Catch People Doing Things Right: The Remarkable Story of Ken Blanchard with Martha Lawrence

In this inspiring episode of the Build A Vibrant Culture Podcast, host Nicole Greer sits down with Martha Lawrence, veteran editor, author, and long-time collaborator of leadership icon Ken Blanchard. Martha shares behind-the-scenes stories from more than two decades working alongside Blanchard, revealing how The One Minute Manager and the philosophy of “catching people doing things right” transformed leadership from command-and-control to connection, trust, and service. This episode is a masterclass in leadership with heart—perfect for executives, managers, HR professionals, and anyone passionate about building a culture where people thrive. Vibrant Highlights:00:02:28 – Martha Lawrence shares the life-altering experiences that led her from mystery writing to purpose-driven leadership work and a deep commitment to kindness, resilience, and meaning.00:06:18 – A powerful reflection on why The One Minute Manager became a timeless classic and how it fundamentally changed leadership from command-and-control to people-centered development.00:13:14 – A formative childhood story from Ken Blanchard’s life reveals why trust, not titles, is the foundation of true leadership.00:28:48 – The origin of the philosophy “Catch People Doing Things Right” and how adapting leadership to individual needs unlocks performance and potential.00:44:21 – A defining example of ethical leadership in action, showing how transparency, values, and collective problem-solving carried an organization through crisis. Buy Martha’s book: Catch People Doing Things Right Connect with Martha: Website: https://marthalawrence.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marthaclawrence/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/marthaclawrence/ X: https://x.com/mysmartha For more on Ken Blanchard or any of the topics discussed in this episode, visit https://www.blanchard.com/ Also mentioned in this episode: The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard & Spencer Johnson Trust Works! by K Blanchard, C Olmstead, M Lawrence Nicole's TEDX Talk  Peter F. Drucker books  King: A Life by Jonathan Eig The Situational Leader by Paul Hersey Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale The Power of Ethical Management by K Blanchard & N V Peale Listen at vibrantculture.com/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts! Book Nicole to help your organization ignite clarity, accountability, and energy through her SHINE™ Coaching Methodology. Visit vibrantculture.com Email: nicole@vibrantculture.com Nicole's TEDX Talk