Podcast Summary
Welcome to the thirty-fourth episode of The Digital Shelf Insider Podcast hosted by Shreshta Joy. In this episode, we’re joined by Eric Staples, Director of Growth Strategy at Bluedog Design, to explore how leadership styles and decision-making frameworks shape the success of brand teams.
Eric introduces the Head, Heart, Gut framework, a practical model for understanding how individuals and organizations process information, collaborate, and make decisions. Drawing from two decades of brand growth experience, he explains why breaking down challenges into core components, measuring progress signals, and aligning team dynamics are essential for sustainable success.
The conversation also uncovers how empathy strengthens leadership, why different functions lean toward different decision styles, and why AI’s rise makes human judgment and collaboration even more important.
Key themes
In this episode, Eric explains how leaders can make better decisions, strengthen team culture, and adapt to the challenges of modern brand management.
Breaking Down Barriers to Growth
True growth comes from removing obstacles, not just setting lofty goals. Leaders need to diagnose problems and define progress signals early.
Head, Heart, Gut Decision Framework
Every leader and team defaults to head (logic), heart (conviction), or gut (instinct). Understanding these lenses creates alignment and improves collaboration.
Empathy as a Leadership Skill
Empathy is rooted in seeing the world through another person’s lens. Leaders who adapt their style build trust and influence more effectively.
AI and Human Judgment
With AI taking over automation and data tasks, human decision-making, soft skills, and collaboration have become critical differentiators for brand growth.
Team Dynamics and Balance
Great teams balance all three styles. Heads may clash, guts need hearts for support, and diverse teams avoid blind spots in decision-making.
Key Highlights
Here are key highlights from the conversation with Eric:
- Breaking down complex challenges into smaller parts makes growth achievable.
- The Head, Heart, Gut framework helps decode individual and team decision styles.
- Empathy is a leadership superpower that builds influence and trust.
- AI increases the importance of human collaboration, judgment, and soft skills.
- Balanced teams with diverse decision styles make stronger, faster decisions.
Takeaways
Here are some actionable takeaways from the conversation you can apply as a leader:
- Define success signals early instead of waiting for final outcomes.
- Learn your default style (head, heart, or gut) and stretch where possible.
- Build empathy by adapting your communication to your audience’s style.
- Balance team decision styles to prevent blind spots and bottlenecks.
- Embrace AI for automation but double down on human leadership skills.
Conclusion
This episode is essential listening for leaders and brand teams looking to improve how they make decisions and build stronger cultures.
Whether you manage e-commerce growth, lead cross-functional teams, or want to sharpen your leadership style, Eric Staples shares practical tools and stories that will help you decide smarter, collaborate better, and grow stronger.
Watch now!
Disclaimer: The content shared in the Digital Shelf Insider Podcast by MetricsCart is for general informational and discussion purposes only. The insights, opinions, and perspectives expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not constitute professional advice, recommendations, or endorsements by MetricsCart or any affiliated entity.
