In this episode, Dr. Harbir Sian sits down with Nancy Dewald — renowned leadership consultant, owner of Lead Up Training & Consulting, consultant with Kleinman Performance Partners, and named one of Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optometry.

Nancy brings her extensive experience in staff development, leadership, and organizational culture to break down two major topics every clinic owner should understand:

1. The Working Genius framework — a simple, powerful way to understand team strengths and improve implementation.
2. Blending generations in the workplace — strategies to reduce conflict, build empathy, and support a stronger, more connected team.

⭐ Key Topics Discussed

1. The Working Genius Model

• Why burnout is often not “too much work” but the wrong type of work.
• The six Working Geniuses — Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, Tenacity — and how every task or project requires all six.
• How identifying your team’s geniuses prevents false starts, failed initiatives, and implementation bottlenecks.
• Using team maps to see missing strengths and make better hiring decisions.
• Real-world insights on how certain genius combinations drive momentum, while others can unintentionally stall progress.

2. Avoiding Burnout Through Alignment

• Ensuring team members are doing work that aligns with their strengths.
• Why tasks in your “frustration zone” drain your energy and how to rebalance your workload.
• When to delegate, outsource, or strategically schedule difficult tasks.

3. Leadership Essentials

• Why clear expectations are the most commonly missed leadership skill.
• How leaders can build more effective teams by understanding roles, gaps, and what each person needs to succeed.
• Lessons from Patrick Lencioni’s Five Behaviors of a Team: trust, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, results.

4. Blending Generations in the Workplace

• Why “we are more alike than we are different” — and how focusing on differences harms teams.
• Understanding values and experiences that shape Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.
• The importance of empathy, curiosity, and individualized support.
• Practical adjustments clinics can make to support different generations (communication styles, flexibility, additional benefits, etc.).

💬 Key Quotes from the Episode

• “Burnout really isn’t about doing too much work — it’s about doing the wrong type of work.” — Nancy
• “When we’re working in our geniuses, we’re more effective, the team is more productive, and we can get things done.” — Nancy
• “If things are going well, do we really need Wonder?”
• “Yes — while Walmart was trying to get more people into their parking lot, Amazon was bringing things to their door.”* — Nancy
• “Just because you're the leader doesn’t mean you have to have all the answers.” — Nancy
• “We tend to focus on the 1% that makes us different instead of the 99% that makes us the same.” — Nancy
• “At the end of the day, we’re human. We’re wired for connection. We all want to be seen.” — Nancy
• “When you hired them, they showed up and were a great employee. If something has changed, it’s not always them.” — Nancy

🎧 Why This Episode Matters

If you’re a clinic owner, manager, or anyone trying to lead a high-performing optometry team, this episode offers:

• A structured roadmap to implement ideas more successfully
• Tools to reduce burnout across your clinic
• A deeper understanding of how different generations think and work
• Strategies to build culture, improve communication, and get results

Whether you're looking to strengthen your leadership skills or foster a more unified team, Nancy’s insights offer clear, actionable takeaways you can implement immediately.

Connect with Nancy:

https://www.leaduptrainingandconsulting.ca/about-me

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-dewald-69267112/