The Better Leadership Team Show

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with strategy advisor and author Alex M. H. Smith to break down what real strategy looks like—and why most leadership teams are misaligned without even realizing it. We explore why strategy is not a goal, why “better” is not a winning position, and why companies succeed when they refuse to compete and instead create truly unique value.Alex shares practical insights on how businesses of any size can discover what makes them different, double down on those strengths, and confidently let go of everything else. We also talk about the surprising parallels between strengths-based leadership and strategy, and how leaders can use both to build high-performing organizations.Learn more about Alex’s work and resources at: https://www.basicarts.org/welcome Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I talk with executive coach and keynote speaker Kathryn Landis about leading through uncertainty and overcoming decision paralysis. We explore why indecision costs organizations millions, how leaders can manage up and down effectively, and how to identify personal “tells” of stress that undermine leadership effectiveness. Kathryn also shares how shared purpose, delegation, and vulnerability can transform team performance. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I talk with retired executive and Navy veteran Scott Millson, author of The Frequency of Excellence. We explore how leaders can “tune into excellence” by cultivating a growth mindset, fostering mentorship, and leading with reflection and humor. Scott shares his powerful B5 Framework and insights from decades of leadership experience — including why culture is the shadow of the leader, how to use feed forward instead of feedback, and why laughter may be one of the most underrated leadership tools. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this Mike on the Mic episode, I unpack the five biggest blind spots that cause leaders to unintentionally create the very problems they complain about.From blaming others and silencing honest feedback to confusing activity for results, I reveal how these hidden habits quietly undermine trust, accountability, and culture. You’ll learn how to recognize these patterns, model ownership, and transform your leadership approach to build a stronger, more aligned team.If you’ve ever wondered why your team isn’t taking more ownership or why the same issues keep showing up again and again—this episode might hit close to home. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I talk with Danielle Baldwin, author of Sparking Greatness, about how leaders can create inspired, high-performing teams. We explore the difference between motivation and inspiration, the five elements of truly inspiring stories (Courage, Hardship, Authenticity, Resilience, and Transformation), and how leaders can cultivate trust, vulnerability, and stillness to spark greatness in themselves and others.Danielle also shares actionable tools—from spaciousness and self-forgetfulness to storytelling and self-care—that help leaders shift from burnout to inspiration. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this Mike on the Mic episode, I unpack the five pillars for rooting out mediocrity and building teams that truly thrive.I explore how to create a powerful vision, set high expectations, establish relentless accountability, increase talent density, and invest in your best people.If you’re ready to break free from “good enough” and lead a high-performing, growth-driven team, this episode will give you the roadmap.Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with executive coach and author Marc A. Wolfe, whose book Yeah, But: Cut Through the Noise to Live, Learn and Lead Better helps leaders and teams dismantle the excuses that hold them back.We talk about why “yeah, but” thinking kills innovation, how to transform pushback into clarity, and how the best leadership teams replace excuses with curiosity and collaboration. Marc shares stories from his eclectic journey—from photographing U.S. presidents to coaching Fortune 500 leaders—and reveals how great teams build cultures that question intelligently, act decisively, and lead with empathy.If you’ve ever said “Yeah, but…” to an opportunity, this episode is your invitation to move from hesitation to action.Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Laura Sicola—cognitive linguist, executive coach, and author of Speaking to Influence—to explore how leaders can communicate with greater impact on stage, in the boardroom, and over Zoom.We dig into the “expert’s curse,” the importance of repeating and reinforcing vision, and how to align what you say with how you say it so your message truly connects. We also cover common vocal pitfalls like uptalk, monotone, and vocal fry, and share practical tips you can apply in your very next meeting.Together, we discuss how to balance vulnerability with authority, inspire action with your voice, and build credibility whether you’re leading a team, presenting to a board, or pitching big ideas. This conversation is packed with strategies to help you communicate with clarity, confidence, and influence. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Michael D. Levitt, burnout survivor, therapist, and host of The Breakfast Leadership Show. We dive deep into what workplace culture really means, why it matters more than ever, and how leaders can balance accountability with empathy. Michael shares powerful stories, including how he reduced turnover from 90% to 6% in a healthcare organization, and explains the one question leaders should ask their teams to build trust and lasting change. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach