Working/Broken
Welcome to Working/Broken with Nick Richtsmeier and Brad Farris. Every episode, we examine a trend, bias, or hot topic affecting business leaders and ask the question: Is it working? Or is it broken?
Much of what is broken in the world impacts our business and our leadership. We can’t fix all that, but we can learn to respond and lead differently. Business leaders have been hard-wired and trained to chase trends, follow conventional wisdom, and find any way possible to simplify the endless list of hard decisions they have to make.
So the ecosystem of “hacks” and “best practices” fills to overflowing, leaving you at a loss for a sorting mechanism: What applies to you? Where have bias or assumptions skewed the gurus? What actually applies to you?
The spectrum of what’s working and what’s broken isn’t fixed. It’s custom. To not just your situation, but you as a leader and what you’re bringing to the table. And while you try to follow the rules given to you, part of the magic of succeeding in leadership is knowing what’s for you and what isn’t.
So come join us. We’re gonna laugh. We’re gonna challenge. We’re gonna wrestle. Together.
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Nick Richtsmeier is a catalyst for change in organizations that rely on trust to deliver their services. If your advisory, education, or professional services firm needs to accelerate growth, visit CultureCraft.com to find out how he can craft a growth strategy that’s made for you.
Brad Farris coaches leaders of creative professional firms to become the people they need to be to lead the agency they aspire to grow. Find out more at AnchorAdvisors.com
You can find additional resources at WorkingBroken.com.
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Working/Broken
Mentoring: The Lost of Art of Making Leaders
In this episode of Working Broken, hosts Nick Richtsmeier and Brad Farris explore the complex and often misunderstood topic of mentoring. Is it truly about passing knowledge from an experienced leader to a junior employee, or is it a two-way street that transforms both mentor and mentee?
Nick and Brad examine how business leaders struggle to delegate responsibilities effectively, often clinging to the idea that “no one can do it like me.” They discuss the distinction between training, managing, and mentoring, highlighting why mentoring is the most challenging yet rewarding of the three. True mentorship is more than just transferring skills—it’s about modeling leadership, fostering growth, and embracing change in both the mentor and the mentee.
The conversation delves into why many leaders resist mentoring, fearing the vulnerability and openness it requires. They also unpack the generational shifts that create friction in the workplace and challenge outdated notions of leadership. Is mentoring broken, or is it simply that today’s leaders are struggling to embrace it?
By the end of the episode, Brad makes a compelling case: mentoring isn’t broken—leaders are. When done right, mentoring can build stronger organizations, create lasting relationships, and develop the next generation of business leaders.
Join Nick and Brad for an insightful, sometimes therapeutic, discussion on what it truly takes to lead in a way that fosters trust, growth, and lasting impact.
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Have a business topic you want us to decide if it's working or broken? Have a question about the episode? You can email us at podcast@culturecraft.com.
