The language of intent: What separates good leaders from great ones
Makeshapes
24 views
In this episode we explore how to dismantle transactional, soul-sucking meetings and build genuine team trust by mastering the language of intent.
Our guest is Chad Littlefield, Co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of We and Me. A TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and creator of the Connection Toolkit™—now used in over 80 countries worldwide—Chad has been named by Forbes as a global expert on asking questions that build team trust and connection. Partnering with organizations like Google, JetBlue, and Starbucks, Chad helps leaders strip away corporate theater, ditch boring slide decks, and design conversations that genuinely matter.
In this dynamic and candid conversation, Chad flips the script on facilitation from the very first minute to demonstrate what happens when leaders replace performative exercises with radical transparency. He unpacks why hidden agendas feel like manipulation, how appending two simple words ("so that") transforms organizational resistance into buy-in, and why leaders must eradicate the word "icebreaker" in favor of purposeful connection before content.
In this conversation, we explore:
🎯 The Language of Intent and the "So That" Shift: Why having an agenda for a group without clearly stating it borders on manipulation, and how adding "so that" followed by a currency the other person cares about stretches compliance into genuine buy-in.
🤝 Eradicating Icebreakers for "Connection Before Content": Why standard corporate icebreakers breed cynicism, and how intentionally connecting human beings to the core objective of a meeting creates communication shortcuts that save hundreds of hours every year.
👥 Trios as the Units of Transformation: Why real cultural change never occurs while an executive lectures from a podium, and how breaking large rooms into small groups of three exponentially multiplies perspective, connection, and accountability.
🎛️ The Two Dials of Facilitation (Risk vs. Value): How to navigate vulnerability by balancing risk against value, while giving participants complete autonomy over their depth of engagement.
💌 Invitation Over Mandate: Why efficiency is the enemy of connection, and how shifting from mandatory training compliance to irresistible invitations sparks voluntary engagement and boosts learning retention.
This conversation is packed with actionable facilitation frameworks and leadership insights for anyone in L&D, organizational development, or people leadership looking to elevate how their teams gather and communicate. Chad’s energetic, human-first approach will fundamentally change how you enter your next meeting.
🖥️ Shapeshifters Website - https://www.makeshapes.com/shapeshifters
🔗 Connect with Chad:
Chad Littlefield on LinkedIn - LinkedIn: chadlittlefield
We and Me - https://weand.me
🔗 Connect with us:
Makeshapes on LinkedIn - LinkedIn: makeshapes
Makeshapes on X - https://x.com/MakeshapesLtd
Makeshapes on Instagram - Instagram: makeshapesltd
Makeshapes on Facebook - Facebook: MakeshapesLtd
Makeshapes on TikTok - TikTok: makeshapes_ltd
The language of intent: What separates good leaders from great ones
Makeshapes
24 views
In this episode we explore how to dismantle transactional, soul-sucking meetings and build genuine team trust by mastering the language of intent.
Our guest is Chad Littlefield, Co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of We and Me. A TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and creator of the Connection Toolkit™—now used in over 80 countries worldwide—Chad has been named by Forbes as a global expert on asking questions that build team trust and connection. Partnering with organizations like Google, JetBlue, and Starbucks, Chad helps leaders strip away corporate theater, ditch boring slide decks, and design conversations that genuinely matter.
In this dynamic and candid conversation, Chad flips the script on facilitation from the very first minute to demonstrate what happens when leaders replace performative exercises with radical transparency. He unpacks why hidden agendas feel like manipulation, how appending two simple words ("so that") transforms organizational resistance into buy-in, and why leaders must eradicate the word "icebreaker" in favor of purposeful connection before content.
In this conversation, we explore:
🎯 The Language of Intent and the "So That" Shift: Why having an agenda for a group without clearly stating it borders on manipulation, and how adding "so that" followed by a currency the other person cares about stretches compliance into genuine buy-in.
🤝 Eradicating Icebreakers for "Connection Before Content": Why standard corporate icebreakers breed cynicism, and how intentionally connecting human beings to the core objective of a meeting creates communication shortcuts that save hundreds of hours every year.
👥 Trios as the Units of Transformation: Why real cultural change never occurs while an executive lectures from a podium, and how breaking large rooms into small groups of three exponentially multiplies perspective, connection, and accountability.
🎛️ The Two Dials of Facilitation (Risk vs. Value): How to navigate vulnerability by balancing risk against value, while giving participants complete autonomy over their depth of engagement.
💌 Invitation Over Mandate: Why efficiency is the enemy of connection, and how shifting from mandatory training compliance to irresistible invitations sparks voluntary engagement and boosts learning retention.
This conversation is packed with actionable facilitation frameworks and leadership insights for anyone in L&D, organizational development, or people leadership looking to elevate how their teams gather and communicate. Chad’s energetic, human-first approach will fundamentally change how you enter your next meeting.
🖥️ Shapeshifters Website - https://www.makeshapes.com/shapeshifters
🔗 Connect with Chad:
Chad Littlefield on LinkedIn - LinkedIn: chadlittlefield
We and Me - https://weand.me
🔗 Connect with us:
Makeshapes on LinkedIn - LinkedIn: makeshapes
Makeshapes on X - https://x.com/MakeshapesLtd
Makeshapes on Instagram - Instagram: makeshapesltd
Makeshapes on Facebook - Facebook: MakeshapesLtd
Makeshapes on TikTok - TikTok: makeshapes_ltd