Lisa Ryan

WHO’S ON WITH US TODAY?

Host: Randy Chaffee

Producer/Director & Co-Host: Wes Wyatt

Guest: Lisa Ryan — keynote speaker, podcast host, author of 12 books, sales/retention strategist, and creator of Grategy (gratitude + strategy)

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Randy met Lisa Ryan at the NFBA show in Knoxville via mutual friend Marvin Montgomery.

Lisa helps manufacturing, construction, and skilled-trades companies retain their top talent—with practical culture, recognition, and retention systems (aka Grategy).

MAIN POINTS

Rack & Stack energy: The crew’s on a roll—three episodes back-to-back (they once tried five… never again; “three is the sweet spot”).

Retention beats replacement: Once you’re near market pay, the biggest levers are culture, connection, and recognition—not just dollars.

Boomerang effect: One firm reported 85% of leavers wanted to return; plenty come back even at ~30% less pay because the culture fits.

Health cost of toxic work: Burnout, poor sleep, and stress skyrocket in bad cultures; happiness at work improves mental/physical health (Lisa cites her husband’s before/after).

Loyalty’s a two-way street: Employees see layoffs everywhere. If companies want loyalty, they must demonstrate it (e.g., Worcester Brush’s “we cut hours before jobs” approach; only one layoff in ~50 years—and she was celebrated on return).

Friends at work matter: Gallup’s “best friend at work” item is real—friendships make leaving harder and daily work better.

Lisa’s 6 Gears of Grategy (culture toolkit):

Attitude (updated expectations; post-pandemic flexibility, even in construction)

Appreciation (leaders’ personal gratitude practice)

Access (to leaders and to tools/training)

Applause (tangible recognition done right)

Acts of Service (mission/meaning; rising importance for Millennials/Gen Z)

Accountability (small commitments, done consistently—not “another program”)

Start recognition the right way: Use the Apology Approach to reset trust: “I haven’t been letting you know how much I appreciate you—and I’m going to do better.”

Stay > Exit: Exit interviews often come too late; run stay interviews to learn why people stay, what they need, and what might tempt them to leave.

Mind the Glassdoor: Read and respond to reviews—and fix recurring themes; candidates check whether leadership is listening.

Books & formats:

Thank You Very Much: Gratitude Strategies to Create a Workplace Culture That Rocks — quick, choose-your-chapter playbook.

Gear Up for Greatness — Lisa’s business fable that embeds the 6 Gears.

All titles on Amazon (search “Lisa Ryan gratitude”).

Personal practice fuels professional results: Lisa has kept a daily gratitude journal since 2009 (five items each morning)—it rewires your brain to spot the good, even in hard seasons.

Show mantra, echoed today: Love what you do and do what you love.

NOTABLE QUOTES

“Oh, honey, they’re leaving you.” — Lisa Ryan (her inside voice to leaders who blame pay instead of culture)

“No employee ever quit because of too much training.” — Lisa Ryan

“I haven’t been letting you know how much I appreciate you—and I’m going to do better.” — Lisa Ryan (the Apology Approach to restart recognition)

“Exit interviews may be too late. Try a stay interview instead.” — Lisa Ryan