Daily Influence

AI adoption is not primarily a technology problem it is a people problem. In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg Koleno speaks with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, behavioral scientist, bestselling author, CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts, and author of The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work: From Resistance to Results. Dr. Gleb explains why many workplace AI initiatives stall even when the technology works. He identifies three major psychological barriers to AI adoption: fear of job loss, threats to professional identity, and shame or stigma around using AI. He also explains why traditional technology implementation strategies often fail with artificial intelligence and what leaders need to do differently. In this episode: • Why employee resistance to AI is often emotional rather than technical • How fear of job displacement can undermine AI adoption • Why leaders should consider focusing AI productivity gains on growth rather than immediate job cuts • How professional identity affects employees' willingness to use AI • Why leaders should identify frustrating, repetitive tasks employees actually want AI to eliminate • How leadership modeling can reduce stigma around AI use • Why measuring AI usage alone can create misleading results • How to measure AI through outcomes such as time saved, quality, error reduction, and business value • Why “human in the loop” is not enough—and why employees must remain accountable for AI-generated work • How leaders can build trust while encouraging responsible experimentation with AI Dr. Gleb also shares one of the most important lessons from his work studying decision-making and organizational change: leaders often underestimate the role emotions play in determining whether people embrace or resist transformation. For leaders navigating AI implementation, this conversation offers a practical framework for moving beyond reluctant compliance toward responsible, productive AI adoption—without sacrificing human judgment, accountability, or trust. Learn more about Dr. Gleb Tsipursky and The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work at Disaster Avoidance Experts, or connect with him on LinkedIn. https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gleb-tsipursky/ Sign up to receive our S.M.A.R.T. Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/

We rarely notice it, but influence is with us constantly—like breathing. In this revisit to episode 512, Brian Smith unpacks how influence operates as a continuous, often unconscious force in our lives. From body language to internal dialogue, we're always broadcasting—and always receiving. Learn how building self-awareness helps you better manage the influence you have on others and what's influencing you from within.

Can one small act of kindness really change a life or even the world? In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Kevin Smith, founder and Chief Kindness Chaser of Kindness Worldwide, to explore how one stranger's decision to return his lost wallet sparked a global mission to create a culture of kindness. What began as Kevin's desire to recognize one person for doing the right thing evolved into a movement focused on helping people see the good, be the good, and recognize the influence they have every day. Kevin shares why kindness is a strength, not a weakness, and explains the difference between genuine kindness and simply being nice or avoiding conflict. He also introduces the eight characteristics of kindness (gratitude, patience, forgiveness, empathy and compassion, respect, joy, generosity, and service) and discusses how individuals and leaders can intentionally put them into practice. The conversation also explores how leaders can build a genuine culture of kindness in the workplace, why Kevin believes organizations should think about ROK Return on Kindness alongside Random Opportunities for Kindness, and how helping employees feel seen, valued, and understood can strengthen both people and organizations. Kevin leaves listeners with a simple challenge: ask yourself each day, “What can I do today to make a difference in someone else's world?” From a smile or thank-you note to an unexpected act of generosity, small actions can create ripples far beyond what we may ever see. In this episode, you'll learn: • How one act of kindness inspired the creation of Kindness Worldwide • Why kindness should be viewed as a strength and intentional leadership practice • The eight characteristics that form Kevin's framework for kindness • How leaders can create cultures where people feel seen and valued • Why “Return on Kindness” can have meaningful organizational impact • How daily acts of kindness can create lasting ripple effects • Why every individual has the power to positively influence the world around them Kevin's message is straightforward: no act of kindness is too small to make a difference and meaningful change begins with the choices each of us makes every day. https://www.kindnessworldwide.org/ ksmith@kindnessworldwide.org https://www.rokindness.org/ Subscribe to the S.M.A.R.T. Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/

In this revisit to episode 298 of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives into one of the most significant challenges facing modern teams: how to bridge the generational gap using technology. As organizations grow increasingly diverse in age, older generations may feel left behind by the tech-savvy younger workforce. Brian explores how leveraging collaboration tools like Slack, project management platforms, and reverse mentorship programs can turn these differences into strengths. He offers practical tips for leaders to foster mutual learning, create stronger bonds between generations, and build a culture that thrives on knowledge sharing and collective growth.

In this revisit to episode 296 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith PhD explores the critical role that emotional resilience plays in leadership. He shares how resilient leaders are not just emotionally intelligent, but also capable of navigating challenges with calmness and stability. Learn how to manage stress, setbacks, and unforeseen challenges without letting emotions negatively impact your team. Through responsible leadership, Brian shows how emotional resilience can promote trust, transparency, and collaboration, creating a stronger and more innovative organizational culture.

Burnout rarely happens all at once. More often, it builds slowly through constant stress, sleepless nights, neglected self-care, and the pressure to keep pushing—even when your body and relationships are telling you something needs to change. In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Lori Lea, founder of Lori Lea Healing Hopes, to explore her journey from more than 20 years in the corporate world including serving as the CFO of an international company to discovering a new approach to balance, healing, and intentional living. Lori shares how chronic stress began affecting her health, relationships, communication, and ability to remain present and the wake-up call that ultimately led her to step away and reassess what truly mattered. She also explains how her personal exploration of sound healing and energy healing evolved into a way to help others slow down, reconnect, and create greater calm in their lives. Together, Gregg and Lori discuss how unmanaged stress can influence the way leaders communicate, make decisions, and treat the people around them—and why caring for ourselves is an important part of responsible leadership and positive influence. In this episode, you'll hear about: • The warning signs of burnout that are easy to overlook • How chronic stress can affect leadership, communication, and decision-making • Lori's transition from corporate CFO to sound and energy healing practitioner • What happens during a sound bath and how Lori creates an environment for relaxation • Simple techniques for resetting during stressful moments • The importance of boundaries, rest, gratitude, and being fully present • Why self-care is not selfish—and how restoring yourself can improve the influence you have on others Lori's story is a reminder that slowing down does not mean abandoning your responsibilities. Sometimes, creating space to restore yourself is exactly what allows you to return with greater clarity, patience, and intention. Learn more about Lori Lea and Lori Lea Healing Hopes: https://lorileahealinghopes.com/ Sign up to receive our S.M.A.R.T. Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/ 

What happens when achieving success is no longer enough? On this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith sits down with Tony Holland, CEO of Global Premier Benefits, Managing Partner at Integrity Marketing Group, entrepreneur, investor, youth coach and minority owner of the Baltimore Orioles. Tony's journey began far from where he is today. Raised by a teenage single mother in a difficult home environment, Tony experienced adversity early in life before earning an academic scholarship to Johns Hopkins University. After college, his path eventually found him living out of a van, bartending and waiting tables before an unexpected opportunity in insurance changed his trajectory. Tony quickly became one of the industry's top performers—but a tragic experience involving the death of a client's child fundamentally changed how he viewed his work. Success stopped being about recognition, money and what Tony could achieve. It became about people, purpose and contribution. Brian and Tony explore how adversity can prepare us rather than define us, why Tony believes great leaders “lead with love,” what coaching young athletes taught him about developing people, and why his greatest accomplishments aren't the trophies, businesses or financial success, but seeing people he influenced go on to succeed themselves. Tony shares a leadership philosophy that captures the heart of responsible influence: “I want you to do better than me.” This is a conversation about overcoming circumstances, finding purpose in success, building people up in a world that too often tears them down, and recognizing that achievement becomes far more meaningful when we use it to create opportunity for someone else. Because the question isn't whether you have influence. The question is what you're going to do with it.www.thetonyholland.com https://linktr.ee/thetonyholland

What does it take to become more visible in business without losing sight of who you are? In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Jennifer Anderson, founder of Jen Anderson Fit Life and a self-described professional wing woman, to explore how entrepreneurs and professionals can build confidence, strengthen their visibility, create meaningful relationships, and pursue opportunities that genuinely align with their goals. Drawing on more than two decades in the fitness industry and her experience in business development, messaging, strategic collaboration, podcast bookings, speaking opportunities, and launches, Jennifer explains why your greatest value often comes from the qualities that make you different not simply your technical expertise. She shares how learning to “bring your whole self” into professional relationships can make you more memorable, relatable, and trusted. Jennifer also discusses how business owners can evaluate opportunities more strategically. Rather than saying yes to every client, partnership, podcast, event, or speaking engagement, she encourages leaders to consider audience alignment, capacity, opportunity cost, and whether an opportunity actually supports where they want to go. Gregg and Jennifer also explore: • Turning visibility into credible relationships and measurable business growth through consistent follow-up • Why a “no” may really mean “not right now” • The connection between physical discipline, confidence, and business performance • Creating small, non-negotiable routines that help prevent burnout • Planning today to make life easier for your “future self” • Finding the confidence to speak up and trust the value you bring • How one simple introduction, message, or act of advocacy can strengthen a relationship and create opportunities for someone else Jennifer leaves listeners with a practical challenge: when someone comes to mind, take action. Send the message. Share their work. Make the introduction. Strong relationships are built when good intentions become intentional actions. If you want to strengthen your personal brand, increase your business visibility, build more meaningful professional relationships, and become more intentional about the opportunities you pursue, this conversation offers practical strategies you can use immediately.  Connect with Jen: janderson5969@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-anderson-wingwoman/ Sign up to receive our S.M.A.R.T. Advantage Newsletter:  https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/ Keywords: business visibility, personal branding, strategic relationships, networking, business development, professional confidence, entrepreneurship, relationship building, speaking opportunities, podcast guesting, leadership, authentic leadership, business growth, Jennifer Anderson, Daily Influence Podcast

What happens after you achieve the success you've been working toward? In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith challenges us to look beyond the next goal, promotion, client, dollar, or accomplishment and consider a different question: What are you doing with what you've already built? Success gives us more than achievement. Along the way, we accumulate experience, relationships, knowledge, credibility, resources, and influence. And with greater influence comes greater responsibility for the ripples we create. Brian explores the important transition from achievement to contribution—using what we've built to develop people, create opportunities, share knowledge, strengthen organizations, and build something that can continue making an impact without us. Success isn't the finish line. What you do with your success may ultimately matter more than achieving it in the first place.

Success can hide a lot of problems. When revenue is growing, customers are happy, and opportunities keep coming through the door, it's easy to assume the organization is working exactly as it should. But what happens when good people are compensating for bad processes? When critical knowledge lives in someone's head? When the founder is still holding together things that should have become systems years ago? In Episode 822 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why growth often doesn't create organizational problems—it exposes the ones success allowed us to ignore. As organizations grow, individual capability must become organizational capability. Leadership has to move beyond the leader and become embedded in how decisions are made, responsibilities are defined, communication happens, performance is measured, and accountability is maintained. The question isn't simply, “Are we successful?” It's: What is our current success allowing us to ignore? Because if your business doubled tomorrow, what would break first?

What does it take to become a leader whose influence creates trust, clarity, and meaningful action? In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Kurt Luidhardt, founder of Liberty Spenders and president of The Prosper Group, to explore how intentional leadership and effective communication shape businesses, teams, families, and communities. Drawing on more than 20 years of business leadership and his extensive experience in marketing, communications, and political strategy, Kurt explains why influence is never neutral. Leaders are influencing the people around them every day the question is whether they are doing it intentionally. Kurt shares practical lessons on creating greater clarity within an organization, communicating transparently during difficult seasons, challenging assumptions before they become costly mistakes, and protecting dedicated thinking time as a business owner. He also explains why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools leaders can use to help employees understand the larger purpose and impact of their work. The conversation goes deeper into the meaning of success, including Kurt's perspective on ambition, family, faith, integrity, and building a legacy that extends beyond short-term accomplishments. You'll learn: • Why clarity is one of the most important leadership skills • The difference between intentional and accidental influence • Why leaders need dedicated time to think—not just execute • How challenging assumptions can prevent costly business mistakes • Why transparency builds trust during difficult business situations • How regular communication helps strengthen organizational culture • Why storytelling moves people from passive observers to engaged contributors • How ambition can become destructive when success becomes the ultimate goal • Why thinking generationally can change business and financial decisions • How stepping away from social media and constant negativity can improve the influence you have on others Kurt also shares a practical challenge for anyone wanting to become a more positive and responsible influence: pay closer attention to what you are allowing into your mind and what you are carrying into the lives of the people around you. Whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, executive, manager, marketer, or emerging leader, this conversation offers practical ideas for communicating more effectively, building stronger relationships, and becoming more intentional about the influence you have every day. Connect with Kurt Luidhardt: LinkedIn: Search Kurt Luidhardt Website: LibertySpenders.com About Daily Influence: Daily Influence explores how leaders, entrepreneurs, and everyday people can create meaningful positive impact through intentional actions, responsible leadership, and the influence they carry into their businesses, relationships, and communities. Subscribe to Daily Influence and share this episode with someone who wants to become a more intentional and positive influence. SEO Keywords: intentional leadership, leadership communication, responsible influence, Kurt Luidhardt, Daily Influence podcast, business leadership, communication skills for leaders, leadership clarity, building trust at work, transparent leadership, storytelling in leadership, entrepreneurial leadership, positive influence, organizational culture, leadership development Sign up to receive our S.M.A.R.T. Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/ 

What happens when everything in your organization becomes urgent? Every email needs an immediate response. Every new idea becomes the next priority. Every problem becomes a fire—and eventually, people stop managing priorities and start managing interruptions. In Episode 820 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the hidden organizational cost of constant urgency and the responsibility leaders have for the pace, anxiety, and priorities they create around them. Drawing from 30 years of working with organizations and the principles of S.M.A.R.T. Management, Brian challenges leaders to distinguish between what needs their attention and what actually deserves priority. In this episode: • Why urgent and important are not the same thing • How constantly changing priorities create organizational chaos • Why every new priority has a cost—even when that cost isn't immediately visible • How a leader's pace and anxiety influence the entire team • Why reacting to every problem can teach employees to escalate instead of solve • How S.M.A.R.T. Management creates clarity around priorities, ownership, measurement, and outcomes • Why speed with direction is different from motion created by anxiety Sometimes the chaos leaders are frustrated by is chaos they've helped create. Before calling something urgent, ask: Is it genuinely urgent? Is it important? Or is it simply the thing that has my attention right now? Because priority requires choice—and choice requires discipline. Your influence is always on. Make it positive. Make it responsible. Find your influence. Be the influence. Build your influence.

What if confidence isn't about knowing exactly what comes next, but trusting yourself to figure it out? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Erin Ramirez, founder of Real Change Studio, executive coach, leadership strategist, and facilitator who helps leaders and teams navigate change, growth, complexity, and pressure. Erin shares why uncertainty doesn't have to leave leaders stuck and why waiting for the perfect answer can actually hold people and organizations back. Drawing from her experience leading large-scale organizational change initiatives, she explains how leaders can build adaptability, strengthen their confidence, and move forward by focusing on the next best step. The conversation also explores the concept of the leadership shadow the idea that every action, reaction, conversation, and behavior sends a message to the people around us, whether we intend it or not. Erin explains why responsible influence starts with understanding not only what we mean to communicate, but how others actually experience us. You'll also learn Erin's practical three-step approach for navigating uncertainty: identify the facts and separate them from the story you're telling yourself, expand your options through mental flexibility, and choose an intentional next step. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why confidence comes from trusting your ability to respond rather than having certainty • How a leader's behaviors create a leadership shadow that influences the entire organization • Why listening can be more effective than simply communicating more • A three-step process for getting unstuck and identifying your next best step • How “both-and thinking” can help leaders move beyond limiting either-or choices • Why adaptability and mental flexibility are increasingly critical leadership skills • How to take responsible action even when you don't have a perfect plan Erin's message is simple: you don't need to see the entire path before you move forward. You need the willingness to take the next responsible step, learn from it, and keep adapting. Learn more about Erin Ramirez and Real Change Studio at https://www.realchangestudio.com/ and connect with Erin on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinrdramirez/. Sign up to receive our S.M.A.R.T. Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/ 

What happens when good people stop telling leaders what they really think? Silence inside an organization can easily be mistaken for agreement. But when employees stop challenging ideas, raising concerns, admitting mistakes, or offering suggestions, that silence may be telling leaders something important about the environment they have created. In Episode 818 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores how a leader's reactions can unintentionally teach people that agreement is safer than honesty. Every response to bad news, disagreement, mistakes, and difficult feedback influences whether people will speak openly the next time. Brian also connects honest communication to self-awareness and S.M.A.R.T. Management, challenging leaders to create specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely ways for important information to move through their organizations. The question isn't simply, "Why aren't my people speaking up?" Responsible leaders are willing to ask a harder question: Have I created an environment where people know they can respectfully challenge me and still be valued? Your influence is always on. Make it positive and responsible.

Having the difficult conversation is only the beginning. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores what happens after expectations have been discussed—and why communication without follow-through rarely creates meaningful change. True accountability isn't about punishment. It starts with clarity. Using the S.M.A.R.T. Management framework, Brian explains why expectations should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely—and why both the individual and the leader have responsibilities once those expectations are established. Most importantly, Brian examines how accountability shapes culture. When leaders establish expectations but fail to follow up, people quickly learn that the standard is optional. Positive influence requires empathy. Responsible influence requires follow-through. Great leadership requires both. Find. Be. Build your influence.

What if kindness isn't just a personal value but one of the most practical tools we have for improving leadership, workplace culture, relationships, and well-being? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Jaclyn Lindsey, Co-Founder and CEO of Kindness.org, a global nonprofit advancing the science of kindness and transforming research into practical solutions for schools, workplaces, and communities. Under Jaclyn's leadership, Kindness.org has developed evidence-based programs reaching more than 500,000 students worldwide. Jaclyn shares how both kindness and experiences with bullying shaped her early life and ultimately influenced her mission to better understand the measurable impact of kindness. She explains why kindness should not be confused with being nice, agreeable, or avoiding difficult conversations and why genuine kindness can sometimes require courage, honesty, boundaries, and accountability. The conversation also explores the ABCs of kindness: kindness is an action, it is intended to benefit another person, and it typically has a cost—whether that cost is time, energy, effort, or resources. Jaclyn explains how this framework helps transform kindness from an abstract idea into an intentional behavior anyone can practice.

Valuing people does not mean avoiding difficult conversations with them. In Episode 815 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why one of the least responsible things a leader can do is allow discomfort today to become somebody else's problem tomorrow. Leaders often disguise avoidance as patience, empathy, grace, or simply waiting for the “right time.” But problems rarely disappear while we wait. A performance problem can become a consistency problem. A consistency problem can become an accountability problem. And eventually, an accountability problem can become a culture and credibility problem. Brian discusses the important difference between giving someone grace and withholding information they need in order to improve. He also explains how S.M.A.R.T. expectations—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely—can help leaders replace vague criticism with clarity, accountability, and an opportunity for growth. Positive influence isn't simply about making people feel good. Sometimes responsible influence means caring enough to have the conversation neither person particularly wants to have. What conversation are you avoiding—and what might that avoidance cost tomorrow? Find your influence. Be the influence. Build your influence.

What happens when leaders intentionally create opportunities for others to be seen, heard, and empowered? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Dr. Laura McGowan-Robinson, Founder and CEO of the Diversity in Leadership Institute, to explore how representation, resilience, self-reflection, and responsible leadership can create meaningful change in schools, organizations, and communities. Laura shares how the influence of her mother and grandmother helped shape her commitment to education and why seeing leaders who reflected her own identity made such a profound difference in her life. She also discusses how that experience eventually inspired her work developing racially diverse and culturally competent school leaders throughout California. Throughout the conversation, Laura offers practical lessons for anyone who wants to become a more intentional leader. She explains why effective leadership begins with self-reflection, recognizing the strengths others already possess, and using your own relationships, knowledge, and influence to create opportunities for the next generation of leaders. Laura also shares the story of launching a school during an economic crisis, facing severe under-enrollment and financial uncertainty, and choosing to persevere when the odds suggested the school might not survive. Today, that school serves more than 1,000 students in grades K–12—a powerful example of what can happen when purpose, community, and persistence come together. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why representation in leadership can have a ripple effect across students, families, and future leaders • How self-reflection helps leaders recognize where they need to grow • Why identifying and developing the strengths of others is a critical leadership responsibility • How leading through inquiry can empower teams to think, contribute, and solve problems • What perseverance looks like when circumstances make success seem unlikely • Why meaningful change often requires leaders to pace themselves for the long term • How small, intentional actions can create lasting positive influence Laura's message is a reminder that leadership is not simply about holding a position. It is about creating space for others to grow, using your influence responsibly, and leaving the world better than you found it. Connect with Dr. Laura McGowan-Robinson and the Diversity in Leadership Institute: https://www.diversityinleadership.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/school/diversity-in-leadership-institute/ https://www.instagram.com/dil_institute/ https://www.facebook.com/DILInstitute/ Sign up to receive our S.M.A.R.T. Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/ 

The workplace is changing quickly. Artificial intelligence is reshaping jobs, automation is transforming processes, organizations are searching for greater efficiency, and employees are being asked to adapt and accomplish more with the resources they have. But as the nature of work changes, are we making a dangerous mistake by confusing the value of the work with the value of the person doing it? In this special Labor Day episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the responsibility leaders have to develop people alongside technology—not simply use technology to extract more productivity from them. From judgment, accountability, and empathy to curiosity, critical thinking, and responsible influence, there are distinctly human contributions that technology cannot replace. Labor Day is ultimately a celebration of people: the people who build our businesses, serve our customers, solve problems, challenge assumptions, and influence what our organizations become. Technology will change. Jobs will change. The way we work will change. The value of work is changing. The value of people shouldn't.

In this revisit to episode 212 of Daily Influence we explore the transformative power of Servant Leadership. Learn how to provide positive, responsible influence by becoming a servant leader, and discover how this approach can grow your team's influence and success. Tune in to gain practical insights on fostering a supportive and empowering environment that elevates both individual and collective performance. Perfect for leaders looking to inspire and drive their teams to new heights.

What does servant leadership really look like when kindness alone isn't enough? In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Scott Doggett, Founder and Chief Servant Leader of the National Academy of Leadership Development, to explore how people-first leadership can strengthen employee engagement, workplace culture, and organizational performance. Drawing on more than 30 years of leadership, learning, and organizational development experience, Scott explains why effective servant leadership isn't about being soft, agreeable, or doing everything for your team. It's about creating the conditions people need to succeed—removing unnecessary barriers, providing the right support and development, and taking the time to understand each person as an individual. Scott shares how his experience inside a servant-led nonprofit transformed his perspective on workplace culture, why the labels leaders place on employees can profoundly influence performance and confidence, and how seemingly small interactions can create a ripple effect that lasts for decades. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why people-first leadership can drive stronger engagement, retention, and organizational results • How the labels leaders place on employees shape their behavior, opportunities, and confidence • Why workplace culture is defined by an employee's everyday experience—not the values posted on the wall • How leaders can balance support, accountability, coaching, and performance expectations • A practical starting point for creating a more people-centered culture • Why AI creates an opportunity for leaders to reinvest time in human connection, coaching, and development • One simple action any leader can take to help another person feel seen, valued, and equipped to succeed Scott also challenges leaders to remember that influence happens in everyday interactions. A conversation, reaction, opportunity, or moment of recognition can shape how someone sees themselves long after the interaction is over. Learn more about Scott Doggett and the National Academy of Leadership Development: https://nationalald.com/ If you want to create stronger teams, improve employee engagement, and become a more intentional and responsible leader, this conversation offers practical ideas you can begin applying immediately.

What does your organization know only because one person knows it? In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores an often-overlooked business risk: institutional knowledge that lives exclusively in the minds of key employees. Every organization has people everyone turns to—the person who remembers why a decision was made, knows the history of an important customer, understands the workaround nobody documented, or knows exactly who to call when something goes wrong. Their experience is enormously valuable. But when critical organizational knowledge exists only with one individual, that value also creates risk. Brian explains the important distinction between individual experience and institutional knowledge, and why responsible leaders must intentionally make critical knowledge transferable. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why key-person dependency creates organizational risk • The difference between an individual's experience and institutional knowledge • Why being indispensable isn't necessarily the highest form of positive influence • How cross-training, SOPs, Position Guides, and documentation can protect critical knowledge • Why organizations should capture the "why" behind decisions—not simply the "how" • How sharing knowledge expands an individual's influence rather than diminishing their value The goal isn't to make great people replaceable. It's to make the knowledge they've created transferable. Ask yourself one question today: What does my organization know only because one person knows it? Find one example and start transferring that knowledge. Because when individual expertise becomes organizational knowledge, individual influence becomes organizational strength.

What happens after you survive the thing you thought would break you? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Andrew Minuto, author of Fatally Resilient, for a candid conversation about addiction, grief, cancer, fatherhood, identity, accountability, and what it really means to rebuild your life after everything changes. Andrew's journey has included losing both parents to cancer just 79 days apart, multiple battles with addiction, divorce, career disruption, fighting to reclaim his role as a father, and surviving Stage III metastatic cancer twice. But Andrew challenges the idea that simply surviving adversity should be the goal. He shares why real resilience requires more than endurance. It requires recognizing when you cannot do it alone, confronting guilt and shame before they take control, setting boundaries, asking for support, and learning to separate who you are from the worst decisions you have made. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why resilience should be about rebuilding, not simply surviving • How asking for help became a critical turning point in Andrew's recovery • The difference between personal accountability and defining yourself by past mistakes • Practical habits and support systems that help create lasting change • How trauma can turn resilience into isolation, avoidance, or constant anticipation of the next crisis • Why self-awareness, boundaries, and self-advocacy are essential to rebuilding your identity • How letting go of the life you expected can create space for a life you intentionally choose • One powerful mindset shift for anyone facing addiction, loss, illness, divorce, career change, or another major life transition Andrew offers a powerful reminder: a better life is always available—but rebuilding it requires intentional action. This conversation challenges listeners to consider where they may be enduring rather than rebuilding and what specific step they can take today to move forward with greater responsibility, clarity, and positive influence. Contact Andrew at: andrew.minuto@gmail.com Subscribe to SMART Advantage newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/

Leaders often say, “I wish my people would take more ownership.” They want employees to take initiative, solve problems, make decisions, and accept accountability. But there's another question leaders need to ask: Have we actually given people something they can own? In Episode 808 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the relationship between responsibility, authority, clarity, and genuine employee ownership. Assigning responsibility while retaining control over every meaningful decision doesn't create ownership—it creates dependency. And when employees are repeatedly required to seek approval, criticized for taking a different approach, or punished whenever a mistake occurs, leaders may unintentionally train them to stop taking initiative altogether. Drawing from SMART Management and The I in Team Series, Brian discusses why autonomy requires greater clarity, not less management, and why leaders must learn to distinguish between achieving the right outcome and simply doing something the leader's preferred way. If you want accountable, confident decision-makers on your team, you have to create the conditions that allow them to become exactly that. You can't demand ownership without being willing to give it. 

On Episode 807 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith sits down with Barry Moline, author of Connect: How to Quickly Collaborate for Success in Business and Life, longtime CEO, speaker, and Cialdini Licensed Trainer, for a conversation about what really creates strong teams and meaningful influence. Barry challenges the idea that great teamwork begins with a leader orchestrating every interaction. Instead, leaders can create stronger teams by helping people genuinely get to know one another, build trust, and develop the relationships that make collaboration possible. Brian and Barry also explore the difference between ethical influence and manipulation, how principles such as liking, unity, authority, social proof, and scarcity affect our decisions, and why becoming aware of the influence around us can help us become more responsible influencers ourselves. Finally, they turn to AI and the changing workplace. As technology makes organizations more efficient, leaders face an increasingly important responsibility: making sure efficiency doesn't come at the expense of human connection. In this episode: Why strong teams begin with relationships, not forced teamwork How leaders can create opportunities for authentic connection The difference between ethical influence and manipulation How influence and persuasion show up in everyday business Why AI should support human judgment rather than replace it How leaders can protect relationships as technology changes the workplace Why meaningful change often starts by simply taking action Barry leaves listeners with a straightforward challenge: pay attention to the influence happening around you—and then take charge of the influence you choose to create.https://barrymoline.com/barry@barrymoline.com

What happens when an entrepreneur stops chasing ideas and starts paying closer attention to the problems people face every day? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Samuel Ayo Oyedemi, founder of SCAP, a technology platform helping consumers better understand the ingredients, allergens, additives, and other information found in food and personal care products. Samuel shares his journey from Nigeria to Canada and the United States, including nearly two years of testing ideas, navigating setbacks, and questioning his path as an entrepreneur. What began as a mobile self-checkout concept eventually evolved into a platform focused on food intelligence, product transparency, and informed consumer decision-making. Samuel explains why successful innovation requires more than a good idea. It requires listening to customers, challenging assumptions, recognizing when timing is wrong, and being willing to pivot without abandoning the larger purpose. In this conversation, Gregg and Samuel explore: • Why Samuel believes leadership is rooted in responsibility, accountability, and compassion • How SCAP evolved from frictionless checkout technology into a food and product intelligence platform • How entrepreneurs can determine when a pivot represents progress rather than failure • The responsibility technology companies have when influencing health and purchasing decisions • Why keeping the customer at the center creates better products and better business decisions • How Samuel uses the “law of process” to remain patient when growth takes longer than expected • Why learning to fail faster, adapt, and move forward can make entrepreneurship more sustainable • How paying attention to everyday problems can become the starting point for positive, responsible influence Samuel also challenges listeners to identify a problem they genuinely care about, understand why solving it matters, and take one intentional step toward creating meaningful change. This episode is a practical conversation about resilience, entrepreneurship, responsible leadership, innovation, and turning setbacks into information that helps you build something better. Connect with Samuel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelayooyedemi/ https://www.instagram.com/useskaap/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/useskaap/home/ SMART Advantage newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/

Businesses are under constant pressure to do more with less—automate more, reduce costs, increase productivity, adopt AI, and move faster. But what happens when efficiency starts working against the organization? In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the critical difference between efficiency and effectiveness. Drawing from his experience as a Six Sigma Master Black Belt, the principles of SMART Management, and The I in Team Series, Brian challenges leaders to look beyond speed, cost reduction, and productivity metrics and ask a more important question: Are we actually making the organization more effective? Brian examines how seemingly efficient decisions can create unintended consequences for employees, communication, institutional knowledge, creativity, and ultimately the customer experience. He also explores the danger of managing metrics instead of managing the business—and why critical thinking and clarity must come before optimization. The takeaway is simple: Efficiency is a tool. Effectiveness is the objective. Before making something faster, cheaper, or more automated, make sure it's something worth optimizing in the first place.

What if the fastest way to create meaningful change is to slow down and have the right conversations first? In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Adam Braus, professor, author, entrepreneur, founder of Elton University, and author of Leading Change at Work. Adam introduces Nemawashi, a Japanese approach to organizational change that he describes as “piecemeal consensus” developing an idea through individual conversations before asking a group to make a formal decision. Adam explains how leaders and employees at every level can use Nemawashi to overcome “permission paralysis,” gather honest input, improve ideas, and build genuine support without manipulating people into accepting a predetermined outcome. Rather than relying on top-down announcements, the process allows change to spread through an organization through trust, collaboration, and shared ownership. The conversation also explores Adam's work with Elton University, a nonprofit institution designed around personalized, one-on-one education. He explains how its evidence-based, student-directed MBA and PhD programs challenge the traditional factory model of higher education by building each student's curriculum around their specific goals. Listeners will learn: • How Nemawashi can reduce resistance to organizational change • Why consensus building is different from seeking permission • How leaders can unlock the collective intelligence of their teams • Why ego can undermine otherwise promising change initiatives • How personalized education can connect learning to real-world goals • Why emotional honesty strengthens professional and personal relationships • One conversation to initiate before advocating for your next idea This episode offers a practical framework for leading change with greater patience, humility, responsibility, and respect for the people affected by the decision. Connect with Adam Braus: Website: elton.university Email: adam.braus@elton.university Podcast: Solutions from the Multiverse The interview focuses on Nemawashi, collaborative change leadership, personalized higher education, professional credibility, and the value of honest communication. Sign up to receive our S.M.A.R.T. Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/ 

What happens when you achieve the goal you thought would change everything—and discover it doesn't? On Episode 803 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith sits down with Paralympic world-record holder Mikael Avatar for a conversation about achievement, identity, happiness, presence, and the small changes that can transform how we lead and live. Born with cerebral palsy and surrounded by assumptions about what he would never be able to do, Mikael developed an extraordinary determination to pursue what others believed was impossible. That journey eventually took him to the Paralympic Games and a world record in the long jump. But achieving the goal didn't create the fulfillment Mikael expected. He shares what that experience taught him about looking inward rather than continually chasing the next external accomplishment. Brian and Mikael explore how the same pattern appears in business, where leaders can become consumed by the next revenue target, acquisition, promotion, or milestone without ever asking what fulfillment and excellence actually mean to them. They also discuss the power of being fully present, why seemingly insignificant changes can create powerful chain reactions, and how interrupting an automatic behavior can fundamentally change the way a leader responds under pressure. This conversation is a reminder that achievement matters—but it does not define us. Lasting influence is built through self-awareness, intentional choices, consistent behaviors, and how we show up every day. Learn more about Mikael Avatar and his work at mikaelavatar.com.

In a world of instant information, AI, real-time dashboards, and constant communication, leaders face growing pressure to have an answer—and to have it immediately.But access to information isn't the same as good judgment.In Episode 802 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why responsible leadership sometimes requires the confidence to say, “I don't know,” “I need more information,” or “I haven't considered that.”Brian examines the difference between confidence and certainty, why ego can cause leaders to defend decisions long after the facts have changed, and how credibility can actually grow when a leader is honest about what they don't know.Because people aren't only watching you after you've figured everything out. They're watching how you listen, who you involve, whether you remain curious, and how you behave while you're figuring it out.Responsible influence isn't about always having the answer. It's about being responsible for how you lead when you don't.

What becomes possible when people feel safe enough to speak honestly? In this episode of *Daily Influence*, Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Rhonda Liebig a vitality coach, speaker, media host, and founder of Fresh Talks Global Vision and the #SpeakerLockingArms movement. Rhonda shares how learning to use her voice transformed her health, confidence, relationships, leadership, and ability to serve others. She explains why emotional safety and personal accountability are not competing ideas, but essential parts of authentic communication and responsible influence. Listeners will learn how to recognize the patterns that keep them silent, regulate emotional reactions, communicate difficult truths constructively, and create environments where people feel seen, heard, and respected. Rhonda also discusses the importance of journaling, self-awareness, nervous-system regulation, intentional leadership, and building relationships with people who genuinely support personal growth. This conversation offers practical guidance for anyone who wants to stop blaming and shaming, strengthen their voice, and use their influence to create healthier families, workplaces, businesses, and communities. Connect with Rhonda: Website: rhondaliebig.com/tree  Facebook Group: Fresh Talks Global Vision The episode centers on finding one's voice, reducing blame and shame, creating emotionally safe conversations, and balancing vulnerability with accountability.  Sign up to receive our S.M.A.R.T. Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/ 

Eight hundred episodes. Eight hundred conversations about leadership, business, culture, communication, responsibility, resilience, and the choices we make every day. For this milestone episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith looks forward rather than backward and returns to the idea at the heart of The I in Team Series: You are the influence. Influence isn't something we turn on and off. What we say matters. What we don't say matters. Our actions, inaction, and even indifference influence the people and environments around us. Brian explores why intentional influence begins with self-awareness, why responsibility is where influence becomes leadership, and why good intentions must ultimately be supported by consistent action and follow-through. As technology and artificial intelligence continue to accelerate the way we work and make decisions, human judgment and responsible influence become even more important. The challenge for leaders is no longer simply to understand influence, but to build organizations, cultures, systems, and habits that reinforce the behaviors they say they value. After 800 episodes, the message isn't more complicated. It's clearer: Find your influence. Be your influence. Build your influence. Because in the end, you are the influence.

What if one small act of kindness could inspire hundreds or even millions of others? On this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes back film producer, philanthropist, author, and social entrepreneur Peter Samuelson to explore how kindness can become intentional, measurable, and contagious. Peter introduces ROKindness.org, the world's first public ledger of good—a free platform designed to help people record Random Opportunities for Kindness, encourage others to pay those actions forward, and track how a single thoughtful decision can ripple through communities around the world. Drawing on his experience producing nearly 30 films and founding eight nonprofit organizations, Peter explains how he applied the practical skills of storytelling, project development, and human psychology to build a movement capable of turning isolated acts of kindness into sustained social impact. In this episode, you'll discover: • How a lost wallet and a stranger's decision to return it helped inspire a global kindness initiative • Why kindness must become more visible, structured, and repeatable • How ROKindness tracks the ripple effect of positive actions without making kindness transactional • Why kindness can help bridge political, racial, and social divisions • How volunteering can strengthen leadership skills, expand professional opportunities, and increase personal fulfillment • Why optimism grows when we step outside our own circumstances and help someone else • How leaders, organizations, families, and communities can create cultures where kindness becomes a consistent practice • One simple act you can complete today to begin creating your own ripple Peter challenges us to stop treating kindness as a passive value and begin treating it as a deliberate action. You do not need money, authority, or a large platform to make a meaningful difference. You only need to recognize an opportunity, act on it, and invite someone else to carry it forward. Because if negativity and hatred can spread, kindness can too. Learn more and join the movement at . Sign up to receive our S.M.A.R.T. Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/  

Leadership has never been just about numbers. Behind every financial report, strategic initiative, and organizational outcome are people making decisions every day. In Episode 798 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith welcomes Leon Morales, President of DNA Behavior International, for a thoughtful conversation on the intersection of behavioral science, leadership, organizational psychology, and artificial intelligence. Drawing from their shared backgrounds in the military, accounting, and organizational development, Brian and Leon explore why understanding human behavior is one of the greatest competitive advantages an organization can develop. Together they discuss how behavioral awareness strengthens leadership, why psychological safety is essential for high-performing teams, how AI should support—but never replace—human judgment, and why the best organizations combine disciplined management systems with a deep understanding of people. Whether you're a business owner, executive, manager, or aspiring leader, this episode offers practical insights into building organizations where people thrive and performance follows. In this episode: Why people—not numbers—are the foundation of organizational success How behavioral intelligence improves leadership and team performance The role of psychological safety in building high-performing organizations Why AI should enhance human judgment, not replace it How SMART Management and behavioral science work together to create lasting organizational successhttps://dnabehavior.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leondna

Good intentions matter—but they aren't what other people experience. In Episode 797 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the gap between intention and action and why responsible influence requires more than simply wanting to do the right thing. Leaders may intend to communicate better, recognize their people, address difficult issues, or live their organizational values. But influence is ultimately created through behavior. When our words, decisions, and actions consistently align, credibility grows and trust begins to compound. Brian challenges leaders to consider a simple question: Is the influence I'm creating consistent with the influence I intend to have? Because self-awareness, feedback, continuous improvement, and values all matter—but without action and follow-through, their impact is limited. Your influence isn't measured by what you meant to do. It's experienced through what you actually do.

Financial success is not simply about accumulating more it is about making intentional decisions that support your values, relationships, and long-term goals. In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Chad Coe, founder and president of Coe Financial Group, about values-based financial leadership, entrepreneurship, trust, and community impact. Chad shares how early experiences in sales and entrepreneurship shaped his career, why vulnerability and authentic relationships are essential to building trust, and how emotionally driven financial decisions can create serious and unnecessary consequences. He also discusses a failed business venture that cost him significantly but ultimately redirected him toward more meaningful and rewarding work. Listeners will learn how to slow down when facing high-pressure decisions, separate facts from fear and urgency, and evaluate choices based on their values, goals, and desired future. Chad also explains how consistency, mentorship, community involvement, and intentional scheduling have helped him build a successful life and positively influence others. This conversation offers practical guidance for anyone seeking greater clarity, accountability, and purpose in their financial, professional, or personal decisions. Learn more about Chad and download his free book, Your Financial Dream House, at coefinancial.com. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. www.linkedin.com/in/chadcoe www.youtube.com/@coefinancialgroup Instagram @chadcoeofficial 

In this revisit to episode 250 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith delves into the critical role of feedback in personal, team, and organizational growth. Drawing insights from The 'I' in Team Series books—Individual Influence, Positive Influence, and Responsible Influence—Brian explores how to give and receive constructive feedback effectively. Learn how to develop a culture of continuous improvement through balanced, objective feedback and active listening. Discover the power of respectful communication and timely follow-up in transforming feedback into a tool for positive change. Join us as we build better teams and organizations, one constructive conversation at a time. #Leadership #Feedback #ContinuousImprovement #TeamDevelopment #PersonalGrowth

How can a simple thank-you letter create lasting influence? In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Erica Gerard Di Bona, author of A Letter Is Better: The Art of Thank You, fundraising consultant, speaker, and advocate for intentional gratitude. Erica explains how handwritten or typed thank-you letters can strengthen personal and professional relationships, build trust, distinguish job candidates and business leaders, and make people feel genuinely seen and valued. She also shares the childhood experience that helped her discover the power of written communication and why she now sends more than 1,000 letters each year. Listeners will learn Erica's practical “Me, You, Us” framework for writing a meaningful thank-you note, how to overcome procrastination and concerns about handwriting, and why authentic appreciation must be specific rather than generic. The conversation also explores how gratitude benefits the person expressing it by creating a positive mindset and providing a tangible way to counter negativity with meaningful action. In this episode: • How intentional gratitude creates stronger relationships and lasting influence • The “Me, You, Us” method for writing an effective thank-you letter • Why appreciation can improve trust, credibility, fundraising, hiring, and client relationships • How to make gratitude personal, genuine, and memorable • Why small expressions of appreciation can create a significant ripple effect Learn more about Erica and her work at https://artofthankyou.com/ . Her book, A Letter Is Better: The Art of Thank You, is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IngramSpark.

In this revisit to episode 248 of the Daily Influence podcast, Brian Smith discusses the critical role of emotional intelligence in leadership. Reflecting on the recent July 4th celebrations, Brian emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and managing emotions to enhance personal and team effectiveness. Learn how to identify emotional triggers, practice empathy, and create a positive and responsible organizational culture. Drawing from insights in the I in Team series, including "Individual Influence: Find the I in Team," "Positive Influence: Be the I in Team," and "Responsible Influence: Build the I in Team," this episode offers valuable strategies to boost emotional intelligence and leadership skills. Join us to cultivate a more resilient and cohesive team environment!

Yesterday, Gregg-Brooke Koleno and Gretchen Gullo reminded us that gratitude can exist even during life's most difficult moments. Today, Brian Smith takes that conversation into the workplace by exploring why gratitude isn't simply an emotion—it's a leadership discipline. Great leaders intentionally reinforce what matters. They recognize progress, celebrate effort, and build cultures where people know their contributions make a difference. Gratitude isn't about lowering standards or ignoring challenges. It's about creating an environment where responsibility, engagement, and positive influence become part of the organization's operating system. If we believe "I Am the Influence," then we must also ask ourselves: What are we choosing to multiply? In this episode: Why gratitude is a leadership discipline—not just good manners How leaders shape culture through what they consistently reinforce Why appreciation strengthens accountability instead of weakening it How SMART Management builds gratitude into organizational systems The connection between gratitude, responsibility, and positive influence Subscribe to the SMART Advantage Newsletter for weekly leadership insights and practical SMART Management strategies. #Leadership #SMARTManagement #DailyInfluence #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessLeadership #Culture #Gratitude #ResponsibleInfluence

How can you experience joy and gratitude while carrying unimaginable grief? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Gretchen Gullo, founding broker with @properties in Park Ridge, Illinois. After losing her son and husband within days of each other, Gretchen made the intentional choice to lean into her faith, practice gratitude, and continue serving others. Gretchen shares how small acts of kindness can transform someone's day, why gratitude does not require pretending that everything is okay, and how serving others can help us move forward through grief and adversity. Drawing from her personal journey and decades in real estate, she also explains why character is revealed during life's hardest moments—and why responsible influence begins with our everyday choices. In this episode: • How faith and gratitude can help us navigate grief • Why we can be grateful in difficult circumstances without being grateful for them • The lasting impact of small, intentional acts of kindness • How serving others can restore purpose and joy • Why our words and reactions reveal our true character • One practical way to become a more positive influence today Connect with Gretchen Gullo through social media at @GretchenGullo or email gretchen.gullo@gmail.com The SMART Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/

Artificial intelligence has made information more accessible than ever. But information alone has never been the defining characteristic of great leadership. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why the future belongs to leaders who think critically, ask better questions, and apply sound judgment—not simply those with the latest technology. As AI transforms how organizations gather information, leaders must become even more intentional about how they evaluate, interpret, and act on it. Brian explains why thoughtful leadership remains a uniquely human responsibility and how slowing down to think can often produce faster, better business results. Technology can accelerate business, but leadership still determines its direction. If you want to lead more effectively in the age of AI, this episode offers practical perspective on why disciplined thinking is becoming one of the most valuable leadership skills of our time.

What does it take to move from caring about a problem to actively helping solve it? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Chason Forehand, founder of HR-4U and creator of Transformation Kitchen, about building workplaces and communities that put people first. Drawing from his career in the culinary industry and his own experience with addiction and incarceration, Chason explains how receiving a second chance changed his life—and inspired him to create opportunities for others facing barriers to employment. Through Transformation Kitchen, participants receive culinary training, professional certifications, life coaching, health and wellness support, paid experience, and connections to living-wage employment. Chason also shares the challenges of overcoming organizational gatekeeping and why lasting change requires collaboration across businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and communities. In this episode: • Why living wages benefit employees, businesses, families, and communities • How leaders can ensure people feel valued, seen, and heard • Why second-chance employment can help break cycles of poverty and instability • How Transformation Kitchen prepares people for sustainable culinary careers • Why meaningful workforce development requires long-term support • How employers can begin creating more inclusive employment opportunities • The critical difference between being an ally and becoming an advocate Chason's message is clear: supporting a cause is not enough. Positive, responsible influence requires action. Whether you contribute your time, talent, resources, or connections, you can help someone forge a new path forward. Website: https://hr-4u.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chason-forehand-rcf1222/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformationkitchenorg/ The SMART Advantage Newsletter: https://www.smartadvantagenewsletter.com/

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way organizations work. It can generate reports, draft policies, analyze data, and provide recommendations in seconds. But one thing AI cannot do is accept responsibility. In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why the rise of AI makes leadership more important—not less. While technology can accelerate decisions, only people can exercise judgment, own the consequences, and influence others toward the right outcomes. The future won't belong to leaders who simply adopt AI. It will belong to leaders who combine technology with disciplined thinking, responsible decision-making, and the courage to remain accountable. In this episode: Why AI is a leadership tool—not a leadership replacement. The difference between automation and accountability. Why judgment is becoming the most valuable leadership skill. How responsible influence matters even more in the age of artificial intelligence. Because technology may help you move faster... But leadership determines whether you're moving in the right direction.

What if the greatest source of influence isn't authority—but responsibility? In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why responsibility is the foundation of leadership and why every decision we make shapes the culture around us. Long before we earn titles, build systems, or lead teams, we influence others through our actions, attitudes, and choices. Brian challenges listeners to move beyond blame and embrace ownership, demonstrating how credibility is earned through consistency and how responsible influence creates stronger organizations, healthier cultures, and better leaders. In this episode: • Why responsibility creates credibility and credibility creates influence • How every decision teaches others what is acceptable • Why blame limits progress while ownership creates solutions • The power behind the statement "I Am the Influence" • A practical leadership question every manager should ask themselves daily If you want to build stronger teams, improve organizational culture, and become a more intentional leader, this episode provides a simple but powerful place to begin.

Networking is not about collecting business cards—it is about building relationships with intention.In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg Koleno welcomes back Tom Gosche, business strategist, networking expert, speaker, and creator of the Networking Navigator. Tom shares practical strategies for developing referral relationships, communicating effectively, creating a memorable personal brand, and turning everyday conversations into long-term opportunities.You'll learn why the most successful networkers focus on helping rather than selling, how to identify valuable power partners, and why consistent follow-up is one of the most important habits in business development.In this episode:• How to move from transactional networking to purposeful relationship building• Why preparation, active listening, and follow-up build trust• How power partners can generate stronger, more relevant referrals• How to apply the Platinum Rule and adapt to different communication styles• Tom's B-R-A-N-D framework for creating a clear and memorable personal brand• Why one thoughtful connection can create opportunities years laterLearn more about Tom and the Networking Navigator at thenetworkingnavigator.com or contact him at tom@thenetworkingnavigator.com.Listen and discover how intentional networking, strategic follow-up, and positive influence can help you build stronger relationships and create lasting business opportunities.

Artificial intelligence is changing the speed of business—but it doesn't replace leadership. It raises the standard for it. In Episode 785 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith welcomes executive leadership advisor Eva Minkoff, founder of Bold Being, for a timely conversation about decision fatigue, grounded agency, and leading through uncertainty in the age of AI. Drawing from her work with healthcare executives and enterprise leaders, Eva explains why today's greatest leadership challenge isn't technology itself—it's maintaining clarity, purpose, and human connection while navigating constant change. Together, Brian and Eva explore how leaders can move beyond reactive decision-making, reconnect with their purpose, and create organizations where trust and influence thrive. Whether you lead a healthcare organization, a family business, a growing company, or simply want to become a more intentional leader, this episode offers practical insights that apply across every industry. In this episode: Why leaders become organizational bottlenecks The real cause of decision fatigue What "Grounded Agency" means—and why it matters How AI is transforming leadership rather than replacing it The importance of purpose during times of uncertainty Building cultures rooted in clarity, trust, and meaningful influence Because technology may change how we work—but leadership will always determine how people thrive.https://boldbeing.cohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/evalana

Why do so many high performers struggle with people-pleasing, fear of judgment, self-doubt, and the pressure to constantly prove themselves? In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg Koleno speaks with Dr. Liz DuBois Erskine, PhD conflict analyst and executive coach, about breaking the patterns that undermine confidence, leadership, and personal fulfillment. Dr. Liz shares how her own experiences with trauma, coercive relationships, recovery, and healing shaped her approach to helping leaders overcome self-sabotage and develop authentic executive presence. She explains why people-pleasing is often rooted in a deep need for safety and belonging—and why external validation can become especially costly for high performers and leaders. The conversation also explores how to identify the source of self-doubt, build a healthier support system, stand firmly in your values, and lead effectively in environments where you may feel underestimated or overlooked. Most importantly, Dr. Liz challenges listeners to stop trying to be exceptional at everything. Real confidence begins by recognizing what you do best, accepting that perfection is unnecessary, and sharing your strengths with others. In this episode: • Why people-pleasing is often driven by the need for safety and belonging • How past experiences can shape confidence, relationships, and leadership behavior • The connection between self-sabotage, burnout, and external validation • Practical ways to build authentic confidence and stronger self-trust • How to develop executive presence without changing who you are • Why the right community can strengthen confidence and belonging • How women can stand firmly in their values in male-dominated environments • Why knowing your greatest strengths is more important than being good at everything Learn more about Dr. Liz DuBois Erskine at coachdoctorliz.com

What happens when an organization depends on one person to make every important decision?In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why being indispensable may sound like a compliment, but often reveals a deeper leadership challenge. As organizations grow, success depends less on heroic individuals and more on building systems that create clarity, consistency, and confidence across the entire team.Drawing from the principles of S.M.A.R.T. Management, Brian explains why sustainable leadership is about developing people, creating shared understanding, and building organizations that continue to thrive—even when the leader isn't in the room.In this episode:Why being indispensable can become an organizational weaknessHow systems create confidence instead of bureaucracyWhy great leaders develop other leaders instead of creating dependencyHow lasting influence is measured by what continues after you're goneLeadership isn't about becoming the hero.It's about building people, systems, and organizations that can succeed together.

In this revisit to episode 322 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith tackles the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the workforce. He provides insights on how to prepare yourself and your team to embrace AI as a tool for enhancing human skills and creativity. Discover how to leverage AI for deeper critical thinking and innovation while avoiding the pitfalls of technology integration. Brian also shares the importance of using the S.M.A.R.T. management principles to ensure a smooth and strategic adoption of AI in your business processes. Tune in to learn how AI can be a partner in achieving your business goals and driving continuous improvement.

On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Hal Stinespring, real estate attorney, investor, and founder of Path of the Grateful Warrior, for a powerful conversation about resilience, identity, gratitude, and responsible influence. After surviving two cardiac arrests and being diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis, Hal's life changed in ways he never expected. Once deeply connected to his identity as an athlete, attorney, and high-performing professional, Hal was forced to confront a painful question: Who am I when the roles, titles, and abilities I once relied on begin to shift? Through that process, Hal discovered the importance of grieving the loss of a former identity, giving himself grace, creating intentional daily habits, and choosing gratitude as a disciplined practice. He shares how adversity helped him redefine purpose, deepen his influence, and become what he now calls a “grateful warrior.” In this episode, Hal and Gregg discuss: • How major life transitions can reshape identity and purpose • Why gratitude is more than a mindset—it is a daily discipline • The importance of grieving who you once were before rebuilding who you are becoming • How leaders can influence others by acting as counselors, mentors, and guides • Why responsible influence often begins with one meaningful conversation • Practical steps listeners can take to move forward with more strength, clarity, and purpose Hal also shares a moving story from his legal career about helping a young man change the direction of his life, proving that influence is not always about grand gestures. Sometimes, it is about seeing the person behind the problem and offering guidance at the right moment. This conversation is a reminder that adversity does not have to end your story. With gratitude, intention, discipline, and purpose, it can become the beginning of a new path. Connect with Hal Stinespring: Website: halsteinspring.com Instagram: @halstinespring Facebook: Hal Stinespring-Path of the Grateful Warrior https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574667125229