How to Lead with Clay Scroggins and Adam Tarnow

It's Here and It's For You

Middle managers are some of the most important — and most overlooked — leaders in any organization. In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack Adam's new book, The Fog of Work: what it is, why it hits hardest in the middle of an org chart, and how to find your footing when you can barely see what's in front of you. They talk through the valley that most leaders never see coming, the three ways people respond when the fog rolls in, and the practical tools Adam built to help leaders reclaim clarity and agency — no matter what's happening above or below them. If you're a leader who's ever felt stuck in the middle and wondered if something was wrong with you, this one's for you. The Fog of Work is available now — grab your copy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Why You Need to Throw More Parties

Every leader knows they should celebrate their team more. Almost none of them actually do it. In this episode, Clay Scroggins and Adam dig into why leaders chronically under-celebrate — and why that's costing them more than they realize. They unpack the research on what recognition actually does to a team's motivation, pull a surprising insight from the parable of the prodigal son, and give you four practical ways to build a culture of celebration that doesn't depend on you remembering to do it. If you've ever thought "I need to do a better job honoring my people" and then watched the moment pass, this one's for you. One thing to do before Monday: Think of someone on your team who did something worth celebrating in the last two weeks. Tell them tonight — specifically, with actual words. Start there.

Good People Make Good Leaders

Most leadership content focuses on skills—strategy, communication, vision, execution. And those things matter. But there's a question that doesn't get asked nearly enough: What kind of person are you while you lead? In this episode, Clay and Adam explore the idea that great leadership isn't just about mastering the steering wheel—where you're going, how fast you're moving, whether you're hitting goals. It's also about looking in the mirror. Because you can be highly skilled, consistently effective, and still be someone people don't actually want to follow. They break down what it really means to be a "good person" in leadership—not passive, not conflict-avoidant, but someone with genuine integrity, humility, and self-awareness—and why those qualities are the invisible engine behind trust, influence, and team health. Plus, three practical "mirrors" every leader should be looking into regularly, and a simple challenge to take into your week.

What Actually Matters Early In Your Career

What's the best career advice you could give a sixteen-year-old? Clay shares three answers that stuck with him after career day at his daughter's school — and they turned out to be more useful than most advice aimed at seasoned professionals. In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack why the person you work for matters more than the job you do, why the simplest skills are often the rarest and most valuable, and why relational intelligence may be the most underrated career asset of all. Whether you're just starting out or years in, these three ideas are worth revisiting.

What No Leader Really Wants, but Every Leader Needs

Nobody asks for resistance. But in this finale of our series on building unstoppable momentum, Clay and Adam make the case that resistance might be the most powerful growth tool available to a leader — if you're willing to embrace it. Over the past several weeks, we've walked through the 5 Rs: resources, repetition, rhythms, and relationships. Today we close with the one nobody wants but everyone needs. We talk about what resistance actually is, the three wrong ways leaders typically respond to it, and what it looks like to lean into a hard season instead of running from it. Growth doesn't happen by accident — and that includes the growth that comes through difficulty. This episode will help you reframe the friction in your life and walk away with a practical next step.