I Have Some Questions...
What if leadership wasn’t about having the answers—but about asking better questions?
On "I Have Some Questions…", Erik Berglund – a founder, coach, and Speechcraft evangelist – dives into the conversations that high performers aren’t having enough. This isn’t your typical leadership podcast. It’s a tactical deep-dive into the soft skills that actually drive results: the hard-to-nail moments of accountability, the awkward feedback loops, and the language that turns good leaders into great ones.
Each week, Erik explores a question that has shaped his own journey. Expect raw, unpolished curiosity. Expect conversations with bold thinkers, rising leaders, and practitioners who are tired of recycled advice and ready to talk about what really works. Expect episodes that get under the hood of how real change happens: through what we say, how we say it, and how often we practice it.
This show is for driven managers, emerging execs, and anyone who knows that real growth comes from curiosity rather than charisma.
Subscribe if you’re ready to stop winging it and start leading with intention.
I Have Some Questions...
036: "Are You Creating Space for Others to Shine?" (lessons from Sam Bennet)
This reaction episode offers a reflective deep dive into the most resonant themes from Erik’s conversation with Sam Bennett—improviser, coach, and author of Start Right Where You Are. Erik explores the real-world value of improv training, redefines creativity through a leadership lens, and shares how Sam’s abundance mindset reminded him that leadership isn’t about having all the ideas—it's about creating space for others to bring theirs.
🎯 Top Insights from the Interview
- Improv is leadership in action: Practicing real-time response to others builds flexibility, confidence, and presence.
- Creativity ≠ artistry: You don’t have to be artistic to be creative. Creativity is problem-solving with your unique lens.
- Encouragement through wisdom: Sam’s insights didn’t just hype you up—they grounded you in what's possible with others.
- Let go of control, amplify contribution: Hire well, set direction, then let people run in the right direction.
- Leadership is cultural translation: LinkedIn Learning gave Sam access to global audiences—proof that wisdom can cross borders with the right medium.
🧩 The Personal Layer
Erik reflects on how Sam’s definitions challenged his own. Once convinced he wasn't creative, Erik shares how a friend helped him break that belief—and how Sam’s distinctions helped deepen that reframe. As a father, he’s also rethinking the power of the arts in his daughters’ lives—not for performance, but for building confidence, emotional intelligence, and collaborative muscles that last a lifetime.
🧰 From Insight to Action
- Enroll in or try an improv class—yes, even (especially) if you're a leader.
- Rethink how you define “creative”—in yourself and your team.
- Watch how others respond to your energy in meetings; are you collaborative or controlling?
- Practice the art of "one idea is enough"—start somewhere and build together.
- Challenge someone you lead to find their zone of genius—and give them room to run.
🗣️ Notable Quotes
“You don’t need a great idea to start—you just need one idea. The good part comes from building it with others.” — Erik (on Sam’s insight)
“Leadership isn’t about control—it’s about direction and trust.” — Erik
“Encouragement isn’t hype. It’s the quiet clarity of seeing what’s possible in other people.” — Erik
“My kids don’t need to become artists. But if they can learn to improvise with others? They’ll be unstoppable.” — Erik