INSUBORDINATE.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we discuss the ubiquitous "building culture," and learn why we should STOP trying to build culture.  We also discuss:What culture actually is, and why it's a lagging indicatorWhy the term "cultural architect" is ridiculousWhat we can do to influence cultureWhat organizations should be doing to define cultureClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HERETake our FREE Management Styles assessment HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!Take our FREE Management Styles assessment HEREClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!

Send us a Text Message.In this week's episode I chat with Cheryl Baird, a pastor and licensed clinical therapist, about her experiences as a woman leader, her advice for addressing your mental health in the workplace, the one thing every leader should have, and many other topics.Books she references in the episode:The Body Keeps the Score by van der KolkThe Sneeches by Dr. SeussThou Shalt Not Be A Jerk by Eugene ChoTry Softer by Aundi Kolber

Send us a Text Message.I had a post on LinkedIn go viral this week.  For all the wrong reasons.  In this episode, I talk about what happened, and cover:Why "info" graphics are often not very informativeWhy thinking critically about what we read online is importantQuestions we can use to help us evaluate the quality of informationWhy management and leadership are different (again)What is unique to management and leadership, and what is "basic humanity"

Send us a Text Message.PLEASE BE ADVISED--this content contains non-explicit references to self-harm, domestic violence and addiction.  If any of those areas are difficult for you for any reason, please care well for yourself as you watch/listen.We are all people.  And our stories matter.  Because they inform who we are everywhere we go, including work.  In this episode, I share a story I told at a recent storytelling event about my father's suicide, and the subsequent journey I've taken.  I hope this content inspires you to take the risk of sharing who you are and inviting others to do the same in your spheres of influence.  Indeed, with so many forces seeking to emphasize ways we disagree, part of being INSUBORDINATE is to insist on humanizing one another, and finding spaces where we can talk about our experiences before we consider issues, problems or conflicts.Click HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HERETake our FREE Management Styles assessment HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!

Send us a Text Message.In the first episode of Season 3 of INSUBORDINATE, I chat (via video!) with David Rendall, author of The Freak Factor and several other books.  We discuss his new assessment, Amplifi, and how awareness can help us find the right fit for our work, our relationships and our interests.Also in this episode:How Amplifi can help you identify descriptors and areas that have been difficult or painfulThe importance of finding relationships with people who will encourage you to be more of who you areA company that sells socks in sets of 3 that don't matchDave's affinity for pink, and why part of being insubordinate for him is insisting that colors don't have a genderCritical concepts like Alignment, Affiliation and PartnershipYou can access Dave's books HEREYou can take the Amplifi assessment for FREE HEREYou can view clips of Dave speaking HERE

There's no such thing as too much talent.  But once we have identified top talent in our organizations, how should we manage those individuals?In this episode, we discuss:The 5 ways we should manage top talent peopleWhat to communicate to top talentThe importance of mentorsThe difference between development for top talent and development for othersThe critical role of the managerClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!

In this episode, Stosh responds to an article by The Center for Creative Leadership that says organizations should be wary of having "too much talent.""Too much talent" is a myth.  But what about culture and fit?  How do those intersect with talent and performance?What role do great managers and coaches play in the process?Click HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!

In this episode, we highlight upcoming topics, talk about actually taking vacations, give a quick reminder about existing resources you can use to become a better manager or leader, and introduce an exciting new resource coming soon!Click HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!

In this episode, we discuss 5 critical areas every organization, manager and leader needs to address in order to create environments where people give their best and want to stay.Click HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!

Every leader and manager needs to delegate.  But despite good intentions, most don't delegate well.  How can we improve our delegation so our intentions match our outcomes?In this episode, we discuss:The 5 questions everyone should be asking before we delegate anythingWhat is strategic about delegationWhat is developmental about delegationThe role of talent in delegationWhere most managers and leaders make delegation mistakesThe kinds of conversations we should be having when we delegateClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!

I am on LinkedIn frequently.  It is a great place to learn, share information, network, etc.  However, it also can be a source of well intended, but misguided advice.One such example that appears often is "The Eisenhower Matrix"--a simple model designed to help users prioritize activities and time.  It has it's value, but also its problems, both of which we discuss in this episode.In this episode, we discuss:Why it is important to examine any model with a critical eyeDifferentiating between "urgent" and "important"Where managers and leaders should actually spend most of their timeThe implications of this model for delegationThe 2 most important things to consider when delegatingHow purpose, values, vision and culture shape our understanding of models and how we implement themClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!

We all have a tremendous power to influence others.  Sometimes that power is very simple, and often overlooked.In this episode, we discuss:What it means to "be the tide"How we can be intentional about our approach to othersWhere we have privilege and how we can wield that on behalf of othersWhere we have been hurt, and need encouragement or presence from othersClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

Part 2 of 2.  The Women's World Cup highlighted much more than great soccer.  The victorious Spain team had significant issues off the field, and other nations like Nigeria and Jamaica raised issues about the level of support and pay from their respective national organizations.  Sadly, Jenni Hermoso was cast into the spotlight after the final because of the behavior of her nation's football president.  These problems highlight the ongoing issue of gender equity.In this episode, we discuss:How leaders should apologize when they are wrongThe difference between community and friendship, and the importance of bothWhat we can learn from the support Jenni Hermoso has receivedThings bad leaders and organizations do to absolve themselves of responsibility or self-examinationWhat exemplary leadership looks like in bad situationsClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

The Women's World Cup highlighted much more than great soccer.  The victorious Spain team had significant issues off the field, and other nations like Nigeria and Jamaica raised issues about the level of support and pay from their respective national organizations.  Sadly, Jenni Hermoso was cast into the spotlight after the final because of the behavior of her nation's football president.  These problems highlight the ongoing issue of gender equity.In this episode, we discuss:Why the president of the Spanish FA has been inappropriate and unprofessionalWhy women shouldn't have to share the spotlightWho should be paid the most, and whyWhat our response should be when minority groups say something isn't rightStatistics about pay, and why disparate pay still existsClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HEREDownload your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" HEREUntil next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

Asking great questions is an essential skill both inside and outside the workplace.  In this episode, we discuss:The value of cultivating great questionsThe best things to do when you are asking a series of questions7 Questions everyone should be askingHow great questions are useful inside and outside of workWhat playing tennis has to do with managementHow frequently you should meet with people 1:1Your thoughts on expanding the topic pool for this podcastClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HERESubscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

In this episode, we discuss:How 1:1 meetings can help managers and leaders avoid or mitigate "bait and switch"What an "employee value proposition" is, and when that is (and isn't) a good thingHow great organizations connect performance to purposeWhy it's important for people to have more than just transactional workClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HERESubscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

In this episode, we discuss:How expectations can elevate and rescue peopleWhat are the prerequisites for expecting something from someoneWhen expectations are bad for youWhy "keeping people humble" is stupidClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HERESubscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

We're getting even more personal with the start of SEASON TWO.  In this episode, we discuss:Why Season Two has been delayedHow leading can kill you, and...How NOT leading will kill youHow to identify why you might be avoiding leadershipThe importance of showing up in the world not only for the world's benefit, but also for our ownPutting on a show (the right kind of show!)What Stosh has learned in the last 2 years, and specifically since the last episode of INSUBORDINATE.  Hopefully there is something in it for you.Click HERE to see the TEDx talk referenced in this episode Click HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HERESubscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

We're getting personal this week.  I started this episode as the final installment of the "Leadership Myths" series, but realized that my perspective on the topic of "It's Lonely At The Top" had evolved over the last decade, most notably because of significant leadership experiences I've had in that time.  In the hope that it will prove valuable to those who listen, I'm sharing that story and those insights this week.In this episode, we discuss:What's true (and what isn't) about "It's Lonely At The Top"How we can avoid, or at least lessen, the effect of loneliness on us as leadersStosh's last 18 months, and why they've been some of the most difficult he's experiencedThe importance of having people who have known us for a long time, and who know us wellBreaking down barriers that prevent us from becoming closer to other people at workClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HERESubscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

Learning from your mistakes is a good idea, but thinking that you'll learn more from them than your successes is a myth  (and, ironically, a mistake).Instead, we should study ourselves at our best, make sure we have a direction, and move toward something, not merely away from something.In this episode, we discuss:The pushback I got when I said Elon Musk was a bad leaderThe difference between making mistakes on purpose and "trying to fail"Why moving toward something is almost always better than moving away from somethingQuestions to ask yourself to determine directionSome of Stosh's history, and how he lived a long time before realizing some of the truths he shares in this podcastClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HERESubscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

"Lead From Within."You've heard this advice before from people like Lolly Daskal, but it's a leadership myth to believe that you can just discover what's inside you and start leading.  Good leaders know what's within, but they aim it at what's without.In this episode, we discuss:Why "lead from within" is a bad ideaHow talent, purpose and passion are important, and not important, to leadershipWhy "calling" is a dangerous word, and why you should never hire someone based on itElon Musk's Twitter takeover, and why he's a bad leader (if he's even a leader at all)Why both followers and the future are essential to leadership, and having one without the other isn't leadingClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HERESubscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

You can't be a leader in every situation.But that doesn't mean you're not a leader.In this episode, we discuss:Why position and leadership aren't the sameThe litmus test for leadership at any levelHow many followers you need to have to be a leaderThe consequences of not claiming your influenceWhat would happen if more people claimed their influenceClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Get a FREE Leadership ebook HERESubscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

Can anyone be a leader?  Is it true that with enough training or preparation, anyone can do anything?In this episode, we discuss:Why you can't become anything you put your mind toThe 10,000 hour expertise rule and how it applies to leadershipWhy aptitude is more important than desireWhy social media influencers aren't usually leadersHow diversity and specialization are important to leadershipWhy leading in a daycare setting is just as much leadership as being a CEOWhat "American Idol" has to do with leadershipWhy it's OK NOT to lead in every situationClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Subscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

Does "The Golden Rule" work for managers and associates?Well... kind of.In this episode, we discuss:"The Golden Rule" as a moral guideSpecific instances where "The Golden Rule" does not work How "The Golden Rule" influences company cultureWhat we can do instead when "The Golden Rule" doesn't applyClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Subscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

Where are you going?  How will you get there?Chances are good you've had some help along the way, and you might need some help in the future, too.  It's also likely you've been helpful to someone else based on your experiences or expertise.  In short, you've probably had mentors, and you've probably been a mentor.  But why is that important and how can we be more intentional about mentoring?In this episode, we discuss:What mentoring is, and how it differs from management, leadership and coaching5 Things Great Mentors DoWhether your organization should have a formal mentoring programWho should be a mentor, and whyWhat "the curse of knowledge" has to do with mentoringWhy it's critical to claim our influence in the lives of othersWhy "open door policies" aren't enoughClick HERE to join the conversation in the INSUBORDINATE. Facebook group!Subscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Book referenced in this episode: "Made to Stick" by Chip and Dan HeathStosh's TEDx talk referenced in this episode: "Lead Like They're Dying" TEDx TalkIntro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

Not everyone wants to be a manager or leader.  Where do individual contributors fit in?In this episode, we discuss:The 3 things individual contributors bring to organizations3 tips for managing and leading individual contributorsWhy just being "willing" isn't enough, and how individual contributors are more than just willing participants in an organization's plansWhy we should leave individual contributors aloneBe sure to join the conversation in our Facebook group "INSUBORDINATE.  The podcast." https://www.facebook.com/groups/1108782543356267/Subscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Download your FREE leadership ebook at https://constantod.com/getbookDownload your FREE guide "How to Engage Your Team" at https://constantod.com/getengagedIntro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

What are the behaviors great leaders demonstrate?  How can you develop these behaviors?What value does being a great leader bring to an organization?In this episode, we discuss:How to know whether or not you should be a leaderThe 3 things all great leaders do regardless of where they're leading Behaviors great leaders demonstrate in each of the 3 areasSpecific things you can do to be a great leader in each of the 3 areasHow great leaders add value to groups or organizationsWhat the main function of a leader isBe sure to join the conversation in our Facebook group "INSUBORDINATE.  The podcast." https://www.facebook.com/groups/1108782543356267/Subscribe now and don't miss an episode!Until next time, stay with the program!Don't forget to download your FREE leadership ebook at https://constantod.com/getbookIntro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

What are the behaviors great managers demonstrate?  How can you develop these behaviors?What value does being a great manager bring to an organization?In this episode, we discuss:How to know whether or not you should be a managerThe 3 characteristics of great managers Behaviors great managers demonstrate in each of the 3 areasSpecific things you can do to be a great manager in each of the 3 areasWhat the main function of a manager isA metaphor that will help you manage others even betterBe sure to join the conversation in our Facebook group "INSUBORDINATE.  The podcast." https://www.facebook.com/groups/1108782543356267/Subscribe now and don't miss next week's episode, where we'll get specific about leadership behaviors and how to improve as a leaderUntil next time, stay with the program!Don't forget to download your FREE guide "How To Engage Your Team" at https://constantod.com/getengagedIntro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

You've heard statements like "managers do things right; leaders do the right things."  You've also heard advice that suggests you should try to be a leader, not a manager.  But are these definitions and prescriptions helpful?  How different are management and leadership, really?  Do we have to choose between them?  Is being a leader better than being a manager?In this episode, we discuss:Why pithy statements and prescriptions about management and leadership are well meaning, but unhelpfulWhy both management and leadership are essential to organizational successWhy you should be BOTH a manager AND a leader What the main function of a manager isWhat the main function of a leader isWhat behaviors are associated with management and leadershipBe sure to join the conversation in our Facebook group "INSUBORDINATE.  The podcast." https://www.facebook.com/groups/1108782543356267/Subscribe now and don't miss next week's episode, where we'll get specific about management behaviors and how to improve as a managerUntil next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

"Quiet Quitting" has gone viral. What is "Quiet Quitting" and what should individuals and organizations know about it?Bottom line up front: "Quiet Quitting" is a lose-lose proposition, but that doesn't mean it is without merit or something we should ignore.  In this episode, we discuss:What "quiet quitting" is and why we should pay attention to itHow "quiet quitting" relates to engagement7 practical tips for individuals who might be considering a "quiet quit" 7 practical tips for organizations who want to create workplaces where "quiet quitting" is an anomaly, not the normA new assessment that can help people identify their strengths and stay engaged: http://amplifitest.com/A FREE guide that can help managers engage their teams: https://constantod.com/getengagedBe sure to join the conversation in our Facebook group "INSUBORDINATE.  The podcast." https://www.facebook.com/groups/1108782543356267/Subscribe now and don't miss next week's episode, where we'll discuss the difference between management and leadership, and why it's important to differentiate them.  Sneak preview: most of what you've heard on this topic is wrong!Until next time, stay with the program!Intro/Outro music: "This Epic Rock Trailer" by AlexGrohl-purchased and used with permission

Do you think work can change the world? Do you have a little rebel in you? If you said yes, this podcast is for you.We're listening to the wrong people and doing the wrong things in our workplaces.  But there are better ways, and insubordinate exists to explore and share them.If you're looking for a podcast that talks about workplace topics like management, leadership and employee engagement, in direct and practical ways, you've come to the right place. If you're looking for something that will question traditional approaches that aren't working, and propose ways to do it better, you've come to the right place. If you're looking for insights you can apply immediately to invest in individuals, teams and organizations, you've come to the right place. Be insubordinate.  Let's make the world better together.