What if better performance at work didn’t come from pushing harder, but from being more honest? In this episode, Dan Simons shares how he built a $100M+ restaurant group by doing something most leaders still resist. Dan explains how honesty at work actually helps people show up more present, make better decisions, and perform at a higher level. We also talk about how you can get better results, stronger retention, and more focused teams by creating a workplace where people don’t have to hide what’s going on with them. Tune in to discover how to turn radical honesty into a competitive advantage.
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In this Episode, You Will Learn
00:00 Why honesty matters more than “vulnerability” in leadership.
02:20 How did you build a $100M business?
06:00 Why leaders must learn to lead themselves before leading others.
12:00 Why every team member is operating below their full capacity.
17:00 How to introduce psychological safety without forcing people to open up.
20:00 What does a trauma-informed workplace actually look like?
23:00 Why mental health conversations require skill and training.
26:00 How Dan operationalizes mental health through training and systems.
34:00 What's the difference between intention and reality inside companies?
42:00 How honesty reduces defensiveness and improves performance.
47:00 How investing in people improves profit and reduces turnover.
51:00 The #1 metric that convinces CEOs this approach works.
Resources + Links
Learn more about Dan Simons HERE!
Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever
Watch the podcast on YouTube
Find more resources on our website morraam.com
Follow
Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam
Follow Dan on Instagram: @dansimonssays
