Things Leaders Do

Welcome to Episode 100 of Things Leaders Do ! I can’t believe we’ve hit this milestone together. Thank you to every listener who’s been here along the way—your feedback and stories keep pushing me to bring leadership conversations that actually matter. For this milestone episode, we’re continuing the Conflict IQ series with Part 2: Reading the Room—How to Spot Hidden Conflict Before It Explodes. H...

Ever walked out of a meeting thinking everyone was aligned—only to realize the real conversation started in the hallway? That’s not alignment. That’s avoidance. And it’s killing your team’s potential. In this kickoff episode of the Conflict IQ series, Colby Morris unpacks why most leaders get conflict wrong—and how you can build the intelligence to turn tension into trust. Drawing from research at...

Ever wondered why your Gen X boss seems to speak in code? Why they get weird when you ask "why" or seem obsessed with how many hours you work? This episode flips the script—giving Millennials and Gen Z the backstage pass to understanding what makes their Gen X bosses tick. It's not about excusing poor leadership; it's about cracking the code so you can work together more effect...

If you’ve ever said, “Because I said so” in a meeting, you might be leading like it’s still 1989. In this episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris calls out his own generation—Gen X leaders—for the outdated habits that are quietly holding teams back. With a mix of self-awareness, humor, and hard truth, you’ll discover: Why clinging to old leadership habits kills engagement—and how to evolve wit...

Ever get frustrated trying to lead someone who sends emails in lowercase with no punctuation... but somehow they're your top performer? If you're a Gen X leader, you're sandwiched between generations with completely different values and expectations. In this episode, Colby breaks down why leading younger generations feels so challenging—and gives you practical strategies to bridge t...

Gen X leaders have seen it all—floppy disks, dial-up, the rise of email, and the shift to remote work. So why does AI feel like such a curveball? In this episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris explores how Gen X is uniquely positioned to lead through digital transformation—not by mastering every tool, but by mastering what really matters: people-first leadership. From past transitions to toda...

What Gen X Gets Right About Leadership Episode Summary Gen X leaders don’t always get the spotlight—but they’ve been holding organizations together with grit, practicality, and quiet confidence for decades. In this episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris breaks down the six distinct leadership strengths Gen X brings to the table—and why today’s teams need them more than ever. From solving real...

How People-First Leaders Handle What Bosses Just React To Episode Description: It’s easy to lead when everything’s running smoothly. But real leadership shows up in the messy moments—the missed deadlines, the underperforming team member, the big mistake that lands in your inbox first thing Monday morning. In this episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby walks through five real-world scenarios leaders...

You Don’t Have a Succession Plan. So What Happens When Your Top Performer Leaves? Episode Description: If your top performer walked out tomorrow… would you have someone truly ready to step in? Most organizations wouldn’t—and that’s the problem. In this episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris pulls back the curtain on why the absence of a real succession plan is one of the most dangerous blind...

Delegating Isn’t Leading—Until You Let Go of Control Episode Description  Are you delegating… or just redistributing your to-do list? In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the difference between delegating tasks and developing leaders. Drawing from Craig Groeschel’s principle that “you don’t delegate tasks to create leaders, you delegate authority,” this episode helps you...

Drowning in Decisions? You’re Leading the Wrong Way Podcast Description If your team can’t move without your input, you’re not leading—you’re bottlenecking. In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris shares the leadership shift that changed everything when he was managing a 350-person team. If you're overwhelmed by decision fatigue or constantly solving problems your team could handle...

Title: Being People-First Doesn’t Mean Being Passive—It Means Being Proactive Episode Description: Too many leaders confuse being people-first with being conflict-avoidant. In this episode, Colby Morris reframes that idea completely. Great leaders don’t just react well to conflict—they prevent it. And they do that through consistent, structured one-on-ones that uncover tension before it escalates....

The Secret to Great One-on-Ones: The Four Quadrants Every Leader Needs to Cover If your one-on-ones are starting to feel routine—or worse, like a waste of time—this episode is for you. In Part 2 of the One-on-One Series, Colby Morris breaks down the four essential quadrants every leader must cover in their one-on-ones to actually drive engagement, performance, and trust. You’ll learn how to struct...

Why Your One-on-Ones Aren’t Working—And How to Fix Them Episode 1 of the One-on-One Meeting Series | The Things Leaders Do Podcast with Colby Morris Most one-on-one meetings aren’t working—and deep down, you probably know it. They’re rushed. Disorganized. Too focused on tasks. Or worse—nonexistent. And when that’s the case, you’re not leading… you’re reacting. In this episode, Colby Morris breaks...

Managing Up — How to Disagree with Your Boss Without Killing Your Career Disagreeing with your boss doesn’t have to be career suicide. In fact, it might be your most powerful leadership move—if you do it the right way. In the final episode of The Conflict Series , Colby Morris tackles one of the toughest challenges for leaders in the middle: how to manage up. Whether you’re a middle manager, a tea...

Struggling to have tough conversations without damaging relationships? You’re not alone—and this episode shows you how to lead with clarity and care. In Part 2 of The Conflict Series , Colby Morris breaks down a practical 3-step framework for saying hard things as a leader—without losing trust, morale, or momentum. Drawing from years of leadership experience and a real-life story with a former sup...

The Conflict Series: Your Team is Not a Family Is your workplace really a family—or are you avoiding the tough conversations your team actually needs? In this episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris kicks off The Conflict Series by taking aim at one of the most popular myths in leadership today: the idea that your team should function like a family. While “we’re like a family here” sounds hear...

How to Build Backup Systems That Scale — Without Creating Bottlenecks or Burnout Show Description: If your business relies on one person to keep a process running, you don’t have a system — you have a single point of failure. In this follow-up to last week’s episode, Colby shares real stories and practical tools to help you build backup systems that scale without piling on red tape or burning out...

Episode Title: Eliminating Single Points of Failure | Things Leaders Do Podcast Episode Description (Show Notes): What happens if the one thing holding your organization together suddenly falls apart? In today's episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris breaks down the critical leadership concept of eliminating single points of failure —before they cripple your business. You will hear a rea...

If AI Can Do Your Job, It’s Time to Lead Differently Episode Description: If AI can do your job, what exactly are you bringing to the table? This week on Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris delivers a direct challenge to every leader navigating the rise of artificial intelligence:  You can’t automate emotional intelligence.  You can’t delegate trust.  And you sure can’t replace real leadership with a...

How to Deliver Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People) Part 2 Too many employee reviews feel like an ambush. But when leaders approach reviews as the culmination of a year’s worth of growth—not a once-a-year evaluation—everything changes. In this episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris walks you through how to conduct employee reviews that build trust, reinforce clarit...

Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People) Let’s be honest: most employee reviews suck . They’re vague, awkward, once-a-year rituals that everyone dreads—and nobody grows from. But they don’t have to be. In this episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris breaks down how to build employee development plans that actually work —with SMART goals that connect to your team’s real...

Mentoring and Coaching: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders Description: Discover how to empower the next generation of leaders through effective mentoring and coaching in this episode of the TLD podcast! Join leadership expert Colby Morris as he reveals actionable strategies for leadership development. Learn why your true legacy as a leader lies in the leaders you nurture, not just your own...

Leading Through Bad News: How to Lead with Clarity, Compassion, and Trust Episode Description:  How do you lead when the news is bad—layoffs, downsizing, even tragedy in the workplace? In this episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris shares three essential tools to help leaders navigate the toughest moments with clarity, compassion, and trust. Grounded in the wisdom of Brené Brown—“Clear is kin...

The Leadership Cycle: Building Trust, Relationships, and Influence for Effective Leadership Episode Summary Discover how trust, relationships, and influence form a powerful cycle that drives leadership success. In this episode, Colby Morris unpacks John Maxwell’s quote, “Leadership is influence,” and introduces the leadership cycle: trust builds relationships, and relationships earn influence. Wit...