Libsyn Directory

You Don't Get What You Preach—You Get What You Tolerate

The Business Mechanic Podcast with Vaughn Sigmon

Release Date: 06/02/2025

How to Start Tough Conversations Without Triggering a Blow Up

The Business Mechanic Podcast with Vaughn Sigmon

How to Start Tough Conversations Without Triggering a Blow Up 📌 Episode Summary Most leaders avoid difficult conversations—and it’s costing them more than they realize. In this episode of The Business Mechanic Show, Vaughn Sigmon reveals why managers procrastinate tough talks, how silence signals approval of bad behavior, and the exact 3-step framework to handle any hard conversation with clarity, confidence, and calm. You’ll learn the psychology behind defensiveness, the Gallup data that proves employees want more feedback—not less—and why switching from monologue to...

Stop Inventing Intentions

The Business Mechanic Podcast with Vaughn Sigmon

What if the biggest obstacle to a productive conversation… was the story in your head? In this powerful episode, the curtain gets pulled back on one of the most damaging habits in leadership: assuming intent. From ghosted emails to pushback in meetings, it’s easy to jump to conclusions. But when leaders start conversations like prosecutors instead of partners, trust erodes and productivity dies. The episode walks through how these mental shortcuts—called emotional reasoning—fuel defensiveness and kill collaboration. You’ll learn how to replace snap judgments with curiosity, defuse...

How to Have Difficult Conversations Without Making These Three Big Mistakes

The Business Mechanic Podcast with Vaughn Sigmon

In this episode of the Business Mechanic Show, the three hidden layers of every difficult conversation are broken down with precision. What often starts as a simple discussion about performance or behavior can quickly escalate when deeper emotions and identity concerns go unrecognized. This episode dives deep into why most managers mishandle tough conversations—and how to shift from reactive manager to confident, emotionally intelligent leader. Listeners will explore the three essential layers beneath every challenging interaction: what happened, what was felt, and how identity was impacted....

Why Most Managers Have Poor Outcomes From Difficult Conversations

The Business Mechanic Podcast with Vaughn Sigmon

This episode cuts straight to the heart of why difficult conversations so often go sideways for managers. It’s not just about saying the wrong thing—it’s about starting from the wrong mindset. Managers either avoid the talk entirely or come in too hot, trying to prove a point instead of seeking clarity. The result? Trust erodes, engagement drops, and the issue never really gets fixed. You’ll learn why your approach to tough conversations either builds connection or creates disconnection—and how to shift from defensiveness to curiosity. This episode introduces a better framework...

How To Disagree Without Being A Jerk

The Business Mechanic Podcast with Vaughn Sigmon

Disagreements are inevitable—but conflict doesn’t have to be destructive. In this episode, you’ll learn how to handle tough conversations with calm, clarity, and confidence. This isn’t about avoiding conflict—it’s about navigating it with emotional intelligence and real leadership. The conversation covers practical steps to remain in control, de-escalate tension, and respond with intention instead of impulse. You’ll discover why so many managers struggle to lead in heated moments—and what you can do to become the voice of reason when emotions run high. Learn to pause, stay...

How to Have Productive Conversations Without Losing Your Cool

The Business Mechanic Podcast with Vaughn Sigmon

In this episode of The Business Mechanic Show, we unpack what it really takes to navigate difficult conversations without losing your cool. This isn’t about walking in with a perfect script or powering through on assumptions. It’s about letting go of the need to be right—and embracing the discipline to actually listen, lead, and respond with clarity. The episode walks through a proven framework to help leaders avoid emotional landmines, reduce resistance, and create lasting influence through productive dialogue. You’ll learn how to stay calm when emotions run high, how to set up...

How Real Leaders Win Trust and Crush Difficult Conversations - Shut Up and Listen

The Business Mechanic Podcast with Vaughn Sigmon

If your team has gone quiet—less feedback, less engagement, less energy—it’s not a people problem, it’s a leadership issue. And it almost always comes back to one skill: listening. This episode flips the script on how most managers communicate. Too many are addicted to the sound of their own voice. Real leadership isn’t about telling. It’s about tuning in. When you learn to shut up and listen, you unlock buy-in, boost ownership, and crush difficult conversations without crushing your people. He reveals the subtle red flags your team throws when they don’t feel heard. You’ll...

You Don't Get What You Preach—You Get What You Tolerate

The Business Mechanic Podcast with Vaughn Sigmon

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If You Want to Be a Leader, You’ve Gotta Embrace the Suck

The Business Mechanic Podcast with Vaughn Sigmon

Most people want to lead. Few are willing to go through what leadership truly demands. This episode lays down the truth: growth doesn't happen in comfort. It happens when you lean into discomfort, own your shortcomings, and take the reps that reshape who you are. Real leadership isn’t about feeling ready. It’s about showing up even when you’re not. Get ready to hear how elite leaders become who they are—through accountability, emotional grit, and relentless repetition. It’s not motivation—it’s transformation. From facing hard conversations to rewiring the habits that hold you...

Your Team's Results are Your Results - How Do You Improve Team Performance?

The Business Mechanic Podcast with Vaughn Sigmon

This episode is a gut-check for every leader who wants to stop firefighting and start winning. If your team isn’t producing, if you’re spending more time chasing fixes than building success—this episode is the wake-up call. The truth? Your team’s performance is a direct reflection of your leadership. This no-fluff session walks through the real reasons teams underperform—foggy expectations, lack of tools, poor motivation, fear of failure, and broken communication—and how to turn every one of them around. It’s not just about fixing people. It’s about fixing your approach. From...

A team doesn't rise to what you say—they rise (or fall) to what you allow. In this episode, we cut through the noise and shine a light on a leadership truth most avoid: your culture is defined not by your words, but by your standards—and what you let slide.

This episode explores how tolerating low standards, even occasionally, creates a ripple effect that damages performance, trust, and team engagement. The discomfort of enforcement is where real leadership begins. When you commit to the hard work of living and upholding the standard—even when it's inconvenient—you transform from manager to leader.

It’s time to stop preaching values and start enforcing them. Accountability isn’t a punishment—it’s a gift. Set the tone. Hold the line. And watch your team rise to meet it.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Welcome and introduction to performance standards
5:00 – What happens when you let things slide
10:00 – Why enforcement in small increments matters
15:00 – The danger of avoiding discomfort
20:00 – Fixing slippage: where leadership begins

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