In Episode 47 of the Killer Growth podcast, Samuel McVay sits down with Shem Hatfield, founder of Process Elevation and a longtime friend from their Butler Community College days. Shem spent 13 years in residential education for neurodiverse youth, starting as frontline staff working with children facing severe behavioral challenges before eventually building and leading the organization. The conversation explores how foundational human skills-leadership, team dynamics, and organizational culture-create competitive advantages in business. Shem emphasizes that curiosity is both a powerful and disruptive force in personal and professional development. He shares how stability, instability, and rebuilding form natural cycles in life and work, and how being deeply curious means being ready to challenge everything you think you know. The episode captures an authentic friendship built on shared experience while diving into real insights about what makes teams and organizations function effectively.
When you build something from the ground up-whether that's a business, a team, or an organizational culture-you quickly discover that technical skills alone don't win. What matters most are the human skills: how you lead, how you listen, how you build trust with the people around you.
Shem Hatfield learned this lesson over 13 years working in a residential school for neurodiverse youth. He started as frontline staff, working directly with children facing severe behavioral and emotional challenges. Over time, he moved into leadership roles, eventually building out the entire organizational structure. That experience became his foundation for Process Elevation, a leadership development practice focused on helping organizations strengthen their internal culture and leader capability.
Why Human Skills Matter More Than You Think
The typical digital marketing agency or service business talks a lot about metrics, conversion rates, and scaling. Those things matter. But they don't exist in a vacuum. Behind every successful local business-whether it's HVAC, plumbing, pest control, or healthcare-is a team. And behind every strong team is leadership that understands how to navigate stability, manage disruption, and rebuild intentionally.
Shem's core insight: curiosity is the skill that enables all other growth. It's what allows a leader to ask better questions, understand their team more deeply, and adapt their approach when something isn't working. But curiosity comes with a cost-it means you have to be willing to let go of what you thought you knew.
The Cycle of Stability, Instability, and Rebuild
One framework that emerged in the conversation is the idea of three natural phases: stability (where things are functioning), instability (where something disrupts the system), and rebuild (where you reconstruct something better). This applies to personal growth, team dynamics, and organizational culture. Business owners often resist instability because it feels uncomfortable. But Shem argues that resistance to this natural cycle keeps organizations stuck.
When you're building a strong online presence or scaling a local service business, this same principle applies. Your marketing strategy will evolve, your team will grow, your systems will need updating. The businesses that thrive are the ones willing to stay curious through those transitions, ask hard questions about what's working, and rebuild intentionally rather than reactively.
That's where human-centered leadership becomes your real competitive edge-not just in hiring and retention, but in how you approach your business strategy itself.
What does Process Elevation do and how does leadership development connect to business growth?
Shem Hatfield at Process Elevation focuses on leadership development and human skills training. Strong leadership directly impacts your team's performance, client retention, and operational efficiency-all critical factors that drive business growth. When your team is well-led, they execute better, close more deals, and deliver better service, which translates to more revenue.
How does leadership training and process improvement benefit from digital marketing?
Coaches, consultants, and training companies like Process Elevation need consistent client acquisition to fill their programs. Local SEO and Google Ads help these businesses get found by business owners actively searching for leadership training and process improvement solutions. A strong digital presence builds credibility and fills your pipeline with qualified leads.
How does KillerGrowth help leadership coaches and business consultants get more clients?
KillerGrowth uses local SEO, Google Ads, and Meta Ads to get your leadership training services in front of business owners who need you. We build high-converting websites that showcase your expertise, set up GoHighLevel CRM to track and nurture leads, and manage your social media to establish authority. This keeps your calendar full without relying on referrals alone.
What makes KillerGrowth different from other Wichita digital marketing agencies?
KillerGrowth specializes in local service businesses and understands what drives real results-consistent client flow and revenue. We don't just run ads; we build complete systems combining SEO, paid advertising, CRM automation, and social strategy. We measure everything by leads and conversions, not vanity metrics. And you work directly with Samuel McVay, who actually understands your business model.
How do I get started with KillerGrowth?
Book a free strategy call with Samuel McVay at killergrowth.com/booking. We'll discuss your current challenges, where your ideal clients are looking, and a custom plan to get them to you. No obligation-just actionable insights.