The best team cultures realize that recruiting isn’t transactional. It’s transformational and impacted by how we lead, serve and compete as a team. Jason sits down with Clark Kellogg from CBS Sports.
SHOW NOTES
Jason introduces Season 9 episode 47 of the podcast, Transformational Recruiting with Clark Kellogg. Welcome back to the podcast on corporate culture and leadership and thank you for listening. We engage thought leaders like CEOs, CFOs, managers, VPs, directors, and more for this podcast. We wish to create content that engages your mind and heart and allows you to step back and think and add some positivity to your life. We deep dive into today’s topic.
We can’t control everything but what we can control is our response. Still a lot of work to do but wanted to remind the audience what is within our control is the temperature we create in the organizations and teams we work with.
Please leave a review for the podcast It really helps the podcast to spread these messages out into the world. Please share this podcast with your organization, on your team, or in your life to help spread these messages. Thank you!
If any of these topics are interesting to you please or you want a deep dive on any specific topics, please reach out to us at info@jasonvbarger.com
Season 9 Episode 47: Transformational Recruiting with Clark Kellogg
In a world defined by rapid change, digital acceleration, and transactional relationships, how do leaders maintain a focus on genuine human development? Whether in the boardroom or the locker room, the challenge remains the same: how to build corporate culture and foster leadership in teams that withstands the pressure of a “win-now” environment.
On this episode of The Thermostat Podcast, Jason V. Barger sits down with college basketball legend and CBS Sports analyst Clark Kellogg. Together, they explore the nuances of servant leadership, the changing landscape of college athletics, and why culture remains the ultimate competitive advantage.
Being a “Faithful Presence” in Leadership
Clark Kellogg is known for his prowess on the basketball court and his insightful analysis on television, but his approach to life is defined by stewardship. When discussing the concept of being a “thermostat”—someone who proactively sets the temperature of a room rather than just reacting to it—Kellogg describes his goal to be a “faithful presence.”
For Kellogg, this means embodying the “fruit of the spirit”—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—in every environment, from the broadcast studio to the airport. This intentionality is the bedrock of effective leadership in teams. It shifts the focus from personal accolades to a broader responsibility of influence.
The Debate: Transactional vs. Transformational Recruiting
A central theme of the episode surrounds the current state of the NCAA, specifically the Transfer Portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. Jason and Clark address a controversial sentiment recently shared by Seth Greenberg: that transformational recruiting is dead, replaced entirely by transactional exchanges.
Both Jason and Clark push back on this idea. While the landscape has undeniably shifted toward shorter tenures and financial incentives, the mandate for the leader remains unchanged.
Culture as a Competitive Advantage Jason argues that corporate culture—or team culture—is actually more vital now than ever. When financial playing fields are leveled, human connection becomes the differentiator. People naturally gravitate toward environments where they feel developed, cared for, and part of a mission greater than themselves.
Kellogg adds that even if a coach (or manager) only has a team member for one year, the responsibility to serve and develop that individual does not expire. The runway may be shorter, but the obligation to “till the soil” of that person’s potential remains.
Servant Leadership: The Antidote to Chaos
What does effective leadership look like in modern organizations? Clark identifies a shift away from the authoritarian, “top-of-the-pyramid” style toward servant leadership.
The leaders who are resonating most today—whether it is Ryan Day at Ohio State, Kelvin Sampson at Houston, or business executives navigating remote work—are those who prioritize humility. They understand that leadership is not about the title; it is about the influence used to move people “up and forward.”
When analyzing teams that succeed during March Madness, Kellogg notes that talent is only part of the equation. The teams that make deep runs, like Gonzaga or Purdue, often display a palpable connectivity and a shared belief that allows them to seize the moment when adversity strikes.
Notable Quotes from Clark Kellogg and Jason V. Barger
On the definition of leadership:
“I think leadership really is influence… Not necessarily being enamored with the title, but being committed to the responsibility you have because of a title or influence or position to elevate and serve those that have been entrusted to your care.” — Clark Kellogg
On the responsibility of development:
“You might not have the same runway, and therefore you might not see the same fruit, but you do have the same responsibility to till and develop that soil while they’re there.” — Clark Kellogg
On the power of culture:
“Culture is your greatest competitive advantage… If things are about equal… people will pick culture every day of the week.” — Jason V. Barger
On personal intentionality:
“I desire and aspire to intentionally be a faithful presence… That’s my aspiration, to represent that on the golf course, in my home, in the studio, when I’m traveling… every place that I occupy.” — Clark Kellogg
Questions to Ponder
As you navigate your own leadership journey this week, consider the questions Jason poses at the conclusion of the conversation:
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What is the temperature you are trying to set in your life and your work?
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Are you operating as a thermometer (reacting to the environment) or a thermostat (proactively setting the tone)?
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How are you stewarding the influence you have to move the people around you “up and forward”?
Listen to the full episode to hear more about Clark’s work with the Columbus Foundation and his predictions for the upcoming basketball season. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review!
Links and References
Referenced in this podcast
- Learn more about Clark Kellogg at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Kellogg
Follow @JasonVBarger on social media for even more insights and new video content.
For more insights and practical tips, be sure to check out Jason V Barger’s book Breathing Oxygen. This book dives deeper into the concepts discussed in this episode and provides additional strategies for fostering a positive mindset and effective leadership.
By incorporating these practices into your summer routine, you can breathe new life into your personal and professional endeavors. Remember, as Jason says, “The best leaders, teams, and cultures on the planet stimulate progress by recalibrating their thermostat together.”
Please leave a review for the podcast It really helps the podcast to spread these messages out into the world. Please share this podcast with your organization, on your team, or in your life to help spread these messages. Thank you!
If any of these topics are interesting to you please or you want a deep dive on any specific topics, please reach out to us at info@jasonvbarger.com
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Remember, the best leaders, teams, & cultures stimulate progress by recalibrating their thermostat together.
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ABOUT THE THERMOSTAT
Conversations and micro-thoughts to engage your mind and heart.
A thermostat is proactive. It sets the temperature in a room. Controls the temperature. Regulates the temperature. But in today’s distracted, fast-paced and digital world, it’s easy for individuals and organizations to act more like thermometers, slipping into reactionary thinking, becoming scattered and inconsistent. The most compelling leaders, teams, organizations, families, or collection of humans of any kind operate in thermostat mode. They calibrate their mind and heart to set the temperature for the vision and culture they want to create. Jason Barger, globally celebrated author, keynote speaker, and founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting, is the host of The Thermostat, a podcast journey to discover authentic leadership, create compelling cultures and find clarity of mission, vision, and values.