Michael Byrne: Silverman Shin & Byrne Michael is an attorney and partner at Silverman Shin & Byrne in New York, one of the largest minority owned law firms in the State of New York. Michael’s primary areas of focus include tort and commercial litigation defense. He serves clients in a broad range of matters, including attorney malpractice, personal injury torts, insurance, business formation, securities and cyber liability claims. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and of several committees. Michael is also a member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute. He provides legal advice to various civic associations and youth ice hockey organizations in Long Island. He’s also a member of the Coaching for Leaders Academy. Key Points Trying to do everything yourself in leadership is like mowing a lawn with a pair of scissors. A critical shift for leaders to make is “time of possession” in the conversation. Work to have the other party speaking more. The answers people give to my questions are the answers to their own questions. Delegating well means that more time emerges to support others with skill development. Making time to be present for people also allows you more time for deep work. Resources Mentioned Michael Byrne on LinkedIn Silverman Shin & Byrne Related Episodes These Coaching Questions Get Results, with Michael Bungay Stanier (episode 237) Effective Delegation of Authority, with Hassan Osman (episode 413) How to Ask Better Questions, with David Marquet (episode 454) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Robbie Kellman Baxter: The Forever Transaction Robbie helps companies leverage subscription pricing, digital community and freemium to build deeper relationships with customers. She has been quoted on business issues in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Consumer Reports, and many others. She has created and starred in eight video courses in collaboration with LinkedIn Learning on business topics ranging from innovation to customer success and membership. She is the author of The Membership Economy*, a book that has been named a top 10 marketing book of all time by BookAuthority. She recently released her new book, The Forever Transaction: How to Build a Subscription Model So Compelling, Your Customers Will Never Want to Leave*. In this conversation, Robbie and I discuss the shift to subscriptions and memberships in many industries in recent years. We address implications for leaders who are considering strategy on making changes to how they do business — as well as some of the tactical steps. Finally, Robbie highlights some of the myths and best practices when beginning with subscriptions. Key Points There’s been a significant shift to memberships and subscriptions in recents years in many industries. It’s critical for organizations considering a move in this direction to create and articulate a forever promise. Be cautious about simply building existing products and services under a membership banner. It’s critical to speak to your best customer. Beware of treating members worse than strangers or taking advantage of your most loyal customers. Resources Mentioned Free downloads of Robbie’s keynote presentation slides, membership manifesto, and book chapter. Book Notes Download my highlights from The Forever Transaction in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Start Seeing Around Corners, with Rita McGrath (episode 430) How to Build an Invincible Company, with Alex Osterwalder (episode 470) How to Pivot Quickly, with Steve Blank (episode 476) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Bonni Stachowiak: Teaching in Higher Ed Bonni Stachowiak is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, a professor of business and management at Vanguard University, and my life partner. Prior to her academic career, Bonni was a human resources consultant and executive officer for a publicly traded company. She is the author of The Productive Online and Offline Professor: A Practical Guide*. Listener Questions Kierstin asked for suggestions (books, individuals) for starting her leadership journey — and also how to navigate leading people who are older than her. Bridgette wondered if we had suggestions on funding priorities, vision, and bringing others into leadership roles. Michael asked our advice on handling confrontations between departments. Resources Mentioned The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations* by James Kouzes and Barry Posner How to Win Friends and Influence People* by Dale Carnegie The Empowered Manager: Positive Political Skills at Work* by Peter Block Personal History* by Katharine Graham The Post Related Episodes What Search Dogs Teach About Engagement, with Jan Frazee (episode 25) Seven Principles for Leading People Older Than You, with Bonni Stachowiak (episode 59) Your Permission to Screw Up, with Kristen Hadeed (episode 338) How to Deal with Opponents and Adversaries, with Peter Block (episode 328) How to Create Meaningful Gatherings, with Priya Parker (episode 395) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Michael Hyatt: The Vision-Driven Leader Michael is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Michael Hyatt & Company. He has scaled multiple companies over the years, including a $250M publishing company with 700+ employees and his own leadership development company that has grown over 60% year over year for the past 4 years. Under his leadership, Michael Hyatt & Company has been featured in the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America for three years in a row. He is also the author of several New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling books, including Platform*, Living Forward*, Your Best Year Ever*, and Free to Focus*. He enjoys The Double Win with his wife of 40+ years, five daughters, and nine grandchildren. He recently released his newest book: The Vision-Driven Leader: 10 Questions to Focus Your Efforts, Energize Your Team, and Scale Your Business*. In this conversation, Michael and I discuss where to start once you’ve created an initial vision. Michael invites us to engage those that don’t like change and take the time to listen. In addition, getting buy-in from your boss is essential — your vision should align with their goals and those of the organization. Key Points Start with your direct reports who don’t like change. Be quick to listen, slow to speak. Make the distinction between risky vs. stupid. Bosses don’t like surprises. You have to commit first. When I had a boss, I had a basic rule: Don’t take a swing unless I’m confident I’ll hit the ball. -Michael Hyatt Know your customer. Make sure the vision is helping your boss — and the organization — achieve their goals. Before you schedule a time to pitch your proposal, answer the question: how is my Vision Script going to help my boss achieve their goals? If you can’t answer that question, you’re not ready to make the pitch. -Michael Hyatt Anticipate the objections you’re likely to receive and be ready for them. Once you’ve got buy-in on a vision, stop. Don’t oversell it. When you’re starting to get tired of hearing yourself talk about the vision, that’s an indicator that you’re on the right track. Resources Mentioned Vision Driven Leader bonus resources Book Notes Download my highlights from The Vision-Driven Leader in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Get Noticed in a Noisy World, with Michael Hyatt (episode 40) How to Create a Vivid Vision, with Cameron Herold (episode 345) Embrace a Just Cause, with Simon Sinek (episode 473) How to Create Your Personal Vision (free membership required) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

David Burkus: Pick a Fight David’s work is changing how companies approach innovation, collaboration, and leadership. He is the award-winning author of four books and offers a fresh perspective on how to improve our organizations and build better teams by blending the most current research in psychology, sociology, economics, and network science. His books have been translated in more than a dozen languages and his work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, and more. He has consistently been named one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50 and his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He is the author of the audiobook, Pick a Fight: How Great Teams Find a Purpose Worth Rallying Around*. In this conversation, David and I discuss why picking a fight is a powerful motivation, but important to do with wisdom. Most organizations won’t benefit from starting fights with rivals. Instead, discover one of three fights that will support a cause worth fighting for. Key Points Avoid fights with rivals. Picking a fight is a powerful motivator; but leaders need to pick their fight wisely. Instead of someone to fight, they need to find a cause worth fighting for. Three kinds of fights that are useful for leaders to engage in: The Revolutionary Fight The Underdog Fight The Ally Fight Resources Mentioned 3 Days To A More Motivated And Aligned Team Book Notes Download my highlights from Pick a Fight in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Power of Weak Connections, with David Burkus (episode 347) How to Clarify What’s Important, with Ron Williams (episode 410) Embrace a Just Cause, with Simon Sinek (episode 473) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Laura Huang: Edge Laura Huang is an associate professor at the Harvard Business School. Her research examines interpersonal relationships and implicit bias in entrepreneurship and in the workplace. She is the creator of #FindYourEdge, an initiative dedicated to addressing inequality and disadvantage through personal empowerment. Her award-winning research has been featured in the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Forbes — and she was named one of the 40 Best Business School Professors Under the Age of 40 by Poets & Quants. She’s the author of the book Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage*. In this conversation, Laura and I discuss the value of constraints, why hard work isn’t enough, and the reason you’re not selling out when reclaiming an awareness of yourself. We also explore why it’s essential for you to be able to tell your story. Key Points “Be yourself” is sometimes bad advice. You’re not selling out when you reclaim an awareness of yourself. Bring value — and also be sure that people KNOW you bring value. Self awareness can sometimes encumber our ability to guide. Don’t passively let others write your narrative — write your own narrative and guide other’s view of you. Let your past make you better, not bitter. Resources Mentioned Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage* by Laura Huang Companion guide at LauraHuang.net Book Notes Download my highlights from Edge in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Leverage Your Defining Moments, with Lynne Whiteford (episode 372) The Value of Being Uncomfortable, with Neil Pasricha (episode 448) The Way to Influence Executives, with Nancy Duarte (episode 450) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Emily Leathers: Emotional Leadership Emily is an executive coach and software engineering manager. She has led teams and advised other managers for years. She’s seen the difference a truly passionate leader and manager can make for their team and the world around them. Like a lot of managers and coaches, she’s had a front row seat to the patterns that cause a lot of leaders to overwork and over stress. She is the author of the guide The 7 Leadership Lies and she’s the host of the Emotional Leadership podcast. She’s also a member of the Coaching for Leaders Academy. In this conversation, we discuss some of the common lies that leaders tend to tell themselves that lead to frustration and impostor syndrome. Then, we explore better ways to frame these beliefs, to lead with more confidence and effectiveness. Key Points Lie #1: I’m supposed to do everything I, my manager, or my team can think of. Truth: A leader’s job is about prioritization - and that means prioritizing how we spend our own time as well. Lie #2: There’s a timeline. Truth: There is no rush. Work gets much easier when we turn off the unneeded sense of emergency. Prioritization is the aim. Lie #3: Emotions don’t belong at work. Truth: Every action we take is driven by an emotion. You are going to experience emotions at work - that or you’ll be staring at a wall all day without a single thought in your mind. Turning them off isn’t an option. Learning to allow your emotions and use them to your advantage is critical for your success as a leader. Lie #4: I’m supposed to have an answer for any problem or question a team member asks. Truth: A manager’s role is to help your team solve problems, not to solve problems for your team. Resources Mentioned The 7 Leadership Lies Anger + Allowing Strong Emotions with Vivien Yang (Emotional Leadership podcast) Related Episodes How to Build Psychological Safety, with Amy Edmondson (episode 404) What to Do With Your Feelings, with Lori Gottlieb (episode 438) The Way to Be More Coach-Like, with Michael Bungay Stanier (episode 458) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Bonni Stachowiak: Teaching in Higher Ed Bonni Stachowiak is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, a professor of business and management at Vanguard University, and my life partner. Prior to her academic career, Bonni was a human resources consultant and executive officer for a publicly traded company. She is the author of The Productive Online and Offline Professor: A Practical Guide*. Listener Questions Joseph asked our opinion about this HBR IdeaCast on StrengthsFinder: Stop Focusing on Your Strengths Matt asked about using personality assessments when coaching an athletic team. Mike wondered the best way to approach conducting internal podcast interviews of employees. Resources Mentioned Brené Brown: The Call to Courage (Netflix special) StrengthsFinder training for individuals and teams* (use code CFL10 for a 10% tuition discount) Blubrry podcast hosting* Related Episodes How to Know What to Ask, with Andrew Warner (episode 198) How Teams Use StrengthsFinder Results, with Lisa Cummings (episode 293) How to Talk to People Who Have Power, with Jordan Harbinger (episode 343) Journey Towards Diversity and Inclusion, with Willie Jackson (episode 441) Changed My Mind (Dave’s Journal) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Pat Flynn: Let Go Pat Flynn is a father, husband, and entrepreneur who lives and works in San Diego, California. He owns several successful online businesses and is a professional blogger, keynote speaker, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. He’s the host of the Smart Passive Income and AskPat podcasts, which have earned a combined total of over 60 million downloads, multiple awards, and features in publications such as The New York Times and Forbes. Pat is the author of the book Let Go: How to Transform Moments of Panic into a Life of Profits and Purpose. You can find him at Smart Passive Income. In this conversation, Pat and I discuss the events leading up to his layoff in 2008, how he processed the change at the time, and what he did to respond purposely. Plus, he has reminders for leaders considering layoffs and many resources for those who’ve gone through it themselves. Key Points Plans are good and necessary to have, but they shouldn’t be written in stone. When the unexpected happens, keep moving. If you find yourself leading an organization and the future is uncertain, don’t say or pretend otherwise. A core value of Pat’s organization: embrace the process. Resources Mentioned Online Business Toolkit: Free resources from Pat Flynn’s team during COVID-19 The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles* by Steven Pressfield Book Notes Download my highlights from Let Go in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Ten Ways to Pick Yourself Up When You’re Beaten Down (episode 85) How to Tame Your Inner Critic, with Tara Mohr (episode 232) Your Attitude Defines Your Altitude, with Howard “H” White (episode 384) Keep Going (Dave’s Journal) If You Can, Move Your Feet (Dave’s Journal) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Steve Blank: The Startup Owner's Manual Steve Blank is a Silicon Valley serial-entrepreneur and academician. He is recognized for developing the Customer Development methodology, which launched the Lean Startup movement. Steve is also the co-founder of E.piphany. His Google Tech talk, The Secret History of Silicon Valley, offers a widely regarded insider's perspective on the emerging Silicon Valley's start-up innovation. He’s also published three books: The Four Steps to the Epiphany*, Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost, and The Startup Owner's Manual*. In this conversation, Steve and I discuss the steps that leaders should take when making pivots. We explored the importance of creating a Minimal Viable Product or Minimum Viable Service, followed quickly with customer discovery, rapid testing, and refinement. Key Points What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. -Friedrich Nietzsche To pivot quickly: Create a MVP (Minimal Viable Product) or MVS (Minimum Viable Service). Conduct customer discovery: validate your idea by speaking with existing/potential customers about the new product/service. Do rapid testing: get your work into the hands of existing/potential customers quickly. Don’t try to get it perfect right out of the gate. Refine your offering: use fast feedback to make the product/service better. Resources Mentioned Seven Steps to Small Business Recovery The Virus Survival Strategy For Your Startup How To Keep Your Company Alive – Observe, Orient, Decide and Act Customer Discovery In the Time Of the Covid-19 Virus Related Episodes Ideas Worth Stealing From Top Entrepreneurs, with Dorie Clark (episode 318) Serve Others Through Marketing, with Seth Godin (episode 381) How to Build an Invincible Company, with Alex Osterwalder (episode 470) If You Build It, They Will Come (Dave’s Journal) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.