Lead Better
Self-Improvement
About
A daily discussion of today's Admired Leadership Field Notes.
Episodes
- Lead Better - The Downside of Emotional Intelligence
On the Lead Better podcast, Matt, Scott, and Mikey discuss the potential downsides of emotional intelligence, drawing from the Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - What If Meetings Were Voluntary?
Scott and Mikey discuss the topic "What If Meetings Were Voluntary?" based on Admired Leadership Field Notes. The conversation was recorded on May 12, 2026.
- Lead Better - The Leader’s Antidote for Worry
In this episode of Lead Better, Scott and Mikey discuss the leader's antidote for worry, referencing Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Unconscious Competence or Why the Best Leaders and Performers Are Sometimes the Worst Teachers
The Lead Better podcast episode features Scott and Mikey discussing the concept of unconscious competence. They explore the idea that highly skilled leaders and performers may sometimes struggle as teachers.
- Lead Better - How Candor Keeps the Blue Angels Safe
Scott and Mikey discuss the topic 'How Candor Keeps the Blue Angels Safe' from the Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - When Peers Strongly Disagree About a Decision
This episode of Lead Better features Sierra and Mikey discussing the challenges of strong disagreements between peers regarding a decision, referencing Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - The Case for Seeking Early Commitment
Scott and Mikey discuss today's Admired Leadership Field Notes topic, which is The Case for Seeking Early Commitment. This episode was originally recorded for Thursday, May 7, 2026.
- Lead Better - Leaders Who Ask for Your Opinion But Really Don’t Want It
Scott and Mikey discuss leaders who inquire about opinions but lack genuine interest in the feedback. This episode is based on the Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - How to Disappoint People Without Demotivating Them
Scott and Mikey discuss how to disappoint people without demotivating them. The discussion is based on the Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - The Illusion of Deep Professional Relationships
Scott and Mikey discuss the illusion of deep professional relationships, referencing Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - The Libero Leader
Scott and Mikey discuss the topic of The Libero Leader in this episode of Lead Better, referencing Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Do You Weaken Your Endorsements Without Knowing It?
This episode of Lead Better features Scott and Mikey discussing the topic "Do You Weaken Your Endorsements Without Knowing It?" based on Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - How Smart Leaders Use Language to Create Clarity
Scott and Mikey discuss how smart leaders use language to create clarity, drawing from the Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Team Members Who Hide the Ball
Sierra, Scott, and Mikey discuss the topic of team members hiding the ball, referencing Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - True Leaders Seek Honorable Closure
In this episode of Lead Better, hosts Emily, Scott and Mikey discuss the topic of honorable closure for leaders.
- Lead Better - Investing in Why People Stay Instead of Worrying About Why They Might Leave
Barbara, Scott and Mikey discuss the Admired Leadership Field Notes topic of investing in why people stay, rather than focusing on reasons they might leave.
- Lead Better - When You Change Your Mind, Let Everyone Know Why
In this episode of Lead Better, Scott and Mikey discuss the topic 'When You Change Your Mind, Let Everyone Know Why,' drawing from Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Birdwatching to Stretch the Brain
Scott and Mikey discuss the topic of birdwatching as a way to exercise the brain, as featured in the Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Good Leaders Refuse to Take ‘Yes’ for an Answer
In this episode of Lead Better, Scott and Mikey discuss the importance of leaders not settling for simple affirmations and instead seeking deeper understanding and commitment.
- Lead Better - How Much Time Does It Take to Make a Great Decision
Scott and Mikey discuss how much time is needed to make a great decision. This episode was originally scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2026.
- Lead Better - Team Cultures Where Blame Is Common
In this episode of Lead Better, Scott, Sierra, and Mikey delve into the topic of team cultures where blame is prevalent. The discussion references Field Notes dated Thursday, April 23, 2026.
- Lead Better - Approaching a Situation You Haven’t Seen Before
In this episode of Lead Better, Tom, Scott, and Mikey discuss the topic of approaching a situation you haven’t seen before, referencing Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - What Leaders Could Learn From the NFL Draft
In this episode, Scott and Mikey discuss the lessons leaders can learn from the NFL Draft, referencing Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Praising Others About Your Strengths
This episode of Lead Better features Ellie, Scott, and Mikey discussing the topic of Praising Others About Your Strengths, drawing from Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - A New High Water Mark Doesn’t Always Reflect True Progress
Scott and Mikey discuss the topic A New High Water Mark Doesn’t Always Reflect True Progress. The episode is based on Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - What Leaders Can Learn From the Disney Hugs Rule
Scott and Mikey discuss leadership lessons that can be learned from the Disney Hugs Rule, referencing Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Company Policies and Rules That Are Too Specific Can Replace Sound Judgment
Scott and Mikey discuss how overly specific company policies and rules can replace sound judgment. The topic is based on Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Great Advocates Don’t Present Options
Scott and Mikey discuss the topic from the Field Notes entry dated April 16, 2026. The episode focuses on the idea that great advocates don't present options.
- Lead Better - Reducing the Workforce Isn't Always the Only Move
Scott and Mikey discuss workforce reduction strategies, noting that reducing the workforce isn't the only available option.
- Lead Better - Leaders Don’t Take ‘No’ as the Final Answer
This episode of Lead Better features Scott and Mikey discussing the Admired Leadership Field Notes entry titled 'Leaders Don’t Take ‘No’ as the Final Answer'. The discussion is based on material originally recorded for Tuesday, April 14, 2…
- Lead Better - Organizations The Prioritize Good News
Scott and Mikey discuss the topic of Organizations That Prioritize Good News, referencing an Admired Leadership Field Notes entry.
- Lead Better - What Is Your Learning Strategy?
Scott and Mikey discuss the topic "What Is Your Learning Strategy?" from the Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Why People Confuse Dominance and Control With Leadership
Scott and Mikey discuss why people often mistake dominance and control for effective leadership, based on Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Consider Shrinking the Change
Scott and Mikey discuss the Field Notes topic
- Lead Better - Why Meetings Are Often Less Productive Than They Could Be
Sierra, Scott, and Mikey discuss the common issue of unproductive meetings, drawing insights from Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Leaders Who Confuse Being Liked With Being Respected
Scott and Mikey discuss the common leadership mistake of confusing being liked with being respected. This episode focuses on the distinction between these two concepts for effective leadership.
- Lead Better - The Healthy Paranoia of Anticipating Change
Scott, Morgan, and Mikey discuss the topic "The Healthy Paranoia of Anticipating Change" from the Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - The Positive and Negative Ways Leaders Apply Pressure
Scott and Mikey discuss the positive and negative ways leaders apply pressure in this 15-minute episode, drawing from Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Is There Anything Wrong With Having Worker Bees on My Team?
Scott and Mikey discuss whether there are any issues with having 'worker bees' on a team, referencing Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Doesn’t Get Along With Others
Scott and Mikey discuss the Admired Leadership Field Notes topic 'Doesn’t Get Along With Others'. This episode was originally recorded for Saturday, April 4, 2026.
- Lead Better - Transferring the Leadership Mantle to a Successor
This episode of Lead Better features Scott and Mikey discussing the topic of transferring the leadership mantle to a successor. The discussion is based on the Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Leaders Who Empower a Surrogate to Speak for Them
Sierra, Scott, and Mikey explore the concept of leaders empowering a surrogate to speak for them, drawing from Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Giving One Last Chance to People Who Aren’t Making the Grade
Bob, Scott and Mikey discuss the topic of giving people one last chance when they are not making the grade, referencing Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - My Leader Only Gets Soundbites About My Performance
Scott and Mikey discuss the challenges of receiving performance feedback when a leader only gets soundbites of an employee's work. This topic was originally recorded on March 31, 2026.
- Lead Better - On Personal Decisions of Team Members, Leaders Share Experience, Not Advice
Scott and Mikey discuss the principle that leaders should share their own experiences, rather than giving advice, when team members face personal decisions.
- Lead Better - On Becoming a Leader Everyone Roots For
Scott and Mikey discuss the topic 'On Becoming a Leader Everyone Roots For' from the Admired Leadership Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Curiosity Is How Long You Stay in Discovery Mode
Scott and Mikey discuss the concept that curiosity determines how long an individual remains in discovery mode. The discussion is based on Field Notes.
- Lead Better - Is This Your Best Work?
Scott and Mikey discuss the topic 'Is This Your Best Work?' from the Admired Leadership Field Notes. This episode was originally recorded on March 27, 2026.
- Lead Better - Clarity Is What Creates Speed
Scott and Mikey discuss the Admired Leadership Field Notes topic: Clarity Is What Creates Speed.
- Lead Better - Using Checklists to Teach Quality Standards
Scott, Mikey, and Andrew discuss using checklists to teach quality standards, referencing the Admired Leadership Field Notes.