Unity & Company

Unity & Company Harnessing the power of people. Together.

06/08/2025

One of the best career lessons I’ve ever learned?

Don’t just focus on the job you have. Focus on the problems your organization is trying to solve.

In my recent conversation with Ellin Sidell, CEO of The Sidell Method on The Workplace Therapy Podcast, we talked about how influence isn’t just about visibility or charisma, it’s about context and contribution.

If you can understand the bigger picture, what keeps your leaders up at night, what your team is trying to build, where the gaps are, you put yourself in a position to offer real value.

Not just tasks. Insight.

And when you offer your perspective on how to solve a real problem before anyone asks you to, you’re not just contributing.

You’re building influence.

It’s a form of reciprocity: You give first. You think critically. You offer help.

And when the right opportunity opens up, you’re the first person they think of.

Tune into the full episode with Ellin Sidell to hear more on how partnership, mentorship, and sponsorship create powerful pathways to influence on The Workplace Therapy Podcast by Unity and Company: https://loom.ly/t30kf38

06/06/2025

Here’s a little secret about influence: Reciprocity isn’t just about favors... it’s about awareness.

In my conversation with Ellin Sidell on The Workplace Therapy Podcast, we explored the power of giving intangible gifts. Things like listening, sharing expertise, or saving someone time.

But here’s the twist I’d never heard framed quite like this before: “If they don’t know or believe it’s a gift, it doesn’t activate reciprocity. You have to bring it to their attention.”

We’ve all gone out of our way to help someone and felt like it went unnoticed.

Not because they’re ungrateful. But maybe because they didn’t realize it was a gift.

The insight? Don’t assume people always see your contributions for what they are. You can still be humble and authentic while naming the value you’re offering.

Something as simple as:
“I know you’re slammed, so I took care of X to free you up.”
“I’ve done this before—happy to save you the learning curve.”
“I carved out extra time to prep for this because I want it to go well for both of us.”

Ethical influence isn’t manipulation. It’s making the invisible visible so generosity has a chance to spark connection.

Hear more insight from Ellin Sidell and her 3-part framework for leadership influence on the latest episode of The Workplace Therapy Podcast by Unity and Company: https://loom.ly/t30kf38

06/04/2025

Influence isn't just about persuasion. It's about the quality of your relationships and the roles you play within them.

In our latest episode of The Workplace Therapy Podcast by Unity and Company, I had the chance to explore a simple but powerful framework with Ellin Sidell, CEO of The Sidell Method: Partnership, Mentorship, and Sponsorship.

During our conversation, Ellin offered a few key definitions:

- A partnership is a trusted relationship where power and authority are shared.

- A mentorship is a learning relationship where the mentee drives the direction—and the mentor becomes a thinking partner, not a sage on a stage.

I love that.

Too often, we treat mentorship like a download: one person transferring wisdom to another.
But real mentorship is a dialogue. It's a space for questions, curiosity, and growth... on both sides.

And when partnership is present, something even bigger happens: shared ownership. Shared outcomes. Shared growth.

This conversation with Ellin reminded me that the most impactful leaders aren’t the ones with the loudest voices.
They’re the ones who create space for others to think, contribute, and lead.

Listen in for more on how you can grow your influence through Partnership, Mentorship, and Sponsorship—on the latest episode of The Workplace Therapy Podcast by Unity and Company: https://loom.ly/t30kf38

06/02/2025

Most people think influence is about charisma. But the truth is, it’s about relationships and the roles we play within them.

In the latest episode of The Workplace Therapy Podcast by Unity and Company, I sat down with Ellin Sidell, CEO of The Sidell Method, to explore her 3-part framework for ethical influence: Partnership, Mentorship, and Sponsorship.

One moment that really stuck with me was when Ellin shared this:

“Sponsorship happens when a leader uses their own social capital in a room you don’t yet have access to. The word itself means ‘a surety or guarantee.’ They’re opening a door and vouching for you.”

Yes, you still have to earn your reputation through great work. But sponsorship can accelerate your path by helping you make the kinds of connections that are hard to build on your own.

The challenge is that most people, especially early in their careers, don’t know how to secure a sponsor. Senior leaders often seem too far removed, too inaccessible.

Ellin offers practical ways to build those relationships without being pushy or transactional. It’s about aligning your work to shared goals, finding authentic points of connection, and being ready to deliver value.

If you're looking to grow your leadership influence and open more doors for yourself and others, this episode is a must-listen.

Catch the full conversation now on The Workplace Therapy Podcast: https://loom.ly/t30kf38

06/01/2025

Remote work can be a powerful unlock... but only when it’s aligned with your stage of growth.

On the latest episode of The Workplace Therapy Podcast by Unity and Company, John Wichmann shared this:

“Remote’s a wonderful thing. It’s all about intentionality and ensuring that your approach is optimized for the needs of your business."

This is the nuance so many companies miss.

Too often, leaders copy/paste strategies from companies in a completely different growth phase or industry and then wonder why it’s not working for them.

The truth is: your remote or hybrid strategy needs to evolve with your business.

What worked when you were 10 people in a shared Slack channel might break when you’re 1,000 people and onboarding three new hires a week.

The key? Don’t default. Design.

Hear the full conversation with John here: https://loom.ly/t30kf38

05/30/2025

If your people don’t think the office is worth the commute… they’re not going to bring their best.

On the latest episode of The Workplace Therapy Podcast by Unity and Company, John Wichmann, CEO of Gather Sciences shared a deceptively simple question he uses to measure hybrid work effectiveness:

“In the last 45 days, how often has your in-office experience been worth your commute?”

It's their version of an NPS score for hybrid and the results are telling.

If your employees are rating their experience as a 3 or less (on a 1–5 scale), that means most people think you're wasting their time.

And that has real consequences:
- Lower engagement
- Declining trust in leadership
- A culture that can’t sustain high performance

Hybrid work isn’t just a policy. It’s a system. And if we want it to work, we have to design it with purpose.

Hear the full conversation with John here: https://loom.ly/t30kf38

05/28/2025

83% of CEOs now expect a full-time return to office within the next three years.

That number was just 64% a year ago.

Let that sink in.

On the latest episode of The Workplace Therapy Podcast by Unity and Company, John Wichmann, CEO of Gather Sciences, shared this data from a recent KPMG study and it left me thinking:

If the biggest companies are retreating from hybrid, what does that mean for the rest of us?

Here’s the opportunity:
If you’re a small or mid-sized business, this might be your competitive edge.
Not just offering hybrid—but doing it well.

John’s framework, Balanced Hybrid, helps organizations do just that—intentionally and sustainably.

Because as he says, “Being in hybrid isn’t the same as having an optimized hybrid model.”

Full episode here: https://loom.ly/t30kf38

05/26/2025

Not all hybrid work is created equal.

On a recent episode of The Workplace Therapy Podcast, I sat down with John Wichmann, CEO of Gather Sciences, to unpack what it really means to build a sustainable hybrid work strategy.

One of the insights that stuck with me?

“An optimized best practice approach to hybrid work brings together four key things:
the right people, at the right pattern (time and frequency), in the right place, with a shared purpose.”

Too many organizations stop at logistics. They set arbitrary in-office days or allow total autonomy without structure and then wonder why things feel disjointed.

But hybrid isn’t just about where people work. It’s about how we work—intentionally, collaboratively, and consistently.

If your hybrid model feels broken, or if you're facing resistance from either side of the in-office vs. remote debate, this episode is for you.

Listen to the full conversation here: https://loom.ly/t30kf38

05/22/2025

Hard truth: Calling people out isn’t the same as calling them up.

If your feedback is rooted in fear, frustration, or blame, you’re not leading, you’re lashing out.

📩 DM me if you’re ready to challenge with clarity, respect, and real leadership power.

05/18/2025

You weren’t meant to push all the time.

If your work feels heavy, you might be stuck in competence. But your genius? That’s where the magic (and the impact) lives.

📩 DM me if you’re ready to lead from your zone of genius and build a life that energizes you.

05/17/2025

You’re not stuck. You’re just split.

When your facts, feelings, and wants are out of sync, clarity disappears. But when you align them? Everything changes—at work, at home, in you.

📩 DM me if you’re ready to lead with emotional agility and deep alignment.

05/15/2025

If it’s not a full-body yes, it’s a no.

Saying yes to keep the peace often creates a war inside. But self-trust? That’s where real leadership begins.

📩 DM me if you’re ready to lead from alignment—not obligation.

Address

14050 N 83rd Avenue Suite 290-MB 73
Peoria, AZ
85381

Telephone

+16232523572

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Unity & Company posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Unity & Company:

Shortcuts

Share

Category