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In this episode, John and Greg talk about what separates good leaders from truly transformational ones? The answer lies not in strategy, but in emotional intelligence—the leadership superpower hiding in plain sight.

The article by Stuart Andrews, executive coach and author of "The Leadership Shift," presents a compelling case that mirrors the teachings of Dr. Durst's MBR program: you can't effectively lead others until you've mastered leading yourself. This inside-out approach to leadership starts with self-awareness and radiates outward through thoughtful communication, empathetic listening, and genuine team engagement.

The journey begins with personal accountability. Leaders who showcase values, continuous learning, and self-care naturally inspire others. The next critical step involves asking thoughtful questions that create space for diverse opinions—not just seeking agreement. As we explore in the episode, truly influential leaders know when to speak and when to listen, understanding that "you're given two ears and one mouth for a reason."

Self-reflection emerges as a vital practice for leadership growth. Through dedicated quiet time examining your thoughts, actions, and impact, you develop wisdom that transcends mere knowledge. Many successful leaders incorporate meditation or structured reflection into their routines, focusing on questions like: "How do I feel right now?", "What lessons can I learn from my mistakes?", and "How supportive am I of others?"

Perhaps most courageously, emotional intelligence demands seeking genuine feedback. When team members trust that their honest assessments will be valued rather than punished, they become invested partners in the leadership journey. This feedback loop creates continuous improvement while transforming responsibility into ownership.

The leadership insights shared throughout this episode aren't just theoretical—they're practical tools for immediate application. Whether you're leading a small team or a large organization, emotional intelligence provides the bridge between where you are as a leader and what you're meant to become.

Ready to transform your leadership approach through emotional intelligence? Listen now to discover how self-awareness, empathetic communication, and genuine connection can elevate your leadership impact. Share your experiences or questions with us at authorjaw.com—we'd love to hear how these principles are working in your leadership journey.

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Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell

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What makes a workplace culture truly effective? According to organizational change expert Laurie Clarke, it's found at the critical intersection of talent and design—where people and systems align to create meaningful impact. Join John and Greg as they interview Laurie on her insights of management as a consult for executive leaders.

Clarke brings powerful insights from her two decades working with global CEOs, revealing that supervisors and managers are the essential "glue" holding organizations together. These middle-level leaders face unique challenges, caught between executive directives and frontline realities that often seem misaligned. Her solution is refreshingly straightforward: people fundamentally want to make progress on meaningful work.

Throughout the conversation, Clarke shares transformative examples—like the disengaged call center employee who viewed his job as "just people wanting money" until he understood he was helping fulfill educational dreams and potentially changing life trajectories. This shift in perspective doesn't require additional resources, just clearer connections between daily tasks and meaningful outcomes.

The pandemic-driven remote work revolution forms another fascinating thread in the discussion. Clarke explains how remote work exposed weaknesses in organizational cultures that already existed, creating a "quilt" of individual home environments versus the consistent "corporate blanket" of office culture. While productivity metrics often improved during remote work, innovation declined—highlighting the irreplaceable value of spontaneous in-person collaboration.

Perhaps most valuable are Clarke's practical approaches to cross-training and flexibility. By allowing employees to experience different roles, organizations build versatility while helping people understand their impact across the system. For executives and managers implementing these ideas, she recommends embracing uncertainty—the most effective leaders acknowledge what they don't know, articulate desired outcomes clearly, and give teams autonomy to develop solutions.

Looking to transform your team's culture or navigate organizational change? Connect with Laurie Clarke on LinkedIn or at laurie@laurie-clarke.com for executive coaching, team development, and strategic consulting that builds capability from within.

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Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell

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Join our podcast with John and Greg as they interview Elisabeth Bachman. Elizabeth Bachman is THE go-to person for advanced-level training in Speaking, Presentation Skills, Career Development, and Leadership. With a lifetime spent perfecting the art of presenting, she helps high-level clients get the promotion/job/recognition they deserve — within an organization and within an industry. “Change the way you are perceived by changing the way you communicate.”

Drawing from her unique career in directing more than 50operas around the world and founding her own company, she now helps professionals overcome communication barriers that prevent them from being recognized and advancing in their careers.

At the heart of Elizabeth's approach is a profound insight: men and women often struggle to communicate effectively because they're essentially speaking different languages while using the same words. She reframes this challenge by distinguishing between "single-focus thinkers" (traditionally men) who process one task at a time and "multi-focus thinkers" (traditionally women) who maintain multiple threads simultaneously and value relationships and context. This isn't about gender politics but rather understanding different communication styles to bridge the gap.

The stakes are high—Elizabeth shares research showing organizations with diverse voices in leadership achieve up to 35% higher profits, yet many senior women become so frustrated at not being heard that they exit companies, creating substantial costs in lost talent and recruitment. Through her "Visible and Valued" program and upcoming book, she teaches professionals to adapt their communication style without losing authenticity, using the principles of "awareness, adaptation, and allies."

One compelling success story involves an IT specialist named Janet who had been stuck at senior director level for 13 years despite consistently solving problems. After working with Elizabeth to frame her contributions strategically and engage stakeholders individually, Janet's company created a vice president position specifically for her, later promoting her to CIO.

Whether you're a woman fighting to be heard, a man wanting to be a better ally, or anyone looking to communicate more effectively, Elizabeth's insights transform how we understand workplace dynamics. Her message is clear: strategic speaking gets results when you learn to translate your ideas into a language your audience can hear.

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Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell