Playing in the Sandbox
Playing in the Sandbox is a Podcast that will inspire action in today’s leaders who are committed to cultivating excellence and increasing performance (in their teams.) Host Tammy J. Bond is an Author, Top-Ranked Keynote Speaker, and Fortune 500 leadership consultant who will help you to harness the power of asking better questions that will move you boldly through difficult conversations on your way to accelerating your leadership excellence. Each episode will give you practical, hands-on tips, tools, and strategies to accelerate your personal leadership - episodes will tackle real-time issues in the workplace from leaders like you who are struggling with people management, leading teams to better performance, motivating others around them, and navigating the importance of accountability at every level.
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Rules of Engagement for Healthy Teams | Tammy J. Bond - 014
03/23/2023
Rules of Engagement for Healthy Teams | Tammy J. Bond - 014
We learned how to engage with others in a healthy way as children, but when we entered the workforce as adults, we seem to have left those rules of engagement behind. In today’s episode of Playing In The Sandbox, I’ll be discussing how to build a healthy set of rules for you and your team. Without clear rules of engagement, you probably don’t have a healthy team. Here’s the rules of engagement in the sandbox, for healthy teams: Don’t throw sand. Don’t be brazen or rude to other people. 2. Don’t steal the shovels. Make sure everyone has access to the tools they need. 3. Don’t knock over someone else’s castle. Don’t create problems for team members. Go to to learn more about creating healthy rules of engagement for you and your team. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or and subscribe to our . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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How to Navigate Conflict with Your Team | Tammy J. Bond - 013
03/09/2023
How to Navigate Conflict with Your Team | Tammy J. Bond - 013
Too often, business leaders and managers aren’t comfortable handling conflict. Although dealing with conflict can be scary, knowing how to is CRUCIAL for managing a team. In today’s episode of Playing In The Sandbox, I’ll be going over how you can effectively manage conflict. The KEY thing to know about navigating conflict is: Have a plan beforehand. If you have a plan before conflict arises, you’ll be FAR more successful at actually managing it. So, how exactly do we navigate conflict in our team? The first thing to know about navigating conflict is: Everyone has to recognize there’s conflict. Conflict doesn’t necessarily mean arguments or fights, but could be just mistrust or a lack of cohesion. The first step to solving any problem is admitting there’s a problem. 2. The second step to navigating conflict is: Get everyone’s input. Ask your team members what they believe the ROOT cause of the conflict is a way where everyone feels comfortable sharing. Simply allow your team to digest the information at first. 3. The final step is: Identify what behaviors you want to replace the negative ones. Whatever is causing the conflict in your team has to be changed to something more productive. Identify what that something is with your team, and work to implement it. Go to to learn more about how you can set goals and improve your team through the start, stop, continue method. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or and subscribe to our . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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How to TEE Up Excellence in Service at Every Level | Rich Acosta - 012
02/23/2023
How to TEE Up Excellence in Service at Every Level | Rich Acosta - 012
Rich Acosta came from a hospitality background but currently works in a corporate environment, but has maintained the SAME level of excellent service at every level. In today’s episode of Playing In The Sandbox, I’ll be talking to Rich about how to maintain this excellence at every level as a leader. Throughout his years of experience, as well as his experience with switching industries, Rich has continually drummed up excellence. The ways he did this were: Getting excellence begins with time. Leaders can spend their time on training their team, or trying to find the unlikely perfect team member. Instead, leaders need to focus on celebrating their team members and fostering connections. Next up is effort. Leaders have to put in the effort to make sure their team AND clients are happy. This comes from listening to their complaints, internalizing and interpreting the information, and evaluating the information. Leaders should only respond to complaints after putting in the effort, and by then, Rich always has a TERRIFIC solution. Lastly is energy. When customers or team members are frustrated, they want to be heard and understood. Leaders have to use their energy to not only meet these complaints but use the information they’ve gathered to improve on mistakes. Then, good leaders should continually improve on their IMPROVEMENTS. Go to to learn more about delivering excellence to your customers at every stage. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or and subscribe to our . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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Duck and Cover | Tammy J. Bond - 011
02/09/2023
Duck and Cover | Tammy J. Bond - 011
Some people are coasters and do the bare minimum. These people are in duck and cover mode. In today’s episode of Playing In The Sandbox, I’ll be discussing how you can address duck and coverers if you are one, or one is on your team. Operating in duck-and-cover mode is a HUGE bane for not only your work performance but your mental well-being. You’re NOT achieving the maximum results you could be. So what do we do, once we know we’re in duck and cover mode? If you notice someone is in duck and cover mode, you HAVE to confront it. If you don’t actively address it, you’re allowing this anti-productive behavior to continue. Get to know the person who’s in duck and cover mode. Try and learn whatever is CAUSING them to be in this mode. It may be issues back at home or personal issues. But understand these issues so you can work to correct them, and by extension the duck and cover behavior. If you DON’T have this talk, you’re just allowing the behavior to continue. Whatever you tolerate, you allow it to continue. Have talks with people who are in duck and cover mode, address whatever issues they’re facing, and work to fix said issues. Go to to learn more about how you can address people who are in duck and cover mode, and optimize your team’s performance. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or and subscribe to our . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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Start. Stop. Continue. | Tammy J. Bond - 010
01/26/2023
Start. Stop. Continue. | Tammy J. Bond - 010
Whenever you set a goal or plan for yourself, have you ever stopped to think about what you want to start, stop, and continue? This start, stop, continue method is a FANTASTIC way to give your team valuable feedback. In today’s episode of the Playing In The Sandbox podcast, I’ll be going over this method. The start, stop, continue method is a great feedback loop to utilize as a leader. Here are some ways you can use the start, stop, continue method with your team. The start in SSC is all about goal setting. When talking about what to start, it gets your team thinking creatively. Use this creativity to strive for large, profitable goals. The start also can help start creating more positive behaviors in your team members. The stop in SSC is all about efficiency. Think about what NO LONGER serves you and your team and stop it. You can then redirect this energy into starting new, positive behaviors or meeting goals, or continuing good, profitable behaviors. The continue in SSC is all about Just like with the stop, think about what things generated the most success for you and your teams. What specific behaviors and processes led to the most growth. Continue doing them and carry them over throughout the year. Go to to learn more about how you can set goals and improve your team through the start, stop, continue method. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or and subscribe to our . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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You Cannot Change What You're Willing to Tolerate | Tammy J. Bond - 009
01/12/2023
You Cannot Change What You're Willing to Tolerate | Tammy J. Bond - 009
Too often, people become overly comfortable with their current situation. Comfort and satisfaction, however, are the ENEMY of change and growth. In today’s episode of the Playing In The Sandbox podcast, I’ll go over how you can’t change something if you tolerate it. As a leader, and as a professional, whatever we tolerate we will see more of. Here are some reasons why you CANNOT change what you tolerate. 1. The reasons you tolerate negative behavior are the same things that are SABOTAGING you and your team. If you want the behaviors to change, you have to stop tolerating them. 2. Do NOT be avoidant. You have to dissect what negative behaviors you’re tolerating and address them head-on before you can replace them with positive behaviors. Learn to lead yourself before leading others. 3. Be bold and DIRECTLY address what needs to be changed. I recommend taking a whiteboard and physically writing everything down before meeting with your team. Go to to learn more about how you can change your behaviors by NOT tolerating negative behaviors. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or and subscribe to our . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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Power of Regret - If Only Thinking | Dan Pink - 008
01/05/2023
Power of Regret - If Only Thinking | Dan Pink - 008
Regret is an all too common emotion. Despite its ubiquity though, regret is more often than not MISUNDERSTOOD. In Dan Pink’s book The Power Of Regret, Pink goes over the idea of “If Only” thinking. In today’s episode of the Playing In The Sandbox podcast, I’ll go over a few ways you, as a leader, can utilize if only thinking. Here are just a few tips YOU can use to help regret propel you forwards instead of letting it harm you: Confront regret head-on. Don’t completely ignore regret, but don’t allow yourself to wallow in it either. Regrets of INACTION are the ones that stick with us and are not regrets about things we’ve done. When you’re faced with a big decision, think about it from an outside perspective. Think about it like your best friend is facing a decision, or ask what you from the future would do. Utilize self-distancing. Go to to learn more about how regret is a misunderstood emotion, and that PROPERLY understanding it is vital for business leaders. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or and subscribe to our . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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Setting the Stage for Excellence 2023 | Tammy J. Bond – 007
12/22/2022
Setting the Stage for Excellence 2023 | Tammy J. Bond – 007
The new year is right upon us, and you may have some projects/tasks that are still lingering. What about the things you hope to achieve in the new year? It can become overwhelming thinking about finishing the year and getting ready for the new one. Today I will cover how to finish the year strong so that you can set up the new year with excellence. So Be sure to get your copy of the action plan on . Here is what you can expect to learn: Review what you are working on and how you can finish strong Finishing strong and the WHY behind the importance of finishing strong Setting up yourself for excellence and what that looks like Go to to pick up the After Action Plan and learn how to increase trust in your organization. I would love to have you join me for my next episode by tuning in on , , or and subscribing to my . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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When leaders Don’t trust | Tammy J. Bond - 006
12/08/2022
When leaders Don’t trust | Tammy J. Bond - 006
Companies with high trust levels outperform companies with low trust levels by 186%. Trust is a key factor in higher productivity. Higher productivity leads to fewer sick days and more enjoyment in the workplace. In today's episode, I will teach you how to increase trust in your employees so they can increase their TRUST in you. Here is what you can expect. Ways leaders can model trust in their people and the results of a trusted environment How remote work impacts trust in today’s workplace The six ways to foster trust throughout your organization Go to to pick up the After Action Plan and learn how to increase trust in your organization. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or and subscribe to our . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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Playing NOT To Lose with your Employees | Tammy J. Bond - 005
12/01/2022
Playing NOT To Lose with your Employees | Tammy J. Bond - 005
As a leader if you are not holding your employees accountable to expectations you are failing. You are playing NOT to lose when you lack expectation, lack process, and put process over people. On today’s episode of Playing In The Sandbox Podcast, I give you three ways to play NOT to lose with your employees. These three tips will help you to honor the process and the people for optimal performance. Ensure you have the right people in the right seats. Set clear expectations. Have recurring weekly meetings with your team members. Go to to pick up the After Action Plan and learn how to play to WIN with your employees. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or and subscribe to our . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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Playing NOT to Lose | Tammy J. Bond - 004
11/10/2022
Playing NOT to Lose | Tammy J. Bond - 004
Today, on Playing In The Sandbox I want to talk about losing and the way that you manage yourself, your goals, and your outcomes. As a leader, you may be holding your team in the under-performance zone because of the way that you view goal-setting and accountability. Playing NOT to lose is a risk-avoidance strategy, which could hold you and your team back from reaching your full potential. As a leader you should: Address ‘playing not to lose’ behavior Encourage creativity Take risks Play to win Go to to pick up the After Action Plan and learn to reframe your ‘playing not to lose’ mentality into ‘playing to win’. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or and subscribe to our . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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What your B.S. is telling you about YOU | Tammy J. Bond - 003
10/27/2022
What your B.S. is telling you about YOU | Tammy J. Bond - 003
In today’s episode of Playing In The Sandbox, Tammy gets personal and talks about you and your B.S… Your belief systems. She discusses how to identify your belief systems, understand the root of your belief system, and the tools that you can use to identify the B.S. that could be limiting those around you. What is a belief system? A mental structure that influences the way we perceive the world around us. Belief systems are rooted in our values, what we accept as truth and the way we navigate conflict. A social structure that provides a supportive network and a sense of belonging. They are the invisible and driving force behind your behavior. Similar to the operating system on your phone, your belief systems need to be periodically updated. Three things to know about your B.S. Every B.S. you have is rooted in the past. You’ve been collecting it since the moment you were born. Your B.S. is structured in a way to keep you safe. Your B.S. keep you stuck in a have-to way of thinking versus a want-to. You have the power to reframe your mindset to a want-to, choose-to, or get-to mindset. What to do with your B.S? Your belief systems are meant to be honored. They have gotten you to where you are now. Identify what belief systems you have that are no longer serving you and honor them at a root level. Recognize that they have served you well but no longer are, then ask yourself “If not this, then what?”. When you identify your belief systems and begin to change your behavior, others will notice and want to follow. When you uncover your B.S., the new possibilities are endless. Playing In The Sandbox Podcast is brought to you in part by TammyJBond.com In today’s swift-moving employee market leaders are far too often putting people that are technically good at their jobs into leadership positions, without first developing them on how to be leaders of people. How do you course correct, or better yet make sure you don’t make that common mistake? Develop your people to lead others from the moment they join your team. For more tools on how to develop others around you head to We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or and subscribe to our . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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Introduction Casting Vision for the Sandbox | Tammy J. Bond - 000
10/13/2022
Introduction Casting Vision for the Sandbox | Tammy J. Bond - 000
Welcome to the new podcast Playing In The Sandbox Podcast, hosted by Tammy J. Bond! Tammy has a long history of building teams, transforming business owners and shifting mindsets with proven performance improvement. As a consultant to many, from Startups to Government Leaders to Fortune 500 leaders, Tammy has a long history of showing people how to move through the challenges of what they see, and transform their circumstances into what they want. In this podcast, Tammy will take the lessons that we learned as children playing in the sandbox and use them to cultivate excellence in ourselves and inspire action in others. Diving into some phenomenal topics and having lots of fun, Playing In The Sandbox will drop on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. With amazing guests like Donald Kelly, Dan Pink, the CEO of a Fortune 100 company, and even a horse trainer, this podcast will give you the tools you need today that will transform your tomorrow. Share this podcast with your friends, tell them to download it, review it, and share it. Let know the content you want to see and the questions that you have. Playing In The Sandbox Podcast is brought to you in part by TammyJBond.com In today’s swift-moving employee market leaders are far too often putting people that are technically good at their jobs into leadership positions, without first developing them on how to be leaders of people. How do you course correct, or better yet make sure you don’t make that common mistake? Develop your people to lead others from the moment they join your team. For more tools on how to develop others around you head to We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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4 Tips to Leading Yourself Well | Tammy J. Bond - 001
10/13/2022
4 Tips to Leading Yourself Well | Tammy J. Bond - 001
We often promote people who can build a widget well but don’t know how to lead people. Tammy has seen after years of coaching and consulting that leaders don’t know how to lead themselves well. In today's episode of Playing In The Sandbox Podcast, Tammy gives you 4 tips for leading yourself well. Look in the mirror You cannot change what you cannot define. Look in the mirror and ask yourself what areas you are deficient in. Ask yourself how you can improve. Consider your own soft skills and rate yourself on a scale of 1-5 how you are doing. Ask your team and family to rate you as well. Where are your gaps and how can you fill them? When building a team, hire those who are going to help you fill your gaps. Listen with the intention to understand Ask questions with the intention to understand the problem, not solve the problem. Find the root of the problem so that you can solve it properly. As leaders, we have a difficult time accepting that we are the root of the problem. Suspend judgment of yourself and others When we are listening with intent we cannot solve the problem unless we suspend judgment. When the team isn’t achieving we start judging the reasons why the team isn’t achieving. It requires the capacity to understand the true root of the issue. Ask for help and ask for input Once you have reflected, asked, identified the root of the issue, and suspended judgment - ask others for help. It is not all up to you. We are only as good as the people around us who make us shine. Not feeling comfortable asking for help is one of the biggest hindrances to leading yourself well. If you aren’t willing to ask for help, how can you expect your team to do the same? “People would rather follow a leader who is always real than always right.” Playing In The Sandbox Podcast is brought to you in part by TammyJBond.com In today’s swift-moving employee market leaders are far too often putting people that are technically good at their jobs into leadership positions, without first developing them on how to be leaders of people. How do you course correct, or better yet make sure you don’t make that common mistake? Develop your people to lead others from the moment they join your team. For more tools on how to develop others around you head to We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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Taking Ownership of Your Craft | Donald Kelly - 002
10/13/2022
Taking Ownership of Your Craft | Donald Kelly - 002
On this episode of Playing In The Sandbox Podcast, Tammy talks with Donald Kelly about taking ownership of your craft, personal leadership, and Donald's new book “Sell It Like A Mango”. Donald Kelly is a sales expert whose podcast has 3.6 million downloads and has been featured in Forbes, he is the founder of The Sales Evangelist and author of “Sell It Like A Mango”. What has Donald learned about taking ownership as he built his brand? Dedication. The more dedicated Donald feels to his craft the more people he can help and the better he can achieve his mission. Intention. Donald wants to ensure that he is giving his very best. He wants to be intentional about perfecting his craft and at the end of the day feel like he has given it his all. Act rather than be acted upon. As Donald was developing his team he kept this thought in mind. He wants his team to understand the vision and not wait to take action. Donald's new book “Sell It Like A Mango” Donald’s book tells what he learned from the mango sellers in Jamaica. He teaches about how the individual, not the product, makes a massive difference in the selling process. What has Donald learned about personal leadership? Donald's book teaches the notion of taking responsibility and taking ownership of your situation. Many individuals look to blame others for their negative circumstances. Donald learned through personal experiences growing up in Jamaica that he needed to take action on his own. Don’t take rejection personally. In his book, Donald outlines how to bounce back and grow from rejection. Did Donald have a sandbox? Donald remembers his backyard being his oasis, interacting with cousins, neighbors and friends. For more content and information from Donald, connect with him on , visit his company , and check out his book “”. Playing In The Sandbox Podcast is brought to you in part by TammyJBond.com In today’s swift-moving employee market leaders are far too often putting people that are technically good at their jobs into leadership positions, without first developing them on how to be leaders of people. How do you course correct, or better yet make sure you don’t make that common mistake? Develop your people to lead others from the moment they join your team. For more tools on how to develop others around you head to We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on , , or . This podcast is produced by TSE Studios.
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Trailer | Tammy J. Bond
10/11/2022
Trailer | Tammy J. Bond
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