FranklinCovey On Leadership

Trust is not a soft value—it’s a force multiplier. Drawing on decades leading elite military units and advising global organizations, Gen. Stanley McChrystal argues that excessive controls, approvals, and safeguards are often signs of distrust—and they quietly cripple performance. In this conversation with Will Houghteling, McChrystal unpacks how trust is built through repeated interaction, proven...

Former Procter & Gamble CEO AG Lafley explains why enduring performance depends on treating even the most established business as an “eternal restart”—constantly innovating, pruning distractions, and staying grounded in real customer behavior rather than stated preference. Drawing on decades leading one of the world’s largest consumer companies, he outlines how organizations can sharpen strate...

Bestselling author and workplace equity expert Minda Harts outlines the seven trust languages from her book Talk to Me Nice and explains why trust must be treated as a daily leadership practice—not a corporate initiative. She shares how transparency, acknowledgment, security, and follow-through shape whether teams feel respected and safe enough to contribute their best work. Harts also challenges...

Bestselling author and longtime Guardian columnist Oliver Burkeman brings decades of research into time, focus, and the psychology of meaning to challenge the belief that control and optimization lead to fulfillment. Drawing on ideas from Four Thousand Weeks and Meditations for Mortals, he explores why accepting our finite time, letting go of unrealistic expectations, and turning toward discomfort...

Stanford lecturer in Organizational Behavior and communication expert Matt Abrahams explains why strong leadership depends on clarity, intention, and genuine connection. He breaks down practical tools—like his “What? So What? Now What?” structure—that help people speak effectively under pressure and avoid the traps of over-preparation, memorization, and audience neglect. Abrahams also offers concr...

In this FranklinCovey Impact Conference panel, host Will Houghteling explores how artificial intelligence is transforming leadership and work with Henry Deng of Google, Sumeet Chabria of ThoughtLinks, and Kathi Enderes of the Josh Bersin Company. The discussion tackles how leaders can harness AI to amplify human potential, not replace it—focusing on trust, adaptability, and ethical decision-making...

Former Home Depot CEO Frank Blake shares how an “inverted pyramid” mindset reshaped one of America’s largest retailers. In this candid conversation, Blake explains why true leadership begins by serving those closest to the customer—and how listening deeply, celebrating frontline excellence, and simplifying communication drive lasting results. He reflects on lessons from Ronald Reagan and Jack Welc...

Economist and author Tyler Cowen explores what makes founders uniquely capable of leading transformative organizations. He discusses the concept of “founder energy”—the authority, credibility, and institutional capital that empower visionaries like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to make bold pivots when others can’t. Cowen examines how leadership legitimacy differs between founders and hired CEOs,...

Chip Conley—hospitality disruptor, modern elder, and wisdom seeker—joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on creativity, culture, and wisdom in business. Chip shares stories from his early days transforming rundown hotels in San Francisco’s Tenderloin into vibrant communities, his role in shaping Airbnb’s growth, and why investing in culture doesn’t have to cost a dime. He reflects on the balanc...

We sit down with Tim Brown, Chair of IDEO and pioneer of design thinking, for an inspiring conversation on the future of design, leadership, and creativity. Tim reflects on projects he’s proudest of while sharing why good design must address both functional and emotional needs. Tim also dives into the intersection of AI and human creativity—how it’s currently reshaping existing designs, and where...

We are joined by Carolyn Dewar, McKinsey senior partner and author of CEO Excellence, to unpack what makes great leaders stand out. Drawing on extensive research from her book CEO Excellence, Carolyn reveals the bold mindset that defines exceptional CEOs, the critical risks they take, and why focusing on expanding the pie drives long-term success. She shares insights on the four seasons of being a...

Bestselling author James Patterson and leadership expert Patrick Leddin join us to explore resilience, disruption, and thriving in uncertain times. They discuss lessons from their diverse careers, the importance of repeated practice in building resilience, and how to embrace change with courage and creativity. From stories of family businesses to navigating the rise of AI, this episode offers prac...

We sit down with Cyan Banister, a pioneering investor and entrepreneur whose remarkable journey began on a Navajo reservation and included homelessness at 14, no formal degrees, and more than 50 odd jobs before she found her path in technology. She shares how relentless curiosity, daily “level ups,” and the courage to embrace optimism shaped her career as an early investor in transformative compan...

Sit down with basketball legend and leadership thinker Shane Battier. From National High School Player of the Year and NCAA Champion at Duke to two-time NBA Champion with the Miami Heat, Battier built a career on more than stats—he became known as the ultimate “glue guy,” mastering the unseen skills that drive teams to win. In this episode, Shane shares the mindsets, lessons, and leadership princi...

Ethan Mollick, professor at Wharton and leading thinker on innovation and technology, joins us to explore his lifelong fascination with artificial intelligence and its impact on how we work and learn. Ethan shares why play is one of the most powerful ways to engage with new technology, and how feedback and curiosity can turn mediocre outputs into something meaningful. We dig into the challenges or...

In this episode, we sit down with Nancy Duarte—renowned communication expert and author—to explore her remarkable journey from a childhood marked by neglect to becoming a pioneer in storytelling and presentation. She shares insights from working with leaders like Al Gore and inspiration from Steve Jobs, the importance of passion and empathy in communication, and why training only works when leader...

Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and bestselling author Charles Duhigg joins us to talk about the science of habits, the art of storytelling, and how to become a “supercommunicator.” He shares how habits drive 40% of our daily actions, how rewards shape behavior, and why neuroplasticity means we can always change. From his early years as the lowest-paid reporter in his class to writing deeply res...

In today’s conversation, Annie Duke—a cognitive scientist, one of the highest-winning poker players of all time, three-time bestselling author, and a prolific consultant and speaker—discusses how her upbringing shaped her journey, lessons learned as a professional poker player, and how to improve your decision-making.   FranklinCovey’s world-class learning solutions—delivered Live-Online, On Deman...

Radical self-inquiry begins by asking yourself tough questions, such as "How am I complicit in the circumstances I say I don't want?" Honest self-reflection is a crucial step in improving as a leader. In today's episode, Jerry Colonna, CEO of Reboot.io, executive leadership coach, and bestselling author, discusses leadership through the lens of humility and purpose. Colonna shares his journey thro...

Leadership is not about rank or title—it’s a skill that must be learned and continually developed. In this conversation, Will Houghteling is joined by Simon Sinek, renowned leadership expert, bestselling author of Start With Why, and founder of The Optimism Company. Known for his influential TED Talk, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” Sinek shares insights on what he’s learned since the publicat...

How many times have we been juggling a thousand projects, and responsibilities just keep coming? And we say yes to everything! Today's guest, Dr. Sunita Sah, has spent her career studying the power of "no." Dr. Sah is a Professor at Cornell University's Graduate School of Management and author of Defy: The Power of No in a World that Demands Yes.   In today’s conversation, we discuss her personal...

As a leader, you're always striving to improve—but how do you change what you can't see? In today’s conversation, Marty Dubin—a psychologist turned serial entrepreneur, business coach, and adviser to C-suite executives—discusses insights from his upcoming book, Blindspotting: How to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader, soon to be published by Harvard Business Review. Dubin shares how his backg...

Being blunt with a coworker or direct report will only hurt your reputation and relationship unless you care personally first. Join Will Houghteling and Kim Scott, bestselling author of Radical Candor and Radical Respect, as they discuss how the best leaders approach communication with transparency and respect.   For more information on FranklinCovey, visit https://www.franklincovey.com/

Is happiness a choice? Today's guest is Tal Ben-Shahar, best-selling author of Happiness Studies and Happier, No Matter What. He also taught two of Harvard's most popular classes, "Positive Psychology" and "The Psychology of Leadership." He consults and lectures to executives in multinational corporations, the general public, and at-risk populations, and is the co-founder and Chief Learning Office...

Tim Ferris, author of 5 #1 NYT/WSJ bestsellers, early-stage investor, and host of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast, shares how one snarky comment from a college student and a night of insomnia set him down a path to be a New York Times bestselling author and a 4-hour thought leader.