Shows
Things Leaders DoWhat Actually Builds Psychological Safety on Gen X-Led TeamsHow do you actually build psychological safety on your team if you're a Gen X leader? Not by being softer. By being deliberate in the five seconds that matter. The traits that made you a strong leader (resilience, "figure it out," low tolerance for excuses) are the same instincts quietly shutting your team down. A 2024 McKinsey survey found only 26% of employees believe they work in a psychologically safe environment. This is Part 2 of the conversation. If you haven't heard "Debunking the Myths of Psychological Safety for Gen X Leaders," start there. That episode is about what it is. This...
2026-05-2725 minThings Leaders DoYour A-Players Are Already Looking: The Signals Most Leaders MissHow do you know if your top performers are about to quit? You watch for the five signals — and you fix the management pattern that's pushing them out. Gallup's Q4 2025 data found 51% of U.S. workers are either actively looking or watching for opportunities — the highest since 2015. Most leaders assume it's their underperformers in motion. It's not. It's their A-players. And by the time you get the resignation letter, the decision was made months ago.In this episode, you'll learn:Why the underperformers stay and the A-players leave — and what the math really costs youThe 5 signals on you...
2026-05-2026 minThings Leaders DoThe Gen X Guide to Managing Up to a Younger BossHow does a Gen X leader manage up to a younger boss? Not by fighting the dynamic — by offering your experience as a gift instead of asserting it as a flag. CareerBuilder found that 53% of workers age 45 and up are reporting to a younger boss right now; 69% if you're over 55. This isn't a coming trend — it's the normal arrangement in the American workplace today. And most Gen X leaders are handling it in a way that's quietly costing them their next role.In this episode, you'll learn:Why your hard-earned experience is currently working against you in m...
2026-05-1226 minThings Leaders DoStop Trying to Win Tough Conversations (Win the Trust Instead)Research from Notre Dame says more than 80% of workers are holding back at least one tough conversation at work. So when leaders DO finally have those conversations, they're walking in with the wrong goal — trying to win them.In this episode, you'll learn:Why "winning" the tough conversation is the move that actually loses you the teamThe 30-year-old Harvard research that gets the goal of these conversations rightThe Three Pre-Conversation Questions that change what happens when you walk inThe two language shifts that signal you're there to learn, not to deliverThe right way to know — one week...
2026-05-0529 minThings Leaders DoAI for Leaders: How to Get Your Time Back and Actually Lead PeopleYou don't have time for the people you're leading because you're spending hours on tasks that AI could handle in minutes. Leaders using AI save 40-60 minutes daily, yet only 26% of employees use AI weekly despite 91% of businesses adopting it. The AI Efficiency Framework (Colby Morris) recovers lost time through: Interactive Prompting (asking AI to ask clarifying questions before analysis), Context Building (using Projects/Spaces to build deep understanding over time), Workflow Automation (applying AI to sales analysis, overtime patterns, presentations, and daily tasks), and Compounding Returns (small time savings across email, scheduling, and meeting management that accumulate to 3...
2026-04-2233 minThings Leaders DoAI Isn't Taking Your Job. Leaders Who Use AI AreAI anxiety, particularly FOBO (Fear of Becoming Obsolete), affects 75% of employees concerned AI will make jobs obsolete. Nearly 55,000 U.S. job cuts were directly attributed to AI in 2025. The Five Irreplaceable Skills Framework (Colby Morris) addresses this through: doubling down on human capabilities AI cannot replicate, becoming the translator who interprets AI output for specific contexts, owning your point of view, actually learning basic AI competency (one tool, one task, one week), and building relationships that create value beyond tasks. Workers who feel employers invest in skills are 5.3 times more likely to feel jobs secure....
2026-04-1537 minThings Leaders DoYour Middle Managers Are Drowning (And You Know It)Seventy-seven percent of CHROs lack confidence in their leadership bench strength. Meanwhile, 40% of middle managers are planning their exit.Your leadership pipeline isn't empty because of a talent problem—it's empty because you're burning out your current leaders before they can develop.In this episode, you'll discover:→ Why the gig economy changed everything about middle manager retention (28% of knowledge workers are already freelancing)→ The Five Executive Actions Framework that reduces burnout without requiring board approval→ How to have the hard conversation with your board about "doing mo...
2026-04-0629 minThings Leaders DoLeadership Burnout Isn't About You: The Four-Part Survival FrameworkLeadership burnout isn't a personal failing—it's a predictable outcome of an unsustainable system. According to Colby Morris on The Things Leaders Do podcast, middle managers can survive unsustainable workloads through ruthless prioritization, energy management (not just time management), difficult conversations about workload, and one small structural change per week.Research-backed insights from this episode:40% of leaders are actively considering leaving their jobs (DDI Global Leadership Forecast 2025)71% of leaders report increased stress compared to previous years77% of CHROs lack confidence in their leadership bench strength for critical rolesMiddle managers are doing th...
2026-04-0132 minThings Leaders DoHow to Communicate a Decision So It Actually Gets ImplementedUse a five-part framework to communicate decisions effectively: Start with why (explain the problem you're solving), explain what's changing and what's not, address obvious concerns upfront, tell people what happens next, and invite questions then actually answer them. Most decision communication fails because leaders announce decisions without providing context or addressing concerns.70% of organizational change initiatives fail. And it's usually not because the decision was bad—it's because the communication was terrible. Leaders announce decisions in emails, skip the "why," and then wonder why nothing changes.You can make the best decision in...
2026-03-2529 minThings Leaders DoConsensus vs. Buy-In (And Why You're Chasing the Wrong One)Use a "disagree and commit" approach instead of chasing consensus. Consensus means everyone agrees (impossible). Buy-in means everyone commits even when they don't fully agree (achievable). Stop trying to make everyone happy and start getting everyone committed to moving forward together.You've been in the same meeting for six weeks. You're still trying to get everyone to agree. You keep tweaking the proposal. You keep accommodating concerns. And nothing's happening.The average executive spends 23 hours per week in meetings. And a huge chunk of that is spent trying to reach consensus on decisions that could...
2026-03-1722 minThings Leaders DoA Framework for Making Wise Decisions as a LeaderUse the GRIT framework to make wise decisions without perfect information: Gather the right information, Reflect on your values, Involve the right people, and Take action and own the outcome.You've been staring at a decision for two weeks. You're waiting for perfect clarity. It's not coming. Most leaders either freeze or guess - neither works.You'll learn:A simple 4-step framework for making confident decisions without all the factsHow to know when you've gathered enough informationThe question that changes everything before you decideHow to involve people without creating decision paralysisWhat it...
2026-03-1025 min
Things Leaders DoYou're Delegating WrongYou're delegating all the time—assigning projects, distributing work, telling people what needs to get done. So why do they keep coming back to you with questions? Because you're delegating tasks, not authority. And there's a massive difference.When you delegate tasks, you're saying "Do this thing exactly how I would do it." When you delegate authority, you're saying "This is yours. You own it. Make the calls."In this episode, you'll learn:The 3-step framework for delegating authority without creating chaosWhy "Never bring me just a problem" transforms your team into problem-solversHow to se...
2026-02-2416 minThings Leaders DoThe 4 Questions to Stop Making Every DecisionUse this 4-question framework to determine which decisions require your authority: (1) Does this require information only I have? (2) Does this set precedent or carry significant risk? (3) Am I holding onto this for the right reasons? (4) Who is best positioned to make this call?Most leaders spend their days buried in operational decisions while their teams wait to be told what to do. The problem isn't bad decision-making—it's that leaders don't know how to determine which decisions are actually theirs to make.In this episode, you'll learn:The 4 questions that instantly tell you whether a...
2026-02-1719 minThings Leaders DoWhy Your Onboarding Sucks (And How to Fix It)How do you onboard new employees effectively? Don't leave it all to HR. While HR handles paperwork and compliance, leaders must own the relationship-building aspects of onboarding. Stay in contact before Day 1, ensure workspace and tools are ready, conduct weekly one-on-ones for the first 90 days, and teach culture through real stories instead of just handing someone a handbook.Episode DescriptionYour HR department is great at what they do. They handle paperwork, benefits, compliance training.But they can't make someone feel like they belong on your team. That's...
2026-02-1029 minThings Leaders DoHow to Hire Better (So You Don't Have to Fire Later)How do you avoid making bad hires? Stop interviewing for skills and start interviewing for character using Patrick Lencioni's Humble, Hungry, and Smart framework. Ask specific behavioral questions that reveal these three virtues, watch for red flags like excessive charm or similarity bias, and use the first 90 days—especially your one-on-ones—to assess whether the person truly fits your team culture.Episode Description74% of employers admit they've hired the wrong person. The average cost? $14,900. And 28% of new employees quit within the first 90 days.Why? Because we're interviewing for skills instead of char...
2026-02-0328 minThings Leaders DoWhen to Address Underperformance (Part 1 of 2)Quick AnswerWhen should you have a performance conversation with an underperforming team member? Address it immediately the first time you notice an issue—not the third or fourth time. The first time, approach it with curiosity: "What happened?" The second time, express concern and document the conversation. Waiting only makes the problem worse for everyone involved.Episode DescriptionHow do you know when it's time to address underperformance? What are the early warning signs that someone's struggling? Why does waiting to have the conversation make everything worse?...
2026-01-1326 minThings Leaders DoHow to Disagree With Your Boss (Without Getting Fired)Ever felt stuck between speaking up to your boss and protecting your career? You're in a meeting, your boss makes a decision you know is wrong, but you stay silent—worried that disagreeing will make you look insubordinate or damage the relationship. Here's the truth: you're not alone. 76% of employees avoid workplace conflict, and nearly 24% of all workplace conflict happens between employees and their direct supervisors.This episode tackles the biggest challenge middle managers face: how to disagree with your boss without getting fired. You'll learn practical strategies for managing up, navigating upward conflict, and advocating for yo...
2025-11-1920 minThings Leaders DoHow to Hold Someone Accountable Without MicromanagingYou delegated the project. Now you're wondering: Should I check in without micromanaging? How do I hold people accountable without hovering?Here's the tension every middle manager feels: You want accountability, but you don't want to be the micromanager everyone complains about.In this episode, leadership consultant Colby Morris breaks down the critical difference between holding someone accountable and micromanaging—and shows you exactly how to check in on your team without making them feel controlled or abandoned.What You'll Learn:Why most leaders face a false choice between mi...
2025-11-1213 minThings Leaders DoTough Conversations Part 2: When the First Conversation Didn't WorkYou had the tough conversation. You thought you were clear. But nothing changed.Now what?Most leadership advice stops at "have the conversation" and never tells you what to do when the issue repeats. In this episode, leadership consultant Colby Morris walks you through exactly how to handle the second conversation—and why it's often more important than the first.What You'll Learn:Why the first conversation probably didn't work (and how to avoid the same mistake)The two bad paths leaders take when issues persist (and the real co...
2025-11-0423 minThings Leaders DoHow to Be a People-First Leader When Your Company Isn'tYou believe in people-first leadership, but you work in a results-only culture. Your peers manage by spreadsheet. Your boss treats people like resources. You're wondering: Can I actually lead differently without getting crushed?Here's the truth: You can't change the entire company culture right now. But you CAN change your team culture. And that's more powerful than you think.In this episode, leadership consultant Colby Morris shares how middle managers can pioneer people-first leadership in organizations that aren't there yet—and create lasting cultural change from within.What You'll Learn:...
2025-10-2818 minThings Leaders DoHow Leaders Should Use AI: Practical Guide to People-First LeadershipYour inbox is full of articles about AI replacing jobs. You're wondering: Am I next? Here's the truth: Great people-first leaders won't be replaced by AI—but 88% of heavy AI users are burning out because they're doing it wrong.In this episode, you'll learn how to use AI strategically to become MORE people-first, not less. Get the exact methods leaders are using to save 100+ hours per year while spending more time with their teams, not less.What You'll Learn:Why 88% of AI users burn out (and how to avoid the trap)Tw...
2025-10-2123 minThings Leaders DoBuilding Leaders From Within: How to Make Succession Planning Work Every Day, Not Once a YearLook around your executive team. How many of you were external hires? Every hand goes up.Now show me how many managers you have promoted from front-line positions.Zero. Not one. Crickets.Host Colby Morris shares the devastating boardroom moment that exposed why one organization could not stop the turnover bleeding. When every leadership opening goes external, you are sending your team a clear message - there is no path forward for you here.This episode transforms succession planning from a once-a-year document gathering dust into a living breathing process that...
2025-10-1323 minThings Leaders DoLeadership in the Age of Mental Health AwarenessYour top performer just quit without a backup plan. They're driving Uber while they figure out their next move. Why? Because the pain of staying became greater than the pain of change.In 2025, 35% of Gen Z workers will quit without another job lined up, and 1 in 4 employees have considered quitting due to mental health concerns. The gig economy changed everything—your people have options now, and being a "nice boss" isn't enough.Host Colby Morris reveals the critical difference between bosses who lose people and people-first leaders who retain them through the contrasting st...
2025-10-0719 minThings Leaders DoThe Hybrid Leadership Playbook: 3 Systems That Actually WorkThis deep-dive follow-up delivers exactly what you asked for: three specific, actionable systems that successful hybrid leaders use to build trust, measure performance, and manage remote teams without losing their minds.Host Colby Morris shares a real transformation story about Lisa, a marketing director whose team was crushing goals but sending deliverables at 2:00 AM - creating massive anxiety about "when" her people were working. Discover how implementing SMART goal-aligned KPIs eliminated her monitoring stress and improved team performance.Featured Systems:The Trust Scorecard: Five indicators to measure and build trust...
2025-09-2917 min
Things Leaders DoThe Hybrid Leadership Dilemma: Why Your Old Management Style Isn't WorkingBREAKING: New 2025 research reveals 51% of workers would quit rather than return to traditional management styles. Is your hybrid leadership approach driving away top talent?If your best performer just quit with an exit interview citing "micromanagement" and "lack of trust," you're experiencing the hybrid leadership dilemma that's costing organizations their most valuable people. The hybrid workplace has exposed a critical flaw in how most leaders manage remote teams, virtual employees, and distributed workforces.Host Colby Morris shares eye-opening coaching stories from his leadership experience, including the director whose team engagement scores jumped 30% in...
2025-09-2217 min