Things Leaders Do
Whether you're a new manager figuring out how to lead your first team or a seasoned executive refining your approach, host Colby Morris delivers actionable tools and real-world frameworks you can use today to lead with confidence, clarity, and impact.
Things Leaders Do is the straight-talk podcast for leaders who want practical strategies that actually work—not just leadership theory that sounds good in a boardroom.
Each week, Colby breaks down people-first leadership with humor, insight, and straight talk—covering how to communicate effectively and build trust, create high-performance team cultures, handle pressure and setbacks, balance accountability with empathy, and master the intersection of strategy, execution, and influence.
Perfect for new leaders stepping into management, seasoned executives leveling up their skills, and anyone tired of leadership advice that doesn't translate to the real world.
Weekly episodes tackle succession planning, conflict resolution, one-on-ones that actually work, performance reviews that don't suck, employee development, and how to create workplaces where people want to stay—not just show up.
No fluff. No vague concepts.
Just tactical frameworks and processes you can implement Monday morning.
New episodes drop every Monday. Subscribe now and join thousands of leaders building stronger teams and better workplace cultures.
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
What Actually Builds Psychological Safety on Gen X-Led Teams
How do you actually build psychological safety on your team if you're a Gen X leader? Not by being softer. By being deliberate in the five seconds that matter. The traits that made you a strong leader (resilience, "figure it out," low tolerance...
Your A-Players Are Already Looking: The Signals Most Leaders Miss
How do you know if your top performers are about to quit? You watch for the five signals — and you fix the management pattern that's pushing them out. Gallup's Q4 2025 data found 51% of U.S. workers are either actively looking or watching for o...
The Gen X Guide to Managing Up to a Younger Boss
How does a Gen X leader manage up to a younger boss? Not by fighting the dynamic — by offering your experience as a gift instead of asserting it as a flag. CareerBuilder found that 53% of workers age 45 and up are reporting to a younger boss ri...
Stop Trying to Win Tough Conversations (Win the Trust Instead)
Research from Notre Dame says more than 80% of workers are holding back at least one tough conversation at work. So when leaders DO finally have those conversations, they're walking in with the wrong goal — trying to win them.In this epi...
AI for Leaders: How to Get Your Time Back and Actually Lead People
You don't have time for the people you're leading because you're spending hours on tasks that AI could handle in minutes. Leaders using AI save 40-60 minutes daily, yet only 26% of employees use AI weekly despite 91% of businesses adopting it. ...