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The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

TLP468: The Power of Doing Nothing with Jim and Jan

July 16, 2025

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In this episode, Jim and Jan explore the power of doing nothing and why it might be the most strategic move a leader can make.  They begin with a discussion on Jan’s Crucible® expeditions, and the consistent lesson is that you have to slow down to speed up.  For Jim, it means intentional time without…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, character, coaching, Conviction, Crucibles, discipline, Efficiency, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, Leadership Podcast, Quiet Time, reflection, solitude, strategy, Veteran Transition

TLP461: Looking for Unicorns: The Hiring Dilemma with Jim and Jan

May 21, 2025

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In this episode, Jim and Jan dive into the critical aspects of leadership and talent development in today’s fast-changing work environment. They discuss how companies often seek “unicorn” candidates with unrealistic expectations—and why focusing on core traits like emotional intelligence, curiosity, and continuous learning is essential. Jim and Jan explore how hybrid work is reshaping…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, age bias, career advice, Career Growth, career narrative, clear expectations, communication, continuous learning, cultural fit, Curiosity, emotional intelligence, employers, feedback, hiring challenges, hiring expectations, hiring process, hybrid work, job seekers, leadership, relationship-building, small cities, talent development, team development, tech industry, Topgrading, trust, unicorn candidates, work environment

TLP458: How to Build a Business that’s Smarter than You with Pippa Begg

April 30, 2025

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Pippa Begg, is the co-founder and CEO of Board Intelligence and co-author of “Collective Intelligence: How to Build a Business that’s Smarter than You.”  In this episode, Pippa discusses the mindset shifts required for leaders to let go of control and empower others, emphasizing the dangers of hubris and the importance of questioning one’s own…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, continuous learning, Decision-making, High-Performing Teams, leadership, mentorship, Personal Growth, resilience, setbacks, trust

TLP452: Perseverance is Greater than Endurance with Brandon Young and Blayne Smith

March 19, 2025

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Brandon Young and Blayne Smith are the authors of “Perseverance > Endurance: Lead with Resilience. Grow Through Adversity. Win Together,” and they bring a wealth of leadership experience shaped by their military backgrounds. Brandon, a former U.S. Army Ranger with four combat deployments in Afghanistan, and Blayne, a former Army Special Forces officer, advisory board…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, business growth, endurance vs. perseverance, leadership, leadership development, Military Leadership, overcoming challenges, perseverance, resilience, team culture

TLP434: Lessons Learned from the Trauma Room on the Front Lines with Dr. Melissa Givens

November 13, 2024

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Dr. Melissa Givens is a retired colonel with over 25 years of service in the U.S. Army, specializing in emergency and disaster medicine. She holds both an MD and an MPH (Master of Public Health) and is experienced in military and special operations medicine. Dr. Melissa also served as the medical director of the Ryan…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, leadership, resilience, stories, trust, veterans

TLP431: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life with Kwame Christian

October 23, 2024

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Kwame Christian, CEO, number one negotiation podcast,  two-time bestselling author, top booked negotiation keynote speaker shares his insights on negotiation emphasizing the shift from being a doer to an empowering leader.  Kwame discusses the importance of self-reliance in negotiations, advocating for vulnerability and honesty to build trust. He also highlights the need for preparation to…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, communication, Conflict resolution, difficult conversations, emotional intelligence, empathy, ethics, influence, leadership, negotiation, preparation, Self-Reliance, teamwork, trust, vulnerability

TLP425: How to Build a Work Culture that Maximizes Your Impact with Jaime Taets

September 11, 2024

Jaime Taets, CEO and founder of Keystone Group International, and author of “You Are Here” and “The Culture Climb” discusses the challenges of leading in a post-pandemic world, highlighting the importance of conscious leadership, and adapting to constant change. Jaime emphasizes the need for leaders to create cultures that value strengths and impact, prepare for…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, leadership, resilience, stories, trust, veterans

TLPMM011: Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader with Jan Rutherford

August 21, 2024

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Jan Rutherford, founder of Self Reliant Leadership®, takes a deep dive into the themes of self-reliance and leadership resilience. He shares insights from his collaboration with Jacquie Jordan, a co-author on his book “Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader: How Grit and Disciplined Duty Forge Indomitable Teams”. Jan explores the foundational principles of Self-Reliant Leadership: leading oneself,…

Filed Under: Mastermind Podcast, Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, Building relationships, Effective Communication, feedback, Leading organization, Leading others, Leading self, Meaning in work, negotiation, Personalized leadership, purpose, resilience, Self-awareness, Self-reliant leadership, Setting expectations

TLP416: Think Faster, Talk Smarter with Matt Abrahams

July 3, 2024

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In this episode, communication expert Matt Abrahams shares his insights on effective leadership communication through his “four I’s” framework: Information, Impact, Invitation, and Implications. He underscores the need for clear, audience-tailored communication, emphasizing empathy and curiosity. Matt discusses the balance between personal authenticity and team support, highlighting the crucial role of feedback and ongoing self-improvement….

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, authenticity, collaboration, communication, Communication skills, connection, crisis, Culture Of Feedback, Curiosity, empathy, feedback, Intergenerational, leadership, listening, Martial Arts, Nonverbal, Pattern Recognition, Personal Growth, practice, Professional Development, PublicSpeaking, reflection, trust, Verbal Cues

TLP415: Saying “NO” Reduces Friction

June 26, 2024

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In this episode, Jim and Jan explore the importance of saying “no” in the workplace. They highlight how setting clear boundaries and aligning decisions with both personal and organizational values can help leaders manage their time and workload more effectively. Empowering lower-level employees to say “no” can also reduce friction and enhance organizational efficiency. Additionally,…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptability, balance, clarity, communication, Decision-Making Skills, delegation, Efficiency, Employee Development, focus, Goal Setting, growth, leadership, Mindful Choices, No, Organizational Success, Professional Growth, Relationship Building, Resource Allocation, Strategic Planning, success, time management, values, Work-life balance, Workload Management, Workplace Dynamics

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You think you're either brave or you're not. Jill You think you're either brave or you're not. Jill Schulman, Marine Corps veteran and bravery expert, begs to differ. Here's what most people get wrong: bravery isn't a trait you inherit. It's a skill you train. That changes everything. If bravery is learnable, that means you have more control over your future than you think. Uncover the two myths. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-518?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#bravery #leadershipdevelopment #personalgrowth #stoicism #positivepsychology #fearless #leadershiplessons #psychology
Most leaders can scale. Almost none can scale with Most leaders can scale. Almost none can scale without breaking what they built.Joth Ricci—CEO of LYBL, founder of Rafti Advisors, former CEO of Dutch Brothers—scaled Dutch Bros from 27 to 92 locations in three years without losing culture. In this episode, Joth talks about what actually breaks first when you grow fast, how to keep people's systems moving with your growth, and why discipline matters more than ambition.Watch now: https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-516?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersListen now! https://bit.ly/TLP-516?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #scaling #businessgrowth #dutchbros #organizationalculture #executiveleadership #westudyleaders
Perfectionism doesn't make leaders bolder. It make Perfectionism doesn't make leaders bolder. It makes them slower.Kim learned this from a CEO who taught her the 80/20 rule — enough data to decide, then move. The last 20% almost never changes the outcome.If you're stuck waiting for certainty, this is your permission to go. https://bit.ly/TLP-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #decisionmaking #executivecoaching #leadershipmindset #intentionalleadership #leadershippodcast #decisiveleadership
She was running a $1B P&L. She was also miserable. She was running a $1B P&L. She was also miserable.Kim Svoboda is founder of Aspiration Catalyst, author of Bold Leadership, 20+ years leading sales orgs before walking away from it all.This week: what happens when you finally measure your life against your own values, and it doesn't add up.Listen to the full episode now. https://bit.ly/TLP-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #boldleadership #executiveburnout #leadershipdevelopment #highperformingteams #employeeengagement #intentionalleadership #careertransition
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
Most people treat networking like a numbers game. Most people treat networking like a numbers game.Donnie Boivin treats it like a business model.The shift from collecting contacts to building other people's success is what actually opens doors.Hear how he built an entire company around it in this week's episode. https://bit.ly/TLP-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#networking #leadership #businessdevelopment #relationshipbuilding #salesmindset #entrepreneurship #leadershippodcast #b2bsales
Leaders often absorb the blame when things stall. Leaders often absorb the blame when things stall.David Craig learned the hard way that grinding harder inside a broken system doesn't fix anything. Sometimes the people are working exactly as hard as they should, and the structure around them is what's failing.That single reframe is what led him to walk away and rebuild Refinitiv from the outside in.New episode with David Craig is live now. https://bit.ly/TLP-525?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #davidcraig #organizationalculture #leadershippodcast #executiveleadership #businesstransformation #systemsthinking #leadershipmindset
Your instinct will be to take the ball. Resist it. Your instinct will be to take the ball.Resist it.When your team is struggling, when the pressure's on, your job isn't to score. Your job is to prepare them to score.Joth Ricci understood thisThe moment you solve it for them is the moment they stop growing.Learn the principle https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-516?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #coachingleadership #managementtips #leadershiplessons #teamdevelopment #executiveleadership #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast
Give first to gain everything sounds noble. Donnie Give first to gain everything sounds noble. Donnie Boivin says it's a trap. One-sided giving just trains people to take advantage of you. His fix: give, give, get, give — mutual respect over martyrdom. It changes how you should be showing up in every relationship you're building. Catch the full breakdown on this week's episode. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#networking #leadershipmindset #businessstrategy #relationshipbuilding #salesleadership #entrepreneurmindset #leadershippodcast #businessgrowth
Leaders often treat self-criticism as if it were a Leaders often treat self-criticism as if it were a tool for improvement.David Robson argues the opposite. When we constantly criticize ourselves, we create stress that clouds our thinking and makes positive change harder. Self-compassion doesn't mean ignoring mistakes or lowering your standards. It means acknowledging what went wrong without turning the mistake into a judgment about who you are.That distinction matters.You can hold yourself accountable without tearing yourself apart.#leadership #selfcompassion #selfawareness #leadershipdevelopment #leadershippsychology #resilience #davidrobson #leadershippodcast
There is a difference between improving what alrea There is a difference between improving what already exists and imagining what could exist.Ron Johnson reflects on what Steve Jobs saw in him: not only someone who understood retail and customers, but someone willing to imagine something that hadn't been done before.Innovation often begins with the willingness to think beyond the familiar.#Innovation #Leadership #SteveJobs #RonJohnson #ThinkDifferently #InnovationLeadership #LeadershipLessons #TheLeadershipPodcast
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
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
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
Capitalism broke when leaders stopped believing it Capitalism broke when leaders stopped believing it requires morality.Patrick Ryan is a chartered director, KYC Net founder, and author of The Moral Market. He spent decades watching executives justify corner-cutting as "following the rules."In this episode, he shares why modern capitalism abandoned Adam Smith's moral foundation. And how the impartial spectator fixes it.Go listen to the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersGo 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
One question. Ask it every day. Tom Rath says the One question. Ask it every day.Tom Rath says the best leaders track one thing: what conversation did I start today that helped someone grow?It sounds small but it builds a career of impact.And Tom's reminder hits hard. You don't always get tomorrow.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 #leadershipmindset #dailyhabits #peopledevelopment #executivecoaching #purposeatwork #leadershipdevelopment
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
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
Your leadership team is waiting for you to solve e Your leadership team is waiting for you to solve everything.Jim Brown watched this pattern destroy ownership.A woman entrepreneur realized her team had stopped thinking. Everyone just looked to her for answers.So she tried something simple. Stop answering questions. Start asking them."What do you think we should do?"That one behavior change made her meetings louder. More ownership. Shared responsibility.If you're carrying the weight of all decisions, your team isn't really yours—they're dependent on you.See the full conversation on episode 517. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-517?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershipaccountability #teamownership #leadershipbehavior #organizationalhealth #leadershipdevelopment #theleadershippodcast #jimbrownorghealth #leadershipinsight
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
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