Are You Leading The Right Way? Rethinking Leadership Through Culture and Connection With Ellen Will | Episode 2

What if your team’s success had less to do with strategy—and everything to do with how people feel when they work with you?

In this episode of Human Skills Training, Chris Danilo sits down with Ellen Will from Shaver’s Creek Outdoor School to explore what authentic leadership really looks like in action. Together, they unpack how small, intentional habits—like “connection before content” and “feed-forward” feedback—can completely transform team culture.

Ellen shares the mindset shifts that helped her create an environment where people feel seen, valued, and safe enough to bring their best ideas forward. From handling resistance to nurturing psychological safety, her approach shows that great leadership isn’t about control—it’s about cultivating trust.

If you’ve ever wondered why your team isn’t clicking, or how to build a culture people want to be part of, this conversation is your roadmap.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✅ Why “connection before content” changes everything about how teams learn and collaborate
✅ The Feed-Forward mindset: turning feedback into fuel for growth
✅ How to build psychological safety that sparks innovation
✅ The art of accountability with empathy
✅ The power of small rituals and language in shaping culture
✅ Why great leadership starts with curiosity, not control

What’s one small habit that’s changed the way you lead? 👇 Share it in the comments!

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome & Introduction
• 3:20 Building a Strong, Sustainable Culture
• 10:04 Making Values Real in Daily Practice
• 13:08 “Feed Forward” and Continuous Growth
• 18:20 Creating Psychological Safety
• 25:08 Motivation, Trust & Accountability
• 34:50 Connection Before Content
• 56:44 Final Insights on Leadership & Belonging