• Home
  • Episodes
  • Books for Leaders
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • Our Sponsors
  • Blog
  • Our Newsletter
The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

Recommended Books

“Citizenship in a Republic (The Man in the Arena),” by Theodore Roosevelt

Buy This Book Online
Download for FREE
“Citizenship in a Republic (The Man in the Arena),” by Theodore Roosevelt
Buy now!
“Citizenship in a Republic (The Man in the Arena),” by Theodore Roosevelt

Stop Waiting for It to Get Easier: Create Your Dream Business Now!

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Stop Waiting for It to Get Easier: Create Your Dream Business Now!
Buy now!
Stop Waiting for It to Get Easier: Create Your Dream Business Now!

Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
Buy now!
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder

The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
Buy now!
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive: Outsell, Outmanage, Outmotivate, and Outnegotiate Your Competition

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive: Outsell, Outmanage, Outmotivate, and Outnegotiate Your Competition
Buy now!
Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive: Outsell, Outmanage, Outmotivate, and Outnegotiate Your Competition

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Buy now!
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the 3 to 1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the 3 to 1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life
Buy now!
Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the 3 to 1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life

Elevating Your Game: Becoming a Triple-Impact Competitor

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Elevating Your Game: Becoming a Triple-Impact Competitor
Buy now!
Elevating Your Game: Becoming a Triple-Impact Competitor

Shooting in the Dark: Tales of Coaching and Leadership

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Shooting in the Dark: Tales of Coaching and Leadership
Buy now!
Shooting in the Dark: Tales of Coaching and Leadership

Positive Coaching: Building Character and Self-esteem Through Sports

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Positive Coaching: Building Character and Self-esteem Through Sports
Buy now!
Positive Coaching: Building Character and Self-esteem Through Sports

The Double-Goal Coach: Positive Coaching Tools for Honoring the Game and Developing Winners in Sports and Life

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Double-Goal Coach: Positive Coaching Tools for Honoring the Game and Developing Winners in Sports and Life
Buy now!
The Double-Goal Coach: Positive Coaching Tools for Honoring the Game and Developing Winners in Sports and Life

Why is Everyone Smiling? The Secret Behind Passion, Productivity, and Profit

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Why is Everyone Smiling? The Secret Behind Passion, Productivity, and Profit
Buy now!
Why is Everyone Smiling? The Secret Behind Passion, Productivity, and Profit

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
Buy now!
The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Buy now!
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Leaders Eat Last

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Leaders Eat Last
Buy now!
Leaders Eat Last

The Experience Economy

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Experience Economy
Buy now!
The Experience Economy

One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Audible.com
Buy from Amazon Kindle
One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership
Buy now!
One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership

The Education of Cyrus by Xenophon

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Education of Cyrus by Xenophon
Buy now!
The Education of Cyrus by Xenophon

Beowulf

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Beowulf
Buy now!
Beowulf

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Buy now!
The Epic of Gilgamesh

True Success: A New Philosophy of Excellence

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
True Success: A New Philosophy of Excellence
Buy now!
True Success: A New Philosophy of Excellence

Plato’s Apology

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Plato’s Apology
Buy now!
Plato’s Apology

The Golden Palace

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Golden Palace
Buy now!
The Golden Palace

The Speed of Trust

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Audible.com
Buy from Amazon Kindle
The Speed of Trust
Buy now!
The Speed of Trust

Team of Teams

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Audible.com
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Team of Teams
Buy now!
Team of Teams

The Oasis Within

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Oasis Within
Buy now!
The Oasis Within

The Littlest Green Beret

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Buy from Audible.com
The Littlest Green Beret
Buy now!
The Littlest Green Beret

The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership
Buy now!
The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership

Bluebook: How Bold Leadership Unlocked a $27 Billion Success Story

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Bluebook: How Bold Leadership Unlocked a $27 Billion Success Story
Buy now!
Bluebook: How Bold Leadership Unlocked a $27 Billion Success Story

The Moral Market: Adam Smith and the Promise of Virtuous Capitalism

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Moral Market: Adam Smith and the Promise of Virtuous Capitalism
Buy now!
The Moral Market: Adam Smith and the Promise of Virtuous Capitalism

Topgrading: How Leading Companies Win by Hiring, Coaching, and Keeping the Best People, Revised and Updated Edition

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Topgrading: How Leading Companies Win by Hiring, Coaching, and Keeping the Best People, Revised and Updated Edition
Buy now!
Topgrading: How Leading Companies Win by Hiring, Coaching, and Keeping the Best People, Revised and Updated Edition

The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpos

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpos
Buy now!
The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpos

The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance
Buy now!
The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance

100 Best Books for Work and Life: What They Say, Why They Matter, and How They Can Help You

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
100 Best Books for Work and Life: What They Say, Why They Matter, and How They Can Help You
Buy now!
100 Best Books for Work and Life: What They Say, Why They Matter, and How They Can Help You

Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results
Buy now!
Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results

Blue-Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Blue-Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life
Buy now!
Blue-Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life
← Back123More Books →
iTunes
Spotify
Audible
SoundCloud
iHeartRADIO

Instagram Feed

westudyleaders

#leadership #leadershiptraining #leader #westudyleaders

Most leaders delay hard conversations. They hope t Most leaders delay hard conversations.They hope the problem fixes itself.Patrick Emmons says that hope is the mistake.Waiting doesn't soften the issue, it just adds interest.Listen to the full episode for Patrick's approach to difficult conversations. https://bit.ly/TLP-524?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #difficultconversations #executivecoaching #leadershipdevelopment #directcommunication #teamculture #accountability #patrickemmons
You have two deaths, not one. The first is physic You have two deaths, not one.The first is physical. The second is the last time someone says your name.Tom Rath says legacy isn't about what you build or leave behind. It's about what quietly outlives you in someone else's habits.You may never see the moment your influence shows up in someone else's life. That's the point.Listen to the full episode with Tom Rath now. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#tomrath #leadershippodcast #legacyleadership #purposeatwork #leadershipmindset #executivecoaching #meaningfulwork #leadershipdevelopment
Most leaders think they need to be the smartest pe Most leaders think they need to be the smartest person in the room.Patrick Emmons disagrees — founder of Dragon Spears, president of Improving Chicago, 25 years building and selling companies.This episode breaks down why leadership at every level beats leadership at the top, and why authenticity means accepting your own growth, not demanding acceptance as-is.Listen to the full conversation now. https://bit.ly/TLP-524?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-524?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #entrepreneurship #authenticleadership #businessgrowth #executivecoaching #leadershippodcast #teamdevelopment
Most people wait until they feel ready before taki Most people wait until they feel ready before taking action. Jill Schulman's research in positive psychology proves that's backwards. Confidence doesn't come first. Action does. Every time you move forward despite fear, you're building the neural pathways that create real confidence. Move forward before you feel ready.Discover why action comes first. https://bit.ly/TLP-518?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#bravery #leadershipdevelopment #personalgrowth #psychology #fearless #confidence #mindset #actiontaker
It's easy to chase the next title. Harder to ask w It's easy to chase the next title. Harder to ask what you're actually building once you get there.Kim's closing message reframes leadership away from status — and toward legacy and impact.Dive into the full conversation now. https://bit.ly/TLP-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #leadershiplegacy #intentionalleadership #executivecoaching #leadershipmindset #leadershippodcast #whatmatters
Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford describe four w Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford describe four ways leaders can shape a tribe: subtraction, division, addition, and multiplication.The first is leadership by subtraction. Jim describes it as a form of bullying, where a leader elevates themselves by pushing someone else down.It raises a useful question for leaders: Are you building your own position by developing others, or by diminishing them?This is the first of four leadership approaches discussed in the full conversation. Watch the full episode to hear the other three.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #LeadershipCulture #OrganizationalCulture #TheLeadershipPodcast
When Hurricane Helene destroyed David Gray's facil When Hurricane Helene destroyed David Gray's facilities, he didn't panic.He built a playbook.Step one: Know if your people are safe and what they need. Step two: Assess your operations for damage or compromise. Step three: Communicate with customers about impact and timeline. Step four: Keep everyone informed of progress, even if you don't have all the answers yet.David learned that people don't need you to be perfect. They need you to be clear and consistent.Listen to the full episode for his complete crisis leadership framework. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-520?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#crisisleadership #leadership #leadershiplessons #teamculture #management #podcast #davidgray #theleadershippodcast
You have more technically qualified people enterin You have more technically qualified people entering the workforce than ever.You also have fewer people who know how to have a real conversation.This gap is costing you. It's costing every organization. It's being missed in every leadership development program.The most expensive credential in 2026 is something no degree can teach: the ability to actually connect with another human.Find what's missing: https://bit.ly/TLP-516?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #talentdevelopment #workforcedevelopment #peopleskills #teambuilding #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast
Chasing success can quietly become the problem, no Chasing success can quietly become the problem, not the solution.Tom Rath argues usefulness matters more than achievement, and the shift changes how you spend every hour of your day.It's a simple reframe with a big payoff: less hamster wheel, more contribution.Listen to Tom Rath's full conversation on the show. https://bit.ly/TLP-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#tomrath #leadershippodcast #purposeoverperformance #leadershipmindset #executivecoaching #findingpurpose #workplaceculture #meaningfulwork
Most leaders blame the market, the deal, or the te Most leaders blame the market, the deal, or the tech when things fall apart.David Craig says look closer. The system is usually the real problem.David is the former CEO of Refinitiv and author of the Blue Book on business transformation and growth, having led a 25,000-person company through the financial crisis, Brexit, and Covid.This episode breaks down how to spot complexity killing your organization before it's too late, and what real conviction looks like when leading people through change.New episode is live now. https://bit.ly/TLP-525?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-525?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershippodcast #theleadershippodcast #businesstransformation #executiveleadership #organizationalculture #changemanagement #ceointerview #leadershipdevelopment #davidcraig
Only two leaders in Lee Benson's entire career mad Only two leaders in Lee Benson's entire career made him feel like they truly saw his potential. One was Jack Welch, who built General Electric from $14 billion to more than $400 billion in value. The other was an assistant manager at a Coco's restaurant where Lee worked as a dishwasher. The difference in their titles didn't matter. What mattered was how they showed up. Great leaders don't just see what someone is doing today. They see what that person could become. And that can change the trajectory of someone's life. #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #leebenson #greatleadership #mentorship #potential #leadershippodcast #executetowin
David Gray calls it empathetic accountability. And David Gray calls it empathetic accountability.And it's the thing most leaders get wrong.You can hold people responsible. But only if you've connected with them first.Skip the connection? Accountability feels like harassment.David has spent 34 years learning this: exhausted people need to know they're valued before they'll respond to expectations.That doesn't mean lowering standards. It means raising empathy.Hear David's full philosophy on leadership in uncertain times. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-520?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#empathyatwork #leadership #leadershipphilosophy #podcast #davidgray #theleadershippodcast #managementskills #leadershipdevelopment
Most leaders treat ethics as a cost. Patrick Ryan Most leaders treat ethics as a cost. Patrick Ryan says that's backwards. Morality isn't friction. It's the lubricant that makes markets actually function. Without it, you don't have capitalism. You have extraction. This is what modern business gets fundamentally wrong—and how it shifts everything about how you lead.Watch the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #ethics #leadership #adamsmith #moralcapitalism #businessethics #leadershippodcast #virtuouscapitalism
Patrick Ryan reframes the entire capitalism conver Patrick Ryan reframes the entire capitalism conversation in one sentence. Most leaders see ethics as a constraint. A tax on profit. But that's the opposite of how markets actually work. Without moral foundation, there's no trust. No enforceable contracts. No real market. Just extraction dressed up as business. This changes how you think about your next decision.Listen to Episode 519. https://bit.ly/TLP-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #ethics #leadership #adamsmith #businessethics #moralcapitalism #leadershippodcast #virtuouscapitalism
Your people spend more hours with you than with th Your people spend more hours with you than with their families.That's not a business metric. That's a moral obligation.David Gray sees it as both privilege and responsibility. You're not just developing workers. You're developing humans—their skills, their confidence, their sense of purpose.Most leaders treat people like resources. David treats them like people entrusted to his care for a significant portion of their lives.It changes everything about how you lead.Explore David's complete philosophy on servant leadership. https://bit.ly/TLP-520?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershipphilosophy #servantleadership #peopledevelopment #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast #teamleadership #managementphilosophy #compassionateLeadership
Donnie Boivin doesn't work the room. He plants his Donnie Boivin doesn't work the room.He plants his feet and lets the room come to him.He calls it command presence, and it's a leadership skill, not a personality trait. The best leaders aren't controlling every conversation, they're guiding the room just by how they show up.Hear Donnie break down what that actually looks like in practice. Full episode is live now. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #networking #executivepresence #personalbranding #leadershipdevelopment #salesleadership #leadershippodcast #businessgrowth
He was one of Kim Svoboda's best performers. He wa He was one of Kim Svoboda's best performers. He was also a bully.She tolerated it. The results were good. Then he quit in a rage.A week later, the truth came out. Team culture lifted almost overnight.Kim breaks down what tolerating bad behavior really costs a team.Ask yourself who's costing you culture. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #teamculture #toxicemployee #leadershipdevelopment #highperformingteams #leadershippodcast #accountability
This is the line that separates coaches from probl This is the line that separates coaches from problem-solvers.Most leaders take the ball when it matters most. When the stakes are high, they jump in and solve it themselves.But Joth Ricci teaches. He shows. He develops capacity in his people instead of creating dependency on himself.That's why he's mentored 12 people who are now CEOs.Discover the coaching framework: https://bit.ly/TLP-516?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #coachingleadership #talentdevelopment #leadershiplessons #personaldevelopment #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast #jothricci
Instagram post 18029873594676750 Instagram post 18029873594676750
Most leaders think tension is toxic. Jim Brown say Most leaders think tension is toxic.Jim Brown says they're wrong.Tension is normal. Predictable. Necessary.The problem isn't that your team disagrees. It's that they don't know what you're aiming for.When people lack clarity around shared goals, disagreements turn into arguments. Someone stomps out. Trust breaks.But when everyone knows what you're actually trying to build together? That same tension becomes energy. Ideas get challenged. Better decisions emerge.Productive tension is anchored in clarity, not comfort.Hear the full conversation on episode 517. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-517?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#productiveconflict #leadershipteams #organizationalhealth #teamdynamics #leadershipdevelopment #conflictresolution #theleadershippodcast #jimbrownorghealth
Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • TLP532: Sheer Will: The Unlikely Path from Cuba to the Cabinet
  • TLP531: Tribalism, Belonging, and the Leader’s Role
  • TLP530: Leadership Lessons from Building the Apple Store with Ron Johnson
  • TLP529: How Steve Jobs Learned to Lead with Geoffrey Cain
  • TLP528: The Beliefs That Shape Success with Shawn Achor

Recent Comments

  • Anonymous on TLP519: The Leadership Idea We Missed for 250 Years
  • Anonymous on TLP513: The Leadership Cost of Isolation with Nick Black
  • Anonymous on TLP511: What 500 Top Leaders Taught Us — And Why It’s Not What You Think
  • Anonymous on TLP508: Your Scars Are Your Resume
  • Anonymous on TLP505: Why Leadership Coaching So Often Fails

Tags

adaptability assumptions athletics business change coaching communication corporate crucible culture Curiosity decision making education emotional intelligence entrepreneur Executive Coaching financial history humor innovation interview Jan Rutherford Jim & Jan Jim Vaselopulos leader leadership leadership development Leadership Podcast military neuroscience Personal Growth philosophy practitioner productivity relationships resilience speaker sports stories team development teamwork thought leader trust veterans workplace culture

Copyright © 2026 Rafti Advisors, LLC & Self-Reliant Leadership, LLC - All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy