You know that tense moment when everyone swears they’re aligned—and then the work tells a different story? We sit down with Brent Tadsen, former GE master black belt and combat engineer, to unpack why teams miss the mark and how simple, disciplined moves restore clarity, speed, and trust. For decision-makers dealing with execution gaps—and for any leader who’s ever felt alone in tough calls about accountability—this conversation cuts straight to what actually works.
Brent takes us from Notre Dame ROTC to the factory floor to the C-suite, showing how his early love for Lean and Six Sigma collided with a harsh 360 review that labeled him a poor listener. That wake-up call reshaped his leadership through a question-driven mindset: invite problems on purpose, define success in plain language, and treat feedback as a gift. His wiffle ball exercise proves the point in minutes—when leaders set clear outcomes and rules, performance improves without dashboards, committees, or heroics.
We dig into the traps that derail alignment: town-hall-only communication, the quiet ways 360s get gamed, and deflection patterns that stall cross-functional work. Brent shares a striking alignment test—seven executives, note cards, and twenty-two different “top three” priorities—and explains how to cascade goals so everyone can tell the same story. It’s peer-powered disruption without theatrics: clarity beats charisma every time.
Brent also opens up about launching Adaptive after a decade of preparation, why 95% of his work comes from referrals, and how career capital and social trust matter more than any pitch deck. For anyone ready to challenge their comfort zone as a leader, this episode shows when to run toward the roar—and when to decide what’s not your problem so the system can perform.
If you lead a team, you’ll walk away with practical moves you can use immediately: audit alignment monthly, listen until it hurts, and make execution visible. Real leaders. Real stories. Real action. We close with where Brent sees the next edge—using AI and copilots to amplify continuous improvement without sacrificing judgment. Subscribe, share with a teammate who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.
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