Better Leadership Team Show

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I explore the powerful insights of David J. Friedman, a leading expert on organizational culture. David has authored two influential books and delivered over 750 workshops and keynotes for business leaders. His second book, Culture by Design, is a step-by-step guide to building a strong organizational culture — tailored for today's workplace, including remote environments. As the creator of the CultureWise Operating System, David provides a practical, proven framework that helps organizations develop, implement, and sustain high-performing cultures.

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I dive deep into leadership and mindset with Frank Kitchen, a certified speaking professional with over 30 years of experience in talent development. Known for his innovative, culinary-themed motivational approach, Frank shares valuable insights on building great leadership teams, fostering organizational culture, and inspiring growth. He introduces his "Live Fresh" framework—focused, resourceful, enthusiastic, strong, and honest living—to help leaders and teams achieve extraordinary results.

In this episode of Mike on the Mic, I uncover the secrets to healthy aging and lifelong fulfillment through personal stories and reflections as I approach my 60th birthday. From navigating financial setbacks to redefining success and finding renewed purpose, I delve into the power of keeping your "peak" ahead of you.

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, hold onto your power cables as we welcome Julie Holmes, a tech founder, inventor, and AI entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience transforming enterprise technology.

In this episode, I sit down with Christina Howard, a dynamic executive coach and former HR leader for Fortune 100 companies, to talk about what it takes to truly excel as a leader. Christina shares her insights on the most essential qualities of great leadership, including building trust, cultivating empathy, and fostering psychological safety within teams.

 In this 100th episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I take a moment to reflect on the journey of this podcast and celebrate the milestone with something truly special. I’ve compiled insights from 32 incredible guests, all answering the same question: "What is the most important characteristic of a great leadership team?" The answers are as diverse as they are inspiring, ranging from the importance of trust, open communication, and psychological safety to the value of alignment, empathy, and humility.

 In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Marc Gross, a partner at Fox Rothschild with over three decades of experience in business litigation and crisis management. Renowned for his creative, tenacious advocacy, Marc handles complex commercial disputes, including corporate conflicts, trade secret issues, real estate disputes, and employment matters.

In this episode of the Better Leadership Team Show, I dive deep into leadership and decision-making with Chris Seifert, author of "Enabling Empowerment." Chris shares actionable insights on how leaders can foster a culture of effective decision-making and break free from the cycle of micromanagement.

In this episode of Mike on the Mic, I tackle one of the most challenging issues in leadership: handling "solid, mediocre performers." While high and low performers receive most of our attention, it's the steady but unremarkable team members who often go unaddressed—potentially holding back organizational excellence.

In this episode of the Better Leadership Team Show, I speak with Joe Mull, employee engagement expert and author of Employalty: How to Ignite Commitment and Keep Top Talent in the New Age of Work.

In this episode, I sit down for an interview with my good friend Owen Fitzpatrick for an in-depth conversation about leadership, personal growth, and some of the most important lessons I’ve learned throughout my life. We cover a wide range of topics, from the challenges of today’s polarized world to the importance of curiosity in leadership.

In this episode of Mike on the Mic, I take a personal deep dive into how I help organizations move beyond just having core values written on the wall. Core values, when they’re truly integrated into the heart of a company, can transform culture, boost performance, and drive growth. But all too often, they’re treated as little more than a checkbox exercise.

I’ll share 9 practical strategies that I’ve found to be incredibly effective for ensuring core values are lived and breathed throughout your team. From hiring and onboarding to everyday reinforcement, I’ll show you how these approaches can turn your company’s core values into a real force for success.

Jordan Burton is an executive assessor and interviewing trainer with over 17 years of experience. His firm, Talgo, collaborates with top venture capital and private equity firms such as Sequoia Capital and TH Lee. He emphasizes the importance of leadership teams focusing on hiring and developing talent, seeing themselves as “talent machines.”

In this episode of the Better Leadership Team Show,  I sit down with Wayne Turmel, a remote and hybrid work expert from the Kevin Eikenberry Group. He has spent 26 years fascinated by how people communicate- or don't- at work. He's the author of 16 books, including The Long Distance Leader. Wayne shares his insights on the future of work, leadership in a remote environment, and the essential components of building successful hybrid teams.

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Dr. Carla Fowler, an MD PhD and elite executive coach who has spent the last decade working with CEOs, entrepreneurs, and senior leaders.

In this episode of the Better Leadership Team Show, I chat with Ken Bogart and Grace Gavin, co-founders of Know Honesty, about the power of openness and honesty in leadership and communication. We explore their six practices for fostering genuine dialogue, including breaking down communication barriers, embracing vulnerability, and using their Pursuit of Honesty Assessment to measure progress.

In this episode of the Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with John Register, a decorated Persian Gulf war veteran, Paralympic silver medalist, and a true leader in turning adversity into an advantage. John shares his remarkable journey from experiencing a life-changing accident to becoming a global influencer and leadership coach. We explore his 'Amputate to Elevate' model, diving into how it can be applied to both personal and professional transformations.

In this episode of Mike on the Mic, I dive into the crucial role Human Resources plays in driving profit growth by focusing on people growth. HR has traditionally been seen as a tactical function, but it's time to reimagine it as a strategic powerhouse that can truly impact an organization's success.

On this episode of the Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with the dynamic duo Adele Gambardella and Chip Massey. They are two accomplished professionals with diverse backgrounds and a shared mission. Adele, recognized as a prominent figure in the PR world, brings over 20 years of expertise, serving as a spokesperson for Fortune 100 companies and teaching at prestigious universities. Chip, a former FBI Special Agent, offers a wealth of experience in high-stakes criminal cases and negotiation techniques.

In this Mike on the Mic episode, I share my insights on facilitating an effective annual planning retreat. I'll guide you through the essential steps to align your leadership team on key priorities, foster deep collaboration, and set the strategic direction for the upcoming year.