Best Zenger Folkman Leadership Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 140: The Three Key Ingredients for Sustainable Leadership Excellence

3d ago

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Details In this episode of “90th Percentile,” co-hosts Jack Zenger and Bre take a culinary approach to discussing effective leadership development. They compare the essentials of a good family meal to the key components of a successful leadership development plan. Just as family meals become staples due to their simplicity and consistent outcomes, …

1
Episode 67: The Skills Leaders Need at Every Level 8:54

12d ago8:54

8:54

Details CEO, Vice President, Director, Supervisor, Manager, or Individual contributor each organizational position comes with its own set of demands. While being great at everything would be ideal, the majority of us are only human and subject to our inability to achieve perfection. In this episode, we discuss the different skills that leaders need…

1
Episode 51: 9 Habits That Lead to Terrible Decisions 14:13

19d ago14:13

14:13

Details We are all forced to make hundreds of little and big decisions every day. It can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Some people are so crippled with the fear of making a bad decision that they refuse to decide. Based on research from 50,000 leaders, we’re exploring the root causes for poor decision-making and how to avoid them. New Self-Di…

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Episode 139: 6 Components that Differentiate the Best 360-Degree Assessments

26d ago

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Details 360-degree assessments are a central component in many leadership-development programs. But not all assessments provide the same value to individual leaders or to the organization. The best assessments offer participants powerful insights into how others perceive their leadership strengths and weaknesses. These become a solid impetus for pe…

1
Episode 138: Taking Responsibility Is The Highest Mark Of Great Leaders

1M ago

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Details Why does one person get selected for a promotion while others with equal skills, education and experience get passed over? While there may be several valid answers to that question, I submit that a person’s demonstrated willingness to behave responsibly is one of the major reasons. Much management literature surprisingly overlooks this char…

1
Episode 137: Building Trust—The Balance of Information and Involvement

1M ago

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Details Join us in this enlightening episode of “The 90th Percentile” as hosts BreAnne Okoren and Joe Folkman delve into the crucial dynamics of trust in leadership. We’ll explore the fine line between keeping teams informed and involving them in decision-making, backed by compelling data from Zenger Folkman’s extensive research. Through engaging s…

1
Episode 136: The Coachability Advantage—Transforming Leaders into Catalysts for Change 16:27

2M ago16:27

16:27

Details Coachable leaders distinguish themselves by actively seeking and responding to feedback, a practice that not only enhances their personal growth but also significantly influences their leadership efficacy. In this episode, we’ll explore how embracing feedback can catalyze positive changes across various leadership dimensions, from advocatin…

1
Episode 135: Flipping Feedback Upside Down 16:39

3M ago16:39

16:39

Details Feedback is a powerful tool that can make or break an individual’s growth and development. It can be a valuable gift that leads to success and well-being, but it can also be a dreaded message that is associated with negativity and criticism. The impact of feedback ultimately depends on how it is given, received, and acted upon. In this podc…

1
Episode 134: Humble Leadership and the 7 Signs of Arrogance 20:05

4M ago20:05

20:05

Details Why is humility important for leaders? This pivotal question underpins Zenger Folkman’s two decades of research into how leadership traits, specifically humility and arrogance, affect leadership effectiveness Humble leaders tend to empower their employees by recognizing their strengths and contributions. This leads to increased employee eng…

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Episode 133: Connecting Through Coaching—Authenticity, AI, and Transformation 18:52

4M ago18:52

18:52

Details In this enlightening podcast episode, expert coaching master Kathleen Stinette shares her invaluable insights on the evolution of leadership coaching in the wake of the pandemic. With over 25 years of experience, Kathleen discusses the subtle yet significant shifts in coaching methodologies prompted by remote and hybrid work environments, e…

1
Episode 132: Hybrid Work— Understanding The Leadership Advantages in Both Zones 19:26

5M ago19:26

19:26

Details After some initial uncertainty, most companies have now found their footing with respect to adopting office-based, remote, or hybrid working models. Despite a common belief that we’ve mastered the flexibility of working from anywhere, the reality is we’re still on a learning curve—and that’s perfectly acceptable. In today’s discussion, we a…

1
Episode 131: Executive Presence Has New Rules 23:04

5M ago23:04

23:04

Details Executive Presence. This term, often heard in boardrooms and leadership seminars, is not just about gravitas, articulate communication, and maintaining the ‘right’ appearance. It’s about having the capacity to foster confidence and inspire those around you. Your executive presence determines whether you’ll gain access to opportunities. Join…

1
Episode 130: Thriving in Transition—The Keys to Adaptive Leadership 16:29

6M ago16:29

16:29

Details In this episode, hosts BreAnne Okoren and Joe Folkman dive deep into the essential skill of adaptability, exploring its significance in the face of unprecedented technological advancements, globalization, and societal challenges. Drawing from research and real-life examples, they discuss the transformative impact of adaptability on leadersh…

1
Episode 129: Why Leadership Should Be Treated Like a Profession 23:18

6M ago23:18

23:18

Details Just like lawyers, physicians, and CPAs constantly update their skills, effective leadership is vital across all industries. Join us as we discuss the impact of proficient leadership and address the need for a paradigm shift in how we approach leadership development. It’s time to treat leadership as a true profession, emphasizing continuous…

1
2023 Holiday Message from Jack and Joe 2:26

7M ago2:26

2:26

Details In the spirit of reflection that accompanies this festive season and honoring whatever holiday you celebrate, this year’s message revolves around the sage words of Dr. Seuss from his classic, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”. In our ever-evolving world, where individual pursuits often overshadow the essence of community, we reflect on our r…

1
Episode 128: The Pinnacle Pillar of Trust—Building Relationships 21:09

7M ago21:09

21:09

Details In the awkward dance of professional interactions, the key to a flourishing work relationship lies not in quick fixes, but in the art of weaving sincerity and respect into the very fabric of our connections. Beyond the confines of office walls, there’s a rich tapestry of experiences and passions that define each of us. … Continued The post …

1
Episode 127: The Constant Pillar of Trust— Consistency 14:37

7M ago14:37

14:37

Details Consistency is a cornerstone of effective leadership, playing a pivotal role in building, maintaining, and restoring trust within an organization or community. Consistency means aligning one’s words, actions, and decisions over time, creating a predictable and reliable pattern of behavior. This reliability is crucial for several reasons. Fi…

1
Episode 126: The Hidden Pillar of Trust—Expertise 18:54

8M ago18:54

18:54

Details There is a leadership behavior that ignites a lot of conversation. It is trust. Many people have observational theories and experiences that influence their views on how trust is earned and maintained. At Zenger Folkman, we wanted to strip away all of the emotions and biases and purely analyze what the data says about … Continued The post E…

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Episode 125: People Focus vs. Task Focus—Managing Remote Workers 15:39

8M ago15:39

15:39

Details The narrative surrounding the impact of remote work on productivity has taken unexpected twists and turns. Initially, the prevailing wisdom during the early days of the pandemic was that remote work was a boon for productivity. Yet, as the pandemic’s grip waned and remote work persisted, reports began to suggest a dip in productivity … Cont…

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Episode 124: How Modern Leaders Champion Change 19:31

9M ago19:31

19:31

Details Every organization is experiencing change. Some of the changes come from the external environment, such as customer expectations, government regulations, global competition, or new domestic competitors. Other changes are coming from within the organization; such as changing employee expectations, hybrid work schedules, redesigned teams and …

1
Episode 123: The Leadership Tent—Balancing Specialization and Generalism 18:33

9M ago18:33

18:33

Details Leadership can be a little complicated so in this episode we wish to reduce that complexity to a model of leadership that is more easily understood. You see, Leadership behaviors are knit together, much like the complex network of the human brain. There is a great deal of interdependence between them. Research shows that … Continued The pos…

1
Episode 122: Why Middle Managers are So Unhappy 15:39

9M ago15:39

15:39

Details Have you ever stopped to wonder who the unhappiest individuals within your organization are? Those weary souls who navigate the daily grind with an invisible weight on their shoulders, all while hiding behind their smiles? And what’s driving them crazy? Well, They may not be who you think they are. At least they were … Continued The post Ep…

1
Episode 121: Unlocking Leadership Potential with Strength Builders 18:47

9M ago18:47

18:47

Details In this enlightening podcast interview, Joe Folkman and Breanne Okoren explore the revolutionary concept of “Strength Builders” in leadership development. Drawing parallels between non-linear approaches and skill enhancement, this discussion challenges traditional linear methods and offers fresh insights into improving leadership skills. Do…

1
Episode 120: The Mirrors of Leadership that Lead to Change 12:53

10M ago12:53

12:53

Details In today’s fast-paced, complex world, leaders need mirrors. The mirrors they need, however, go far beyond reflecting their physical appearance. Leaders need mirrors that reflect their behavior and the impact their behavior has on others. That requires much more than a piece of glass with a thin layer of metallic silver on the back. … Contin…

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Episode 119: 10 Fatal Flaws That Derail Leaders 17:22

10M ago17:22

17:22

Details Poor leadership in good times can be hidden, but poor leadership in bad times is a recipe for disaster. We have found the number one leadership behavior that direct reports expect and need from their boss is the ability to inspire and motivate others. Sadly, it is also the leadership behavior that is ranked … Continued The post Episode 119:…

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Episode 118: What Separates Great HR Leaders from the Rest

10M ago

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Details HR seems to have become every manager and employee’s favorite corporate punching bag, vying with IT for the dubious title of most-irritating function. We have seen a parade of articles recently calling for HR to be blown up, split in two, or at the very least, redesigned. Perhaps this is a good moment to evaluate what it … Continued The pos…

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Episode 117: Your Boss Should Care More About Your Relationship Building Skills 15:47

10M ago15:47

15:47

Details Do personal relationships have the power to shape a leader’s perception of individual performance? The significance of fostering healthy workplace relationships cannot be underestimated. Extensive research has shed light on our ability to connect with diverse individuals, revealing that we are not only happier but also more productive in do…

1
Episode 116: The Meeting Manifesto: How to End Wasteful Meetings 20:02

11M ago20:02

20:02

Details Meetings are a favorite target of complaints across all levels of an organization. Why is it so hard to have meetings that enthuse every participant? The obvious response is that we often want different things. Some prefer a highly structured, disciplined process of making rapid-fire decisions on a wide range of topics; others seek … Contin…

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Episode 115: Are We More Productive When We Have More Time Off? 14:28

12M ago14:28

14:28

Details Vacation time—the sacred period where you can put your feet up, escape from spreadsheets, and unleash your inner happiness. It’s crucial for our well-being, both mental and physical. Vacations reduce stress, increase productivity, and help you avoid burnout. However, we live in a fast-paced world where busyness is glorified. People wear the…

1
Episode 114: 7 Ways to Make Employees Feel Respected 18:48

1y ago18:48

18:48

Details There is one behavior that underlies all good leadership: treating everyone with respect. It’s the fundamental foundation of any relationship, and yet many managers struggle to express it, and right now, employees need to hear and feel they are respected. The world seems to have forgotten their niceties, and we all could show more … Continu…

1
Episode 113: Entering the Coachability Learning Zone 17:19

1y ago17:19

17:19

Details How hard is it to be coached? You show up, listen, and then great things happen, right? Well, according to Michael Bungay Stainer, we might be looking at being coached in the wrong way. “The term “be coached” lulls you into a false sense of complacency. It assures that you will be pushed, cajoled, … Continued The post Episode 113: Entering …

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Episode 112: Why Coachability is the Leadership Superpower 15:07

1y ago15:07

15:07

Details Kevin Wilde, author of Coachability: The Leadership Superpower, joins us to discuss the research on coachability. During his time as CLO at Fortune 500 companies, he saw a lot of career derailment and wanted to understand WHY and HOW it could happen to even the best leaders. His book was originally going to be about … Continued The post Epi…

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Episode 111: Leadership Speed—How to Accelerate Successful Execution 17:41

1y ago17:41

17:41

Details If you have ever been lost while driving in a car, your natural reaction is to slow down. When we are uncertain about which direction to head, our natural response is to slow down, look at a map, ask questions, and proceed cautiously forward. We have measured resilience and confidence for several years and … Continued The post Episode 111: …

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Episode 110: Watch Out For Your 5-Year Workiversary 20:10

1y ago20:10

20:10

Details Most of us begin a new position with energy and a desire to impress. Our effort is high. Our passion is infectious. Our enthusiasm helps us to excel quickly. But for some, work becomes mundane and repetitive. They lose some of their passion, and their work can begin to feel like a chore. Eventually, … Continued The post Episode 110: Watch O…

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Episode 109: Transforming Leadership Development—Are We Missing The Main Thing? 19:15

1y ago19:15

19:15

Details What’s the main thing for leadership development? Is it excelling at selecting the right people? Is it a well-funded corporate learning center with renowned faculty? Is it using the most powerful learning technologies? Worse yet, what if we’ve been missing the main thing? In this episode, we are looking at the development industry and … Con…

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Episode 108: How Leaders Focus Externally to Improve the Customer Experience 17:30

1y ago17:30

17:30

Details Have you ever been on the phone for an hour with customer service, and once you finally get to talk to a human to resolve your issue, they only say: “I’m sorry, I can’t help you.” And it’s true; they can’t. They don’t have the power or authority to resolve the problem. It’s frustrating … Continued The post Episode 108: How Leaders Focus Ext…

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Episode 107: 10 Attitudes About Feedback From The Most Effective Leaders 17:37

1+ y ago17:37

17:37

Details Occasionally, people read articles about the best approaches to giving and receiving feedback and may think, “That all sounds great, but what do the most effective leaders actually do?” To answer that question, we combined a self-assessment measuring feedback preference with 360-degree evaluations of leaders to discover the common attitudes…

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Episode 106: Getting Along With Difficult People at Work 22:31

1+ y ago22:31

22:31

Details Some of the most challenging relationships we have to learn to manage in this life are the ones we have with our co-workers. Because we spend a lot of time with them, probably even more time than friends, and we don’t always get to choose who we work with. Amy Gallo is a workplace … Continued The post Episode 106: Getting Along With Difficu…

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Episode 105: Behavioral Bridges—Increasing Employee Engagement While Driving For Results 17:23

1+ y ago17:23

17:23

Details Is it possible to be a high-standards, results-driven leader while at the same time building an engaged, fun-to-work-with team? Many people would contend that doing either of these things well makes it almost impossible to succeed at the other. And yet our examination of 360-degree assessment data from more than 60,000 leaders showed us … C…

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Episode 5: What Great Listeners Actually Do 16:45

1+ y ago16:45

16:45

Details Chances are you think you’re a great listener. People’s appraisal of their listening ability is much like their assessment of their driving skills, in that the great bulk of adults think they’re above average. What really makes a manager a great listener? Many assume that it involves three components: not interrupting the speaker, following…

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Episode 104: The Lost Art of Asking Good Questions 14:43

1+ y ago14:43

14:43

Details Regardless of who you are in an organization — a great question can help you learn more about your task, unlock hidden opportunities, deliver better results, and mitigate unforeseen risks. In general, most of us don’t ask enough questions because we fail to recognize the enormous benefits in terms of interpersonal bonding and how … Continue…

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Episode 103: Skills, Skills, and More Skills— Finding What the Organization Values Most 16:08

1+ y ago16:08

16:08

Details What skills do you really need from your workforce? What skills are most valuable What are the critical issues? If the answers were clear, every organization would likely change. There are literally thousands of variables that leave leaders baffled as they sift through the clutter of needs and options to decide what is really crucial. … Con…

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Episode 102: Leading with Kindness and Accountability 13:05

1+ y ago13:05

13:05

Details Leaders are experiencing more demands for compassion at a time when there’s not a lot of room for compromise on what they have to deliver. Do they have to choose between kindness/compassion and the expectations for performance? We wanted to understand how we maximize support and, at the same time, drive performance. In this … Continued The …

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Episode 101: How to Push Your Team to Take Risks 23:47

1+ y ago23:47

23:47

Details Most managers want their employees to be curious and experimental, to take the initiative and develop new products and solutions. But, as it turns out, managers also like to micromanage and control outcomes through safe, predictable processes. As a result, managers end up stifling the very experimentation they want to foster. In this episod…

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Episode 23: Are Women Better Leaders Than Men? 17:11

1+ y ago17:11

17:11

Details We’ve all heard the claims, the theories, and the speculation about the ways leadership styles vary between women and men. There are, of course, many factors that contribute to this absence of a greater abundance of women leaders in senior-level positions. For centuries, there have been broad cultural biases against women, and stereotypes d…

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Episode 100: The Unexpected Bad Habits of Leaders 15:10

1+ y ago15:10

15:10

Details No one expects ever to be described as an arrogant or complacent boss. Most leaders we know have the assumption that their career will be akin to a musical crescendo. It may start quietly and slowly, but they believe that as they age, more responsibility will come. And because of their years of experience, … Continued The post Episode 100: …

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Episode 99: Ordinary Habits of Highly Effective Coaches 16:09

1+ y ago16:09

16:09

Details Habits are things you automatically do every day. It’s your morning routine, how you make your favorite drink, or the fact that you always leave every cabinet door open when you leave a room. It is the actions you perform without thinking because they are ingrained into who you are. Researchers at Duke University … Continued The post Episod…

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Episode 98: Discover and Develop Hidden Talent Pools 17:34

1+ y ago17:34

17:34

Details Executives in every company we work with express concerns about their ability to attract and retain managerial talent. The solutions for most organizations are to either recruit young workers directly from school and invest in their development, pirate leadership talent from competitors, or find it internally. Of these alternatives, we stro…

1
Audiobook Chapter 8: Trust and Speed 20:48

1+ y ago20:48

20:48

Details The audiobook version of The Trifecta of Trust: The Proven Formula for Building and Restoring Trust is on sale at AUTHORS DIRECT. The audiobook can also be purchased on AUDIBLE, NOOK, GOOGLE PLAY, KOBO, CHIRP, AUDIOBOOKS.COM, and SCRIBD. If you devote a third of your life to your job, then it is worth focusing … Continued The post Audiobook…

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Episode 97: Remote Work Leadership Report Card 17:47

1+ y ago17:47

17:47

Details Due to the pandemic, the past few years have ushered in the past century’s most significant shifts in working environments. According to data scientist at Ladders projections, 25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022, and remote opportunities will continue to increase through 2023. We have had … Contin…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Zenger Folkman Leadership Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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