Sparks: How Vulnerability Can Make or Break a CEO
One CEO was fired for being vulnerable. Another saved their company. What made the difference? In today’s Leadership Spark, we go beyond the theory of leading with vulnerability to explore how it works in real life. Vulnerability isn’t just admitting mistakes—it’s about showing how you’re taking action to close gaps and grow. Through powerful examples, including the contrasting stories of two CEOs who led with vulnerability, you’ll see how balancing openness with leadership drives results. We’ll also unpack common workplace scenarios and share actionable tips for first-time leaders to use vulnerability as a superpower. Learn how to inspire trust while staying accountable in this episode. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/
27 Des 20249min
3 Leadership Insights That Will Help You Conquer 2025
What skills, trends, and strategic thinking do leaders need to embrace for the future? In this episode, we explore three compelling perspectives to help leaders prepare for 2025. Michael Watkins breaks down The 6 Disciplines of Strategic Thinking he authored, showing how leaders can mobilize their teams and make smarter, more impactful decisions. Seth Godin, renowned Author, Entrepreneur, and Founder of the Carbon Almanac, challenges the status quo with his take on why adaptability beats rigid planning and why leaders need to think beyond checklists to thrive. Finally, Nicholas Bloom, William D. Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University, reveals surprising data on remote work, from its effects on productivity to what it really takes to retain top talent in a hybrid world. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/
23 Des 202450min
Sparks: The Vulnerability Equation: Discussing the Delicate Balance Between Competence and Connection
What does it really mean to lead with vulnerability? In today’s Leadership Spark, we dive into the delicate balance between openness and competence in leadership. Vulnerability is essential for building trust and fostering connections, but simply admitting mistakes isn’t enough, especially in the workplace. Leaders need to pair vulnerability with action. We’ll explore why this concept is more critical than ever in today’s fast-changing environment and how it can help leaders inspire confidence while maintaining accountability. You’ll learn how to embrace this powerful equation: Vulnerability + Leadership = Real Impact. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/
20 Des 202410min
The Qualities That Drive Innovation and Create Possibilities with Google's Frederik Pferdt
The pace of change is relentless, and leaders everywhere are grappling with the same challenge: how do we prepare our teams for a future we can’t predict? In this episode of Future Ready Leadership, Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist, Frederik Pferdt, offers a solution—shifting your mindset to embrace curiosity, radical optimism, and human-centered leadership. Drawing from his groundbreaking work at Google and insights from his book "What’s Next is Now", Frederik reveals the secrets to transforming uncertainty into possibility. We dive into why innovation dies on idea boards, how replacing “but” with “and” can change everything, and the six dimensions of a future-ready mindset. Frederik also gets personal, sharing stories about handling California wildfires, transforming challenges into opportunities, and how experimenting like a gardener can help your ideas grow. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/
16 Des 202458min
Sparks: The Modern Leader: How to Lead and Thrive in the Fast-Paced Workplace
Can leaders keep up when change never slows down? In today’s Leadership Spark, we explore how the accelerating pace of change is reshaping workplaces, work ethics, and the delicate balance between employee empowerment and accountability. From the rise of disengaged work cultures to the struggle for accountability, this episode dives into the realities of modern leadership and what it takes to adapt, thrive, and rebuild the balance. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/
13 Des 20248min
How Leaders Can Use Foresight to be Future-Ready and Prepare For What's Next - Lisa Bodell
Amid constant change, how can leaders prepare for what's next without losing focus on today? In this episode, Lisa Bodell, Bestselling Author of "Kill the Company" and "Why Simple Wins", shares powerful strategies for becoming future-ready. She explains why agility and resilience matter more than rigid planning, how to leverage tools like STEEP and the Futures Wheel, and why every company must "Kill the Company" to uncover blind spots and innovate. Lisa also explores the dangers of "perma crisis" on creativity and why teaching human-centered skills like curiosity and agility is essential to thriving in uncertainty. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/
9 Des 202455min
Sparks: Purpose Over Perks: How to Keep Employee Satisfaction High for the Long-Term
Why do so many companies struggle to attract and retain top talent? Is it the lack of free food, shiny perks, or unlimited vacation days? Or is the issue much deeper? As leaders, it’s time to confront the uncomfortable truth: perks aren’t purpose, and engagement isn’t just an adrenaline shot. In today’s Leadership Spark, we'll unpack why many organizations are stuck on the “hedonic treadmill,” cycling through perks and benefits to boost short-term satisfaction but failing to create a lasting impact. I explore how outdated workplace practices, bureaucracy, and lack of purpose disengage employees over time—and why leaders must shift their focus from free lunches to fostering growth, meaning, and leadership. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/
6 Des 20246min
How To Be A Future-Ready Leader in 2025
Leadership in 2024 was challenging, and 2025 promises to be even more demanding. With economic pressures, hybrid work complexities, and the rapid rise of AI, the expectations for leaders have never been higher. But the good news is we've packed the best leadership advice from 2024 into one powerhouse episode, giving you the tools to thrive in the year ahead. In this episode, Guy Kawasaki, Author & Chief Evangelist at Canva, kicks things off by sharing how a growth mindset and resilience can help leaders tackle challenges head-on and turn them into opportunities. Dr. Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership & Management, reveals why creating psychological safety and embracing “intelligent failures” is the key to innovation and team trust. Finally, John R. Miles, Founder & CEO of PASSION STRUCK, wraps it up with his next-level framework for mindset and behavior shifts, showing leaders how to unlock intrinsic motivation and lead with intention. Get all the insights you need to lead with confidence, inspire your team, and make 2025 your breakthrough year. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/
2 Des 202453min
