The Step UP - Where Leaders, Talent Managers and Leadership Development pros find expert tips for Leadership excellence

From Insight to Action: Why Your Assessment Data Sits on the Shelf

Leaders love assessment data. Then it goes on a shelf. Former Hogan Assessments CEO Scott Gregory joins Kent to dig into why the gap between self-awareness and behavior change is so persistent — and what actually moves the needle. They cover how to filter what's worth developing, why context beats comprehensiveness, and the one question every leader should ask before acting on any piece of feedback. Guest: Scott Gregory is an IO psychologist, former CEO of Hogan Assessments, and longtime executive coach and assessment practitioner with decades of experience in personality research and leadership development. In this episode: * 02:00 — Scott's career arc: professional musician to IO psychology PhD to PDI, Pentair, MDA Leadership, and ultimately CEO of Hogan Assessments * 10:26 — Why assessment data ends up in a binder on a shelf — and what goes wrong between insight and action * 13:04 — The data overload problem: leaders are rarely surprised by their feedback, so why are we giving them 75 pages? * 19:37 — The definition of leadership nobody has (Scott once asked 50 Fortune 500 HR leaders to raise their hand — no one did) * 20:31 — Hogan's working definition: leadership is the ability to develop and sustain a high performing and highly engaged team * 21:01 — The shift from personal output to team output — why it's hard at every level of the pipeline, not just the first promotion * 26:17 — Why personality is stable after 25 and what that means for development (it's a marathon, not a binder event) * 28:48 — The "can do" vs. "will do" distinction — and why most leaders genuinely want to improve but still get stuck * 33:53 — The one question Scott uses to filter assessment data into actual development priorities: "Will it help me help my team?" * 35:02 — The coaching skills vs. vision-sharing example: why context determines which low scores actually matter * 36:49 — Using team feedback as the bridge from assessment insight to action — and as the check afterward * 40:19 — Advice for newly promoted leaders: the two herculean tasks of the transition, and why stopping yesterday's job is step one Resources mentioned: * Hogan Assessments [https://www.hoganassessments.com] — Scott's former company; extensive library of research articles and leadership resources * Robert Hogan — personality psychologist, foundational figure in IO psychology and personality measurement * Joyce Hogan — researcher and co-architect of Hogan Assessments' foundational work * John Holland — Holland Codes / occupational interest theory; foundational framework for career interests and fit (search "Holland Codes career interests") * Personnel Decisions International (PDI) — acquired by Korn Ferry; kornferry.com [https://www.kornferry.com] * MDA Leadership — mdaleadership.com [https://www.mdaleadership.com] Links for today's show: * Scott Gregory on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-gregory-1b84958/] * Hogan Assessments [https://www.hoganassessments.com] * Kent Kniebel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentkniebel/] * The Promoted Leader Toolkit [https://kent.coach/toolkit] Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com [http://pertnearsandstone.com] and on all major streaming platforms. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

Strength Through Vulnerability: The Inner Work Leaders Skip

Vulnerability and emotional intelligence keep coming up in leadership conversations — and Randy Lyman has a physicist's take on why. A patent-holding engineer who spent 36 years doing his own emotional work, Randy makes the case that the inner work isn't soft: it's the mechanism behind every result you care about. Kent and Randy unpack what leaders who want to grow actually have to let go of — and how showing up more honestly turns out to be the most effective thing you can do. Guest: Randy Lyman is a physicist, serial entrepreneur, and authority on emotional intelligence — he founded and scaled multiple 8-figure companies (including an Inc. 500 business) before writing The Third Element, a #1 New Release in Personal Growth, on how emotional awareness drives leadership results. In this episode: * [02:05] — Randy's background: physicist, engineer, business owner — and how a three-year relationship in 1989 cracked open the emotional side of his leadership * [03:48] — Why Randy thinks AI is a distraction from what actually matters: the emotional revolution, and what it means for leaders right now * [07:51] — Before and after Randy: from fear-driven overachievement to service-based leadership, and the personal work that bridged the gap * [09:12] — The three things every person on your team needs: acknowledgment, a sense of contribution, and a sense of belonging — and why they look different for every individual * [12:16] — The three-minute investment: how remembering one personal detail about someone changes everything about how they show up for you * [15:08] — Why the self-work has to come first: you can't hide your emotional state from the people you lead, and trying to hold it down makes it worse * [22:12] — Randy as contradiction: how his left-brain credibility actually makes him a better messenger for emotional leadership with the leaders who need to hear it most * [25:18] — Gender and leadership: why women leaders often over-index on masculine traits trying to prove themselves — and why men need to stop leaving their feminine leadership tools in the drawer * [28:44] — The cross-functional breakdown story: how walking into a meeting saying "I don't know the answers — I need your help" unlocked results that months of planning couldn't * [30:55] — Advice for leaders seeking promotion: stop performing, start multiplying — the results your team produces are the only currency that matters * [33:27] — Advice for newly promoted leaders: make yourself unnecessary at the level you're at, and develop the leaders underneath you Resources mentioned: * The Third Element by Randy Lyman — available through Randy's website and major online booksellers (search "The Third Element Randy Lyman") * Herb Kelleher and Southwest Airlines — Kelleher co-founded Southwest and built its people-first culture; his often-cited principle: take care of your people and they'll take care of your customers. (Note: the transcript spells this "Herb Keller" — the correct name is Herb Kelleher.) * Tapping exercises / EFT — Randy references free tapping resources on his website Links for today's show: * Randy Lyman on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamrandylyman/] * Randy's Website: randylyman.com [https://randylyman.com/] * The Third Element (#1 New Release in Personal Growth) — available via randylyman.com [https://randylyman.com/] and major booksellers * Kent Kniebel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentkniebel/] * The Promoted Leader Toolkit [https://kent.coach/toolkit] Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com [http://pertnearsandstone.com] and on all major streaming platforms. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

Mindset, Awareness, and Practice: The Leadership Map with Garrett Benz

Trust isn't built through big gestures. It's built, and broken, through small ones. In this episode, Kent talks with leadership consultant and author Gerd Bents about his Leadership Map framework and what it actually takes to develop as a leader over time. The conversation covers why skills alone aren't enough, how AI is going to break human trust before it builds it, and what it means to lead from a place of courage rather than confidence. Guest: Gerd Bents is a leadership consultant, coach, and author with nearly 30 years of experience working with executives and organizations through change, drawing on backgrounds in psychology, sociology, and leadership development. In this episode: * 02:10 — Gerd's background: from athletics to executive leadership consulting in the finance industry * 03:42 — The Leadership Map: mindset, awareness, and practice as three dynamic, ongoing elements * 06:45 — Why focusing only on skills is a fixed mindset trap * 08:00 — Skills vs. mastery: using feedback as a case study, and getting your 10,000 reps * 11:55 — AI, layoffs, and why human leadership skills are becoming more valuable, not less * 18:33 — How trust erodes slowly and why AI is going to break it at scale * 22:40 — Working with skeptical senior leaders in finance: how to bring mindset work to people who don't expect it * 28:57 — The three illusions from Profound Space: confidence, information, and freedom * 34:05 — Gerd's advice for leaders seeking promotion and leaders who just stepped up Resources mentioned: * Profound Space by Gerd Bents — createprofoundspace.com * Radical Candor by Kim Scott * Coachability by Kevin Wilde (Carlson School, former General Mills HR leader) * Viktor Frankl on autonomy and mindset * Simon Sinek on asking for advice instead of feedback * Brene Brown on courage and vulnerability * Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers Links for today's show: * Gerd Bents on LinkedIn (flag for Kent to fill in) * createprofoundspace.com [https://createprofoundspace.com] * Profound Space Book [https://www.amazon.com/Profound-Space-Illusions-Keeping-Leader-ebook/dp/B0DWT8JF6T/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9XVH57AASHEU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Kde5J3Lrzxy_fEM984nx-ZORlfh6fySAlzRwl2QKXD0pWPCXaNhuBOSAQNPj7Jhymkz1KMtAh2i9eOpaxAXiFHO1-xY2l2fVPSUlrlD7OF6vJMnZL2HKbNneVHGd5QAA6k3TAxhiZZe14oBMDzqCoIgfHnZOF8blDxe4wJF9MXIUxUccyMvzSCmeeumbbf5_9xWrJmgSeyiyqHiGoWeerB3mGObzM2kXKgDG4MHiES8.Vut19ObdUZFuPQ4nMDUemX5h9AE6a6wqWRFhcmWh0x8&dib_tag=se&keywords=profound+space&qid=1740834733&sprefix=profound+spac%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-1] * Kent Kniebel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentkniebel/] * The Promoted Leader Toolkit [https://kent.coach/toolkit] Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com [http://pertnearsandstone.com] and on all major streaming platforms. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

Resilience Isn't About Being Bulletproof, It's About Becoming

Most of us were taught that resilience means gritting your teeth and pushing through. Leadership advisor Angus Nelson challenges that idea head-on — and what he offers instead is both more practical and more human. In this conversation, Kent and Angus explore why a dysregulated nervous system is the most expensive bottleneck in any business, and what leaders can actually do about it. Guest: Angus Nelson is the author of Neuro Resilient Leader and founder of Evolve Leadership — he helps high-performing leaders install what he calls Leadership Stability through his C³ Protocol: Clarity, Capacity, and Composure. In this episode: * [00:00] — Why resilience is about becoming, not pressing through * [02:26] — Angus's origin story: losing $72K, hitting rock bottom, and finding a new path * [06:45] — Redefining resilience: from white-knuckling to absorbing life's lessons * [09:31] — Why you can't outwork the pace of AI and market velocity * [13:18] — The C³ Protocol: Clarity, Capacity, and Composure unpacked * [25:54] — Leadership stability as infrastructure: how a dysregulated leader creates a dysregulated team * [29:45] — Practical tools: breathwork, EFT tapping, visualization, meditation, and rewriting your narrative * [37:58] — Certainty addiction: why waiting to feel confident is a trap * [45:03] — Humanity as competitive advantage in an AI-driven world Resources mentioned: * Neuro Resilient Leader by Angus Nelson — freebook.vip [http://freebook.vip] (free copy + 10-day experience at time of recording) * C³ Protocol (Clarity, Capacity, Composure) — Angus's leadership framework * EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) — search "EFT tapping" for tutorials * Box breathing / breathwork — widely covered on YouTube and in wellness resources * Jack Dorsey's memo on middle management and player-coach leadership — search "Jack Dorsey middle management memo" Links for today's show: * Angus Nelson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angusnelson/] * angusnelson.com [http://angusnelson.com] * Neuro Resilient Leader — freebook.vip [http://freebook.vip] * Kent Kniebel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentkniebel/] * The Promoted Leader Toolkit [https://kent.coach/toolkit] Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com [http://pertnearsandstone.com] and on all major streaming platforms. * Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

From Engineer to Executive: Learning People Skills the Hard Way

What happens when your technical brilliance gets you promoted — and then becomes your biggest liability? Frank Sherwood spent his early career as a high-performing engineer who needed "finishing school" to survive leadership. In this conversation, Frank traces his career from aerospace engineering at Rosemount to managing a 500-site global real estate portfolio to joining CBRE — and what each transition demanded of him as a leader. Guest: Frank Sherwood is First Vice President at CBRE, with a 20+ year career in corporate real estate spanning leadership roles at JLL, Staubach, Cushman & Wakefield, and CRESA, including managing real estate portfolios across 75 countries. In this episode: * 0:00 — Cold open: Frank's mentor on delivering hard messages with grace * 3:25 — How Frank went from entry-level engineer to engineering manager almost overnight at Rosemount Aerospace * 4:31 — The performance review that sent him to "finishing school" — and why people skills became the priority * 6:30 — Crossing to the service provider side: why Frank called his old vendor to apologize * 10:27 — Why hiring to your weak side (not your strength) leads to better leadership * 12:35 — Building cross-functional alliances: lessons from Roger Staubach on client service and peer relationships * 16:27 — Practical advice for leaders new to a role: ask questions before making decisions * 25:17 — How to position yourself for promotion: anticipate your boss's needs before they ask * 27:11 — Frank's core leadership belief: dignity, fairness, and respect for everyone Resources mentioned: * What Got You Here Won't Get You There — Marshall Goldsmith (referenced by Kent) — amazon.com search [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=what+got+you+here+won%27t+get+you+there] * How to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale Carnegie (Frank references the Carnegie principle on helping others get what they want) — amazon.com search [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=how+to+win+friends+and+influence+people] * Harvard Business Review — hbr.org [https://hbr.org] * The Economist — economist.com [https://www.economist.com] * Roger Staubach / The Staubach Company — now part of JLL (search "Roger Staubach commercial real estate") * Vern Heath, founder of Rosemount Aerospace (historical reference) * CBRE — cbre.com [https://www.cbre.com] Links for today's show: * Frank Sherwood on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksherwood/] * Kent Kniebel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentkniebel/] * The Promoted Leader Toolkit [https://kent.coach/toolkit] Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com [http://pertnearsandstone.com] and on all major streaming platforms. * Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.