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Texas CEO Magazine is relaunching in January 2020, with a focus on becoming the preeminent resource for CEOs in Texas. Each quarter, we’ll publish articles that help CEOs be the best that they can be.

Texas CEO Magazine

  • Dec 29, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
  • weekly NEW EPISODES
  • 9m AVG DURATION
  • 61 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Ask A CEO

Episode 64: Getting the Right People on the Bus

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2020 8:03


An organization is nothing without great, talented employees—and the CEO leads the way in bringing that talent on board. This week, Joel talks about mastering the continuous process of recruiting, and how that’s very different from basic “hiring.” Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 63: Using the Coaching Tool: Common Mistakes

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 9:33


In previous episodes, we’ve discussed the three tools of the CEO: management, leadership, and coaching. This week, Joel discusses common mistakes leaders make when using that third—and most often neglected—tool, coaching. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 62: Using the Leadership Tool: Common Mistakes

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2020 8:08


In the previous episode, we’ve discussed the management tool. This week, Joel discusses common mistakes leaders make when using the Leadership tool, and how to use the three C’s to influence your team.  Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 61: Using the Management Tool: Common Mistakes

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2020 8:45


In the previous episode, we’ve discussed the three tools of the CEO: management, leadership, and coaching. This week, Joel discusses common mistakes leaders make when using the management tool. It’s often looked upon as somehow less interesting or important than the other tools—though that’s definitely not the case. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 60: The Limited Power of the CEO Role

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2020 8:45


We often think of CEOs as being nearly all-powerful within the organization . . . but that’s definitely not the case. The CEO bears great responsibility while exercising less direct control than most people think. This week, Joel discusses how to manage this unique situation. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 59: Am I Doing a Good Job as CEO?

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 7:00


How does a CEO tell if they’re performing well in their role? It’s not an easy question, given how complex the job is. This week, Joel offers three signs that typically show up when a CEO is doing an effective job of managing and leading the organization. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 58: The Resistance to Giving Feedback

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 6:48


When it comes time to give critical or corrective feedback to an employee, most managers—including CEOs—shy away from having a fully honest conversation. This week, Joel discusses the importance of giving good feedback to the people who work for you, even when it’s uncomfortable. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 57: The Struggle All CEOs Share

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 7:50


In any business, there are all kinds of unique challenges the CEO is called upon to handle. But at the emotional level, the struggles of the CEO are common and predictable across companies of all sizes, industries, and geographies. This week, Joel walks through some of those challenges and what they mean for the CEO. … Continue reading Episode 57: The Struggle All CEOs Share →

Episode 56: When Being Busy Is a Form of Laziness

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2020 6:57


CEOs are some of the busiest people around. And we live in a culture that celebrates people who are overbooked and constantly occupied. But busy-busy-busy isn’t the best mode for leaders to operate in. Joel discusses why that is—and what to do instead. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 55: Your First 100 Days as CEO

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2020 9:04


When someone takes on the CEO role for the first time, they often have very little training specific to this one-of-a-kind job. In this episode, Joel discusses what a new CEO can and should expect in their first 100 days as a chief executive. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance

Episode 54: Fake It Until You Make It in the CEO Role?

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2020 6:32


The CEO role is the most visible position in the organization, and it comes with great responsibility. That means that many people feel unqualified when they first take it on. How do you handle that level of responsibility without long experience? Is it possible to “fake it until you make it”? Sponsored by: Texas Mutual … Continue reading Episode 54: Fake It Until You Make It in the CEO Role? →

Episode 53: Exit Planning, Part 3: Assembling Your Dream Team

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2020 9:42


A successful sale or acquisition requires a support network — the experts and allies who play key roles in the process. And it’s more than just a banker. Joel walks through the professionals and advisors he recommends enlisting before you go through the high-pressure ordeal of an exit transaction. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 52: The Uproar over Trump’s Taxes

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2020 8:10


With Trump’s tax payments in the news, Joel Trammell looks at some of the intricacies of when and how businesses pay taxes, clarifying some of the common misconceptions. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 51: Exit Planning, Part 2: Anatomy of a Deal

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2020 12:45


Buying or selling a house is one of the most complicated transactions many of us have gone through — but acquiring or selling a business is another step up in terms of complexity and time. In this episode, Joel walks you through the timeline of transactions he’s been through, including what happened at each stage. … Continue reading Episode 51: Exit Planning, Part 2: Anatomy of a Deal →

Episode 49: The Tricky Art of Change Management

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2020 6:23


Whole tomes have been written on “change management” in the corporate sphere. While changing how humans think and behave is difficult, the process starts with the CEO addressing some basic questions for the organization. This week, Joel discusses what those questions are and why they form the necessary foundation of lasting collective change. Sponsored by: … Continue reading Episode 49: The Tricky Art of Change Management →

Episode 48: Vulnerability and the CEO

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2020 5:34


“Vulnerability” has been a buzzword for years, but should the CEO care? When should the CEO disclose their emotions, fears, struggles to people in the organization? And what’s the line between being vulnerable and sharing too much? Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 47: The Internal Triangle of Tension

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2020 8:15


Every business sells a product (or service) into a market. Thus arise three vital groups that form a triangle inside a business: sales, product, and marketing. As each of these divisions operates, natural tensions arise. Guess whose job it is to manage them? That’s right — the CEO. This week, Joel talks about how to … Continue reading Episode 47: The Internal Triangle of Tension →

Episode 46: The CEO as Chief Storyteller

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2020 8:38


Human brains are naturally drawn to stories as a primary way of understanding the world around us — and the role we play in it. This week, Joel discusses why CEOs should care about the art of storytelling and how they can use it to manage and lead more effectively. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance … Continue reading Episode 46: The CEO as Chief Storyteller →

Episode 45: The Motivation Equation

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2020 8:45


How motivated are the employees in your organization? One of the most fundamental mistakes managers make at any level —including the CEO — is misunderstanding how natural human motivation works. In this episode, Joel Trammell discusses the breakthrough theory that reveals how an organization can build authentic motivation across the workforce. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual … Continue reading Episode 45: The Motivation Equation →

Episode 44: Do You Need Full-Time Managers at Your Company?

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2020 8:10


When you’re in startup mode, every employee of your company is usually doing hands-on work. But as a company scales up, professional managers are required to coordinate, facilitate, coach, and much more. This week, we pick Joel’s brain about the stage of a business’s growth where professional managers become a necessity. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual … Continue reading Episode 44: Do You Need Full-Time Managers at Your Company? →

Episode 43: Seeing Your Business Like the Customer Does

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2020 7:16


As CEO, it’s easy to get so caught up in doing your job that you lose connection with the customers who keep your business running. This week, Joel discusses how CEOs can stay in touch with the customer experience—and why doing so is important. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 42: Are Personality Assessments Worthwhile?

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2020 8:15


Personality tests and assessments are popular in many corners of the business world. But are the insights they deliver really useful in a business context? Should CEOs care about their teams’ Myers-Briggs type or CliftonStrengths themes? Hear what Joel has to say about it this week on Ask a CEO. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 41: How to Recruit Exceptional Executives

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2020 9:56


As CEO, one of your many responsibilities is directly managing the executive team. This week, Joel discusses the finer points of hiring executives who will make a substantial difference in company performance and culture. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 40: Employee Value Proposition

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2020 8:12


Hiring is not just about the candidate selling themselves to the employer—the employer must also communicate why it offers an environment where talented candidates can thrive and grow. This week, Joel discusses the concept of the “employer value proposition” and why CEOs should understand its effect on bringing in top talent. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual … Continue reading Episode 40: Employee Value Proposition →

Episode 39: Listening to Employees Who Raise Problems

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2020 8:13


Behind nearly every major business catastrophe—from Theranos to scandals involving Wells Fargo and Boeing—is a leader who wasn’t listening to their employees. How can CEOs encourage people to speak up, and how do you know when to react to the problems they raise? Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 38: Delegating Decision Making

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2020 12:05


The CEO is called upon to make the most difficult and consequential decisions of anyone in the organization. But at the same time, the CEO cannot make every decision him or herself. This week, Joel discusses when a decision is the CEO’s to make and when it’s a better idea to delegate the decision to … Continue reading Episode 38: Delegating Decision Making →

Episode 37: Showing Employees That You Care

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2020 6:49


We talk about caring being one of the essential ways that CEOs build influence with their teams. In a time when the CEO is looking out for the survival of the business, how can they also show that they care about their employees’ as people? How can they demonstrate that their putting the well-being of … Continue reading Episode 37: Showing Employees That You Care →

Episode 36: How Am I Doing As CEO?

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2020 6:50


The CEO has multiple challenges when it comes to getting feedback and understanding how well they are doing in the role. First, people in the organization may be reluctant to tell them the unvarnished truth. Second, their only real “boss” is the board, with whom they likely meet infrequently. How can the CEO identify their … Continue reading Episode 36: How Am I Doing As CEO? →

Episode 34: Future of Remote Work

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2020 8:46


Many US workers are now in a fourth month of working remotely—and for many people, it’s going well. Are open-plan offices a thing of the past? And how do managers and leaders fulfill their roles when their team may be offsite for the foreseeable future? Joel discusses that and more on this week’s episode. Sponsored … Continue reading Episode 34: Future of Remote Work →

Episode 34: Leadership to Improve the Culture

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2020 7:21


Over the past week, every state in the US has seen protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department. This week, Joel discusses this tragic circumstance and what it might tell us about leadership—or the failure of leadership—in police departments and in the country more broadly. Sponsored by: … Continue reading Episode 34: Leadership to Improve the Culture →

Episode 33: Keeping Expenses Down

Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2020 7:45


One of the things on most CEOs’ minds right now is managing expenses when the business may be experiencing an unprecedented slowdown. Headcount is one place many organizations have had to pull back on, but what other items should CEOs be thinking about to control costs? Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 32: Public Communication in Times of Uncertainty

Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2020 6:57


As the health and economic fallout of the pandemic continues, CEOs face a challenge in their role as the public face of the company. Today, Joel discusses tips for making public statements when the company’s situation going forward is unpredictable. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 31: Reopening the Economy

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2020 6:42


The logical question after an unprecedented, months-long economic shutdown is: “When and how to we reopen?” In this episode, Joel discusses the challenges we are likely to face in the months to come as business leaders deal with the second-, third-, and fourth-order effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 30 : Sustaining the Culture Through Crisis

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 8:20


For many leaders, company culture feels especially fractured right now. Most employees aren’t at the office, everyone’s feeling uncertain, and the future is a haze. How can the CEO sustain a strong culture in such adverse conditions? We discuss just that in this week’s episode. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 29: When to Listen to the Experts

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2020 7:40


Most people are an expert in something. But when you’re a CEO, you can’t be the expert in everything—you must instead call on the experts in your organization to advise you. This week, Joel discusses how to evaluate experts and know what opinions should influence your decisions, especially the high-pressure ones you may be facing … Continue reading Episode 29: When to Listen to the Experts →

Episode 28: Management vs. Leadership in High-Pressure Situations

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2020 7:24


Management and leadership are two tools at the CEO’s disposal—both essential, neither “better” than the other. The best CEOs know the difference and use both tools at the appropriate times. As we forge through the pandemic and its economic fallout, when should the CEO lead and when should the CEO manage? Joel offers his take in this week’s … Continue reading Episode 28: Management vs. Leadership in High-Pressure Situations →

Episode 27: Decision Making Under Pressure

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2020 7:53


Making decisions at the CEO level comes with a lot of pressure at any time, but especially so during a global crisis like the one we are currently living through. This week, we discuss how CEOs can handle uncertainty and emotion and make strong decisions under pressure—even if those decisions are difficult. Sponsored by: Texas … Continue reading Episode 27: Decision Making Under Pressure →

Episode 26: Staying Sane In Times of Crisis

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2020 6:52


As the CEO, you’re always under a lot of pressure, but it’s especially intense when you’re going through a crucible. How can you make sure you’re taking care of yourself and your family when the business seems to be demanding your full attention every minute? Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 25: Preparing Your Business for a Crisis

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2020 9:32


Many of us were caught off guard by the current crisis. We will inevitably recover—but what can CEOs do to future-proof the business from the next unexpected disruption? You can’t plan for every contingency—but you can be smart about your preparation. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 24: Managing Remote Employees

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2020 9:14


As offices in many cities and states are on lockdown due to the pandemic, some teams are experiencing fully remote work for the first time. This week, Joel discusses the nuances of working from home—and how CEOs and leaders should approach this challenge. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 23: Leading Through Crisis

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2020 9:29


As we all know, the world is going through an uncertain and chaotic time—and nearly every CEO is coping with the impact on their business, including its employees, customers, and shareholders. In this episode, Joel Trammell discusses the strategies he’s developed for leading an organization through crisis. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 22: Who Can I Talk To?

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2020 8:51


The CEO role might just be the loneliest executive job around. Not only do you have no peers in the organization—you don’t have a traditional boss either. And when you’re CEO, it’s a lot harder to get people to be honest with you. Our question this week is about how CEOs break that bubble of … Continue reading Episode 22: Who Can I Talk To? →

Episode 21: How Can You Tell If an Employee Is Doing a Good Job?

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2020 10:10


If you manage an assembly line, it’s easy to spot the best performer – it’s the person making the most widgets to spec. But with knowledge work, the CEO has a lot harder time telling who’s succeeding and who’s failing. This week, we talk about strategies for evaluating performance objectively, even if the work product … Continue reading Episode 21: How Can You Tell If an Employee Is Doing a Good Job? →

Episode 20: What to Expect as a New CEO

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2020 12:44


Polls of new CEOs show that most are surprised by the demands of the job, and find that they weren’t as prepared as they thought they were. Join Joel and Steve for a discussion about why that is, and how novice CEOs can ready themselves. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 19: Keeping an Eye on the Competition

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2020 10:38


How should CEOs think about their company’s rivals in the market? Joel explores the best way to monitor, interact with, and think about competitors—and why it’s usually a good idea to work with them rather than against them. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company  

Episode 18: The CEO as Culture Builder

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2020 11:34


The CEO role is an incredibly personal job—because who you are and what you value defines the culture of the organization. Joel discusses CEO tactics for owning your critical role as cornerstone of company culture. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 17: Data, Data Everywhere

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2020 11:01


In modern organizations, data is abundant. But can too much data cloud the CEO’s strategic vision? It’s a real possibility, Joel argues in this episode. Find out how to use data smartly in the CEO role. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 16: Managing the Board

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2020 13:44


Managing the board is one of the CEO’s trickiest jobs. Board members are your bosses, but the CEO does most of the work of managing them. Learn how to use the board effectively and avoid some of the most common mistakes CEOs make in relation to the board. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 15: The Value of Predictability

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2020 11:39


Almost every time a CEO gets fired, it’s because of a failure of predictability: The CEO told the board the organization could get something done, and then it didn’t happen. Joel discusses how to get better at prediction—and teach your employees to do the same. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 14: Is CEO Pay Out of Control?

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2020 11:20


It’s a complex topic, and one often oversimplified by the media. What is the current state of CEO compensation? Is it something we should be concerned with? How does it differ across company size, pay type, and so forth? We discuss all that and more. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Episode 13: A Strategic Approach to Employee Compensation

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2020 10:52


Pay is one of the least effective levers for motivating employees. On the other hand, if you don’t get compensation right, you can demotivate employees considerably. Joel presents a strategic approach that takes the bias and emotion out of setting employee pay levels. Sponsored by: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

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