What if the secret to better leadership wasn’t doing exactly what’s asked—but uncovering what’s really needed? In this episode of the Build a Vibrant Culture podcast, Nicole Greer welcomes Bill Shander, author of Stakeholder Whispering, educator, and data storytelling expert. Bill reveals how leaders can shift from reactive execution to strategic impact by slowing down, asking the right questions, and uncovering hidden needs. Together, Nicole and Bill dive into the power of fast vs. slow thinking, the Socratic method, and the role of empathy and curiosity in building trust. You’ll learn practical tools like the Five Whys and active listening to help you transform workplace conversations into meaningful progress. If you’re ready to sharpen your leadership and strengthen your culture, this conversation will show you how to whisper your way to success!
Vibrant Highlights:
[00:03:06] What is a stakeholder? – Bill defines the broad meaning of “stakeholder” and why the word is both problematic and essential.
[00:06:12] Not fully baked ideas – Why leaders often ask for the wrong “cake” and how whispering uncovers what’s really needed.
[00:08:17] Fast vs. slow thinking – Drawing from Daniel Kahneman’s research, Bill explains why slowing down leads to better decisions.
[00:12:16] The Socratic method & puzzlement (aporia) – How asking thoughtful questions creates insight and clarity for stakeholders.
[00:43:35] The Five Whys – Bill shares how this tool digs past surface requests to reveal the true root cause of the request.
Bill’s Book, Stakeholder Whispering: https://a.co/d/bNFQ6w4
Download a free digital preview: https://billshander.com/books/#:~:text=free%20digital%20preview
Connect with Bill:
Website: https://billshander.com/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/billshander/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BillShander
Also mentioned in this episode:
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: https://a.co/d/6MnHI70
Listen at vibrantculture.com/podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts!
Learn more about Nicole Greer, The Vibrant Coach, at vibrantculture.com.
