Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast

Today’s episode is short and sweet—because life threw a few curveballs, and I chose to roll with it. I'm talking about the difference between what actually happens and the story we create around it. Inspired by Dag Hammarskjöld’s own self-awareness and relentless inner work, this episode explores how he used personal triggers not as excuses, but as invitations to grow.

• How can we separate the raw facts from the narrative?
• How do we stop ourselves from spinning into old patterns (like Chicken Little)?
• And how did Dag approach personal development not as punishment, but as purpose?

This one’s a quick listen—but it might shift the lens through which you see your day.

You can find Dag's journal, Markings, here: https://a.co/d/7qrCM3Q

📘 Want to learn more about Dag Hammarskjöld?
Check out my award-winning book Decoding the Unicorn: A New Look at Dag Hammarskjöld
👉 https://a.co/d/gp5fvrk

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💌 Join the Unicorn Dispatch for updates and reflections: https://sara-causey.kit.com/2d8b7742dd 

#DagHammarskjöld #SelfAwareness #InnerWork #MindsetShift #EmotionalIntelligence #PersonalGrowth #DecodingTheUnicorn #SpiritualGrowth #StoryVsEvent #TriggeredButWise #PodcastWisdom #ConsciousLiving #ModernMystic #LegacyAndLeadership #ShortAndPowerful 

In this episode of Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast, I'll dive into the classic novel The Ugly American and its portrayal of American "diplomacy" abroad during the Cold War. The book may have been published in 1958, but its message about cultural insensitivity and the failure to understand local customs still resonates today.

I’ll also explore how this contrasts sharply with Dag Hammarskjöld’s approach to diplomacy during the same era. While others bulldozed their way through international relations, Dag exemplified cultural sensitivity, respect, and curiosity—traits that helped him connect with leaders around the world.

Join me as we unpack the Ugly American stereotype, what Dag can teach us about quiet strength and diplomacy, and how cultural sensitivity remains a crucial skill in our interconnected world.

Links: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2289560/episodes/14539216

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ugly_American

#DagHammarskjöld #CulturalSensitivity #TheUglyAmerican #DiplomacyMatters #LeadershipLessons #DecodingTheUnicorn #QuietStrength #GlobalAwareness #HistoricalInsights

Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast - Episode 8 - Recognition, Appreciation, & Gratitude in the Workplace with Special Guest Erika Migliaccio

In this episode, I sat down with the Founder & Principal Consultant at Upstream HR Strategies  Erika Migliaccio to explore the powerful trio of recognition, appreciation, and gratitude in the workplace. Why do so many formal recognition programs fall flat? The corporate world must do better!

Key Topics:

✅ What's the difference between recognition and appreciation? Why does this matter?

✅ A lot of companies have formal recognition programs yet most employees don't feel satisfied. There's clearly a disconnect. Why do so many leaders miss the mark?

✅ After assuming the job of Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjöld took the time to meet every UN employee personally. That amounted to about 4,000 people! Nowadays, we so often hear managers say, “Nope, I don’t have time.” What are some practical ways that leaders can create a real connection with their teams whether they are remote, hybrid, or fully in the office?

✅ How can leaders become more intentional about creating meaningful moments of appreciation?

✅ Appreciation, recognition, and psychological safety are intertwined. Dag was practicing concepts like workplace gratitude and psychological safety back in the 1950s! How does genuine recognition contribute to a culture where employees feel safe to speak up, take risks, and innovate?

✅ How can managers balance all of their competing components, e.g., strict deadlines, solid performance goals, great customer service, etc., and still ensure that recognition and gratitude don’t fall to the wayside?

✅ Many managers still assume that a paycheck is “enough” appreciation. How do you help leaders shift their mindset to see appreciation as a core part of effective leadership?

Links:

https://getgreetingsofgratitude.com/

https://upstreamhr.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eamigliaccio/

***

📖 Pick up a copy of Sara's award-winning biography Decoding the Unicorn today on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0D9xM3b.

💌 Join the Unicorn Dispatch newsletter: https://sara-causey.kit.com/2d8b7742dd

#WorkplaceGratitude #EmployeeRecognition #DagHammarskjöld   #AppreciationMatters #LeadershipDevelopment #HumanCenteredLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #TeamCulture #ModernLeadership  #DecodingTheUnicorn #IntrovertLeadership #WorkplaceWellbeing #LeadershipPodcast #QuietLeadership #GratefulWorkplaces #RecognitionVsAppreciation 

In this episode of Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast, I'll explore the quiet strength of Dag Hammarskjöld in the face of mass opinion—especially from the media. How do you stay true to your inner compass when the world is loud with critique? Dag’s life offers a masterclass.

We can take inspiration from how Dag handled being both revered and reviled, often in the same breath. He knew how to discern which opinions mattered—and which didn’t. This episode isn’t just about Dag, though. It’s about you.

How do you deal with other people’s judgments, unsolicited advice, or internet chatter? What does it mean to live with integrity when everyone feels entitled to weigh in?


🦄 As always, we'll seek to decode the unicorn—not to place him on a pedestal, but to learn how he walked the path with grace under pressure.

#DagHammarskjöld #Leadership #IntrovertLeadership #Opinions #MediaCriticism #QuietStrength #DecodingTheUnicorn #INFJLeaders #DecodingTheUnicornPodcast #EthicalLeadership #UNHistory #LiveWithIntegrity

In this episode, I'm joined by my special guest, Jen Recla. We'll discuss ways to navigate change and uncertainty in the workplace because *gestures broadly* we seem to be in uncertain times across the board.

Key topics:

✔️ Leaders must deal with uncertainty on a regular basis. What's the biggest mistake they make when doing so?

✔️ How can managers help morale and trust when things feel unsettled?

✔️ Dag Hammarskjöld led the UN through some of the most volatile
 moments in history, but he stayed calm and focused on service. How can modern leaders avoid Chicken Little syndrome and maintain integrity even in a pressure cooker?

✔️ Why a people-first mentality is so important even in times of crisis.

✔️ How can a business focus on practicalities while not allowing the needs of its employees to fall to the wayside?

✔️ Some managers believe that they need to have all the answers - that if
 they were to say, “I don’t know” or “I’m not sure,” they would lose the
 respect of their team. How can they adopt a mindset of curiosity and
 adaptability without losing credibility?

✔️ Change fatigue is real. How can we deal with it?

Links:

https://www.jenrecla.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferrecla/

***

📖 Pick up Decoding the Unicorn today on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0D9xM3b. 

In this episode, I dive into a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of Dag Hammarskjöld’s legacy: the danger of idolizing and martyrizing him to the point of erasing his humanity.

Dag was a remarkable leader, diplomat, and thinker, but he was also a human being with complexities, insecurities, and worries. Too often, people want to place him on a pedestal or label him as a martyr for world peace. But when we reduce him to an untouchable ideal, we risk losing sight of what made him truly inspiring—his human qualities, his struggles, and his quiet, steadfast courage.

Join me as I push back against the narrative that seeks to turn Dag into a graven image. Let’s talk about why it’s essential to remember the real Dag—the man who worked tirelessly, navigated impossible challenges, and remained deeply human through it all. We’ll explore why keeping him real not only honors his legacy but also makes his story more relatable and inspiring for those who seek to live with integrity and purpose.

Tune in for an honest, thoughtful exploration of why Dag was—and always will be—so much more than just an idol or a martyr.

📖 Read Decoding the Unicorn: https://a.co/d/0D9xM3b. 

In this episode, I'm joined by Founder & CEO of Grapevine Software, Zach Wright. 

Key topics:

✔️ The news stories telling us that remote work is dead, RTO is king, and that all employees now somehow prefer hybrid arrangements. 🤔 Is this true?

✔️  Dag believed that leadership was about service, not status. In a fully remote environment, how can leaders make sure that employees still feel seen, valued, and appreciated outside of the typical brick-and-mortar office?

✔️ Some companies rely on AI for feedback and/or they toss out a $5 gift card and assume that's enough to say, "You've done a great job." How can organizations use technology yet not become impersonal?

✔️ When working with a global team, how can you practice cultural sensitivity? 

Links:

You can find Zach on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-wright-mba/

And Grapevine here: https://www.grapevinesoftware.io/

***

📖 Pick up Decoding the Unicorn today on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0D9xM3b. 

aka: TTW Dag met all 4,000 employees at the UN. 

When Dag Hammarskjöld became Secretary-General of the United Nations, he did something that no one expected—he took the time to meet every single UN staff member, from the basement to the top floor. That’s over 4,000 people. Individually!

This wasn’t a publicity stunt. It wasn’t about ego. It was about connection.

Yet, despite this, myths about introverts and highly sensitive people (HSPs) persist. We’re often told we need to “come out of our shells” to be effective leaders, that we need to be louder, bolder, or more extroverted to succeed. But Dag’s leadership shows us a different path—one that values thoughtfulness, quiet confidence, and deep engagement over shallow charisma.

In this episode, we’ll explore:
 ✅ How Dag Hammarskjöld shattered the myth that introverts can’t lead
 ✅ The power of intentional, personal connection in leadership
 ✅ Why you don’t have to change who you are to be effective—you just need to lead on your own terms

I'll also read an excerpt from Decoding the Unicorn, where I recount Dag’s building tour and what it reveals about his character.

So if you’ve ever been told you’re “too quiet” to lead—this one’s for you.

📖 Read Decoding the Unicorn: https://a.co/d/0D9xM3b. 
 

When you think of a leader, do you picture someone loud, brash, and commanding? Society often equates leadership with extroversion (especially in the West), but history tells a different story. In this episode, I'll challenge the myth that leaders have to be loud in order to be effective. I'll explore how introverted leadership works, particularly by studying the example of Dag Hammarskjöld, and why it’s often more impactful in the long run.

Key topics:
✅ Why society assumes leaders must be extroverted—and why that’s wrong
✅ How introverts like Dag Hammarskjöld shaped history through quiet leadership
✅ Why introverted leaders excel in high-stakes situations
✅ Practical strategies to lead authentically without faking extroversion
✅ How to find the right balance between speaking up and leading through action

If you've ever felt like you didn't fit the traditional leadership mold, this episode is for you. It’s time to embrace the power of quiet leadership and redefine what it means to lead.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to harness your introverted strengths to make a lasting impact.

In a world that rewards loud voices, where does that leave the quiet leaders? Today, politics, business, and media glorify "charisma" over competence, mistaking performance for wisdom. But what if true leadership doesn’t look like the loudest voice in the room?

In this episode, we'll explore the bias toward extroverted leadership, why it's failing us, and how leaders like Dag Hammarskjöld offer a desperately needed alternative.

Topics include:
✅ How modern leadership favors showmanship over substance
✅ Why introverts and deep thinkers are overlooked—and why that’s dangerous
✅ How Dag led with intellect, integrity, and quiet strength
✅ What today’s world can learn from his leadership in a crisis
✅ Practical takeaways for embracing introverted leadership in your own life

If you’ve ever felt like your quiet nature was a disadvantage in leadership, this episode is for you. Let's challenge the extrovert bias—and redefine what real leadership looks like.

Links:

https://thisibelieve.org/essay/16608/

For more, please check out Decoding the Unicorn: A New Look at Dag Hammarskjöld. Click here to buy it on Amazon.