
The Learn-It-All Podcast
Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast, the show for today's leaders who are ready to get and stay ahead of the game. Because great leaders aren't born or made, they're always in the making.
Your host Damon Lembi is a 2x best-selling author and CEO of Learnit—a live learning platform that's upskilled over 2 million people.
In conversations with industry experts and solo episodes, Damon offers fresh insights, new practices, and actionable strategies for leaders looking forward to thriving in tomorrow’s rapidly evolving business landscape.
Subscribe to The Learn-It-All Podcast on your favorite platform to never miss an episode.
Latest episodes

Apr 10, 2025 • 48min
152: Why Most People's Definition of Success is Completely Wrong | JM Ryerson
Success is an extremely misunderstood word. If you lack the self-awareness of why you do what you do, it won’t matter how much money you are making on paper. This lack of awareness can prevent you from performing at your best, but that’s what we’re here to solve today. Today’s guest is JM Ryerson. He’s a serial entrepreneur, performance coach, author and the founder of Let’s Go Win, a company dedicated to helping high performers live their best lives both personally and professionally. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How to reshape your view on success and failure When to let go of a goal without seeing it as quitting What every first-time leader needs to hear about imposter syndrome How to define and embed powerful core values at work and at home And so much more Timestamps: 00:26 – JM’s limiting belief around money and how he rewrote it 03:16 – Costly mistakes and the power of self-awareness 05:05 – Learning from failures and helping others avoid “dummy tax” 06:06 – Letting go of expectations and five-year plans 07:34 – When it’s okay to pivot or quit a goal 09:16 – Losing sports identity and discovering personal growth 11:18 – JM’s journey from Enterprise to entrepreneurship 12:58 – Writing Let’s Go Win inspired by his kids 14:25 – The true philosophy behind “winning” 16:32 – Sports, parenting, and teaching kids resilience 20:51 – Parallels between parenting and leading teams 22:56 – Defining and living your company’s core values 27:18 – The three essential leadership traits JM lives by 29:15 – Radical transparency and where JM draws the line 31:09 – Vulnerability vs. weakness in leadership 33:26 – Advice for first-time leaders on being authentic 35:20 – Overcoming imposter syndrome by shifting focus 37:16 – Why putting people first drives business growth 38:45 – JM’s “Perfect Morning Routine” (33 minutes to change your day) 40:17 – How to build consistency with daily habits 42:13 – Creating your own luck through mindset and awareness 44:37 – JM’s legacy: presence, love, and showing up for his family 46:17 – Final advice: “Take care of YOU first” Resources Mentioned: JM’s book “Let’s Go Win” JM’s Website: https://www.letsgowin.com JM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgowin365 JM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jm-ryerson/ Let’s Go Win Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-go-win-podcast/id1517669567 Wim Hof (Breathwork Guide) - https://www.wimhofmethod.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tybOi4hjZFQ Atomic Habits by James Clear - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735211299 The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg - https://www.amazon.com/dp/081298160X How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671027034 Principles by Ray Dalio - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1501124021 Contact Us: Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: podcast@learnit.com Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates!

Apr 8, 2025 • 49min
151: The #1 Team Building Skill You're Missing to Lead Effectively | Brendan Rogers
The secret to making your team more engaged, more productive and far less likely to leave? Intentional and focused 1 on 1 meetings. Today’s guest learned this lesson the hard way. Brendan Rogers is a leadership coach who used to believe that great teams were built through occasional team meetings and annual performance reviews. But when the world went remote during the pandemic? He was surprised to realize that without consistent, structured one-on-one conversations, leaders lose control, performance drops, and teams fall apart. If you’re a leader who wants to elevate your team’s performance without micromanaging, this episode is packed with actionable insights.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why one-on-one meetings are the foundation of high-performing teamsThe three essential questions every leader should ask in weekly check-insHow canceling one-on-ones destroys trust and moraleThe right way to give and receive feedback to foster growthHow to run effective team meetings that drive action instead of wasting timeTimestamps:00:01 – Introduction to Brendan Rogers 00:25 – Why leaders must invest deliberate time in their employees 02:40 – The moment Brendan realized one-on-one meetings change everything 05:48 – How COVID forced leaders to rethink employee engagement 06:22 – The myth that structure kills creativity (it actually fuels it) 09:06 – Brendan’s three-step framework for effective one-on-ones 12:30 – Should feedback happen in one-on-one meetings or separately? 16:13 – The damaging effect of constantly canceling one-on-one meetings 19:21 – How leaders can get better at giving and receiving feedback 22:14 – Why modeling how you receive feedback matters as a leader 26:44 – The simple act of following up on feedback to build trust 31:33 – A small but powerful piece of feedback that changed Brendan’s career 34:05 – The number one roadblock stopping leaders from scaling their teams 36:39 – How to get better at saying no as a leader 39:51 – How to increase performance in a team setting beyond one-on-ones 43:45 – Why great leaders aren’t born—they’re designed 46:57 – Final advice: There’s always a better way to leadResources Mentioned in This Episode:Brendan Rogers’ website: LeaderByDesign.auLeader by Design Podcast: https://podcast.leaderbydesign.au/ Follow Brendan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjrogers01/ Cultural Leadership Podcast: https://podcast.thecultureofleadership.com/ Gallup Study on One-on-One Meetings: https://news.gallup.com/businessjournal/174197/managers-focus-performance-engagement.aspxThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni: https://a.co/d/5a5Q8UG Podcast Contact Information:Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com Email us: podcast@learnit.com Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates!

Apr 3, 2025 • 51min
150: Creativity Is The Ultimate Business Advantage (Do This To Get Started) | MaryLou Kayser
In a world that’s accelerating towards AI & automation, what sets us apart isn’t speed or scale, it’s creativity. The biggest myth we’re here to dispel is that creativity is only for artists. That’s a lie. In today’s episode, we’re joined by MaryLou Kayser, who has spent the last 30 years as a coach, speaker and thought leader around the power of creativity. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why creativity is not just “artists” How to build up your creativity through daily practices How to practically step out of your comfort zone How to use AI ethically and powerfully as a creative partner The “playing your position” framework that helps you improve your life Timestamps & Topics 00:01 – Introduction to MaryLou Kayser 00:24 – Debunking the myth “I’m not creative” 02:03 – Why creativity is what makes us human 05:24 – MaryLou’s “Holy Hour” morning practice 07:47 – Building trust in yourself through routine 09:09 – The evolution of self-trust over time 11:03 – Owning your mistakes as a form of authenticity 12:26 – Comfort zones, courage, and small experiments 14:56 – 30-day writing exercise to rewire your brain 19:06 – AI as fire: dangerous if misused, transformative if harnessed 22:55 – Addressing writer fear around AI 25:09 – How to compare AI-generated work to your own 27:16 – Using AI as a co-writer, not a ghostwriter 30:18 – Story: Helping her nephew write with his own voice using AI 32:13 – Learning to ask AI better questions 33:43 – Is AI a tool or a thought partner? 36:18 – What is personal agency and why it’s eroding 38:50 – A personal story: what MaryLou gave away 41:15 – The meaning behind “Play Your Position” 44:23 – 11 years of podcasting: how it shaped her growth 47:44 – Defining legacy and what truly matters 50:45 – Final thoughts: Believe in yourself, you matter Resources Mentioned Website: maryloukayser.com Play Your Position Podcast – Listen Here MaryLou on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkayser/ ChatGPT by OpenAI – https://chat.openai.com Claude by Anthropic – https://claude.ai Gemini by Google – https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini Podcast Contact Information: Website: www.learnit.com Email: podcast@learnit.com Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.

Apr 1, 2025 • 1h 5min
149: Learn to Love Selling: The 4-Part Framework for Sales Success | Mark Cox
Research shows that high-performing sales teams drive up to 80% of a company’s revenue (Harvard Business Review). Yet most teams are flying blind and relying on outdated sales plans, inconsistent outreach, and a lack of new leads for their business. pipelines. In this episode, we’re joined by author and leading expert in B2B sales coaching, Mark Cox. Whether you're new to sales or a seasoned sales leader, Mark offers invaluable insights and practical tools to help you master the art of selling in today's world. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why great salespeople are made, not born The four (plus one) elements of a high-impact sales playbook Why discovery is the most underrated stage in sales How to avoid the “cycle of doom” in demand gen When to reassess your value prop and how to find your competitive edge Why promoting your top seller might kill your team if you’re not careful Timestamps: 00:01 – Intro to Mark Cox 00:15 – Are salespeople born or made? (Hint: It’s a skill) 01:21 – Reigniting a love for learning through an Executive MBA 03:35 – Why senior leaders often stop learning 05:29 – What inspired Learn to Love Selling 06:58 – Who the book is for 07:34 – Why most sales plans gather dust 08:55 – The 4 Core Elements of a Sales Playbook 12:23 – The “fifth” element: Awareness campaigns 13:44 – What makes a value prop terrible (and how to fix it) 15:29 – How often should you reassess your value prop? 18:09 – What makes In the Funnel different? 20:02 – Ask your clients for your differentiation 22:48 – Client interviews as a learning tool 24:58 – Demand Gen: The “X-Factor” skill in B2B sales 27:58 – Ranking modern demand gen tools: phone, email, LinkedIn 31:54 – The “hat trick” approach to outreach 34:12 – Working conferences like a pro 38:26 – Discovery meetings: the most important sales phase 43:36 – Why discovery never ends 45:44 – Helping sales reps kill zombie deals 49:23 – The 3 key stakeholders of a sales leader 51:49 – Coaching vs. Telling: What great leaders do differently 54:54 – Avoiding the “hero” trap as a new manager 58:49 – Should you promote your top rep to sales manager? 01:01:59 – What makes a great sales leader 01:04:20 – Closing thoughts & where to find Mark Resources Mentioned: Book: Learn to Love Selling by Mark Cox Website: In the Funnel LinkedIn: Connect with Mark Cox Book: Mindset by Carol Dweck Book: Social Selling by Tim Hughes Book: Multipliers by Liz Wiseman Book: The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey Connect with the Show: Email: podcast@learnit.com Website: learnit.com Follow Us: LinkedIn & Instagram

Mar 27, 2025 • 54min
148: The Future of Leadership - 3 Steps That Will Define Success in 2025 | John Gallagher
Most leaders follow the rules. Hitting their targets, meeting expectations, and settling into a rhythm. But uncommon leaders refuse to stay comfortable. Leadership has very little to do with your title or authority. Instead it’s about creating influence, discipline, and the willingness to step outside of your comfort zone if you truly want to be a better leader. In today’s episode, we’re joined by John Gallagher, an executive coach, performance consultant, and trusted advisor to some of the world’s most prestigious organizations. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why intentional leadership is the key to long-term impactThe three-step framework to inspire real change in yourself and othersHow to raise the average of the people you surround yourself withWhy discipline matters more than motivationThe 47-minute rule for peak productivity and focusHow to balance faith and leadership without preachingTimestamps:00:01 – Introduction to John Gallagher and his leadership philosophy 01:01 – The greatest story ever told: How leaders make an impact 03:13 – What makes leadership uncommon? 05:07 – The dangers of thinking you have it all figured out 06:27 – Raising the average: Why your environment dictates your success 08:14 – Getting out of your comfort zone to level up as a leader 11:16 – How to hold yourself accountable and maintain discipline 14:18 – Why some leaders struggle to change—and how to overcome it 19:51 – The three-step framework for inspiring lasting change 22:40 – Why most people struggle with consistency 24:53 – The power of discipline and daily habits 26:39 – How to improve your sleep for better performance 30:51 – Practical advice for avoiding distractions and time-wasting 33:16 – The myth of multitasking and how to reclaim your time 37:27 – The 47-minute rule: A game-changer for productivity 40:19 – Why treating every team member the same way is a mistake 42:01 – The role of AI in leadership (and why soft skills matter more than ever) 44:20 – How faith influences John’s leadership approach 48:57 – How to ensure your name gets written on the listResources Mentioned:John Gallagher’s website: CoachJohnGallagher.comThe Uncommon Leader Podcast – Listen hereBook Recommendation: The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team – Amazon LinkJohn Gallagher on LinkedIn – Follow HereContact John for Coaching – Schedule a CallPodcast Contact Information:Website: www.learnit.com Email: podcast@learnit.com Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.

Mar 26, 2025 • 35min
147: Master These 11 Skills That AI Will Never Replace | Learning Agility
11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #11 Learning Agility Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace. Each week, we’ll take a deep dive into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI. Learning Agility Makes Your Career Future-Proof Are you and your team ready to thrive in a world where AI accelerates everything but can't replace the most essential human skills? In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability to continuously adapt, learn, and grow has never been more crucial for success. But how can you cultivate this skill in yourself and your organization? In this final episode of the 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace series, host Damon Lembi is joined again by Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins, Learnit's top-ranked facilitator and leadership expert, to explore learning agility - potentially the most important skill for today's professionals. They share personal experiences, practical strategies, and insights on how individuals and organizations can develop a culture that prioritizes continuous learning. From scheduling dedicated learning time to embracing failure as a growth opportunity, this conversation offers actionable advice for leaders looking to create resilient, adaptable teams ready to navigate constant change. This Episode Covers: Why cutting learning and development budgets during tough economic times puts organizations at severe risk. How to identify candidates with learning agility during interviews Why scheduling dedicated learning time is non-negotiable The importance of "the power of yet" in developing a growth mindset Episode Highlights: 00:01 – What Is Learning Agility and Why It Matters – How adapting quickly and continuously learning helps individuals and businesses stay relevant. 06:25 – The Personal Payoff of Lifelong Learning – Mickey shares how embracing learning agility shaped her career path. 12:18 – The Risks of the “Know-It-All” Mindset – Why fixed thinking and resisting change are career-limiting behaviors. 19:45 – Three Action Steps to Build Learning Agility – Sponge up knowledge, adopt a growth mindset, and learn with and from others. 28:30 – Creating a Learning Culture at Work – How leaders can build organizations that support curiosity, experimentation, and collaboration. 33:50 – Interview Tips to Identify Learn-It-Alls – The best questions leaders can ask to hire growth-minded, coachable people. 46:06 – Final Thoughts and a Gift for Listeners – Damon and Mickey offer listeners a chance to take a LearnIt class for free. 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. About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies. Resources Referenced: MuchSkills The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: podcast@learnit.com Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.

Mar 25, 2025 • 41min
146: The Most Influential Leadership Style in 2025 Beyond Technical Skills | Joe Davis
Being a successful leader for your company in a world full of disruption means building more than your technical skills. Yes, you must deliver results, but to run a successful business, you need people. And people today want leaders who can and will work to see beyond themselves and only the bottom line. In today's episode, we’re joined by Joe Davis. He’s the former Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group, which is one of the pioneers in business strategy, and he’s now a speaker and the author of the book The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain. In this conversation, you will learn: What it means to be a generous leader Why being vulnerable with your staff is crucial to growing your team The difference between command-and-control to people-centered leadership And everything else that Joe considers crucial for effective leadership based on his many years in leadership Episode Highlights:00:07 – Leadership Today: Not Complicated, Just Different – How technology, social media, and blurred work-life boundaries have changed leadership expectations. 02:04 – Generous Leadership Defined – Giving of oneself to help others grow and thrive, beyond just being nice. 03:22 – From Command-and-Control to People-Centered Leadership – Moving from authority to inspiring and unlocking human potential. 07:54 – The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership – How admitting uncertainty strengthens trust and collaboration. 12:08 – Transparency vs. Full Transparency – Knowing when full transparency may not be wise. 21:23 – The Importance of Listening – A pivotal moment on the value of letting others fully express their thoughts. 23:42 – CEO Whisperers: How Top Consultants Win Trust – Gaining trust by understanding what CEOs don’t yet know. 36:13 – Small Acts, Big Impact: United Airlines Captain’s Story – Scott Kirby’s personal check-in with Black pilots after George Floyd’s murder. 19:44 – Humanizing Leadership – Recognizing employees as people first to create loyalty and engagement. 41:58 – The Power of Recognition – How a simple thank-you note transforms workplace culture. Resources Referenced: Joe Davis’ book - https://www.amazon.com/Generous-Leader-Ways-Yourself-Everyones/dp/1523006617 Joe Davis’ website - https://www.joedavis.com/ Boston Consulting Group (BCG) - https://www.bcg.com/ Arne Sorenson's COVID-19 Message - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgAMdCV9fxc Podcast Contact: Website: www.learnit.com Email: podcast@learnit.com Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.

Mar 20, 2025 • 42min
145: How Great Leaders Make People Feel Valued | Jean Accius
According to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace Report… Only 30% of employees feel truly engaged in their work, and the consequences are massive with higher turnover, lower productivity, and a workforce that feels disconnected from purpose. The reality? Disengagement is a leadership crisis. It’s time to fix it.Today we’re joined by Jean Accius, CEO of Creating Healthier Communities and thought leader in workplace well-being and leadership innovation. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why psychological safety is critical for workplace successThe connection between trust, engagement, and productivityHow to align personal purpose with an organization’s missionThe role of mentorship across different generations in the workplaceHow workplaces impact mental and physical well-beingThe life expectancy gap by zip code and its implications for societyWhy leaders need to challenge assumptions and embrace diversity of thoughtTimestamps:00:01 – Introduction to Jean Accius 00:08 – The importance of psychological safety in the workplace 02:37 – The alarming decline in employee engagement and why it matters 05:19 – Why purpose-driven organizations outperform their competitors 06:33 – The power of a listening tour and how it transformed CHC 08:33 – Implementing Shadow Days to build cross-functional collaboration 10:32 – The impact of The Million Dollar Idea Fund 12:02 – How Jean overcame a risk-averse culture to drive innovation 15:25 – Why diversity of thought is essential for leadership teams 19:37 – Mentorship across generations & the importance of community 24:37 – How to attract and retain older workers in a changing workforce 27:13 – The hidden impact of workplace policies on mental health 30:19 – The business case for corporate well-being initiatives 33:06 – Life expectancy gaps and how zip codes determine health outcomes 38:49 – Why interdependence, not independence, is the key to progress 42:31 – Final thoughts: The importance of challenging assumptions & lifelong learningResources Mentioned:The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey – https://a.co/d/1rfRJon The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Franklin Covey – https://a.co/d/70e71A5 Gallup Employee Engagement Study – https://www.gallup.com/workplace/654911/employee-engagement-sinks-year-low.aspx CHC Impact Website – www.chcimpact.orgBreak With a Purpose Initiative – https://www.understood.org/en/articles/evidence-based-behavior-strategy-brain-breaks Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: podcast@learnit.com Follow Damon on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.

Mar 19, 2025 • 27min
144: Master These 11 Skills That AI Will Never Replace | Delegation
11 Skills AI Will Never Replace: Skill #10 Delegation Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace. Each week, we’ll take a deep dive into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI. Delegation Future-Proofs Your Leadership Are you sabotaging your team's growth and creating organizational bottlenecks by failing to delegate effectively? Many leaders struggle with delegation, either hoarding work or micromanaging their teams. This episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast tackles one of leadership's most challenging skills. In this episode, host Damon Lembi and leadership expert Mickey Fitch-Collins explore the critical skill of delegation for modern leaders framing it not merely as offloading work but as a strategic development tool. The conversation unpacks common delegation pitfalls, introduces a practical three-part framework, and shares personal stories of delegation failures and lessons learned. This Episode Covers: Why reframing delegation as "development" transforms it from a burden into a strategic growth opportunity The Learnit "Delegation Greenlights" framework Why micromanagement creates bottlenecks that prevent organizations from scaling How to be crystal clear about expectations, timelines, and the "why" behind delegated tasks Strategies to avoid overloading your high performers with too many delegated tasks Episode Highlights: 00:01 – Why Delegation is Critical for Leadership Success – How leaders who fail to delegate create bottlenecks and limit team growth. 06:25 – The Delegation Greenlights Framework – A step-by-step approach to deciding what, when, and how to delegate. 12:18 – How to Avoid Micromanaging – Why hovering over delegated tasks destroys trust and slows down teams. 19:45 – Overloading High Performers – How over-delegation to top performers leads to burnout and disengagement. 28:30 – How to Communicate Delegation Clearly – Why being crystal clear on expectations, goals, and deadlines prevents confusion. 33:50 – Saying No Professionally – How employees can push back on delegation while maintaining credibility and collaboration. 46:06 – Key Takeaways for Effective Delegation – Actionable strategies to delegate with confidence and improve leadership impact. 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. About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies. Resources Referenced: MuchSkills The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi The Learn-It All Podcast episode with Jim Szlacta on reframing delegation as development The Learn-It All Podcast episode with Chris Dyer ("Mr. Culture") on delegation enabling scaling Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less by Michael Hyatt Ethan Evans' five-step "Magic Loop" framework Learnit’s Delegate to Scale Your Impact Workshop (free code offered to first 25 listeners who message Damon or Mickey on LinkedIn) Podcast Contact Information Website: www.learnit.com Email: podcast@learnit.com Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.

Mar 18, 2025 • 47min
143: Communication Expert: The Psychology Behind Feedback That Works | Joe Hirsch
Giving and receiving feedback is one of the most critical yet difficult skills in leadership. Many leaders avoid giving honest feedback, and even more struggle to receive it without defensiveness. But what if feedback didn’t have to feel so uncomfortable?In today’s episode, we’re joined by Joe Hirsch, a communication expert, speaker, and author of The Feedback Fix. Joe introduces his Feed Forward approach—transforming feedback from a dreaded conversation into a tool for growth. He shares strategies on how to foster a feedback culture, filter out bad feedback, and turn tough conversations into learning moments.In this episode, you will learn:Why leaders struggle with giving and receiving feedbackHow to shift feedback conversations from blame to partnership The science behind why feedback triggers defensivenessHow to ask for better feedback and become a feedback magnetThe Feed Forward approach to make feedback feel empowering, not punishingTimestamps:00:01 – Introduction to Joe Hirsch 01:07 – Why Feedback is Hard (But Necessary) 03:56 – Becoming a Feedback Magnet 05:39 – Joe’s Personal Story: Why Feedback Became His Life’s Work 09:25 – What is Feed Forward? 11:44 – How to Deliver Feedback Without Causing Defensiveness 16:13 – What to Do When People Resist Feedback 18:12 – Creating a Feedback Culture in Teams 20:07 – How to Normalize Feedback in the Workplace 24:12 – The Neuroscience of Learning from Mistakes 28:24 – How to Filter Good vs. Bad Feedback 32:21 – The Danger of Asking Too Many People for Feedback 35:31 – What to Do When Feedback Hurts 39:48 – How to Apply Feedback Effectively 41:25 – The Role of AI in FeedbackResources Mentioned in This Episode:The Feedback Fix by Joe Hirsch – Amazon Link Joe Hirsch’s Website – https://www.joehirsch.me Marshall Goldsmith (Author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There) – Website Amy Edmondson on Intelligent Failure – Harvard Business ReviewThe Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson – Amazon LinkPodcast Contact Information:Website: www.learnit.com Email: podcast@learnit.com Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.