#9- How Leaders Build Trust, Buy-In, and Better Teams
SUMMARY In this episode of the Within Podcast, host Nicky is joined by Ali and Heidi for a deeper conversation on organizational culture with a specific focus on listening sessions. What begins as a discussion about employee feedback becomes a practical breakdown of how organizations can better understand what their people actually need without relying only on surveys or assessments.
Ali explains why listening sessions are one of the most powerful and underused tools leaders have. By consistently asking employees for input and capturing feedback in a structured way, organizations gain real time insight into culture, leadership effectiveness, and unmet needs. Heidi expands on this by sharing her experience facilitating listening sessions and how curiosity, thoughtful follow up questions, and psychological safety help employees open up and engage more honestly.
Nicky brings the conversation into a small business context, sharing examples of how informal listening conversations prevented turnover, uncovered hidden skills, and helped leaders course correct before disengagement became a larger issue. Throughout the discussion, the group reinforces a core message: listening only works if leaders communicate what they heard and take visible action. When done well, listening sessions build trust, empower employees, and move organizations forward.
ABOUT Within is a podcast hosted by Nicky Wallace and Ali Payne, founders of The People Co. It explores what happens when organizations stop chasing surface-level solutions and start doing the real work from within. Each episode unpacks stories of leadership, burnout, growth, culture, and the messiness of being human at work. Whether youā€™re in HR, leading a team, or just rethinking how work fits into your life, Within offers a candid and refreshing look at how people-first business gets built.
Connect with them on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/nwallace515/ or www.linkedin.com/in/alipayne/ and www.linkedin.com/in/heidibuttolph/
