Best James R Mayhew Podcasts (2025)

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42. How New Hires Change Your Company Culture Faster Than You Realize 4:25

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16m ago4:25

4:25

Episode 42: How New Hires Change Your Company Culture Faster Than You Realize Episode 5 in the series, Scaling Growth Culture doesn’t disappear overnight — it drifts. One day you look around and realize your company doesn’t feel the same. The people you’ve hired don’t carry the same ownership, the same hunger, or the same fight that you did in the …

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41. How Role Confusion Kills Growth at 100 Employees 4:07

23h ago4:07

4:07

Episode 41: How Role Confusion Kills Growth at 100 Employees Episode 4 in the series, Scaling Growth At 100 employees, cracks don’t come from the outside, they show up inside your company. Departments collide. Leaders overlap. Managers think managing means telling people what to do. And your best people sometimes hold on to work they should be lett…

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41. When Growth Threatens Your Best People 4:44

2d ago4:44

4:44

Episode 40: When Growth Threatens Your Best People Episode 3 in the series, Scaling Growth What happens when the people who built your company start to feel like strangers in it? Your early employees wore every hat. They hustled, patched holes, and carried culture when you had no budget and no systems. Now that you’re growing, those same people can…

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39. If You're Choosing Between Speed and Quality, You're Already Losing 4:22

5d ago4:22

4:22

If You're Choosing Between Speed and Quality, You're Already Losing Episode 2 in the series: Scaling Growth Growth creates pressure to move faster. Clients want it sooner. Jobs pile up. Deadlines stack. And if you're not careful, the pressure to move fast erodes the very standards that made your company worth scaling in the first place. Most founde…

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38. Why Startup Habits Begin Failing: Scaling Growth from 10 to 50 Employees 4:22

6d ago4:22

4:22

Episode 38: From 10 to 50 People: Why Startup Habits Begin Failing Episode 1 in the series: Scaling Growth When your company is small, hustle works. Everyone wears every hat. The founder can still check every job, meet every client, and fix every problem. But by the time you hit 50? The very habits that fueled your growth are the ones pulling you u…

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37. The Problem with Recognizing Everyone Equally 4:19

7d ago4:19

4:19

Episode 37: The Problem with Recognizing Everyone Equally Episode 10 in the series, The Founder’s Blind Spot Praising everyone equally sounds positive—but it erodes trust and damages culture. In Episode 36, we explored how avoidance creates silence—leaders don’t address what needs to be said, and their best people stop speaking up. This episode tak…

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36. Why Avoidance Is Silently Killing Your Culture 3:19

8d ago3:19

3:19

Episode 36: Why Avoidance Is Silently Killing Your Culture Episode 10 in the series, The Founder’s Blind Spot Silence isn’t always wisdom. Sometimes it’s avoidance. And when leaders mistake avoidance for patience or kindness, they unintentionally teach their teams that missed deadlines, sloppy work, or toxic behavior are acceptable. That’s how cult…

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35. You’ve Got One Life. Don’t Play Small. 6:46

9d ago6:46

6:46

Episode 035: You’ve Got One Life. Don’t Play Small. In this episode of Leadership in 5, James reads directly from his personal journal — written five months before he resigned as Chief Culture Officer. It’s a reminder to himself of who he really is, and the calling he couldn’t ignore. You’ll hear the backstory of a small business conference in Deco…

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34. What to Do When Loyalty Becomes a Performance Issue 4:14

12d ago4:14

4:14

Episode 34: What to Do When Loyalty Becomes a Performance Issue Episode 9 in the series, The Founder’s Blind Spot Loyalty is valuable. Loyal employees bring stability, wisdom, and a steady presence that anchors your business. But here’s the blind spot: when loyalty is rewarded more than performance, growth begins to stall. Founders often defend und…

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33. Process Without Leadership Only Gets You Compliance 2:46

14d ago2:46

2:46

Episode 33: Process Without Leadership Only Gets You Compliance Episode 8 in the series, The Founder’s Blind Spot You don’t fix people problems with process. And you don’t fix culture with a dashboard. Systems matter. You need structure, process, and discipline if you want to scale. But here’s the blind spot: systems can support leadership, but the…

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32. If People Are Waiting on Permission, You Have a Trust Problem 2:57

14d ago2:57

2:57

Episode 32: If People Are Waiting on Permission, You Have a Trust Problem Episode 7 in the series, The Founder’s Blind Spot Hesitation isn’t laziness. Second-guessing isn’t incompetence. When your team stalls, it’s not always a performance issue. More often, it’s a permission problem — and permission problems are always rooted in trust. The best te…

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31. Why Fear of Accountability Will Cost You Your Best People 3:26

15d ago3:26

3:26

Episode 31: Why Fear of Accountability Will Cost You Your Best People Episode 6 in the series, The Founder’s Blind Spot Too many leaders think avoiding accountability is kindness. It isn’t kindness. It’s betrayal. When accountability disappears, mediocrity becomes the unspoken standard. Top performers burn out carrying the weight. And eventually, t…

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30. Why Top Performers Go Silent Before They Quit 3:41

16d ago3:41

3:41

Episode 30: Why Top Performers Go Silent Before They Quit Episode 5 in the series, The Founder’s Blind Spot Your best people don’t storm out. They don’t slam doors. They don’t argue their way to the exit. They leave quietly. And if you’re not paying attention, you’ll miss the signals long before they hand in their notice. This episode exposes the r…

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29. How to Get Your Team to Take Ownership Without Babysitting Every Decision 2:57

19d ago2:57

2:57

Episode 29 — How to Get Your Team to Take Ownership Without Babysitting Every Decision You don’t want to babysit every choice. You want managers and employees who step in, solve problems, and carry responsibility without waiting for you to push. But here’s the reality: ownership doesn’t come with a title or a spot on the org chart. It shows up when…

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28. Why Good Managers Don’t Take Ownership 4:33

20d ago4:33

4:33

Episode 28 — Why Good Managers Don’t Take Ownership Episode 3 of 9: The Founder’s Blind Spot You’ve heard it before: “That’s not my job.” “No one told me.” “I didn’t know.” Or the worst one: “Did you talk with Bill yet?” — “No, I haven’t had a chance.” These phrases drive founders crazy — not because the work doesn’t get done, but because they reve…

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27. The Real Reason Your Meetings Aren’t Working 4:59

21d ago4:59

4:59

Episode 027: The Real Reason Your Meetings Aren’t Working Episode 2 of 9 in the series, "The Founder's Blind Spot" In Episode 026, we looked at how ineffective meetings leave you drained and busy without progress. In this follow-up, we dig into the real blind spot: the illusion that adjusting the number of meetings — more or fewer — will fix the pr…

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26. Stop Wasting Time with Ineffective Meetings 3:34

23d ago3:34

3:34

Episode 026: Stop Wasting Time with Ineffective Meetings Episode 1 of 9 in the series, "The Founder's Blind Spot" Ever walked out of a full day of meetings and thought, “What did we actually accomplish?” Being tired doesn’t always mean you’ve made progress. There’s a good kind of tired — the one that comes from rallying your team, creating clarity,…

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25. When Core Values Become Wall Art 3:54

24d ago3:54

3:54

Episode 25: When Values Become Wall Art Episode 4 of 4 in the series, "Built to Last or Poised for Collapse?" What happens when your values stop being lived and start being laminated? This episode closes our Built to Last or Poised for Collapse? series with one of the most dangerous shifts in leadership: when values become decoration instead of dir…

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24. Success Is the Greatest Threat to Growth 4:17

27d ago4:17

4:17

Episode 24: Success Is the Greatest Threat to Growth Episode 3 of 4 in the series, "Built to Last or Poised for Collapse?" What if the very thing fueling your momentum today is the biggest threat to your future growth? In this episode, James shares a story of a young company riding the high of several big wins — record deals, new clients, unstoppab…

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23. When Listening Isn’t Leading 4:27

29d ago4:27

4:27

Episode 23: When Listening Isn’t Leading What happens when your team speaks up — and nothing changes? This episode digs into the silent killer of culture: listening without acting. Founders often believe they’re open to feedback — they nod, take notes, thank people… and then move on. But when nothing changes, the team learns that speaking up isn’t …

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22. You Can’t Force Ownership and That’s Why You’re Still Carrying It All 3:46

1M ago3:46

3:46

Episode 22 — You Can’t Force Ownership and That’s Why You’re Still Carrying It All You’ve probably felt it: the company is bigger, the team is larger, but somehow you’re still the one carrying the weight. The meetings end, the updates sound fine, but deep down you know—nothing has really shifted off your shoulders. That’s the Ownership Myth. The be…

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21. Trust Is Personal 3:40

1M ago3:40

3:40

Episode 21 Show Notes — Trust Is Personal Series: It’s All Personal, 5 of 5 What do you think about at 2 a.m.? If you’re like most founders, it’s not strategy decks or long-term plans. It’s the meeting where your managers gave safe, predictable answers. It’s the quiet room where no one moved until you did. It’s the spiral: How did I get here? How d…

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20. Feedback Is Personal 5:02

1M ago5:02

5:02

EPISODE 20 — Feedback Is Personal Arc: It’s All Personal If the word “feedback” makes people in your company brace for impact, you’ve got a problem. When it’s done right, feedback builds trust, strengthens relationships, and accelerates growth. When it’s done wrong — or not at all — it breeds confusion, resentment, and missed opportunities. In this…

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19. Ownership Is Personal 3:15

1M ago3:15

3:15

EP19: Ownership Is Personal Arc: It’s All Personal Theme: What "ownership" actually looks like inside a growing company, and how founder-led companies can create the conditions for it to thrive. It’s one thing to get someone to complete a task. It’s another to see them take real ownership of the work. In this episode, James digs into what ownership…

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18. Presence Is Personal 4:20

1M ago4:20

4:20

EP18: Presence Is Personal Arc: It’s All Personal Theme: Presence is the multiplier that makes your systems and strategies actually work If you’re always available, you’re probably reacting, too deep in the details, and maybe even getting in the way of progress. And as I shared back in Episode 5, The Bottleneck You Didn’t Mean to Build, that’s exac…

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17. You’re Not Leading a System—You’re Leading People 4:05

1M ago4:05

4:05

EPISODE 17: You’re Not Leading a System—You’re Leading People Arc: It’s All Personal (Part 1 of 5) Your systems don’t create excellence — your people do. In this first episode of the It’s All Personal series, James unpacks the real reason your business feels stuck when the systems are strained, leaders are still in the weeds, and the tools you’ve o…

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Getting Work Done Isn’t... Obvious? 3:52

1M ago3:52

3:52

Momentum isn’t always progress. In this episode, James tackles one of the most costly assumptions in growing companies — believing that your team “just knows” how to execute. At 20–100 employees, “good enough” execution stops being a strength and starts creating confusion, rework, and burnout. And the scariest part? Your team thinks they’re helping…

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The Difference Between Alignment and Agreement 3:09

1M ago3:09

3:09

Episode 15: The Difference Between Alignment and Agreement Series: Execution Is Not a Pep Talk When everyone nods... but no one follows through—was there really alignment? This episode dives into the critical difference between agreement and alignment, and why your team’s execution problems might not be about commitment at all—but clarity. If you’r…

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Is it Really a Communication Problem? 4:48

1M ago4:48

4:48

Episode 14: Is it*Really* a Communication Problem? The project missed the mark. The timeline slipped. The results weren’t what anyone hoped for. And in the post-mortem, someone finally said it: “We just need to communicate better.” But what if that’s not the real problem? This episode exposes the hidden leadership and execution breakdowns that get …

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The Drift Is the Danger 5:49

1M ago5:49

5:49

EP13: The Drift Is the Danger Leadership in 5 | Execution Is Not a Pep Talk Is your team really aligned—or just drifting quietly? This episode unpacks how teams slide out of focus without ever realizing it—and what leaders must do to stay ahead of it. We’re not talking about distraction. We’re talking about slow, quiet drift: the erosion of clarity…

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If You Want Something Done Right... 3:18

1M ago3:18

3:18

EP12: If You Want Something Done Right… Leadership in 5 | Execution Is Not a Pep Talk What if doing it yourself is the problem… not the solution? This episode confronts the hidden cost of founder rescue mode. Because if the standard only gets met when you step in, that’s not leadership. That’s babysitting the system. We’re not talking about letting…

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Suffocating Excuses 2:57

2M ago2:57

2:57

EP11: Suffocating Excuses Leadership in 5 | Execution Is Not a Pep Talk When excuses stack up—what are they hiding? This episode explores how well-meaning leaders accidentally give or accept excuses, and how that slowly suffocates execution, clarity, and trust. We’re not talking about blaming your team—or yourself. We’re talking about the quiet way…

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They Want to Help but Don’t Know How 4:39

2M ago4:39

4:39

Title: They Want to Help but Don’t Know How Arc: Execution Is Not a Pep Talk When it feels like your team is just waiting on you… Maybe they’re not slacking off. Maybe they want to help... but just don’t know how. This episode is for the founder who's still carrying the weight, even with good people in place. You’ve delegated tasks. You’ve hired le…

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How the Desperation Mindset Destroys Your Leadership 3:59

2M ago3:59

3:59

When the pressure rises, what kind of leader are you? This episode explores the dangerous shift from tension to desperation, and how it rewires your leadership, your team’s trust, and the health of your entire system. We’re not talking about a rough week... we’re talking about the slow, quiet erosion of clarity, culture, and conviction when surviva…

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Stop Saying “We Need to Execute Better" 4:11

2M ago4:11

4:11

Title: Stop Saying “We Need to Execute Better” When a founder says, “We need to execute better,” it sounds like strategy, but it’s usually a signal, a symptom. And a cover for something deeper. In this episode, we unpack what’s really behind those words, and why saying them will actually derail the clarity and structure your business needs most. Yo…

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Don’t Trust Your Memory 3:06

2M ago3:06

3:06

EP07: Don’t Trust Your Memory Leadership in 5 | Earned Authority At some point, every founder realizes their brain just isn’t enough. You used to remember everything. But now, things are slipping—and it’s not because you’re forgetful. It’s because you’re overloaded. In this episode, James explains why relying on memory breaks trust, creates drift, …

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Why Your Team Isn’t Stepping Up (Even Though They Want To) 3:02

2M ago3:02

3:02

EP06: Why Your Team Isn’t Stepping Up (Even Though They Want To) Leadership in 5 | Earned Authority If your team isn’t stepping up, it might not be a motivation issue—it might be a leadership pattern. In this episode, James explores how well-meaning leaders accidentally train their teams to hesitate. When everything is urgent and high-stakes, found…

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The Bottleneck You Didn’t Mean to Build 3:51

2M ago3:51

3:51

EP05: The Bottleneck You Didn’t Mean to Build Leadership in 5 | Earned Authority Most founders don’t mean to become the bottleneck—but they do. Not out of ego, but out of pressure. Fear. A drive to protect what they’ve sacrificed so much to build. In this episode, James breaks down how the desperation mindset quietly drives control-based leadership…

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You Don’t Need to Be the Expert 3:22

2M ago3:22

3:22

EP04: You Don’t Need to Be the Expert Leadership in 5 | Earned Authority Founders often carry a quiet pressure to have all the answers. But leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room—it’s about bringing out the best in the room. In this episode, James explores how the pressure to “know everything” stems from a desperation mindset:…

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Alignment Is the Highest Form of Clarity 3:15

2M ago3:15

3:15

EP03: Alignment Is the Highest Form of Clarity Leadership in 5 | Leadership Foundations Just because you said it, doesn’t mean it’s clear. In this episode, James breaks down why so many execution problems aren’t caused by laziness or lack of discipline — but by misalignment. Clarity isn’t just about saying it well. It’s about making sure everyone w…

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Try Harder Isn’t a Strategy 2:52

2M ago2:52

2:52

Leadership in 5 | Earned Authority “Try harder” isn’t a strategy—it’s a stall tactic. In today’s episode, James unpacks why effort alone isn’t enough to drive real execution. Leaders often default to emotional language when what’s actually needed is structural clarity. You’ll learn what to say — and what to ask — instead of repeating the motivation…

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The Next Question Changes Everything 4:19

2M ago4:19

4:19

🔍 Summary Most leaders think their job is to provide answers. But great leadership begins with better questions—ones that surface clarity, unlock new thinking, and change the course of a conversation. In this opening episode, James shares a real moment from a team meeting where one powerful question broke through noise and sparked a better strategy…

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Finding Your Unique Voice and Authentic Connections - An Interview with Britta Blanski 32:38

1+ y ago32:38

32:38

Let’s face it, there’s a lot of fakeness out in the world today. Fake success. Fake people & personalities. That’s why it’s more important than ever to be genuine and authentic with your personal brand. So how do you do that? That’s exactly what my guest on today’s episode helps her clients do, specifically on LinkedIn. If you still think LinkedIn …

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Thriving In Sales With Selflessness & Dignity - Joe Pici 43:52

1+ y ago43:52

43:52

It’s been said that as a human being we’re either in a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or headed towards a crisis. Financial crises. Relationship crises. Health crises. On episode 22, James Mayhew talks with Joe Pici — the #1 Ranked Sales Trainer in the world according to Global Gurus about balancing confidence and humility in the world of Sales. J…

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He Gave Away Millions of Dollars of Other People's Money! – Dan Koval 1:03:57

1+ y ago1:03:57

1:03:57

Can you imagine giving away tens of millions of dollars? Can you imagine getting PAID to give away tens of millions of dollars? That probably sounds like a dream job for many people, and it was for Dan Koval… that is until one day when he decided to do the unimaginable… he left. Now, instead of giving away money, Dan’s new role puts him across the …

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Learning AND Growing From Your Mistakes – A Conversation with Sean Vanslyke 47:36

2y ago47:36

47:36

Imagine being a 22 year old in your first leadership role and making the decision to fire one of your employees. Now imagine that you’re that same leader but now 30 years have passed. How might that one event shape your career? What perspectives would you have gained about people, about relationships, and about your leadership style would you expec…

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How Super Connectors Build Relationships That Last – An Interview with Angela Pumo 50:35

2y ago50:35

50:35

While average networkers look for well connected people that can help them, super connectors have an altruistic mindset... How can I help someone else? Angela Pumo is a super connector (my label, not hers). She loves helping individuals be successful and introducing them to other people they should know. It's been a blessing and good fortune to hav…

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Stop Selling & Start Serving: Taking Ego Out of the Sales Process with Bill Caskey 36:16

2y ago36:16

36:16

In a profession that's filled with constant pressure to hit goals, sales trainer and coach, Bill Caskey talks with James Mayhew about what it takes to exceed at sales in 2023. Bill Caskey went from hating sales and thinking about getting out of it – to becoming a sales author, trainer and coach helping thousands of people worldwide master world-cla…

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Leading Excellent Trainings, Workshops & Meetings 8:13

2y ago8:13

8:13

We've all sat through trainings, workshops and more meetings than we care to remember that didn't deliver. Let's be real... some of them sucked. If you're an executive, director, manager – or a consultant, coach or trainer – this episode is for you. James lays out the importance of "setting the table" for a successful event, especially when it come…

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Don't Make This HUGE Mistake With Employee Engagement; Learn From My Mistake 4:29

2y ago4:29

4:29

I was wrong about employee engagement. I screwed it up and I don't want you to make the same mistake... Engagement is not how much people love their job. So what is it, then? In Episode 16, culture development expert, James Mayhew lays out 3 requirements that drive employee engagement. **** Confidence Covered By Humility is a podcast by James Mayhe…