By Steve “The Doctor” Meek | Talk To Th3 Doc Podcast | The Fulcrum Group, Inc.
Podcast Doc-umentary – Hanna Bauer on How STARPower™, SPOT Managed IT Services, and heart-centered leadership help SMBs navigate today’s workplace trust crisis Episode 124
In Episode 124 of Talk To Th3 Doc, I sat down with Hanna Bauer, CEO of HEARTnomics™ Enterprises, to explore a question that’s been rattling around boardrooms (and yes… Teams meetings) all across North Texas: Why does trust feel harder today than ever before?
As Hanna and I talked, I found myself reflecting on the odd paradox of modern leadership: we have more tools than ever, but fewer moments of genuine connection. It’s a bit like watching a Dallas Mavericks game—modern sports is driven by stats, but if the team doesn’t trust the coaches and each other, the ball won’t move .
And as Mark Twain might say, “Trust is like a mirror: once it’s cracked, you can still see yourself, but the picture gets mighty distorted.”
1. Introduction – Lead With ‘Why’
At The Fulcrum Group, our purpose has always been simple: help leaders embrace technology that works for their people. Technology doesn’t run your business—people do. The vision shapes outcomes. Your leadership sets the tone. But, your clarity actually determines whether systems empower or exhaust your team.
This episode reminded me why we anchor every SPOT Managed IT engagement around the executive—the sculptor of the outcome, the person who ultimately shapes culture, process, risk, and results. Together we co-create the masterpiece. Tools and technology matter. But trust? That’s the part leaders can’t outsource.
2. The Problem – The New Trust Crisis at Work
Hanna put it plainly: “We’re in a crisis of trust.” The data backs her up.
In hybrid workplaces, people communicate more—but ‘connect less’. Outlook emails, Teams channels, SMS chats and social media communications lead to digital overload, inconsistent expectations, and constant context switching that chips away at confidence. Leaders believe they’re empowering teams; teams feel unseen, unheard, and overloaded. The technology actually magnifies this gap.
I envision it inside SMBs across DFW every week: executives deploying new tools without aligning people, processes, and expectations. It creates the illusion of progress while quietly eroding trust. As Hanna shared during the episode, “The tool is for the human.” Not the other way around.
3. The Fulcrum Way – STARPower™ Meets Heart-Centered Leadership
This trust conversation sits at the heart of how Fulcrum delivers SPOT Managed IT Services and STARPower™ strategic leadership. Trust isn’t built on tools—it’s built on alignment. Our STARPower’s alignment principles mirror the very leadership lessons from this episode:
- Vision & Strategy Alignment
We always start with your business strategy. No random acts of IT improvement. - Baseline Reality & User Readiness
Just like Hanna said—look at where your people really Not where you hope they are. - Prioritization Based on Business Value
If everything is important, nothing is. We help executives choose the right two or three hits each quarter that drive impact. - Incremental, Iterative Change
Small improvements build trust so we seek out easy wins early. Big overhauls can fail when people or processes aren't ready. - Cocreation & Feedback Loops
From our ticket and NPS surveys to QSR meetings, we ask and ask again to ensure the people using the tools shape how they evolve. This helps shape your technology roadmap.
When you combine STARPower's strategic clarity with SPOT’s operational excellence, trust becomes measurable—and repeatable. In other words: trust becomes a system, not an accident.
4. Real-World Example or Metric
During our talk, Hanna shared the impact of digital overload. Leaders feel productive because they’re communicating constantly. Teams feel buried because they can’t keep up.
I have become a big fan of Microsoft WorkLab research and Work Trends. Another Microsoft study cited by them found:
- 61% of employees feel overwhelmed by digital communication
- 47% struggle to understand which channel to use
- 28% miss important updates because of tool fatigue
In DFW SMBs, this looks like:
- delayed decisions
- low engagement
- project friction
- and a whole lot of “Sorry, I missed this message—was it an email or a Teams chat?”
At Fulcrum, our typical recommendations reference technology governance, ITIL-aligned communication paths, and STARPower’s strategic guidance to ensure tools follow clarity—not chaos. When leadership sets the rules, trust starts to rebuild.
5. Key Takeaways / FAQ
a. What is the trust crisis really about?
It's not focused on productivity—it’s how connection, communication, and clarity can help.
b. How can leaders start rebuilding trust today?
Start with intentionality: slower communication, clearer expectations, more human check-ins. We are planning a review of our meeting rhythm in Q1 to see what we can consolidate, remove or reduce.
c. How does Fulcrum help?
Through STARPower’s alignment model, SPOT’s managed services, and governance that keeps technology from overwhelming your people. We also bring insight from our ScalingUp business framework that our business coach uses with us, to help our business.
d. What’s one action I can take this week?
Borrow Hanna’s question: “What am I curious about today?” Curiosity rebuilds energy and connection, so ask, listen and/or learn.
e. What if our team is already overwhelmed?
That's exactly when a structured, STARpower aligned improvement approach (and an outside guide) provides clarity and calm. There is great value in having an external eye look over things with you (hence The Doctor’s “second opinion”).
6. Call to Action
If this episode sparked something for you, watch it now and subscribe for future leadership insights:
📺 Watch on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/KfAEv4q6o3g?si=L5DMYJ53PGXQH_be
🎧 Listen on your favorite platform:
https://pod.link/1807560282
And if your technology feels harder than it should, let’s talk. Fulcrum’s SPOT Managed IT Services and STARPower Framework help DFW executives build resilience, security, and clarity across their organizations.
👉 Book your strategy session:
https://www.fulcrumgroup.net/talk-to-th3-doc-podcast/
About the Author — Steve “The Doctor” Meek, CISSP
Steve “The Doctor” Meek is a DFW-based IT strategist, cybersecurity leader, podcast host, and co-founder of a 24-year technology legacy in North Texas. A recipient of the 2024 MSP Titan of Industry Award for Community Impact, Steve brings decades of experience helping CEOs, city managers, and healthcare and manufacturing leaders navigate cybersecurity, AI readiness, and operational resilience. As host of Talk To Th3 Doc, he explores leadership and ownership topics to find practical insights for SMB decision-makers.
Founded in Keller, TX, The Fulcrum Group, Inc. delivers relationship-centered DFW Managed IT Services through its flagship SPOT Managed IT Services and SPOT Managed Security Services platforms. Using its proprietary STARPower™ Framework, Fulcrum helps businesses strengthen security, modernize operations, and plan technology with clarity and confidence. With a 100% Texas-based team and a “No IT Jerks” philosophy, Fulcrum has earned repeated national recognition on the MSP 501 and CRN Top 500, serving SMBs, local governments, and mission-driven organizations across North Texas.
