The Better Leadership Team Show

On this episode, I sat down with Richard Bistrong to talk about the pressures that can lead good people to make bad decisions and what leadership teams can do to prevent that from happening. Richard shares his extraordinary journey from international sales executive to federal investigation, prison, and eventually becoming a trusted advisor to companies on ethics, compliance, and anti-bribery.

In this conversation, we explore how pr...

On this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I break down 10 questions great leadership teams should never stop asking. 

In a world where answers get stale fast, strong leadership teams stay sharp by asking better questions that improve focus, talent decisions, execution, accountability, and culture.

I walk through the questions that matter most, why they matter, and where they belong in your leadership meeting rhythm, from we...

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with JB Glossinger, founder of Morning Coach and creator of the Get It Done Now framework, to talk about what it really takes to execute on what matters.

We dig into the difference between being busy and being productive, why high achievers often struggle with cognitive overload, and how clarity around mission, vision, and values can transform both leadership and persona...

In this Mike on the Mic episode, without launching a massive talent initiative. I break down a practical framework for evaluating each direct report based on productivity and culture fit, then show how to take targeted action with high performers, medium performers, low producers, and low culture-fit team members.

I also explain why so many development efforts stall, why annual and quarterly performance reviews are not enough, and h...

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with leadership strategist and author Mary Nestor to tackle one of the biggest challenges leaders face—having hard conversations.

We explore why leaders avoid speaking up, the hidden cost of silence, and how delaying feedback can destroy trust. Mary shares powerful frameworks from her book Say It Now, Say It Right to help leaders communicate with clarity, confidence, and...

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I break down why meetings feel so draining—and why they fail to produce real results. If your calendar is packed but nothing seems to move forward, I walk you through exactly what’s broken and how to fix it.

I share the four types of meetings every leadership team needs, how to shift from status updates to real accountability, and the simple changes that can transform your meetings...

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Jeremy Weber to explore how organizations can become more influential by elevating the voices of their people.

Jeremy has spent more than two decades helping experts, executives, and organizations build strategic influence. Together, we discuss why the future of branding isn’t just about company messaging—it’s about empowering employees to become trusted thought lea...

Many companies believe stalled growth is a strategy problem, but more often it is a leadership problem.

In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I tackle one of the hardest questions leaders face: Do we have the right leaders to achieve our vision?

I walk through how to determine whether your leaders can scale with the business and how to recognize the signals that someone may not be able to grow with the c...

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Brandon Gray and Mike Maxon from Simple Numbers to talk about the financial blind spots that quietly undermine leadership teams.

We break down labor efficiency, salary cap strategy, cash flow management, and why revenue growth alone will not save your business. If you want to understand how to measure true financial health and make smarter hiring and growth decision...

In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I talk about why so many strategic plans fall apart just weeks after a powerful retreat.

You’ve experienced it. The leadership team aligns around a clear vision and three big priorities. Energy is high. Focus is sharp. And then, slowly, new ideas, “small projects,” and extra asks start creeping in.

Before you know it, your rocks are slipping, your team feels overwhel...

In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I share the six characteristics that define a truly effective strategic plan. Drawing on over 35 years of coaching and consulting experience, I explain why most strategic plans fail and what leaders must do differently to drive focus, execution, and results. This episode breaks down how clarity, alignment, impact, speed, urgency, and accountability work together to...

In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I explore one of the most overlooked leadership questions: What’s the right size for your senior leadership team? I break down why oversized teams slow decisions, weaken trust, and derail strategy, and how missing key voices creates execution risk. I also share a practical two-team model that helps leaders balance inclusion, accountability, and speed. If you want a...

Disruption is everywhere—from AI and restructuring to personal challenges leaders can’t ignore. In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I’m joined by Kim Bohr, President and COO of Spark Effect, to explore how leadership teams can lead through disruption without breaking trust.

We dive into Spark Effect’s research on organizational trust, the real impact of AI on fear and alignment, and the leadership behaviors that buil...

In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I challenge the way most organizations think about employee engagement. Engagement isn’t something you measure or delegate to HR—it’s something leaders create every day through how they engage their people.

I share six practical, immediately actionable ways leaders can increase engagement by changing their own behaviors—from accelerator sessions and stay interviews ...

In this Mike on the Mic episode, I break down why conflict isn’t a leadership problem—it’s a leadership strategy. I explain why most teams either avoid conflict or engage in the wrong kind, how that damages decisions and execution, and what leaders can do to build healthy, idea-based debate. I also share real client stories, clear ground rules, and eight practical tools you can use immediately to turn conflict into a competitive ad...

In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I tackle one of the toughest leadership challenges: accountability without authority. I explain why accountability breaks down in cross-functional environments, how silos and finger-pointing form, and what senior leaders must do differently to drive results when they don’t control every lever. I also share practical mindset shifts and eight concrete strategies lead...

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I’m joined by Chris Happ, Founder of Virtuous AI, to unpack how business leaders can use AI to close execution gaps, move faster, and compete more effectively—without massive budgets or technical teams. We explore why AI must be CEO-led, how business AI differs from consumer tools, and how mid-market organizations can turn speed into a competitive advantage. If you’re trying to mo...

In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I explain why relationships—not job boards or recruiters—must become your number one hiring strategy. I break down the true cost of mediocre hires, why resumes no longer differentiate top talent, and how to build a virtual bench of superstars before you need them. I also share practical strategies for employee referrals, alumni programs, and leadership-team involve...

Roni Jacknow is the CEO of RJ Coaching & Consulting and recently retired after more than 17 years leading talent development at Kaiser Permanente. Her background spans leadership roles across multiple industries, including finance positions at Chevron and Charles Schwab, before transitioning fully into the talent development space. She is deeply passionate about employee and leadership development, wellbeing, and cultivating wo...