
The Leader Factor
[Previously Culture by Design] The leader is the #1 factor in determining organizational success. If you want to become an effective leader, you have three objectives: First, learn to lead yourself. Then, learn how to unlock the full potential of your team. Finally, build a business where culture is your competitive advantage and innovation is the status quo.
Latest episodes

9 snips
Aug 27, 2024 • 21min
7 Things Psychological Safety Is Not
Discover the common misconceptions surrounding psychological safety in the workplace. It's not about avoiding accountability or promoting artificial niceness. True psychological safety fosters open discussions and balanced autonomy. The importance of shared accountability is emphasized for enhancing performance. Learn about the four stages of psychological safety that create a more innovative and inclusive environment. This discussion unpacks how genuine interactions lead to a thriving organizational culture.

Aug 13, 2024 • 35min
What to Do With a Toxic Leader
What are the HR best practices when it comes to toxic leadership? Should you coach the leaders? Or should you fire them? When it comes to toxicity, organizations often wait too long to get involved. Learn how to identify the symptoms of poor leadership and intervention strategies to preserve and protect your teams' cultural health.Episode Chapters:00:00 - Start00:40 - How common is toxicity in the workplace?04:07 - Toxicity is a spectrum of influence.11:48 - The definition of a toxic leader.13:55 - Identifying two types of toxic leaders.17:57 - Two organizational failure patterns.23:26 - Intervention strategies for both types of toxic leaders.✅ Download the resources/slides from the episode: https://www.leaderfactor.com/resources/what-to-do-with-a-toxic-leaderOr watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/18zfabFNKBo

Jul 30, 2024 • 32min
Measuring Psychological Safety: What Most L&D Leaders Don't Realize
Discover the crucial role of psychological safety in shaping organizational culture. Learn how to effectively measure it using tools like the PS Index, which combines quantitative and qualitative data. Explore the concept of 'blue zones' that promote vulnerability, fostering open communication. Understand the dynamic between team safety metrics and leadership effectiveness. Finally, delve into the importance of integrating cultural accountability in succession planning to enhance a positive work environment.

Jul 23, 2024 • 39min
Measuring EQ: What Most L&D Leaders Don't Realize
Exploring the importance of emotional intelligence in career growth, using EQ assessments for coaching, analyzing global EQ skills, navigating stress tolerance, and emotional acceptance for personal development.

Jul 16, 2024 • 38min
Psychological Safety: The Collective EQ of a Team
Discover the crucial ties between psychological safety and emotional intelligence in teams. Learn how vulnerability enhances communication and trust, while silence can hinder interaction. Explore practical steps to nurture a supportive environment and the pivotal role of leaders in modeling this culture. Delve into the significance of deliberate practice for ongoing improvement and how assessing psychological safety can drive meaningful growth in organizations. Empower your team with the tools for enhanced collaboration and innovation!

Jul 9, 2024 • 46min
EQ & Social Regard: Do you actually care about your team?
The podcast discusses the importance of genuinely caring about your team as a leader, emphasizing the need for healthy influence. It introduces The Spectrum of Influence framework, identifies two failure patterns in influence, and offers 5 tactical behaviors to improve social regard. Topics include emotional intelligence, belief and intent in interactions, leadership impact on fear and psychological safety, recognizing human dignity, compassion as a behavioral indicator, and building respect and understanding in team interactions.

Jul 1, 2024 • 35min
EQ: Your Delivery System
Discover the crucial role of emotional intelligence in leadership progression and workplace success. Learn why interpersonal skills are essential for leaders, especially when transitioning to indirect contributions. Explore strategies for improving emotional intelligence and the importance of balancing technical skills with EQ for effective leadership.

Jun 24, 2024 • 37min
The Experience Leader: How to Outpace Commoditization in the 21st Century
The podcast highlights the rapid commoditization of leadership skills, urging modern leaders to evolve beyond outdated methods. It explores how organizations must enhance human interaction amidst technological advances. The discussion connects employee and customer experiences, emphasizing their impact on innovation. Listeners learn about the historical shifts in economic value and the importance of psychological safety in teams. Ultimately, it stresses the need for leaders to foster meaningful connections to thrive in today's experience-driven marketplace.

Jun 17, 2024 • 39min
How to Build Challenger Safety
Discover the concept of challenger safety, the pinnacle of psychological safety in the workplace. It allows team members to challenge the status quo freely, fostering innovation and creativity. Learn about the vital role of vulnerability and emotional intelligence in encouraging open dialogue. The hosts discuss how positive team dynamics can fuel innovation while minimizing social friction. Finally, they emphasize the importance of creating a culture that supports risk-taking and value creation.

Jun 10, 2024 • 38min
How to Build Contributor Safety
Discover the fascinating concept of contributor safety and its vital role in fostering autonomy and performance within teams. The discussion highlights the interplay between micromanagement and trust, emphasizing the need for creative freedom in a professional setting. Dive into how autonomy should be earned through performance, not freely given. Explore the balance leaders must strike between accountability and providing the necessary guidance, ultimately creating an environment where meaningful contributions can thrive.