Our Founder

Joe McCormack is a sought-after author, speaker, and entrepreneur who helps leaders think clearly, communicate precisely, and perform at their best in complex, high-stakes environments.

He is the founder and CEO of Sheffield Company and its flagship brands, The BRIEF Lab and The Quiet Workplace, where he works with Fortune 500 companies, elite military units, government agencies, and high-performing organizations to reduce confusion, increase alignment, and improve execution.

Joe is the author of multiple books, including BRIEF, NOISE, and Quiet Works, which have become foundational resources for professionals who want to cut through clutter and lead with clarity. His work focuses on practical tools and disciplined thinking—helping people say what matters, listen better, and make smarter decisions.

Over the past two decades, Joe has trained tens of thousands of leaders, sales professionals, and teams across industries including defense, healthcare, financial services, technology, manufacturing, and professional services. His clients rely on him not just for communication training, but for building cultures of focus, accountability, and results.

In addition to his consulting and training work, Joe is the creator and host of the long-running Just Saying podcast, where he explores leadership, clarity, and human-centered performance in a distracted world.

Today, Joe is leading the development of BriefBot AI and next-generation Quiet Workplace learning environments that blend technology, behavioral science, and proven frameworks to help professionals work better—alone and together.

Known for his direct, practical style and deep respect for his clients’ time, Joe brings uncommon clarity to complex problems and helps leaders turn ideas into action. With his wife Julie, he lives between North Carolina and Chicago, and remains deeply committed to helping individuals and organizations communicate with purpose, confidence, and impact.