The world of work is changing faster than ever! Globalization, mobility, millennials, technology, and new behaviors are transforming how we lead. In today's Leadership Spark episode, I break down these five trends reshaping work and reveal why they’re forcing every manager to become a better leader. I explore how these shifts are making traditional management obsolete, why people no longer need to work for your company, and what it takes to create an environment where they want to. Get ready to rethink your leadership approach to attract and inspire top talent in today’s competitive job market. This is an episode you can’t miss.

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Most leaders avoid tough conversations out of fear—of seeming harsh, being misunderstood, or facing backlash. But the conversations we dodge are often the key to growth, accountability, and psychological safety. In this episode, Paul Falcone, bestselling author & former CHRO of Nickelodeon Animation, breaks down how leaders can approach tough conversations with clarity, confidence, and compassion. Paul introduces powerful frameworks like the “Performance vs. Conduct” model and the “iron hand with a velvet glove” approach to help leaders hold people accountable without alienating them. He explains why career development and respect in the workplace go hand in hand—and how to deliver feedback that actually builds trust instead of breaking it. We also discuss the delicate balance between psychological safety and high standards, the risks of having too much sensitivity in today’s workplace, and how values-based leadership is quickly becoming a CEO-level priority. Paul shares real-world strategies like quarterly development check-ins, “safe word” communication systems, and team-led accountability sessions to help leaders build stronger relationships while reinforcing high performance and conduct.

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Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

What can a world chess champion teach us about the future of work? More than you think. Just like Magnus Carlsen challenged convention to become the greatest player in history, leaders today need to rethink everything about how we work, lead, and build organizations. This episode explores why challenging convention is no longer optional. We unpack the five trends reshaping work—new employee behaviors, exponential technology growth, a millennial-majority workforce, mobility, and globalization—and why clinging to outdated assumptions is a losing strategy. From redefining what it means to be a manager or employee to understanding the Josh’s of the world who thrive without traditional paths, we learn that the future belongs to leaders who aren’t afraid to question norms, rethink structure, and design organizations people actually want to be part of.

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Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/