Deep Leadership

Flexible Leadership: Why Rigid Leaders Fail in an Uncertain World The world has changed. Leadership has to change with it. In this episode, I’m joined by Kevin Eikenberry, one of the most influential leadership thinkers today and author of Flexible Leadership: Navigate Uncertainty and Lead with Confidence. We unpack why the leadership approaches that worked in the past often break down in today’s complex, fast-moving environment. Kevin explains why great leaders must stay consistent in values but flexible in how they lead, and why treating every challenge as a crisis leads to bad decisions. We dive into real-world examples, including when command-and-control leadership works, when it fails, and how context should drive your leadership approach. We also explore: Why “leadership style” can become a trap The difference between complicated, complex, and chaotic situations How flexible leaders improve their odds without losing trust Why mindset matters more than tools or techniques How habits, not intentions, determine leadership effectiveness If you’re leading people through uncertainty, change, or growth, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership and give you a better way forward.

Most change initiatives fail for one reason: leaders ignore the emotional impact of change. In this episode, I’m joined by John Fisher, creator of the Fisher Change Curve, to explain what employees actually experience during change—and what leaders must do to guide people through it. We cover: Why change feels like loss The emotional stages of change at work Why resistance happens and how to reduce it Practical ways leaders can lead change without breaking trust If you’re leading organizational change, managing resistance, or navigating constant disruption, this conversation will reshape how you think about change management. Change isn’t just operational. It’s personal.

How Great Leaders Turn Empathy Empathy is praised in leadership—and often quietly punished. In this episode, Jon Rennie is joined by Jess Baker, chartered business psychologist and author of The Super Helper Syndrome, to explore how great leaders turn empathy into real power without being overlooked or burned out. Jess explains why highly empathic professionals are often passed over for leadership roles, even though they’re holding teams together behind the scenes. She shows how empathy, when used intentionally, becomes a strategic leadership advantage rather than a career liability. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why empathic leaders get overlooked The difference between empathy, compassion, and effective leadership How to set boundaries without losing your values How empathy can amplify results, energy, and momentum What to do when empathy has helped your career—up to a point Jess also shares practical tools, including leadership dials and the concept of empathic flow, to help leaders protect their energy while leading with confidence. 📘 About Jess Baker Jess Baker is a chartered business psychologist with 20+ years of experience advising leaders and global organizations. She is the creator of the Empathy Powered Method and the award-winning author of The Super Helper Syndrome. 📌 Links to Jess’s resources: Website - https://jessbaker.co.uk/ Free Quiz - https://jess-baker.involve.me/helper-quiz Free Workbook - https://jessbakerconsulting.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1147375 Book -https://amzn.to/3YyhdEs If you believe leadership is a people business, this episode is for you.

Brave Leadership: How Courage, Not Comfort, Drives Results with Jill Schulman Fear shows up quietly in leadership. It delays decisions. Avoids hard conversations. Keeps talented people playing it safe. In this episode of Deep Leadership, I’m joined by Jill Schulman, Marine Corps veteran, leadership consultant, and author of The Bravery Effect, to break down why courage—not comfort—is what actually drives results. Jill shares how fear silently controls behavior at work, why avoiding discomfort makes leaders weaker (not happier), and how bravery can be trained like a muscle. Drawing from military leadership, positive psychology, and decades of executive work, she explains why doing hard things is essential for growth, confidence, and performance. We talk about: Why fear is one of the biggest hidden problems in leadership The science behind bravery and why it’s a skill anyone can build How avoiding discomfort fuels anxiety and poor decision-making Why action—not confidence—creates courage How leaders can build braver teams and cultures Why “doing hard things” leads to better results and greater fulfillment If you’re a leader who wants stronger performance, better decisions, and a team that doesn’t crumble under pressure, this conversation will challenge how you think about fear, comfort, and courage. 🎧 Listen in and learn why brave leadership starts with running toward the hard things—not away from them.

What does leadership look like at the absolute highest level? In this episode of Deep Leadership, I’m joined by Michael Giorgione, a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral who served as the Commander of Camp David, the secluded presidential retreat where some of the most important leadership decisions in history have taken place. Michael takes us inside Camp David and shares what it’s really like to serve presidents up close. We talk about leadership under pressure, trust, humility, and what happens behind closed doors when world leaders step away from the spotlight. From hosting presidents and their families to supporting high-stakes diplomatic summits, Michael offers rare insights into how leaders think, build relationships, and rely on their teams when the stakes couldn’t be higher. This conversation isn’t about politics. It’s about leadership, responsibility, and what it means to lead people well when there’s no room for failure. If you’re interested in leadership, history, or how trust and character shape decision-making at the top, this episode is for you. In this episode, we discuss: What Camp David is really like behind the scenes Leadership lessons learned from serving two U.S. presidents Why trust and humility matter more than authority How great leaders build relationships before a crisis hits What leaders at every level can learn from Camp David 📘 Learn more about Michael’s book Inside Camp David https://amzn.to/3Ye5oDf 🌐 Visit his website for leadership speaking and coaching https://www.insidecampdavid.com/ 🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations on leadership that actually matters If you found value in this episode, please like, subscribe, and share. It helps us continue building a world with better leaders.