086: Culture Isn’t a Poster on the Wall—It’s the Ground Your Team Walks On, with Guest Eyad Mubaied
Release Date: 06/12/2025
097: Dead Right: The Cracker Barrel Blunder and the Lie Leaders Tell Themselves
Leadership Sandbox: Strategies to Uplevel Workplace Communication, Team Collaboration, and Your Corporate Culture
In this episode of The Leadership Sandbox, Tammy dives into the recent Cracker Barrel rebranding debacle. This corporate misstep, a $700 million gamble aimed at attracting a younger demographic, led to a 14% stock drop and a massive customer backlash. Tammy dissects the four major lies leaders told themselves that led to this catastrophic failure. You'll discover why a brand's most valuable asset lives in the memory and emotion of its customers—and what happens when you strip that away. This isn't just a story about a failed rebrand; it's a critical leadership lesson on the dangers of...
info_outline
096: You’re Not Mean—You’re Just Managing (2 of 6 Part Series)
Leadership Sandbox: Strategies to Uplevel Workplace Communication, Team Collaboration, and Your Corporate Culture
In the second installment of the "Communication Lies Leaders Believe" series, Tammy J. Bond tackles a myth that keeps countless leaders "stuck": the lie that giving direct feedback makes you mean. Tammy powerfully argues that direct feedback doesn't make you mean—it makes you a manager. This episode is a call to courage for every leader who has let their discomfort drive silence. Tammy shares how this avoidance leads to resentment and underperformance and provides a practical framework, the SBIE model (Situation, Behavior, Impact, Expectation), for delivering feedback that is both direct and...
info_outline
095: Hey Leader! They're Not Overwhelmed - They're Underperforming (1 of 6)
Leadership Sandbox: Strategies to Uplevel Workplace Communication, Team Collaboration, and Your Corporate Culture
Welcome to the start of our SIX PART SERIES, "Communication Lies Leaders Believe." In this episode, Tammy J. Bond tackles a common and costly workplace myth: the idea that an employee who says they're "overwhelmed" simply needs more support. Tammy reveals: when a direct report can't articulate their workload, they're not overwhelmed—they're underperforming and avoiding accountability. Tammy provides a practical, no-nonsense strategy to get to the root of the problem. She introduces the "Squeeze Technique," a method to transform excuses into ownership. It's about providing the clarity,...
info_outline
094: Stop Feeding The Beast
Leadership Sandbox: Strategies to Uplevel Workplace Communication, Team Collaboration, and Your Corporate Culture
Are you struggling to build the vibrant culture you want because you're still clinging to old habits? In this episode of the Leadership Sandbox, Tammy J. Bond directly challenges leaders to stop "babysitting dysfunction" and confront the "pink elephant" in the room. Tammy argues that you can't build a bold new future by dragging around yesterday's playbook. Culture doesn't change by decree; it changes by disruption. This episode is a call to action for leaders to stop over-analyzing their culture like a crime scene and start renovating it for the future. Tammy provides a clear-eyed look at how...
info_outline
093: Mind the Gap - Own the Gain: Mid-Year Reboot
Leadership Sandbox: Strategies to Uplevel Workplace Communication, Team Collaboration, and Your Corporate Culture
Are you constantly chasing perfection, or are you truly celebrating progress? In this insightful episode of the Leadership Sandbox podcast, Tammy J. Bond challenges leaders to shift their focus from the dreaded "gap" of what hasn't been accomplished to the powerful "gain" of what has. Tammy passionately advocates for a gain-driven mindset, urging leaders to move beyond self-sabotage by acknowledging every step forward, learning from failures, and fostering a truly positive team environment. Discover how conducting a "gain audit" can transform your perspective, enhance motivation, and...
info_outline
092: The Power of Pause
Leadership Sandbox: Strategies to Uplevel Workplace Communication, Team Collaboration, and Your Corporate Culture
Ever feel your thoughts getting hijacked by tension in a tough conversation? In this transformative episode of the Leadership Sandbox, Tammy J. Bond explores the profound impact of simply taking a moment to pause in communication. Discover how this seemingly simple action can unlock clarity, deepen understanding, and lead to significantly more effective conversations, even in high-stakes situations. Tammy delves into how emotional awareness allows you to apply the power of pause to avoid being reactive and move toward solutions. Learn how a well-timed pause gives you the space to regulate your...
info_outline
091: The Flip Side - When You Call Out Negative Behaviors
Leadership Sandbox: Strategies to Uplevel Workplace Communication, Team Collaboration, and Your Corporate Culture
Are toxic behaviors holding your organization back? In this impactful episode of the Leadership Sandbox, Tammy J. Bond reveals the crucial link between addressing workplace toxicity and cultivating a thriving, healthy culture. She highlights the astounding financial and productivity benefits of actively eliminating negativity – showing that eliminating toxic behaviors can save two to four times more than hiring a superstar! Tammy champions the power of a "call-out culture" (in the best sense!) where leaders proactively address issues, establish clear ground rules, and reclaim valuable time...
info_outline
090: The Cost of Unchecked Negative Behaviors
Leadership Sandbox: Strategies to Uplevel Workplace Communication, Team Collaboration, and Your Corporate Culture
Are toxic behaviors silently draining your organization's energy and budget? In this episode of the Leadership Sandbox, Tammy J. Bond passionately confronts the severe impact of toxic leadership on workplace culture and productivity. She highlights why leaders, particularly at the C-suite level, must address negative behaviors that can cost organizations billions annually in lost employee retention and plummeting team morale. Tammy dives into the startling financial implications of ignoring toxicity – from high turnover rates (54% of employees are likely to quit due to toxic leaders!) to...
info_outline
SERIES CONCLUSION - PART 3: The Hats of Leadership
Leadership Sandbox: Strategies to Uplevel Workplace Communication, Team Collaboration, and Your Corporate Culture
Welcome to the powerful conclusion of our three-part series, "Switch Hats, Not Values - Leading with Clarity and Sanity!" In this reshared episode of the Leadership Sandbox, Tammy J. Bond brings it all home by diving into the crucial concept of the various 'hats' leaders wear and why understanding them is paramount for effective communication and healthy team dynamics. Tammy reiterates and expands on the five distinct leadership hats: the foundational Values Hat, the visionary Leader Hat, the decisive Boss Hat, the often-tricky Friend Hat, and the action-oriented Just Do It Hat. She explains...
info_outline
SERIES: Part 2: You’re Wearing the Hat… But Who Put It On You?” - Owning Your Role Without Losing Your Mind, with Guest Kendall Peterson
Leadership Sandbox: Strategies to Uplevel Workplace Communication, Team Collaboration, and Your Corporate Culture
Welcome to Part 2 of our series, "Switch Hats, Not Values - Leading with Clarity and Sanity!" In this candid episode of the Leadership Sandbox, Tammy J. Bond and Kendall Peterson dive deep into the diverse 'hats' leaders juggle daily. They unpack the inherent challenges of balancing these different leadership roles and underscore the paramount importance of clarity in communication. Tammy and Kendall explore the often tricky 'Freeder' role—where the lines between friendship and leadership can blur—and why leaders absolutely must own their roles to maintain respect and foster effective team...
info_outlineWhat if your perceived company culture isn't what your team actually experiences? In this eye-opening episode of the Leadership Sandbox, Tammy J. Bond sits down with Eyad Mubaied, author of The Culture Driven Organization and founder of Cultivate Culture LLC, to dismantle common myths about organizational culture.
Eyad shares powerful insights from his Culture Creation Model, revealing how true culture transformation goes beyond mission statements to align your Philosophy, Process, and People. Discover why leaders must own and shape their culture, rather than outsourcing it to HR, and learn how to audit your workplace for blind spots. This conversation provides actionable strategies for leaders at all levels to foster a culture-driven organization that genuinely impacts employee engagement, business growth, and overall performance.
Key Takeaways for Leaders:
-
Culture Drives Performance: Understand why a robust organizational culture is the engine of high performance, not just an aesthetic add-on.
-
Leader Ownership: Leaders are the primary architects of corporate culture; it’s built by design, not by default.
-
The Culture Creation Model: Learn how aligning your philosophies, processes, and people is crucial for sustainable culture transformation.
-
Audit Your Culture: Discover how to effectively assess your current organizational culture to identify and address toxic norms and blind spots.
-
The Power of Listening: Your culture is defined not by what you say, but by how well you listen to your team.
-
Continuous Improvement: A healthy workplace culture requires ongoing attention and a commitment to continuous improvement.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
-
The #1 myth leaders believe about company culture and who truly sets it.
-
How to audit your organizational culture effectively without ego getting in the way.
-
Why performance-focused teams can still miss the mark on cultural alignment.
-
Eyad's "sticky note wisdom" for everyday leadership development.
-
The critical role of middle management in shaping and reinforcing culture.
-
How to address toxic norms and foster a positive workplace culture.
Chapters:
-
00:00 The Journey to Cultivating Culture: Eyad Mubaied's path from finance to culture transformation.
-
02:28 Understanding Culture: Definitions and Misunderstandings: Dispelling common myths about organizational culture.
-
05:11 The Role of Leadership in Shaping Culture: Why leaders must own their workplace culture.
-
08:04 The Culture Creation Model Explained: An in-depth look at Eyad's framework for culture creation.
-
16:21 Philosophies, Processes, and People: The Key Components of Culture: Deep dive into the pillars of the Culture Creation Model.
-
22:15 Auditing Culture: Identifying Blind Spots: Practical tips for assessing your organizational culture.
-
24:19 The Impact of Culture on Business Growth: Connecting culture directly to performance outcomes.
-
27:35 Assessing Organizational Culture: Further insights on evaluating your workplace dynamics.
-
29:19 Middle Management's Role in Culture: The crucial part middle leaders play in culture transformation.
-
32:20 Addressing Toxic Norms in Culture: Strategies for confronting and changing unhealthy organizational behavior.
-
35:39 Defining and Measuring Culture: How to make culture tangible for improvement.
-
38:02 Culture's ROI and Executive Mindset: The business case for culture-driven organizations.
-
43:43 Transforming Leadership Perspectives: Shifting how leaders view and engage with culture.
-
47:07 Key Takeaways for Leaders: Actionable advice for immediate implementation.
🔗 Connect with Eyad Mubaied:
Website: cultivateculturellc.com
LinkedIn: Eyad Mubaied
Book: The Culture Driven Organization – Available on Amazon
🚨 Love what you heard?
-
Subscribe to The Leadership Sandbox
-
Leave a review to help other bold leaders find the show
-
Tag us on social @TheTammyBond with your biggest takeaway!
Listen or Watch Now: bondgroupenterprises.com/podcast