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Hiring Friends, Firing Kindly: Marcylle Combs on Team Dynamics and Leadership Decisions
Manage episode 489684978 series 3662484
On today’s episode of the McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Marcylle Combs—a powerhouse leader with over 30 years in healthcare and a true champion for people-first leadership. Marcylle shared her unconventional journey from nursing to building and selling multimillion-dollar businesses, the importance of leading with trust, and why hiring people you genuinely like is key to team success. We also dove into how mission work overseas transformed her approach to leadership and why staying true to your values matters most—especially in tough times. If you want actionable tips on thriving as a leader while keeping humanity at the core of your business, this conversation is for you.
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Download your free episode guide here!
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00:00 "Nurse Turned Entrepreneurial Mission"
06:03 Navigating Work and Unexpected Bonds
09:09 "Firing as an Act of Friendship"
11:39 Mixer Incident: Occupational Health Surprise
15:04 Joyful and Confidential Workplace
19:43 Creating Employee Safe Spaces
22:24 Nonprofit Empowerment for Women Workers
26:28 Volunteer Healthcare Missions: A Humbling Experience
30:36 Mission Trips: Challenges and Changes
33:28 Core Values in Decision-Making
35:06 "Values-Driven Decision Making"
40:59 Leadership Expert Advice for Schools
43:53 Employee's Clever Sick Day Excuse
45:26 "Books on Heart and Endings"
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Three key takeaways that every leader (or aspiring leader) should consider:
Hire for character and fit, not just skills: Marcel’s mantra is to “hire people you actually like.” Build teams where diverse personalities complement one another, but always hire people you’d want to spend time with.
Anchor every decision to clear values: When faced with tough choices—especially the hardest ones, like layoffs—Marcel advises going back to your organization’s core values. These should be simple, memorable, and actionable for every team member.
Invest in your people beyond the workplace: From matching PTO for mission trips to fostering emotional support (especially in healthcare settings), empowering your employees to contribute and heal creates lasting loyalty and engagement.
If you haven’t already, check out her new book and give the episode a listen for even more practical leadership advice.
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Links
Marcylle's Website
Book Recommendations
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