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
Your inbox is full of articles about AI replacing jobs. You're wondering: Am I next? Here's the truth: Great people-first leaders won't be replaced by AI—but 88% of heavy AI users are burning out because they're doing it wrong.
In this episode, you'll learn how to use AI strategically to become MORE people-first, not less. Get the exact methods leaders are using to save 100+ hours per year while spending mor...
Look around your executive team. How many of you were external hires? Every hand goes up.
Now show me how many managers you have promoted from front-line positions.
Zero. Not one. Crickets.
Host Colby Morris shares the devastating boardroom moment that exposed why one organization could not stop the turnover bleeding. When every leadership opening goes external, you are sending your team a clear message - there is no path forward for ...
Your top performer just quit without a backup plan. They're driving Uber while they figure out their next move. Why? Because the pain of staying became greater than the pain of change.
In 2025, 35% of Gen Z workers will quit without another job lined up, and 1 in 4 employees have considered quitting due to mental health concerns. The gig economy changed everything—your people have options now, and being a "nice boss" ...
This deep-dive follow-up delivers exactly what you asked for: three specific, actionable systems that successful hybrid leaders use to build trust, measure performance, and manage remote teams without losing their minds.
Host Colby Morris shares a real transformation story about Lisa, a marketing director whose team was crushing goals but sending deliverables at 2:00 AM - creating massive anxiety about "when" her people we...
BREAKING: New 2025 research reveals 51% of workers would quit rather than return to traditional management styles. Is your hybrid leadership approach driving away top talent?
If your best performer just quit with an exit interview citing "micromanagement" and "lack of trust," you're experiencing the hybrid leadership dilemma that's costing organizations their most valuable people. The hybrid workplace h...
When national tragedy strikes, leaders don’t have the luxury of silence.
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris reflects on the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University and what it reveals about the role of leaders during moments of crisis.
This conversation isn’t about politics. It’s about leadership. It’s about how you show up when your team is already processing fear, anger, confusion—and yes, sometimes ...
How do leaders invite productive conflict? Most leaders avoid workplace conflict, then wonder why teams never bring them the truth until it's too late.
In this final Conflict IQ episode, discover the advanced skill that separates good leaders from great ones: actively inviting disagreement to strengthen team performance. Learn specific language patterns that encourage honest pushback and practical tools for creating environment...
Welcome to Episode 100 of Things Leaders Do! I can’t believe we’ve hit this milestone together. Thank you to every listener who’s been here along the way—your feedback and stories keep pushing me to bring leadership conversations that actually matter.
For this milestone episode, we’re continuing the Conflict IQ series with Part 2: Reading the Room—How to Spot Hidden Conflict Before It Explodes.
Here’s the truth: by the time conflict ...
Ever walked out of a meeting thinking everyone was aligned—only to realize the real conversation started in the hallway? That’s not alignment. That’s avoidance. And it’s killing your team’s potential.
In this kickoff episode of the Conflict IQ series, Colby Morris unpacks why most leaders get conflict wrong—and how you can build the intelligence to turn tension into trust. Drawing from research at Melbourne Business School, insights...
Ever wondered why your Gen X boss seems to speak in code? Why they get weird when you ask "why" or seem obsessed with how many hours you work? This episode flips the script—giving Millennials and Gen Z the backstage pass to understanding what makes their Gen X bosses tick. It's not about excusing poor leadership; it's about cracking the code so you can work together more effectively.
What You'll Learn
If you’ve ever said, “Because I said so” in a meeting, you might be leading like it’s still 1989.
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris calls out his own generation—Gen X leaders—for the outdated habits that are quietly holding teams back.
With a mix of self-awareness, humor, and hard truth, you’ll discover:
- Why clinging to old leadership habits kills engagement—and how to evolve without losing your identity
- How “...
Ever get frustrated trying to lead someone who sends emails in lowercase with no punctuation... but somehow they're your top performer? If you're a Gen X leader, you're sandwiched between generations with completely different values and expectations. In this episode, Colby breaks down why leading younger generations feels so challenging—and gives you practical strategies to bridge the gap without losing your edge.
Gen X leaders have seen it all—floppy disks, dial-up, the rise of email, and the shift to remote work. So why does AI feel like such a curveball? In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris explores how Gen X is uniquely positioned to lead through digital transformation—not by mastering every tool, but by mastering what really matters: people-first leadership.
From past transitions to today’s AI moment, Colby walks through fi...
What Gen X Gets Right About Leadership
Episode Summary
Gen X leaders don’t always get the spotlight—but they’ve been holding organizations together with grit, practicality, and quiet confidence for decades. In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the six distinct leadership strengths Gen X brings to the table—and why today’s teams need them more than ever.
From solving real problems under pressure to earni...
How People-First Leaders Handle What Bosses Just React To
Episode Description:
It’s easy to lead when everything’s running smoothly. But real leadership shows up in the messy moments—the missed deadlines, the underperforming team member, the big mistake that lands in your inbox first thing Monday morning.
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby walks through five real-world scenarios leaders face every week—and shows how a p...
You Don’t Have a Succession Plan. So What Happens When Your Top Performer Leaves?
Episode Description:
If your top performer walked out tomorrow… would you have someone truly ready to step in? Most organizations wouldn’t—and that’s the problem.
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris pulls back the curtain on why the absence of a real succession plan is one of the most dangerous blind spots in leadership today. And it...
Delegating Isn’t Leading—Until You Let Go of Control
Episode Description
Are you delegating… or just redistributing your to-do list?
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the difference between delegating tasks and developing leaders. Drawing from Craig Groeschel’s principle that “you don’t delegate tasks to create leaders, you delegate authority,” this episode helps you make the shift from micromanagement to...
Drowning in Decisions? You’re Leading the Wrong Way
Podcast Description
If your team can’t move without your input, you’re not leading—you’re bottlenecking.
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris shares the leadership shift that changed everything when he was managing a 350-person team. If you're overwhelmed by decision fatigue or constantly solving problems your team could handle, this episode will show you how...
Title:
Being People-First Doesn’t Mean Being Passive—It Means Being Proactive
Episode Description:
Too many leaders confuse being people-first with being conflict-avoidant. In this episode, Colby Morris reframes that idea completely.
Great leaders don’t just react well to conflict—they prevent it. And they do that through consistent, structured one-on-ones that uncover tension before it escalates.
Drawing on insights from th...
The Secret to Great One-on-Ones: The Four Quadrants Every Leader Needs to Cover
If your one-on-ones are starting to feel routine—or worse, like a waste of time—this episode is for you.
In Part 2 of the One-on-One Series, Colby Morris breaks down the four essential quadrants every leader must cover in their one-on-ones to actually drive engagement, performance, and trust. You’ll learn how to structure your meetings with purpose, even ...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.