Things Leaders Do
Things Leaders Do is the go-to podcast for leaders who want real, actionable strategies—not just theory. Whether you're a new leader stepping into management or a seasoned executive refining your skills, host Colby Morris delivers practical tools and processes you can start using today to lead with confidence, clarity, and impact. Each episode breaks down key leadership topics with humor, insight, and real-world application, covering: ✅ How to communicate effectively and build trust in your team ✅ The secrets to high-performance leadership and team culture ✅ Handling setbacks and leading under pressure ✅ How to be a people-first leader without losing accountability ✅ Mastering the balance between strategy, execution, and influence No fluff. No vague concepts. Just tactical advice that helps you grow as a leader and drive real results in your business or organization. Subscribe now and join thousands of leaders leveling up their skills. Because leadership isn’t about what you say—it’s about what you do. 🔑 Keywords: leadership, leadership development, new managers, executive coaching, team culture, business growth, personal development, management strategies, communication skills, success, accountability, productivity
Episodes
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 ...
Why Your One-on-Ones Aren’t Working—And How to Fix Them
Episode 1 of the One-on-One Meeting Series | The Things Leaders Do Podcast with Colby Morris
Most one-on-one meetings aren’t working—and deep down, you probably know it.
They’re rushed. Disorganized. Too focused on tasks. Or worse—nonexistent. And when that’s the case, you’re not leading… you’re reacting.
In this episode, Colby Morris breaks down why one-on-ones fail, why th...
Managing Up — How to Disagree with Your Boss Without Killing Your Career
Disagreeing with your boss doesn’t have to be career suicide. In fact, it might be your most powerful leadership move—if you do it the right way.
In the final episode of The Conflict Series, Colby Morris tackles one of the toughest challenges for leaders in the middle: how to manage up. Whether you’re a middle manager, a team lead, or a high-performing individua...
Struggling to have tough conversations without damaging relationships? You’re not alone—and this episode shows you how to lead with clarity and care.
In Part 2 of The Conflict Series, Colby Morris breaks down a practical 3-step framework for saying hard things as a leader—without losing trust, morale, or momentum. Drawing from years of leadership experience and a real-life story with a former supervisor, Colby reveals how consistent...
The Conflict Series: Your Team is Not a Family
Is your workplace really a family—or are you avoiding the tough conversations your team actually needs?
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris kicks off The Conflict Series by taking aim at one of the most popular myths in leadership today: the idea that your team should function like a family. While “we’re like a family here” sounds heartwarming, it often creates confusion, ...
How to Build Backup Systems That Scale — Without Creating Bottlenecks or Burnout
Show Description:
If your business relies on one person to keep a process running, you don’t have a system — you have a single point of failure.
In this follow-up to last week’s episode, Colby shares real stories and practical tools to help you build backup systems that scale without piling on red tape or burning out your team.
You’ll hear:
- A true story...
Episode Title:
Eliminating Single Points of Failure | Things Leaders Do Podcast
Episode Description (Show Notes):
What happens if the one thing holding your organization together suddenly falls apart?
In today's episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the critical leadership concept of eliminating single points of failure—before they cripple your business.
You will hear a real-world story from Colby’s time leading ho...
If AI Can Do Your Job, It’s Time to Lead Differently
Episode Description:
If AI can do your job, what exactly are you bringing to the table?
This week on Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris delivers a direct challenge to every leader navigating the rise of artificial intelligence:
You can’t automate emotional intelligence.
You can’t delegate trust.
And you sure can’t replace real leadership with a chatbot.
In this short, high-impact episod...
How to Deliver Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People) Part 2
Too many employee reviews feel like an ambush.
But when leaders approach reviews as the culmination of a year’s worth of growth—not a once-a-year evaluation—everything changes.
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris walks you through how to conduct employee reviews that build trust, reinforce clarity, and inspire performance. This is Par...
Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People)
Let’s be honest: most employee reviews suck. They’re vague, awkward, once-a-year rituals that everyone dreads—and nobody grows from.
But they don’t have to be.
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down how to build employee development plans that actually work—with SMART goals that connect to your team’s real career aspirations, and a system to track...
Mentoring and Coaching: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
Description:
Discover how to empower the next generation of leaders through effective mentoring and coaching in this episode of the TLD podcast! Join leadership expert Colby Morris as he reveals actionable strategies for leadership development. Learn why your true legacy as a leader lies in the leaders you nurture, not just your own successes.
What You’ll Lear...
Leading Through Bad News: How to Lead with Clarity, Compassion, and Trust
Episode Description:
How do you lead when the news is bad—layoffs, downsizing, even tragedy in the workplace?
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris shares three essential tools to help leaders navigate the toughest moments with clarity, compassion, and trust. Grounded in the wisdom of Brené Brown—“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”—this episod...
The Leadership Cycle: Building Trust, Relationships, and Influence for Effective Leadership
Episode Summary
Discover how trust, relationships, and influence form a powerful cycle that drives leadership success. In this episode, Colby Morris unpacks John Maxwell’s quote, “Leadership is influence,” and introduces the leadership cycle: trust builds relationships, and relationships earn influence. With actionable tools and real...
Episode Title: Beat Burnout: Strong Teams in 2025
Host: Colby Morris
Published: March 10, 2025
Available on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Other Platforms
Episode Overview
Burnout’s not just lurking—it’s eating your team’s lunch and tanking your productivity. In this episode of the TLD Podcast, host Colby Morris breaks down why employee well-being and retention are your leadership superpowers in 2025. With 73%...
Episode Title: "Stop Chaos Before It Starts: The Leader’s Playbook"
Host: Colby Morris
Episode Overview
Chaos doesn’t have to define your leadership. In this episode, Colby Morris turns Jocko Willink’s chaos-detachment mindset into a proactive game plan. Learn three practical tools—clear expectations, extreme ownership, and relentless communication—to build a team culture that stops mayhem in its tracks. Packe...
Episode Title: Gen X Leaders vs. Millennials & Gen Z: The Workplace Showdown No One Talks About
Host: Colby Morris
Release Date: [Insert Date, e.g., March 5, 2025]
Episode Overview
Are generational differences derailing your workplace? In this episode of Things Leaders Do, COO Colby Morris dives into the leadership clash no one’s talking about: Gen X versus Millennials and Gen Z. From the “figure it out” grit of...
Show Notes: Promoting High Performers: The Hidden Risks and Strategies for Success
Episode Summary:
Promoting top performers into leadership roles may seem like the natural next step, but what happens when they struggle—or worse, when they never wanted to lead in the first place? In this episode, we explore why great individual contributors don’t always make great leaders, how leadership requires an entirely different skill set,...
Episode Title: Building a Resilient Team: Leadership Strategies for Tough Times
Episode Overview:
Resilience in the workplace is declining—44% of employees report feeling daily stress, and resilience has dropped nearly 30% since 2019. Burnout is real, and teams are struggling to bounce back from setbacks.
As a leader, how do you help your team build resilience so they don’t crack under pressure?
In this episode of Things Leaders D...
Episode Title: How Leaders Become Leaders: 4 Steps You Can Take Today
Episode Overview:
Ever wondered how leaders actually become leaders? It’s not luck, a fancy title, or waiting for the perfect moment—it’s about intentional steps taken over time. In this episode of Things Leaders Do, host Colby Morris breaks down the four key actions that will set you on the path to leadership starting today.
Whether you’re an aspiring leader, ...
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