The Workplace Communication Podcast
#145 - Leadership Is a Performance. Are You Prepared to Show Up? with Andy Freed
Aug 10, 2026 · 39 min · 13 segments
You've probably sat through a meeting where someone read directly off their slides, and you checked out within minutes. Now flip that perspective. As a leader, how often are you focused on what…
You've probably sat through a meeting where someone read directly off their slides, and you checked out within minutes. Now flip that perspective. As a leader, how often are you focused on what you're saying, but not how you're showing up? Andy Freed has spent years helping leaders rethink that exact gap. As Chairman of Virtual, Inc. and author of Lead Like the Boss, Andy challenges the idea that leadership is just about delivering information. Instead, he frames it as a performance; one where your presence, energy, and intention are always on display, whether you realize it or not. On this episode of The Workplace Communication Podcast, we're talking with Andy Freed, Chairman of Virtual, Inc., about why leadership is a performance and how being more intentional about how you show up can transform the way your message is received. Join us as we learn how to move beyond surface-level communication and create real connection, why emotional impact matters just as much as clarity, and how small, everyday behaviors can either build or quietly erode trust. Leadership tips you won't want to miss: 🎙️ Defining what you want people to think, feel, and do before you speak 🎙️ Ditching "business karaoke" and speaking to people, not slides 🎙️ Managing your presence in small moments, not just big ones 🎙️ Showing intentional appreciation to strengthen trust and team culture Andy Freed is Chairman of Virtual, Inc., a strategic consulting, marketing, and professional services firm that partners with mission-driven organizations across technology, healthcare, financial services, and life sciences. He is also the author of LEAD LIKE THE BOSS, where he helps leaders show up with clarity, presence, and impact when it matters most. If you're looking to communicate with more intention and show up in a way that truly resonates, then this episode is for you. If you've enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe and leave a review. 🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://lindsaylapaquette.com/podcast/ For a full written transcript of the episode, please see the show notes at the link above. **Andy Freed's contact information:** Website Book LinkedIn YouTube Facebook Twitter Instagram **Lindsay's contact information:** To book a discovery call [E-mail](mailto:lindsay@collaborative-solutions.ca) Website LinkedIn Previous podcast episodes
You've probably sat through a meeting where someone read directly off their slides, and you checked out within minutes. Now flip that perspective. As a leader, how often are you focused on what…
