Leading with Humour in Tough Times (with Scott Lorimer)

Host Christi Scarrow talks to Scott Lorimer, VP of Sales at Campbell's. Scott shares leadership insights rooted in his early work at McDonald’s. He emphasizes how combining hard work with fun has been foundational in shaping his career. Lorimer reflected on the challenges of team motivation and giving feedback.  He advocates for strategies that "create flight, not drag" and tailoring support to individual motivations. He underlines the importance of authenticity, consistency, humility, and humor in effective leadership. While humor can ease stress and boost morale, he noted the need for sensitivity to different personalities and situations.

Action Items

-Intentionally add humor and positivity to your leadership, while being mindful of timing and tone.
-Take time to understand individual team member motivations and provide tailored support.
-Give direct feedback in a way that encourages growth—“creating flight, not drag.”
-Stay humble and consistently seek feedback to evolve as a leader.

Outline

Scott Lorimer’s Early Career Lessons

-Scott reflects on his first job at McDonald’s, where he learned the value of working hard and having fun.
-He recounts his journey from crew to swing shift manager and how that shaped his leadership.
-He shares their mantra of “If you have time to lean, you have time to clean” which encourages people to find something to do, work hard and provide value

The Importance of Fun in Leadership

-Scott shares how humor helps him manage stress and maintain a positive team culture.
-He discusses the delicate balance between humor and sarcasm and being mindful of how humor is received.
-Christi adds her perspective on dark humor and the complexity of respecting different senses of humor.

Balancing Stress and Leadership

-Scott emphasizes staying calm and lighthearted during tough situations.
-He quotes, “Leaders get the behaviors they exhibit or tolerate,” highlighting the power of example.
-He stresses the importance of giving timely feedback that uplifts rather than demoralizes.
-A personal story illustrates how direct feedback helped him grow.

Motivating Teams and Providing Feedback

-Scott explores the difficulty of motivating teams and giving effective feedback in fast-paced environments.
-He suggests a feedback approach that blends directness with positivity.
-He stresses the importance of understanding individual motivations and investing time in team relationships
-He champions authenticity, consistency, humility, and the value of seeking feedback as a leader.

Advice for New Leaders

-New leaders should focus on enabling others to achieve results—not doing all the work themselves.
-Scott shares how early feedback helped him see the value of empowering his team.
-He stresses authenticity, self-awareness, and consistency.
-Finally, he encourages leaders to seek feedback and stay thoughtful and curious in team interactions.

Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: Campbell’s 

Lighthouse NINE Group: Website

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74