In this episode, Nicole sits down with Karl Sakas, a seasoned leadership advisor and operations expert for creative businesses, to explore his latest book, Calm the Chaos. They dive into what it really takes to lead a thriving business or agency without losing your mind—or your weekends. Karl shares powerful insights about managing your energy, delegating intentionally, building strong teams, and yes, surviving meetings that could’ve been emails. He also tackles:
- Why leaders must prioritize their own well-being (and how Karl learned the hard way)
- How to stop being the bottleneck in your business
- Creating a culture that balances warmth with competence
- A hilarious take on “swoop and poop” leadership
- Why bad meetings are the enemy (and how to fix them)
Whether you run an agency, a hospital, or a small business, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to stop spinning your wheels and start leading with focus and purpose.
Highlights from this episode
[07:53] Take Care of Yourself First. “Put on your own oxygen mask before helping others.” Karl shares how his team staged an intervention about his workload—and how that wake-up call changed everything. Start here if you feel burnout creeping in.
[14:19] Stop Being the Sole Answer Person. Delegation isn’t a bumper sticker—it's a complex process. Karl breaks down how to stop being the "go-to" for everything and why that mindset limits your team and your growth.
[24:48] Create the Work Environment You Always Wanted. High warmth, high competence. Karl unpacks a powerful framework to help leaders build culture intentionally. Plus, the difference between being a good boss and just being “nice.”
Karl's book: https://sakasandcompany.com/lp/calm-the-chaos-book/
Connect with Karl:
Karl's website: https://sakasandcompany.com/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlsakas/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/karlsakas/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/karlsakas
X: https://x.com/KarlSakas
Other books mentioned in this episode:
The Human Brand https://a.co/d/1Yu76uU
Radical Candor https://a.co/d/2S9FwV4
Traction https://a.co/d/4LHm4RG
We are grateful to Karl for bringing his passion for leadership and workplace culture to the Build a Vibrant Culture podcast! Listen at vibrantculture.com/podcast or your favorite podcast app!
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.