The Best Leadership Podcast Ever (with Jeff Matlow)

Have you ever made a mistake in a group and assumed everybody would always remember your buffoonery? Welcome to the Spotlight Effect—the tendency to overestimate how much people notice us. Learn how this effect fuels your anxiety and holds you back from confidently being you. I'll share the tips and tricks to overcome this the [...]

Goldfish grow to the size of their bowl. Want a bigger goldfish? Buy a bigger bowl. Same goes for you.

Is it a bump or a hump? Two signs, 5 feet apart, completely different language. That's not just a road problem. That's a leadership problem.

Conflict is as inevitable in a team as it is in marriage. The important thing is how those conflicts are resolved. It's time to learn the four types of team conflict.

In this episode, I'm taking on one of the biggest misconceptions in the leadership world: the difference between a group and a team. Spoiler alert—if you're just herding a bunch of people toward the same goal, you might be missing the whole team thing. I break down how even the all-star 2004 Olympic basketball team [...]

Work-life balance is a terrible idea. You think it's a good idea, but you're wrong. It is impossible to balance the two. The good news is that there's a better way.

Building a strong, trustworthy support network is essential for leaders. The support network allows you to share challenges and receive honest feedback, ultimately promoting your personal and professional growth. You know who's great at creating a strong support network? The mafia, that's who. This episode will teach you how to find and cultivate your own support [...]

You only have two choices in any moment: faith or fear. There is no middle ground. And fear-driven leadership quietly kills the culture you're trying to build.

I had a life-changing two weeks off the grid. Did you miss me? Well, the good news is that I'm back. The bad news is that right after I got back, I had a death in the family. But don't worry, this isn’t your typical "treasure every moment" story. Instead, it's led me to realize [...]

Spiders, irrational fears, and the secret to success—who knew they’d go hand in hand? As it turns out, the patience and intelligence of spiders are the key to you achieving your dreams. Go figure.

The relationship with your manager is the most important ones to get right. But you’re rarely ever taught how the tools for managing up. You're going to learn them now.

Sometimes, trying too hard to be right all the time can actually backfire. As my mother-the-therapist always told me, the more we focus on always being right, the more we risk damaging our relationships and stifling the creativity and openness of the people around us. Actually, she said that in much more eloquent terms but [...]

The Iceberg of Ignorance is a real thing. If you haven't listened to Part 1 of this series, you should do that now because in this episode we take it to the next level. Bridging the knowledge gap between leaders and frontline workers is essential for addressing company problems effectively. I outline four critical tools [...]

The Iceberg of Ignorance is a real thing. It explains why leadership often remains unaware of a company's real problems. In this episode I illustrate the importance of understanding the iceberg with a story about a well-meaning CEO who, despite his enthusiasm and open-door policy, was oblivious to the significant issues his employees faced. Understand [...]

The "Right to Disconnect" is a law that is already enacted in six countries. Spoiler Alert: the United States is not one of them. And I wouldn't hold your breath that the US government will even consider this law. The law is all about promoting work-life balance. It legally allows employees to disengage from work-related [...]

The way you think about Taylor Swift is the way you think about every woman in leadership. The problem isn't her music. The problem is her success.

85% of leaders don't build a real culture of accountability. They think they do. They don't. Because accountability isn't the problem. It's the symptom.

In this episode, I delve into the crucial concept of stability in life and at work, especially in the wake of a global pandemic. Let me tell you about the “Stability Life Test.” It’s a simple exercise that illustrates the profound connection between physical balance and longevity. It is not only fascinating for the results, [...]

Loyalty is misunderstood. In fact, a whole lot of companies screw up employee issues because of their so-called definition of "loyalty", which, by the way, is wrong. In this rant I talk about the difference between perceived loyalty and true loyalty. Most importantly, I talk about the importance of matching employees to the right roles [...]

You don't need to like me. I'd like you to. But being liked as a leader isn't the job. Being trusted and respected is.

When you treat loyal employees like pita bread — you’re going to tear something. In this under‑10‑minute episode of The Best Leadership Podcast Ever, I dig into how many companies — including yours? — misunderstand loyalty, misplace people, and end up losing their best players. What’s inside: 🤝 Why “finding jobs to fit people” isn’t loyalty, it’s a growth killer.  [...]

Your open door policy doesn't work. Only 14% of employees will walk through it. You don't have an open door policy. You have a one-way mirror.

Motivated employees are 87% less likely to leave. But most leaders do employee motivation backwards. The CIA can help with that.

Apologizing is good. Over-apologizing is bad. In this episode, I dive into the curious case of the over-apologizing female leader, which has run rampant in today’s corporate environment. I explain the perplexing phenomenon where strong, capable women in leadership positions find themselves caught in a relentless loop of saying "I'm sorry." I discuss the two [...]

There used to be 27 letters in the alphabet. The 27th got pushed to the back and called weird. Eventually it became more famous than all of them. Empowering different employees is a leadership lesson hiding in plain sight.