High-performing teams need trust before the pressure hits.
Lindsay Shookus spent 20 years at Saturday Night Live, including
10 years as a producer, where every week required a team of
writers, cast members, celebrity hosts, musicians, producers, and
crew to create a live show in six days. In this conversation,
Lindsay joins John Kaplan and John McMahon to share what SNL
taught her about building trust quickly, hiring people who
elevate the room, reading talent under pressure, and creating a
process that allows strong personalities to perform together. She
also shares leadership lessons from Lorne Michaels, the
importance of adaptability and coachability, and why authentic
connection gives teams the confidence to take risks when the
stakes are highest.
Lindsay Shookus spent 20 years at Saturday Night Live, including
10 years as a producer, where she led talent booking, worked with
celebrity hosts and musical guests, and helped scout and recruit
cast members. She is a four-time Emmy Award winner, a former
producer on 30 Rock, and the co-founder of Women Work Hard, a
community supporting female entrepreneurs and leaders.
Connect with Lindsay:
Website
Resources mentioned:
Women Work Hard on IG
Women Work Hard Website
Rethinking Success by J. Douglas Holladay
Key takeaways from this episode:
00:00 - Introduction
06:25 - What it really takes to build trust quickly when
high-performing people have only days to align.
14:22 - Why many leaders misread talent when they rely on
credentials instead of team fit, coachability, and social
awareness.
07:55 - A look inside how high-pressure decisions get made
when timing is tight and every stakeholder has a point of view.
11:46 - Why hiring people who can take your job quietly
raises the standard for the entire organization.
37:35 - What leaders often overlook about coachability once
someone has already reached the top of their field.
43:49 - Lindsay Shookus’ perspective on why vulnerability
creates stronger leadership connections than polished perfection.
51:36 - Why strategic absence can make a leader’s presence
more valuable.
Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management
Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind
the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that,
and seen the results.
This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help
companies improve sales performance, executing their growth
strategy at the point of sale.
Connect with Us:
LinkedIn
YouTube
Force Management
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