Shows
Things Leaders DoWhat Gen X Gets Right About LeadershipWhat Gen X Gets Right About LeadershipEpisode Summary Gen X leaders don’t always get the spotlight—but they’ve been holding organizations together with grit, practicality, and quiet confidence for decades. In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the six distinct leadership strengths Gen X brings to the table—and why today’s teams need them more than ever.From solving real problems under pressure to earning respect through action (not just title), Gen X has been tested, refined, and built to lead in chaos. But...2025-07-2222 minThings Leaders DoRespond Like a Leader, Don't React Like a BossHow People-First Leaders Handle What Bosses Just React ToEpisode Description: It’s easy to lead when everything’s running smoothly. But real leadership shows up in the messy moments—the missed deadlines, the underperforming team member, the big mistake that lands in your inbox first thing Monday morning.In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby walks through five real-world scenarios leaders face every week—and shows how a people-first leader responds differently than a reactive boss.From late arrivals to burned-out top performers, you’ll see the stark...2025-07-1518 minThings Leaders DoYou Don’t Have a Succession Plan. So What Happens When Your Top Performer Leaves?You Don’t Have a Succession Plan. So What Happens When Your Top Performer Leaves?Episode Description: If your top performer walked out tomorrow… would you have someone truly ready to step in? Most organizations wouldn’t—and that’s the problem.In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris pulls back the curtain on why the absence of a real succession plan is one of the most dangerous blind spots in leadership today. And it’s not about building spreadsheets—it’s about building people.Colby shares a powerfu...2025-07-0818 minThings Leaders DoDelegating Isn’t Leading—Until You Let Go of ControlDelegating Isn’t Leading—Until You Let Go of ControlEpisode Description Are you delegating… or just redistributing your to-do list?In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the difference between delegating tasks and developing leaders. Drawing from Craig Groeschel’s principle that “you don’t delegate tasks to create leaders, you delegate authority,” this episode helps you make the shift from micromanagement to real leadership development.Colby shares a simple 3-step delegation framework, along with real stories of how handing over ownership—not just responsi...2025-07-0112 minThings Leaders DoDrowning in Decisions? You’re Leading the Wrong WayDrowning in Decisions? You’re Leading the Wrong WayPodcast Description If your team can’t move without your input, you’re not leading—you’re bottlenecking.In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris shares the leadership shift that changed everything when he was managing a 350-person team. If you're overwhelmed by decision fatigue or constantly solving problems your team could handle, this episode will show you how to stop being the answer—and start building a team that knows how to think without you.You’ll learn:W...2025-06-2312 minThings Leaders DoBeing People-First Doesn’t Mean Being Passive—It Means Being ProactiveTitle: Being People-First Doesn’t Mean Being Passive—It Means Being ProactiveEpisode Description: Too many leaders confuse being people-first with being conflict-avoidant. In this episode, Colby Morris reframes that idea completely.Great leaders don’t just react well to conflict—they prevent it. And they do that through consistent, structured one-on-ones that uncover tension before it escalates.Drawing on insights from the One-on-One Meeting Series and the Conflict Series, Colby shares a real-world leadership story, introduces the Three Levels of Conflict Prevention, and breaks down pra...2025-06-1608 minThings Leaders DoThe One-on-One Series Part 2: The Four Quadrants Every Leader Needs to CoverThe Secret to Great One-on-Ones: The Four Quadrants Every Leader Needs to CoverIf your one-on-ones are starting to feel routine—or worse, like a waste of time—this episode is for you.In Part 2 of the One-on-One Series, Colby Morris breaks down the four essential quadrants every leader must cover in their one-on-ones to actually drive engagement, performance, and trust. You’ll learn how to structure your meetings with purpose, even if you’re only meeting monthly—and how to adjust your approach based on the number of direct reports you have.Colby...2025-06-0912 minThings Leaders DoThe One-on-One Series: Why Your One-on-Ones Aren't WorkingWhy Your One-on-Ones Aren’t Working—And How to Fix ThemEpisode 1 of the One-on-One Meeting Series | The Things Leaders Do Podcast with Colby MorrisMost one-on-one meetings aren’t working—and deep down, you probably know it. They’re rushed. Disorganized. Too focused on tasks. Or worse—nonexistent. And when that’s the case, you’re not leading… you’re reacting.In this episode, Colby Morris breaks down why one-on-ones fail, why they matter more than you think, and a simple, proven 4-step structure that will help you transf...2025-06-0412 minThings Leaders DoThe Conflict Series, Episode 3: Managing Up — How to Disagree with Your Boss Without Killing Your CareerManaging Up — How to Disagree with Your Boss Without Killing Your CareerDisagreeing with your boss doesn’t have to be career suicide. In fact, it might be your most powerful leadership move—if you do it the right way.In the final episode of The Conflict Series, Colby Morris tackles one of the toughest challenges for leaders in the middle: how to manage up. Whether you’re a middle manager, a team lead, or a high-performing individual contributor, you’ve likely faced the tension of wanting to speak up without stepping o...2025-05-2812 minThings Leaders DoThe Conflict Series, Episode 2: How to Say Hard Things Without Burning BridgesStruggling to have tough conversations without damaging relationships? You’re not alone—and this episode shows you how to lead with clarity and care.In Part 2 of The Conflict Series, Colby Morris breaks down a practical 3-step framework for saying hard things as a leader—without losing trust, morale, or momentum. Drawing from years of leadership experience and a real-life story with a former supervisor, Colby reveals how consistent one-on-ones, clear expectations, and people-first leadership make tough conversations easier and more effective.Whether you're giving performance feedback, addressing accountability gaps, or confronting team dynami...2025-05-2012 minThings Leaders DoThe Conflict Series: Your Team is Not a FamilyThe Conflict Series: Your Team is Not a FamilyIs your workplace really a family—or are you avoiding the tough conversations your team actually needs?In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris kicks off The Conflict Series by taking aim at one of the most popular myths in leadership today: the idea that your team should function like a family. While “we’re like a family here” sounds heartwarming, it often creates confusion, stifles innovation, and sabotages accountability.Colby shares personal stories, expert quotes, and hard-won lessons...2025-05-1310 minThings Leaders DoHow to Build Backup Systems That Scale — Without Creating Bottlenecks or BurnoutHow to Build Backup Systems That Scale — Without Creating Bottlenecks or BurnoutShow Description:If your business relies on one person to keep a process running, you don’t have a system — you have a single point of failure.In this follow-up to last week’s episode, Colby shares real stories and practical tools to help you build backup systems that scale without piling on red tape or burning out your team.You’ll hear:A true story from Colby’s hospital leadership days that changed the way he trained t...2025-05-0610 minThings Leaders DoEliminating Single Points of FailureEpisode Title:Eliminating Single Points of Failure | Things Leaders Do PodcastEpisode Description (Show Notes):What happens if the one thing holding your organization together suddenly falls apart?In today's episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the critical leadership concept of eliminating single points of failure—before they cripple your business.You will hear a real-world story from Colby’s time leading hospital operations, where an entire system was unknowingly dependent on a single employee. Plus, we explore how many foun...2025-04-2911 minThings Leaders DoIf AI Can Do Your Job, It’s Time to Lead DifferentlyIf AI Can Do Your Job, It’s Time to Lead DifferentlyEpisode Description:If AI can do your job, what exactly are you bringing to the table?This week on Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris delivers a direct challenge to every leader navigating the rise of artificial intelligence: You can’t automate emotional intelligence. You can’t delegate trust. And you sure can’t replace real leadership with a chatbot.In this short, high-impact episode, you’ll learn:...2025-04-2209 minThings Leaders DoPart 2: How to Deliver Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People)How to Deliver Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People) Part 2Too many employee reviews feel like an ambush.But when leaders approach reviews as the culmination of a year’s worth of growth—not a once-a-year evaluation—everything changes.In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris walks you through how to conduct employee reviews that build trust, reinforce clarity, and inspire performance. This is Part 2 of our series on Employee Development and Annual Reviews, and we’re focused on the delivery—how to lead the...2025-04-1514 minThings Leaders DoEmployee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People) Part 1Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People)Let’s be honest: most employee reviews suck. They’re vague, awkward, once-a-year rituals that everyone dreads—and nobody grows from.But they don’t have to be.In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down how to build employee development plans that actually work—with SMART goals that connect to your team’s real career aspirations, and a system to track progress month after month.You’ll learn: ✅ How to ditch the checkbox r...2025-04-1013 minThings Leaders DoMentoring and Coaching: Developing the Next Generation of LeadersMentoring and Coaching: Developing the Next Generation of LeadersDescription:Discover how to empower the next generation of leaders through effective mentoring and coaching in this episode of the TLD podcast! Join leadership expert Colby Morris as he reveals actionable strategies for leadership development. Learn why your true legacy as a leader lies in the leaders you nurture, not just your own successes.What You’ll Learn:How to spot future leaders with high potential for growthA practical, step-by-step guide to impactful mentoring conversationsThe importance of real-time, honest fe...2025-04-0315 minThings Leaders DoLeading Through Bad News: How to Lead with Clarity, Compassion, and TrustLeading Through Bad News: How to Lead with Clarity, Compassion, and TrustEpisode Description: How do you lead when the news is bad—layoffs, downsizing, even tragedy in the workplace?In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris shares three essential tools to help leaders navigate the toughest moments with clarity, compassion, and trust. Grounded in the wisdom of Brené Brown—“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”—this episode is a blueprint for delivering hard news without damaging your culture or credibility.Whether you’re preparing for difficult conversations or leading you...2025-03-2713 minThings Leaders DoThe Leadership Cycle: Building Trust, Relationships, and Influence for Effective LeadershipThe Leadership Cycle: Building Trust, Relationships, and Influence for Effective LeadershipEpisode SummaryDiscover how trust, relationships, and influence form a powerful cycle that drives leadership success. In this episode, Colby Morris unpacks John Maxwell’s quote, “Leadership is influence,” and introduces the leadership cycle: trust builds relationships, and relationships earn influence. With actionable tools and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to motivate your team and lead effectively.What You’ll LearnProven leadership strategies to spark team motivation.How to build trust and earn i...2025-03-2011 minThings Leaders DoBeat Burnout: Strong Teams in 2025Episode Title: Beat Burnout: Strong Teams in 2025Host: Colby MorrisPublished: March 10, 2025Available on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Other PlatformsEpisode OverviewBurnout’s not just lurking—it’s eating your team’s lunch and tanking your productivity. In this episode of the TLD Podcast, host Colby Morris breaks down why employee well-being and retention are your leadership superpowers in 2025. With 73% of leaders reporting change fatigue (Forbes, Oct 2024), it’s time to ditch the corporate wellness clichés and fight back. Colby delivers th...2025-03-1113 minThings Leaders DoStop Chaos Before It Starts: The Leader’s PlaybookEpisode Title: "Stop Chaos Before It Starts: The Leader’s Playbook"Host: Colby MorrisEpisode OverviewChaos doesn’t have to define your leadership. In this episode, Colby Morris turns Jocko Willink’s chaos-detachment mindset into a proactive game plan. Learn three practical tools—clear expectations, extreme ownership, and relentless communication—to build a team culture that stops mayhem in its tracks. Packed with real-world stories and steps you can use today, this is leadership made simple.Key Topics: Leadership strategies, chaos-resistant culture, team clarity, ownership, communicat...2025-03-0512 minThings Leaders DoGen X Leaders vs. Millennials & Gen Z: The Workplace Showdown No One Talks AboutEpisode Title: Gen X Leaders vs. Millennials & Gen Z: The Workplace Showdown No One Talks AboutHost: Colby MorrisRelease Date: [Insert Date, e.g., March 5, 2025]Episode OverviewAre generational differences derailing your workplace? In this episode of Things Leaders Do, COO Colby Morris dives into the leadership clash no one’s talking about: Gen X versus Millennials and Gen Z. From the “figure it out” grit of Gen X to the feedback-hungry, team-driven Millennials and Gen Z, Colby unpacks what sets these generations apart, why it sparks...2025-02-2711 minThings Leaders DoPromoting High Performers: The Hidden Risks and Strategies for SuccessShow Notes: Promoting High Performers: The Hidden Risks and Strategies for SuccessEpisode Summary:Promoting top performers into leadership roles may seem like the natural next step, but what happens when they struggle—or worse, when they never wanted to lead in the first place? In this episode, we explore why great individual contributors don’t always make great leaders, how leadership requires an entirely different skill set, and what organizations can do to better prepare their people for leadership before handing them the title.Drawing from a personal leadership mist...2025-02-1911 minThings Leaders DoBuilding a Resilient Team: Leadership Strategies for Tough TimesEpisode Title: Building a Resilient Team: Leadership Strategies for Tough TimesEpisode Overview:Resilience in the workplace is declining—44% of employees report feeling daily stress, and resilience has dropped nearly 30% since 2019. Burnout is real, and teams are struggling to bounce back from setbacks.As a leader, how do you help your team build resilience so they don’t crack under pressure?In this episode of Things Leaders Do, host Colby Morris unpacks three key strategies—two for indivi...2025-02-1210 minThings Leaders DoHow Leaders Become Leaders: 4 Steps You Can Take TodayEpisode Title: How Leaders Become Leaders: 4 Steps You Can Take TodayEpisode Overview:Ever wondered how leaders actually become leaders? It’s not luck, a fancy title, or waiting for the perfect moment—it’s about intentional steps taken over time. In this episode of Things Leaders Do, host Colby Morris breaks down the four key actions that will set you on the path to leadership starting today.Whether you’re an aspiring leader, a new manager, or someone looking to sharpen your influence, this epi...2025-02-0512 min