June 2, 2025 • 12 mins
In the rush of meetings, pings, deadlines, and distractions, how do leaders find what truly matters?
In this episode of The Workplace Chameleon, Dr. Celina Peerman explores the difference between noise—the things that keep us busy—and signal—the clarity that guides us.
You’ll learn how to filter out what’s urgent but unimportant, tune in to what matters most, and use powerful team practices to realign your leadership and priorities.
Plus, grab the free companion worksheet to help you and your team define the signal and quiet the noise this week.
Focus. Prioritization. Alignment.
This episode kicks off the path forward.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome to the Workplace Chameleon where we
explore how to adapt, align andlead through constant change.
It is great to be back with you.
My name is Dr Selina Piermanand this season we're digging
into what it really takes tofocus, prioritize what matters
(00:31):
and lead with intention wheneverything feels urgent.
We've been on a break and I amvery happy to be back.
Thanks for following along, andwe have 12 new episodes mapped
out for you, centered on threethemes.
I've mentioned them already andyou'll hear about them often
(00:55):
Focus, priorities and alignment.
I'm also excited to share withyou that those three themes are
also wrapped up in an upcomingbook called 39 Squirrels.
If you're not familiar with themovie Up, there is a reference
to focus in a particular scenewhere a dog, of course, is going
(01:22):
to track the squirrel of course, is going to track the squirrel
.
Many of us recognize that wemight feel like we've got lots
of squirrels running in our headin all different directions
trying to do the things we do,and this is the third book in a
series that will be out soon.
The first two, 49 Chameleonsand 29 Owls are now available on
(01:46):
our website and by contactingour team.
And no, there's not reallyanything about animals in the
books.
They're all business andorganizational effectiveness
ideas for emerging leaders,advancing leaders and those
people who just really want tomake a bigger impact, and we're
excited to tell you more aboutthose if you'd like to reach out
(02:09):
and talk.
Today's episode is called theNoise and the Signal.
I've had many days and Isuspect you have too where I am
so busy all day long, and yet atthe end of it I couldn't
clearly say that I got anythingto move forward.
(02:33):
Consider for a moment how Iview that moment, because that's
the moment I know the noise won.
Because that's the moment Iknow the noise won.
That's the moment I know thenoise won.
So what is noise?
(02:53):
Noise is the distraction, it'sthe overload, it is the feeling
of spinning.
It can be external endlessemails, rapid fire meetings,
interruptions, unclear requests.
It can also be internal secondguessing, perfectionism, people
(03:20):
pleasing comparison.
And then there's organizationalnoise multiple priorities,
unclear strategies, overlappinginitiatives.
We normalize noise, we saywe're multitasking, when really
we're just unfocused.
We respond to everything, butnot necessarily the things that
(03:41):
deserve our best thinking.
Noise isn't always bad.
It's just not as useful for thedecision that is likely in
front of you and when you leadfrom the noise, you stay
reactive instead of intentional.
(04:02):
Remember, in every conversationthere are hundreds of things we
could listen for.
Are we listening to the rightthing?
And that insight that I havecarried with me for a long time
starts fully back giving HeatherWoody credit for that one,
(04:25):
because it's her techniques andcoaching that help me do a
better job of making sure thatin each conversation, I'm
listening for the right thing.
In this example, what's thesignal?
The signal is the clarity.
(04:46):
It's the next right step, it'syour anchor.
Signal might come from yourmission, your values, a deadline
that matters, feedback from atrusted team member, a question
(05:06):
from a customer or a client thatmakes you rethink your approach
.
Signal often feels quieter,more grounded, less dramatic,
but it's the thread thatconnects what you do to why you
(05:27):
do it.
When we follow signal, we feelprogress, alignment, focus, and
when we ignore it for too long,we drift, our teams drift and we
start reacting to things thatdon't actually move us forward.
(05:53):
Some time ago, I got a phonecall from one of the CEOs I
respect the most and in my workas an organizational
psychologist, I'm just sohonored to be in conversation
with people in the really goodtimes and in the times that we
struggle the most.
And this is one of the CEOsthat I just respect the most.
(06:16):
I like how he runs his companyand how he takes care of his
people.
And in that moment he called meand he said I'm failing my team
.
I'm like whoa, whoa, whoa, waita minute.
You're not failing your team.
What's up with this word?
I just don't feel like I'm likewhoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute
.
You're not failing your team.
(06:37):
What's up with this word?
I just don't feel like I'mgetting anything done for them.
You know what?
We all have those moments andthe reason I shared that
particular example with you isbecause this is someone I know
to be so good at what he does,takes such great care of his
team.
But we all have moments wherethe noise is winning and my
(06:58):
question back was what are thetop three things you need to get
done today?
I could have said just one, butI said three because when we
name those three, then we canchoose really out of those three
.
It helps us bring our thinkingin.
We can choose really out ofthose three.
It helps us bring our thinkingin, clarify what's at the top of
our mind and then pick what'snext.
(07:19):
He wasn't failing his team.
In fact, when we have thoseongoing feelings, there are
multiple reasons behind them andwe're going to explore that a
little bit more in this upcomingseason as we tie focus
priorities, alignment aroundconfidence, and what does it
(07:40):
take to move through those?
Well, I'm happy to say that hewent on and, of course, is still
taking great care of his teamand his company today.
But I love the reminder.
We all have those moments.
We all need that little bit ofreassurance, a signal from
somebody else we're doing okay.
You don't need to eliminate allthe noise, that's not realistic
(08:04):
but you can train yourself tonotice when it shows up and then
shift back to signal.
Consider a couple of dailysignal checks.
What is my clearestresponsibility today?
What noise do I expect toencounter?
(08:24):
How will I stay focused when itdoes?
And it does, pause beforereacting and ask what's the
signal here?
What really needs my leadership?
Teach this to your team too.
Try saying let's quiet thenoise so we can hear the signal.
(08:49):
Now, if that's not like you tosay and they're not expecting to
hear those words from youremember I do love a good sense
of humor they might look at youat that moment and go what are
you talking about?
Then send them the link forthis episode.
But you need to build cues intoyour day A post-it note, a word
(09:12):
on your screensaver, a calendarreminder, an alarm on your
phone.
Even 30 seconds of pause canreset your direction and, by the
way, just give you a littlemore boost in confidence because
you're clearer.
One of the most powerful thingswe can do as leaders is help
(09:36):
others notice the noise andinvite them to name the signals
they see.
Try this at your next teammeeting.
What feels noisy to you rightnow?
If you get them to understandhow you mean the definition of
noise, you might hear too manyconflicting emails.
(09:59):
We keep changing direction.
It's not clear what thepriority is.
Remember, these are notcomplaints.
They're clues, clues that yourteam is struggling to find the
signal.
What are some other tools youmight try?
Priority check-in Mondayswhat's our signal this week?
(10:22):
Project alignment what signalare we following as we work on
this Supervisor check-in?
What's helping you lead withclarity right now?
What's making it harder?
Or on a whiteboard or shareddocument, noise we can let go of
(10:44):
and signals worth following.
The best leaders don't justmanage the noise.
They teach their teams how tolisten for the signal together.
Your week ahead will be full ofnoise.
(11:05):
And here's your invitationNotice it, name it and shift
toward your signal.
Guess what?
We have a new feature thisseason companion worksheets.
These will help you map out forthis episode, your own signal
(11:28):
and noise and bring the practiceto your team.
So stay tuned.
How to access that?
There will be a downloadavailable for all 12 episodes so
you can deepen your learningfurther.
Thank you for joining me on theWorkplace Chameleon.
(11:49):
Keep smashing mental healthstigmas and if today's episode
helped you refocus and realign,even in the few minutes we share
together, reflect on it, pushit out into the world, if you
would help our little team withthat and use it to lead just a
(12:11):
little clearer this week.
Until next time, keep leadingwith intention and learn
something new today, day.
Welcome to the Workplace Chameleon where we
explore how to adapt, align andlead through constant change.
It is great to be back with you.
My name is Dr Selina Piermanand this season we're digging
into what it really takes tofocus, prioritize what matters
(00:31):
and lead with intention wheneverything feels urgent.
We've been on a break and I amvery happy to be back.
Thanks for following along, andwe have 12 new episodes mapped
out for you, centered on threethemes.
I've mentioned them already andyou'll hear about them often
(00:55):
Focus, priorities and alignment.
I'm also excited to share withyou that those three themes are
also wrapped up in an upcomingbook called 39 Squirrels.
If you're not familiar with themovie Up, there is a reference
to focus in a particular scenewhere a dog, of course, is going
(01:22):
to track the squirrel of course, is going to track the squirrel
.
Many of us recognize that wemight feel like we've got lots
of squirrels running in our headin all different directions
trying to do the things we do,and this is the third book in a
series that will be out soon.
The first two, 49 Chameleonsand 29 Owls are now available on
(01:46):
our website and by contactingour team.
And no, there's not reallyanything about animals in the
books.
They're all business andorganizational effectiveness
ideas for emerging leaders,advancing leaders and those
people who just really want tomake a bigger impact, and we're
excited to tell you more aboutthose if you'd like to reach out
(02:09):
and talk.
Today's episode is called theNoise and the Signal.
I've had many days and Isuspect you have too where I am
so busy all day long, and yet atthe end of it I couldn't
clearly say that I got anythingto move forward.
(02:33):
Consider for a moment how Iview that moment, because that's
the moment I know the noise won.
Because that's the moment Iknow the noise won.
That's the moment I know thenoise won.
So what is noise?
(02:53):
Noise is the distraction, it'sthe overload, it is the feeling
of spinning.
It can be external endlessemails, rapid fire meetings,
interruptions, unclear requests.
It can also be internal secondguessing, perfectionism, people
(03:20):
pleasing comparison.
And then there's organizationalnoise multiple priorities,
unclear strategies, overlappinginitiatives.
We normalize noise, we saywe're multitasking, when really
we're just unfocused.
We respond to everything, butnot necessarily the things that
(03:41):
deserve our best thinking.
Noise isn't always bad.
It's just not as useful for thedecision that is likely in
front of you and when you leadfrom the noise, you stay
reactive instead of intentional.
(04:02):
Remember, in every conversationthere are hundreds of things we
could listen for.
Are we listening to the rightthing?
And that insight that I havecarried with me for a long time
starts fully back giving HeatherWoody credit for that one,
(04:25):
because it's her techniques andcoaching that help me do a
better job of making sure thatin each conversation, I'm
listening for the right thing.
In this example, what's thesignal?
The signal is the clarity.
(04:46):
It's the next right step, it'syour anchor.
Signal might come from yourmission, your values, a deadline
that matters, feedback from atrusted team member, a question
(05:06):
from a customer or a client thatmakes you rethink your approach
.
Signal often feels quieter,more grounded, less dramatic,
but it's the thread thatconnects what you do to why you
(05:27):
do it.
When we follow signal, we feelprogress, alignment, focus, and
when we ignore it for too long,we drift, our teams drift and we
start reacting to things thatdon't actually move us forward.
(05:53):
Some time ago, I got a phonecall from one of the CEOs I
respect the most and in my workas an organizational
psychologist, I'm just sohonored to be in conversation
with people in the really goodtimes and in the times that we
struggle the most.
And this is one of the CEOsthat I just respect the most.
(06:16):
I like how he runs his companyand how he takes care of his
people.
And in that moment he called meand he said I'm failing my team
.
I'm like whoa, whoa, whoa, waita minute.
You're not failing your team.
What's up with this word?
I just don't feel like I'm likewhoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute
.
You're not failing your team.
(06:37):
What's up with this word?
I just don't feel like I'mgetting anything done for them.
You know what?
We all have those moments andthe reason I shared that
particular example with you isbecause this is someone I know
to be so good at what he does,takes such great care of his
team.
But we all have moments wherethe noise is winning and my
(06:58):
question back was what are thetop three things you need to get
done today?
I could have said just one, butI said three because when we
name those three, then we canchoose really out of those three
.
It helps us bring our thinkingin.
We can choose really out ofthose three.
It helps us bring our thinkingin, clarify what's at the top of
our mind and then pick what'snext.
(07:19):
He wasn't failing his team.
In fact, when we have thoseongoing feelings, there are
multiple reasons behind them andwe're going to explore that a
little bit more in this upcomingseason as we tie focus
priorities, alignment aroundconfidence, and what does it
(07:40):
take to move through those?
Well, I'm happy to say that hewent on and, of course, is still
taking great care of his teamand his company today.
But I love the reminder.
We all have those moments.
We all need that little bit ofreassurance, a signal from
somebody else we're doing okay.
You don't need to eliminate allthe noise, that's not realistic
(08:04):
but you can train yourself tonotice when it shows up and then
shift back to signal.
Consider a couple of dailysignal checks.
What is my clearestresponsibility today?
What noise do I expect toencounter?
(08:24):
How will I stay focused when itdoes?
And it does, pause beforereacting and ask what's the
signal here?
What really needs my leadership?
Teach this to your team too.
Try saying let's quiet thenoise so we can hear the signal.
(08:49):
Now, if that's not like you tosay and they're not expecting to
hear those words from youremember I do love a good sense
of humor they might look at youat that moment and go what are
you talking about?
Then send them the link forthis episode.
But you need to build cues intoyour day A post-it note, a word
(09:12):
on your screensaver, a calendarreminder, an alarm on your
phone.
Even 30 seconds of pause canreset your direction and, by the
way, just give you a littlemore boost in confidence because
you're clearer.
One of the most powerful thingswe can do as leaders is help
(09:36):
others notice the noise andinvite them to name the signals
they see.
Try this at your next teammeeting.
What feels noisy to you rightnow?
If you get them to understandhow you mean the definition of
noise, you might hear too manyconflicting emails.
(09:59):
We keep changing direction.
It's not clear what thepriority is.
Remember, these are notcomplaints.
They're clues, clues that yourteam is struggling to find the
signal.
What are some other tools youmight try?
Priority check-in Mondayswhat's our signal this week?
(10:22):
Project alignment what signalare we following as we work on
this Supervisor check-in?
What's helping you lead withclarity right now?
What's making it harder?
Or on a whiteboard or shareddocument, noise we can let go of
(10:44):
and signals worth following.
The best leaders don't justmanage the noise.
They teach their teams how tolisten for the signal together.
Your week ahead will be full ofnoise.
(11:05):
And here's your invitationNotice it, name it and shift
toward your signal.
Guess what?
We have a new feature thisseason companion worksheets.
These will help you map out forthis episode, your own signal
(11:28):
and noise and bring the practiceto your team.
So stay tuned.
How to access that?
There will be a downloadavailable for all 12 episodes so
you can deepen your learningfurther.
Thank you for joining me on theWorkplace Chameleon.
(11:49):
Keep smashing mental healthstigmas and if today's episode
helped you refocus and realign,even in the few minutes we share
together, reflect on it, pushit out into the world, if you
would help our little team withthat and use it to lead just a
(12:11):
little clearer this week.
Until next time, keep leadingwith intention and learn
something new today, day.
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