Catch People Doing Things Right: Lessons from Ken Blanchard’s Editor Martha Lawrence

Praise in Public, Criticize in Private Leadership Lessons with Martha Lawrence

Episode 279 ( Martha is based in San Diego, CA)

In this conversation with Martha Lawrence, we explore:

• how the culture of positivity shaped Ken Blanchard’s leadership philosophy

• why The One Minute Manager changed how organizations lead and communicate

• how to apply “catch people doing things right” both at work and at home

• the fine line between genuine praise and shallow flattery

• what “servant leadership” really means in practice

• how leaders can help team members by asking better questions

• how Martha Lawrence turned trauma into meaningful creative work

• why apologizing and letting go of ego strengthen leadership

• how Ken Blanchard modeled love and humility in leadership

• how positivity and purpose can transform organizations and lives

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About our guest Martha Lawrence:

She's a vertern book editor who has edited hundreds of book including major bestsellers - Feel the Fear and Do it Anyways and The One Minute Enrepreneur.

As the executive editor at Blanchard, she worked with business guru, Ken Blanchard for over two decades.

Learn more about Martha and her new book at https://marthalawrence.com/

Books by Ken Blanchard https://www.kenblanchardbooks.com/

Wow! More resources from Ken Blanchard https://www.blanchard.com/

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Key Lessons from this conversation with Martha Lawerence:

• Positive leadership is rooted in valuing people as much as results.

• The One Minute Manager principles — clear goals, one-minute praising, and one-minute redirects — remain timeless leadership tools.

• Catching people doing things right is more effective than focusing on mistakes.

• Praise in public, criticize in private — simple rule, powerful impact.

• Servant leadership means inverting the hierarchy: leaders serve their teams.

• Leadership is learned behavior; empathy and humility can be practiced.

• The best leaders help others grow by asking, “How can I help you do your job better?”

• Adversity can become the catalyst for purpose and contribution.

• Apologizing well is a leadership strength, not a weakness.

• Real leaders let go of ego — as Ken Blanchard says, ego means “edging good out.”

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