Dr. Kelly Goldsmith | Vanderbilt University

When people feel short on time, resources, clarity, or support, the instinct is often to pull inward, protect territory, and stop investing in teamwork. But what if scarcity could strengthen collaboration?

That’s exactly what I explore in my latest podcast conversation with Dr. Kelly Goldsmith, a Professor of Marketing at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management who studies how scarcity shapes our behavior.

In this episode, we dig into questions that leaders face daily:

- When teams say they are too busy or don’t have enough resources to collaborate, how does the perception of scarcity impact their work?

- Why does uncertainty and scarcity sometimes demotivate people to act collectively and other times energize team members to pull closer together?

- How does a scarcity mindset trigger status concerns and unnecessary competition and what can leaders do to reduce zero-sum thinking?

- How should leaders give recognition to team members so the entire team is motivated?

- How can people respond to scarcity by throwing their efforts in other unexpected directions?

One of my biggest takeaways was that uncertainty and scarcity undermine a sense of control. Leaders can reframe limits as opportunity that will improve when the team collaborates.

If you lead teams under pressure (and who doesn’t right now?), this conversation will change the way you think about “not having enough” and how to create cooperation when resources are scarce.

Thank you Dr. Kelly Goldsmith for helping us rethink collaboration in constrained environments.

Listen on Spotify

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim | President of the Indigenous Peoples Association

When your life depends on getting things your way, collaboration can seem impossible. In times of crisis, gathering evidence, considering others’ needs or listening often give way to fear and urgency. Yet, in the middle of life and death droughts in Chad, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim - President of the Indigenous Peoples Association, found ways to improve the communication and collaboration of these communities. In this episode, she shares how crisis can allow people to adopt new ways of collaborating. Hindou offers lessons for all of us about what it truly takes to work together when everything is at stake.

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Ryan McGarva | Mercedes F1 team

When we look for the greatest gains in productivity and employee engagement, they are usually attributed to clearly defining each team member’s role. The science of “role setting” drives productivity, while the art of aligning roles with people’s skills fosters engagement and innovation. As corporate leaders, we have much to learn from outstanding examples of role setting outside our field. That’s why today I’m speaking with Ryan McGarva, a former mechanic and member of one of the fastest pit crews in the world, Mercedes F1. He will share how they hone their skills, prioritize quality and safety, and continuously improve through design, practice, teamwork, and feedback loops—creating unbelievable turnaround times. Join us for a conversation on how to take your team to a world-class level.

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify