Culture Over Coffee
Welcome to Culture Over Coffee, a podcast focused on improving company culture and fostering employee engagement hosted by Beth Sunshine, SVP/Partner at Up Your Culture. Every week we chat with experts and thought leaders about the latest proven practices that succeed in reducing regrettable turnover, increasing productivity and retaining key customers. So, pour a cup of your favorite brew and join us. Up Your Culture, an employee engagement and company culture firm, was designed by The Center for Sales Strategy which has almost 40 years of experience improving business performance.
All Episodes
The Middle Manager Squeeze
When organizations struggle with engagement, execution, or retention, leaders often look to the top (or the front lines) for answers. But the real pressure point is often in the middle. In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Beth Sunshine explores why middle managers are the foundation of a healthy workplace culture and what happens when they're expected to drive performance without the support they need to succeed. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026 Company Culture Report, Beth discusses: ☕ Why middle managers are the "load-bearing beams" of organizational culture ☕ How competing pressures from leadership and employees create strain ☕ The hidden warning signs of middle manager disengagement ☕ Why unsupported managers lead to inconsistent execution, lower engagement, and higher turnover ☕ Practical ways leaders can better equip managers with clarity, coaching, and support Key findings from ENGAGE 2026 include: - Only 37% of middle managers are engaged. - Only about one-third fully trust company leadership. - 57% have considered leaving their organization in the past year. - Only 43% say they're motivated by their company's vision. - Only about half feel they receive enough feedback and support for their own growth. - Just 36% say organizational change feels manageable. ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/homeYou Have a Feedback Problem (And You Probably Don’t Know It)
Most leaders believe they're giving enough feedback. The data tells a different story. In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Kate Rehling explores why feedback is one of the most overlooked drivers of employee growth and engagement—and why many organizations are treating it as an occasional event instead of an everyday habit. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026 Company Culture Report, Kate discusses: ☕ Why feedback should be a development tool—not just a way to correct mistakes ☕ How infrequent feedback creates uncertainty, disengagement, and inconsistent performance ☕ Why positive reinforcement is essential for building confidence and accelerating growth ☕ The feedback gap managers face—and why supporting them is critical to developing everyone else ☕ Four practical ways to make meaningful feedback a consistent part of your culture Key findings from ENGAGE 2026 include: - One in four employees receives feedback only once per year. - Only 37% receive meaningful feedback on a weekly basis. - 40% of employees say they don't receive enough meaningful feedback. - Nearly half of employees don't believe their manager helps them grow. - Only half of middle managers feel supported in their own development. Meaningful feedback isn't reserved for annual reviews or difficult conversations. It's an ongoing practice that builds confidence, strengthens performance, and helps people reach their full potential. Learn how creating a stronger feedback culture can drive engagement and growth across your organization. ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/homeThe Trust Deficit: How Accountability Without Credibility Backfires
Does More Accountability Actually Improve Culture? Accountability is essential. But without trust, it can have the opposite effect leaders intend. In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Beth Sunshine explores why raising expectations alone doesn't create stronger performance. Instead, when accountability isn't supported by trust and consistent leadership, it often leads to compliance, hesitation, and disengagement. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026 Company Culture Report, Beth discusses: ☕ Why accountability without trust creates caution instead of commitment ☕ How inconsistent leadership behaviors quietly erode credibility ☕ The difference between employees taking ownership and simply checking the box ☕ Why middle managers play a critical role in reinforcing trust and accountability ☕ Practical ways leaders can build accountability through consistency, follow-through, and clear communication Key findings from ENGAGE 2026 include: - Employee trust in leadership has declined from 70% in 2023 to 56% in 2026. - Only 44% of employees say their manager consistently follows through. - 86% of employees who wouldn't recommend their company say leaders don't consistently follow through. - Only about one-third of middle managers fully trust organizational leadership. Strong accountability isn't built through higher standards alone. It's built when employees trust that expectations are fair, leaders are consistent, and commitments are honored. Learn how trust transforms accountability from compliance into genuine commitment. ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/homePurpose Is Table Stakes (But It's Not Enough)
Is Purpose Enough to Keep Employees Engaged? Most employees say they have a sense of purpose in their work. So why are engagement levels still so low? In this episode of Culture Over Coffee, Kate Rehling explores why purpose is an important foundation—but not enough on its own to create an engaged workforce. Drawing on insights from the ENGAGE 2026 Company Culture Report, she explains why employees can care deeply about their work while still feeling disconnected from the organization they work for. In this episode, you'll learn: ☕ Why purpose and engagement aren't the same thing ☕ The difference between finding meaning in your work versus believing in your organization's mission ☕ Why feedback, recognition, trust, and development matter just as much as purpose ☕ How the Four Engagement Elevators help organizations turn purpose into lasting engagement Key findings from ENGAGE 2026 include: - 92% of employees say they feel a sense of purpose in their work. - Only 34% would highly recommend their company as a great place to work. - One-third of employees aren't motivated by their company's long-term vision. - 39% say they don't receive enough feedback. - 37% don't feel meaningfully recognized. Purpose gives people a reason to care. A strong culture gives them a reason to stay. Discover how leaders can connect purpose to everyday employee experiences to build higher engagement and stronger organizational performance. ENGAGE 2026: The Company Culture Report: https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/engage-company-culture-report Beth Sunshine https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsunshine/ Up Your Culture https://uyc.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/home