#460 A Welcome Mat. You matter.

Ever notice how a simple welcome mat sets the tone before anyone steps inside? That quiet cue is the heart of our conversation as we unpack why leadership begins with humility and small, human signals that say “you matter.” Instead of doubling down on end-of-year grind, we explore how the first moments—how you greet, how you listen, how you close a meeting—shape trust, energy, and real performance.

We walk through the difference between professional work and the personal work that enables it. When leaders protect focus, health, and relationships, the team produces better work with fewer frayed nerves. Expect practical ideas you can use today: a handwritten thank-you, an open-door time block, a quick message after a tough call, or even blowing off an afternoon for shared pizza to reset morale. These are not perks; they are architecture for belonging. We also talk candidly about Q4 pressure and how to resist the reflex to grind while still hitting goals with a steadier, more human cadence.

Along the way, we connect the dots between culture signals and outcomes like retention, engagement, and honest feedback. You’ll hear a teaser for our next exploration—leadership lessons from a mirror—and an open invitation to add your voice. If a welcome mat can change the feel of a room, your daily habits can change the trajectory of a team. Subscribe, share this with a leader who needs a reset, and leave a review to tell us one small gesture that made you feel valued.

https://growthinstigators.com/

Chapters

• 0:00 Setting The Theme: Welcome
• 0:20 Leadership Starts With Humility
• 0:44 Personal Work Over Pure Hustle
• 1:04 Small Gestures That Say You Matter
• 1:35 Closing, Teaser, And Listener Invite

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Welcome to message 460 of the Growth Instigators Hotline, where we examine an everyday normal object and assign it a deeper meaning. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. What can a welcome mat remind us of today? A welcome mat sets the stage. What do you have in your leadership that sets the stage? Leadership at its best starts with humility, saying, You matter. I'm glad you are here. Do others know you care? Are you welcoming? Especially this time of year. Everyone is pushing and pulling and rushing to end Q4 and wrap up 2025. We can get so caught up in professional work that we forget the personal work. The personal work of you and your health as an individual, as well as the personal work of the people around you. May a welcome lesson be a reminder to be welcoming. Don't just put your head down and grind it out. Maybe a smile here and there. Maybe blow off an afternoon and take your people out for a pizza. Have fun would that be? Maybe a thank you card or an open door. Maybe a thoughtful text or email. Let's live lives that show, hey, you matter. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad I get to do this life with you. Thank you. Yeah. Another powerful lesson from a welcome mat today. By the way, you can listen to any of our past podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. Join us next week as we examine leadership lessons from a mirror. Oh, that's going to be a good one. What do you see when you see and look in a mirror? If you have thoughts you'd like to share, I'd love to hear them. Contact me at growth instigators.com or leave me a message after the beep. Keep instigating growth in all you do.