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Episode #130:  Whistles and Wisdom: Life and Leadership Lessons with Chris Garner

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What if the key to better leadership wasn’t just in what you know—but in how you lead every single day?

In this energizing episode of the Wake Up Eager Workforce podcast, host Suzie Price sits down with Chris Garner—TTI SI's own Vice President of Sales—to unpack the habits, strategies, and mindset shifts that elevate leadership from transactional to transformational.

Drawing from over 25 years of experience leading high-performing teams, Chris shares the core principles he lives and leads by—what he calls his "Whistles of Wisdom." From building trust and nurturing culture to adapting your communication style to truly connect, this episode is packed with tactical takeaways for anyone who wants to lead with impact.

You’ll hear stories from the sales trenches, learn the importance of slowing down to speed up, and discover why caring personally while challenging directly might be the most powerful leadership move you can make.

Whether you're leading a large organization or just stepping into your first management role, this conversation will leave you inspired to show up more intentionally—and lead with both heart and strategy.

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Takeaways of Episode #130 --- 

  • Preparation Isn’t Optional—It’s Everything
    From college football officiating to consulting and sales leadership, excellence comes from consistent, intentional preparation. Whether it’s game film, client research, or daily practice, the takeaway is clear: the more you prepare, the more confident and effective you’ll be in high-pressure moments. Preparation often takes longer than expected but sets the foundation for success. “Every sales call is practice for the next one.” – Chris Garner.
  • Leadership Begins with Listening and Empathy
    Chris’s officiating experience sharpened his ability to stay calm, listen deeply, and handle conflict. Those same skills translate powerfully to business. When team members feel heard and understood, stress decreases, engagement rises, and performance improves. “When people feel heard, the room changes.” – Chris Garner
  • Gratitude and Accountability Create a Winning Culture
    Strong leaders own their outcomes and regularly show appreciation. Chris’s leadership philosophy combines taking responsibility with showing sincere gratitude—whether it's through feedback, journaling, or one-on-one acknowledgments. That combo builds trust, drives motivation, and uplifts entire teams. “Accountability without gratitude leads to burnout. Gratitude without accountability lacks direction. You need both.” – Suzie Price


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Episode Recap:

Suzie Price sits down with Chris Garner, Vice President of Sales at TTI Success Insights, for a powerful conversation on authentic leadership, consistency, and what it takes to build a high-performance culture. Chris brings over two decades of leadership wisdom, and in this episode, he shares the core philosophies that have guided his approach to leading and developing others.

Through personal stories, practical insights, and what he calls his “Whistles of Wisdom,” Chris highlights the importance of trust, relationships, and emotional intelligence in leadership. He and Suzie explore how showing up with consistency, caring personally, and knowing your people can be the difference between managing and truly leading.

Listeners will walk away with actionable takeaways on communication, feedback, and why creating psychological safety within teams is a must in today’s fast-paced work environments. Chris shares how sales is not about being pushy—it’s about being human, being prepared, and building connection.

The episode wraps with a Wellbeing 2.0 segment featuring Douglas White, CEO of Soul-Integrated Athletics, who reflects on the role of identity and presence in leading from a place of wholeness. His message is clear: the strongest leaders are those who lead with heart and intention.

In this episode:

[00:06:15] Chris Garner: “Imagine if every business task you were working on was watched by 100,000 people with cameras from every angle. That’s what officiating feels like—it demands absolute preparation and presence.”

[00:13:13] Chris Garner: “The accountability is extremely high in what we do. That’s why I wrote the book—to share the leadership fundamentals we have to live every week when the world is watching.”

[00:19:57] Chris Garner: “Here’s what I’ve learned from getting yelled at by a coach—they don’t want me to change the call. They just want to be heard. And that’s what most people want, too.”

[01:01:09] Suzie Price: “When we're trying to create something bigger than where we are, we’re often in a fog. A good leader is the light at the edge—saying ‘keep going.’”

[01:07:02] Chris Garner: “When you become a leader, you step onto a platform where you're willing to take full accountability for the team’s success—or failure.”

[01:14:28] Douglas White: “Something as simple as journaling—just saying ‘I appreciated this today’—can completely shift your leadership and your life.”

Get a Workplace Motivators Assessment and review motivators resources:  www.motivatorsppd.com

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