The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast

Details We can all admit that we have felt a little threatened by AI. After all its whole purpose is improve and ultimately replace Human intelligence. And leadership will not be spared by the impact of AI.  Certain leadership qualities, such as deep domain expertise, decisiveness, authority, and short-term task focus, are losing their impact, while others, such as humility, adaptability, vision,...

Details Recently, a compelling question emerged: How do trust and conflict resolution impact a leader’s effectiveness? To explore this, we analyzed a robust dataset of 360-degree assessments from 4,347 leaders, collected over the past three years.  In environments where leaders are untrustworthy or avoid resolving conflicts, dissatisfaction and disengagement flourish. Conversely, trusted leaders w...

Details Stress comes to us all in tiny minor assaults throughout our day through relationships and interactions that are too numerous to shake off quickly. The problem is that most of us have come to accept micro-stresses as just a normal part of a day, but they are wearing us down. In our episode, Karen Dillon joins us to discuss her research on micro-stressors and some approaches that can be use...

Details Can individuals truly recover from being perceived as fundamentally flawed in honesty and integrity? We embarked on a research journey to uncover whether redemption is possible for those who have fallen into the pit of distrust and how they can climb out. We analyzed data from 6,025 leaders who underwent 360-degree assessments, receiving feedback from their managers, peers, direct reports,...

Details In this episode of “90th Percentile,” co-hosts Jack Zenger and BreAnne Okoren take a culinary approach to discussing effective leadership development. They compare the essentials of a good family meal to the key components of a successful leadership development plan. Just as family meals become staples due to their simplicity and consistent outcomes, leadership development should be straig...

Details  CEO, Vice President, Director, Supervisor, Manager, or Individual contributor each organizational position comes with its own set of demands. While being great at everything would be ideal, the majority of us are only human and subject to our inability to achieve perfection. In this episode, we discuss the different skills that leaders need at every level. New Self-Directed Course Learn m...

Details We are all forced to make hundreds of little and big decisions every day. It can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Some people are so crippled with the fear of making a bad decision that they refuse to decide. Based on research from 50,000 leaders, we’re exploring the root causes for poor decision-making and how to avoid them. New Self-Directed Course Learn more about our short course Ma...

Details 360-degree assessments are a central component in many leadership-development programs. But not all assessments provide the same value to individual leaders or to the organization. The best assessments offer participants powerful insights into how others perceive their leadership strengths and weaknesses. These become a solid impetus for personal change. Organizations that offer multi-rate...

Details Why does one person get selected for a promotion while others with equal skills, education and experience get passed over? While there may be several valid answers to that question, I submit that a person’s demonstrated willingness to behave responsibly is one of the major reasons. Much management literature surprisingly overlooks this characteristic, yet it explains many successes and fai...

Details Join us in this enlightening episode of “The 90th Percentile” as hosts BreAnne Okoren and Joe Folkman delve into the crucial dynamics of trust in leadership. We’ll explore the fine line between keeping teams informed and involving them in decision-making, backed by compelling data from Zenger Folkman’s extensive research. Through engaging stories and expert insights, discover practical str...

Details Chances are you’ve known or read about great leaders and learned that often they have weaknesses.  From that, you have probably concluded that you don’t have to be perfect to be a great leader. But there are some weaknesses that cannot be overlooked. In this episode, we are going to talk about serious weaknesses- some would label these fatal flaws- and the six that effectively kill a leade...

Details Life for a manager inside an organization has an unrelenting pace, with very few occasions where there is uninterrupted time. As a result, relationship building and development opportunities may fall by the wayside or become superficial due to the enormity of managerial time constraints. In today’s pandemic world, there is a somewhat different issue.  While there are group calls on Zoom or...

Details Coachable leaders distinguish themselves by actively seeking and responding to feedback, a practice that not only enhances their personal growth but also significantly influences their leadership efficacy. In this episode, we’ll explore how embracing feedback can catalyze positive changes across various leadership dimensions, from advocating for change to fostering inclusivity within teams...

Details Feedback is a powerful tool that can make or break an individual’s growth and development. It can be a valuable gift that leads to success and well-being, but it can also be a dreaded message that is associated with negativity and criticism. The impact of feedback ultimately depends on how it is given, received, and acted upon. In this podcast, we explore the art of giving and receiving ef...

Details Have you ever been on the phone for an hour with customer service, and once you finally get to talk to a human to resolve your issue, they only say: “I’m sorry, I can’t help you.” And it’s true; they can’t. They don’t have the power or authority to resolve the problem. It’s frustrating to both the employee and the customer. So, what impact does a leader have on customer experience? A lot....

Details Register for the Trifecta of Trust development session . If I trust you, are you more likely to trust another person? And, if I distrust another person are they more likely to distrust me? Trust is unfortunately a contagious emotion that can spread for good or bad. In this episode, we are discussing the effects of trust within the teams in your organization and what can be done to establis...

Details Why is humility important for leaders? This pivotal question underpins Zenger Folkman’s two decades of research into how leadership traits, specifically humility and arrogance, affect  leadership effectiveness Humble leaders tend to empower their employees by recognizing their strengths and contributions. This leads to increased employee engagement and motivation. People want confidence ye...

Details Are we growing leadership in organizations the wrong way? Developing high-potentials isn’t a bad strategy for success—unless you do it at the expense of your other employees. It’s time to focus on leaders at all levels. Organizations die just like trees: They can fail from forces at the top, in the middle, or at the bottom. On nearly every survey that asks senior executives about the bench...

Details In this enlightening podcast episode, expert coaching master Kathleen Stinette shares her invaluable insights on the evolution of leadership coaching in the wake of the pandemic. With over 25 years of experience, Kathleen discusses the subtle yet significant shifts in coaching methodologies prompted by remote and hybrid work environments, emphasizing the growing importance of emotional int...

Details After some initial uncertainty, most companies have now found their footing with respect to adopting office-based, remote, or hybrid working models. Despite a common belief that we’ve mastered the flexibility of working from anywhere, the reality is we’re still on a learning curve—and that’s perfectly acceptable. In today’s discussion, we aim to highlight the distinct strengths of leaders...

Details Executive Presence. This term, often heard in boardrooms and leadership seminars, is not just about gravitas, articulate communication, and maintaining the ‘right’ appearance. It’s about having the capacity to foster confidence and inspire those around you. Your executive presence determines whether you’ll gain access to opportunities. Joining us today is Sylvia Ann Hewlett , an esteemed e...

Details Regardless of who you are in an organization — a great question can help you learn more about your task, unlock hidden opportunities, deliver better results, and mitigate unforeseen risks. In general, most of us don’t ask enough questions because we fail to recognize the enormous benefits in terms of interpersonal bonding and how questions are the gateway to our learning information. In th...

Details Habits are things you automatically do every day. It’s your morning routine, how you make your favorite drink, or the fact that you always leave every cabinet door open when you leave a room. It is the actions you perform without thinking because they are ingrained into who you are. Researchers at Duke University estimate that habits account for 40% of daily behaviors. In this podcast epis...

Details  In this episode, hosts BreAnne Okoren and Joe Folkman dive deep into the essential skill of adaptability, exploring its significance in the face of unprecedented technological advancements, globalization, and societal challenges. Drawing from research and real-life examples, they discuss the transformative impact of adaptability on leadership effectiveness, team engagement, and organizati...

Details Just like lawyers, physicians, and CPAs constantly update their skills, effective leadership is vital across all industries. Join us as we discuss the impact of proficient leadership and address the need for a paradigm shift in how we approach leadership development. It’s time to treat leadership as a true profession, emphasizing continuous education and skill refinement. Tune in for insig...