Ep. 134, Joyosity in Practice: ICYMI pt 2 with Michael Whitmer

Somewhere between the feedback, the frustration, and the fifth Slack ping, most leaders stop being intentional.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of the Joyosity™ Podcast, Jenn Whitmer is back with Michael Whitmer for part two of this ICYMI conversation, pulling together the most practical leadership lessons from the Joyosity in Practice series. This one is all about the “now what?”—how leaders stay human in the everyday moments that quietly shape trust, culture, and performance. Together, Jenn and Michael talk through what it looks like to practice joy in real time: tracking what’s working, listening better, lowering the pressure of perfection, giving feedback that actually helps, and using small pauses to lead with more intention.

Here’s What’s in the Episode:

[05:50] Why joy is not fluffy or extra—and the 3 signals that tell you it’s actually present.

[07:19] How a “smile file” or glimmer list can help you notice progress, impact, and meaning.

[11:34] Why leaders need qualitative measures too—not just metrics and KPIs.

[14:27] Why listening is not just a soft skill, but part of your technical leadership skill.

[17:01] How leadership is usually shaped in small moments, not big dramatic ones.

[19:52] Why calling something an experiment can reduce pressure and improve learning.

[21:48] How “minimum viable magic” helps you move forward without waiting for perfection.

[24:12] Why the feedback sandwich is terrible and what to do instead.