Episode 48

full
Published on:

29th Jul 2025

Unlocking the Potential of Reluctant Leaders with Will Matthews

Join Jason for an eye-opening and hopeful conversation with Will Matthews, the Director of Learning and Engagement (aka “Team Hearts and Minds”) at G Adventures.

 

Will shares offers fresh insights on how we can better recognize and activate the hidden leaders on our teams. Together, Jason and Will dive deep into the origins and nuances of “reluctant leaders”, those talented individuals who opt out of leadership because of limiting stories or outdated models of what a leader should be.

 

Key highlights from the episode include:

👉 True leadership isn’t about being loud, social, or front-and-center; it’s about making others better, going first, and creating space for growth.

 

👉 Managers can unlock incredible results by seeking out reluctant leaders, investing in human-centered development for all, and recognizing that leadership is a collective, evolving practice.

 

👉 Discover how G Adventures uses innovative programs and clear messaging to ensure every team member, from office to remote guide, feels empowered to lead and connect.

 

👉 Learn concrete techniques for identifying overlooked talent, inviting introverted and non-traditional employees into growth pathways, and reframing “leadership” as essential human skills.

 

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Connect with Will:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wbmatthews/

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JOIN THOUSANDS OF LEADERS WHO ARE HARNESSING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK.

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

 

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Connect with Jason:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

 

#Leadership #PeopleFirst #CompanyCulture #FeedbackLoop #WorkplaceExcellence

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About the Podcast

Unlocking High Performance
How leaders unlock performance by creating the conditions for people to do their best work
Unlocking High Performance is a podcast for leaders who want strong results without burning their people out in the process.

Hosted by Jason Lauritsen, the show explores how clarity, alignment, and connection shape performance at work. Jason draws from his work with CEOs, executive teams, and leaders to examine why work so often becomes heavier, slower, and more frustrating than it needs to be and how to fix it.

Some episodes are solo reflections. Others are conversations with leaders and practitioners navigating real constraints and consequences. Each conversation looks beyond tactics to understand the leadership and organizational conditions that make performance possible.

The podcast focuses on the systems that drive performance, not leadership theory or quick fixes. Listeners will walk away with a clearer understanding of how work actually gets done and how to build environments where people perform at their best.

About your host

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Jason Lauritsen