Things Leaders Do

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...

Episode Title: Beat Burnout: Strong Teams in 2025 Host: Colby Morris Published: March 10, 2025 Available on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Other Platforms Episode Overview Burnout’s not just lurking—it’s eating your team’s lunch and tanking your productivity. In this episode of the TLD Podcast, host Colby Morris breaks down why employee well-being and retention are your leadership superpowers in 2025...

Episode Title: "Stop Chaos Before It Starts: The Leader’s Playbook" Host: Colby Morris Episode Overview Chaos doesn’t have to define your leadership. In this episode, Colby Morris turns Jocko Willink’s chaos-detachment mindset into a proactive game plan. Learn three practical tools—clear expectations, extreme ownership, and relentless communication—to build a team culture that stops mayh...

Episode Title: Gen X Leaders vs. Millennials & Gen Z: The Workplace Showdown No One Talks About Host: Colby Morris Release Date: [Insert Date, e.g., March 5, 2025] Episode Overview Are generational differences derailing your workplace? In this episode of Things Leaders Do , COO Colby Morris dives into the leadership clash no one’s talking about: Gen X versus Millennials and Gen Z. From the “fi...

Show Notes: Promoting High Performers: The Hidden Risks and Strategies for Success Episode Summary: Promoting top performers into leadership roles may seem like the natural next step, but what happens when they struggle—or worse, when they never wanted to lead in the first place? In this episode, we explore why great individual contributors don’t always make great leaders, how leadership requires...

Episode Title: Building a Resilient Team: Leadership Strategies for Tough Times Episode Overview: Resilience in the workplace is declining— 44% of employees report feeling daily stress, and resilience has dropped nearly 30% since 2019. Burnout is real, and teams are struggling to bounce back from setbacks. As a leader, how do you help your team build resilience so they don’t crack under pressure?...

Episode Title: How Leaders Become Leaders: 4 Steps You Can Take Today Episode Overview: Ever wondered how leaders actually become leaders? It’s not luck, a fancy title, or waiting for the perfect moment—it’s about intentional steps taken over time. In this episode of Things Leaders Do , host Colby Morris breaks down the four key actions that will set you on the path to leadership starting today ....

Communication Under Ambiguity: How Leaders Can Build Trust Without All the Answers Episode Description: As a leader, how do you communicate effectively when you don’t have all the answers? In this episode of The TLD Podcast , Colby Morris dives into the challenging yet essential skill of leading through ambiguity. Using real-world examples, Colby explores three actionable strategies to maintain tr...

🎙️ Episode Overview: Empathy is more than just a leadership buzzword—it’s the key to building trust, strengthening relationships, and driving results. In this episode of Things Leaders Do , host Colby Morris breaks down empathy into actionable strategies that you can implement immediately. Drawing inspiration from Patrick Lencioni and sharing real-life stories, Colby shows how listening, understan...

Why Listening is the Cornerstone of People-First Leadership Episode Summary: In this episode of Things Leaders Do , host Colby Morris dives deep into the transformative power of listening in leadership. Inspired by Andy Stanley’s impactful quote, “Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say,” Colby explores why listening is essential for building trust,...

People-First Leadership: Practical Habits for Daily Impact 📚 Episode Summary: Being a people-first leader isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about showing up consistently in the small, meaningful moments that build trust and connection. In this episode, Colby Morris shares three practical habits you can start using today to lead with clarity, empathy, and purpose. Whether you're a new leader or...

"New Year, New Leader: Building a People-First Leadership System, One Tool at a Time" Episode Description: Start your year as a people-first leader with a step-by-step approach! In this episode of Things Leaders Do , host Colby Morris outlines a bi-monthly plan to enhance your leadership skills by introducing one practical tool at a time. Key Takeaways: January & February: Implement...

"Leadership Q&A: Balancing Authority, Leading Under Pressure, and Avoiding Common Leadership Mistakes" Podcast Description: "Struggling to balance being a 'friend' versus being the boss? Finding it hard to stay calm under pressure? In this special Q&A episode of Things Leaders Do , host Colby Morris tackles real leadership questions sent in by listeners just like y...

One-on-One Meetings That Work: Build Trust, Track Goals, and Transform Your Team Show Notes Episode Summary: One-on-one meetings: a simple leadership tool with extraordinary potential. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a first-time manager, mastering these conversations can elevate your leadership and transform your team’s performance. In this episode of the Things Leaders Do podcast, Colby M...

"Leadership Conversations Simplified: The Power of Wearing the Right Hat" Episode Summary : As a leader, every conversation requires a different tone, approach, and mindset. That’s why in this week’s episode of Things Leaders Do , Colby Morris dives into the concept of wearing different hats in leadership. Whether you’re a mentor , a leader , or just a friend , knowing which role to play...

Episode Title : Mastering Leadership Communication: Be a Chief Reminding Officer Episode Summary : Communication isn’t just part of leadership—it is leadership. In this episode of Things Leaders Do , host Colby Morris dives into unusual but highly effective methods for leaders to communicate , inspired by Patrick Lencioni’s concept of the "Chief Reminding Officer." Leaders must communica...