The Champion Forum Podcast with Jeff Hancher

We want your feedback and questions. Text us here.Leaders often have bad habits, including rushing to respond, diagnosing before they understand, and giving advice before asking questions. Today, I'm teaching you the first of four high-impact leadership phrases to help you break this habit and start having deeper conversations. We'll cover why saying “Tell me more” is one of the most powerful things you can do, when to use this statement, and how to practice getting comfortable with it. As you implement this technique, you will drive trust, collaboration, and a stronger culture.

We want your feedback and questions. Text us here.Have you ever ended a workday feeling completely drained, not because of the tasks, the meetings, or the workload, but because you spent the whole day absorbing other people's problems? Today on The Champion Forum Podcast, we discuss the unnecessary emotional weight many leaders carry. Leaders often feel pressured to serve as emotional counselors for their team, but they will be more effective when they teach their team how to carry it themselves, with resilience and strength. Tune in to learn five ways to protect your emotional bandwidth without making your team feel abandoned.

We want your feedback and questions. Text us here.Have you ever left a meeting excited about where your team was going, but over time, you became increasingly confused about how to get there? Endless motivation without clarity causes frustration and disengagement. Leaders must balance inspiration with clear direction. Today on The Champion Forum Podcast, we discuss why you may need to stop cheering and start leading!Get my new book here! -> www.firmfeedbackbook.com

Many people believe being a "good leader" means being constantly available. Over-availability is not a virtue; it's a trap. And the more accessible you make yourself, the less effective you become. Today, we're discussing the hidden cost of being constantly available and what you can do instead.

Your meeting may be high energy, but what happens after? Most meetings result in no ownership, no follow-through, and no deliverables. Meetings don't move the needle. Leaders move the leader. In this episode, we're diving into what great leaders do when the meeting ends to turn a good discussion into significant momentum.

You don't have to be a perfect leader. But when it comes to interacting with your team, you do have to be intentional. Whether you're walking into a meeting, kicking off a project, or starting your day—those first five minutes will either build momentum or create confusion. They're your moment to set the tone, establish trust, and show your team what matters most. In today's episode, we'll explain how to lead well—right from the start.

 Most businesses don't fail because the founders are lazy — they fail because the math doesn't work. In this episode, CPA and business strategist Stan Kleja breaks down the hidden traps that take down even the most passionate entrepreneurs. Whether you're just launching or knee-deep in the grind, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom to help you stress less and scale smarter. 

Have you ever had an employee who consistently delivered excellent results, but the moment you give them feedback, they get defensive, justify their actions, or even shut down? Here's the truth—if you don't address this kind of behavior, it can poison your team culture. Today, I'm giving you the playbook for coaching a defensive peak performer—what causes this behavior, why you can't ignore it, and most importantly, how to turn these tough conversations into opportunities for growth. 

What would it look like for you to perform at your best? For Navy SEALs, success isn't only a result of relentless training in shooting, skydiving, or combat—though they are experts at those things. The real secret is that they use their innate human capabilities to turn the stress of uncertain and complex situations to their advantage. In today's episode, I'm joined by former Navy SEAL commander and author Rich Diviney to talk about how we can become masters of uncertainty and the strategies we can use to unlock our optimum performance.

The landscape of leadership is evolving faster than ever. AI, automation, and data-driven decisions are reshaping how businesses operate, while leaders must balance the expectations of a multigenerational workforce. With flexibility becoming a competitive advantage, emotional intelligence is the key differentiator between good and great leaders. Leaders must embrace challenges while maintaining firm yet empathetic leadership in an increasingly fractured and fragile world. Today on The Champion Forum Podcast, we discuss the Future of Leadership and how you can prepare to win in a fast-changing leadership landscape.

We've all heard the saying, 'When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.' But what happens when the teacher isn't the right one? What if the mentor you were excited to learn from turns out to be disengaged, misaligned, or not that helpful? If you are stuck in a mentorship that isn't serving you, you don't have to stay there. Today, we will talk about recognizing when mentorship isn't working, why it's so hard to navigate, and, most importantly—how to step away confidently and professionally.

Every great leader wants to be there for their team. But here's the hard truth: it backfires if you make yourself too available. Your time gets stretched too thin, decision-making slows down, and—ironically—the people you're trying to help may start depending on you too much. Today, we're tackling one of the most common leadership struggles: being accessible without being overwhelmed. We'll cover why being ‘always available' hurts you and your team, practical ways to set boundaries, and how to create a culture where people get what they need—without needing you all the time.

Have you ever felt like your business was hitting a ceiling? How am I going to get to the other side of this? Many business leaders and entrepreneurs want to increase predictability, get additional clarity in their business, and decrease chaos. Today, we are joined by Pallavi Golla, an expert with a proven track record of helping businesses increase efficiencies through proven systems that allow for sustainable and profitable growth. We'll talk about her experience as an entrepreneur, how an Entrepreneurial Operating System can help your company stay focused, and what you should consider if you want to grow and scale your business. 

Sometimes the secret to knowing how to level up your leadership is just being willing to take action. You have probably dealt with an awkward silence after a tough call or that gut feeling that something needed to change. I work with leaders facing these situations every day. Today, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three of my recent coaching conversations and showing you how to take meaningful action as a leader. 

Charisma is often celebrated as a hallmark of great leadership, but it is also a double-edged sword, causing people to overlook a leader's mistakes or flaws. Left unchecked, charisma can stop being productive and instead compromise a leader's ability to make a significant impact. Today, we'll explore the hidden dangers of charisma, how it can backfire, and what leaders can do to avoid falling into its trap.

Entrepreneurs face various challenges, from growing a business to leading people. Today, I sit down with friend and CEO of Tippi Toes, Sarah Nuse. Famous for her appearance on Shark Tank, Sarah Nuse has grown her business from one studio to over 80 franchises! We talk about the influences on her life and business, her leadership style, and how to lead people well while enforcing your standards. She also shares some personal stories about her successes and failures in business and how they made her and her company what they are today.

Thank you for listening to The Champion Forum Podcast with Jeff Hancher! How do you feel when you say, "I'm sorry?" It takes courage to not only admit you're wrong but also allow other people to choose to forgive you (or not). However, when leaders create a culture where asking for forgiveness is normal, they create strong, connected, productive, and creative cultures! Today, we're discussing why forgiveness is a powerful leadership strategy and how to use it with your team.

Thank you for listening to The Champion Forum Podcast with Jeff Hancher! Leadership is often associated with taking charge, making decisions, and leading from the front. However, outstanding leadership also means knowing when to step back, listen, and follow the lead of others. Following is not a weakness; it's a strength that builds trust, empowers others, and drives better results. On today's podcast, we will discuss why following is important, when leaders should follow, and how leaders can become great followers.

If you've ever wondered how to elevate your leadership without a complete overhaul, this episode is for you. Leadership isn't just about big speeches or bold strategies; it's the small, intentional actions leaders take daily that shape culture, build trust, and drive results. Today on The Champion Forum Podcast, I'll share some practical, bite-sized habits you can start using right away to elevate your leadership impact.

Research shows that it takes five or more positive interactions to override one negative interaction. Without positive deposits, people frequently become frustrated and discouraged by negative feedback. If positive feedback is so important, why do many leaders fail to praise their employees adequately? Today on the Champion Forum Podcast, we will talk about the power of positive feedback and what you can do to create a habit of recognizing what people are doing well and building better relationships between the leader and their team. Get your FREE Positive Deposits Habit Tracker HERE: https://the-champion-forum.mykajabi.com/habit-tracker

Have you ever told someone what to do, only to have them push back, resist, or completely disengage? It's likely not because they're difficult—it's because people naturally resist being told what to do. Leadership isn't about telling people what to do. It's about guiding them to achieve a shared vision. When you shift from commanding to collaborating, you'll see incredible results—in not only performance but also trust, engagement, and morale. Today on the Champion Forum Podcast, we discuss why people don't like being told what to do and how leaders can shift from a directive to a collaborative approach.

Thank you for listening to The Champion Forum Podcast. This year marks five years since I left the comfort of my corporate job to start my own consulting business. While I have had a lot of joy from serving my clients, it has also been a challenging journey. Today, I want to share three lessons I've learned along the way—lessons I believe will resonate with anyone building something meaningful in their life or career.

Have you ever reacted impulsively and allowed your emotions to dictate your response? This can have wide-ranging negative consequences, impacting your credibility, relationships, and organizational culture. Today on The Champion Forum Podcast, we discuss how the power of the pause can help you respond with composure and effectiveness.

Everyone has a natural tendency to think more about the past, present, or future. However, leaders need to know how to balance focusing on the immediate needs and challenges they are facing with investments in their team's long-term success. Today, we'll discuss the risks of benefits of focusing on one approach over the other and how to adapt when your approach gets out of balance.

Show me a successful salesperson, and I will show you a salesperson who has committed to and mastered the art of prospecting!  Prospecting is essential for sales teams to build a steady pipeline and sustain growth, but it is filled with rejection. Today, I will give you a proven strategy to help you land more sales meetings and handle your prospects' objections.

If you are a salesperson, you know that building trust during a sales call is crucial. But how do you ensure you establish a good relationship with your prospect while also staying on topic? Today we'll talk about a simple but valuable tool that will help you be more successful in your sales calls: setting the agenda. We will discuss why this approach works, the benefits it brings to you as the salesperson, and some tips for creating agendas that engage your prospects right from the start. 

How do you react when someone is disrespectful towards you? It's easy to get caught in a cycle of disrespect because our natural inclination is to respond aggressively or defensively. However, we know leaders must respond calmly while ensuring expectations are met. Today on the show, I discuss how to address a team member who is outwardly frustrated without losing your leadership impact.

Have you ever felt burned out by leadership? If so, you're not alone! But how do you get back on the right track? If anyone can answer this question, it is Mark Cole! Mark went from burned-out entry-level employee to CEO of John Maxwell Companies in just ten years. He joins us to talk about how he got started, what helped him get promoted, how to be an excellent Number Two, and a few things leaders can do to set themselves apart and make the most significant impact.

I never imagined producing 300 episodes of leadership content or the impact it would have on leaders around the world. Join me as we celebrate episode 300 and the important lessons I've learned throughout the journey!

A recent national survey showed that 68% of employees prefer work-life balance over higher pay. A recent debate has developed between employees who believe their work day should stop at 5 pm and those who believe working overtime is normal and expected. As people start to place a higher value on work-life balance, how can businesses meet their employee's needs while moving toward their objectives? Today, we'll talk about ways you can improve your employees' work-life balance and ensure your company respects your employees' time.

How well is your company retaining your best employees? Employee retention falls on the company and the leader, so what can you do to ensure your best employees are not looking for greener pastures? Last week, we discussed two of the top five reasons employees stay at their jobs: work/life balance and a sense of purpose. Today, we will dive into the final three reasons employees stay with their companies: growth opportunities, feeling valued and respected, and enjoying their colleagues. 

What would it be like if half of your team left for another job this year? Like it or not, current polls tell us that approximately 50% of employees are planning to leave their jobs right now. So, how do you keep people on your team? What makes employees love their jobs and stick around, even when new opportunities arise? Today, we'll talk about why employees stay and the strategies that are working for companies, even through the great resignation.

As a leader, trust is one of the most important things you can build. Without trust, you will struggle to build relationships, get buy-in, and help people reach their goals. So, how do you build credibility as a leader? How do you make sure you're not accidentally destroying the trust you are trying to build? In today's episode, we will discuss two things that significantly affect a leader's credibility: what they say and how authentic they are.

The most significant mistake leaders make when dealing with toxic employees is waiting too long to address the toxic behavior. Left unattended, toxic people will destroy your team's culture and productivity. In this week's episode, we will discuss why leaders avoid addressing toxic employees, how to coach a toxic employee, and, if necessary, move toward termination.

What do you do when you recognize toxic behavior on your team? Too often, leaders try to ignore toxic employees until they break company policy. But the longer you wait, the more you will allow the employee to affect your team's morale and kill productivity. In this week's episode, we will discuss the difference between a toxic employee and a difficult employee and how you can recognize toxic people before you hire them.

What do you do first when faced with a crisis? And how do you ensure your team does not react in a way that worsens the situation? Everything starts with how you respond. Today on The Champion Forum Podcast, we discuss how leaders make good decisions in high-stress situations and collaborate with their teams to create positive outcomes.

Life creates plenty of opportunities to give us scars, especially in leadership. But how do you view those scars? Leaders respond to their challenges with various emotions, from pride to embarrassment. Many are unprepared for the price of leadership and the way it challenges even the best leaders to focus on growth every day. The good news is that regardless of how you feel about your leadership scars, they represent four positive things. 

Time with your boss is your opportunity to showcase what you're doing, ask the right questions, and gain a level of respect with the leaders above you. These meetings are your meetings. You can control how productive they are, regardless of your boss's leadership style or personality. Done well, these meetings are a great way to grow skills, improve your standing with the company, and earn future promotions. So why do managers and employees struggle to embrace the one-on-one meeting?  Today, on The Champion Forum Podcast, you'll learn some proven strategies to help you have more effective and meaningful conversations with your boss.

Leaders pick up phrases that they use to try to soften the impact of their feedback or requests. But are these phrases helping or hurting you? What you say can dramatically impact how people perceive you and your ability to lead them. Today, on the Champion Forum Podcast, we discuss the phrases you must stop using immediately and what you can say instead.

So why is it that half of all change initiatives fail? Why do people resist change, and what can leaders do to help their teams embrace organizational change? Today on The Champion Forum Podcast, we'll talk about the mindset shift that will help you become better equipped to lead through the changes that are inevitably coming to your organization. You'll learn how to ensure your change-management strategy helps you build trust instead of destroying it.

If you want to make a leader nervous, just tell them they must hold their employee accountable. Leaders fear how the conversation may go and don't want to hurt their relationship with their team. But, accountability conversations can be a lot more productive if you add one key point: understanding intent. Today on The Champion Forum Podcast, we'll talk about the role of intent in accountability conversations and how to help people feel open to feedback instead of defensive.

What could a leader learn from the story of a potato farmer? The journey to your goals is likely challenging and lonely, but finding ways to engage your motivation and stay committed is crucial. I know how hard it can be to keep moving forward, but I heard this story at just the right time. Now, I want to share it with you.  Today on The Champion Forum Podcast, I share some timely lessons I learned from a potato farmer and how you can apply those principles to your leadership journey.

Culture and technology are changing rapidly, and businesses that fail to adjust will not survive. Many leaders are either unaware of how the changes in the world will affect them or they are unsure how to approach change in their organization. The critical thing to remember is that being curious as a leader doesn't just benefit you. It creates a team that's more resilient, more empathetic, and certainly more creative. So, how do you ensure your team continues to move forward? The first step is to engage your curiosity. Today on The Champion Forum Podcast, we discuss the power of curiosity in leadership!

Have you ever wondered why some people succeed and other people do not? The answer isn't found by identifying talent alone. There are many famous businessmen and athletes who didn't start out with the skills they needed to be successful. Instead, they worked hard and stayed dedicated to their goals. Today, we discuss the value of self-discipline and how you can leverage your motivation to reach your goals.

Change can be hard, but for businesses, it is necessary. So, how do you keep your employees engaged when navigating a major change? The best way to move your team from compliant to engaged is to plan ahead and anticipate potential objections. Today on the Champion Forum podcast, we discuss the proper steps a leader must take when embarking on organizational change.

Everyone wants to be successful, but what does success really mean? Is that definition the same for everyone? And can you really be fulfilled without recognition? In today's episode, we'll talk with CEO of David Novak Leadership, former COO of Storybrand, and author Tim Schurrer on what success really means, how leaders can address their biggest challenge, and how to find contentment in service to others. 

In a world of change and uncertainty, developing leadership credibility should be a top priority for every leader. Credibility transcends just having tenure and results. Credible leaders are mindful of their actions. They pause and reflect to know where they stand and how their actions impact their team. Today, we will talk about how to become a credible leader and the impact it can have on your team.

Imagine what our world would look like if a group of men had not gathered together and fought for freedom over 200 years ago. Their actions changed the lives of thousands of families, and we are still repeating the benefits of their actions today. What if your leadership could have the same impact? What if you could change not only the lives of those you lead but also the world you live in? Join Jeff in this special Fourth of July episode, where he reflects on what leaders must do when the world seems divided and in crisis.

Thank you for listening to The Champion Forum Podcast with Jeff Hancher! Have you ever wondered how to get your team to embrace change rather than resisting it? Leaders often assume everyone is motivated by the same things and lead based on what needs to be done. When leaders change the focus from "how" to "why,” they create greater organizational engagement, motivation, and alignment. In today's episode, we will discuss the difference between compliance and engagement and how you can connect your team to a vision rather than just a process.

Have you ever led someone who chose to communicate their frustration with a snarky tone of voice, backbiting, and avoidance? These passive-aggressive techniques leave leaders feeling exhausted. Leading a passive-aggressive employee requires patience, empathy, and clear communication. You can transform negativity into productivity by recognizing the behavior, addressing it directly, listening actively, setting clear expectations, providing support, and holding them accountable. Today, we'll discuss how to identify passive-aggressive employees and address their negative behaviors.