Leadership in Quarters: Leadership and Culture Insights

Fear as a Catalyst: Breaking Self-Imposed Glass Ceilings and Leading in an AI World | Ep. 93 ft. Melissa Sierra

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 21:45:43 -0400

"Fear usually isn't telling you to stop. It's telling you that something important is happening. Often, fear is pointing towards growth, not danger." Executive coach, strategic growth advisor, and former media executive Melissa Sierra joins host Josh Seldin to explore how leaders can transform fear from a red-light stopper into fuel for personal and professional growth. Drawing from her journey as one of the few Hispanic women in C-suite media leadership, Melissa breaks down how to dismantle self-imposed glass ceilings, build authentic executive influence, and thrive in an increasingly AI-driven workplace.

Josh and Melissa unpack practical, real-world frameworks for navigating career pivots and organizational disruption, including Melissa’s 3C Framework (Curiosity, Clarity, Conviction) and BET Framework (Boldness, Empathy, Trust). They examine why being "indispensable" in tactical execution can silently sabotage career progression, how AI actually elevates the need for human soft skills, and why asking "What is it like to be on the other side of me?" fundamentally changes communication dynamics. From taking actionable micro-steps through fear to building long-term momentum with her Opportunity Flywheel, this episode offers an empowering playbook for leading with conviction through uncertainty.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Reframing Workplace Fear: Why fear is a compass pointing toward growth and opportunity rather than a signal to stop.

✅ The 3C Framework: How Curiosity, Clarity, and Conviction align your personal value drivers with meaningful career advancement.

✅ Escaping the "Indispensable" Trap: How over-functioning in the tactical trenches creates self-imposed glass ceilings and limits executive visibility.

✅ Human Edge in the AI Era: Why AI automation makes soft skills, emotional intelligence, and authentic connection more critical than ever.

✅ The BET Framework: Applying Boldness, Empathy, and Trust to foster psychological safety and address team anxieties during change.

✅ The Opportunity Flywheel: How to build a continuous cycle of strategy, visibility, trust, and execution to drive sustainable career momentum.

🔗 Connect with Melissa Sierra:

Website: Melissasierra.focalpointcoaching.com

Holding the Room Podcast

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033D8p0...

Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbe...

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

License code: LYVLB8Q1SQICRWLB Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #MelissaSierra #ExecutiveCoaching #FearAsACatalyst #LeadershipDevelopment #AIandLeadership #CareerGrowth #ExecutiveInfluence #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

The Flourish Framework: 5 Micro Steps to Build a Thriving Team Culture | Ep. 92 ft. Ally Meyers

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 20:13:58 -0400

"In today's attention economy, high-impact leadership isn't about massive annual corporate initiatives; it’s built through tiny, intentional interactions that lower stress and build genuine trust." Workplace wellbeing strategist, executive coach, and keynote speaker Ally Meyers joins host Josh Seldin to break down her signature approach to creating resilient, high-performing teams through her "Flourish at Work" methodology. Ally brings a rich background in positive psychology and executive coaching to show leaders how micro-habits—rather than sweeping, surface-level perks—are the real engine behind employee retention, focus, and long-term performance.

Josh and Ally unpack five practical micro steps every manager can start implementing immediately to protect employee mental bandwidth and combat workplace burnout. They explore how to normalize flow state focus blocks, structure meeting buffers to prevent cognitive overload, and set healthy boundaries around after-hours communication. Additionally, Ally reveals the neuroscience behind starting meetings with "broaden-and-build" questions and explains how managers can bridge cross-generational communication gaps between Boomers and Gen Z. This episode serves as an actionable blueprint for any leader looking to build a connected, human-centered culture while protecting their team’s sustainable productivity.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Micro-Steps Over Sweeping Initiatives: Why small, daily managerial interactions create far more sustainable cultural support than once-a-year corporate perks.

✅ Protecting Flow State: How encouraging dedicated focus blocks helps employees achieve "effortless productivity" and deep fulfillment in an attention-scarce world.

✅ Meeting Palate Cleansers: Utilizing buffer times and shortened schedules to avoid back-to-back cognitive fatigue and preserve mental clarity.

✅ Clarifying After-Hours Boundaries: Establishing explicit off-hours communication protocols to avoid the trap of the "infinite workday."
✅ Broaden-and-Build Meetings: Leveraging positive emotion at the start of team check-ins to build psychological safety, deepen trust, and improve problem-solving.

✅ Navigating Generative Workstyles: Practical approaches for managing different generational communication habits and reframing flexibility across your team.

🔗 Connect with Ally Meyers:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ally-meyers / ally-meyers

Website: http://www.allymeyers.com/

Free Resource : Five Scripts for Uncomfortable Manager Conversations (Stress-Free Feedback) https://subscribefivetothrive.myflodesk.com/stressfreefeedback

Broaden & Build Questions: https://subscribefivetothrive.myflodesk.com/questionstoconnect

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok Artwork:

Adam Powell

Music by: bensound.com

License code: UHFXJTJFDYJNHZRN

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #AllyMeyers #WorkplaceWellbeing #EmployeeRetention #PositivePsychology #ResilientLeadership #CorporateCulture #ExecutiveCoaching #TimeManagement #JoshSeldin #FlourishAtWork

The Neuroscience of Culture: Driving Engagement through Brain Science | Ep. 91 ft. Lisa Riegel

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 20:33:00 -0400

"Eighty percent of what we are thinking, we are not consciously thinking." Education researcher and author Dr. Lisa Riegel joins host Josh Seldin to break down how understanding brain science can revolutionize workplace culture, human motivation, and organizational change. Dr. Riegel reveals why traditional management approaches often fail by ignoring how the human brain processes stress and value, and introduces actionable strategies to transition employees from passive compliance to deep co-creation.

Josh and Lisa explore the mechanics of human behavior under pressure, the friction caused by misaligned values, and how to harness her 8C Commitment Framework to smooth resistance to change. From the power of strategic micro-celebrations to overcoming our brain's threat response, this conversation provides leaders with a practical, science-backed roadmap for creating environments where teams feel connected, capable, and motivated to grow.

Key Takeaways:

✅ The Motivation Equation: How balancing expectancy and individual values transforms basic task compliance into genuine engagement.

✅ Decoding the Brain's Threat Response: Understanding how the amygdala and thalamus drive workplace behavior and conflict during times of change.

✅ The 8C Commitment Framework: A step-by-step model designed to eliminate organizational friction and align human systems for success.

✅ Beyond the Bottom Line: Why celebrating behavioral outputs rather than just end outcomes builds sustainable, high-performing cultures.

✅ Practical Culture Rituals: Simple, low-friction habits like "100 Ways in 100 Days" and "Pity & Pride" to elevate peer recognition and build collective efficacy.

✅ Leading for the Follower: Shifting from rigid leadership styles to adaptable, human-centered approaches that meet the true needs of your team.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Lisa Riegel:

Website: www.lisariegel.com

Institute Website: www.epinstitute.net

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisariegel/

Substack: https://substack.com/@lisariegel

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lisa+riegel&crid=30TTDXLJRNQMO&sprefix=lisa+riegel%2Caps%2C158&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Schedule a meeting: https://calendly.com/lisa-humanprogram/30min

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

License code: KHCH1T1VIRTMRYOH

Artist: Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #LisaRiegel #BrainScience #NeuroscienceInLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeEngagement #OrganizationalChange #ExecutiveCoaching #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

Adaptive Resilience: Navigating High-Pressure Decision-Making with Clarity | Ep. 90 ft. Savio P Clemente

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:48:00 -0400

"Performance doesn't fail first, clarity does." When disruption hits an organization, leaders often rush to fix the metrics while completely ignoring the internal chaos that degrades their team's decision-making ability. Keynote speaker, journalist, and board-certified wellness coach Savio P. Clemente joins host Josh Seldin to break down how leaders can navigate high-pressure situations, cut through cognitive overload, and stay deeply grounded when it matters most.

Drawing from over 2,000 interviews with global leaders and his own powerful journey surviving cancer twice, Savio introduces the Adaptive Resilience Leadership Framework. Together, Josh and Savio explore the dangerous phenomenon of "post-decision drift," why true workplace transparency trumps curated authenticity, and the psychological power of taking physical distance from high-stakes problems. From utilizing the "ALOHA Reboot" method to embracing intentional silence as a strategic leadership tool, this episode provides an essential, human-centered playbook for maintaining operational excellence long after the immediate crisis has passed.

Key Takeaways:

✅ 00:48 – The Clarity Fallacy: Why a drop in team performance is almost always preceded by a hidden loss of personal and situational clarity.

✅ 03:20 – Connection Over Content: Shifting away from content overload to focus on authentic transparency and internal connection.

✅ 05:15 – The ALOHA Reboot Framework: A practical 5-step process (Acknowledge, Listen, Open, Harness, Act) to navigate disruption and reconnect with your inner compass.

✅ 07:50 – Managing Cognitive Overload: How creating psychological distance and resourcing past wins helps stop decision drift under pressure.

✅ 10:40 – Power of Strategic Silence: Embracing intentional stillness and quiet moments to clear cognitive friction and sharpen decision-making quality.

✅ 13:00 – The "Catch and Release" Shift: Why leaders must honor past coping mechanisms while intentionally letting go of what no longer serves their current environment.

🔗 Connect with Savio P. Clemente:

Website: https://www.saviopclemente.com

All Social Media Platforms: @thehumanresolve

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music: bensound.com

License code: SWC68MAJY14KUQXL

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #SavioPClemente #AdaptiveResilience #ExecutiveLeadership #DecisionMaking #CrisisManagement #HealthcareLeaders #MindfulLeadership #CorporateCulture #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

The 90-Day Listening Strategy: Earning Authority and Building Trust | Ep. 89 ft. Kurt Mosley & Neill Marshall

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 19:58:00 -0400

"Data is gonna tell you what happened and that's fine. But employees are gonna tell you why it happened. The culture's gonna live in the conversation." Executive search veterans and healthcare leadership experts Neill Marshall and Kurt Mosley join host Josh Seldin for the podcast’s first dual-guest episode to break down the critical mechanics of a leader's first 90 days. Together, they challenge the classic executive trap of rushing in to make immediate changes, proving instead that sustainable, high-impact leadership starts with deep observation and intentional listening.

Josh, Neill, and Kurt dive into the concept of "earned authority"—the shift from having power because of a title to having a team that willingly follows your vision. They share powerful, real-world case studies of CEOs who navigated massive structural transitions by respecting organizational history, meeting employees on familiar ground, and refusing to "shoot the messenger." From learning why walking the floor beats analyzing dashboards to understanding the difference between symptoms and actual problems, this episode provides a masterclass on how to build immediate trust, foster co-creation, and protect psychological safety during times of organizational change.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Symptoms vs. Problems: Why rushing to fix an issue in the first 90 days often leads to solving the wrong problem and reopening old organizational wounds.

✅ The Power of Presence: How stepping away from dashboards and physically walking the floor allows you to discover where operational frictions truly exist.

✅ Earning Authority vs. Holding a Title: Shifting from mandated, top-down directives to an environment where your team carries out your vision because they want to, not because they have to.

✅ The Co-Creation Model: Why people naturally support what they help build, and how involving frontline employees in structural solutions creates permanent, sustainable change.

✅ Psychological Safety in Feedback: The foundational rule of organizational communication: the moment you shoot the messenger, you will never hear the truth again.

✅ The 90-Day Legacy Framework: Practical wisdom from interviewing over 100 top executives on how to establish credibility and rapport without needing to prove you are the smartest person in the room.

🔗 Connect with Neill Marshall & Kurt Mosley:

Website: https://healthsearchpartners.com/

Neill Marshall LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neillmarshall/

Kurt Mosley LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kurt-mosley-01893212

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music by: Bensound

License code: SQOLLV0IPAW8VKX6

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #NeillMarshall #KurtMosley #HealthSearchPartners #ExecutiveLeadership #EarnedAuthority #First90Days #ActiveListening #ChangeManagement #CoCreation #CorporateCulture #HealthcareLeaders #JoshSeldin

The Strategic Pause: Navigating Chaos and High-Stakes Leadership | Ep. 88 ft. Norman Leach

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:22:00 -0400

"Too many people think that as a leader, they have to have an instantaneous answer, and most leaders don't. High-performance teams take that moment to reflect." Polymath, author, and turnaround strategist Norman Leach joins host Josh Seldin to break down how leaders can navigate periods of rapid change, chaos, and uncertainty without falling into the trap of desperate, knee-jerk decision-making. Norman pulls from his diverse background across the corporate sector and his real-world experience as an EMT to share why the most critical tool in a crisis isn't speed—it's the strategic pause.

Josh and Norman explore why North American corporate culture struggles with silence, how to establish an honest and psychologically safe communication loop from the top down, and the power of rolling up your sleeves to get in the arena with your team. From building diagnostic "dashboards" that act as low-tire-pressure warning lights for your business to knowing when a leader needs to swallow their ego and step aside for an expert, this episode serves as a masterclass on resilient, human-centered leadership in a volatile world.

Key Takeaways:

✅ The Danger of Knee-Jerk Reactions: Why rushing into immediate tactical changes out of desperation increases organizational chaos and destroys team trust.

✅ The Binocular Approach: Lessons from the first responder world on why stopping to evaluate a scene before jumping in saves businesses millions of dollars and protects livelihoods.

✅ Embracing the Strategic Pause: Overcoming the cultural discomfort with silence to leverage it for holistic, future-focused thinking.

✅ Radical Honesty in Crisis: Why hiding the truth from your team breeds panic, and how transparent communication builds unbreakable commitment.

✅ Leading in Work Boots, Not Guccis: The necessity of human-centered visibility, rolling up your sleeves, and standing on the front lines with your workforce during a downturn.

✅ Ego vs. Credibility: A real-world look at how the best leaders prioritize organizational safety and brand reputation over personal optics by empowering the right experts at the right time.

🔗 Connect with Norman Leach:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/normanleach

Contact Info and Websites: https://hihello.com/p/3d8a212c-e541-4377-bf22-dc477e9f38b0?referer=email_signature&source=manual

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music by: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

License code: DCXT7JZR72DWZTFP

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #NormanLeach #CrisisLeadership #ChangeManagement #StrategicThinking #TransparentCommunication #HumanCenteredLeadership #CorporateCulture #BusinessStrategy #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

Leading Beyond Survival: Swapping the Monkey Brain for Psychological Safety | Ep. 87 ft. Dr Luissa Kiprono

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 20:08:00 -0400

"Survival mode leadership is reactive. It’s not intentional. Decisions are made through urgency, scarcity, and fear of failure instead of bringing together the mission, the values, and the people around you." High-risk pregnancy physician specialist, Air Force veteran, and author Dr. Luissa Kiprono joins host Josh Seldin to explore what it truly means to lead beyond survival mode. Dr. Kiprono draws on her incredible journey—from surviving communist Romania to overcoming personal trauma—to dissect the underlying neuroscience of how fear paralyzes modern workplace cultures.

Josh and Dr. Kiprono break down why the primitive "monkey brain" defaults to fight-or-flight reactions during high-stakes corporate pressure, and how conscious leaders can train themselves to find the space between action and reaction. They discuss the deep systemic cost of suffocating, toxic workplace environments—such as the "glorified suffering" and malignant blame cultures historically found in medical residencies—and contrast them with thriving organizations built on vulnerable communication, mutual trust, and robust succession planning. From learning how to defuse your own internal projection traps to empowering the "schedulers" and frontline technicians in your organization, this episode offers a vital, trauma-informed blueprint for building a resilient, psychologically safe culture.

Key Takeaways:

✅ The Primitive Brain Trap: Understanding the neuroscience of why your "monkey brain" defaults to reactionary, fear-based decisions under pressure rather than leveraging the prefrontal cortex.

✅ Pausing the Reflex: Practical, learned behaviors—like taking a tactical timeout or sleeping on a hot email—to create space between a high-stakes trigger and a civilized reply.

✅ The Palpable Room Temperature: Recognizing how hypervigilance, workplace gossip, and fear of punishment destroy team engagement and cause employees to wait for the other shoe to drop.

✅ Dethroning the Rite of Passage: Why thriving organizations must shift away from historical "malignant environments" that glorify past suffering as a prerequisite for current success.

✅ Eradicating the Word "Just": How top-tier leaders build deep trust and uncover the hidden risks below the surface by eliminating self-diminishing language from frontline staff.

✅ Thriving Through Adversity: Shifting the leadership paradigm to realize that a healthy culture isn't defined by the absence of challenges, but by the presence of collaborative resilience when things break down.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Luissa Kiprono:

Websites: www.drluissak.com www.telemedmfm.com

HQ Hub: https://linktr.ee/drluissak

Book:

Special Ed (Signed + Bookmark): https://drluissak.com/book-us/

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/push-then-breathe-

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0EOlEcbqr7h89mYoLwATcJ?si=bd5c6e6d53934710https://open.spotify.com/show/0EOlEcb...

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-luissa-k-mfm-author-leader

Facebook: www.facebook.com/luissa.kip

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drluissak/

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music: Bensound

License code: CACCELOIJIRNMRRT

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #DrLuissaKiprono #LeadingBeyondSurvival #PsychologicalSafety #NeuroscienceOfLeadership #TraumaInformedLeadership #CorporateCulture #ExecutiveCoaching #VulnerableLeadership #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

The Feedback Shift: Moving from Directives to Co-Active Growth | Ep. 86 ft. Joel Silverstone

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 20:50:00 -0400

"Leaders often hinder team motivation by projecting their own logic and values onto others instead of using curiosity to uncover individual drivers." Communication coach and former actor Joel Silverstone joins host Josh Seldin to transform how leaders approach motivation and professional accountability. Joel pulls back the curtain on the psychology of human behavior, showing leaders how to move away from rigid, directive feedback and step into a co-active, conversational framework focused on future growth.

Josh and Joel explore why projecting your own personal motivations onto a team member fails, how to master the art of remaining deeply present and listening actively, and the power of being soft on the person while remaining hard on the problem. From utilizing curiosity as a tool to uncover hidden professional drivers to navigating high-stakes feedback conversations, this episode provides a sharp, real-world playbook on how to build a sustainable, high-performing culture through authentic communication.

Key Takeaways:

✅ The Projection Trap: Why assuming your team members are motivated by the same logic and values as you is a major leadership blind spot.

✅ Curiosity Over Certainty: How replacing assumptions with genuine curiosity allows you to uncover what actually drives individual performance.

✅ The Co-Active Feedback Model: Shifting away from top-down directive feedback to a collaborative, growth-focused conversation.

✅ Deep Presence in Communication: Strategies for overcoming the internal noise to listen actively and remain fully present with your team.

✅ Soft on Person, Hard on Problem: A communication framework for protecting human relationships and psychological safety while maintaining uncompromising standards for performance.

✅ Unlocking Team Motivation: Practical tools from the world of performance and coaching to transform how your team engages with constructive criticism.

🔗 Connect with Joel Silverstone:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelsilverstone/

Website: https://thisfeelsright.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/this.feels.right/

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music

License code: XLTFEA63G4NDR8GZ

Artist: Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #JoelSilverstone #EffectiveFeedback #TeamMotivation #CoActiveCoaching #CorporateCulture #ExecutiveCoaching #CommunicationSkills #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

Influencing Without Authority: The Human Factor of Silo Leadership | Ep. 85 ft. David Fung

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:16:00 -0400

"It costs you nothing to be respectful, but it will cost you relationships if you assume the worst in other people every time." Former Salesforce Senior Director David Fung joins host Josh Seldin to tackle the ultimate challenge of matrixed organizations: how to get things done when you aren't the boss. David pulls back the curtain on the psychology of human behavior, showing leaders how to move away from command-and-control tactics and step into a culture of high-yielding influence.

Josh and David explore the "What's in it for me?" (WIIFM) factor, why flatter organizations require a complete abandonment of corporate egos, and how to successfully hold peers accountable when deadlines slip. From building cross-functional "piggy banks" of trust to dealing with holiday weekend emergencies, this episode provides a sharp, real-world playbook on how to lead effectively using credibility, authentic connection, and strategic relevance.

Key Takeaways:

✅ The Authority Fallacy: Why relying on a title or organizational hierarchy to drive priorities results in checked-out teams who only do the bare minimum.

✅ The Influencer Triad: Mastering the three requirements of non-authoritative leadership—establishing deep structural credibility, forging human connection, and maintaining radical relevance.

✅ Bypassing the Transactional Trap: How to stop treating corporate relationships like a fast-food order and start building genuine, proactive rapport across departments.

✅ Uncovering Hidden Leverage: Strategies for finding shared commonalities and collective alignment across seemingly disconnected departmental silos.

✅ Peer-to-Peer Accountability: A live roleplay framework for politely but firmly holding cross-functional colleagues accountable to their commitments through the lens of integrity.

✅ The True Cost of Respect: Understanding how a baseline of humility, transparency, and empathy acts as your most powerful currency for sustainable, long-term career success.

🔗 Connect with David Fung:

Podcast: https://coachfulcoaching.com/podcast

Website: http://www.coachfulcoaching.com/

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music

License code: RFDYFOWDK3BYX6UZ

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #DavidFung #InfluenceWithoutAuthority #CrossFunctionalLeadership #CorporateCulture #ExecutiveCoaching #TechLeadership #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

Humor as a Business Skill: Leading Through Tension and Irony | Ep. 84 ft. Jan McInnis

Sun, 31 May 2026 22:57:00 -0400

"People want to work with the people they want to have a beer or a glass of wine with." Television monologue writer, author, and clean comedian Jan McInnis joins host Josh Seldin to prove that humor isn't just for the comedy club: it's a critical tool in the executive toolkit. Jan shares her front-line secrets from speaking to organizations like the Federal Reserve and the Mayo Clinic, showing leaders how to safely navigate the fine line of "too soon" comedy and leverage the humanizing power of self-deprecating wit.

Josh and Jan dig into how leaders can command a room like a seasoned stand-up, manage corporate "hecklers" without losing power, and bypass standard corporate tunnel vision by intentionally scanning their environment for ironies. From coping with frozen salaries in Iowa to navigating truck drivers in a church basement, this episode is a masterclass in reading the room and breaking the ice when the pressure is on.

Key Takeaways:

✅ The Energy Reset: How a single well-timed observation can instantly release the physiological tension of a room stuck in a low-energy or high-stress rut.

✅ The Anatomy of a Business Joke: Why leaders should avoid hot-button topics (politics, religion) and focus strictly on situational ironies and self-deprecating humor.

✅ Handling the Corporate Heckler: Learning from comedians how to diffuse disruptive, attention-seeking team members ("Bobs") without forfeiting your authority.

✅ Bypassing Corporate Blinders: How to trade presentation tunnel vision for sharp situational awareness by scanning agendas, environments, and team vibes.

✅ The Meme Advantage: Utilizing cartoons, idioms, altered acronyms, and visual memes to increase email open rates and reinforce dry corporate documentation.

✅ Starting Small: Embracing the "open mic" approach to management by testing out small, authentic expressions of humor before anchoring major company keynotes with it.

🔗 Connect with Jan McInnis:

Website: https://theworklady.com/

Substack: https://janmcinnis.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jan.mcinnis/

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music by Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

License code: FK3H7T3WKW6EAGTE

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #JanMcInnis #HumorInBusiness #ExecutivePresence #ApproachableLeadership #CorporateCulture #ReadTheRoom #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

The ROI of Heart-Centered Leadership: Overcoming Corporate Ego With Energy | Ep. 83 ft. Alison Kermode

Mon, 25 May 2026 19:47:00 -0400

"The mind overcomplicates things. The heart simplifies." Corporate growth strategist and author Alison Kermode joins host Josh Seldin to pull back the curtain on a critical resource most executive spreadsheets completely miss: employee energy. Alison shares how she used energetic awareness to help scale a company by over $1 billion and details a staggering 200% revenue turnaround achieved simply by shifting a team's emotional climate.

Josh and Alison dissect the corporate ego—the hyper-defensive, protective mindset that creates silos, stifles collaboration, and breeds "Negative Nellies." They discuss practical ways to audit a meeting's vibe, why leaders need to run away from the term "soft skills," and how integrating a "heart-centered advantage" is the ultimate counterweight to the cold, transactional energy of artificial intelligence.

Key Takeaways:

✅ The 200% Revenue Blueprint: Real-world proof that shifting a workplace from fear-based to heart-centered directly accelerates financial metrics.

✅ The Incredible Hulk Mindset: Recognizing how an overdeveloped corporate ego causes leaders to overcomplicate problems and drown in defensive data.

✅ The EVOL&ved Framework: Understanding the mathematical balance of culture—aiming for 51% heart energy (EVOL/ Love backwards) and 49% mind energy (ved).

✅ Meeting Vibe Metrics: How to spot the early warning signs of cultural decline, including sudden defensiveness and "dog and pony show" presentations.

✅ The Meta-Moment Reset: A simple, under-a-minute biological tool using conscious breathing to override a high-stress, hijacked brain state.

✅ The Counter-AI Strategy: Why human-centered customer service is becoming the highest-value corporate differentiator as transactional tech scales.

🔗 Connect with Alison Kermode:

Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/yolarobert1/2026/03/01/7-ways-to-become-a-heart-centered-leader/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9Oi_cmnk4hIVScj2WE65g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theevolvedtraining/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-kermode-919b713/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEvolvedTraining

Training: https://theevolvedtraining.com/

Consulting: https://kermodecollaborative.com/

Heart-Centered Movement Online Store (Apparel and Books): https://theevolvedstore.com/

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music by https://www.bensound.com

License code: 29DY2CU2ZSVPR45P

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #AlisonKermode #HeartCenteredLeadership #CorporateCulture #EmotionalIntelligence #EgoVsHeart #ResilientLeadership #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

The Neuroscience of Leadership: Embodied Change and Mirror Neurons | Ep. 82 ft. Ursula Pottinga

Sun, 17 May 2026 20:55:00 -0400

"We are human beings, not human doings." Ursula Pottinga joins host Josh Seldin to challenge high-achieving leaders who try to intellectualize every problem while completely ignoring the body. Did you know that 90% of the information processed by your system originates in the body before it ever reaches the brain?

Josh and Ursula dive deep into the mechanics of nervous system regulation, the power of the "mirror neuron system" in team dynamics, and the hidden biological cost of emotional suppression. They offer practical neuroscience tools to move leaders from a state of wobbly dysregulation to grounded presence, providing a fascinating look at how curiosity and brain science can transform workplace culture in 2026.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ The Embodied Brain: Why the body holds the deeper wisdom and data required for sustainable behavior modification.

✅ Nervous System Regulation: How your physiological state directly dictates the effectiveness, clarity, and empathy of your leadership actions.

✅ The Mirror Neuron System: The science behind how leaders unconsciously broadcast their stress or calm to their entire team.

✅ The Danger of Suppression: Why pretending "everything is fine" increases your chemical stress load and leads to sideways "leaks" like road rage or sudden outbursts.

✅ Name It to Tame It: How simply verbalizing a difficult emotion immediately triggers a calming biochemical response in the nervous system.

✅ Neuroplasticity & Habits: How to break out of old, ineffective "neural highways" and consciously wire new pathways for leadership success.

✅ Leading Neurodiversity & Differences: Why curiosity is the ultimate tool for supporting neurodivergent, generational, and cultural differences in modern organizations.

✅ Complaints as Requests: How to reframe team complaints as unspoken requests and transition your culture into a solution-focused powerhouse.

🔗 Connect with Ursula Pottinga:

Her Website: https://www.profoundgrowth.com/podcasts

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ursula-pottinga/

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music by Bensound

License code: J4NFQF252P8MPOWY

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #UrsulaPottinga #NeuroscienceOfLeadership #EmbodiedChange #NervousSystemRegulation #Neuroplasticity #PsychologicalSafety #YourGrowthAscent #JoshSeldin

Building High-Trust Cultures: Co-Creation and Braving Fear | Ep. 81 ft. Ian Clawson

Sun, 10 May 2026 19:47:00 -0400

"How do we work together?" While many leaders focus on working harder or working smarter, cultural strategist Ian Clawson joins Josh Seldin to argue that the most important question is how we co-create. Ian, the co-author of Brave Together, discusses why even high-performing teams can feel disconnected and how leaders can identify the "fear-based" behaviors—blame, complaining, and excuses—that stall growth. In this episode, you’ll learn why a "safe space" isn't enough and how to build a "brave space" where the best ideas win.

Josh and Ian explore the "Mirror Test" for leaders, the power of leading with curious questions, and how to balance the high standards of execution with the humanity required for long-term cultural health.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Inclusion vs. Belonging: Understanding the organizational and individual roles in creating a connected team.

✅ The 3 Faces of Fear: How to spot blame, complaining, and excuses as indicators of underlying psychological barriers.

✅ Leading with Questions: Why the best leaders don't have all the answers and how to use curiosity as a strategic tool.

✅ The Mirror Test: Shifting the mindset from "What's wrong with them?" to "How must I change my approach?".

✅ Standards vs. Expectations: How to avoid the "suffocating" trap of micromanagement by focusing on directional standards.

✅ Co-Creation: Moving beyond the "lone wolf" executor mentality to design a better collective experience.

🔗 Connect with Ian Clawson:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-clawson-bravecore/

His Website: https://bravecore.co/

His Book (Brave Together): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1265386676/...

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: @leadinquarters on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

Artwork: Adam Powell

Royalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.com

License code: ZP5F5MP5C8LJEFXG

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #IanClawson #BraveTogether #WorkplaceCulture #HighTrustTeams #CoCreation #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipDevelopment #JoshSeldin

Unlocking Empathetic Leadership: Vulnerability and Resilience | Ep. 80 ft. Dr. Marline C. Duroseau

Sun, 03 May 2026 19:42:00 -0400

"In order for your team to produce for you, you have to have that vulnerability as well." Dr. Mar joins Josh to dismantle the myth that vulnerability is a "soft skill" or a sign of weakness in positions of power. Instead, they discuss how showing humanity allows organizations to thrive during times of extreme disruption, such as the global challenges faced by the healthcare industry during COVID-19.

Josh and Dr. Mar dive deep into the differences in how men and women navigate vulnerability, the danger of the "I did it, why can't you?" mentality, and the critical balance between being an empathetic leader and maintaining accountability. They provide a roadmap for leaders to move from "Chaos to Calm" by developing self-awareness and building bridges of trust rather than barriers of ego.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ The Vulnerability Reframe: Why bringing humanity into stoic work is a requirement for modern organizational success.

✅ Gender Stereotypes in Leadership: How to overcome the different societal pressures placed on men and women regarding emotional expression.

✅ Leading Through Disruption: Real-world lessons from the front lines of healthcare on how empathy saves teams during crises.

✅ The Balance of Calm and Stern: How to be a "no-nonsense" leader while remaining a safe space for your team.

✅ Building Bridges vs. Barriers: Why curiosity and asking "what help is needed?" is more effective than scolding or shaming.

✅ Emotional Regulation: The importance of self-awareness and knowing your own "level" before attempting to lead others.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Marline C. Duroseau:

Her Website: http://www.mcdbe.com/

Chaos to Calm™ : masterclass.mcdbe.com

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: On Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok @leadinquarters

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music: https://www.bensound.com

License code: BOPECP4TGJ7IJYEH

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #DrMarlineDuroseau #EmpatheticLeadership #VulnerabilityInWorkplace #ResilientLeadership #ChaosToCalm #PsychologicalSafety #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

Stop Babysitting, Start Leading: How to Build a ”Ride or Die” Team | Ep. 79 ft. Greg Provance

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 20:05:00 -0400

"A leader's job is not to get followers; it's to create more leaders." Greg Provance joins Josh to discuss the subtle traps that lead to the "babysitting mentality"—where leaders feel they have to repeat instructions a thousand times because their team lacks ownership. They dive into how to reframe these interactions to foster an environment where team members don't just follow orders, but bring solutions to the table.

Josh and Greg explore why curiosity is the most powerful tool in your leadership kit. From utilizing "micro-coaching" sessions in high-paced environments to turning mistakes into collaborative learning opportunities, this episode provides actionable strategies to move beyond the surface-level metrics and tap into the energy of your culture.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ Babysitter vs. Leader: How to diagnose if you are unintentionally stifling your team’s growth.

✅ The Power of Curiosity: Why turning every "correction" into a question changes the energy of the entire team.

✅ Micro-Coaching: How to build capability and ownership on the fly, even when you have "no time."

✅ The "Why" Behind Mistakes: How to move from shaming failures to understanding the root cause (and fixing it for good).

✅ Reclaiming the Pre-Shift: Why team huddles are the "golden moments" for alignment, even if they aren't perfect.

✅ Energy as a Metric: Why the "feel" of your organization is the ultimate driver of retention and profitability.

🔗 Connect with Greg Provance:

His Website: gphospitalitypartners.com

His Email: greg@gphospitalitypartners.com

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music by https://www.bensound.com

License code: JPMXGDTPSY9CK8IH

Artist: : Nick Petrov

#LeadershipInQuarters #GregProvance #RideOrDieTeam #HospitalityLeadership #OwnershipMindset #StopBabysitting #LeadershipDevelopment #CultureBuilding #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

Leading Under Sustained Pressure: Systems, Resilience, and the 5% Genius Rule | Ep. 78 ft. Kevin Gaskell

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:48:00 -0400

"Inaction is in itself a decision." Kevin Gaskell joins Josh to discuss how to lead when the pressure doesn't let up. Drawing parallels from the military and the Apollo space missions, Kevin explains why the best leaders remain calm by becoming the "Capcom" for their team—filtering noise and focusing on a single version of the truth.

Josh and Kevin explore the "5% Genius Rule," the importance of scheduling recovery time for high-performers, and why "arrogance is a terrible sin" in the boardroom. Whether you are navigating a ten-year loss or building a new startup, this episode provides a roadmap for shifting from reactive firefighting to proactive, systemic success.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ The 5% Genius Rule: How to harness the collective "genius" of your entire team to create 100% excellence.

✅ Clarity over Numbers: Why focusing on the score (numbers) instead of the game (teamwork) leads to failure.

✅ Capcom Communication: How to reduce noise and confusion by centralizing communication during a crisis.

✅ Resilience beats Brilliance: Why long-term success depends on consistent systems rather than individual "heroes."

✅ Shadow Culture Prevention: How to ensure alignment in the room translates to action outside the room.

✅ Scheduled Recovery: Why strong leaders must force their "Type A" executives to take breaks to avoid breaking.

✅ Win or Learn: Shifting the mindset from "fear of failure" to "momentum of decision."

🔗 Connect with Kevin Gaskell: https://kevingaskell.com/

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Artwork: Adam Powell

Royalty Free Music: Bensound.com

License code: VR19BIPYLMCKCYNP

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #KevinGaskell #PressureLeadership #BusinessResilience #SystemsThinking #TeamPerformance #ExecutiveCoaching #StrategicClarity #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

Identity Suppression and the Power of Authentic Energy Leadership | Ep. 77 ft. Dr. Norma Hollis

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 19:55:00 -0400

"Authenticity is the highest vibration—it's even higher than love." Dr. Norma Hollis joins Josh to discuss the high cost of "losing yourself" in a corporate box. They dive into why many professionals face an identity crisis at retirement and how companies unknowingly design systems that kill the very diversity of mindset they claim to value.

Josh and Dr. Hollis discuss the "Gifts Game" and the importance of alignment—matching your natural-born talents with your professional role. This episode is a call to action for leaders to stop leading from a pedestal of perfection and start leading with a human-centric approach that fosters trust, engagement, and sustainable energy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ Identity Suppression: How to recognize if your corporate culture is stealing your authentic energy.

✅ Authenticity as Strategy: Why alignment between who you are and what you do is the ultimate driver of ROI.

✅ The Gifts Game: Understanding the multidimensional nature of your team (and why your engineers might actually be artists).

✅ The Hidden Cost of Inauthenticity: How "inching" the truth to save a job leads to an $8 million loss for organizations.

✅ Human-Centric vs. Data-Driven: Why the companies that "have a soul" are the ones that will win in the next decade.

✅ Breaking Autopilot: Practical advice on using reflection and assessment to stop "pushing through" and start living.

✅ Leading by Energy: How to support and read your team's energy rather than suppressing it.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Norma Hollis:

Her Website: normahollis.com

Her Authenticity Assessment: http://authenticityassessment.com/

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Artwork: Adam Powell

Music by: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

License code: MPJZBXTAHBWKTSO6

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #DrNormaHollis #AuthenticLeadership #IdentitySuppression #CorporateCulture #AuthenticEnergy #ProfessionalDevelopment #EmployeeEngagement #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

The Brilliant Jerk & The Silent Mutiny: How to Kill Toxiculture | Ep. 76 ft. Manny Palachuk

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 20:02:00 -0400

"Culture doesn't just happen; if you let it grow from the bottom, you're going to get weeds." Manny Palachuk joins Josh to explain why leadership must be the gardener of organizational culture. They dive into the "mutiny" that happens when communication breaks down and why keeping a high-performer with a toxic attitude is a mathematical mistake for your business.

Josh and Manny explore the "Human Element" in corporate spaces, the difference between healthy tension and toxic dissent, and how to systematize your business so you can work on it, not just in it. Whether you're a startup of three or a corporation of three hundred, this episode provides the four pillars—Vision, Mission, Values, and the Human Element—needed to build a culture that thrives.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ The Side-of-the-Mouth Dissent: How to spot the first signs of a culture shift after a meeting ends.

✅ The Brilliant Jerk: Why holding onto a technical expert with a bad attitude is "holding your company hostage."

✅ Three-Level Deep Coverage: The system that gives you the freedom to let toxic people go without tanking the business.

✅ Vision-Coupling vs. Leader-Coupling: Why the best organizations (like Zappos) survive even after the founder is gone.

✅ Working ON vs. IN the Business: Lessons from The E-Myth Revisited on systematizing for scale.

✅ The Human Element: How small shifts, like personalized cubicles and diverse thought, prevent the "dead building" syndrome.

✅ First Who, Then What: Why the "We" mindset is more powerful than the "I" mindset in leadership.

🔗 Connect with Manny Palachuk:

His Website: https://www.mannypalachuk.com/

Free Culture Assessment: https://www.mannypalachuk.com/culture-assessment

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Music: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-f...

License code: M2UXD4PEZ9DVVQ9N

Artist: : Marcus P.

#LeadershipInQuarters #MannyPalachuk #Toxiculture #CompanyCulture #TheEMyth #ExtremeOwnership #BrilliantJerk #BusinessSystems #LeadershipDevelopment #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

Kindness vs Niceness: Nervous System Regulation & the Science of Heart-Led Leadership | Ep. 75 ft. Erica Bonham

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 20:24:00 -0400

Is your "niceness" actually a survival tactic? Erica Bonham joins Josh to reveal why niceness is often a performance used to mask anxiety, while true kindness is a "muscle" built through honesty and direct feedback. They discuss the "soup of society" we all swim in and how old traumas can turn leaders into rigid, "power-over" bosses.

Erica explains the biology of leadership—how your vagus nerve communicates with your team’s "bullshit detectors"—and why performing calm isn't enough. You have to actually be regulated.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ Niceness vs. Kindness: Why niceness is self-preservation, but kindness is a gift of honesty and growth.

✅ The Nervous System Toolkit: Moving beyond "head bubbles" into somatic practices to anchor yourself in your lower belly.

✅ The "Strongest Nervous System" Wins: How a leader’s regulation (or dysregulation) is literally contagious to the entire room.

✅ Shadow Work: Why "gruff" leadership styles are often just trauma adaptations designed to prevent being a victim again.

✅ Vulnerability as Strength: Why naming the "anxiety in the room" builds more trust than pretending everything is "rainbows and sunshine."

✅ Differentiation: How real connection requires a healthy degree of separation and knowing where you end and your team begins.

🔗 Connect with Erica Bonham:

Download the Free Regulation Toolkit: 11 Somatic Practices to Get You Out of Overwhelm: https://www.avoscounseling.com/freebie

Connect with Erica and her team for therapy and coaching services at: http://www.avoscounsleing.com

Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avoscounseling/

Her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-bonham-956262147/

📖 Read Erica’s Book: Always Enough, Never Done: https://www.avoscounseling.com/always-enough

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Music by: Bensound

License code: KBPTYXDUFZWRBCTA

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #EricaBonham #HeartLedLeadership #SomaticRegulation #NervousSystem #VagusNerve #KindnessInBusiness #ShadowWork #AuthenticLeadership

The Trust Audit: Stop Eroding Credibility and Start Leading with Impact | Ep. 74 ft. Tucker Miller

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 20:08:00 -0400

Are your "nice" habits actually hurting your team? Tucker Miller joins Josh to reveal why being "likable" isn't the same as being "respected." They explore how leaders unconsciously signal a lack of trust—like doing the work themselves after delegating it—and how to move from reactive "Lizard Brain" responses to intentional, high-level leadership.

Tucker shares a striking story about an executive in a "ivory tower" who couldn't understand why his team wouldn't talk to him, proving that the environment you create speaks louder than the words you say.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ The Lizard Brain vs. Prefrontal Cortex: Why we avoid conflict and how to "pause" into a neutral state before reacting.

✅ The "Nice Guy" Red Flag: Why leading with a need to be liked often masks a confidence issue and leaves the team feeling uncertain.

✅ Intent vs. Impact: Why your "good intentions" don't matter if your team feels unheard or untrusted.

✅ The Physicality of Trust: How your office setup, gatekeepers, and "thick carpets" might be working against your approachability.

✅ The 4-Word Strategy: Tucker’s secret to starting meaningful, strategic conversations without overthinking the opening.

✅ Gaining Trust Back: The "Compare and Contrast" model for self-reflection and the power of admitting your own growth areas to your team.

🔗 Connect with Tucker Miller:

Her Website: OnwardLeadership.com

Her Book: https://www.amazon.com/First-Four-Words-Conversations-Confidence/dp/1642259772

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Music by Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

License code: 0KNVLQT7W7FZHOFI

Artist: : Marcus P.

#LeadershipInQuarters #TuckerMiller #TrustInLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #IntentVsImpact #CommunicationStrategy #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipDevelopment #ConflictResolution

Self-Led Leadership: Breaking the Conditioning and Leading with Intent | Ep. 73 ft. Stephanie Ramirez

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 20:07:00 -0400

Are you leading from your values, or are you just following the rules? Stephanie Ramirez joins Josh to discuss why "Self-Leadership" is the foundation of effective management. They dive into why high achievers fear "disappointing others" by choosing themselves and how this sacrifice eventually drains the very energy needed to lead.

Whether you're a fresh college grad or a 20-year veteran, Stephanie explains how to reclaim your calendar, build a "psychologically safe" culture, and use your energy—not just your title—to influence change.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ The Definition of Self-Led: Moving away from "outsourcing your identity" and reclaiming decision-making power.

✅ The Weight Loss Mentality: Why radical life changes start with small, boring, intentional steps (like taking a walk or blocking 15 minutes of quiet).

✅ Relinquishing the "Control Trap": Why being in every meeting makes you a "slave to everything" and how to trust your team to rise.

✅ Leading Without a Title: How clarity of self-worth and a unique point of view can exert more influence than a hierarchy.

✅ Psychological Safety: How leaders can move from "protective mode" to "growth mode" by separating the person from the task when things fail.

✅ The "Vibe Check": Why energy is contagious and how a leader’s autopilot mood can either spread the "flu" of negativity or the momentum of success.

🔗 Connect with Stephanie Ramirez:

Her Website: https://stephanieramirez.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanieramirez

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephanieramirez

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Music by Bensound

License code: AAVGZHCOR4UB1JEU

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #StephanieRamirez #SelfLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #PsychologicalSafety #EnergyLeadership #BreakingConditioning #WorkplaceCulture #Intention

Building Intentional Leadership & Operational Clarity: the 4 Core Dimensions | Ep. 72 ft. Katherine Robinette

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:45:00 -0400

Many leaders assume that company culture is something that just "happens"—a byproduct of the team they hire. But as Katherine Robinette points out: culture happens whether you plan it or not. The real question is whether you are intentionally designing it to support your goals, or letting it evolve by accident.

In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, host Josh Seldin sits down with leadership strategist Katherine Robinette to unpack the "Core Dimensions of Leadership." They explore how to move away from the "Flavor of the Month" management style and toward a structured, intentional approach that protects your team’s energy and clarifies your organization’s true North Star.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ The 4 Core Dimensions: How to balance Mindset, Method, Metrics, and Mood.

✅ Why your "North Star" isn't a goal to achieve, but a reason to exist.

✅ Identifying "Method" problems: Why team burnout is usually a system failure, not a people failure.

✅ How to use "In-Progress Metrics" to keep your team motivated during long-term projects.

✅ The art of saying "No": How to protect your team’s energy by knowing what to stop doing.

✅ The Stop-Start-Continue framework: A tactical gut-check for any organization.

✅ How to transition from an individual executor to a strategic leader without the burnout.

🔗 Connect with Katherine Robinette:

Her Website: https://keystoneandraven.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-robinette-speaker/

Curious how your leadership, team, or workplace is showing up? Download these reflection tools to get a sense of what is really going on at work: https://keystoneandraven.com/resources

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Music by https://www.bensound.com

License code: US7J7IREGSLNT8B0

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipInQuarters #IntentionalLeadership #CoreDimensionsOfLeadership #LeadershipMindset #CompanyCultureDesign #BurnoutPrevention #StrategicPlanning #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagementSystems

How to Transition from Executor to Leader Without Burning Out | Ep. 71 ft. Lisa Friscia

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 20:26:00 -0500

Are you a high performer who suddenly found yourself managing people — without any real leadership training?

You're not alone. In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, host Josh Seldin sits down with strategic advisor and fractional Chief People Officer Lisa Friscia to break down the "accidental people leader" phenomenon — and what to do about it.

Whether you're a founder, subject matter expert, or top executor who just got promoted, this conversation is packed with practical insights on how to make the shift from doing the work to leading the people who do the work.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ What an "accidental people leader" is & why it happens

✅ The biggest mindset shifts new people leaders must make

✅ How to build trust as a leader (not just as a technical expert)

✅ The first 30–90 days strategy for new people leaders

✅ Why leadership is a muscle — not a light switch

✅ How senior leaders can better support newly promoted managers

✅ The role of coaching, mentorship & peer communities in leadership growth

🔗 Connect with Lisa Friscia:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisafriscia/

Her Website: francaconsulting.com

Her Newsletter: https://lisas-newsletter-e68d0b.beehiiv.com/

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow: on Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Artwork by: Adam Powell

Royalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.com

License code: WKPF4WFRB2XO0EQS

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipDevelopment #PeopleLeader #AccidentalLeader #NewManager #leadershippodcast

What Is Leadership Aperture? How to Widen Your Leadership Lens in a VUCA World | Ep. 70 ft. David Cicerchi

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 21:09:00 -0500

Are you leading on autopilot — reacting to everything instead of responding with clarity? In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, host Josh Selden sits down with leadership aperture coach David Cicerchi to explore one of the most powerful — and underrated — frameworks in modern leadership development.

From navigating volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments to knowing when to zoom in or zoom out, this conversation will completely change how you think about leadership presence, decision-making, and organizational culture.

💡 In this episode, you'll discover:

✅ What Leadership Aperture actually is & why it matters

✅ The difference between narrow, medium & wide aperture leadership

✅ How to consciously expand your leadership range & wisdom

✅ Real-world examples of aperture failures — and how to avoid them

✅ Why VUCA environments demand wider aperture leaders

✅ How trust, purpose & storytelling build all-aperture organizations

✅ What vertical leadership development really means

✅ The Telos Institute's Vertical Frontier Program explained

🔗 Connect with David Cicerchi & the Telos Institute:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcicerchi/

The telos institute: https://www.thetelosinstitute.com/leadershipaperture

His website: www.evolutionaryemergencecoaching.com

📬 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com

📱 Follow: on Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Artwork by: Adam Powell

Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music

License code: IXKVF9KQAVOF4YZF

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

#LeadershipAperture #VUCALeadership #VerticalDevelopment #LeadershipPodcast #LeadershipCoaching

How to Support Neurodiversity in the Workplace | Ep. 69 ft. Nicola Knobel

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 20:07:00 -0500

Do you know who is really working on your team? Often, some of your most talented employees are "masking" their neurodivergence—ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and more—just to survive the workday and meet traditional expectations. In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, host Josh Seldin welcomes safety and risk expert Nicola Knobel to tear down the stigma surrounding neurodiversity in the professional world. Nicola explains why disclosure is a gift, how the emotional and operational cost of masking is impacting your organization's performance, and why the traditional "weekend off" approach to burnout recovery simply doesn't work for neurodivergent employees. This conversation is a masterclass for leaders looking to build psychologically safe cultures by asking better questions and creating inclusive systems for everyone. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Why disclosure is a gift (and why it's currently a risk) ✅ The real operational cost of "masking" in the workplace ✅ How to identify neurodivergent burnout vs. typical stress ✅ Why asking "what do you need?" is only the first step to building trust ✅ How to build inclusive systems (scaffolding) for the whole team, not just individuals ✅ Why admitting "I don't know" is a critical leadership skill ✅ Strategies to start an advocacy group in your organization Connect with Nicola Knobel: LinkedIn: / nicolaknobel Instagram: / nicola.knobel Youtube: / @nikiknobel Her website: www.nicolaknobel.com Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: on Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode on navigating the complexities of modern leadership! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by Bensound.com License code: EDB40LGNNHFZILZQ Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #NeurodiversityAtWork #InclusiveLeadership #ADHD #AutismInTheWorkplace #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture

Human-Centric Leadership: How to Lead Teams with Purpose and Fun | Ep. 68 ft. Dr. Christie McMullen

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Can work actually be fun? Not in the "pizza party" sense, but in a way that drives real productivity? In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, host Josh Seldin sits down with Dr. Christie McMullen, founder of the Intentionality Group and host of the Productive Joy podcast, to debunk the myth that professional results require a joyless environment. Dr. McMullen breaks down her proprietary frameworks for creating a workplace that is safe, logical, fun, and memorable. Whether you're struggling to get your team aligned or you're a new leader trying to figure out how to balance structure with individual talent, this episode provides the exact tools you need to build a high-performance team that actually wants to show up. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The 4 Personality Archetypes: Are your team members Paperclips, Magnifying Glasses, Teddy Bears, or Slinkies? How to align their natural strengths to their roles. ✅ The Psychology of Fun: Why people-first leadership isn't "woo-woo" crap—it's a bottom-line necessity. ✅ The "Sprinkle, Splash, Flood, Drip" Framework: A better way to communicate complex information so it actually sticks. ✅ Avoiding the "Assumption Trap": Why leaders should stop trying to have all the answers and start asking their teams the right questions. ✅ Creating Psychological Safety: How to normalize failure and create a culture where people can ask questions without fear. Connect with Dr. Christie McMullen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christie-mcmullen/ Instagram: @drchristiemcmullen Her books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08FF317FP?ccs_id=946f8019-0fe7-491f-9171-5082a44b7a08 Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode on navigating the complexities of modern leadership! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by: https://www.bensound.com License code: PF8UTSWXRMDT8NLW Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #ProductiveJoy #HumanFirstLeadership #TeamManagement #WorkplaceCulture #ManagementTips #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipDevelopment

The Hidden Habits of Leadership: How to Build (or Break) Your Team Culture | Ep. 67 ft. Jaime Mann

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 21:43:00 -0500

We all have habits—some serve our teams, others silently erode them. But how many of these habits are you actually aware of? Research suggests that while most leaders believe they are highly self-aware, only a fraction actually are. In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, host Josh Seldin welcomes leadership strategist Jaime Mann to discuss the micro-habits that define high-performing cultures. They dive into the "Super Helper" trap—that well-intentioned urge to swoop in and fix things—and why it's often the fastest way to demotivate your top performers. Whether it's the shift from judgment to curiosity or moving from the "Golden Rule" to the "Platinum Rule," this episode provides the tactical awareness you need to refine your leadership approach. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Self-Awareness Gap: Why most leaders overestimate their self-insight and how to bridge that gap. ✅ The "Super Helper" Trap: How jumping in to fix problems unintentionally fosters dependency and pushes away critical thinkers. ✅ Intent vs. Impact: Why your "good intentions" don't matter if your team perceives the impact as negative. ✅ Mastering the "Meta Moment": Using curiosity as a tool to override your brain's judgmental shortcuts. ✅ The Platinum Rule: Moving beyond treating people how you want to be treated, to treating them how they need to be treated. ✅ Avoiding "Doofus-ing": Why we shouldn't assume the worst about team members based on past mistakes. Connect with Jaime Mann: LinkedIn: / theamaryllisproject Her Website: www.jaimemann.com Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode on navigating the complexities of modern leadership! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: CZYY2S10IWKWUOYD Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #LeadershipHabits #SelfAwareness #ManagementTips #TeamCulture #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipDevelopment #GrowthMindset

The 7 Exits: Why You Must Let Go to Lead | Ep. 66 ft. Dr. Rosenna Bakari

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 19:46:00 -0500

We often hear about the habits successful leaders add to their routine, but what if your growth is actually being stunted by what you refuse to leave behind? Most leaders know exactly where they want to go, but they remain trapped by psychological patterns that keep them exactly where they are. In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, host Josh Seldin sits down with Dr. Rosenna Bakari, author of Seven Exits: Leave Behind What No Longer Serves You, to break down the framework that helps leaders repair struggling cultures. They discuss why "Personal Development is Professional Development" and why your current leadership style may have brought you success—but it might be the very thing holding you back from your next level of influence. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Hyper Ego Trap: Why "safety" is the lowest level of leadership development. ✅ Silence and Secrecy: How protecting your ego creates organizational silos. ✅ The "Always Done It This Way" Barrier: Transforming tradition from a crutch into a starting point. ✅ Passion vs. Anchor: When to stop using "purpose" as an excuse to ignore data and reality. ✅ Complacency in Success: Why high achievers are actually at the highest risk for stagnation. ✅ The Transition Struggle: How to navigate the shift from "Task Expert" to "Strategic Leader" without relying on micromanagement. Connect with Dr. Rosenna Bakari: LinkedIn: / truthlieswork TikTok: / truthlieswork Instagram: / truthlieswork YouTube: / @truthliesandwork X: https://x.com/truthlieswork Get the Book: Seven Exits: Leave Behind What No Longer Serves You Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode on navigating the complexities of modern leadership! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by https://www.bensound.com/free-music-f... License code: P4THZD0DPTTUMZY9 Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #SevenExits #OrganizationalCulture #LeadershipGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment #CultureRepair #ManagementStrategy

How to Remain Authentically Yourself Even if it’s Untraditional | Ep. 65 ft. Toni Will

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 21:11:00 -0500

Are you leading from a place that wasn't built for you? Whether you're the only woman in the boardroom, a leader in a male-dominated industry, or simply someone who refuses to mirror the "traditional" leadership mold, you've likely felt the pressure to sit down and be quiet. In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, host Josh Seldin sits down with Toni Will—General Manager of the Kalamazoo Wings, TEDx speaker, and author of Rebellious Success—to explore what it truly means to lead with "Untraditional Authenticity." Toni shares how she navigated 11 years in professional sports, overcoming ego-driven boardrooms and industry norms by leaning into her own identity rather than hiding it. This conversation is a masterclass in staying grounded, building a high-tenure culture, and choosing a growth mindset over the comfort of the status quo. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Why "mirroring" traditional leaders is a trap for your credibility ✅ The power of "calling out" your differences instead of pretending they don't exist ✅ How to use the "5 Whys" for behavioral change, not just process improvement ✅ Why vulnerability is a strength (and how to practice it without oversharing) ✅ The difference between "Light Switch" solutions and "Seed" leadership strategies ✅ How to build a high-performance culture that slashes industry-standard turnover ✅ Why the best leaders prioritize a growth mindset over being the "expert" Connect with Toni Will through the links below: Facebook: Toni Lentini Will Facebook: toniwillofficial Instagram: @toniwillofficial Instagram: @imtoniwill LinkedIn: Toni Lentini Will And her website: https://www.toniwill.com/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow: on Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode on navigating the complexities of modern leadership! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: WK2OUU7WOR6AOYGK Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #UntraditionalLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #WomenInSports #GrowthMindset #ExecutiveLeadership #KalamazooWings #RebelliousSuccess

Breaking the Silos: How to Drive High-Performance Across Functional Lines | Ep. 64 ft. Kurt Uhlir

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 21:24:00 -0500

True leadership isn't about the title on your business card or how charismatic you are in a boardroom—it's about the observable actions that create momentum. In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, Josh Seldin sits down with high-growth operator and coach Kurt Uhlir to discuss why so many organizations fail to bridge the gap between their "culture statements" and their daily reality. Kurt shares his framework for creating alignment across multifunctional teams, the power of seeking out "healthy conflict," and why leading indicators are the secret to avoiding $50 million failures. Whether you're leading a small startup or a massive manufacturing plant, Kurt's insights on "contribution over attribution" will change how you measure success. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Charisma Trap: Why hiring for personality instead of observable leadership actions is a recipe for failure. ✅ Healthy Conflict as a Metric: Why silence in a meeting is actually a sign of high risk, not alignment. ✅ Contribution vs. Attribution: How to break down silos by shifting how teams share credit and accountability. ✅ Leading vs. Lagging Indicators: Why most scorecards are looking in the rearview mirror and how to start looking through the windshield. ✅ The 36-Month Horizon: A simple system for balancing near-term execution with long-term strategic investment. ✅ Coaching Over Brute Force: Why "pushing harder" leads to burnout and how to actually increase your team's capacity. Connect with Kurt Uhlir: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtuhlir/ His Website: https://ceonetweavers.org/kurt-uhlir/ Two of his articles: https://kurtuhlir.com/growth-vs-scale/ https://kurtuhlir.com/definitive-guide-to-servant-leadership/ And a profile of Kurt: https://ceonetweavers.org/kurt-uhlir/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode on navigating the complexities of modern leadership! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: ZN6SZGIBRK0U1YDK Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #KurtUhlir #BusinessMomentum #LeadingIndicators #HighPerformanceTeams #OperationalExcellence #LeadershipCoaching #CorporateCulture

The Texas Hold ’em Way: Poker Strategy for High-Stakes Leadership | Ep. 63 ft. Raymond Foster

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 13:40:00 -0500

In leadership, as in poker, you are often dealt a hand you didn't choose—but how you play that hand determines your success. In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, host Josh Seldin sits down with retired police lieutenant and author Raymond Foster to discuss why leadership is an art based on science, and why "safety" is actually the lowest level of development. Raymond breaks down his "Speak, Think, Act" framework and explains why the most impactful leadership actions often happen in the quiet moments between the big decisions. From recognizing the "synchronicity" of minor behavioral changes to knowing when to "fold" a vision that has outlived its purpose, this episode is packed with tactical wisdom for leaders at any level. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Five Card Stud Rule: How to maximize the team you have, even when they aren't your "first picks." ✅ Synchronicity in Leadership: Why noticing minor details twice (like a late arrival or unshined shoes) is the key to preventing major failures. ✅ Defining Leadership: Raymond's definitive take on leadership as "the art of influencing human behavior toward organizational goals." ✅ Modeling the Tell: Why your team is always watching your "tells" and how to intentionally model the behavior you want to see. ✅ The Resilience vs. Resistance Wall: Identifying when you are pushing for the mission versus when you are pushing for your own ego. ✅ The Power of the Pre-Mortem: How to use your imagination to "crash" a vision into obstacles before you ever present it to your team. Connect with Raymond Foster: http://www.hitechcj.com/connect_with_me.html Get the Book: Leadership: The Texas Hold 'em Way & The Temple Within Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to stay ahead of the curve in leadership strategy! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: FN4QHNK2YFLDJYIV Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #RaymondFoster #TexasHoldemLeadership #HumanBehavior #Influence #LawEnforcementLeadership #TeamDynamics #StrategicVision

The Spark of Influence: Igniting Purpose to Drive High-Performance | Ep. 62 ft. Hanna Bauer

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 20:23:00 -0500

Is your leadership a steady flame or a flickering candle? In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, host Josh Seldin sits down with Six Sigma Black Belt and leadership coach Hanna Bauer to explore The Spark of Influence. Many leaders operate in a "flat" state—doing the work, hitting the metrics, but lacking the ignition that drives true high-performance. Hanna reveals that the secret to sustainable influence isn't more effort; it's a deeper alignment with your core purpose. Using her background in root cause analysis, Hanna explains how to identify where your "spark" went missing and how to use her signature BEAT Program to reignite it. Whether you are navigating a major career transition, facing the "empty nest" syndrome, or trying to prevent a culture of burnout in your company, this conversation provides the tactical tools to turn your purpose into a powerhouse of performance. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Spark vs. The Grind: Identifying the "flat feeling" of misalignment before it turns into total burnout. ✅ The DNA of Influence: Why your purpose is an internal pull that survives changes in your job title or role. ✅ Sacrificial Passion: Understanding that true "spark" often comes with frustration—and how to use that energy for growth. ✅ The BEAT Ignition: How to Believe, Engage, Act, and Transform to move from exhaustion to excellence. ✅ Leading the Next Generation: Why current leadership "tells" are scaring away new talent and how to model a leadership style that others actually want to follow. Connect with Hanna Bauer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bauerhanna Facebook: https://facebook.com/hannad.bauer Instagram: @hannabauer777 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartnomics Her Website: https://www.heartnomics.com/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to stay ahead of the curve in leadership strategy! #LeadershipInQuarters #TheSparkOfInfluence #IgnitingPurpose #HighPerformanceLeadership #HannaBauer #LeadershipCoaching #PurposeDriven #CultureBuilding

The Ripple Effect: Mentorship, Empowerment, and Healing for Women Leaders | Ep. 61 ft. Angeline Constantinou

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 20:57:00 -0500

Are you leading with compassion, or just managing by metrics? In this episode, Angeline Constantinou joins Josh to discuss why the traditional corporate ladder is often "too cutthroat" and how we can create a more inclusive, high-impact environment. Angeline breaks down why women should seek mentorship outside their organizations to gain an impartial perspective and why "looking within" is the first step to becoming a successful leader. From her experiences in the Middle East to her tactical "Morning Gratitude" routine, Angeline provides a blueprint for humanizing the workplace. We dive into the "emotional contagion" of leadership—how your mood as a boss spreads like the flu—and how to intentionally pivot toward positivity to build a winning team. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Power of External Mentorship: Why looking outside your company provides the fresh, impartial perspective necessary for true growth. ✅ Leading with Compassion: Moving from "micromanaging" to understanding your team's "Why." ✅ Emotional Contagion: How to recognize when your stress is infecting your team and how to stop the spread. ✅ The Dubai Insight: What the Middle East can teach us about women's leadership and the global push for equal recognition. ✅ Healing in the Workplace: Why leaders need to be sensitive to "triggers" and the importance of psychological safety for survivors of domestic violence. ✅ The Gratitude Audit: Tactical tools like journaling and "Morning Stillness" to shift from a scarcity mindset to an abundant one. Connect with Angeline Constantinou: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelinemitchell/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angeline.constantinou/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lets_breakthesilence/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@letsbreakthesilence7 Her Website: https://letsbreakthesilence.com/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to stay ahead of the curve in leadership strategy! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos License code: OBZDXBLWRYDEMYD5 Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #WomenInLeadership #Mentorship #CorporateCulture #Empowerment #Gratitude #PsychologicalSafety #AngelineConstantinou

The KPI Trap: Shifting from Goal Setting to Puzzle Solving | Ep. 60 ft. Radhika Dutt

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 19:42:00 -0500

Are your KPIs hiding your business's "sins"? In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, Josh Seldin sits down with author and entrepreneur Radhika Dutt to dismantle the "old school" approach to management. Radhika explains why our current obsession with KPIs and OKRs is actually a relic of the 1940s assembly line—and why it's failing in today's complex, tech-driven world. Radhika introduces the OHLA Framework, a "puzzle-solving" mindset that replaces rigid targets with curiosity and experimentation. If you've ever felt that your team is operating under a "no gap, no yap" mentality—hiding deep-seated problems because they are technically hitting their numbers—this episode will show you how to flip the script and drive true high-performance. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The 1940s Management Crisis: Why we are still using assembly-line logic for modern knowledge work. ✅ "No Gap, No Yap": How to break the culture of complacency where "green" dashboards hide "red" realities. ✅ The OHLA Framework: A step-by-step guide to Objectives, Hypothesis, Learnings, and Adaptations. ✅ Goals vs. Puzzles: How a simple shift in language can ignite team curiosity and ownership. ✅ The Trust Paradox: How to delegate effectively by using "puzzles" as a scaffolding for different skill levels. ✅ Performance Development: Moving away from "quantifying" people as numbers and toward "developing" their intuition. Connect with Radhika Dutt: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/ Speaker Reel: https://youtu.be/DS9YDb7Ffq8?si=lbZDLQTr2qgSBK4p Her Website: https://rdutt.com/ And check out her book: https://www.radicalproduct.com/ ️ Download the Free OHLA Toolkit: https://www.radicalproduct.com/toolkit/#OHLToolkit Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to stay ahead of the curve in leadership strategy! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: EOVRL7UXCBA7CRO4 Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #RadhikaDutt #OHLAFramework #KPIs #OKRs #BusinessStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #ContinuousImprovement #InnovationMindset

The REAL Method: Climbing from Self-Doubt to Unshakeable Confidence | Ep. 59 ft. Simone Knego

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 20:52:00 -0500

Is your "inner critic" holding your leadership back? Simone Knego joins Josh to reveal how a grueling trek up Africa's highest peak taught her more about leadership than any boardroom ever could. Together, they break down the REAL Method—a life-changing approach to self-respect, failure, and living without limits. Simone challenges the "trophy generation" mindset and explains why we need to start celebrating the "red" (failures) to find the "green" (growth). From managing a household of six to speaking on international stages, Simone provides tactical advice on how to stop "just-ing" your life and start owning your power. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The REAL Method: A deep dive into Respect Yourself, Embrace Failure, Ask for What You Want, and Live Without Limits. ✅ Control-Alt-Delete: A simple mindset hack to unfreeze your brain when you're stuck in a negative comparison spiral. ✅ The "Just" Trap: Why removing one small word from your vocabulary can instantly amplify your professional authority. ✅ Celebrating the Red: Why successful leaders (and parents) should treat failure as a necessary "tuition" for growth. ✅ Modeling Leadership: The powerful lesson Simone learned from her daughter about how our self-treatment impacts those we lead. ✅ Fulfillment vs. Obligation: How to find what you actually want, even if your current career was chosen for you. Connect with Simone Knego: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoneknego Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakerSimoneKnego Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simoneknego/ Her Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC_JYO_zP4YJcdM0CccMR6Rg Her Website: https://simoneknego.com/ Order "Real Confidence": https://realconfidencebook.com/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to stay ahead of the curve in leadership strategy! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos License code: 4UTKLYBLJ9QMKT79 Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #SimoneKnego #RealConfidence #TheREALMethod #SelfLeadership #MindsetHack #WomenInLeadership #OvercomingSelfDoubt #PersonalGrowth #leadershipcoaching

The Leadership Reckoning: Transparency, Integrity, and the Pursuit of Peace | Ep. 58 ft. Bernie Youngblood

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 19:52:00 -0400

Is your "public" brand a mask for "private" duplicity? Bernie Youngblood joins Josh to deliver a wake-up call to the modern executive. In a world where "Coldplay" is now slang for bad behavior and virality is often the result of hypocrisy, Bernie argues that the only way to survive the upcoming leadership reckoning is to stop acting out values and start living them. Bernie and Josh dive into the difficult reality of aligning personal faith with professional capitalism, the "scrappy" advantage of small AI-driven teams, and why you should never accept a paycheck that costs you your sleep. If you've ever felt pressured to sacrifice your gut instinct for a bottom-line win, this episode is the permission slip you need to choose peace over profit. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Transparent World: Why modern leaders can no longer hide bad behavior in the "dead of night." ✅ "Coldplay" Leadership: Understanding the new vocabulary of corporate accountability and public exposure. ✅ The Myth of the "Company Family": Why Bernie believes the family metaphor is a fallacy in a capitalist system—and what to use instead. ✅ Running from Evil: How to identify transactions designed to "destroy" rather than "win," and why you can't afford them. ✅ AI and the Small Operator: Why the next 10 years belong to small, value-aligned teams rather than fractured "aircraft carrier" corporations. ✅ True Wealth: Defining success through peace and presence rather than the size of a dividend check. Connect with Bernie Youngblood: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernieyoungblood/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bernie.youngblood.1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernieyoungblood/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bmyoungblood Twitter/X: https://x.com/YoungbloodBM Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bernieyoungblood Linktree: https://linktr.ee/bernieyoungblood And his HotLogic website: https://hotlogicappliances.com/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to stay ahead of the curve in leadership strategy! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: JLG6R4EBQ8ZK0NRU Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #BernieYoungblood #ValuesBasedLeadership #Integrity #AILeadership #CorporateCulture #BusinessEthics #Transparency #SuccessMindset #LeadershipCoaching #FaithAndBusiness #ProfessionalGrowth

The High-Trust Culture: Authenticity, EQ, and the Power of the ”Performance Bucket” | Ep. 57 ft. Karen Ansen

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:39:00 -0400

Is your "fixer" mentality actually destroying your team's trust? In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, Josh Seldin sits down with legal expert and strategic HR leader Karen Ansen to pull back the curtain on high-trust cultures. Karen breaks down why transparency and consistency are the bedrock of performance, and how leaders can navigate the "messy" human elements of management without losing their authority. Karen shares her evolution from an "SI" to an "ID" on the DISC profile, proving that while leaders must be empathetic, they are ultimately hired to lead. Together, they explore the "Performance Bucket" theory, the dangers of ego-driven leadership, and how to use curiosity as a weapon against workplace bullying and defensive behavior. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ High-Trust Defined: Why transparency is the only way to keep your team's head off the chopping block. ✅ The DISC Evolution: How understanding your personality profile (and how it shifts) makes you a more effective director. ✅ The "Performance Bucket": A tactical framework for balancing positive, constructive, and personal interactions so you can "withdraw" trust when hard conversations are needed. ✅ Curiosity vs. Assumption: How asking "Why this defense?" can disarm a hostile employee and lead to genuine self-reflection. ✅ Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Why modern boards are prioritizing EQ over traditional metrics and how to spot "low-EQ" red flags. ✅ Managing Up: Strategies for dealing with "impossible" bosses by running interference and staying calm in the face of chaos. Connect with Karen Ansen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenansen/ Ignite Your Purpose Website: https://igniteyourpurpose.au/ Or Schedule a Free Consult: https://booking.builderall.com/c/ignite/bookings Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to stay ahead of the curve in leadership strategy! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: Bensound License code: B4SLZJUHTGEMNNEM Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #KarenAnsen #HighTrustCulture #PsychologicalSafety #DISCProfile #EmotionalIntelligence #ConflictResolution #AuthenticLeadership #PerformanceManagement #HRStrategy #LeadershipCoaching

The Authentic Voice: Crushing Imposter Syndrome and Masterful Connection | Ep. 56 ft. Aleksandra Plazinic PhD

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 19:50:00 -0400

Are you speaking with authority, or just playing a part? In this episode of Leadership in Quarters, Josh Seldin sits down with Dr. Aleksandra Plazinic to explore why authenticity is the foundation of influence. She reveals why even the highest overachievers struggle with feeling like "frauds" and provides a tactical roadmap for embodying your successes to build unshakeable confidence. Aleksandra and Josh dive into the 4MAT technique—a framework for ensuring your message resonates with every learning style in the room—and discuss the "unwritten rules" of leadership behavior. If you've ever wondered why your team isn't following your lead despite your expertise, this episode will help you bridge the gap between sharing information and building a true human connection. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Achievement List: A powerful exercise to counteract imposter syndrome by physically "embodying" your past wins. ✅ High-Achiever Anxiety: Why successful leaders are often the hardest on themselves and how to break the race for "the next goal." ✅ The 4MAT Technique: How to answer the four subconscious questions every audience member is asking: What, Why, What If, and How. ✅ Leading by Example: Why sending a 2:00 AM email creates a culture of anxiety, even if that wasn't your intent. ✅ Short-term vs. Long-term Motivation: The difference between energetic "one-time" inspiration and deep, purpose-driven leadership. ✅ The Empathy Gap: Why being "heard" is more important to your team than being "right" in an argument. Connect with Aleksandra Plazinic: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-plazinic-phd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleksandraplazinic.phd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aplazinic And on her website: https://aplazinic.com/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to stay ahead of the curve in leadership strategy! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos License code: 3PTGFFFE1HVNWE6D Artist: : Nick Petrov #LeadershipInQuarters #AleksandraPlazinic #AuthenticVoice #ImposterSyndrome #PublicSpeaking #LeadershipCommunication #4MAT #ExecutiveCoaching #Influence #EmployeeEngagement #WomenInLeadership

Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs: How to Stop Holding Yourself Back | Ep. 55

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 21:22:00 -0400

We have enough issues today with others not believing in us, but we also don't do ourselves any favors when we have Self Limiting Beliefs. When we consantly question our ability, or allow ourselves to be the butt of a joke that is the expense of how others see our capability, we are limiting our own beliefs. We need to write a story with strong beliefs, beliefs in ourselfs and what we bring to the table. That's what today's episode is about.

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The High-Performance Culture: Results, Accountability, and the Plank of Leadership | Ep. 54 ft. Chrisa Zindros

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:11:00 -0400

Is your culture driving results, or just creating drama? Chrisa Zindros joins Josh to discuss the "Choice, Catalyst, or Crisis" reality of organizational change. She reveals why founders often struggle with the very internal processes that allow them to scale and why "slowing down" is the only way to prevent collateral damage. Together, they explore the EOS model for radical simplicity, the "Love Languages" of professional appreciation, and the critical difference between a leader's intention and their actual impact. If you've ever felt like your team is "too busy" for accountability, this episode provides the reality check needed to turn "extra work" into "the work." In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ High-Performance Defined: Why culture must be designed to serve specific soft and hard results. ✅ The "Plank" of Leadership: Why the internal "inner work" of a company is the hardest—and most necessary—discipline. ✅ Order of Operations: How bypassing processes (the "Aunt Sally" rule) derails scaling and destroys credibility. ✅ Micro-Strategy vs. Big Ideas: Why strategy sessions fail without hand-holding and tactical check-ins. ✅ Psychological Safety: How a single defensive reaction to feedback can kill months of trust-building. ✅ The 5 Languages of Appreciation: Why a new monitor might be worth more than a bonus for certain team members. Connect with Chrisa Zindros: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisa-zindros-boyce/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/czb_consultancy/ Medium: https://medium.com/@chrisazboyce And on her websites: https://chrisazboyce.com/ http://www.czbconsulting.com/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to stay ahead of the curve in leadership strategy! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by Bensound.com License code: AJCNL3BK7ADBTUVJ Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #ChrisaZindros #HighPerformanceCulture #EOSModel #Accountability #ScalingBusiness #ExecutiveCoaching #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipDevelopment

The Leadership Safety Net: Mentorship, DISC, and the ACE Framework | Ep. 53 ft. Paul Boyles

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:09:00 -0400

Are you promoting your best operators only to watch them struggle as managers? Paul Boyles joins Josh to explain why "minimal leadership development" is the silent killer of organizational culture. He shares why every leader needs a mentor (and needs to be one) and how self-reflection tools can bridge the gap between technical expertise and people management. Josh and Paul discuss the reality of coaching different generations—from Boomers to Gen Z—and why "managing up" is just as important as managing your team. Whether you're a company looking to invest in high-potentials or an individual seeking to "ACE" your career, this episode breaks down the fundamental shift from executing to leading. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Promotion Trap: Why being a great machine operator or teller doesn't automatically make you a great supervisor. ✅ Mentorship vs. Management: How a mentor acts as a "safety net" for the things you aren't comfortable telling your boss. ✅ The ACE Acronym: Why Accountability, Commitment, and Execution are non-negotiable for leadership growth. ✅ Personality Flexing: Using DISC and Cloverleaf to "read the room" and tailor your communication to your boss and peers. ✅ Coachability: The difference between being sent for coaching and actually being ready to learn. ✅ The Year-Back Look: A tactical exercise for setting long-term goals by working backward from future success. Connect with Paul Boyles: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-boyles/ His email: execcoach@paulboyles.com His Website: Paulboyles.com And you can find his newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/leading-edge-leadership-6908439543180361728/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to stay ahead of the curve in leadership strategy! Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by Bensound License code: UMVEQR8OBO2O0UGM Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #PaulBoyles #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #Mentorship #DISCProfile #ACEFramework #CultureMatters #ProfessionalGrowth #ManagementTips

Getting Unstuck: The Law of the Weakest Link and Radical Authenticity | Ep. 52 ft. Aron Kolosik

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:08:00 -0400

Are you moving, or are you actually getting ahead? Aron Kolosik joins Josh to reveal why self-reflection is the ultimate leadership tool and why your career performance is directly tied to your physical, spiritual, and relational health. Aron introduces the Law of the Weakest Link, proving that you can only grow as far as your most neglected area allows. From the "Wim Hof" of mental health to the "Tribes" that break individualistic competition, this episode is a blueprint for taking back control. Whether you're posturing in a morning meeting or drifting through a mid-career plateau, Aron's six principles provide the "Quarterly Business Review" for your life. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Two Types of "Stuck": The difference between lack of movement and the frustration of "throttled" progress. ✅ The Law of the Weakest Link: Why strengthening your physical health or marriage can be the key to a promotion at work. ✅ Living by a Code: Replacing corporate "posturing" with radical authenticity and fact-based reality. ✅ The Law of Intentionality: How to avoid the "mid-30s drift" by treating your life like a QBR (Quarterly Business Review). ✅ Stories vs. Reality: Identifying the limiting beliefs—like "I'm not the smartest guy in the room"—that act as invisible ceilings. ✅ The Tribe Factor: Why "self-made" is a lie and why a collective brain is required to see your own blind spots. ✅ The Right to Joy: Differentiating between seasonal grit and a life of endurance in a miserable situation. Connect with Aron Kolosik: Instagram: @aronkolosik Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aronkolosik/ His email: aron@unstuckmasterplan.com His Website and where you can take the Unstuck Assessment: www.unstuckmasterplan.com Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: bensound.com License code: 7VPB46DJGPLQFNDZ Artist: : Marcus P. #LeadershipInQuarters #AronKolosik #PersonalGrowth #ExecutiveCoaching #GetUnstuck #WorkLifeBalance #Intentionality #MentalHealth #LeadershipMindset

Work-Life Integration: Managing Energy Over Hours | Ep. 51 ft. Payal Nanjiani

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:07:00 -0400

Is the pursuit of work-life balance actually making you more stressed? Payal Nanjiani joins Josh to explain why we need to stop counting hours and start managing our energy. They discuss why Gen Z is leading the charge in transparency and how leaders can adapt to a workforce that values mental peace over "first in, last out" bravado. From "revenge bedtime" habits to the power of "margin space," this conversation is a wake-up call for anyone feeling the weight of corporate exhaustion. Learn why your next promotion might depend less on your degree and more on how you center your energy and lead with empathy. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Balance vs. Integration: Why treating work and life as opposing forces creates a "catch-up game" you can't win. ✅ The Presence Principle: Why being on your phone during a family movie isn't just a distraction—it's a lack of balance. ✅ Energy Management: Thinking of yourself as a battery. What battles are draining your "charge" before the day even begins? ✅ The Gen Z Shift: How the newest generation is reframing professional boundaries and why companies must adapt their policies to retain them. ✅ Revenge Bedtime Procrastination: Why staying up late to scroll is a symptom of not taking "me time" during the day. ✅ Margin Space: The critical importance of building "buffer" into your calendar for the unexpected and the essential. ✅ Corporate Policy vs. Individual EQ: Why organizational culture must support mental health at a systemic level. Connect with Payal Nanjiani: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/payalnanjiani/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalnanjiani/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PayalNanjiani The Payal Nanjiani Leadership Company: https://www.payalnanjiani.com/ Payal's Books: https://www.payalnanjiani.com/book Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by: bensound.com License code: KDFYFRJWZCK8EULR Artist: : Benjamin Tissot #LeadershipInQuarters #PayalNanjiani #WorkLifeIntegration #EnergyManagement #ExecutiveCoaching #GenZWorkforce #MentalHealthAwareness #LeadershipDevelopment #ProductivityTips

Breaking the Cycle of Conditionality: 5 Values for Unconditional Leadership | Ep. 50 ft. Andy Crocker

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:06:00 -0400

Are you letting your circumstances drive your character? Andy Crocker joins Josh to explain "Conditionality"—the internal narrative that says, "I'll be kind only if they are kind to me." Andy argues that this mindset is the ultimate barrier to fulfillment and shares his "Unconditional" roadmap to reclaim your agency as a leader. From the foundational power of self-love to the "thumb" of the hand—Endeavor—this episode provides a blueprint for aligning your daily actions with your deepest values, even when the workplace gets tough. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Five Unconditionals: A deep dive into Love, Gratitude, Integrity, Accountability, and Endeavor. ✅ Ambition vs. Fulfillment: Why chasing titles often means living by other people's values, while fulfillment comes from living by your own. ✅ The "Foundational" Value: Why Love (Respect + Kindness + Compassion) is the prerequisite for accountability and integrity. ✅ Unconditional Gratitude: How to flip the switch from entitlement to appreciation, even for the "short commute" or "waking up healthy." ✅ Accountability as a Trust Driver: Why "heavy is the head that wears the crown" and how leaders must own failures while sharing successes. ✅ The Self-Love Gap: Why leaders who lack compassion for themselves often struggle to build healthy, non-toxic team cultures. Connect with Andy Crocker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andycrocker/ Read the Book: The Unconditionals at either of the links below: https://andycrockerbooks.com/ and https://books2read.com/andy Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by: https://www.bensound.com License code: JB6UORWWG6G0ODPW Artist: : Dollshade #LeadershipInQuarters #AndyCrocker #TheUnconditionals #ProfessionalFulfillment #CoreValues #LeadershipAccountability #MindsetShift #GratitudeInTheWorkplace #Integrity

Intent vs. Impact: Navigating Unconscious Bias, Privilege & Allyship in Leadership | Ep. 49 ft. Kelly Meerbott

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:05:00 -0400

"We don't see life as it is; we see it as we are." Kelly Meerbott joins Josh to discuss why unconscious bias is present in every organization and how leaders can "slow down the tape" to make more equitable decisions. Using real-world examples—from hospital bedside manners to corporate coaching—Kelly and Josh explore how privilege amplifies bias and why an apology without behavioral change is just manipulation. This episode is a call to action for leaders to move from passive support to Active Allyship, leveraging their privilege to open doors for historically underrepresented communities. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Unconscious vs. Conscious Bias: Why liking pineapple on pizza is a choice, but favoring a resume based on a name is a systemic "brainwashing" we must unlearn. ✅ Intent vs. Impact: Why "I didn't mean it like that" doesn't erase the dehumanizing effect of a leader's words. ✅ The Locus of Control: How to use Abraham Maslow's framework to focus on what you can actually change: your own thoughts, feelings, and actions. ✅ Privilege as a Mirror: A clear-eyed look at what white, straight, or able-bodied privilege actually means—and how to leverage it for good. ✅ Intersectionality: Understanding that being a member of one underrepresented group (e.g., LGBTQ+) doesn't mean you can't hold biases against another (e.g., sexism or transphobia). ✅ The "Google" Rule: Why it isn't the job of the oppressed to educate the oppressor—and how to do your own research first. ✅ The 1.5-Minute Rule: How media "sound bites" strip away the nuance and context required for true human connection. Connect with Kelly Meerbott: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyameerbott/ Her Website: https://kellymeerbott.com/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: GGFFNYHODG6EUMBW #LeadershipInQuarters #UnconsciousBias #KellyMeerbott #InclusiveLeadership #Privilege #Intersectionality #ActiveAllyship #IntentVsImpact #DiversityAndInclusion

The Heart of Resilience: Turn Valleys into Victories and Leading with Radical Honesty | Ep. 48 ft. David Price

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:04:00 -0400

"Who do you think you are that you should outperform Apple?" David Price joins Josh to deliver a reality check on entrepreneurship and leadership. In an era where everyone wants the "hustle" without the "hardship," David argues that true resilience is built in the "sucking phase." Whether you're leading a team of 5,000 or just trying to get through a personal slump, David's "activity-based" approach to success removes the emotion from failure and replaces it with a focus on the daily disciplines that actually move the needle. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The "Flatline" Rule: Why the ups and downs of business are a sign of life, and why quitting is the only way to truly fail. ✅ Hiring for Heart vs. Talent: Why David's top manager "sucked for two years" and why that made her a better leader than any "natural" talent. ✅ Activity vs. Results: How to diagnose a slump by breaking down the math (e.g., "Did you work 30 minutes or 8 hours?"). ✅ The Power of Vulnerability: Why admitting you were "dead wrong" is the fastest way to build unbreakable trust with a virtual team. ✅ Psychological Safety: Creating an environment where staff can make mistakes and speak freely without fear of "scolding." ✅ The "Crank" Analogy: Why people need to know why they are pulling the lever, or they'll eventually walk away from even the highest-paying jobs. ✅ From Stuck to Success: David's personal journey through addiction and bankruptcy to building a thriving, purpose-driven culture. Connect with David Price: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpriceofficial/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidPriceOfficial/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidpriceofficial/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidpriceofficial?lang=en His YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPriceOfficial or check out his website at: https://tpglife.com/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Music by Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos License code: 25HO7PKU15HFJNVH #LeadershipInQuarters #DavidPrice #Resilience #GrowthMindset #EntrepreneurLife #VulnerableLeadership #ActivityBasedManagement #OvercomingAdversity #virtualteams

Collective Learning Culture: The ERA Method, Trust & Adult Learning Strategies | Ep. 47 ft. Dr. Carrie Graham

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:02:00 -0400

"It's not about you—it's about the audience." Dr. Carrie Graham joins Josh to explain why an "Organizational Learning Culture" is the secret weapon for building long-term employee trust. If your team treats training as a "check-the-box" activity, this episode is your diagnostic tool. From managing "stressed-out learners" to the importance of analyzing feedback without taking it personally, Dr. Graham provides a high-level framework for leaders who want their teams to not just listen, but to retain and apply new capabilities. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Organizational Learning vs. Learning Organizations: Why the "collective" approach outperforms individual training every time. ✅ The ERA Method: Dr. Graham's signature framework for Engagement, Retention, and Application. ✅ Iteration over Perfection: Why vision and learning assessments must happen concurrently to bridge organizational gaps. ✅ The "Mingle" Strategy: How to read the room before a single slide is shown to adjust for the emotional state of your learners. ✅ The "Four Agreements" in Training: Why leaders must stop taking critical feedback personally and start using it as a strategic data point. ✅ Embedded Feedback: Why waiting until the last hour of a three-day workshop to ask for feedback is a recipe for bad data. ✅ Closing the Trust Loop: The power of telling your team why you did (or didn't) change the curriculum based on their previous input. Connect with Dr. Carrie Graham: Her website at: drcarriegraham.com Get a Free Training Assessment & Subscribe - https://www.drcarriegraham.com/services#training-assessment Check out her LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcarriegraham Check out her YouTube Channel - https://youtu.be/DDqtdQ7hMPc?si=sFyWmLEUpCIrk-9R And schedule a Calm Consultation - https://www.drcarriegraham.com/schedule-calm-consultation Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos License code: MBEOPKV6PYZBUNJJ #LeadershipInQuarters #DrCarrieGraham #AdultLearning #OrganizationalCulture #ERAMethod #FacilitationSkills #ContinuousImprovement #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceTrust #CollectiveCapability

Executive Ownershift: From Individual Heroics to High-Performance Team Leadership | Ep. 46 ft. Dan Norenberg

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

"Leadership is not a solo sport." Dan Norenberg joins Josh to challenge the traditional HR model of individual development. If you've ever seen a room full of brilliant executives who can't seem to "play well" together, this episode is your roadmap to fixing the friction. From the "Oxygen Mask Rule" for CEOs to the "Perception Consolidation" technique that gets the unsaid said, Dan explains how to treat a leadership team as a single unit that requires its own "hygiene" and continuous improvement cycle. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The 1-in-20 Rule: Why only 5% of senior teams have a process for self-improvement and how that stalls the rest of the business. ✅ The Oxygen Mask Rule: Why senior leaders must perform "team hygiene" before they can effectively lead their organizations through a crisis. ✅ The "We Before Me" Mindset: Lessons from the Olympic "Redeem Team" on aligning superstars toward a singular goal. ✅ The Three Tiers of Engagement: When to call in an executive coach (New Leader, Falling Performance, or "Tsunami" Opportunities). ✅ Perception Consolidation: Dan's confidential process for turning "emotional truths" into an actionable leadership agenda. ✅ The 1-10 Scale: Three critical questions that reveal the gap between team effectiveness and individual readiness. ✅ Material vs. Non-Material Reality: Why trust and power dynamics (below the iceberg) matter more than project plans (above the iceberg). Connect with Dan Norenberg: LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannorenberg/ His website at: https://www.dannorenberg.com/ Recommended Reading: Executive Ownershift by Dan Norenberg Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Music by: Bensound License code: MYYW2XKGRVA2ZEB0 #LeadershipInQuarters #DanNorenberg #ExecutiveOwnershift #TeamLeadership #ContinuousImprovement #CSuiteStrategy #OrganizationalDevelopment #LeadershipCoaching #HighPerformanceTeams #ExecutiveAlignment

Redefining Burnout, High Performance, and the Power of Self-Respect | Ep. 45 ft. Kelly Meerbott

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 20:59:00 -0400

"Burnout is the slow death of your purpose inside environments that demand your body and abandon your soul." Kelly Meerbott joins Josh to provide a diagnostic look at why the most brilliant high performers are often the ones closest to the "Gray Place." If you've noticed your "excellence becoming armor" or your joy for the little things starting to bleed out, this conversation is your wake-up call. Kelly and Josh discuss the "EQ Muscle," the necessity of communicated boundaries, and why leadership must move from extraction to regeneration. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Burnout vs. Stress: Why meditation and vacations won't fix a "slow numbing erosion" of the spirit. ✅ The Gray Place: Understanding the chillingly quiet point of no return where indifference replaces ambition. ✅ The EQ Muscle: How to build (and rebuild) your emotional intelligence to advocate for your own energetic health. ✅ Communicated Boundaries: Moving past the "imaginary boundaries" that lead to resentment and anger. ✅ The "Vicks VapoRub" Filter: A vivid metaphor for the sensory numbing that occurs when you lose your sense of hope and color. ✅ Leading High IQ/Low EQ Teams: Josh's tactical approach to using "pre-work" and data to have emotional conversations with cerebral leaders. ✅ Resilience Redefined: Why true resilience is refusing to suffer needlessly in the first place, rather than just "enduring" more. ✅ The 28-Day Toolkit: Kelly's strategy for creating "micro-pockets of relief" to avoid hitting the wall. Connect with Kelly Meerbott: LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyameerbott/ or check out her website at: https://kellymeerbott.com/ Featured Books: Burnout to Bliss and Meerbott's Fables Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Royalty Free Music: Bensound.com License code: 2KVWAFFQMDBRXATW #LeadershipInQuarters #KellyMeerbott #BurnoutToBliss #HighPerformance #EmotionalIntelligence #WorkplaceWellbeing #SelfRespect #LeadershipDevelopment #MentalHealthAtWork #EQMuscle

The Ego Tax: 5 Critical Leadership Blunders and the Jack Welch Model of Humility | Ep. 44 ft. Luis Luarca

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 20:53:00 -0400

"Your best consultants are already on your payroll." Luis Luarca joins Josh to challenge the "Ivory Tower" approach to management. If you've ever felt like your team "just doesn't get it," or if you've wondered why quality rejections are high despite your best efforts, this episode explains why the solution is likely standing on your shop floor. Luis and Josh discuss why data is the ultimate "ego-killer," how to distinguish hearing from listening, and why Jeff Bezos eventually had to stop being the "CEO of getting in his own way." In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Snowflake Principle: Why expecting employees to "be just like you" is a recipe for organizational stagnation. ✅ The User Experience (UX) of Business: Why employees, not leaders, are the true "users" of an organization. ✅ Data as the Truth-Teller: How Luis used accounting data to pivot a company from a 45-day lead time to a 5-day lead time with zero rejections. ✅ Blunder #4: The Suggestion Box Myth: The difference between a "dismissive event" and a "reactionary event" when taking employee feedback. ✅ The "CEO of Self-Obstruction": Lessons from Jeff Bezos on identifying when you have become the bottleneck in your own business. ✅ Closing the Loop: Why a "bad" idea that is listened to is better for culture than a "good" idea that is ignored. ✅ The Jack Welch Model: Surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do about the "airplane engines" of your industry. Connect with Luis Luarca: LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisluarca/ or check out his website at: https://luisluarcaphd.com/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Royalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.com License code: UHGX9PRBDUKWREYV #LeadershipInQuarters #LuisLuarca #LeadershipBlunders #OrganizationalPsychology #DataDrivenLeadership #ActiveListening #EmployeeEngagement #JackWelch #BusinessPivots #egomanagement

The Inquiry Advantage: Why High-Performing Teams Ask as Much as They Tell | Ep. 43 ft. Dr. Amber Johnson

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 20:09:00 -0400

"Are you listening to understand, or are you just listening to reload?" Amber Johnson joins Josh to dismantle the "expert" trope of leadership. She argues that the most effective leaders aren't the ones with all the answers, but the ones with the right questions. From fundraising stories to "David and Goliath" corporate partnerships, Amber illustrates how curiosity acts as a buffer against risk, a driver for innovation, and a bridge across values-based friction. If you've ever felt the urge to rush a decision in a crisis, this episode explains why your "gut" might be an unreliable narrator and why slowing down is the ultimate power move. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The 1:1 Ratio: Why the best teams balance inquiry and advocacy perfectly. ✅ Listening to Reload: How to break the American habit of preparing your "next move" while others are speaking. ✅ The CPR Framework: Identifying if a workplace conflict is about Content, a Pattern, or the Relationship. ✅ Crisis Questions: Why high-stress moments require more inquiry to avoid "rotted tooth" levels of organizational decay. ✅ Values vs. Ethics: Navigating friction between "Time-Driven" and "Quality-Driven" teammates without making it personal. ✅ The Million-Dollar Silence: A cautionary tale of how a lack of curiosity led a partner to withhold a critical technical solution. ✅ Open vs. Closed Questions: When to ask "Do you want fries with that?" versus "What assumptions are informing this choice?" Connect with Amber Johnson: LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberajohnson/ or subscribe to Amber's free newsletter, Better than Fine (https://amberajohnson.substack.com/) Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Bensound License code: YCUTVVZTJU6HLXSS #LeadershipInQuarters #AmberJohnson #PowerOfQuestions #ActiveListening #LeadershipDevelopment #CrucialConversations #PsychologicalSafety #TeamPerformance #InquiryVsAdvocacy #ExecutiveCoaching

Beyond the Boardroom: Solving Imposter Syndrome via the Internal Locus of Control | Ep. 42 ft. Charles Browne

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 20:07:00 -0400

"If you're living someone else's life, you're going to win prizes you don't want." Charles Browne joins Josh to challenge the standard "fake it 'til you make it" advice. Charles brings a "Star Trek" philosophy to leadership: the fundamental belief that everyone has value, but most people are too busy looking at external resumes to find it. Using his background in Lean Six Sigma, Charles explains why "job hopping" is often a symptom of an undiagnosed "values violation" and why leaders must stop fixing "convenience problems" with "safety programs." In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Root Cause: Why Imposter Syndrome is actually a lack of awareness regarding your unique value. ✅ Locus of Control: The difference between "sleeping in the Matrix" (External) and owning your identity (Internal). ✅ The Happiness Formula: How to audit your life using Honors vs. Violations of your non-negotiable values. ✅ The Lean Life: Why Charles views human beings as a "process" that can be optimized by cleaning the "lens" of decision-making. ✅ The $275,000 Mistake: A cautionary tale about misidentifying problems and why you shouldn't "turn knobs" before finding the "as-found" state. ✅ The Decipher Code: How to filter external noise and advice through your own emotional needs profile (e.g., Contribution, Growth, Knowledge). ✅ Servant Leadership: How flipping your internal script can change the morale of a 30-person team without changing a single job title. Connect with Charles Browne: You can check out Charles' website at: therealcharlesbrowne.com You can contact him at me@therealcharlesbrowne.com You can check out his instagram @therealcbrowne You can check out his youtube page at: https://www.youtube.com/@therealcbrowne And you can visit his LinkedIn Profile at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealcharlesbrowne/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: Y5UHKM5YDZCUCTL9 #LeadershipInQuarters #CharlesBrowne #ImposterSyndrome #LeanSixSigma #LocusOfControl #ValuesAlignment #ServantLeadership #IdentityShift #PersonalOptimization #JoshSeldin

Engineering Self-Efficacy and the ”UNMEDSAI” Leadership Filter | Ep. 41 ft. Alan Lazaros

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 20:05:00 -0400

"Humility needs to be inward, because externally, I probably come off as a Type-A jerk." Alan Lazaros doesn't pull punches. In a world of "lottery mindsets" and curated Instagram lifestyles, Alan brings an engineer's precision to the messy work of human growth. Josh and Alan discuss the burden of high self-efficacy, the myth of the "overnight success" in business, and the specific personality traits—the UNMEDSAI score—that indicate someone is uncoachable. If you've ever felt like you're "dragging" your team along, this episode provides the data-driven framework to understand why, and how to stop being "hoodwinkable" by surface-level performance. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The 1% Daily Iteration: Why Next Level University treats personal growth like a software update. ✅ High IQ vs. High EQ: Navigating the friction between hyper-rational leadership and human emotion. ✅ Self-Efficacy Gaps: Why "Type A" leaders unintentionally project impossible standards onto their teams. ✅ The UNMEDSAI Filter: The 8 toxic traits (Unstable, Entitled, Delusional, etc.) that make a person impossible to lead. ✅ The Real World vs. Social World: Why Leonardo DiCaprio might look like a leader, but "Christina the COO" is the one actually moving the needle. ✅ Situational Humility: How to tell the difference between someone who is actually humble and someone who is just having a "bad week." ✅ The Integrity of the "As-Found": Why leaders must assess the raw data of a situation before "turning the knobs" to fix it. Connect with Alan Lazaros: You can follow Alan on Instagram @.alazaros88 You can visit his Facebook at www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros And you can visit his LinkedIn Profile at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos License code: V1NIJP37DBD08Q30 #LeadershipInQuarters #AlanLazaros #NextLevelUniversity #SelfEfficacy #TypeAPersonality #LeadershipData #EQ #ProfessionalGrowth #Unmedsai #JoshSeldin

The Inconsistency Gap: Using Cultural Anthropology to Fix Workplace Trust | Ep. 40 ft. Kristine Gentry

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 20:04:00 -0400

"It is worse to be dishonest about what you value than to say nothing at all." Kristine Gentry joins Josh to explain why your "culture strategy" might be eroding employee trust. Using the lens of an anthropologist, Kristine identifies the "Trojan Horses" of corporate culture—like safety priorities that aren't reflected in bonus structures or "wellness" initiatives that conflict with midnight emails. Josh and Kristine dive into the data behind remote work and mental health, the power of the manager-employee relationship (which impacts health as much as a spouse does), and why the most successful companies empower their frontline staff with simple, memorable values. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Workplace Ethnography: How to observe your team to find the gap between "Ideal" and "Real" culture. ✅ The 70% Statistic: Why your manager has a greater impact on your mental health than your salary or environment. ✅ The Bonus Bias: Why preaching safety while incentivizing production speed creates a culture of distrust. ✅ Remote Work Dynamics: Navigating the "always-on" culture and the importance of time-released communication. ✅ The Sister Principle: How Kendra Scott and the Ritz-Carlton use simple values to empower frontline decision-making. ✅ Culture vs. Strategy: Why "putting out fires" is often a symptom of a neglected cultural foundation. ✅ The Google Cautionary Tale: How surface-level perks (like hotel rooms on campus) can signal a culture that discourages life outside of work. Connect with Kristine Gentry: Instagram at @kristinegentry Her company, Culture Grove, at: https://www.culturegrove.com/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: bensound.com License code: ZSJMVHBWFBMDCOCN #LeadershipInQuarters #KristineGentry #CulturalAnthropology #WorkplaceCulture #Ethnography #MentalHealthAtWork #LeadByExample #LeadershipTrust #JoshSeldin

The Two-Way Street: Cultural Adaptivity and Building Trust Across Borders | Ep. 39 ft. Amit Agrawal

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 20:14:00 -0400

"Go slow to go fast." Amit Agrawal joins Josh to dismantle the myths of international relocation and professional integration. Amit explains that moving to a new culture isn't just about changing your GPS coordinates; it's about recalibrating your leadership style while staying true to your core values. Josh and Amit discuss the "Yes vs. Acknowledgment" trap in cross-cultural communication, the role of "Third Spaces" like food and sports in building team bonds, and why the entertainment industry often feeds us harmful cultural biases. This episode is a masterclass for any leader managing a global team or any professional stepping outside their cultural comfort zone. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Honeymoon vs. Reality: Why the first few months of a move are deceptive and how to prepare for the "dip." ✅ High-Context Communication: Understanding why a "Yes" in the US might just be an acknowledgment, while in India it might mean agreement. ✅ The Power of Community: How Amit built an Asian-affinity group within his plant to foster belonging. ✅ Sports as a Bridge: Using American Football and Cricket to open doors to deeper cultural conversations. ✅ Overcoming Media Bias: Why New York TV shows didn't prepare Amit for the "Small Town" warmth of Greensboro. ✅ Intent vs. Impact: Navigating the 95% of human interactions that come from a good place, even when they are imperfect. ✅ The Business-Focused Engineering Culture: How Amit integrated a result-driven Indian work ethic into a US-based engineering group. Connect with Amit Agrawal: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-agrawal-162a88a/ Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by Bensound.com License code: BNAFXH5N0LX38LJO #LeadershipInQuarters #AmitAgrawal #CulturalAdaptivity #GlobalLeadership #Inclusion #DiversityAtWork #EngineeringLeadership #JoshSeldin

From Top Performer to True Leader: Avoiding the Accidental Manager Trap | Ep. 38 ft. Rebecca Gebhardt

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 20:08:00 -0400

"The reward for selling a lot should be a bonus, not a promotion." Rebecca Gebhardt joins Josh to challenge the status quo of career progression. They dive into why 80% of sales leaders receive zero training upon promotion and how this negligence erodes confidence and craters retention. Josh and Rebecca discuss the importance of "Pre-Development"—using job shadowing and inexpensive "taste-test" training to let emerging leaders fail safely before they are given a team. Whether you're in sales, manufacturing, or tech, this episode reveals why playing to a person's strengths is more profitable than trying to "fix" their weaknesses. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Promotion Fallacy: Why high technical skill does not equal leadership readiness. ✅ Pre-Development Strategies: How to use "micro-assignments" and job shadowing to verify a person's passion for leadership. ✅ The 80% Gap: Addressing the startling lack of training for new managers and the "student of the game" mindset. ✅ Strengths vs. Weaknesses: Why it's more effective to "diminish deficiencies" than to try and force a person into a role they are wired to hate. ✅ Generational Truths: Why Gen Z values responsibility over titles and how to attract the next generation of leaders. ✅ The 3-Pronged Success System: Ownership, employer-provided development, and external coaching/mentorship. ✅ Assessing Success: Using legally sound assessments to find the "range of success" for specific roles. Connect with Rebecca Gebhardt: Instagram at @risewithrebecca Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: bensound.com License code: OTNWOKL5UBLF0KRN #LeadershipInQuarters #RebeccaGebhardt #SalesLeadership #ManagementTraining #GenZWorkplace #StrengthsBasedLeadership #CareerDevelopment #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

Leading Without the Title: Mentorship and Breaking the Gender Gap | Ep. 37 ft. Urmi Hossain

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 14:16:00 -0400

"Leadership is not a title; it's about making an impact." Urmi Hossain joins Josh to redefine what it means to be a leader in today's workforce. Despite progress, the leadership gap remains a reality—especially in finance—and Urmi provides a raw look at why women are still "playing the game" on a field designed by default for men. Josh and Urmi explore the "Imposter Syndrome" trap, the complexities of giving and receiving feedback as a woman in a biased society, and why men are a critical part of the solution for gender equity. Whether you are looking for a mentor or looking to become a better ally, this episode offers a roadmap for fostering a truly inclusive culture. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The Manager Fallacy: Why Urmi stopped saying "I want to be a manager" in interviews and what she says instead. ✅ The Gender Gap in Numbers: A look at why the "disequilibrium" persists in the financial sector. ✅ Home-Grown Equality: Why the fight for professional gender parity actually starts with how we support the women in our personal lives. ✅ Combating Imposter Syndrome: Practical ways to celebrate "wins" and rewire your brain for self-belief. ✅ The Feedback Bias: Navigating the "Bossy vs. Assertive" double standard and how to give constructive feedback that sticks. ✅ Mentorship as a Two-Way Street: How mentors benefit just as much from the energy and ideas of their mentees. Connect with Urmi Hossain: Her website: https://linktr.ee/urmihossain Women in Leadership Organization: https://www.womeninleadership.ca/victoria Contact Josh: leadinquarters@gmail.com Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos License code: KTWK8H5QAEZAL6EU #LeadershipInQuarters #UrmiHossain #WomenInLeadership #GenderEquality #Mentorship #ImposterSyndrome #InclusiveLeadership #DiversityInFinance #JoshSeldin #YourGrowthAscent

Salary vs. Work Culture: What Matters More in Your Career? | Ep. 36

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 07:56:00 -0400

If posed with the question on what matters most to you, is it your salary, or the culture of the organization you're a part of? When does that balance tip, and what's your breaking point on either side? Is there a price for your happiness and what you're willing to put up with? Or is enjoying your job, and the people you work with more important? That's the basis of this episode, weighing the options with regards to what's more important. And most of all, this varies greatly by the individual.

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Music: Hitslab

Workplace Redemption: How to Bounce Back from Professional Mistakes | Ep. 35

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 14:14:00 -0500

How forgiving of a person are you? When someone makes a mistake, how do you react? Do you hold it against them? Or do you understand that we are all flawed, and help them learn from their mistake, offering them a second chance? We all deserve a chance at redemption, for different reasons.

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Music: RomanySenykMusic

Understanding Microaggressions: How to Recognize and Address Subtle Bias | Ep. 34

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 14:35:00 -0500

Do you know what a microaggression is, or have you maybe been on the receiving end of one? As the name suggests, it's not something pleasant, but it happens all too often in the world today. Listen in to find out what a microaggression is, some examples of them, and how it can impact those we interact with on a daily basis.

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Music: RomanSenykMusic

Mastering Adaptability: How to Thrive in Times of Change and Uncertainty | Ep. 33

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 13:57:00 -0500

Our world is ever changing, both inside and outside of the workplace. How we react to change, and how we adapt, will determine our success in life and in our career. But how do we approach adapting to change? And how do we ensure we don't get left behind in the process?

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Music: RomanSenykMusic

Implicit Bias in the Workplace: How to Recognize and Overcome Subtle Prejudice | Ep. 32

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 08:55:00 -0400

You have bias, I have bias, everyone has a bias of some sort that exists. But are we fully aware of the biases that we have? And how do we allow it to impact the work we do, and the culture we are trying to build. How we control our biases is so important, because if we don't, our trust can come crumbling down.

Messaging vs. Actions: How to Align What You Say with What You Do | Ep. 31

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 13:10:00 -0400

How do you think we are percieved when we don't practice what we preach? When we say one thing, but do another? Our actions as leaders must match our messages that we send to our organizations. When they do, trust and a strong culture flourish, but when we don't, chaos ensues and the foundation we've built begins to crumble.

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Music: RomanSenykMusic

Introverts vs. Extroverts: Understanding Personality Types in the Workplace | Ep. 30

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 19:32:00 -0400

I'm sure everyone has heard of an introvert and extrovert, but which are you? Did you know there is a term for someone who shares traits of both? How can you best utilize an introvert and extrovert in your team? Tune in to see the difference, the benefit and the balance that must exist to get the most out of your team.

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Music: RomanSenykMusic

Demystifying Workplace Diversity: Building a Culture Where Everyone Thrives | Ep. 29

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 13:58:00 -0400

Diversity is such a popular topic in today's world, but what are the benefits of having a diverse team? How do you think your team would do if it was made up of a bunch of copies of yourself? How do different experiences, backgrounds, ethnicities and genders bring about positive change and progression? Listen in to find out.

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Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com

Track: Sunny Travel Day by Anton Kramar

https://tunetank.com/track/294-sunny-travel-day/

Workplace Integrity: How Ethical Leadership Builds Trust and Stronger Culture | Ep. 28

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 13:12:00 -0400

What do you think of when you think of integrity? Do you have a person that you think of immediately? A friend, a boss, a leader? Integrity is extremely important to have as a leader, and if we don't, we will lose the respect and trust of those around us, and our culture will crumble.

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Track: Way To Success by Emsti-Tunes

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Playing to People’s Strengths: How Strength-Based Leadership Drives Performance | Ep. 27

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 13:21:00 -0400

When deciding on a new role for yourself, or someone else, how do you choose? Do you put someone in a place where they'll thrive and do a great job because it plays to their strenghts, but not offer a lot of room for growth? Or do you put them in a place of discomfort in order to grow them? Both options have positives and negatives, but which is right?

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Track: Way To Success by Emsti-Tunes

https://tunetank.com/track/1232-way-to-success/

The Power of Being Present: How Mindfulness and Focus Drive Leadership Success | Ep. 26

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 19:56:00 -0400

How important is it for you to have a leader who is present? Someone who is obviously paying attention to you when you're talking to them? How do you feel when someone is on their phone, or their computer, when you're trying to have a serious conversation? It's so important to be present, and if we aren't, it can have dire consequences.

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Track: Sweet Days In Nashville by AndyWarner

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Leadership Amnesia in the Workplace: How Disconnect Kills Employee Engagement | Ep. 25

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 19:57:00 -0400

Have you ever been in the position where you bend over backwards for something your leader asked you to do, just to have them berate you for not getting something else done instead? If you've lived through this, you've worked for someone with Leadership Amnesia. But what kind of impact does this have on an organization, and how do we avoid doing this ourselves?

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Track: Clap Your Hands by AndyWarner

https://tunetank.com/track/6420-clap-your-hands/

Remaining Calm Under Pressure: How Emotional Regulation Drives Leadership | Ep. 24

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 19:53:00 -0400

Have you ever had a leader, or someone in your organization, who wasn't calm? Who freaked out about every little thing that happened? How did you feel about this person? Did you respect them? Was this person you? This episode dives into the importance of calm, and what happens if we don't have it.

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Track: A Cup of Coffee by Romanov_Studio

https://tunetank.com/track/5712-a-cup-of-coffee/

The Power of Positive Reinforcement: How Recognition Drives Team Performance | Ep. 23

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 09:58:00 -0400

Sometimes in the midst of all the negativity and tough days that we have, we need to give some positive reinforcement in the behaviors that we are seeing. How do we make sure we are intentional about what we say, how we say it and when we say it? How do we make sure we pick people up, instead of kicking them while they're down? Take a listen and find out.

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Track: Conspire for Success by Alex GL

https://tunetank.com/track/5425-conspire-for-success/

Mastering Conflict Resolution: How to Navigate Difficult Conversations at Work | Ep. 22

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 13:56:00 -0400

Conflict is a necessary evil in the world we live in. Whether it's in our personal lives, or professional lives, it's something that exists that we must learn to handle. We do this by using conflict resolution to quickly and effectively resolve the conflicts we find ourselves in. But how do we go about doing that? And what happens when we don't?

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Track: Hopeful Jump by SkyRecords

https://tunetank.com/track/5883-hopeful-jump/

Understanding Quiet Quitting: How to Spot the Signs and Fix the Cause | Ep. 21

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 14:06:00 -0400

Quiet Quitting is all the rage these days. The fall out after COVID has begun the Quiet Quitting movement, where people are no longer putting up with going the extra mile, and above and beyond what's specifically required of them from their role description. But why does this happen? What leads to it? And more importantly, what can we do about it?

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Track: Presentation by SoundStreet

https://tunetank.com/track/5951-presentation/

Creating Systemic Solutions: How to Solve Root Problems Instead of Symptoms | Ep. 20

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 19:45:00 -0400

Systemic solutions are all around us in life. They are things that prevent us from running into problems, and learning the same thing twice. It can be extremely important both at work and in life, and can save us from reliving headaches.

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Track: Sunny Day by Romanov_Studio

https://tunetank.com/track/5761-sunny-day/

Learning From Failure in the Workplace: How to Build Resilience and Agility | Ep. 19

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 13:28:00 -0400

Failure is an impactful thing, both inside and outside of the work place. It comes across as negative, but realistically helps us find our gaps in capability and execution and allows us to know where we need to improve. Listen in to see how we can use failure to our benefit in our daily lives.

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Track: Conspire for Success by Alex GL

https://tunetank.com/track/5425-conspire-for-success/

Navigating Workplace Hierarchy: How Organizational Structure Impacts Culture | Ep. 18

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 19:33:00 -0400

Hierarchy is a complicated system when it comes to the professional world, made complicated by how people interpret it and use it to their benefit. If used correctly, it can create calm and consistency in the work place. If not, it can create inflated egos and a dictatorship. Listen in to see how it can go right, and wrong, and what we can do about it.

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Track: Presentation by SoundStreet

https://tunetank.com/track/5951-presentation/

Intent vs. Impact: How Intentional Leadership Shapes Workplace Outcomes | Ep. 17

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 08:33:00 -0400

Intent is a tricky thing to manage, because you now have to not only control what you say and do, and the meaning behind it, but also how people interpret and perceive your message. Though it's difficult, this is an extremely important leadership trait we must all master, or we could end up in non-ideal situations.

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Track: Sunny Day by Romanov_Studio

https://tunetank.com/track/5761-sunny-day/

Making Meetings Effective: How to Eliminate Waste and Boost Productivity | Ep. 16

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 13:32:00 -0400

What do you think of when you hear the word Meetings? Does your professional life revolve around them? How do you free yourself up so you aren't in meetings all day every day, but you can be effective when you do have them? Listen in to find out!

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Track: Sunny Road by AHOAMI

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The Cost of Toxic Leadership: How Bad Managers Destroy Retention and Morale | Ep. 15

Sun, 26 May 2024 11:42:00 -0400

This one is an easy one, because sadly it's so common in workplaces today. What is toxic leadership, and how do you avoid becoming a toxic leader? Tune in to find out about the worst leadership traits one could learn.

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Track: Tropical Resort by Infraction

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Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: How to Silence Self-Doubt and Build Career Confidence | Ep. 14

Sun, 19 May 2024 08:47:00 -0400

Have you ever felt like a failure? Like you don't live up to your own expectations, or others? It may be all due to the feeling of Imposter Syndrome. Is that feeling real? Or is it you just being harder on yourself than necessary? Tune in and find out.

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Track: Everything That Unites Us by ABSounds

https://tunetank.com/track/4146-everything-that-unites-us/

Energizing Your Team: Practical Strategies to Boost Workplace Motivation | Ep. 13

Sun, 12 May 2024 14:38:00 -0400

Have you ever felt like you had no energy to take on the day? Do you know why that is, or how to get that energy back? This episode will go over the ways to gain energy, and the pitfalls we make as leaders that sap all the energy out of those who report to, and interact with us.

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Track: Violet Driver by automaticbananas

https://tunetank.com/track/5801-violet-driver/

Mastering Work-Life Balance: Practical Strategies for Sustainable Career Success | Ep. 12

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 13:45:00 -0400

This episode covers something that is so difficult to achieve in this day and age. It's something you read about, and hear about throughout our own work places, and others. Work life balance is so important, and so tough to get right. But what do we own with regards to work life balance, how do we ensure we have it, and how can we help others achieve theirs?

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Track: Carefree Time by SoundStreet

https://tunetank.com/track/6372-carefree-time/

Leadership Q&A Mailbag: Answering Your Best Workplace Culture Questions | Ep. 11

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 18:52:00 -0400

Every week Leadership in Quarters posts a "Question of the Week" to everyone who follows the podcast. This allows people from all different places and careers to comment on their own experience as it relates to the question. I took some of the questions and comments and reviewed them, along with my thoughts on the importance of each, in this episode.

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Track: Tropical Adventure by SHANTI

https://tunetank.com/track/266-tropical-adventure/

Mastering Effective Communication: How Clear Messaging Drives Team Success | Ep. 10

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 13:28:00 -0400

Just like in life and our relationships, communication is key to ensure as we lead, we are crystal clear in the messages and news we share with our teams and leaders. It is important to approach communication correctly, and be wary of the pitfalls that lie ahead.

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Track: Joyful Life by DASAINTZ

https://tunetank.com/track/5237-joyful-life/

Developing Your Leadership Style: How to Lead with Authenticity and Impact | Ep. 9

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 08:34:00 -0400

How do you approach situations as a leader, and what are you known for? Your Leadership Style says so much about you, and let's people know what to expect when interacting with you as their leader. This episode is all about how to approach, and build your Leadership Style.

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Track: Business Success by TrendingAudio

https://tunetank.com/track/3410-business-success/

Mastering Coaching and Feedback: How to Deliver Constructive Input That Drives Growth | Ep. 8

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 13:18:00 -0400

How do people improve and get better as they move on in their careers? Through coaching and feedback. But there are right and wrong ways to do this. Listen in to learn more!

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Track: Road Trip by AlexGuz

https://tunetank.com/track/3291-road-trip/

Mastering Decision Making: How Great Leaders Make Fast, Confident Choices | Ep. 7

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 14:36:00 -0400

How do we move our business and team forward without the ability to make a decision. We can't. This episode is all about the importance of decision making in our professional lives.

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Track: Travel by Romanov_Studio

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Mastering Rewards and Recognition: How Employee Appreciation Drives Performance | Ep. 6

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:58:00 -0400

This episode is all about making sure we have the right approach to rewarding and recognizing our teams, while making them feel appreciated. Things aren't as easy as we initially think, so dive into the different options we have to show our appreciation.

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Track: Indie by TORTEX

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Understanding IQ vs EQ: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters More Than Smartness | Ep. 5

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 14:18:00 -0400

Have you ever had a leader that was too smart? Or too in touch with the EQ side? This episode explores the necessity of the balance of the two.

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Track: New Beginnings by Romanov_Studio

https://tunetank.com/track/1209-new-beginnings/

Servant Leadership in Practice: How to Lead with Empathy, Humility, and Impact | Ep. 4

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 14:53:00 -0500

This episode goes over how we can grow ourselves to be Servant Leaders, and how we can support our organization. You will learn how we can prepare our organization to continually strive for excellence, with our without us.

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Track: Life Like a Party by Alexey Anisimov

https://tunetank.com/track/3257-life-like-a-party/

Balancing Empathy and Accountability: How Great Leaders Achieve Both | Ep. 3

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 20:43:00 -0500

This episode is about the relationship and balance of empathy and accountability. We will learn what each is, and how they can manage to coexist together and move your culture forward.

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Track: Indie Music by RocknStock

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Building Trust and Psychological Safety: The Foundation of High-Performing Teams | Ep. 2

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 14:37:00 -0500

This episode dives into why trust is so critically important to a culture, and how it relates to psychological safety. How both of these together, gets you one step closer to a healthy, thriving culture.

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Track: Be Happy by TORTEX

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Establishing Culture from the Ground Up: How Leaders Build Lasting Workplaces | Ep. 1

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 14:31:00 -0500

This Episode is all about culture. We discuss what culture is, the different types there are, how to build a successful culture and how to lose it. With the growing need for there to be healthy, non toxic cultures among the workplace, this is a must listen!

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Track: Flame by danyvin

https://tunetank.com/track/2073-flame/

What to Expect: Practical Leadership Insights, Team Dynamics, and Work Culture

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 20:54:00 -0500

This short introduction to the Leadership In Quarters podcast reviews who I am, my work experience and what you can expect from this podcast.

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Track: Big Idea by VictorWayne

https://tunetank.com/track/3010-big-idea/