What Most Leaders Get Wrong About Communication: Kara Kuykendall
“THE WHY BEHIND THE WHAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.”
Episode Description
In this episode of Leadership Matters, Kara Kuykendall, Founder of True North Leadership, joins host Kaylee Thomsen for a grounding conversation on alignment, communication, and what it truly takes to lead people through change. Kara shares her 27-year career journey and why she left corporate America to help executives close the gap between strategy and execution. She unpacks why alignment breaks down between the leadership room and the front lines, what stability really means in today’s workplace, and how leaders can embrace AI without losing the people behind the work. Kara also shares a powerful reflection exercise to help every leader communicate with more intention and impact.
Chapters
- 00:00 Intro: Meet Kara Kuykendall
- 00:52 Leaving Corporate to Build True North Leadership
- 02:04 What Made Her Former Company Feel Humane
- 04:26 Biggest Lessons From 27 Years in Corporate
- 06:50 Career Jungle Gym vs. Career Ladder
- 08:04 Rooting Leadership in Clear Communication
- 09:13 Why People Need to Hear Things Seven Times
- 11:40 Where Her Passion for Alignment Comes From
- 13:38 When Strategy Breaks Down in Execution
- 16:02 How Alignment Builds Humanity in Organizations
- 18:23 Redefining Stability in the Workplace
- 20:46 The Risk of Being "Too Secure" in Your Role
- 21:46 Staying Ahead of Disruption and Layoffs
- 23:12 Reframing Fear Around AI
- 24:34 The Bookkeeper Story: How Roles Evolve, Not Disappear
- 26:47 What Job Elevation Really Looks Like
- 28:00 The Skills That Matter Most Going Forward
- 29:50 Final Advice: Reflect on How You Communicate
More In The Series
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