The Learn-It-All Podcast

What if your most powerful communication tool wasn’t your voice—but your silence?In this episode, Damon Lembi sits down with mindfulness teacher and bestselling author Cynthia Kane to explore her game-changing approach to communication. From avoiding difficult conversations to managing high-stakes interactions at work, Cynthia reveals how the ability to pause—mentally, physically, and emotionally—can completely transform the way we lead, collaborate, and connect.Drawing from her book The Pause Principle and her signature SOFTEN Method, Cynthia shares a practical playbook for more grounded, intentional, and effective communication—starting with yourself.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why silence—not speaking—is the foundation of great communicationHow the body reacts during tough conversations and what to do about itThe SOFTEN Method: 6 tools to calm down and show up intentionallyWhy most communication breakdowns start with the stories we tell ourselvesHow to unlearn the communication habits you inheritedWhat mindful leaders do to create space, safety, and clarityA practice you can use between back-to-back meetings to resetHow one conversation Cynthia avoided for 13 years changed everythingWhat leaders need to know about tension, trust, and team dynamicsHow to go from reacting to responding—especially under pressureTimestamps:00:00 – The moment before you speak is where leadership begins01:30 – Can people really change how they communicate? Yes.03:00 – Two types of people: aware of communication struggles—and unaware04:00 – Damon's take: poor communication quietly stalls careers05:30 – Cynthia’s story: 13 years avoiding one key conversation07:30 – Fear, survival, and the ripple effect of not speaking up09:00 – Meditation and Buddhism: Cynthia’s unexpected entry point11:00 – From Right Speech to real-world practice13:00 – Why “in the moment” strategies matter most14:30 – Introducing the SOFTEN Method16:00 – Sensation: tuning into your body before your words18:00 – Owning discomfort and calming your nervous system20:00 – The subtle power of tactile strategies (no one will notice)22:00 – Can one person change the tone of a conversation? Yes.24:00 – Tactile tools for leaders: finger tapping, grounding, pressure points26:00 – Rewriting your inner voice to change how you lead28:00 – Team case study: how communication training shifted dynamics30:00 – Why leaders must do the work—not just their teams32:00 – Meditation for communicators (even if you “suck” at it)34:00 – The real practice: noticing, returning, and being kind36:00 – Resetting after a tough conversation so you’re fully present38:00 – Communication in sales: when excitement gets in the way40:00 – Slow down. One person can shift the whole vibe42:00 – Why human connection and adaptability matter more than ever44:00 – Cynthia’s hope: thriving relationships and better day-to-days45:00 – Final takeaway: Attention follows intention. Practice is the path.Resources & Mentions:Cynthia’s book: The Pause Principle – https://a.co/d/eprOdpC Cynthia’s book: How to Communicate Like a Buddhist – https://a.co/d/8hBUvXBCynthia Kane’s website – https://www.cynthiakane.comLearnit course: Delegate to Scale Your Impact – https://www.learnit.com/courses/delegate-to-scale-your-impactFull Focus Freedom Compass – https://fullfocus.co/the-undervalued-zone-of-the-freedom-compass/About the Guest:Cynthia Kane is a mindfulness teacher, communication expert, and author of multiple books including The Pause Principle and How to Communicate Like a Buddhist. Through her SOFTEN Method, she’s helped thousands of professionals learn how to turn everyday conversations into moments of clarity, connection, and calm. Her work blends Eastern philosophy with practical tools for the modern workplace and life.Connect With UsLevel up your team at www.learnit.comEmail us: podcast@learnit.comFollow Damon on LinkedInFollow Damon on Instagram

You don’t lose great people overnight—it happens slowly, then all at once.In this solo episode, Damon Lembi gets real about the 9 most common reasons high performers quit—and what you can do today to retain them. From bad bosses and burnout to compensation, culture, and career stagnation, Damon shares hard-earned lessons from decades of building (and rebuilding) teams at Learnit.If you’re a current or aspiring manager, this episode is your playbook for retention, engagement, and trust.In this episode, you’ll learn:9 of the most common reasons top performers leaveWhy overloading your best people backfiresHow bad bosses drive silent attritionWhy investing in growth and development keeps people loyalThe "VIP curse" and how it leads to burnoutWhat happens when culture rewards underperformanceWhy promoting great individual contributors can go wrongHow to create flexibility without losing performanceThe power of stretch projects, team building, and autonomyWhat Damon offers to every listener (hint: it's generous)Timestamps:00:00 – Why top talent leaves: the real reasons00:35 – Reason 1: Bad bosses and broken trust01:00 – Reason 2: Lack of appreciation and recognition01:30 – Reason 3: Burnout and the VIP curse02:00 – Reason 4: No growth or advancement path02:30 – Reason 5: No investment in professional development03:00 – Reason 6: Toxic or unchallenging team cultures03:30 – Reason 7: Misaligned promotions (ICs into managers)04:00 – Reason 8: Lack of flexibility and autonomy04:30 – Reason 9: Compensation and pay inequity05:00 – What to do: Invest in growth and give them ownership06:00 – Be flexible: one-size-fits-all doesn’t work06:30 – Find their passion, and play to strengths07:00 – Team building and connection matter more than ever07:30 – Retention bonuses (and when to use them)08:00 – Final reflection: High performers want purpose, trust, growth08:30 – Damon’s giveaway: Free book and 60 days of team trainingResources & Mentions:Damon’s book: The Learn-It-All Leaderhttps://www.amazon.com/Learn-All-Leader-Mindset-Traits/dp/1544541651Learnit course: Delegate to Scale Your Impacthttps://www.learnit.com/courses/delegate-to-scale-your-impactThe Freedom Compass by Michael Hyatthttps://fullfocus.co/the-undervalued-zone-of-the-freedom-compass/Gallup: Why Your Boss Is the Reason People QuitOC Tanner Study on Recognition and RetentionPew Research: Reasons Americans Quit Their Jobs in 2021LinkedIn Learning: 94% Would Stay Longer with Learning OpportunitiesConnect With UsUplevel yourself and your team at Learnit.comEmail us: podcast@learnit.comFollow Damon on LinkedInFollow Damon on Instagram

What if the best leaders weren’t the ones at the center—but the ones who built teams that held each other accountable, coached each other up, and challenged each other to grow? In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with Keith Ferrazzi—#1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the most trusted voices in leadership transformation—to unpack his revolutionary new leadership model: Teamship. Ferrazzi lays out a clear roadmap for how to build teams that are high on trust, feedback, and co-creation—and low on ego, meetings, and top-down control. Whether you're leading a Fortune 500 company or a small business, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership, collaboration, and accountability. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “Teamship” is replacing traditional leadership models How to build cultures of peer-to-peer feedback and shared accountability The three-layer framework every high-performing team needs How to engineer psychological safety, candor, and coaching into your team A simple practice to radically improve feedback and performance Why meetings might be your biggest bottleneck (and how to fix them) The difference between co-creation and collaboration—and why it matters Why AI should be treated like a team member, not a tool How Damon is applying Keith’s model to reinvent Learnit The power of redefining “team” around strategic rocks—not org charts Timestamps: 00:00 – Keith on why we must reinvent leadership  01:00 – The engineering mindset behind great team cultures  03:00 – The rise of agile, Kaizen, and peer-led collaboration  04:00 – From Never Eat Alone to Never Lead Alone  06:00 – Building a challenge culture inside your team  07:30 – The role of feedback, bonding, and trust  09:00 – Damon’s college baseball story: peer accountability in action  11:30 – Damon’s Learnit team diagnostic: from 2.8 to co-creation  14:00 – Keith’s 3-column practice: achievements, struggles, and plans  16:30 – The power of “Sherpas” vs. leaders  18:00 – Real-time stress-testing: how to activate your whole team  20:00 – Building feedback loops without meetings  22:00 – Why frontline insight is gold  24:00 – How Learnit co-creates training with customers  26:00 – Peer-to-peer coaching and open 360s  28:00 – Keith’s “layer cake” framework for Teamship  30:00 – Applying Teamship to strategic rocks, not company culture  32:00 – Reframing leadership as engineering  33:00 – AI as a team member (not just tech)  34:00 – Keith’s 8-week relationship course: Beyond Connections  36:00 – The foster care story that changed everything  37:00 – Final takeaways and Learnit’s 30-year anniversaryAbout Keith: Keith Ferrazzi is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, founder of Ferrazzi Greenlight, and one of the world’s leading experts on leadership, workplace transformation, and high-performance teams. His books include Never Eat Alone, Leading Without Authority, and his latest, Never Lead Alone. Through 20+ years of coaching executive teams at companies like General Motors, Delta, and Amazon, Keith has become a trusted voice for leaders who want to unlock bold growth through co-elevation and radical collaboration. Resources & Mentions: Keith’s book: Never Lead Alone – https://a.co/d/eI5Kemu  Keith’s book: Never Eat Alone – https://a.co/d/7H9FEJG  Keith’s course: https://connectedsuccess.com Damon’s book: The Learn-It-All Leader – https://a.co/d/19KSQKW  Full Focus “Freedom Compass” tool – https://fullfocus.co/the-undervalued-zone-of-the-freedom-compass/ Learnit course: Delegate to Scale Your Impact – https://www.learnit.com/courses/delegate-to-scale-your-impact  Connect With Us: Level up your team with Learnit: www.learnit.com  Email us: podcast@learnit.com  Follow Damon on LinkedIn  Follow Damon on Instagram 

Joel Goldberg, a seasoned sports broadcaster and author of 'Small Ball, Big Results,' shares insights from over 15 years covering the Kansas City Royals. He discusses how trust and storytelling are essential in both sports and business. Listeners will learn about building trust across generations, the significance of small wins, and managing slumps with resilience. Joel emphasizes the importance of genuine curiosity and setting boundaries to foster deeper connections. His experiences highlight how great leadership is rooted in humanity and emotional intelligence.

Leadership isn’t just about what you do—it’s about who you’re becoming. In this solo episode, Learnit CEO Damon Lembi shares a behind-the-scenes look at his personal leadership audit: a framework he calls “The 3x3.” You’ll hear the three things he’s improved, the three he’s stayed consistent on, and the three he still needs to work on as he reflects on 30 years of Learnit—and what it means to lead with intention in a fast-changing world. Whether you’re a first-time manager or a seasoned executive, this episode will give you the tools (and courage) to take your own honest audit. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Damon improved delegation—and the tool that changed everything Why your personal brand matters (and how to build one with humility) The “Purposeful Awfulizing” strategy for better decision making What it really means to be a people-first leader The 5 traits of a “Learn-It-All Leader” Why modeling behavior is more powerful than preaching it The danger of unclear purpose—and how to align your team Why every company needs an AI advisory board How to lead through change before complacency creeps in A challenge: Create your own 3x3 leadership audit  Timestamps: 00:00 – Why June 2025 marks a meaningful moment in Damon’s leadership journey 01:00 – The “3x3”: A framework for reflecting on leadership growth 01:45 – 1st area of growth: Delegation (and getting out of the weeds) 03:00 – How COVID accelerated trust and team ownership 03:30 – The Freedom Compass: What Damon let go of—and what happened next 04:50 – 2nd area of growth: Building a personal brand without ego 05:45 – Why every leader needs to be public-facing 06:30 – 3rd area of growth: Better decision making and avoiding sunk cost traps 07:10 – Controlling emotion, expanding options, and “Purposeful Awfulizing” 08:30 – Why even failed decisions are valuable if you learn 09:00 – 1st consistency: Being a people-first leader with psychological safety 10:30 – 2nd consistency: Living the traits of a Learn-It-All Leader 11:15 – Humility, Integrity, Courage, Accountability, Curiosity 12:15 – 3rd consistency: Modeling the behavior you want from your team 13:00 – What Damon still needs to improve (part 1): Clarifying shared purpose 14:00 – The North Star problem and Keith Ferrazzi’s diagnostic 15:00 – What remote work and silos have made harder—but not impossible 15:30 – What Damon still needs to improve (part 2): Navigating change in the age of AI 16:30 – Why urgency beats complacency—even when things are going “fine” 17:00 – What Damon still needs to improve (part 3): Building a formal advisory board 17:45 – Why outside perspectives are key to staying sharp and forward-thinking 18:30 – The 3x3 recap and challenge: Build your own audit  About Damon Lembi:    Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.   Resources & Mentions: The Freedom Compass from Michael Hyatt: https://fullfocus.co/the-undervalued-zone-of-the-freedom-compass Delegate to Scale Your Impact (Learnit course): https://www.learnit.com/courses/delegate-to-scale-your-impact The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi: https://a.co/d/azzNKWM Never Lead Alone by Keith Ferrazzi:  https://a.co/d/4zOrfV3 Good Decisions Equals Success by Damon Lembi & Kandis Porter: https://a.co/d/hJhnRJU “Purposeful Awfulizing” on Learn-It-All Podcast: https://pod.link/1714645917/episode/78c7db5b03a2f43e1dce6a4301e5be7c Damon Lembi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi  Connect With Us Uplevel yourself and your team at Learnit.com Email us: podcast@learnit.com Follow Damon on LinkedIn Follow Damon on Instagram 

What do fast companies, smart failures, and dopamine have in common? In this mind-expanding episode, Damon sits down with keynote speaker, neuroscientist, and AI advisor Benjamin Bargetzi to explore how leaders can future-proof themselves and their organizations. From rewiring how we think about failure to building teams that thrive on purpose, Benjamin shares bold, practical ideas to help leaders navigate uncertainty—and unlock the full potential of their people. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “Be fast, fail smart, dare to think big” is the ultimate leadership playbook How to know when it’s wise to quit—and when it’s delusional to stay The sunk cost trap and how to escape it with your culture (and budget) intact The neuroscience behind motivation and “dopaminergic leadership” Why purpose beats fear in times of uncertainty How to create a feedback-rich, innovation-ready culture The power of ownership and “mini-startups” within your team What most companies get wrong about continuous learning Why AI adoption is essential—and how to lead the charge What the workplace (and world) will look like by 2035 Timestamps: 00:01 – Benjamin’s mantra: Be fast, fail smart, dare to think big  06:30 – The sunk cost fallacy: When should leaders actually give up?  09:49 – Building a culture where feedback flows and ideas bubble up  14:46 – Why great leaders retain talent by offering security, purpose, and growth  17:06 – Dopaminergic leadership: A science-based approach to motivation  27:36 – Small wins, ownership, and the secret to consistent engagement  29:32 – The power of continuous learning and neuroplasticity  36:00 – The Ikigai model and aligning career with strengths  46:00 – AI adoption in organizations: From thought partner to survival strategy  52:06 – What the world might really look like in 2035  55:46 – Optimism, access, and leadership’s ripple effect on society Resources & Mentions: Benjamin’s website: https://benjaminbargetzi.com Futurebrains.ai: https://futurebrains.ai Benjamin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminbargetzi Ikigai framework: https://www.whatsyourikigai.com Connect With Us Uplevel yourself and your team at Learnit.com Email us: podcast@learnit.com Follow Damon on LinkedIn Follow Damon on Instagram 

What if your background, your accent, or your “nontraditional” path was actually your biggest asset? In this episode, Damon sits down with Juan Silvera, global marketing executive and author of Improbably Successful, to unpack how underdogs win in today’s hypercompetitive marketplace. From surviving the streets of Medellín to leading global teams, Juan shares his powerful story and teaches you how to stand out—no matter where you start. Whether you're navigating career change, trying to build your brand, or wondering if you belong, this episode will challenge and inspire you.  In this episode, you’ll learn: What it means to be “improbably successful” How to reframe adversity as your leadership advantage Why discomfort and risk often lead to exponential growth A real-life framework for deciding if a big leap is worth it How to take a skill inventory that opens new doors The #1 career skill that wins in any role (hint: it’s not technical) How bilingualism and cultural identity can create opportunity Why personal branding isn’t vanity—it’s strategy What leaders get wrong about humor and communication How to project gravitas—even before you feel “ready”  Timestamps: 00:00 – What it means to be “improbably successful”  01:30 – Growing up in Medellín and the instincts it shaped  03:45 – Why street smarts aren’t enough in today’s workplace  06:00 – The move to Austria: risk, family, and transformation 08:40 – Advice for leaving a “comfortable” job  10:20 – Creating a personal framework for smart risk  12:30 – Planning during forced change: layoffs, pivots, uncertainty  15:00 – The skills audit exercise (supply vs. demand)  17:00 – Why transferable skills matter more than job titles  18:30 – Communication: the most valuable skill in any career  20:15 – How to assess (and improve) your communication  21:30 – Writing, listening, humor: Juan’s communication playbook  24:30 – Humor as a leadership advantage (with one big caveat)  29:45 – Finding and using your unique strengths  33:00 – Women in leadership: why EQ is a hidden superpower  36:30 – How second languages open unexpected doors  39:50 – Juan’s turning point: from last-ranked analyst to global leader  42:10 – Building and protecting your personal brand  45:15 – What people notice (and judge) before you say a word  47:00 – How Juan hired someone based on their online presence  50:00 – Why you need to treat yourself like a brand  52:00 – What Juan would add to the next edition of his book  53:00 – A reminder: never forget the fundamentals About Juan Silvera: Juan Silvera is a global marketing executive, storyteller, and the author of Improbably Successful: How to Win in a World That Wasn’t Built for You. Born and raised in Medellín, Colombia, Juan has led marketing and business initiatives across four continents and is known for his ability to bridge cultural divides and unlock hidden potential. His mission: help professionals from all backgrounds realize that what makes them different is exactly what makes them powerful. Resources & Mentions: Juan’s book: Improbably Successful on Amazon Juan’s website: juansilvera.com Juan on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juansilvera Juan on X (formerly Twitter): @juansilvera  Connect With Us: Uplevel yourself and your team at Learnit.com Email us: podcast@learnit.com Follow Damon on LinkedIn Follow Damon on Instagram 

Reading books doesn’t make you a better leader—applying them does. In this solo episode, Learnit CEO and bestselling author Damon Lembi shares five books that have fundamentally shaped how he leads, makes decisions, and builds high-performing teams. But this isn’t a generic reading list. Damon reveals exactly what he took from each book—and how he’s put those lessons to work. If you're looking to lead with more intention, clarity, and impact, start here.In this episode, you’ll learn: The 3 big leadership lessons Damon took from Lincoln Why introverts often make the best leaders A decision-making framework every exec should master How to shift your org from hierarchy to teamship Why you can’t afford to ignore AI (and how to start) How to get real ROI from your reading habit What “learning without doing is treason” really means Why biographies beat business books (most of the time)  Timestamps: 00:00 – The most powerful leadership tool: reading (with intention)  01:10 – Book #1: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin  01:40 – Embracing diverse viewpoints and emotional control  03:00 – Lincoln’s “hot letter” method: emotional intelligence in action  04:00 – From criticized novice to strategic mastermind: Lincoln’s growth  05:00 – Book #2: Quiet by Susan Cain  05:45 – Why introverts lead best by listening, not commanding  06:45 – Advice for introverts—or leaders who manage them  07:30 – Book #3: Decisive by Chip & Dan Heath  08:15 – The WRAP framework: smarter decisions, less regret  09:00 – How Damon used it to rethink a CFO hire  10:00 – The 10/10/10 rule for cooling emotional decisions  10:45 – The trap of confirmation bias—and how to escape it  11:15 – Bonus: Damon’s book Good Decisions = Success  11:45 – Book #4: Never Lead Alone by Keith Ferrazzi  12:30 – Teamship vs. traditional leadership  13:10 – Why open candor beats conflict avoidance  13:45 – A roadmap for building trust, feedback, and collaboration  14:30 – Book #5: AI-Driven Leader by Jeff Woods  15:15 – Why AI is a mindset shift—not just a tool  15:45 – Damon’s example: building a comp plan using AI  16:30 – The 4-part prompt framework for high-impact AI results  17:00 – Bonus Book: The Learn-It-All Leader by Damon Lembi  17:30 – Being vs. Doing: Two halves of the leadership equation  18:00 – Final thought: Apply what you read—or it doesn’t count Resources & Mentions: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin: Amazon Quiet by Susan Cain: Amazon Decisive by Chip & Dan Heath: Amazon Never Lead Alone by Keith Ferrazzi: Amazon AI-Driven Leader by Goeff Woods: Amazon Good Decisions = Success by Damon Lembi & Kandis Porter: Learnit.com The Learn-It-All Leader by Damon Lembi: Amazon Learn-It-All Podcast interview with Geeff Woods: Listen on Spotify Connect With Us: Uplevel yourself and your team at Learnit.com Email us: podcast@learnit.com Follow Damon on LinkedIn Follow Damon on Instagram 

You can’t solve 21st-century problems with 20th-century mindsets—and today’s guest is on a mission to change that. In this episode, Damon sits down with Erin Lewellen, CEO of Tilting Futures, to unpack how immersive, global learning experiences are transforming the next generation of leaders. From building self-awareness to teaching systems thinking and reducing bias, Erin shares how her team is reshaping leadership education—and what every company can learn from their model. Whether you lead a team, a classroom, or a company, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, feedback, and the power of perspective. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why self-awareness isn’t innate—it’s a muscle The “look in the mirror” rule every leader should follow How Tilting Futures develops young leaders from 100+ countries Why discomfort and difference drive transformational growth The #1 interview strategy to find self-reflective employees How to build a feedback culture rooted in trust, not fear The hidden cost of “meetings after the meeting” What most orgs get wrong about defining values How leaders can model curiosity and restraint in meetings Why you need to stop saying “they” and start saying “we”  Timestamps: 00:00 – Can you teach self-awareness—or is it innate?  01:45 – “Look in the mirror”: Erin’s foundational leadership habit  03:30 – What Tilting Futures is and how it works  05:35 – Why ages 17–22 are the sweet spot for impact  07:10 – Teaching empathy through global immersion and collaboration  08:50 – Travel as a tool for leadership and adaptability  11:30 – Erin’s Cape Town story: Context, humility, and lifelong change  14:45 – Leading meetings with curiosity and silence  15:55 – What changes in student mindset after 4 months  18:00 – The research: Reduced bias, more agency, stronger leadership  20:40 – How global cohorts shift perspective and prejudice  22:45 – Systems thinking and asset-based problem solving  25:30 – Behind the scenes: Building Tilting Futures’ internal culture  28:00 – “There is no ‘they’, only ‘we’”: One of their core principles  30:30 – How Erin interviews for curiosity and growth mindset  34:15 – Why soft skills are the hardest—and most critical—to teach  35:45 – Encouraging disagreement to find the best idea  38:00 – Practicing emotional honesty in meetings  40:30 – Ditching “the meeting after the meeting”  42:00 – Aligning staff and student values: One unified culture  44:25 – Keeping values alive in every meeting  46:45 – How this generation of students is different  49:30 – The Zimbabwean biomedical engineer who redefined her mission  52:00 – Erin’s why: Helping young leaders unlock their impact  54:00 – Scholarships, access, and how to get involved  About Erin Lewellen: Erin Lewellen is the CEO of Tilting Futures, a nonprofit redefining global education through immersive leadership experiences. With operations in Cape Town and Malaysia, Tilting Futures equips young adults from over 100 countries with the skills, networks, and self-awareness needed to solve complex global challenges. A former high school basketball coach and champion of inclusive leadership, Erin brings a systems-level perspective to everything from education reform to organizational culture. She’s also a Forbes contributor and advocate for integrating “soft” (human) skills into every stage of leadership.  Resources & Mentions: Tilting Futures website Erin Lewellen on LinkedIn Forbes article: The Soft Skills That Can’t Be Replaced By AI Apply to Take Action Lab Connect With Us: Uplevel yourself and your team at Learnit.com Email us: podcast@learnit.com Follow Damon on LinkedIn Follow Damon on Instagram 

Why does stress feel so normal in the workplace? Why does our mind default to the worst case scenario? And what’s the cost of this being our normal day to day life? In this episode, Damon sits down with Derek Sloan, who’s a licensed therapist, executive coach, and founder of Abridge Leadership to explore why so many professionals silently battle negativity and self-doubt, and what leaders can do to break the cycle. Whether you're navigating organizational change, dealing with anxious thoughts, or trying to model vulnerability in a remote workplace, this episode offers practical tools backed by psychology and made for the real world. In this episode you’ll learn: What The 80% Rule is—and how it can transform how you lead The hidden cost of “normalized” workplace stress Why vulnerability is a leadership superpower (when done right) The difference between confidence and self-efficacy How to spot fear-based thinking on your team Practical ways leaders can create clarity, safety, and connection And so much more! Timestamps: 00:21 – Why our brains default to negativity (60,000 thoughts, 80% negative)  01:53 – The thought-emotion-behavior chain: how negativity spreads  03:42 – What happens when dysfunction is normalized at work  05:45 – Breaking down The 80% Rule (3 surprising stats)  09:00 – Addressing real pain vs. future-focused fear  10:25 – The traps leaders fall into under stress  12:23 – A case study: when a promotion becomes a source of burnout  16:05 – What leaders can do during times of uncertainty  18:45 – The power of focusing on controllables  19:24 – 3 controllables: showing up as your best, staying hopeful, being transparent  22:30 – Why vulnerability matters more than ever  25:15 – Healthy vs. unhealthy vulnerability: where leaders get it wrong  29:09 – Understanding fear: how our brains exaggerate the future  33:27 – Self-efficacy vs. confidence—and why both matter  36:05 – How to give better feedback (that actually develops talent)  39:14 – Recognizing negativity loops in your team  41:39 – Why listening—not fixing—is your leadership edge  44:00 – The post-COVID shift: employees expect to be cared for  45:32 – Can remote work ever match in-person connection?  48:21 – Why loneliness is a hidden workplace epidemic  50:15 – Final takeaway: Take inventory. Where are you now—and how long have you been there?  About the Guest: Derek Sloan is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and National Certified Counselor (NCC), He has experience in providing mental health and behavioral health services to individuals, couples, and groups. He founded and continues to operate a private practice in Kentucky. Derek is also a Certified Executive Coach and has a passion for leadership development. This has been a lifelong pursuit through his graduate degree in organizational leadership, building businesses, and leadership coaching/consulting. He works with executive leaders in top-level and industry-leading organizations, helping them enhance their emotional intelligence, communication skills, and decision-making abilities. His mission is to help organizations achieve their goals by prioritizing both leadership and mental health. Resources & Mentions: Follow Derek on LinkedIn Visit Derek's Leadership company Abridge Leadership Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Derek’s Podcast: Mental Stillness Damon's appearance on Mental Stillness: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/38-special-guest-damon-lembi/id1717076433?i=1000703632140Connect with Us: Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: podcast@learnit.com Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram