In this episode of Speak Up. Show Up. Lead., JJ Hardy and Dr. Evan Lynn (Organizational Leadership) break down why real leaders get out of the office and lead where the work lives. From Lincoln’s “circle among the troops” to modern MBWA (Management by Walking Around), they unpack how presence builds trust, communication, and accountability—even in remote & hybrid teams.
What you’ll learn
Why “desk leadership” kills culture and credibility
How to run intentional 1:1s and quick stand-ups that actually improve performance
Practical scripts/questions for check-ins (remote or on-site)
How to follow up so trust grows instead of erodes
Using simple tools (Google/Microsoft Forms) for lightweight 360 feedback
Mentorship that works: find someone 2 years ahead, not 20
Timestamps
00:00 Intro — Speak up, show up, lead from the front
02:10 Why “don’t lead behind a desk” (Lincoln on Leadership, MBWA)
08:45 Leading in remote/hybrid environments with intention
14:30 Daily/weekly 1:1 rhythms that build trust
22:05 Authenticity vs. cookie-cutter management
29:10 Lightweight feedback loops (Johari window approach)
36:40 Ownership, follow-through, and the “emotional piggy bank”
46:10 Mentors > gurus: practical growth for managers
54:00 Closing playbook: simple questions, tactical pause, better conversations
Who this is for
Operations leaders, supervisors, frontline managers, healthcare admins, warehouse & field leaders, and any exec who wants frontline leadership, not spreadsheet leadership.
About JJ’s book
JJ references his book, Speak Up. Show Up. Lead: A Veteran’s Story of Grit, Growth, and Leadership from the Ground Up—a raw, practical guide born from poverty, homelessness, an 18-year Army career, and real-world leadership. (Available on Amazon.)
If this helped you:
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