Things Leaders Do

Welcome to Episode 100 of Things Leaders Do! I can’t believe we’ve hit this milestone together. Thank you to every listener who’s been here along the way—your feedback and stories keep pushing me to bring leadership conversations that actually matter.

For this milestone episode, we’re continuing the Conflict IQ series with Part 2: Reading the Room—How to Spot Hidden Conflict Before It Explodes.

Here’s the truth: by the time conflict ...

Ever walked out of a meeting thinking everyone was aligned—only to realize the real conversation started in the hallway? That’s not alignment. That’s avoidance. And it’s killing your team’s potential.

In this kickoff episode of the Conflict IQ series, Colby Morris unpacks why most leaders get conflict wrong—and how you can build the intelligence to turn tension into trust. Drawing from research at Melbourne Business School, insights...

Ever wondered why your Gen X boss seems to speak in code? Why they get weird when you ask "why" or seem obsessed with how many hours you work? This episode flips the script—giving Millennials and Gen Z the backstage pass to understanding what makes their Gen X bosses tick. It's not about excusing poor leadership; it's about cracking the code so you can work together more effectively.

What You'll Learn

If you’ve ever said, “Because I said so” in a meeting, you might be leading like it’s still 1989.
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris calls out his own generation—Gen X leaders—for the outdated habits that are quietly holding teams back.

With a mix of self-awareness, humor, and hard truth, you’ll discover:

• Why clinging to old leadership habits kills engagement—and how to evolve without losing your identity
• How “...

Ever get frustrated trying to lead someone who sends emails in lowercase with no punctuation... but somehow they're your top performer? If you're a Gen X leader, you're sandwiched between generations with completely different values and expectations. In this episode, Colby breaks down why leading younger generations feels so challenging—and gives you practical strategies to bridge the gap without losing your edge.

Gen X leaders have seen it all—floppy disks, dial-up, the rise of email, and the shift to remote work. So why does AI feel like such a curveball? In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris explores how Gen X is uniquely positioned to lead through digital transformation—not by mastering every tool, but by mastering what really matters: people-first leadership.

From past transitions to today’s AI moment, Colby walks through fi...

What Gen X Gets Right About Leadership

Episode Summary
Gen X leaders don’t always get the spotlight—but they’ve been holding organizations together with grit, practicality, and quiet confidence for decades. In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the six distinct leadership strengths Gen X brings to the table—and why today’s teams need them more than ever.

From solving real problems under pressure to earni...

How People-First Leaders Handle What Bosses Just React To

Episode Description:
It’s easy to lead when everything’s running smoothly. But real leadership shows up in the messy moments—the missed deadlines, the underperforming team member, the big mistake that lands in your inbox first thing Monday morning.

In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby walks through five real-world scenarios leaders face every week—and shows how a p...

You Don’t Have a Succession Plan. So What Happens When Your Top Performer Leaves?

Episode Description:
If your top performer walked out tomorrow… would you have someone truly ready to step in? Most organizations wouldn’t—and that’s the problem.

In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris pulls back the curtain on why the absence of a real succession plan is one of the most dangerous blind spots in leadership today. And it...

Delegating Isn’t Leading—Until You Let Go of Control

Episode Description 

Are you delegating… or just redistributing your to-do list?

In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the difference between delegating tasks and developing leaders. Drawing from Craig Groeschel’s principle that “you don’t delegate tasks to create leaders, you delegate authority,” this episode helps you make the shift from micromanagement to...

Drowning in Decisions? You’re Leading the Wrong Way

Podcast Description
If your team can’t move without your input, you’re not leading—you’re bottlenecking.

In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris shares the leadership shift that changed everything when he was managing a 350-person team. If you're overwhelmed by decision fatigue or constantly solving problems your team could handle, this episode will show you how...

Title:
Being People-First Doesn’t Mean Being Passive—It Means Being Proactive

Episode Description:
Too many leaders confuse being people-first with being conflict-avoidant. In this episode, Colby Morris reframes that idea completely.

Great leaders don’t just react well to conflict—they prevent it. And they do that through consistent, structured one-on-ones that uncover tension before it escalates.

Drawing on insights from th...

The Secret to Great One-on-Ones: The Four Quadrants Every Leader Needs to Cover

If your one-on-ones are starting to feel routine—or worse, like a waste of time—this episode is for you.

In Part 2 of the One-on-One Series, Colby Morris breaks down the four essential quadrants every leader must cover in their one-on-ones to actually drive engagement, performance, and trust. You’ll learn how to structure your meetings with purpose, even ...

Why Your One-on-Ones Aren’t Working—And How to Fix Them

Episode 1 of the One-on-One Meeting Series | The Things Leaders Do Podcast with Colby Morris

Most one-on-one meetings aren’t working—and deep down, you probably know it.
They’re rushed. Disorganized. Too focused on tasks. Or worse—nonexistent. And when that’s the case, you’re not leading… you’re reacting.

In this episode, Colby Morris breaks down why one-on-ones fail, why th...

Managing Up — How to Disagree with Your Boss Without Killing Your Career

Disagreeing with your boss doesn’t have to be career suicide. In fact, it might be your most powerful leadership move—if you do it the right way.

In the final episode of The Conflict Series, Colby Morris tackles one of the toughest challenges for leaders in the middle: how to manage up. Whether you’re a middle manager, a team lead, or a high-performing individua...

Struggling to have tough conversations without damaging relationships? You’re not alone—and this episode shows you how to lead with clarity and care.

In Part 2 of The Conflict Series, Colby Morris breaks down a practical 3-step framework for saying hard things as a leader—without losing trust, morale, or momentum. Drawing from years of leadership experience and a real-life story with a former supervisor, Colby reveals how consistent...

The Conflict Series: Your Team is Not a Family

Is your workplace really a family—or are you avoiding the tough conversations your team actually needs?

In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris kicks off The Conflict Series by taking aim at one of the most popular myths in leadership today: the idea that your team should function like a family. While “we’re like a family here” sounds heartwarming, it often creates confusion, ...

How to Build Backup Systems That Scale — Without Creating Bottlenecks or Burnout

Show Description:

If your business relies on one person to keep a process running, you don’t have a system — you have a single point of failure.

In this follow-up to last week’s episode, Colby shares real stories and practical tools to help you build backup systems that scale without piling on red tape or burning out your team.

You’ll hear:

• A true story...

Episode Title:

Eliminating Single Points of Failure | Things Leaders Do Podcast

Episode Description (Show Notes):

What happens if the one thing holding your organization together suddenly falls apart?

In today's episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the critical leadership concept of eliminating single points of failure—before they cripple your business.

You will hear a real-world story from Colby’s time leading ho...