The Leadership Project Podcast

Are you building your workplace culture intentionally, or allowing it to form by default? This question lies at the heart of effective leadership, yet few leaders truly understand how their everyday decisions silently shape what it feels like to work in their organizations.

Culture isn't the aspirational language hanging on your office walls. It's the unspoken rules that govern how decisions get made, how people ...

What if the workplace friction you face daily isn’t just “how things are” but something you can change? In this eye-opening conversation, Margaret Graziano—bestselling author of Ignite Culture—shares how most dysfunction at work is created, not inevitable. Drawing from decades of experience and research in neuroscience and organizational development, Margie empowers us to stop pointing fingers and start looking within.

Science shows...

What if the secret to exceptional customer experience isn't found in customer-facing strategies at all, but in how you treat your own team? This powerful question frames our exploration with Lynn Daniel, CEO of The Daniel Group, who has achieved something remarkable in an industry known for turnover: a team that not only stays but thrives.

"If you're not listening to your people, they'll find the exit, ...

The secret to building customer loyalty might be hiding in plain sight—within your own team. In this fascinating conversation with Lynn Daniel, founder and CEO of The Daniel Group, we uncover the powerful connection between remarkable customer experiences and dedicated employees who stay for decades.

Lynn's story begins with a resourceful decision in the early 2000s to create a remote work environment long before it b...

What drives people to perform at their highest level? Contrary to popular belief, it's rarely money or status.

During this thought-provoking solo episode, I reflect on my transformative conversation with Dan Johnson, who built a non-profit organization with over 10,000 dedicated volunteers. His powerful insight? When you lead with genuine humility and humanity, people will walk through fire for you.

At the h...

What motivates people to give their best effort without financial incentives? This was the central theme of a compelling conversation with Dan Johnson, a nonprofit coach who has galvanized over 10,000 volunteers. Dan’s story begins with a moment of disillusionment during political meetings, where he recognized a lack of genuine problem-solving. Realizing he was "in the wrong room," he made the bold decision to redirect hi...

Ever wondered if your team's greatest strength could also be its biggest weakness? When expertise becomes tunnel vision, even the most talented teams can miss what matters most.

Drawing from my enlightening conversation with Professor Henrik Bresman of INSEAD, co-author of "X-Teams," this episode explores a counterintuitive truth: truly exceptional teams aren't defined by their internal cohesion alone, ...

Truly innovative teams distinguish themselves not by what happens within their team rooms, but by how actively they engage with the world outside. In a powerful conversation, Professor Henrik Bresman of INSEAD draws from his decades of research and his book X-Teams: How to Build Teams that Lead, Innovate and Succeed to challenge traditional ideas of high-performing teams. He emphasizes that while internal alignment is important, it...

Have you ever wondered why brilliant strategies often fail to deliver results? The answer might lie not in the strategy itself, but in how it's created and communicated throughout your organization.

When frontline employees don't understand why they're doing their daily tasks or how those tasks connect to the bigger picture, even the most brilliant strategic plan will falter. This reflective episode explores...

Imagine strategy as something felt, not just written—that's the core of Britt Hogue's approach to leadership. After years in corporate roles immersed in data and KPIs, Britt realized that behind every metric were real people making decisions. As the founder of The Collective Good, she now champions "humanized strategy" for mission-driven organizations, focusing on inclusion and collaboration in strategic plannin...

The difference between going fast and going far lies at the heart of this powerful exploration of inclusive leadership language. Drawing from Kyle McDowell's transformative work in "Begin With We," we unpack how a simple shift from "me-centered" to "we-centered" language fundamentally reshapes organizational culture and leadership effectiveness.

Language isn't merely semantic—it&apos...

Have you ever led a team where true connection felt out of reach? Kyle McDowell, once a top executive in Fortune 10 companies, had a powerful realization—his leadership was driven by fear, not respect. This moment sparked a transformation that led to his "Begin With We" philosophy: 10 principles focused on shifting from individual success to collective excellence.

Kyle shares a pivotal moment—alone in a hotel room, prepari...

What makes a team truly creative? It's not beanbag chairs or forced brainstorming sessions—it's about creating an environment where play becomes the engine of productivity.

Drawing from the wisdom shared by ex-Pixar executives Jamie Woolf and Dr. Chris Bell, this solocast explores how psychological safety, ownership, and freedom transform workplaces from control centers to creativity hubs. The distinction is powe...

Ready to transform your workplace from a creativity desert into a thriving innovation ecosystem? Jamie Woolf, the first director of culture at Pixar Animation, and Dr. Christopher Bell of Creativity Partners reveal the unexpected connection between play, power dynamics, and breakthrough ideas.

Their conversation shatters common misconceptions about creativity in the workplace. Forget the notion that creativity belongs only...

Ever notice how the leadership qualities you aspire to can vanish under pressure? That calm, thoughtful presence replaced by reactivity and micromanagement when deadlines loom? You're not alone.

Drawing on wisdom from executive coach and former Microsoft leader Sabina Nawaz, this episode unpacks a profound truth: pressure doesn't create your leadership tendencies—it reveals them. When stakes rise, we default to i...

Ever caught yourself micromanaging when deadlines loom, despite your best intentions? You're not alone. In this revealing conversation, former Microsoft executive Sabina Nawaz shares her personal wake-up call – discovering an employee crying after one of her meetings – that transformed her approach to leadership under pressure.

Sabina introduces game-changing concepts like the "delegation dial" that replaces...

Leadership begins with self-leadership. Without mastering the art of leading ourselves, we cannot effectively lead others. This milestone 250th episode explores twelve essential self-leadership practices that can transform how you show up as a leader.

Self-leadership starts with clarity about your purpose and values. When you remember your "why" and align your actions with your core values, you create an internal...

Reclaim your leadership power with Heather Younger, CEO of Employee Fanatix and author of The Art of Self-Leadership. In this powerful conversation, Heather reveals how we often surrender our potential by waiting for others to guide our careers.

Sharing her personal journey through adversity, Heather offers strategies to break free from self-imposed limits and face workplace challenges with courage and curiosity. Discover how self-a...

Courage isn't about being fearless—it's about taking decisive action while feeling afraid. Join us as we dive into the science of bravery, revealing how this essential quality can be deliberately cultivated by anyone seeking to grow as a leader.

Drawing from my transformative conversation with former Marine and leadership expert Jill Shulman, I explore how the most courageous people still experience fear—they&apo...