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Things Leaders Do is a leadership podcast for managers who want practical strategies that actually work, not leadership theory that sounds good in a boardroom. No fluff. No vague concepts. Just tactical frameworks you can implement Monday morning.
Whether you're a new manager figuring out how to lead your first team, a middle manager carrying the weight of the org, or a seasoned executive refining your approach, host Colby Morris breaks down people-first leadership with humor, insight, and straight talk.
Weekly episodes cover how to communicate and build trust, run one-on-ones that actually work, handle performance reviews that don't suck, balance accountability with empathy, manage conflict and tough conversations, lead through pressure and setbacks, plan for succession, develop your people, and build team cultures where people want to stay instead of just show up.
A lot of his content is for the leaders stuck in the middle.
Gen X managers running teams while reporting to executives above them and leading Millennial and Gen Z employees below. If you've ever felt like most leadership advice was written for somebody else's generation, this show was built for you.
New episodes every Wednesday. 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
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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How to Give a Performance Review When the System's Rigged
|
Sep 16, 2026 |
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How to Manage Your Old Coworkers (Without Losing Their Respect)
|
Sep 09, 2026 |
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Your Boss Isn't Ignoring You. They're Just Not Hearing You.
|
Aug 12, 2026 |
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Stop Going to Your Boss About Your Coworker
|
Aug 05, 2026 |
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GenX, You Figured It Out Alone. Stop Expecting Them To
|
Jul 29, 2026 |
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Stop Running Your One-on-Ones
|
Jul 22, 2026 |
|
The Feedback Blackout
|
Jul 15, 2026 |
|
You're Not Thinking About It. You're Avoiding It.
|
Jul 07, 2026 |
|
What Actually Builds Psychological Safety on Gen X-Led Teams
|
May 27, 2026 |
|
Your A-Players Are Already Looking: The Signals Most Leaders Miss
|
May 20, 2026 |
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The Gen X Guide to Managing Up to a Younger Boss
|
May 12, 2026 |
|
Stop Trying to Win Tough Conversations (Win the Trust Instead)
|
May 05, 2026 |
|
AI for Leaders: How to Get Your Time Back and Actually Lead People
|
Apr 22, 2026 |
|
AI Isn't Taking Your Job. Leaders Who Use AI Are
|
Apr 15, 2026 |
|
Your Middle Managers Are Drowning (And You Know It)
|
Apr 06, 2026 |
|
Leadership Burnout Isn't About You: The Four-Part Survival Framework
|
Apr 01, 2026 |
|
How to Communicate a Decision So It Actually Gets Implemented
|
Mar 24, 2026 |
|
Consensus vs. Buy-In (And Why You're Chasing the Wrong One)
|
Mar 17, 2026 |
|
A Framework for Making Wise Decisions as a Leader
|
Mar 10, 2026 |
|
You're Delegating Wrong
|
Feb 24, 2026 |
|
The 4 Questions to Stop Making Every Decision
|
Feb 17, 2026 |
|
Why Your Onboarding Sucks (And How to Fix It)
|
Feb 10, 2026 |
|
How to Hire Better (So You Don't Have to Fire Later)
|
Feb 03, 2026 |
|
Performance Issue or Hiring Mistake? Make the Call
|
Jan 27, 2026 |
|
When to Address Underperformance (Part 2 of 2)
|
Jan 20, 2026 |
|
When to Address Underperformance (Part 1 of 2)
|
Jan 13, 2026 |
|
When Your January Plans Fall Apart (Year-End Leadership Series)
|
Jan 06, 2026 |
|
Starting 2026 Strong - The First Week Reset (Year-End Leadership Series)
|
Dec 30, 2025 |
|
Setting 2026 Goals That Don't Suck (Year-End Leadership Series)
|
Dec 16, 2025 |
|
Performance Review Feedback That Actually Sticks (Year-End Leadership Series)
|
Dec 09, 2025 |
|
How to Show Your Team Gratitude (Without the Awkward Potluck)
|
Dec 02, 2025 |
|
How to Disagree With Your Boss (Without Getting Fired)
|
Nov 19, 2025 |
|
How to Hold Someone Accountable Without Micromanaging
|
Nov 12, 2025 |
|
Tough Conversations Part 2: When the First Conversation Didn't Work
|
Nov 04, 2025 |
|
How to Be a People-First Leader When Your Company Isn't
|
Oct 28, 2025 |
|
How Leaders Should Use AI: Practical Guide to People-First Leadership
|
Oct 21, 2025 |
|
Building Leaders From Within: How to Make Succession Planning Work Every Day, Not Once a Year
|
Oct 13, 2025 |
|
Leadership in the Age of Mental Health Awareness
|
Oct 07, 2025 |
|
The Hybrid Leadership Playbook: 3 Systems That Actually Work
|
Sep 29, 2025 |
|
The Hybrid Leadership Dilemma: Why Your Old Management Style Isn't Working
|
Sep 22, 2025 |
|
Leading Through National Tragedy – When Silence Isn't an Option
|
Sep 15, 2025 |
|
Conflict IQ Part 3: The Courage Conversation – How to Invite Conflict Instead of Avoiding It
|
Sep 09, 2025 |
|
Conflict IQ Part 2: Reading the Room Before Hidden Conflict Explodes Episode 100
|
Sep 02, 2025 |
|
Conflict IQ Part I: Why You Need It Yesterday
|
Aug 25, 2025 |
|
Your Gen X Boss Decoder Ring: A Field Guide for Millennials and Gen Z
|
Aug 18, 2025 |
|
What Gen X Gets Wrong About Leadership
|
Aug 11, 2025 |
|
The Gen X Leader's Guide to Managing Millennials and Gen Z
|
Aug 05, 2025 |
|
The AI Bridge: Why Gen X Leaders Are Perfectly Positioned for the Next Big Shift
|
Jul 29, 2025 |
|
What Gen X Gets Right About Leadership
|
Jul 22, 2025 |
|
Respond Like a Leader, Don't React Like a Boss
|
Jul 15, 2025 |
|
You Don’t Have a Succession Plan. So What Happens When Your Top Performer Leaves?
|
Jul 08, 2025 |
|
Delegating Isn’t Leading—Until You Let Go of Control
|
Jul 01, 2025 |
|
Drowning in Decisions? You’re Leading the Wrong Way
|
Jun 23, 2025 |
|
Being People-First Doesn’t Mean Being Passive—It Means Being Proactive
|
Jun 16, 2025 |
|
The One-on-One Series Part 2: The Four Quadrants Every Leader Needs to Cover
|
Jun 09, 2025 |
|
The One-on-One Series: Why Your One-on-Ones Aren't Working
|
Jun 04, 2025 |
|
The Conflict Series, Episode 3: Managing Up — How to Disagree with Your Boss Without Killing Your Career
|
May 28, 2025 |
|
The Conflict Series, Episode 2: How to Say Hard Things Without Burning Bridges
|
May 20, 2025 |
|
The Conflict Series: Your Team is Not a Family
|
May 13, 2025 |
|
How to Build Backup Systems That Scale — Without Creating Bottlenecks or Burnout
|
May 06, 2025 |
|
Eliminating Single Points of Failure
|
Apr 29, 2025 |
|
If AI Can Do Your Job, It’s Time to Lead Differently
|
Apr 22, 2025 |
|
Part 2: How to Deliver Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People)
|
Apr 15, 2025 |
|
Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People) Part 1
|
Apr 10, 2025 |
|
Mentoring and Coaching: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
|
Apr 03, 2025 |
|
Leading Through Bad News: How to Lead with Clarity, Compassion, and Trust
|
Mar 27, 2025 |
|
The Leadership Cycle: Building Trust, Relationships, and Influence for Effective Leadership
|
Mar 20, 2025 |
|
Beat Burnout: Strong Teams in 2025
|
Mar 11, 2025 |
|
Stop Chaos Before It Starts: The Leader’s Playbook
|
Mar 05, 2025 |
|
Gen X Leaders vs. Millennials & Gen Z: The Workplace Showdown No One Talks About
|
Feb 27, 2025 |
|
Promoting High Performers: The Hidden Risks and Strategies for Success
|
Feb 19, 2025 |
|
Building a Resilient Team: Leadership Strategies for Tough Times
|
Feb 12, 2025 |
|
How Leaders Become Leaders: 4 Steps You Can Take Today
|
Feb 05, 2025 |
|
Communication Under Ambiguity: How Leaders Can Build Trust Without All the Answers
|
Jan 29, 2025 |
|
Beyond Listening: Unlocking the Power of Empathy in Leadership
|
Jan 22, 2025 |
|
Why Listening is the Cornerstone of People-First Leadership
|
Jan 16, 2025 |
|
People-First Leadership: Practical Habits for Daily Impact
|
Jan 08, 2025 |
|
New Year, New Leader: Building a People-First Leadership System, One Tool at a Time
|
Jan 01, 2025 |
|
Leadership Q&A: Balancing Authority, Leading Under Pressure, and Avoiding Common Leadership Mistakes
|
Dec 18, 2024 |
|
One-on-One Meetings That Work: Build Trust, Track Goals, and Transform Your Team
|
Dec 04, 2024 |
|
Leadership Conversations Simplified: The Power of Wearing the Right Hat
|
Nov 27, 2024 |
|
Mastering Leadership Communication: Be a Chief Reminding Officer
|
Nov 20, 2024 |
|
Humility in Leadership: How Adaptability Builds Trust and Innovation
|
Nov 13, 2024 |
|
Leading Under Pressure: 3 Strategies to Thrive in High-Stakes Environments
|
Nov 06, 2024 |
|
Leading with Empathy Without Losing Accountability
|
Oct 30, 2024 |
|
Debunking the Myths of Psychological Safety for GenX Leaders
|
Oct 23, 2024 |
|
Leading in High-Speed Chaos—Making Better Decisions in Fast-Paced Environments
|
Oct 16, 2024 |
|
Clear Communication Part 2: 3 Out-of-the-Box Strategies to Radically Improve Your Leadership
|
Oct 09, 2024 |
|
Leading in Chaos: 3 Actionable Tools for Startups and Reorganizations
|
Oct 04, 2024 |
|
Lead with Clarity: 3 Steps to Better Team Communication
|
Sep 25, 2024 |
|
Surviving and Excelling Under Ineffective Leaders
|
Sep 18, 2024 |
|
Conquering the New-to-Leadership Challenges
|
Sep 11, 2024 |
|
Elevate Your Leadership with Emotional Intelligence
|
Sep 04, 2024 |
|
People-First Leadership for New Leaders and Managers
|
Aug 28, 2024 |
|
Powerful Prompts: AI Prompts and Language for Leaders
|
Aug 20, 2024 |
|
AI Tools for Modern Leadership
|
Aug 13, 2024 |
|
How to Handle Conflict with Your Boss
|
Jul 25, 2024 |
|
Delegating Authority Instead of Tasks
|
Jul 04, 2024 |
|
AI-Driven Strategies for Effective Leadership
|
Jun 27, 2024 |
|
Leadership: Mastering One-on-One Meetings
|
Jun 13, 2024 |
|
The Rise of People-First Leadership
|
Jun 07, 2024 |
|
The Ripple Effect of Leadership: From Office to Home
|
May 30, 2024 |
|
Confronting Toxic Leadership: Strategies for Human-Centric Management
|
May 22, 2024 |
|
How Leaders Navigate Team Conflicts
|
May 09, 2024 |
|
How Today's Leadership Style Will Lead to Generational Change
|
May 01, 2024 |
|
Mastering the Art of Decision-Making in Leadership
|
Apr 24, 2024 |
|
Guiding Remote Teams to Excellence Through Advanced Leadership Techniques
|
Apr 17, 2024 |
|
3 Ways to Communicate Better as a Leader
|
Apr 11, 2024 |
|
When You Should be Vulnerable with Your Team
|
Apr 04, 2024 |
|
Ending the Cycle of Results-First Leaders
|
Mar 28, 2024 |
|
LinkedIn Question: What to Do When Taking Over a New Team
|
Mar 22, 2024 |
|
How to Have Tough Conversations with Employees
|
Mar 14, 2024 |
|
How to Make Your Team More Productive
|
Mar 08, 2024 |
|
Why Leaders Fail and What to Do When You Do
|
Feb 29, 2024 |
|
Putting People First: The Key to Operational Excellence
|
Feb 23, 2024 |
|
Shifting from Employee to Leadership Mindset
|
Feb 15, 2024 |
|
Difficult Conversations for New Leaders
|
Feb 07, 2024 |
|
Time Management for New Leaders
|
Jan 31, 2024 |
|
Your First 30 Days As a New Leader
|
Jan 23, 2024 |
|
The 3 Mistakes that New Leaders Make
|
Jan 16, 2024 |
|
Nothing Changes Unless You Do
|
Jan 09, 2024 |
|
New Year, New Word for 2024
|
Jan 02, 2024 |
|
How to Develop Leaders Intentionally
|
Dec 19, 2023 |
|
UNSCRIPTED: About the People
|
Dec 12, 2023 |
|
Succession Planning Will Save Your Company
|
Dec 05, 2023 |
|
Resolving Workplace Conflict
|
Nov 28, 2023 |
|
Cultivating a Culture of Trust
|
Nov 22, 2023 |
|
Management Development UNLOCKED: with Eric Girard
|
Nov 14, 2023 |
|
Disciplines of Creating Culture
|
Nov 07, 2023 |
|
Building a Healthy Workplace Culture
|
Oct 31, 2023 |
|
Leading with Vulnerability in a Crisis
|
Oct 24, 2023 |
|
Cultivating Problem Solvers: Unleashing Intrapreneurial Leadership
|
Oct 17, 2023 |
|
Advanced KPIs Strategies for Leaders
|
Oct 10, 2023 |
|
Introduction to Effective KPIs
|
Oct 03, 2023 |
|
Leading in a High-Stress Environment
|
Sep 26, 2023 |
|
Leading Through Corporate Restructuring & Layoffs
|
Sep 19, 2023 |
|
Setting Clear Performance Expectations
|
Sep 12, 2023 |
|
Effective Communication for Leaders
|
Sep 05, 2023 |
|
Time Management for Leaders, Part II
|
Aug 29, 2023 |
|
Time Management for Leaders, Part I
|
Aug 22, 2023 |
|
The One-on-One Meeting
|
Aug 15, 2023 |
|
Leadership is About People
|
Aug 08, 2023 |
|
TRAILER: Introduction to Things Leaders Do
|
Aug 02, 2023 |