Podcasts about great leadership

In this episode of The Big Talk Podcast, I'm examining the concept of Buddha Nature as a key to effective leadership and impactful speaking.    As I share insights from my upcoming book, Being Smart is Stupid: Why Embracing the Wisdom of Your Buddha Nature is the Secret to Great Leadership, I reveal the importance of accessing your inner wisdom, compassion, and clarity. I also share real-life examples and practical steps to cultivate these qualities.   In this episode, we'll explore: The four summer practices to access your Buddha nature: curious presence, embodying gratitude, letting go of control, and serving with joy Why summer is the perfect training ground for wise leadership practices How to transform from "smart" leadership to wise leadership that heals and inspires The difference between speaking from ego versus speaking from authentic wisdom   More from Tricia  Join my signature speaker certification program, The Big Talk Academy Join me LIVE for my Free Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com

Join Dave Lapham "In The Trenches" for a legendary conversation with one ofthe greatest to ever play the game, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Cincinnati Bengals icon, Anthony Muñoz. This episode, brought to you by First Star Logistics, is a masterclass in football, leadership, and life.   Anthony Muñoz shares incredible stories and insights on: His Hall of Fame Career: A look back at his remarkable 11 straight Pro Bowls, the mindset required for sustained greatness, and what it was like being the 3rd overall pick in the draft.   Leadership Lessons: How he developed his leadership style, the importance of accountability, and what it means to earn the trust of your teammates.   Coaching by Legends: What was it like being coached by Paul Brown and Bill Walsh? Anthony shares stories of their unique coaching methods, from Paul Brown's quiet intimidation to Bill Walsh's innovative genius.   We want to thank Anthony for being a fantastic guest and for joining us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. We also look forward to growing our new central channel, First Star Media Group, and having you fans follow us along the ride. A lot more content is coming soon so definitely hit that subscribe button so you never miss one of our uploads! As always Who Dey!   Want to win great prizes from First Star Logistics during the Bengals season? During the 2025 Cincinnati Bengals season, First Star Logistics will give away some great and unique prizes. Follow @FirstStarLog, @DLInTheTrenches, and @JoeGoodberry for details each week on how you can win.  

Great ideas often die, not because they're wrong, but because no one knows how to influence others to act on them. In leading today's complex organizations, it's not enough to be right. The real challenge for leaders is getting people to change behavior, and stay changed. In this episode, we sit down with Joseph Grenny, co-author of Crucial Conversations and one of the world's leading experts on influence and behavior change, to unpack the science and strategy behind lasting behavior change using his powerful Six Sources of Influence framework. We explore the difference between persuasion and true influence, why most change efforts fail, and how even well-intentioned leaders often rely on the wrong tools—like incentives or policies—when they should be focusing on motivation, social systems, and structural design. Joseph shares real-world stories, including how The Other Side Academy transformed the lives of former felons without a single failed drug test in over a decade. We also look at corporate examples, such as how to pitch ideas internally, how to harness peer pressure the right way, diagnose resistance to change, and why influence always begins with empathy, not authority. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Most leaders manage culture with dashboards that measure what's easy, not what's true. In this episode of Leadership Spark, KeyAnna Schmiedl, Chief Human Experience Officer at Workhuman, challenges leaders to stop relying on outdated engagement scores and start looking at what really drives culture: recognition. She explains why traditional HR data misses the lived employee experience and how recognition moments reveal the hidden influencers, team dynamics, and unspoken values shaping your organization every day. KeyAnna unpacks how recognition isn't just a feel-good perk, but a source of human intelligence that shows who's thriving, who's struggling, and where your culture is strongest or weakest. Learn how to stop leading with rear-view metrics and start using recognition data to shape your culture in real time. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman: AI without purpose doesn't serve people. It's why many companies have tried, and few have succeeded. Workhuman is one of them. With the groundbreaking release of Human Intelligence, Workhuman combines AI with real recognition data to help leaders do right by their people, and their organization. It's how you spot burnout before it leads to turnover. Or discover hidden strengths before they're overlooked. It's how you build a culture that's not only productive—but sustainable. That's what future-ready leadership looks like. Learn more at Workhuman.com and see how Human Intelligence is helping the most forward-thinking companies lead with insight, empathy, and impact. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/    

The future of work is changing, and we can't afford to have our leaders evolve backward by sticking to outdated leadership styles. It's high time for a major upgrade because this new era of work won't wait for you to catch up. In this three-part episode, we explore what it takes to thrive at the highest levels of leadership across three urgent dimensions: executive readiness, AI fluency, and hybrid work strategy. We begin with Mark Thompson, world's #1 CEO coach and author of CEO Ready, who shares what it really takes to step into the top seat: mastering leadership languages, building trust with your boss, and aligning ambition with the real demands of executive life. Then we dive into the age of AI with Dr. Michael Chui, Senior Fellow at McKinsey and QuantumBlack AI, who explains how agentic AI is reshaping leadership itself—from decision-making and team structure to the rising need for leaders who can manage machines as skillfully as people. Finally, we turn to the workplace of the future with Stanford Professor Dr. Nicholas Bloom, the world's top expert on remote work, who debunks common myths, lays out why hybrid work is the sweet spot, and reveals how AI might accelerate the decline of fully remote roles.   ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Join Michael Greenlee and Hannah Vale in this special Heroes of HomeCare episode of Home Health Revealed, featuring Greg Davis and Sean Davis from Patriot at Home, a leading home health agency based in Ohio. They share invaluable insights on how to grow and scale a home care agency while keeping the company culture and core values at the center of every step. In this episode, learn about: Strategies for sustainable growth without sacrificing culture Leadership lessons from veteran-owned Patriot at Home How Patriot at Home maintains excellence across multiple Ohio locations Real stories of dedication and compassion from the front lines of home healthcare Patriot at Home is known for delivering skilled nursing, therapy, hospice, and palliative care with a commitment to treating patients like family. This conversation is a must-watch for agency owners, leaders, and anyone passionate about home health.   Chapters (00:00:02) - home health and hospice care(00:01:11) - Home Health Revealed(00:02:54) - Private Companies: How Do You Scale?(00:08:49) - Greg McAfee on Becoming More Personalized(00:09:56) - The Home Health Agency's Culture(00:12:14) - Patriot Hospitals' culture of service(00:16:15) - Immunity Agency CEO on AR(00:18:25) - How Do You Retain Talented Clinicians?(00:19:21) - Sean and Greg on The Biggest Mistake(00:24:35) - Finding the Right Person for the Job(00:26:28) - How 4,500 Employees Got Started(00:27:29) - How Do You Communicate With 500 People?(00:29:01) - How Do You Trust Your Leaders?(00:31:06) - The Secret to Great Leadership(00:33:11) - Top Executives: We Need to Make a Major Change at(00:37:22) - Startups Are Hard(00:38:37) - Grow: The Process of Growing Your Business

  Lisa texted me this image the other day. It prompted us to have an offline conversation about leaders who create chaos instead of helping organizations better handle it. Eventually, we took the conversation to this recording. In our experience, great leaders instill a calmness—a trust and security—in the organization.  Be well. Do good. Grow […] The post The Calmness of Great Leadership appeared first on GROW GREAT.

The real game of the future of work is how to unstuck yourself from the past. As the workplace keeps changing, new expectations are reshaping what it means to work, manage, and lead. But instead of preparing, many organizations are just reacting to challenges, caught off guard by the shifts they should've seen coming. So what's behind this disruption? In today's Leadership Spark, we break down the five trends driving the future of work: new behaviors, technology, the rise of millennials, mobility, and globalization. These fundamental shifts are already changing how we attract talent, design jobs, and build cultures. If you're still leading with a 20th-century playbook in a 21st-century world, it's time to upgrade. Explore the trends, the real stories behind them, and what you need to do right now to stay ahead in this episode. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman: AI without purpose doesn't serve people. It's why many companies have tried, and few have succeeded. Workhuman is one of them. With the groundbreaking release of Human Intelligence, Workhuman combines AI with real recognition data to help leaders do right by their people, and their organization. It's how you spot burnout before it leads to turnover. Or discover hidden strengths before they're overlooked. It's how you build a culture that's not only productive—but sustainable. That's what future-ready leadership looks like. Learn more at Workhuman.com and see how Human Intelligence is helping the most forward-thinking companies lead with insight, empathy, and impact. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Jacob Morgan⁠ is a futurist and leading authority on the future of work, the employee experience and leadership. He is the bestselling author of five books, including his latest, ⁠Leading With Vulnerability⁠, which was released in October 2023. He is a TED Speaker and the host of the podcast Great Leadership with Jacob Morgan. In this classic episode, Jacob joined host Robert Glazer on ⁠the Elevate Podcast⁠ to talk about vulnerability in leadership, company culture, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, I'm exploring the profound connection between authentic leadership and finding your voice as a speaker - the first episode in a three-part series that challenges everything we've been taught about what makes an effective leader.   I share the story of a brilliant CEO who, despite having an amazing intellect and an incredible track record, felt disconnected from her team and audiences when she spoke.    I also reveal insights from my upcoming book, Being Smart is Stupid: Why Embracing the Wisdom of Your Buddha Nature is the Secret to Great Leadership.   In this episode, we'll explore: Why being smart and being wise are two completely different things - and how this shows up when leaders step onto any stage The missing piece that separates leaders who can run organizations from those who can truly inspire and move people to action How speaking from your "Buddha nature" - your wisest self - transforms both your message and your leadership presence Four concrete steps you can implement today to align your leadership with your authentic voice as a speaker   More from Tricia  Unlock your potential and grow your speaking business during The Art of The Big Talk, my LIVE Two-Day Virtual Masterclass Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com 

We've built a world where products appear with a click and groceries restock like clockwork...until they don't. When the pandemic hit, it wasn't just shelves that went empty, it was our illusions of a stable, efficient global supply chain that collapsed. And it wasn't a freak accident, it was decades in the making. In this episode, we sit down with Peter Goodman, Global Economic Correspondent for The New York Times and bestselling author of How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain. Peter brings a deep, behind-the-scenes look at how global trade works, and what happens when it doesn't. We unpack the hidden risks and questionable logic behind decades of offshoring, our blind devotion to just-in-time inventory, and a relentless pursuit of shareholder maximization at the expense of resilience. Peter covers the untold story behind what went wrong during the pandemic and why it could happen again, why we became too dependent on China, and how consulting firms and shareholder obsession made things worse. We also dive into how AI could help (or hurt) global logistics, why nationalistic trade policies could hurt your business more than you think, and what the future of trade and sourcing looks like in a more unstable world. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman: AI without purpose doesn't serve people. It's why many companies have tried, and few have succeeded. Workhuman is one of them. With the groundbreaking release of Human Intelligence, Workhuman combines AI with real recognition data to help leaders do right by their people, and their organization. It's how you spot burnout before it leads to turnover. Or discover hidden strengths before they're overlooked. It's how you build a culture that's not only productive—but sustainable. That's what future-ready leadership looks like. Learn more at Workhuman.com and see how Human Intelligence is helping the most forward-thinking companies lead with insight, empathy, and impact. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/    

What does real employee recognition look like, and why do so many leaders still get it wrong? In today's Leadership Spark, I explore how one emotional moment completely changed a leader's definition of what it means to acknowledge and value your people. We talk about the silent cost of unspoken appreciation, why recognition should never be a top-down policy, and how small, authentic gestures can create lasting cultural change. If you think saying “thank you” is optional, you'll change your mind after hearing this episode. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman: AI without purpose doesn't serve people. It's why many companies have tried, and few have succeeded. Workhuman is one of them. With the groundbreaking release of Human Intelligence, Workhuman combines AI with real recognition data to help leaders do right by their people, and their organization. It's how you spot burnout before it leads to turnover. Or discover hidden strengths before they're overlooked. It's how you build a culture that's not only productive—but sustainable. That's what future-ready leadership looks like. Learn more at Workhuman.com and see how Human Intelligence is helping the most forward-thinking companies lead with insight, empathy, and impact. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

In this powerful first installment of a two-part conversation, former Navy SEAL commander and performance expert Rich Diviney returns to The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast to discuss his groundbreaking new book, The Masters of Uncertainty.With decades of leadership inside one of the world's most elite military units, Rich unpacks how we can all perform better under pressure, lead with clarity in chaos, and transform anxiety into purposeful action.Dwayne and Rich dive into the neuroscience behind fear, the underestimated power of identity, and the simple yet potent tools you can use to build teams that scale with integrity. Whether you're a business owner, leader, or high performer—this episode is a masterclass in navigating the unknown with confidence and precision.Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome back Rich Diviney02:00 – Why The Masters of Uncertainty had to be written05:40 – The book format that turns ideas into tools07:00 – Life after SEALs: Business, family, and building with purpose11:30 – Humans first: Common ground in conflict zones13:30 – The irony of great leadership: Make yourself obsolete16:00 – From Navy SEALs to CEO: The universal language of leadership18:10 – The language of performance and the power of attributes20:00 – Scaling wisely: Patience vs. pressure in entrepreneurship26:00 – The psychology of transition & identity33:00 – “I AM” statements and their impact on behavior37:00 – Why we freeze, panic, or procrastinate40:00 – The science of fear: Uncertainty + Anxiety48:00 – The “Physiological Sigh” and open-gaze breathing53:00 – Cold plunges, breathwork, and nervous system mastery57:00 – Teaser: What to expect in Part 2Notable Quotes:“Leadership is about creating the environment where your team can outrun you.” – Rich Diviney“When the shit hits the fan, personality goes out the window. That's when attributes take over.” – Rich Diviney“True confidence is knowing that when uncertainty hits, I'll figure it out—and I'm okay.” – Rich Diviney“Most people are not aware of how driven they are by the need for certainty. That's what holds them back.” – Dwayne KerriganResources & Tools Mentioned:Rich Diviney's assessment & attributes work: www.theattributes.comAssessment tool use promo code KERRIGAN15: https://hub.theattributes.com/The Masters of Uncertainty – https://learn.theattributes.com/mastering-uncertaintyThe Attributes Book (2021) – foundational read on human performancePhysiological Sigh (breathwork tool) – Explained in Andrew Huberman's workOpen-gaze technique – A tool for reducing autonomic arousal instantlyTop Takeaways for Business Leaders:Uncertainty + Anxiety = Fear→ Break the cycle by managing one or both.The Identity Shift Matters→ Retire old “I AM” statements that no longer serve you. Choose new ones consciously.Breath and Vision Are Performance Tools→ Use the “physiological sigh” and panoramic vision to reset your nervous system.Attributes > Personality in Stress→ Know how your team shows up under pressure, not just how they act when it's easy.Great Leadership is Scalable→ Teach a language of performance so others can lead with the same clarity and...

Leadership can feel overwhelming, especially when the world around you is constantly changing. But what if small, science-backed changes in how you lead could create a bigger impact than you ever imagined? This week's guests will explore key findings from their research on the nine science-based traits of effective leadership, enabling us to become better managers today.Meet Margaret Moore and Jeffrey Hull. Margaret is the Founder of Wellcoaches Corporation, Co-founder of the Institute of Coaching, and a faculty member with the Harvard Medical School Office of Global Education. She has over twenty-five years of C-suite roles and experience coaching C-suite executives by blending leadership, coaching, and science.Jeffrey is an Executive Director and Coach with the Institute of Coaching and Founder of Leadership Inc. He brings over 30 years of translating science into leadership as a consultant, psychologist, and teacher at New York University and Harvard Medical School.Together, Margaret and Jeffrey co-authored the new book, The Science of Leadership: Nine Ways to Expand Your Impact.In this episode, they unpack the key findings on the essential leadership traits that define effective leadership today and how these traits can help managers respond to challenges while fostering a positive work environment.They also explore actionable strategies, including the role of positive psychology, why intentional pauses in leadership matter, and how embracing flexibility can drastically improve your team's performance.Join the conversation now!Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week's episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction(01:54) The alarming state of managers today(07:00) The Science of Leadership explained(11:00) Why leadership agility is essential in today's world(19:31) The power of pauses in leadership(25:18) How positivity in leadership can boost creativity(29:26) Great managers Margaret and Jeffrey have worked for(34:58) [Extended Episode Only] How to stay optimistic amidst today's disruptions(39:39) [Extended Episode Only] The 5 kinds of psychological capitalAdditional Resources:- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month- Read the full transcript here- Follow me on Instagram here - Visit my website for more here- Upskill your team here- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here- Check out the Gallup research here Keep up with our guests- Follow Margaret on LinkedIn here- Follow Jeffrey on LinkedIn here- Get a copy of Flex: The Art and Science of Leadership in a Changing World here- Grab a copy of The Science of Leadership hereFREE Science of Leadership Assessment and Discussion GuideJeffrey and Margaret are providing members of Podcast+  an excerpt from The Science of Leadership that includes the nine capabilities assessment as well as a readiness to change assessment.In addition, they're giving members a discussion guide to easily explore the nine leadership capacities alone or with your team.To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won't miss an episode!

Is college still worth it? As tuition rises and dropout rates soar, the big question everyone's asking is: how do we prepare young people for a future we can't predict? In this episode, Dr. Robert McMahan, President of Kettering University, unpacks the evolving crisis in higher education and what it truly means to prepare students for the future. He sheds light on the rise of “adulting” classes as a symptom of a larger issue: students entering college without essential life skills. Dr. Robert gives us a peek into Kettering University's integrated experiential model, where students rotate between 12 weeks in class and 12 weeks in cooperative placement roles at real companies—not internships, but embedded work. We also look into why traditional four-year universities are struggling, facing declining public trust, overcapacity, and the looming demographic cliff, and how new learning models and market disruptions are forcing a much-needed reimagining of higher education. Dr. McMahan emphasizes that future-proofing students isn't about teaching them fixed skills like coding, but cultivating habits of mind: critical thinking, adaptability, resilience, and the ability to solve complex problems. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman: Don't you hate how every HR company out there says they are powered by AI? The truth is most difficult if it's just fluff. Human Intelligence™ from Workhuman is one of the few solutions that actually uses AI to help you get insights about your culture by analyzing the recognition data of your workforce. It helps managers coach better, shows you where culture is thriving, and is so effective at helping companies make smarter decisions, Workhuman backs it with the industry's only ROI Guarantee. In a world of noisy tech, this one actually feels... human. Learn more at Workhuman.com and see how Human Intelligence is becoming a force for good in the workplace. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

At a time of uncertainty and stress, the need for practical guidance in non-profit leadership is crucial. In this episode of Real Talk for Real Fundraisers, Jeff Schreifels is joined by David Rhode, a non-profit consultant and author of Passion Isn't Enough, for a thoughtful discussion about the essential elements needed to be an effective non-profit leader and manager.  Together, they address the challenges of fundraising and the significance of building a strong board, while providing insights into the co-CEO model and the relationship between branding and culture. David also shares insights from his own journey in the non-profit sector, including common mistakes made by new leaders and advice for fostering a supportive community. This conversation is a must-listen for current and aspiring leaders, sharing the traits necessary for long-term success in non-profit leadership. Show Highlights: In this episode, you'll learn about…   How good leadership requires an understanding of donor motivations and relationship-building The importance of networking, making connections, and building community The biggest insights and ideas for how to become a better leader  Veritus Group is passionate about partnering with you and your organization throughout your fundraising journey. We believe that the key to transformative fundraising is a disciplined system and structure, trusted accountability, persistence, and a bit of fun. We specialize in mid-level fundraising, major gifts, and planned giving, helping our clients to develop compelling donor offers and to focus on strategic leadership and organizational development. You can learn more about how we can partner with you at www.VeritusGroup.com.  Additional Resources:  [Blog] Do You Want a Great Major Gift Team? Hire a Great Manager [White Paper] Evaluating and Rewarding MGO Performance [Courses] Take Our Certification Course for Fundraising Managers and Executives  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Leadership Development 02:44 The Essence of Great Leadership 05:35 Qualities of Effective Leaders 08:23 Leadership Beyond Titles 11:08 Transformational Leadership in Modern Times 13:59 Amplifying Underrepresented Voices in Leadership 19:10 Navigating Change in Organizations 22:56 Understanding Strengths for Innovation 26:53 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership 31:19 Learning from Mistakes and Personal Growth 33:14 Curiosity as a Key Strength in Fundraising 

Imagine waking up one day and realizing the world changed, but you didn't. That's what it's like for many organizations today, stuck on a decades-long train ride, speeding ahead without ever looking out the window. The future of work isn't coming. It's already here, and most companies are still running on definitions of “work,” “manager,” and “employee” that feel more like satire than strategy. Work sucks for too many people, and it doesn't have to. In today's Leadership Spark, we break down the five major trends transforming work as we know it: evolving behaviors, shifting demographics, globalization, mobility, and accelerating tech. As we step into the future of work, organizations must get off the train, look up, and start designing work that actually works for humans. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman: Don't you hate how every HR company out there says they are powered by AI? The truth is most difficult if it's just fluff. Human Intelligence™ from Workhuman is one of the few solutions that actually uses AI to help you get insights about your culture by analyzing the recognition data of your workforce. It helps managers coach better, shows you where culture is thriving, and is so effective at helping companies make smarter decisions, Workhuman backs it with the industry's only ROI Guarantee. In a world of noisy tech, this one actually feels... human. Learn more at Workhuman.com and see how Human Intelligence is becoming a force for good in the workplace. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

In this episode, Riley interviews Senator Steve Daines, discussing key legislative updates, the current political climate in Montana, and the implications of the recent pride flag debate in Missoula, Montana. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of these issues for upcoming elections and the importance of personal values in politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I am diving into the often overlooked but essential practice of testing a talk in small, intimate settings before presenting it on larger stages.   I share what happened when I recently spoke at the 'Of Course Mastermind' event in San Francisco, where I premiered my new big talk, "Being Smart is Stupid: Why Embracing the Wisdom of Your Buddha Nature is the Secret to Great Leadership." I also reveal what you can learn from my experience.   In this episode, we'll explore:   How to build confidence through immediate feedback and iterative refinement Why creating relationship momentum can elevate the impact of public speaking Practical steps for developing and testing talks that work for both new and seasoned speakers The reason real-world feedback is indispensable for creating transformative messages that resonate deeply with audiences   More from Tricia  Unlock your potential and grow your speaking business during The Art of The Big Talk, my LIVE Two-Day Virtual Masterclass Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com 

AI is the most powerful tool humanity has ever created. Yet, it's also a black box we barely understand. How do we build the future of work with a system that can make decisions, take actions, and sometimes… make it up as it goes? In today's episode, Babak Hodjat, CTO of AI at Cognizant, joins us to uncover the truth and the hype behind today's most powerful AI technologies. We explore the evolution of agentic AI, multi-agentic platforms, and how organizations like Cognizant are already using AI agents to streamline RFPs, HR systems, and even intranet interactions. Babak exposes the promise and pitfalls of large language models, breaks down AI hallucinations, and debates whether AI truly "understands" anything or just predicts the next word. We also unpack the difference between AI and algorithms, the current capabilities (and limits) of generative AI, and address the ongoing challenge of AI trust, ethics, and resilience in real-world business contexts. Expect mind-blowing stories about AI agents threatening to expose fake affairs, hacking game systems, and working alongside humans in a multi-agent workforce. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman: Don't you hate how every HR company out there says they are powered by AI? The truth is most difficult if it's just fluff. Human Intelligence™ from Workhuman is one of the few solutions that actually uses AI to help you get insights about your culture by analyzing the recognition data of your workforce. It helps managers coach better, shows you where culture is thriving, and is so effective at helping companies make smarter decisions, Workhuman backs it with the industry's only ROI Guarantee. In a world of noisy tech, this one actually feels... human. Learn more at Workhuman.com and see how Human Intelligence is becoming a force for good in the workplace. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) are now responsible for shaping the future of work. But to do that, you can't stay in the HR box. To HR leaders, it's time to stop thinking of yourself as administrators and start showing up as architects of human transformation. The new world of work operates on an entirely new playbook, we can't keep putting band-aids on outdated systems. We must start reimagining work itself. In today's Leadership Spark, we're rethinking the outdated ideas about work, engagement, and the role of HR in shaping the future. We explore why perks don't create real employee experience, how employer branding often masks the truth about our workplaces, and what it takes to move from managing people to truly transforming how we work. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman: Don't you hate how every HR company out there says they are powered by AI? The truth is most difficult if it's just fluff. Human Intelligence™ from Workhuman is one of the few solutions that actually uses AI to help you get insights about your culture by analyzing the recognition data of your workforce. It helps managers coach better, shows you where culture is thriving, and is so effective at helping companies make smarter decisions, Workhuman backs it with the industry's only ROI Guarantee. In a world of noisy tech, this one actually feels... human. Learn more at Workhuman.com and see how Human Intelligence is becoming a force for good in the workplace. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

In this solo episode, Kerri dives into the common hiring phrase “entrepreneurial spirit” and why it may actually be hurting your team more than helping. Drawing from her personal career experiences and lessons as a founder, she explores how this phrase can attract misaligned candidates, disrupt culture, and lead to costly hiring mistakes. Whether you're navigating team building or striving for sustainable growth, this episode is packed with encouragement, clarity, and action steps you can apply right away.Tune In to Hear:Why “entrepreneurial spirit” in job descriptions often leads to misalignment and turnoverHow Brian Chesky of Airbnb defines culture as a non-negotiable foundationThe surprising mental health data around high-performing entrepreneurial personalitiesReal-life lessons from Kerri's own career path and hiring mistakesSpecific phrases to use in job posts that foster creativity and alignmentResources & Mentions:Brian Chesky on CEO Diaries – CEO Diaries: Airbnb's Founder Brian Chesky on Brutal Rejection, Great Leadership, and The Biggest Mistake Founders Make!https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mBCMUL3ezyEs7xvWtkIoLSteven Bartlett – Diary of a CEO Podcasthttps://www.diaryofaceo.com/Interesting Engineering – 2024 study on startup founder personality traitshttps://interestingengineering.com/innovation/personality-types-of-successful-startup-foundersPACE Official – Report on entrepreneur mental health https://paceofficial.com/startup-founder-mental-health-statisticsGallup – Study on managerial talent and hiringhttps://www.gallup.com/workplace/236441/right-manager.aspxUS Department of Labor – Cost of a bad hire estimatehttps://www.dol.gov/general/topic/hiringAffiliate Offers: GEM - 50% off on first order to DWTC listeners: https://dailygem.superfiliate.com/GEM-A-KERRIROBERTSStitch Fix - $25 off first fix for DWTC listeners: https://www.stitchfix.com/accept-invite?g=n&referral-type=dual_sided&utm_campaign=InviteReferralJoin Our Newsletter:HR and business insights → https://www.saltandlightadvisors.com/contactConnect on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kerrimroberts/https://www.instagram.com/saltandlightadvisors/

What's the mistake too many young leaders make?

The workplace is evolving, but not without friction. AI, culture, and leadership expectations are colliding, and while some leaders scramble to keep up, others are creating environments that feel more like day spas than places of work. How do you lead with kindness while still setting high expectations? In this episode of Future Ready Leadership, I spoke with KeyAnna Schmiedl, Chief Human Experience Officer at Workhuman, about what it really takes to evolve workplace culture and leadership in a time of rapid change. We explored the current state of AI and its role in supporting, not replacing the human element at work. KeyAnna sheds light on the shift from compliance-focused HR to human experience-focused leadership, and how organizations can avoid the trap of over-accommodation and instead focus on clarity, accountability, and human-centered leadership. We discussed the misapplication of psychological safety, the dangers of therapy language, the importance of building resilience and critical thinking, and why companies struggle to define and communicate their true culture. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman: Don't you hate how every HR company out there says they are powered by AI? The truth is most difficult if it's just fluff. Human Intelligence™ from Workhuman is one of the few solutions that actually uses AI to help you get insights about your culture by analyzing the recognition data of your workforce. It helps managers coach better, shows you where culture is thriving, and is so effective at helping companies make smarter decisions, Workhuman backs it with the industry's only ROI Guarantee. In a world of noisy tech, this one actually feels... human. Learn more at Workhuman.com and see how Human Intelligence is becoming a force for good in the workplace. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

What does it take to shift from a struggling solo attorney to a CEO leading a thriving full-service law firm? Learn how authentic leadership transformed one law firm from solo practice to thriving law firm. In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life®, Steve sits down with Ross Albers, CEO of Albers & Associates in Timonium, Maryland. Ross shares his inspiring and raw journey—from getting fired just days before his wedding to building a successful law firm with 13 attorneys spanning multiple practice areas. His story is a powerful reminder that setbacks can become the foundation for future success with the right mindset and strategy. Ross opens up about his early days practicing criminal law and accepting low-fee cases. Instead of staying stuck in survival mode, he adopted a new perspective—one rooted in long-term business growth. That shift led him to evolve from lawyer to leader, transforming his role and his firm in the process. We examine the fundamentals of leadership and team development within the context of a law firm. Ross shares how creating clarity and accountability among team members has been crucial in fostering a high-performing environment. He emphasizes the power of structured feedback and regular communication, drawing inspiration from leadership heavyweights like John Maxwell. With insights on the importance of KPIs and well-defined onboarding processes, Ross illustrates how these elements contribute to cohesive and efficient firm operations. His personal experiences underscore the importance of aligning processes across various practice areas to achieve both cultural and financial success.  Ross also shares what it takes to scale a law firm without sacrificing your personal life. He speaks candidly about building trust, leading by example, and staying committed to continuous growth. Whether you're managing a solo practice or leading a growing firm, Ross's journey offers a roadmap for evolving from overwhelmed attorney to purpose-driven CEO. Tune in for actionable strategies to build a firm that reflects your values, supports your life, and fuels your biggest dreams. In this episode, you will hear: Ross Albers' journey from being fired to leading a successful law firm Importance of authentic leadership in scaling a law practice and developing high-performing teams Creating a culture of clarity and accountability with regular feedback and clear KPIs Weekly performance reviews as a tool for maintaining team progress and addressing underperformance Structured training and onboarding to enhance firm efficiency and cohesion Leadership development through continuous learning and embracing thought leadership principles Encouragement to dream big, take action, and persist in achieving professional and personal success Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com. Supporting Resources: Ross Albers: www.rossalbers.com/our-team/ross-w-albers Albers & Associates: www.rossalbers.com Ross Albers LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ross-albers-a7b2b183 Team Leader Certification Program: atticusadvantage.com/law-firm-team-leader-certification (Get $500 off your Team Leader Certification Program! Use code: TLC500) The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C. Maxwell: www.amazon.com/21-Irrefutable-Laws-Leadership-Follow/dp/1400236169 EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches by Dave Ramsey: www.amazon.com/EntreLeadership-Practical-Business-Wisdom-Trenches/dp/1451617852 Lead to Succeed: 10 Traits of Great Leadership in Business and Life by Rick Pitino: www.amazon.com/Lead-Succeed-Traits-Leadership-Business/dp/0767903420 The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg and John David Mann: www.amazon.com/Go-Giver-Expanded-Little-Powerful-Business/dp/1591848288 The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy by Jon Gordon: www.amazon.com/Energy-Bus-Rules-Fuel-Positive/dp/0470100281 Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Doing It Right with LeadershipIn the second part of her “Doing It Right” series on the Home Care Heroes and Day Service Stars podcast, industry veteran Ginny Kenyon returns to talk about leadership — not as a title, but as a responsibility. Ginny, who Ken Accardi describes as worthy of the “Home Care Hall of Fame,” shares her hard-earned wisdom on what it truly means to lead a successful and compassionate home care organization.Ginny begins by drawing a sharp contrast between being a "boss" and being a true leader. A boss, she says, issues orders and expects obedience. A leader, on the other hand, embraces their role as the “chief responsible person.” Leaders serve their teams by ensuring that staff have both the tools and the knowledge they need to succeed. Leadership is not about power; it's about service.The Podcast covers:Your Most Important Customer: Your Teamemployees are your most important customer.empower your team, and they will grow your business.From $1.2M to $5.3M: How Listening Fueled Explosive GrowthThese practices built loyalty, reduced conflict, and created a culture where staff felt seen, valued, and empowered.Serving Referral Sources Like VIPsrecognize referral partners as key customers Your Competition is Not Your Enemytreat your competitors as colleagues. What Makes a Great Leader in Home CareIn Ginny's view, leadership in home care is not about hierarchy. It's about ownership, empathy, and service. Leaders must:Listen to staff and act on their inputEquip employees with tools and knowledgeRecognize achievements in meaningful waysBuild strong relationships with referral partnersCollaborate with peers, even competitorsWhen you take care of the people who do the work — your caregivers, office staff, and partners — they take care of your clients. And when that happens, your business will thrive.Home Care Heroes and Day Service Stars is produced and sponsored by Ankota - If you provide services that enable older or disabled people to continue living at home , Ankota can provide you the software to successfully run your agency. Visit us at https://www.ankota.com.

We've misunderstood what it really means to lead with vulnerability. Organizations are falling into a dangerous trap of glorifying vulnerability without pairing it with accountability. That's why workplace cultures that enable excuses, not growth, exist. In this episode, we explore why vulnerability at work has gone too far, and how it's being misused as a shield from accountability. We draw a sharp line between simply being vulnerable and leading with vulnerability, which means owning your gaps and showing what you're doing to grow. When vulnerability lacks follow-through, it creates a culture of entitlement instead of growth. With all the changes happening fast in the modern world of work, leaders can't afford to not course-correct. It's time to redefine what vulnerability should look like at work. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman: Don't you hate how every HR company out there says they are powered by AI? The truth is most difficult if it's just fluff. Human Intelligence™ from Workhuman is one of the few solutions that actually uses AI to help you get insights about your culture by analyzing the recognition data of your workforce. It helps managers coach better, shows you where culture is thriving, and is so effective at helping companies make smarter decisions, Workhuman backs it with the industry's only ROI Guarantee. In a world of noisy tech, this one actually feels... human. Learn more at Workhuman.com and see how Human Intelligence is becoming a force for good in the workplace. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

AI is a double-edged sword—boosting capabilities while amplifying risks if used carelessly. Every leader today is racing to understand how AI will impact their business. So, how can you protect your organization? In this episode, Steve Schmidt, SVP and Chief Security Officer at Amazon, breaks down the real risks at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and leadership. Steve shares why the biggest cybersecurity threats aren't just technical but human, highlighting how AI lowers the barrier for attacks like phishing and social engineering. We explore the concept of agentic AI, which doesn't just generate information but takes action; this creates new risks that would require leaders to rethink authentication, output validation, and compartmentalization. Steve also shares how Amazon speeds up security reviews by up to 80% with AI, all while keeping humans in the loop to guard against flaws. Today, it's of high importance to build a strong security culture, and address the rising risks of shadow AI inside organizations. Because while AI is a powerful tool, it's not a magic bullet. Leaders must pair AI with human oversight, robust training, and thoughtful guardrails to protect their organizations. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. These days, it feels like there isn't much good to go around in the world of work.  But Workhuman knows when we celebrate the good in each of us, we bring out the best in all of us. It's why they created the world's # 1 employee recognition platform — and they didn't stop there, combining rich recognition data with AI to create Human Intelligence, so you can get uniquely good insights into performance, skills, engagement and more. To learn more about how you can join their force for good, go to Workhuman.com, or check out their own podcast, “How We Work,” which explores the trends, issues, relationships, and experiences that shape our workplaces. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Too often, vulnerability at work is misunderstood as either oversharing or a sign of weakness. What many leaders overlook is how it can be their superpower if used the right way. In this episode, we explore how to lead with vulnerability without losing your leadership edge by pairing your openness with intention and direction. We discuss the “vulnerable leader equation,” a reminder that showing emotion or imperfection isn't weakness when paired with purpose. You'll also learn about the “vulnerability mountain” framework: identify what's easy (base camp), what's hard (the peak), and take small daily steps to climb. Plus, we touch on the importance of intention, the core of the "vulnerability wheel," and why knowing why you're opening up matters just as much as how. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. These days, it feels like there isn't much good to go around in the world of work.  But Workhuman knows when we celebrate the good in each of us, we bring out the best in all of us. It's why they created the world's #1 employee recognition platform — and they didn't stop there, combining rich recognition data with AI to create Human Intelligence, so you can get uniquely good insights into performance, skills, engagement and more. To learn more about how you can join their force for good, go to Workhuman.com, or check out their own podcast, “How We Work,” which explores the trends, issues, relationships, and experiences that shape our workplaces. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

From cold emails to global dominance - the Airbnb story began with rejection. In this unmissable episode of CEO Diaries, Airbnb founder and CEO Brian Chesky reveals the brutal truth about rejection, resilience, building world-changing companies, and the one thing more important than product or profit: culture. Visit - ⁠www.linkedin.com/DOAC⁠ Listen to the full episode here - Spotify -https://g2ul0.app.link/WgBxbVavJTb Apple - ⁠https://g2ul0.app.link/89nODBivJTb Watch the Episodes On YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/%20TheDiaryOfACEO/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CHROs, your role has never been more vital or more complex. AI, shifting politics, hybrid work, and evolving employee expectations, have taken the front seat in today's world of work. The future says you're no longer just managing HR, you're redefining the workplace itself. That's exactly why I launched Future of Work Leaders, a supportive global community built specifically for CHROs who are ready to move beyond traditional HR and are committed to building future-ready organizations.  In this episode, I share highlights from our very first 2025 gathering, where CHROs from some of the world's most respected brands came together to discuss the real challenges and opportunities shaping the future of work. I'm taking you behind the scenes of our inaugural Future of Work Leaders CHRO event, hosted at the Neiman Marcus Innovation Hub in Dallas. We brought together 40 CHROs from organizations like Johnson & Johnson, Northrop Grumman, Tractor Supply, Amway, and others to have deep, honest conversations about what's really driving change today. Topics like the evolving role of DEI, AI integration, hybrid work models, culture transformation, and even the political climate's impact on work. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Leading a business with 100,000 employees and $84 billion in revenue isn't for the faint of heart. Every executive talks about culture and results, but few have done it at this scale. So how do you lead without losing your soul? In this episode, Chris Nicholas, President and CEO of Sam's Club, pulls back the curtain on what leadership really looks like when the stakes are massive. He shares why purpose and grit—not ego—are the foundation of great leadership. You'll learn why 85% of Sam's Club managers started as hourly workers, how Chris uses “ultra-endurance leadership” to stay sharp, and why leaders should run toward difficult things. He also unpacks his trust formula to build trust in a massive organization, how to lead without entitlement, and how to connect your work to a bigger purpose. From energy and sacrifice to upward mobility and culture, Chris shows how business performance and people-first leadership can coexist.   ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. These days, it feels like there isn't much good to go around in the world of work.  But Workhuman knows when we celebrate the good in each of us, we bring out the best in all of us. It's why they created the world's # 1 employee recognition platform — and they didn't stop there, combining rich recognition data with AI to create Human Intelligence, so you can get uniquely good insights into performance, skills, engagement and more. To learn more about how you can join their force for good, go to Workhuman.com, or check out their own podcast, “How We Work,” which explores the trends, issues, relationships, and experiences that shape our workplaces. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

We've all had the experience of working for a bad leader, the kind that drains your energy, stifles your motivation, and makes Monday mornings feel like a dreadful chore. But great leaders do the opposite. And in a world evolving faster than ever, we can't afford to leave leadership to chance. In today's Leadership Spark, we'll tackle two big questions: Will the leader of 2030 be different from today's leader? And if so, how? Backed by insights from 140+ CEO interviews and a global LinkedIn survey of nearly 14,000 employees, I share the timeless traits leaders must keep, and the new skills they must develop to lead in a rapidly changing world. Get a clearer understanding of what leadership really means, why most people can't define it, and what it will take to lead organizations, and society, into the future. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. These days, it feels like there isn't much good to go around in the world of work.  But Workhuman knows when we celebrate the good in each of us, we bring out the best in all of us. It's why they created the world's #1 employee recognition platform — and they didn't stop there, combining rich recognition data with AI to create Human Intelligence, so you can get uniquely good insights into performance, skills, engagement and more. To learn more about how you can join their force for good, go to Workhuman.com, or check out their own podcast, “How We Work,” which explores the trends, issues, relationships, and experiences that shape our workplaces. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Dr. Laura is a professional speaker and organizational psychologist who inspires driven self-starters to transform theirrelationship with themselves to accomplish more than ever while making everything easier! While sharing revelationson radical self-acceptance she uniquely leverages humor to resonate with audiences. She is an approachable, funny,warm, alluring, optimistic, curious and delightful speaker and guest! Even as a USA Today and Wall Street JournalBest-selling author, Dr. Laura doesn't fit the typical "academic" personality of her PhD peers.Some of her noteworthy achievements include being hired by NASA to transform culture following the Columbiaaccident, working with Disney to lead radical shifts in performance management for their leaders, and inspiringYahoo's global teams to seek transformation from the inside-out.Fun is always abounding in Dr. Laura's life; so when she's not serving a mass self-acceptance movement you can findher water skiing, floating in a sunny pool (likely on a large peacock floatie), playing with her dogs, Grace andJackson, singing while playing her beautiful grand piano, or diving deeper into her own consciousness to livelife most fully.

The rules of leadership have changed, but most leaders didn't get the memo. We're leading in a time of constant disruption, fractured teams, and AI eating away at every corner of the workplace. It's no longer enough to rely on outdated mindsets, old leadership playbooks, and hoping for the best. In this episode, we explore what real future-ready leadership looks like. Navy SEAL and leadership coach Rich Diviney shares why it's not your skills, but your attributes, like resilience and adaptability, that determine how you lead under pressure and make you an elite leader. Keith Ferazzi, Founder, Chair, & CEO at Ferrazzi Greenlight, rewrites the traditional leadership script by laying out his “teamship” model for building teams that hold each other accountable. And finally, Dan Priest, US Chief AI Officer of PwC, shows how to stop fearing AI and start using it as a strategic edge. This is the mindset, model, and method leaders need to thrive and lead effectively in this next era. Don't miss it! ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. These days, it feels like there isn't much good to go around in the world of work.  But Workhuman knows when we celebrate the good in each of us, we bring out the best in all of us. It's why they created the world's # 1 employee recognition platform — and they didn't stop there, combining rich recognition data with AI to create Human Intelligence, so you can get uniquely good insights into performance, skills, engagement and more. To learn more about how you can join their force for good, go to Workhuman.com, or check out their own podcast, “How We Work,” which explores the trends, issues, relationships, and experiences that shape our workplaces. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

We often think of employee experience as a checklist: better offices, better technology, better perks. But we've been missing the bigger picture all along. In today's Leadership Spark, we dive deep into how employee experience has fundamentally evolved, and why it's now the most powerful lever leaders have to shape trust, loyalty, and performance at work. Drawing on research from 252 organizations and insights from 150 senior executives, we'll explore the real drivers of experience: culture, technology, and physical space. You'll learn why work today isn't just about what people do, but about the environment that shapes how they feel, how they connect, and why they stay. If you want to future-proof your leadership and your organization, it starts with designing an experience worth fighting for. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. These days, it feels like there isn't much good to go around in the world of work.  But Workhuman knows when we celebrate the good in each of us, we bring out the best in all of us. It's why they created the world's # 1 employee recognition platform — and they didn't stop there, combining rich recognition data with AI to create Human Intelligence, so you can get uniquely good insights into performance, skills, engagement and more. To learn more about how you can join their force for good, go to Workhuman.com, or check out their own podcast, “How We Work,” which explores the trends, issues, relationships, and experiences that shape our workplaces. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Leadership is a word that has become completely bastardized in modern culture. Everywhere you turn, someone is hyping you up on why you need to become a better leader, the benefits of leading versus following, and how exactly you should do it. But what if I told you, it's not the tactics that make you a leader but the mindsets that spell the difference. My good friend, brother, and leadership coach, Kipp Sorensen, joins me today to talk about what it really means to lead in a world where every man thinks they're leading well. We address the two types of destructive leaders, the “BAR” acronym (behavior, actions, results) and which to focus on, how 83% of people in the workforce view their position in the company (and what you can do about it), why a “compensation” package is about more than just money, and the do's and don't's of effective leadership. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction and Business Talk   01:48 - Exploring Leadership Challenges   04:30 - How Authority Changes People   06:18 - Persecutors vs. Rescuers in Leadership   10:26 - Stanford Prison Experiment Insights   13:07 - Balancing Motivation and Honesty   17:19 - Becoming a Leader-Coach   21:41 - The Mindset of Great Leadership   23:21 - Applying Leadership at Home   29:49 - Defining the Leader-Coach Role   36:31 - Balancing Accountability and Empathy   41:29 - Focusing on Results, Not Behaviors   49:54 - Ownership and Choice in Leadership   56:00 - Handling Limited Resources   01:02:09 - Leading Family vs. Employees   01:09:20 - Closing and Kipp's Contact Info Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Why Follow-Up Is a Leadership Practice with Doug C. Brown Let's face it—“follow-up” doesn't always have the best reputation. It can feel pushy, annoying, or just like one more thing on your to-do list. But what if follow-up wasn't about pestering people… and instead became one of the most powerful tools you have to show care, build trust, and lead with integrity? In this episode, Dr. Mike Patterson sits down with renowned sales expert Doug C. Brown to reframe everything you think you know about follow-up. Doug shares why this essential practice is about more than just closing a deal—it's about strengthening relationships, delivering value, and showing others that they matter. About the Episode: Doug C. Brown, CEO of CEO Sales Strategies, brings over 40 years of sales leadership to the table. He's worked with brands like Tony Robbins, CBS, and Procter & Gamble, built 35 businesses, and helped generate over $900 million in sales. But at the heart of his success is a simple principle: effective, personalized follow-up builds relationships—and relationships drive results. In this conversation, Doug explains why follow-up should be part of every leader's toolkit. Whether you're managing a team, building a business, or simply aiming to serve others better, consistent and thoughtful follow-up creates connection, increases retention, and unlocks new opportunities. You'll hear real-world stories about how follow-up has led to massive referrals, strengthened loyalty, and even closed six-figure deals. Doug also shares how poor follow-up costs companies thousands (if not millions) and reveals how you can avoid those losses with just a few intentional habits. Key Takeaways: Follow-Up = Leadership: It's not about pestering—it's about showing respect, accountability, and care. ABR: Always Be Building Relationships: Forget the old ABCs of sales—lasting relationships are what lead to lasting results. Why People Don't Buy Immediately: Emotional, logistical, and trust-related factors often delay purchases—follow-up bridges the gap. Multimodal Matters: Effective follow-up isn't just about phone calls—it's texts, emails, handwritten notes, and more. Three-a-Day Rule: Want to change your business? Follow up with just three people a day. That's 1,000+ meaningful connections a year. Whether you're a business leader, a coach, or a team builder—this episode will challenge you to rethink how you engage the people around you. If you want to build stronger relationships, increase trust, and lead with more integrity, it starts with simple, consistent follow-up. Hit play now to learn how to put Doug's “3-a-day” method into practice and start seeing results in your business and your life.   Links for This Episode:   Social Links Website (CEO Sales Strategies): https://ceosalesstrategies.com Vibitno: https://vibitno.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dougcbrown123 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougbrown123 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dougcbrown_ Upcoming Masterclass: http://ceosalesstrategies.com/stoptheleak   Connect with Dr. Mike:  Website: https://www.drmikepatterson.com Book: https://www.missionfirstpeoplealwaysbook.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichaellpatterson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealdrmikepatterson/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/drmikepatterson Buy The Book!: Mission First People Always Episode Minute By Minute: 00:00 – Introduction and redefining sales for leaders 03:00 – Doug's origin story: learning sales at age 5 07:00 – Why sales is leverage—and a noble profession 09:00 – Reframing follow-up as a leadership and relationship tool 12:00 – How follow-up is like calling after a great date 14:00 – Personal story: surgeon follow-up vs. hospital silence 16:00 – The impact of consistent contact on referrals 19:00 – Forget “Always Be Closing”—try “Always Be Building Relationships” 21:00 – Emotional and psychological barriers to buying 24:00 – Unethical vs. ethical selling: trust and transparency 29:00 – The hidden cost of poor follow-up and missed sales 32:00 – Real-life example: the realtor who earned the business 36:00 – Why multi-modal follow-up (text, email, snail mail) works 40:00 – Doug's challenge: follow up with 3 people a day 44:00 – Final thoughts and how to put relational follow-up into practice

What if the biggest thing holding us back from living the American Dream isn't our circumstances, but our mindset? In this episode, Mark Matson, Author of Experiencing the American Dream and CEO of Matson Money, breaks down what the American Dream really means today. Mark explains how your "screen" or the mental filters shape the way you see the world, your actions, results, and ultimately your life. He makes a strong case that the American Dream isn't dead, it's just being filtered through the wrong lens of the “juicy victimhood” mentality, entitlement, and resentment. He also explores how these mindsets are showing up in the workplace and it's killing growth. Mark also points out how many people today, especially younger generations, live as if they're still stuck in the coal mines of the past, despite having more tools, technology, and opportunity than ever before. He explains why leaders need to stop over-parenting employees because real change starts with personal accountability, resilience, and creativity. We also unpack how to build high-performance teams and how the concept of addition through subtraction helps you build a stronger team. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. Here's a good question for you: Who in your marketing department is a flight risk? How about: Where are your talent or skills gaps? Or: Which employees make up your next generation of leaders? If you couldn't answer any of these, then you need to check out Human Intelligence™, from Workhuman. By combining AI with the rich data of their #1 rated employee recognition platform, Human Intelligence unlocks insights and capabilities that redefine talent management, cultural transformation, and employee engagement. Want to learn more? Go to workhuman.com and learn how today's leading companies are turning AI into a force for good with Human Intelligence. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

We've thrown the entire pantry at employee engagement from hot yoga to free snacks to branded hoodies, and somehow, people are still checking out. In today's Leadership Spark, we call out the broken cycle of gimmicky engagement strategies and look at what actually drives loyalty, performance, and retention in the modern workplace. Spoiler: it's not about giving people more stuff. It's about giving them something to believe in. We'll unpack why smart companies are ditching the perks arms race and building something better: a workplace that feels like an experience, not a transaction. If you're tired of short-term fixes and ready to build real culture, press play. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. Here's a good question for you: Who in your marketing department is a flight risk? How about: Where are your talent or skills gaps? Or: Which employees make up your next generation of leaders? If you couldn't answer any of these, then you need to check out Human Intelligence™, from Workhuman. By combining AI with the rich data of their #1 rated employee recognition platform, Human Intelligence unlocks insights and capabilities that redefine talent management, cultural transformation, and employee engagement. Want to learn more? Go to workhuman.com and learn how today's leading companies are turning AI into a force for good with Human Intelligence. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

"Great leadership inspires followership.  It get people to follow the strategy. Followership doesn't happen by just telling people what to do." Adam Weber joins the show in this week's episode. He is the former Chief People Officer at 15Five, co-founder of Emplify, and author of Lead Like a Human. You can learn more about Adam here  Interested in booking a free workshop for your organization, go here.  

Micromanagement isn't about control—it's about fear. This episode unpacks the emotional root of micromanaging and shows you how to lead with trust instead of tension. You'll learn seven simple mindset shifts that help you empower your team without losing your standards.You can't lead from exhaustion. But with the right shifts, you can rebuild trust, boost performance, and stop micromanaging yourself into the ground.

AI is becoming more powerful and autonomous. What we once thought was a future trend is now reshaping how organizations are operating today. But the biggest risk of AI isn't replacement. More likely, it's reliance. Are you prepared for what's coming? In today's episode, Dr. Michael Chui, Senior Fellow at McKinsey and QuantumBlack AI, reveals how AI is rewriting the rules of competition, leadership, and even hiring structure. You'll learn why over-relying on AI can erode human judgment and creativity, how to build organizations that balance human decision-making with machine efficiency, and why managing AI agents will soon be as important as managing people. Dr. Chui shares how leaders can prevent “silent automation” from taking over their teams, what skills future managers must develop (including prompt engineering and oversight), and how companies can redesign roles, workflows, and organizational structures to thrive in the era of agentic AI.   ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. Here's a good question for you: Who in your marketing department is a flight risk? How about: Where are your talent or skills gaps? Or: Which employees make up your next generation of leaders? If you couldn't answer any of these, then you need to check out Human Intelligence™, from Workhuman. By combining AI with the rich data of their #1 rated employee recognition platform, Human Intelligence unlocks insights and capabilities that redefine talent management, cultural transformation, and employee engagement. Want to learn more? Go to workhuman.com and learn how today's leading companies are turning AI into a force for good with Human Intelligence. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Most leaders think vulnerability is risky, but avoiding it is far riskier. Despite all the research and talk about authenticity, only 11% of companies view vulnerability as a leadership strength—and 84% of employees rarely, if ever, see it practiced. That's a problem. In today's Leadership Spark, we explore what happens when leaders embrace vulnerability, and what's lost when they don't. Backed by my research across thousands of employees and organizations, you'll uncover in this episode how leading with vulnerability isn't just about being authentic. It's a strategy for building trust, connection, and lasting impact. You'll also learn how to balance confidence with openness, and why your team might be waiting for you to go first in being vulnerable. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. Here's a good question for you: Who in your marketing department is a flight risk? How about: Where are your talent or skills gaps? Or: Which employees make up your next generation of leaders? If you couldn't answer any of these, then you need to check out Human Intelligence™, from Workhuman. By combining AI with the rich data of their #1 rated employee recognition platform, Human Intelligence unlocks insights and capabilities that redefine talent management, cultural transformation, and employee engagement. Want to learn more? Go to workhuman.com and learn how today's leading companies are turning AI into a force for good with Human Intelligence. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

What does it really take to rise to the highest levels of leadership, and stay there? In this episode, I sit down with Mark Thompson, world's #1 CEO coach and author of CEO Ready, to explore what to become a CEO-ready leader. We'll look at the deeper work of top-most leadership: developing functional fluency, mastering seven leadership languages, and aligning your ambitions with the reality of what leadership demands. Mark shares the mindset and methods used by the world's most successful executives, why building trust with your boss is a make-or-break move, and how to balance confident humility with productive paranoia. We dig deeper into the sacrifices leaders make, the importance of building credibility before asking for responsibility, and how to cultivate stakeholder alignment across functions, not just within your silo. If you're eyeing the next big step in your career, this episode will help prepare you to lead at the top.   ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. Here's a good question for you: Who in your marketing department is a flight risk? How about: Where are your talent or skills gaps? Or: Which employees make up your next generation of leaders? If you couldn't answer any of these, then you need to check out Human Intelligence™, from Workhuman. By combining AI with the rich data of their #1 rated employee recognition platform, Human Intelligence unlocks insights and capabilities that redefine talent management, cultural transformation, and employee engagement. Want to learn more? Go to workhuman.com and learn how today's leading companies are turning AI into a force for good with Human Intelligence. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

We've made a huge leadership mistake and chances are, your organization is still making it. We've separated managers and leaders like they're different species. One is focused on processes. The other on people. But that separation might be the very thing keeping your teams disengaged and your company stuck. In today's Leadership Spark, I'm busting the outdated myth that leadership and management are two separate roles. I share a powerful story of a nuclear submarine captain that perfectly illustrates what happens when we train leaders to lead but forget to teach them how to manage. You'll hear why giving managers leadership training won't fix your ‘people' problem and why the opposite approach just might. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. HR just changed for good with the introduction of Human Intelligence™.​ ​ By combining AI and the uniquely authentic data of Workhuman's #1 rated employee recognition platform, Human Intelligence reveals previously unobtainable insights into skills, performance, culture and more. Human Intelligence also helps coach employees on what good peer-to-peer recognition looks like, turning every “good job” into better engagement, retention, and wellbeing. And it helps surface feel-good stories that illustrate the best of your company culture. Want to learn more? Human Intelligence at Workhuman.com, and join their force for good. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Want to Start or Grow a Successful Business? Schedule a FREE 13-Point Assessment with Clay Clark Today At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com   Join Clay Clark's Thrivetime Show Business Workshop!!! Learn Branding, Marketing, SEO, Sales, Workflow Design, Accounting & More. **Request Tickets & See Testimonials At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com  **Request Tickets Via Text At (918) 851-0102   See the Thousands of Success Stories and Millionaires That Clay Clark Has Helped to Produce HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/ Download A Millionaire's Guide to Become Sustainably Rich: A Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Successful Money-Generating and Time-Freedom Creating Business HERE: www.ThrivetimeShow.com/Millionaire   See Thousands of Case Studies Today HERE: www.thrivetimeshow.com/does-it-work/  

Want to Start or Grow a Successful Business? Schedule a FREE 13-Point Assessment with Clay Clark Today At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com   Join Clay Clark's Thrivetime Show Business Workshop!!! Learn Branding, Marketing, SEO, Sales, Workflow Design, Accounting & More. **Request Tickets & See Testimonials At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com  **Request Tickets Via Text At (918) 851-0102   See the Thousands of Success Stories and Millionaires That Clay Clark Has Helped to Produce HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/ Download A Millionaire's Guide to Become Sustainably Rich: A Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Successful Money-Generating and Time-Freedom Creating Business HERE: www.ThrivetimeShow.com/Millionaire   See Thousands of Case Studies Today HERE: www.thrivetimeshow.com/does-it-work/  

Are you a Chief Human Resource Officer trying to find a meaningful and affordable peer group that's NOT stuck in the past? I'm glad you found this episode because you're about to discover a CHRO community that's building the future of work as we speak. After speaking with over 100 CHROs for my book on employee experience, I kept hearing the same frustrations about existing groups with overpriced memberships, bloated conferences, constant sales pitches, outdated content, and a total lack of real value. So I decided to do something about it. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on "Future of Work Leaders," a new community built for CHROs, by CHROs. It's an intimate group focused on one thing only: insight-rich conversations for forward-thinking CHROs like you. If you're a CHRO who's done playing by old rules and wants to connect with other future-ready leaders from companies like Johnson & Johnson, Northrop Grumman, Dow, Amway, and more, consider this your invite.   ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Everyone's arguing about remote vs. in-office. But what if we've been asking the wrong question all along? Dr. Nicholas Bloom, Professor of Economics at Stanford and the world's most cited expert on hybrid work, joins to set the record straight—and clear up the way his research is being misquoted everywhere. In this episode, he debunks the biggest myths about remote work, explains why hybrid work has become the go-to model for most Fortune 500 companies, and breaks down what's really behind Amazon and Jamie Dimon's return-to-office moves. We also get into why AI is more likely to replace fully remote roles than hybrid ones, what most people misunderstand about productivity from home, and the three-part formula every leader should follow to make hybrid work sustainable and effective. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. HR just changed for good with the introduction of Human Intelligence™.​ ​ By combining AI and the uniquely authentic data of Workhuman's #1 rated employee recognition platform, Human Intelligence reveals previously unobtainable insights into skills, performance, culture and more. Human Intelligence also helps coach employees on what good peer-to-peer recognition looks like, turning every “good job” into better engagement, retention, and wellbeing. And it helps surface feel-good stories that illustrate the best of your company culture. Want to learn more? Human Intelligence at Workhuman.com, and join their force for good. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/