Cultures are impacted by emotional intelligence and closing the gap between our intentions and our actions. Jason is joined by author and Harvard professor, Margaret Andrews, for an engaging conversation.

Jason is joined by Margaret C. Andrews, Harvard University professor and seasoned executive, for a masterclass on the interpersonal dynamics that drive modern organizational success.

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Summary:

In an era where employee engagement has hit a ten-year low, how do elite leaders bridge the gap between corporate vision and the daily human experience? In this episode, Jason V. Barger sits down with Margaret C. Andrews to explore the shift from "soft skills" to "power skills." Margaret, a faculty member at Harvard who has worked with giants like Amazon and the United Nations, shares why emotional intelligence (EQ) and self-awareness are the ultimate competitive advantages in 2026.

This conversation moves beyond theoretical management to the heart of "Culture-Making." Jason and Margaret deconstruct the "knowing-doing gap"—the space between understanding leadership principles and actually embodying them under pressure. They explore the critical distinction between being a "culture taker" versus a "culture maker," and how executives can use perspective-taking to resolve the cultural dissonance that often leads to cynicism and turnover.

Essential listening for C-Suite executives, academic leaders, and managers at all levels, this episode offers a nuanced look at generational diversity, the "Chief Culture Officer" role of the CEO, and why walking beside your team is more effective than leading from the front.

Episode Notes & Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro: Jason sets the stage for a conversation on co-creating cultures that bring out the best in people during a time of low trust.

[00:03] Meet Margaret Andrews: From master's swim teams to Harvard lecture halls, Margaret introduces her "excitement meter" and the Facets of Strategy.

[00:06] The Harvard Perspective: Margaret discusses her courses on Managing Yourself and Leading Others, emphasizing that there is no "single right answer" in leadership—only context.

[00:09] The Engagement Crisis: A look at recent data showing 10-year lows in engagement and why only 23% of employees trust their leadership's direction.

[00:11] Culture Takers vs. Culture Makers: Margaret defines why most employees are culture takers and how the CEO must act as the "Chief Culture Officer" to move the needle.

[00:15] The Satya Nadella Case Study: An analysis of how Microsoft's CEO transformed a legacy culture by being an "insider on the sideline" and changing who got the "seats on the bus."

[00:19] Cultural Dissonance: Why "sharp elbows" in leadership destroy collaboration and how promotion criteria serve as the loudest signal of what a company truly values.

[00:23] Identifying Your Heroes: The power of stories in transmitting culture. To change your culture, you must change who your organization celebrates as a "hero."

[00:27] The "Soft Skills" Crusade: Jason and Margaret discuss why interpersonal skills are actually "superpowers" and why MIT alums consistently wish they had paid more attention to Organizational Behavior.

[00:31] The EQ Quadrants: A breakdown of self-awareness, self-management, social competency, and empathy in the high-stakes environment of executive leadership.

[00:37] The 6 vs. 9 Perspective: A viral analogy for the workplace—how two leaders can be looking at the same problem, seeing different "numbers," and both be "right" from their vantage point.

[00:41] Digital Natives & The "Why": A deep look at Gen Z and Millennials. Why these generations don't need "hovering" leaders, but rather partners to walk beside them.

Key Takeaways for Leaders:

The Knowing-Doing Gap: Real credit in leadership isn't given for knowing you should listen or be empathetic; it's only given for doing it consistently.
Vantage Point Curiosity: Replace judgment with curiosity. When a team member disagrees, ask what "vantage point" they are standing at to see the problem differently.
Hero Alignment: Audit the stories told in your halls. Do your "office legends" embody the culture you want to build, or the one you are trying to leave behind?

Listen to the full episode and access show notes at: https://jasonvbarger.com/podcast/culture-making-margaret-andrews/

Bio: Jason Barger is a husband, father, speaker, and author who is passionate about business leadership and corporate culture. He believes that corporate culture is the "thermostat" of an organization, and that it can be used to drive performance, innovation, and engagement. The show features interviews with business leaders from a variety of industries, as well as solo episodes where Barger shares his own insights and advice.

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Culture-Making with Margaret Andrews