Grow Strong Leaders Podcast
I’m fascinated by what it takes for leaders to live their values consistently, especially when it’s hard.
On the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast, I have candid conversations with senior executives who are sustaining principled leadership inside complex organizations. We explore how leadership capability, organizational systems, and the everyday decisions reinforce values.
Our discussions also explore what gets tested when pressure rises—and the personal guardrails leaders rely on to stay aligned.
If you believe values should guide real decisions—not just appear on the wall—you'll feel right at home here.
Grow Strong Leaders Podcast
388: Why Values Aren't Enough
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Most organizations can describe their values. The real challenge is helping people live them when pressure, habits, and competing priorities get in the way.
In this thought-provoking conversation, Stephen Paskoff explains why changing behavior—not simply communicating expectations—is the true work of leadership. Drawing on four decades of experience helping organizations create respectful, accountable workplaces, Steve shares unforgettable stories that reveal how managers shape culture, why habits matter more than policies, and what it really takes to influence behavior over time.
You'll hear the remarkable healthcare stories that transformed Steve's thinking, the leadership lesson he learned as a teenager selling shoes, and a simple exercise that will forever change how you think about leading people. Whether you're responsible for one employee or thousands, this episode will challenge you to move beyond values statements and begin creating the daily behaviors that define exceptional cultures.
Stephen is the founder and Chair of Employment Learning Innovations, Inc. (ELI), a learning and human capital consulting company. ELI works with public and private organizations to build lawful, productive workplaces that maximize results and reduce compliance and other risks. He is a nationally recognized speaker and author on workplace legal issues. Before founding ELI in 1986, Stephen was an EEOC trial attorney and partner in a management law firm. He is the author of two books, Teaching Big Shots to Behave and Other Human Resource Challenges and Civility Rules! A New Business Approach for Boosting Results and Cutting Risks.
You'll discover
- Why values alone don't change behavior
- How leaders build lasting workplace habits
- What managers communicate without realizing it
- Why respect drives better business results
- How everyday actions shape organizational culture
Connect with Stephen Paskoff on Social Media
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliinc
Website
Employment Learning Innovations https://eliinc.com/
Books
Civility Rules! A New Business Approach for Boosting Results and Cutting Risks https://www.amazon.com/CIVILITY-Business-Approach-Boosting-Results/dp/0692601570
Teaching Big Shots to Behave and Other Human Resource Challenges https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Shots-Behave-Resources-Challenges/dp/0975895001
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