Things Leaders Do

You delegated the project. Now you're wondering: Should I check in without micromanaging? How do I hold people accountable without hovering? Here's the tension every middle manager feels: You want accountability, but you don't want to be the micromanager everyone complains about. In this episode, leadership consultant Colby Morris breaks down the critical difference between holding...

You had the tough conversation. You thought you were clear. But nothing changed. Now what? Most leadership advice stops at "have the conversation" and never tells you what to do when the issue repeats. In this episode, leadership consultant Colby Morris walks you through exactly how to handle the second conversation—and why it's often more important than the first. What You'll...

You believe in people-first leadership, but you work in a results-only culture. Your peers manage by spreadsheet. Your boss treats people like resources. You're wondering: Can I actually lead differently without getting crushed? Here's the truth: You can't change the entire company culture right now. But you CAN change your team culture. And that's more powerful than you think....

Your inbox is full of articles about AI replacing jobs. You're wondering: Am I next? Here's the truth: Great people-first leaders won't be replaced by AI—but 88% of heavy AI users are burning out because they're doing it wrong. In this episode, you'll learn how to use AI strategically to become MORE people-first, not less. Get the exact methods leaders are using to save 10...

Look around your executive team. How many of you were external hires? Every hand goes up. Now show me how many managers you have promoted from front-line positions. Zero. Not one. Crickets. Host Colby Morris shares the devastating boardroom moment that exposed why one organization could not stop the turnover bleeding. When every leadership opening goes external, you are sending your team a clear m...

Your top performer just quit without a backup plan. They're driving Uber while they figure out their next move. Why? Because the pain of staying became greater than the pain of change. In 2025, 35% of Gen Z workers will quit without another job lined up, and 1 in 4 employees have considered quitting due to mental health concerns. The gig economy changed everything—your people have options now...

This deep-dive follow-up delivers exactly what you asked for: three specific, actionable systems that successful hybrid leaders use to build trust, measure performance, and manage remote teams without losing their minds. Host Colby Morris shares a real transformation story about Lisa, a marketing director whose team was crushing goals but sending deliverables at 2:00 AM - creating massive anxiety...

BREAKING: New 2025 research reveals 51% of workers would quit rather than return to traditional management styles. Is your hybrid leadership approach driving away top talent? If your best performer just quit with an exit interview citing "micromanagement" and "lack of trust," you're experiencing the hybrid leadership dilemma that's costing organizations their most val...

When national tragedy strikes, leaders don’t have the luxury of silence. In this episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris reflects on the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University and what it reveals about the role of leaders during moments of crisis. This conversation isn’t about politics. It’s about leadership. It’s about how you show up when your team is already processing fear...

How do leaders invite productive conflict? Most leaders avoid workplace conflict, then wonder why teams never bring them the truth until it's too late. In this final Conflict IQ episode, discover the advanced skill that separates good leaders from great ones: actively inviting disagreement to strengthen team performance. Learn specific language patterns that encourage honest pushback and prac...

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...