Chester Elton's Recent LinkedIn Posts

It shows up in how we listen, how we respond under pressure, and how we treat people when no one is watching. Small choices, repeated daily, shape the environment people experience and remember. You do not build culture with a mission statement alone. You build it in conversations, decisions, and simple acts of respect that happen every single day. Subscribe to my Substack and discover how gratitude can transform your leadership and your team. https://lnkd.in/gmbnahin

In this week’s Gratitude Journal, I reflect on legacy, service, and why the way we show up for others is what people remember most.

Support, encouragement, and belief create a ripple effect that strengthens individuals and teams alike. Lifting others builds trust, confidence, and a shared sense of purpose. Leadership is not about standing above. It is about elevating those around you so collective success becomes possible. Subscribe to my Substack and discover how gratitude can transform your leadership and your team. https://lnkd.in/gmbnahin

A lot of snow. Good teamwork. Some of the best moments are found in the everyday.

At some point in your career, applause fades. Titles change. Markets shift. The spotlight moves on. What’s left is purpose. This week’s Gratitude Journal is about Gordie Howe — and what he teaches us about why the best leaders don’t retire from the mission, even when they could. If you’re leading through change right now, this one’s for you.

Culture shifts the instant gratitude enters the room. It doesn’t start with programs or perks. It begins when people feel recognized, valued, and genuinely appreciated. Subscribe to my Substack and discover how gratitude can transform your leadership and your team. https://lnkd.in/gmbnahin

Bruce Nichols achieved an 80-point culture swing in 90 days at Liberty Mutual. His secret? He stopped pushing change from the top and gave first-line managers real ownership. New Culture Works episode on why technology on broken HR systems makes everything worse. Listen to the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

Want to transform workplace culture? Stop managing it and start inhabiting it. Bruce Nichols: be in the culture. Not as an observer. As a participant who lives what you're asking others to build. Leadership isn't a position. It's presence. Link to the episode in the comments.

I’m excited to welcome Fiona Macaulay to Top of the Stack for a live conversation about Aim High and Bounce Back, which she co-authored with Deborah Grayson Riegel. Setbacks are part of every meaningful career. While they can be discouraging, they can also become powerful turning points when we learn how to grow from them. Fiona’s work offers a practical and hopeful framework for rethinking failure and moving forward with confidence. We’ll talk about why failure can feel so personal in the workplace, walk through the three-step framework from the book, and share real stories of resilience and growth. I hope you’ll join us and bring your questions! Wednesday, March 18
 @ 11:00 AM ET RSVP below!

Culture is more than just swag. It's not the free lunches or gym memberships that make people stay. It's how you make decisions, how you communicate, and how transparent you are. Tiffany Nugent explained why those fundamentals are what build a great culture, not the perks. Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

When we don't create space for curiosity, we stagnate. As leaders, we have a responsibility to remain curious and push our teams to do the same. But curiosity alone isn't enough. Tiffany Nugent shared why you need to take the next step and actually implement real change. Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

We're burning ourselves out. And then burning our people out by modeling that behavior. Tiffany Nugent told us why reflective leadership matters: stopping, reflecting on what's working and what's not, and preventing burnout before it starts. One thing stays the same across every industry: people make everything run. How we lead them is what makes the difference. Listen to the episode at the link in the comments.

Our guest this week got hit by a car and went back to work three days later leading 11,000 people through COVID. That's when Tiffany Nugent realized something had to change about how we lead. Today she's the CPO at Concert Health and owns SALT Wellness, a holistic wellness center. In our conversation, she shared: - Why most wellness programs fail (and what actually works)  - The three reflection questions that help stuck leaders move forward  - How AI is giving HR the strategic seat we've been asking for  - Why psychological safety is the universal foundation New episode on The Culture Works Podcast live now. Link in comments.

Join me on March 11 in Lehi, Utah for the very first Build then Bless Conference. I’ll be speaking about culture, gratitude, mental health, and how we create workplaces where people truly thrive. And yes… there will be carrots for those who participate. 🥕 It’s an incredible lineup of speakers and a day focused on community, generosity, and building stronger teams together. If you’re planning to attend, early bird pricing is ending soon. Visit https://lnkd.in/eeicW6SA and use my code CE35 at checkout to save on your ticket. Hope to see you there! #BuildThenBless #BTBConference2026

When people feel seen and valued, energy builds, confidence grows, and progress accelerates. Recognition turns effort into enthusiasm and helps teams keep moving forward, even when the work is challenging. Momentum is not driven by pressure alone. It is sustained by appreciation that reminds people their contributions matter.

Ten consecutive years winning Best and Brightest Company to Work For while maintaining 38 years of double-digit organic growth. How? I talked with Shawn Premer, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CHRO at Consumers Credit Union, about building culture that performs. A few things stood out to me: Purpose over profit. Their mission is making members' financial dreams come true, not maximizing shareholder returns. Their collections team doesn't pound on doors. They ask, "How can we help you not lose your car?" That changes everything. Mental health without stigma. They partnered with Be Nice to train 54 suicide prevention liaisons across their organization. The CEO talks about it. Managers talk about it. Cards are at every workstation. The message: noticing someone struggling isn't optional. Care plus accountability. Shawn's approach: "You give grace when someone is struggling emotionally, but that doesn't exempt them from performance. You balance both, because if they can't succeed in this supportive environment, they won't succeed anywhere." They brought everyone back to the office five days a week. Not because of control, but because wellbeing was declining in isolation. Engagement increased after returning. The lesson: Great culture isn't about choosing between caring for people and driving results. It's about doing both, simultaneously, with intention. Listen to the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

Technology without trust is expensive noise. Bruce Nichols spent decades in corporate HR learning one lesson: keep the human in HR. As AI transforms work, winning organizations won't have the best tech. They'll integrate it without breaking trust. Listen to the episode at the link in the comments.

"What's the bottom line?" That's the wrong starting point. Shawn Premer, SPHR, SHRM-SCP shared a better question: "How do we help members achieve their goals?" When you lead with purpose over profit, work becomes a mission- not just a job. Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

What's universal across all workplaces? Psychological safety. People want a voice. They want recognition. But without a foundation of safety and trust, they'll never feel secure enough to fail or take risks. Tiffany Nugent shared with us why leaders need to start there, no matter the industry. Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

"We're about to become really efficient at doing something wrong." Bruce Nichols after decades leading HR: organizations think technology fixes broken processes. It doesn't. It enhances what you already have. Fix the house before you automate it. Link to the episode in the comments.

Consumers Credit Union made a bold move: everyone back to the office. The result? Engagement went up, not down. Shawn told us: "You can put on a good face on Zoom, but what's happening when it hangs up?" Sometimes the answer isn't more flexibility. It's bringing people together. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

I LOVE this Adrian, my friend! You watch a game like USA vs. Canada and you see it in real time—leadership isn’t a speech. It’s a shift. It’s the next face off after you just got scored on. It’s the bench after a blown call. It’s who grabs the stick first when momentum turns. The best captains don’t wait for the perfect moment. They take the moment. We’ve spent our careers studying high-performance teams, and here’s what hockey always reminds us: Culture shows up under pressure. You can’t fake it in the third period. You can’t manufacture trust in overtime. You can’t invent accountability when the whole arena is watching. The teams that win? They’ve practiced leadership long before the spotlight hits. That’s what great organizations do too. They build the habits in calm moments so they’re ready for the storm. And yes… I just love the game. ‍

Marshall Goldsmith with a message we all need to hear.

Strategic HR isn't about writing better policies. It's about driving business outcomes. Shawn's approach: "Look at your entire organization and figure out what needs to be done from a people perspective to achieve objectives." The lesson? Stop talking HR. Start talking impact. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/ebdkGfY3

Join Fiona Macaulay and me tomorrow at 11 AM ET for a thoughtful conversation on her new book, Aim High and Bounce Back. Don't forget to RSVP below!