Future Ready Leadership With Jacob Morgan

Are you shaping the future or letting it shape you? In today’s Leadership Spark, we explore how leaders can think in scenarios to prepare for multiple outcomes and avoid being caught off guard. We also dive into the power of AI tools like ChatGPT, which are transforming how leaders train employees, boost productivity, and solve problems. But with great power comes responsibility—balancing AI’s potential with human judgment is key to building the future of work.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Rachel Cooke, a former HR director and founder of Lead Above Noise, shares her four-pillar framework for team success focused on connection and development. Chris Nicholas, CEO of Sam's Club, discusses his Trust Equation, emphasizing authenticity in leadership. Melanie Dulbecco, CEO of R. Torre & Co., highlights the competitive edge of a people-first culture. Together, they explore strategies for fostering trust, effective delegation, and the critical balance between vulnerability and leadership perception to cultivate thriving workplace environments.

What shapes the employee experience? In this episode of Leadership Spark, we explore the three pillars that define it: physical space, technology, and culture. Physical environments contribute 30% of employee satisfaction, with top companies creating flexible, activity-based spaces. Technology, also 30%, acts as the central nervous system but becomes a human problem when it fails. Culture, the most impactful at 40%, determines how employees feel and connect to purpose. Through compelling stories and research, we unpack how leaders can design workplaces that inspire, support, and engage.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

The workplace is evolving faster than ever, leaving leaders scrambling to keep up with new demands. How can you ensure your leadership skills remain relevant and impactful in 2025? In this episode of Future Ready Leadership, we have experts who will share the tools you need to thrive and stand out as a leader. Tom Henschel, host of The Look and Sound of Leadership, shares the secrets to executive presence—commanding attention and respect in any room. Charles Duhigg, bestselling author of The Power of Habit, teaches us how to master conversations to deepen workplace connections and amplify your impact. Together, they reveal how to lead with authority, connect authentically, and shape your future with confidence. The future is fast approaching—get ready to lead it.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

One CEO was fired for being vulnerable. Another saved their company. What made the difference? In today’s Leadership Spark, we go beyond the theory of leading with vulnerability to explore how it works in real life. Vulnerability isn’t just admitting mistakes—it’s about showing how you’re taking action to close gaps and grow. Through powerful examples, including the contrasting stories of two CEOs who led with vulnerability, you’ll see how balancing openness with leadership drives results. We’ll also unpack common workplace scenarios and share actionable tips for first-time leaders to use vulnerability as a superpower. Learn how to inspire trust while staying accountable in this episode.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Michael Watkins, an authority on leadership and author of 'The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking,' shares how to mobilize teams for impactful decisions. Seth Godin, a renowned entrepreneur, emphasizes the need for adaptability over rigid planning. Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford professor, reveals data on how remote and hybrid work affects productivity and talent retention. Together, they explore strategic thinking, the nuances of modern leadership, and how embracing uncertainty is key for success in 2025.

What does it mean to lead with vulnerability? Discover the essential balance between openness and competence that fosters trust and connection. Learn why vulnerability paired with action is crucial in today's fast-paced world. Hear anecdotes from CEOs as they navigate the challenges of showing emotions while maintaining strength. Embrace the formula: Vulnerability + Leadership = Real Impact, and explore how this powerful equation can inspire confidence and accountability in the workplace.

The pace of change is relentless, and leaders everywhere are grappling with the same challenge: how do we prepare our teams for a future we can’t predict? In this episode of Future Ready Leadership, Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist, Frederik Pferdt, offers a solution—shifting your mindset to embrace curiosity, radical optimism, and human-centered leadership. Drawing from his groundbreaking work at Google and insights from his book "What’s Next is Now", Frederik reveals the secrets to transforming uncertainty into possibility. We dive into why innovation dies on idea boards, how replacing “but” with “and” can change everything, and the six dimensions of a future-ready mindset. Frederik also gets personal, sharing stories about handling California wildfires, transforming challenges into opportunities, and how experimenting like a gardener can help your ideas grow.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

In a rapidly changing world, leaders must adapt or be left behind. The podcast delves into the impact of loneliness and burnout on employee engagement, revealing shifting expectations transformed by the pandemic. It also highlights the tension between employees wanting flexibility and employers’ struggles to provide supportive environments. Amidst these challenges, it emphasizes the necessity of vulnerability in leadership and the critical balance of empowerment and accountability in fostering a positive workplace culture.

Lisa Bodell, founder of Future Think and bestselling author, shares her insights on foresight and strategic planning. She emphasizes the necessity of agility and human-centered skills for leaders in a world of constant change. Lisa discusses practical tools like STEEP and the Futures Wheel to navigate uncertainty and foster innovation. She warns of the dangers of 'perma crisis' stifling creativity and highlights the importance of killing outdated company practices to uncover blind spots. Listeners will learn how to prepare for the future while staying anchored in the present.