66: Whole-hearted Leadership - A Fresh Perspective, w/Lantz Howard

Most leaders are stuck in a cycle of people-pleasing, overcommitting, and avoiding the hard truths—and it’s killing their impact. In this episode, I sit down with Lantz Howard, executive coach and founder of Champion Hope, to break down what it really takes to lead with confidence, clarity, and conviction. Lantz helps high-achieving leaders escape burnout, develop emotional resilience, and take full ownership of their decisions. If you’re tired of leading from fear, struggling with tough conversations, or feeling stretched too thin, this episode is your wake-up call.

Summary

 In this episode of the No Limits Leadership Podcast, host Sean Patton engages with executive coach Lantz Howard to explore the concept of wholehearted leadership. They discuss the fragmentation many leaders experience in their personal and professional lives, the importance of emotional awareness, and the balance between assertiveness and connection in leadership. Lantz shares personal stories of his journey towards leading with his whole heart and emphasizes the significance of vulnerability and psychological safety in creating effective leadership environments. The conversation also touches on the impact of external influences, such as news media, on emotional capacity and decision-making.

 

Takeaways

 -Leadership is about managing tasks but leading people.

-Many leaders struggle with emotional fragmentation.

-Vulnerability in leadership fosters connection and trust.

-Emotional awareness is crucial for effective leadership.

-Leaders should not be responsible for others' happiness.

-Creating psychological safety is essential for team dynamics.

-Emotional capacity is more important than emotional intelligence.

-The home environment serves as a critical leadership laboratory.

-Growth in leadership is not a linear process.

-Leaders must learn to listen and ask thoughtful questions.

 

Chapters

 00:00 Wholehearted Leadership: A New Perspective

03:09 The Journey of Self-Discovery

05:43 Navigating Leadership Challenges

08:35 Emotional Capacity vs. Emotional Intelligence

11:32 Creating Psychological Safety in Leadership

14:30 Vulnerability as a Strength

17:13 Integrating Personal and Professional Growth

20:10 Coaching Culture in Organizations

26:47 The Art of Intentional Listening

29:02 Coaching as an Experiential Learning Process

30:38 Emotional Awareness in Coaching

32:51 Clarifying Intentions in Conversations

34:04 Lessons from Past Relationships

37:22 Navigating Midlife Transitions

39:43 Empowerment through Coaching

41:43 The Impact of Media on Emotional Well-being

 

Lantz’s Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lantzhoward/

https://www.lantzhoward.com/

No Limit Leadership is the go-to podcast for growth-minded executives, middle managers, and team leaders who want more than surface-level leadership advice. Hosted by executive coach and former Special Forces commander Sean Patton, this show dives deep into modern leadership, self-leadership, and the real-world strategies that build high-performing teams. Whether you're focused on leadership development, building a coaching culture, improving leadership communication, or strengthening team accountability, each episode equips you with actionable insights to unlock leadership potential across your organization. From designing onboarding systems that retain talent to asking better questions that drive clarity and impact, No Limit Leadership helps you lead yourself first so you can lead others better. If you're ready to create a culture of ownership, resilience, and results, this leadership podcast is for you.