Best Optimizing Growth During Uncertainty Podcasts (2025)

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Alex Budak | The Six Forms of Everyday Courage That Drive Change 33:50

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1h ago33:50

33:50

There’s a commonly held belief that leadership courage is a trait that you either have or you don’t. That only the most rarefied few have what it takes to rally people around them to press ahead and meet the uncertainty - or adversity - that stands before them. But what if courage is not a rare trait, but instead something every leader can exemplif…

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The Optimism That Keeps Leaders Going During Uncertain Times | Leadership Espresso Shot 79 8:25

1d ago8:25

8:25

It seems there's not a lot everyone can agree on these days … except maybe how hard it can be to feel optimistic about things. After all, optimism is something reserved for when things are going well, not something we should expect during periods of uncertainty and disruptive change. But what if our thinking about optimism is all wrong? In this edi…

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Karin Hurt & David Dye | How To Transform Workplace Conflict Into Connection 47:39

17d ago47:39

47:39

Workplace conflict has doubled since 2008, with over a third of employees dealing with it constantly. But what if the solution isn't eliminating conflict, but transforming it into opportunities for connection and understanding, if not also increasing our own self-awareness? In this episode of "Leadership Biz Cafe," Karin Hurt and David Dye, founder…

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Employee Accountability Starts With Meaningful Work | Leadership Espresso Shot 78 15:10

1M ago15:10

15:10

Leaders everywhere are frustrated with employee accountability as reflected in various attention-grabbing catchphrases like quiet quitting, coffee badging, and micro-shifting. Unfortunately, what we don’t appreciate is that these are the symptoms of a deeper issue - of employees feeling a disconnect with the work they do. That’s why in this Leaders…

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Faisal Hoque | How Leaders Transcend In The Age Of AI 48:00

2M ago48:00

48:00

Most leaders approach AI integration by focusing on the mechanics - which tools to buy, how to write better prompts, or which tasks to automate. But what if this tactical focus is exactly why so many AI initiatives fail to create meaningful transformation? In this episode of "Leadership Biz Cafe," Faisal Hoque, thought leader and best-selling autho…

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Navigate Change Fatigue: 3 Strategies That Work | Leadership Espresso Shot 77 11:29

3M ago11:29

11:29

Feeling the weight of nonstop change - and the change fatigue it brings? In this edition of my Leadership Espresso Shot series, I reveal three powerful leadership strategies to help leaders turn fatigue into resilience, uncertainty into clarity, and setbacks into momentum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Beth Kaplan | The Hidden Difference Between Inclusion And Belonging 37:46

3M ago37:46

37:46

Most leaders think inclusive teams automatically create belonging. Dr. Beth Kaplan reveals why this assumption is exactly why so many workplace initiatives fail to create genuine connection and leads to the rising levels of anxiety and disconnect we see today. In this episode of "Leadership Biz Cafe," Dr. Beth Kaplan, who’s been hailed as the world…

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The Hidden Power You're Wasting At Work | Leadership Espresso Shot 76 13:49

3M ago13:49

13:49

Feeling powerless at work while questioning leadership decisions around you? You're not alone - but you might be thinking about power all wrong. In this edition of my Leadership Espresso Shot series, I use a scientific principle to help us redefine workplace power and how to stop giving away the influence you already possess. By the episode’s end, …

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Rebecca Homkes | How Smart Leaders Drive Growth Through Uncertainty 42:01

4M ago42:01

42:01

For most leaders, uncertainty is like a storm you weather by cutting costs, delaying decisions, and basically waiting for calmer waters to return. But is it possible that this protective mindset is the very reason why organizations struggle to grow and evolve during periods of uncertainty? In other words, are the difficulties we have with uncertain…

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4 Proven Steps Leaders Use To Build Conflict-Solving Teams That Thrive | Leadership Espresso Shot 75 13:29

4M ago13:29

13:29

For most leaders, workplace conflict is something you should avoid at all costs. While this might sound good in principle, the reality is this mindset limits your team’s ability to reach its full potential. In this Leadership Espresso Shot, I share a framework of four proven measures that will allow you to create a workplace environment where your …

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Rasmus Hougaard | How AI Makes Leaders More Human Than Ever Before 34:59

5M ago34:59

34:59

When it comes to AI, the present concern is over the potential job losses and fundamental disruptions to the way we work. But what about AI’s inevitable impact on leadership? Will AI lead to a more impersonal, authoritative form of leadership? Or will it actually be the catalyst for a more human-centric form of leadership? In this episode of "Leade…

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When Your Worst Moment Becomes Your Best Tool | Leadership Espresso Shot 74 12:38

5M ago12:38

12:38

Have you ever noticed how your biggest leadership disasters stick with you longer than your successes? There's a fascinating psychological reason why our brains hold onto negative experiences, and smart leaders have learned how to harness it to change how they respond to a crisis, and drive their team’s efforts forward. In this edition of my Leader…

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Siobhan McHale | Why 70% Of Change Initiatives Fail And How To Fix It 32:22

6M ago32:22

32:22

Most leaders approach organizational change by trying to manage individual behaviours and mindsets. But what if this fundamental approach is exactly why so many transformation efforts fail? In this episode of “Leadership Biz Cafe”, Siobhan McHale, author of "The Hive Mind At Work," reveals why successful change happens when leaders tap into group i…

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4 Keys To Resolving Workplace Conflicts | Leadership Espresso Shot 73 13:01

6M ago13:01

13:01

In this edition of my Leadership Espresso Shot series, I share 4 proven keys that will help you successfully resolve workplace conflicts and strengthen professional relationships. As workplace tensions continue to rise, your ability to master these four conflict resolution measures will be critical to your leadership effectiveness. Hosted on Acast.…

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Terence Mauri | The Upside Of Disruption For Today’s Leaders 38:54

7M ago38:54

38:54

Many leaders view disruption as something they have to manage or preferably avoid altogether so they can focus on what they believe is the “real work” of leadership. But in today’s increasingly complex and uncertain world, perhaps the real work leaders should be focusing on is rethinking how and why their organizations operate the way they do. That…

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Is Your Leadership Based On Influence Or Authority? | Leadership Espresso Shot 72 11:42

7M ago11:42

11:42

In this edition of my “Leadership Espresso Shot” series, I explore the dynamic between authority and influence, and some important findings from the field of neuroscience that reveal how quickly leaders can lose trust and with it, the ability to successfully drive peak performance in their organization. Considering how easily this can happen, this …

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Alex Edmans | Navigating The Age Of Misinformation To Become A Better Leader 38:54

8M ago38:54

38:54

In a world where misinformation spreads at lightning speed, how can leaders protect themselves – and their organizations – from making crucial decisions based on flawed thinking? In this episode of my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast, I’ve invited Dr. Alex Edmans to join me to help tackle this timely and critical question facing leaders today. Alex is…

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What Does The World Really Need From Today’s Leaders? | Leadership Espresso Shot 71 10:45

8M ago10:45

10:45

Over the past couple of months, there have been several high-profile CEOs across different industries whose actions and words demonstrate a firm belief in the command-and-control approach to leadership. That leaders can simply issue declarations of 'how things work around here' without so much as an explanation or giving space for employees to shar…

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Peggy Sullivan | Unlock Productivity: How To Achieve More By Doing Less 30:35

9M ago30:35

30:35

Are you caught in the relentless cycle of ‘eat, work, sleep, repeat’? According to my guest for this episode of my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast, the problem we face with this cycle of busyness is not a lack of time management, but a lack of clarity over what our personal values are and how to live a more intentional life. Peggy Sullivan is a corpo…

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Do Your Organization’s Goals Reflect Your Shared Purpose? | Leadership Espresso Shot 70 9:58

9M ago9:58

9:58

In times of uncertainty, the most important thing leaders need to do is make sure their team’s goals are directly tied to their organization’s noble purpose. But how do we do that? How do we make sure we connect the ‘what’’ of our days to the ‘why’ that defines our future? In this edition of my “Leadership Espresso Shot” series, I share three quest…

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John Rossman | How Leaders Solve The Hardest Problems And Lead Transformation 41:10

9M ago41:10

41:10

In the face of rapid change and disruption, organizations everywhere find themselves in a race to not only preserve their market share, but discover the next big opportunity that will given them the keys to future growth and innovation. And according to my guest in this episode, that opportunity can be attained when leaders understand how to plan f…

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The Unexpected Power Of Workplace Traditions | Leadership Espresso Shot 69 8:50

10M ago8:50

8:50

What if your organization's most powerful leadership asset is something you see every day but never really notice? In this Leadership Espresso Shot, I share a personal story that reveals how simple traditions can be the drivers of organizational success. Whether you're leading a small team or a large organization, this episode will change how you t…

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Mohammad Anwar | Love As A Business Strategy To Drive Growth And Success 40:14

10M ago40:14

40:14

What would make a successful and profitable leader, who had a self-described “dictator” style of leadership, embrace love as a business strategy? What compelled this transformation and what lessons can we learn to drive organizational transformation that fuels growth and long-term success? In this episode of my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast, I welc…

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My Favourite Guest Moments And Insights From 2024 33:41

11M ago33:41

33:41

Join me for this year-end retrospective episode featuring some of the most powerful insights shared by my guests on the Leadership Biz Cafe podcast in 2024. From Robin Sharma's revelations about humility and success, to Marshall Goldsmith's transformative exercise on unlocking our potential, this episode provides valuable guidance and insights that…

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Dan Pontefract | How To Nurture A Team That Flourishes 38:48

11M ago38:48

38:48

Are you striving for the elusive “work-life balance” and finding it’s not quite working? In this episode of Leadership Biz Cafe, I welcome back my friend, and fellow leadership expert (and Canadian) Dan Pontefract to discuss his book, “Work-Life Bloom: How to Nurture a Team That Flourishes“, where he argues work-life balance is a misleading and at …

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Do You Know What Your Leadership Values Are? | Leadership Espresso Shot 68 9:34

12M ago9:34

9:34

Have you ever thought about your leadership values? Understanding what your values are – of what matters to you and how you want your employees to view your leadership is critical to not only helping your employees understand your motivations, but to creating clarity during times of uncertainty and change. That’s why for this Leadership Espresso Sh…

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Jeremie Kubicek | Cracking The Communication Code To Build Better Relationships 33:45

1y ago33:45

33:45

In this episode, I spoke with GiANT co-founder Jeremie Kubicek about his book “The Communication Code” and the communication framework he developed with his business partner Steve Cochram to help people become more effective communicators. The “Communication Code” framework involves applying five key “code words” – care, celebrate, clarify, collabo…

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How To Succeed And Grow Under A Controlling Boss | Leadership Espresso Shot 67 11:49

1y ago11:49

11:49

One of the questions I get asked a lot by leaders after one of my keynotes is – how do drive growth and success when you have to work under a controlling boss? How do you get them on board with your initiatives when they only seem to like their ideas or those from their ‘inner circle’? So for this instalment of my Leadership Espresso Shot series, I…

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Shelmina Abji - 8 Strategies To Drive Gender Equality in Leadership 46:30

1y ago46:30

46:30

A troublesome and persistent issue facing organizations today is their inability to develop and promote women to leadership positions where they can play a key role in the decision-making process. But as my guest in this episode of my Leadership Biz Cafe podcast points out, this doesn’t mean there aren’t things women can do to make the case in thei…

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How To Banish Busywork And Focus On Value Creation | Leadership Espresso Shot 66 12:16

1y ago12:16

12:16

Have you ever had a workday where you were so busy that the time flew by, but you didn’t really accomplish anything? The sad reality is that you’re not alone. One study found that 42% of employees spend half of their workday on busywork. Another study by Visier found 43% of employees spend more than 10 hours a week on “productivity theatre” work – …

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Marshall Goldsmith | How Leaders Lose Regret And Lead With Fulfillment 1:08:49

1y ago1:08:49

1:08:49

I’ve had the distinct pleasure of speaking to so many incredible and world-renowned experts on my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast, and I’m elated to now include Dr. Marshall Goldsmith to that list. Marshall has been recognized as the #1 executive coach in the world, two-time Thinkers50 #1 leadership thinker in the world, not to mention being a New Yo…

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Fostering Team Harmony In An Era Of Constant Change | Leadership Espresso Shot 65 8:51

1y ago8:51

8:51

As team lifespans continue to shorten as a result of both layoffs and employee leaving for opportunities elsewhere, leaders are having to deal with another growing issue in today’s evolving workplaces: specifically, how do you ensure team harmony when everything – including the make-up of your teams – is in flux? In this Leadership Espresso Shot, I…

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Scott Mautz | The 6 Habits Of A Mentally Strong Leader 43:26

1y ago43:26

43:26

In the face of rising levels of workplace anxiety and burnout, there’s a natural tendency to consider building resilience as being the key to keeping such mental health issues at bay. But my guest for this episode of my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast argues that resilience is not enough and what’s needed instead is building our mental strength. Scot…

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Eric McNulty | A Leadership Framework For Successful Crisis Management 37:28

1+ y ago37:28

37:28

One situation every leader needs to be ready for is when a crisis hits your organization. Unfortunately, most leaders are ill-prepared and lack proper experience to know how to best address a crisis in such a way that allows the organization to pivot while still staying true to their long-term goals. Fortunately, my guest in this episode of Leaders…

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4 Olympic Lessons To Ignite Your Team's Success | Leadership Espresso Shot 64 12:46

1+ y ago12:46

12:46

Whether you’re a sports fan or not, there’s no denying there’s something special about watching the Olympics. No doubt a big draw is the immediacy of knowing who the winner will be. Instead of months, it only takes a matter of days to discover which athlete will end up rising up to the top to clinch the gold medal. But there’s another reason why I …

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A Simple Process To Tap Into The Power of Reflection | Leadership Espresso Shot 63 9:29

1+ y ago9:29

9:29

In this latest episode of my Leadership Espresso Shot series, I share a simple process that even the busiest leader can apply to tap into the power of reflection to gain a better sense of context and awareness for what needs to be done to drive organizational growth and success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Anthony Iannarino | Using The Negativity Fast To Improve Your Leadership 40:46

1+ y ago40:46

40:46

If you’re feeling like things are getting more negative each day, the sad fact is you’re not alone. From our social media feeds to news outlets, we’re exposed to unprecedented levels of negativity that are impacting not only our mental health, but fuelling a rising tide of divisiveness that is fracturing our social and political norms. So what can …

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How To Guide Struggling Employees To Improve Performance | Leadership Espresso Shot 62 11:43

1+ y ago11:43

11:43

One of the biggest challenges – and at times, headaches – you’ll have as a leader is having to deal with an employee who’s under-performing. Of course, it’s not just leaders – we’ve all had experience working on teams where there was one person who wasn’t doing their part to help carry the team’s load. As employees, it’s easy for us to be annoyed a…

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Bob Sutton | How Leaders Can Become “Friction Fixers” To Make Work Better 54:14

1+ y ago54:14

54:14

This is one of the interviews for my "Leadership Biz Cafe" podcast that I couldn't wait to share - my interview with Stanford professor and all-around great guy, Bob Sutton. Bob is an organizational psychologist, Stanford professor, and best-selling author of “The No Asshole Rule”, “Good Boss, Bad Boss”, and “Scaling Up Excellence”. My conversation…

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3 Springtime Leadership Reminders To Help You Succeed | Leadership Espresso Shot 61 8:52

1+ y ago8:52

8:52

The arrival of Spring often brings to mind the idea of renewal and new beginnings. And it’s not surprising when we see trees waking from their winter slumber to transform their spindly branches into luscious clouds of green foliage. Or when we see spring flowers like tulips emerge from the ground, erupting into this dazzling display of bright yello…

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Dr. Paul White | Communicating The 5 Languages Of Appreciation In The Workplace 34:43

1+ y ago34:43

34:43

There’s no question that being an effective communicator is critical to succeeding at leadership. But as my guest in this episode of my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast points out, a leader’s ability to express the right kind of appreciation to their employees is key to driving employee growth and success. Dr. Paul White is a psychologist, author, and…

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3 Steps To Creating A Vision That Inspires Purpose And Success | Leadership Espresso Shot 60 18:24

1+ y ago18:24

18:24

One of the common themes around leadership that I’m asked to speak on for a keynote or a corporate training workshop around is how can leaders create conditions that inspire employees to show up and deliver their best. As a point out in these talks, a key ingredient to making such conditions is defining a vision that helps to inspire purpose in you…

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Robin Sharma | 8 Hidden Habits To Live Your Richest Life 55:47

1+ y ago55:47

55:47

“The real job of leadership is the chance to sincerely, passionately, excellently elevate human lives. And the best businesses are very mission-driven and purpose-centered.” This is just one of many brilliant and thoughtful insights Robin Sharma shares in this latest episode of my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast. I can’t tell you how excited I am to …

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4 Steps To Transform Negative Self-Talk Into Driving Force For Success | Leadership Espresso Shot 59 11:32

1+ y ago11:32

11:32

I’ve spoken with many highly successful people over the course of career and there’s one interesting characteristic I’ve noticed they all share in common. Each of them exudes this quiet confidence about themselves and their abilities. And to repeat, not just confidence, but quiet confidence, meaning they don’t try to be the smartest person in the r…

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Shaara Roman | Fortifying Your Workplace Culture To Thrive In Any Crisis 37:57

1+ y ago37:57

37:57

Over the past several months, there’s been a lot of attention paid to an organization’s workplace culture, particularly in terms of the on-going debate over the future of work. But at a time where it feels we’re going from one crisis to another, it is important for leaders to consider what kind of workplace culture their promoting in their organiza…

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3 Important Lessons Leaders Can Learn From Success | Leadership Espresso Shot 58 9:27

2y ago9:27

9:27

When it comes to success, much of the focus tends to be on how do we go about being successful. We read books and watch documentaries about the lives of successful people in the hopes that we might better understand what allowed them to succeed in the hopes that we might achieve a similar result from our efforts. But a recent conversation with my d…

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Carice Anderson | How Black Professionals Can Thrive In Today’s Workplaces 39:17

2y ago39:17

39:17

When it comes to diversity in today’s workplaces, understandably much of the focus is on systemic challenges members of various marginalized groups have to deal with. But as my guest in this episode of my Leadership Biz Cafe podcast points out, that doesn’t mean there aren’t measures Black professionals can take at the individual level so they can …

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The One Thing Exceptional Leaders Never Forget | Leadership Espresso Shot 57 10:49

2y ago10:49

10:49

How many of us would be happy knowing the high point of our career was that we were good at just getting through the day? Unfortunately, that’s the reality leaders need to recognize as the focus of today’s leadership becomes less and less about achieving long-term goals and more about just putting out fires and ‘getting things done’. While this cer…

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Allen Adamson | Transforming What People Do To Gain Market Advantage 43:35

2y ago43:35

43:35

What do Uber, Apple, Netflix, and AirBnB share in common in terms of the successes they’ve achieved? According to my guest in this episode of my Leadership Biz Cafe podcast, what these and other successful companies share in common is that they’re all experience disruptors. And he has a framework based on studies in consumer behaviour, behavioural …

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My Favourite Guest Moments And Insights From 2023 34:22

2y ago34:22

34:22

The last few weeks of the year are an ideal time for self-reflection and review as on the one hand, there’s an understandable eagerness to plan and map out goals for the upcoming year. But at the same time, it’s a perfect moment to take note of both the successes earned and lessons gained over the past 12 months. It’s in the vein of the latter that…