Why Miserable Employees Are Bad for Business w/ Kirsten McKenna

**Mindfulness, Happiness & the Death of Command-and-Control Leadership — with Kirsten McKenna**

Let’s get one thing straight: miserable employees don’t build great companies. And no one thrives under a barking, ego-driven boss in a power suit yelling orders like it’s still 1985.

In this energizing and eye-opening episode, Dr. John chats with corporate badass-turned-entrepreneur Kirsten McKenna about why *happiness, mindfulness, and meaning* aren’t just feel-good buzzwords — they’re the new non-negotiables for leadership and business success.

We dive into:

- Why happiness *matters* in the workplace (hint: unhappy people don’t innovate)

- How a raging inner critic screws with your performance — and what to do about it

- The science of mindfulness and how it sharpens leadership, empathy, and grit

- Why the old-school “command-and-follow” leadership model is dead in the water

- How realistic optimism helps fend off burnout and build resilience

- What happens when you help employees go from miserable (-5) to thriving (+5)

- How the negativity bias hijacks your brain — and how to stop feeding it

- The practical power of curiosity, calm, and clarity in today’s chaotic business world

**About Kirsten McKenna:**

Kirsten is a former corporate exec turned double entrepreneur, leadership coach, and author of *Lead Well: How to Show Up Consistently Well in Leadership and Life*. She runs two purpose-driven businesses — *Cortex Consulting* and *Winefulness* — both designed to spark curiosity, well-being, and authentic leadership. She’s got degrees in psychology, education, and health — and she knows how to translate science into results.

📘 *Lead Well*: [Find it on Amazon]

📲 Follow Kirsten:

[LinkedIn]()

[Instagram @cortex_consulting]()

[Instagram @winefulness_aus]()

[Twitter]()

**Tagline worth remembering:**

*Harness the mind. Shape the brain. Strengthen your business.*

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👉 [JoreeRose.com]()

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#corporateculture #corporateleadership #leadership #ceomindset #mindfulness #positivepsychology #mangement #commandandconquer #negativitybias #employeeengagement #employeemotivation