This podcast originally aired live on 7/03/25. Produced by Sell Through Social.

In this episode, host Joseph Lewin welcomes Hosanna Hanson, founder of Hosanna Noelle Consulting, for an insightful conversation about creating a workplace culture that no one wants to leave. Drawing from her years of experience in corporate leadership and consulting, Hosanna shares how true culture goes far beyond beanbags, ping pong tables, or flashy perks. Instead, it begins at the team level with leaders who make people feel known, valued, and connected to a mission larger than themselves.

Together, Joseph and Hosanna explore the common challenges leaders face when balancing performance expectations from above with the responsibility of caring for their teams. Hosanna emphasizes the importance of regular one-on-one check-ins, not just to track progress, but to build meaningful relationships where people feel seen beyond their job titles. She illustrates this with stories from her own leadership journey, including building trust with customer service teams in a startup environment through intentional connections, small acts of appreciation, and even moments of lighthearted fun.

The conversation also highlights how personal connection and authenticity make leaders more effective in both team management and sales. Joseph relates these lessons to his own experience, showing how simply taking a few minutes to ask about someone’s life can build trust, deepen rapport, and strengthen collaboration. Hosanna adds that while not every team member opens up right away, consistency and authenticity from the leader eventually break down barriers, especially for high achievers or those who have been burned by toxic cultures in the past.

At the executive level, Hosanna points out the tangible business case for investing in culture. Retaining engaged employees is far less costly than the turnover and hiring cycle, and even small gestures can have a profound impact on morale and performance. She recommends practical tools like Patrick Lencioni’s Working Genius assessment, which helps leaders and teams understand their natural strengths and improve collaboration.

To close, Hosanna offers practical advice for leaders who want to take action immediately: start with a simple point of connection in your next one-on-one. Whether it’s about a hobby, a project, or a personal interest, that first step toward building trust can set the foundation for a team that is engaged, resilient, and excited to stay.

Listeners interested in learning more about Hosanna’s work can connect with her on LinkedIn or visit hosannanoel.com, where she provides coaching, team workshops, and culture development support for leaders and organizations.

Takeaways:

• Creating a workplace culture that retains talent starts at the leadership level, focusing on genuine connections.
• Employees are more likely to stay when they feel valued and see a clear growth path.
• Regular one-on-one check-ins between leaders and team members enhance engagement and productivity significantly.
• Understanding individual team members' needs and interests fosters a sense of belonging and loyalty in the workplace.
• Investing in team culture can lead to reduced turnover costs and increased operational efficiency over time.
• Authentic leadership and open communication build trust, which is crucial for high-performing teams.