Things Leaders Do
Things Leaders Do is a leadership podcast for managers who want practical strategies that actually work, not leadership theory that sounds good in a boardroom. No fluff. No vague concepts. Just tactical frameworks you can implement Monday morning.
Whether you're a new manager figuring out how to lead your first team, a middle manager carrying the weight of the org, or a seasoned executive refining your approach, host Colby Morris breaks down people-first leadership with humor, insight, and straight talk.
Weekly episodes cover how to communicate and build trust, run one-on-ones that actually work, handle performance reviews that don't suck, balance accountability with empathy, manage conflict and tough conversations, lead through pressure and setbacks, plan for succession, develop your people, and build team cultures where people want to stay instead of just show up.
A lot of his content is for the leaders stuck in the middle.
Gen X managers running teams while reporting to executives above them and leading Millennial and Gen Z employees below. If you've ever felt like most leadership advice was written for somebody else's generation, this show was built for you.
New episodes every Wednesday. Host Colby Morris is the founder of NXT Step Advisors, providing executive coaching, team training, and keynote speaking focused on people-first leadership that drives real business results.
Connect at NXTStepAdvisors.com or linkedin.com/in/colbymorris
Things Leaders Do
Latest Episodes
Bad Decision or Bad Luck? What to Do When Your Call Isn't Working
When a call isn't working, figure out whether it was a bad decision, bad luck, or bad timing before you fix it. Each one needs a completely different fix, and fixing the wrong one makes things worse.Three hours into a major system go-liv...
What Happens After Your Company Gets Acquired (And How to Lead Through It)
In the first 30 days after an acquisition, your job is closing the gap between the questions people are asking and the answers anyone is giving them. Colby Morris calls it the Answer Gap.The deal closes in an afternoon. The people take a...
Why Gen X Keeps Getting Passed Over (And What to Do About It)
Gen X keeps getting passed over because we built careers as the fixer, and boards promote vision, not maintenance. Colby Morris calls it the Tactician Trap, and there are four ways out of it.The average American CEO is now 61, a full dec...
How to Give a Performance Review When the System's Rigged
When you're forced to deliver a performance rating you don't believe in, don't defend it and don't hide behind the system. Split the number from the truth: hand off the company's rating cleanly, tell the person the real thing that number can't ...
How to Manage Your Old Coworkers (Without Losing Their Respect)
When you're promoted over your former peers, the job is to redraw three things on purpose: the relationship, the standard, and your own support system. Colby Morris calls it The Redraw, and it's the difference between a promotion that sticks an...