Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill Lead Into Leadership At STX 2026 with Darrin Barney [E108] - Speak Up! Effective Communication

Episode 108

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Published on:

17th Aug 2026

Lead Into Leadership At STX 2026 with Darrin Barney [E108]

Thank You To Our Partners AutoFlow, Shop Dog Marketing, InBound, and Service Advisor Training

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In Our Episode Today:

Joining me is a guest and friend, Darrin Barney from Elite Worldwide.

Darrin and I both share a passion in the topic of communication and leadership, which makes this a fun discussion.

We dive into topics on leadership and touch on a few of the items he'll be discussing in his upcoming classes at WorldPacs STX 2026 near Washington, DC.

My favorite thing about this conversation is how it touches on the hard reality many of us face when we begin to recognize where authority isn’t as effective as influence. The simple reality is, the best lessons on leadership we can share, is about the journey we on and continue to be on.

Darrin is well versed in DISC and touches on the importance of communicating from where others are at.

We round out the discussion by talking about “The Speakers Checklist” which will merit some further discussion… but DID yield, quite organically, that Darrin has also read and absorbed the lessons of a book we’ve been discussion here, “The Checklist Manifesto.”

I do love it when I meet people speaking a similar language from reading the same books!

Darrin Barney, Elite Worldwide, D.Barney@eliteworldwide.com

From Boeing to the Service Bay: The Power of Checklists [E103]: https://craigoneill.captivate.fm/episode/craig103

We Have the Checklist. We Do Not Have the Communication [E105]: https://craigoneill.captivate.fm/episode/craig105

We have a WOTD:

Rapport - Noun

Rapport (noun) — a close, harmonious relationship in which the people or groups involved understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well.

Rapport comes from French, from the verb rapporter, which literally means "to carry back." Originally, it described something being brought back and forth between two parties. Over time it came to mean a relationship of mutual trust and understanding, the kind where communication flows easily in both directions.

That's really the heart of it. Rapport isn't something one person creates and hands to another. It's carried back and forth. It only exists between people, built one exchange at a time.

I hope you enjoy this conversation!

Sincerely,

Craig O’Neill

Thank You To Our Partners AutoFlow, AutoLeap, Shop Dog Marketing, InBound, and Service Advisor Training

Your partner in technology, Autoflow consolidates your client interactions - before, during, and after the visit to a single thread. An end-to-end CRM for auto repair shops. https://autoflow.com/

Want to see your auto repair shop thrive? Let Shop Dog Marketing be your guide. Our customer-first approach, combined with AI-driven creative content, ensures top rankings. https://shopdogmarketing.com/

Cover your communication needs and revolutionize your auto repair business with AI-driven call analytics from InBound. https://callinbound.com/

Want a more profitable shop? Start with your service advisor. They are the face of your business, the voice on the phone, and the key to every approved repair. Download 'Words That Work - The Service Advisor's Complete Phone Scripts Playbook at https://serviceadvisortraining.com/

Contact Information

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

Download and Listen on Our Mobile App: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/app/

Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Facilitating Wisdom Through Storytelling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/

Automotive Field Theory: From Diagnostics to Quantum Physics and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/

Business by the Numbers: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/

The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/

The Weekly Blitz: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix – Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/

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About the Podcast

Speak Up! Effective Communication
With Craig O'Neill
A perfect compliment for an individual and for small businesses is to be a better communicator. Craig O'Neill exemplifies influence and leadership in helping people find their fullest potential as communicators. “Speak Up!” is a podcast that clearly focuses on learning to communicate more effectively so that we can influence positive change in all our interactions.