No matter the organization, friction is inevitable...but the key is knowing how to navigate and harness it for better leadership. In today’s discussion I sit down with Bob Sutton, Stanford professor, organizational psychologist and best selling author of books including “The No A$$hole Rule” and “The Friction Project” as he dives into the world of ‘friction-fixer’ leadership. Drawing from his extensive research, Sutton shares how to distinguish between beneficial and detrimental friction, explore the tools of ‘friction forensics,’ and implement strategies that can streamline processes, enhance performance, and reduce burnout. Join us for a captivating discussion that equips leaders with actionable tactics to conquer challenges and embrace positive change.

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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 cancel culture world, how do you speak up and share what you’re thinking? Leaders are often scared to share their opinions, worried about losing their job, status, or credibility. In today’s leadership spark, Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest hedge funds, addresses these challenges. He talks about the importance of being true to yourself and making hard choices, even when it’s difficult. Ray shares his own story of starting from little and working his way up, showing that facing challenges is key to growing personally and professionally. Today’s episode is all about getting rid of the victimhood mentality and taking ownership over your own path.

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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 high-stakes environments like NASA, the margin for error is incredibly slim. Even minor mistakes can lead to substantial setbacks and costs, which is why Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s Former Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator, emphasizes the critical need for precision and careful management in space exploration. In today’s leadership spark, I chat with Thomas to discuss how NASA approaches making critical decisions, having a culture of open communication, and learning from mistakes. These have all been vital elements of leadership during projects like the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes.

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This episode is sponsored by Workleap

Workleap Officevibe is a set of simple engagement, recognition and performance management tools. A game-changing product that enable businesses to team up HR leaders with their managers to instantly act on engagement insights, fuel meaningful peer recognition, and even drive continuous performance management. Visit Workleap.com/Officevibe to know more.

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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/

Running a fully remote company while making sure you can deliver on short-term goals and long-term innovation is not an easy thing to do! In today’s discussion I sit down with Workleap Co-founder and CEO Simon De Baene who shares hard-earned lessons in leadership from 18 years of building a successful company. He dives into frameworks for maintaining innovation as the company grows, and the importance of delegating without losing control. Simon also offers a candid look at both his strengths and weaknesses as a leader. You will learn the value of authenticity and humility at the top, as well as how to improve at having difficult conversations around accountability.

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This episode is sponsored by Workleap

Workleap Officevibe is a set of simple engagement, recognition and performance management tools. A game-changing product that enable businesses to team up HR leaders with their managers to instantly act on engagement insights, fuel meaningful peer recognition, and even drive continuous performance management. Visit Workleap.com/Officevibe to know more.

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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/

Have you ever felt like you don’t deserve to be where you are or that you aren’t good enough? Imposter syndrome is something that most people in the world will experience at some point in their lives and, believe it or not, many aspiring leaders often doubt their abilities and suitability for higher roles, especially when they come from backgrounds that don’t typically align with those positions. In today’s Leadership Spark, Chano Fernandez, Former Co-CEO at Workday, shares the importance of overcoming self-doubt and embracing opportunities, even when they seem out of reach. Chano also touches on leadership challenges, including the loneliness that can accompany senior executive roles, the significance of maintaining a positive attitude, and the value of connecting with employees through shared experiences. His story serves as a testament to overcoming self-doubt and reaching your maximum potential.

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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/

Are you lucky or are you good? The smallest and seemingly most random decisions you make in your life can have a profound impact on your career success. Does this mean that we shouldn’t try to be the best at what we do? In today’s discussion I speak with Dr. Brian Klaas, a professor at the University of College London and best-selling author of “Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters.” In this episode, Klaas offers counterintuitive advice for embracing uncertainty and experimentation over excessive optimism and control. You’ll learn how chaos theory impacts your life, if you can create your own luck, if change is driven by trends or leaders, and how meritocracy battles with luck for making the greatest impact in what you do.

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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/

Imagine if you could feel calm and in control even during your most stressful moments at work. What if small shifts in how you process emotions allowed you to make better decisions and strengthen important relationships? NYT Best selling author and Psychologist Rick Hanson reveals how understanding your feelings through vulnerability is the overlooked key to resilience. Discover the science behind stress and anxiety, and learn why emotional awareness enhances well-being and performance under pressure.

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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/

Is AI going to take your job? Yes! But is that really a bad thing and what does it mean for the future of work?

Sweetgreen is an American fast-casual food chain with more than 220 locations and 6,000 employees.

They are actively implementing technology in their restaurants to make the food, but are they losing people as a result? Jonathan Neman is the Co-Founder & CEO of Sweetgreen and in today’s episode we’re talking about balancing humanity with technology and people with profits. After today’s episode, you’ll walk away with strategies for thoughtfully integrating new technologies, prioritizing employee well-being and finding “win-win” solutions that benefit all parties.

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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/

Before Netflix, Facebook or Google even existed, a small group of entrepreneurs took a huge risk launching what would become the first major internet service.  In today’s Leadership Spark, Steve Case, Co-Founder of AOL and CEO of Revolution LLC, shares his journey of what it took to get America Online off the ground before people even heard of the Internet. While most people would think investing in internet companies in the 80’s was CRAZY RISKY, Steve had a vision that this new technology could change the world if they could just get it into people’s hands. In this interview, he shares never-before-told stories of the challenges they faced connecting users at dial-up speeds and convincing skeptical investors to back their idea. Steve also touches on how Revolution now does its part in funding and investing in companies of the future.

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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/

Do you practice having gratitude everyday? Positivity can powerfully alter your ability to connect with your team and slingshot your leadership to new bounds of resilience and success. In this episode, we’re joined by Jon Gordon 15x best-selling author, most popularly known for “The Power of Positive Leadership” with over 1,700 reviews on Amazon. Learn how to unite your organization in the face of adversity, build a strong company culture, and develop a connected and committed team. Tune into today’s episode to better establish positivity in your leadership approach and learn to view every challenge as an opportunity to grow.

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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/