You will hear how

en

39:48

The Transparency Tension: What to Share, When, and Why

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/01/27

Transparency is one of the most talked about leadership values and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, we unpack what transparency actually looks like in practice and why it goes far beyond simply sharing financials or opening the books. We explore the difference between transparency, confidentiality, and oversharing, and why context matters just as much as information.Join us this week as we discuss how transparency builds trust, reduces uncertainty, strengthens engagement, and

en

32:42

Moments of Transition

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/01/20

Every business hits moments when things are shifting. A long time leader is retiring, a new owner is stepping in, growth is picking up, or a new line of business is taking shape, and you realize the way you have been working may not carry you where you want to go next. In this episode we share how our People and Strategy Roadmap has evolved over seven years, what we look at when we step into a business at one of these crossroads, and why clarity on goals, structure, roles, and culture

en

31:14

When Training Isn’t the Problem

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/01/13

We have all done it. Someone struggles in their role and the first thought is to send them to training. Teach time management, teach communication, teach accountability. Yet even after they learn the skill, nothing really changes.This conversation uncovers why. Sometimes the real issue is not a person’s skill at all, it is the system wrapped around them. A job with unclear expectations, goals that fight each other, a structure that asks someone to be responsible without giving them the

en

35:25

Why Silence Is Not Buy In

The People Spark Podcast ·

2026/01/06

Silence can feel like agreement, but often it is people quietly checking out. In this episode we talk about what is really happening when a new system or direction is introduced and the loud pushback suddenly disappears. You can feel it during a rollout. The loudest critic stops arguing, the questions fade, and meetings seem calmer, yet your gut says something is off.This conversation looks beneath the surface of that quiet. People are not resisting the path forward as much as they are

en

29:57

Reflecting on the Year and What Comes Next

The People Spark Podcast ·

2025/12/30

As you look back on the year, what stands out, and what do you want to carry forward? In this episode, we take time to reflect on the past year and talk about the value of choosing a word or theme to guide the year ahead. We explore how intention, focus, and clarity can help leaders decide where to invest their time and energy as they think about what comes next.---Culture Development SessionSchedule your Culture Development Session. In this free 30-minute session, you will have a

en

46:09

Closing Out the Season With Meaningful Recognition

The People Spark Podcast ·

2025/12/23

As the season winds down, many leaders find themselves at a natural pause. Harvest is wrapping up, the pace is shifting, and planning for what comes next is already beginning. In this episode, we talk about why closing out the season with meaningful recognition matters, and why rewards alone often miss the mark. We explore how specific, personal recognition helps people see their impact, reinforces the behaviors you want to carry forward, and shapes the culture you are building into the

en

38:33

Bringing People Along the Commitment Curve

The People Spark Podcast ·

2025/12/16

Change rarely falls apart because of the idea. It usually falls apart in how we talk about it. In this episode, we explore what it looks like to bring people along the commitment curve and why timing, clarity, and the right messenger matter more than perfectly polished plans. We look at how to communicate early, name what people can expect, and help teams move forward with confidence instead of confusion. How can we guide people through change in a way that reduces resistance and keeps

en

26:45

Build Real Engagement

The People Spark Podcast ·

2025/12/09

This episode gets into what it really means to have a team that’s connected and motivated. We talk about how leaders can help their people see where the business is headed and how their work makes an impact. It’s about asking better questions, setting clear expectations, and giving your team space to contribute without losing direction. When people understand how they fit into the bigger picture, they stay invested, grow with you, and make the work better for everyone.---Culture Development

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32 results

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