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
Episodes
133 episodes
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. ...
AI Isn't Taking Your Job. Leaders Who Use AI Are
AI anxiety, particularly FOBO (Fear of Becoming Obsolete), affects 75% of employees concerned AI will make jobs obsolete. Nearly 55,000 U.S. job cuts were directly attributed to AI in 2025. The Five Irreplaceable Skills Framework (Colby Morris)...
Your Middle Managers Are Drowning (And You Know It)
Seventy-seven percent of CHROs lack confidence in their leadership bench strength. Meanwhile, 40% of middle managers are planning their exit.Your leadership pipeline isn't empty because of a talent problem—it's empty because you'r...
Leadership Burnout Isn't About You: The Four-Part Survival Framework
Leadership burnout isn't a personal failing—it's a predictable outcome of an unsustainable system. According to Colby Morris on The Things Leaders Do podcast, middle managers can survive unsustainable workloads through ruthless prior...
How to Communicate a Decision So It Actually Gets Implemented
Use a five-part framework to communicate decisions effectively: Start with why (explain the problem you're solving), explain what's changing and what's not, address obvious concerns upfront, tell people what happens next, and invite ...
Consensus vs. Buy-In (And Why You're Chasing the Wrong One)
Use a "disagree and commit" approach instead of chasing consensus. Consensus means everyone agrees (impossible). Buy-in means everyone commits even when they don't fully agree (achievable). Stop trying to make everyone happy and start getting e...
A Framework for Making Wise Decisions as a Leader
Use the GRIT framework to make wise decisions without perfect information: Gather the right information, Reflect on your values, Involve the right people, and Take action and own the outcome.You've been staring at a decision for two week...
You're Delegating Wrong
You're delegating all the time—assigning projects, distributing work, telling people what needs to get done. So why do they keep coming back to you with questions? Because you're delegating tasks, not authority. And there's a massive difference...
The 4 Questions to Stop Making Every Decision
Use this 4-question framework to determine which decisions require your authority: (1) Does this require information only I have? (2) Does this set precedent or carry significant risk? (3) Am I holding onto this for the right reasons? (4) Who i...
Why Your Onboarding Sucks (And How to Fix It)
How do you onboard new employees effectively? Don't leave it all to HR. While HR handles paperwork and compliance, leaders must own the relationship-building aspects of onboarding. Stay in contact before Day 1, ensure workspace and tools...
How to Hire Better (So You Don't Have to Fire Later)
How do you avoid making bad hires? Stop interviewing for skills and start interviewing for character using Patrick Lencioni's Humble, Hungry, and Smart framework. Ask specific behavioral questions that reveal these three virtues, watch f...
Performance Issue or Hiring Mistake? Make the Call
How do you know when someone needs more coaching versus when you've made a hiring mistake? Look for three signs: (1) They're missing one of Patrick Lencioni's core virtues (Humble, Hungry, or Smart) and it's not improving, (2) You're having the...
When to Address Underperformance (Part 2 of 2)
How do you actually have a performance conversation with an underperforming team member? Use a six-step framework: (1) Schedule it without drama, (2) Start with specific observations, (3) Listen to understand the root cause, (4) Name the impact...
When to Address Underperformance (Part 1 of 2)
Quick AnswerWhen should you have a performance conversation with an underperforming team member? Address it immediately the first time you notice an issue—not the third or fourth time. The first time, approach it with curiosity: "...
When Your January Plans Fall Apart (Year-End Leadership Series)
What should you do when your January plans fall apart? Acknowledge what slipped, identify why it happened, and make one small adjustment to get back on track. This episode shares a three-step recovery process refined over 20+ years o...
Starting 2026 Strong - The First Week Reset (Year-End Leadership Series)
What should leaders do in the first week of January to set their team up for success in 2026? How can middle managers use the first week back to re-engage their teams and set the tone for the entire year?Most leaders waste the first week...
Setting 2026 Goals That Don't Suck (Year-End Leadership Series)
93% of employees can't align their personal goals with company objectives—because most goal-setting is one-directional garbage. This episode shows you how to create SMART goals using the two-way framework that balances corporate priorities with...
Performance Review Feedback That Actually Sticks (Year-End Leadership Series)
Year-end performance reviews often fail because feedback evaporates by February. This episode shows you how to deliver feedback that actually changes behavior—whether you've been doing one-on-ones all year or you're starting fresh in 2026.<...
How to Show Your Team Gratitude (Without the Awkward Potluck)
Employee Recognition Strategies That Actually Work How do you recognize employees effectively? Most leaders only show appreciation during holidays—a team lunch at Thanksgiving, gift cards at year-end—but your people de...
How to Disagree With Your Boss (Without Getting Fired)
Ever felt stuck between speaking up to your boss and protecting your career? You're in a meeting, your boss makes a decision you know is wrong, but you stay silent—worried that disagreeing will make you look insubordinate or damage the relation...
How to Hold Someone Accountable Without Micromanaging
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 ...
Tough Conversations Part 2: When the First Conversation Didn't Work
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 co...
How to Be a People-First Leader When Your Company Isn't
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 th...