Leading Edge with John & Alain

Write the Speech. Then Live It.

What would your team say about you at your retirement party? What would your spouse say at your 30 year anniversary? What would your children say about you as a parent? In this episode of Leading Edge, John shares insights from a keynote by Dr. John Izzo that sparked deep reflection during a four and a half hour drive home. The challenge was simple but uncomfortable. Take 100 percent responsibility. Zero excuses. If your team is disengaged, unmotivated, or confused, where is your role in that? John walks through the power of writing three speeches about your future legacy and using them as a daily check against how you show up as a leader, spouse, and parent. This episode is not about perfection. It is about progress. It is about clarity. And it is about choosing to become the person you hope others will describe. If you are ready to stop blaming and start leading, this conversation is for you.

The Trust that Builds Leaders with Samantha Ennist

In this episode of Leading Edge, John Zettler sits down with Samantha Ennist, a lifelong educator turned organizational development and talent leader. Together, they explore how trust, mindset, and real-time coaching shape the leaders we need today. Samantha shares her perspective on what’s keeping leaders up at night — from succession and critical roles to the time crunch that challenges every manager. She introduces the idea of “vulnerable trust” — the kind of trust that goes beyond reliability to include honesty, openness, and a willingness to admit mistakes. John and Samantha unpack what it takes to build psychological safety, referencing Tim Clark’s four stages: inclusion, learning, contribution, and challenge. They discuss how leaders can weave coaching and development into daily work instead of treating them as separate activities. The conversation also touches on growth mindset versus fixed mindset, why technical skill is not the same as leadership, and how simple acts like listening and feedback can shift team culture. If you’re leading a team and want to create an environment where people feel safe to learn, speak up, and grow — this episode offers clear examples and practical advice you can use right away. Key Topics: * What “vulnerable trust” means and how to build it * The four stages of psychological safety * How to coach in real time without adding meetings * The link between mindset and leadership growth * Building succession through daily work, not paperwork Quote from Samantha Ennist: “We need that soft place to land at work, just like we do at home.” Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at fairwindstraining.com [https://fairwindstraining.com].

Delegation. Time management. Letting go of perfection.

In this episode, John and Alain open up about their own struggles and wins in these areas. From overcommitting as volunteers, to realizing they can’t (and shouldn’t) do everything themselves, the conversation explores what effective delegation looks like in practice. Key takeaways: * Why leaders often resist delegation—and the cost of holding on too long * How to set guardrails while letting your team find their own path * The importance of being okay with “good enough” work * Using chunking and the Pomodoro technique to tackle overwhelming tasks * How delegation connects to accountability, coaching, and team growth This is an episode full of practical tips, real-world stories, and encouragement for leaders who feel stretched too thin.

Pulling the Chute on the New Leadership Landscape with Jeff Sesol

In the first-ever guest episode of Leading Edge, John sits down with entrepreneur, author, and leadership coach Jeff Sesol. Jeff shares the powerful skydiving story behind his company's name, "Pull the Chute," and how it serves as a metaphor for leaders feeling overwhelmed in today's fast-paced environment. They dive deep into the core themes of Jeff's book, The New Leadership Landscape, exploring why so many Millennial and Gen Z leaders feel unprepared, the critical importance of building trust through vulnerability and empathy, and why emotional intelligence is the non-negotiable skill for modern leadership. This conversation is packed with actionable advice on delegation, time management, and the simple-yet-profound mindset shifts required to lead effectively in our new world of work. Guest Information: * Jeff Sesol: Leadership Coach, Entrepreneur, and author of The New Leadership Landscape. * Website: https://www.pullthechute.net [https://www.pullthechute.net] * Book: The New Leadership Landscape * LinkedIn: Jeff Sesol [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsesol/] (Last name spelled S-E-S-O-L) * Email: jeff@pullthechute.net * [00:00:29] Introduction to Jeff Sesol and his new book, The New Leadership Landscape. * [00:02:56] The powerful origin story of "Pull The Chute" and how a skydiving experience relates to being an overwhelmed business leader. * [00:05:29] Why the leadership landscape is changing and the challenge facing Millennial leaders (69% feel unprepared). * [00:08:28] The critical need for leaders to build trust and psychological safety within their teams. * [00:09:31] The shift from "command and control" leadership to a modern style where leaders don't need all the answers. * [00:11:27] Connecting modern leadership to Daniel Pink's three motivators: Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose. * [00:12:29] Actionable advice on how to build trust: listen more, show appreciation, and explain the "why" behind tasks. * [00:15:03] The concept of "slowing down to speed up" by focusing on relational, human connection instead of purely transactional work. * [00:17:43] A practical strategy for leaders who feel overwhelmed: manage yourself in time by tackling small wins first. * [00:20:01] Using the "Big Rocks and Little Rocks" analogy to manage large, overwhelming projects. * [00:22:01] The two most important rules of emotional intelligence for leaders: "It's not about you" and the power of taking a pause. * [00:23:40] Introducing the S.T.O.P. acronym for practicing impulse control. * [00:25:29] How to connect with Jeff Sesol and learn more about his work. Resources Mentioned: * Book: The New Leadership Landscape [https://www.pullthechute.net] by Jeff Sesol * Book: Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us [https://www.danpink.com/books/drive/] by Daniel H. Pink * Concept: The S.T.O.P. Acronym (Stop, Take a step back, Observe, Proceed mindfully) Connect with Leading Edge: * Website: https://www.fairwindstraining.com [https://www.fairwindstraining.com] * Listen On: Spotify and other major podcast platforms. Key Topics & Timestamps:

It’s Okay Not to Be Okay: Mental Health, Leadership, and the Power of Speaking Up

In this honest and vulnerable conversation, John Zettler and Alain Lefebvre dive into a topic that affects every workplace today: mental health. John opens up about his own recent struggles with stress and burnout, how it crept up over time, and what finally pushed him to take action. The discussion expands into the role of leaders in recognizing and supporting mental health—not just in themselves, but across their teams. Whether you’re a senior executive, a frontline manager, or someone trying to balance all the roles life throws your way, this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and equipped to lead with empathy. What We Cover: * John’s personal journey with stress, burnout, and seeking support * How self-awareness tools can be a wake-up call * Why vulnerability matters in leadership * What signs leaders should look for in their teams * Practical ways to open the door to supportive conversations * The impact of trust and psychological safety in the workplace * How leaders can model work-life balance This Episode Is For You If: * You feel like you’re carrying too much right now * You want to support a team member who may be struggling * You’re wondering how to bring more humanity into your leadership style * You’re looking for practical, real-world advice on mental health in the workplace Standout Moments: "I was getting 17 out of 20 stress markers on the assessment I built for others. That’s when I knew I needed help too." "We have to stop assuming disengagement means someone doesn’t care. It might mean they’re drowning." "You can’t expect your team to open up if they don’t feel safe with you. Trust is the starting point." Resources & Contact:Learn more about how Fairwinds Training helps leaders create psychologically safe, high-performing teams: www.fairwindstraining.com [http://www.fairwindstraining.com] Contact: john@fairwindstraining.com | 902.818.9087 Thanks for listening. If this episode resonates with you, consider sharing it with a colleague or leader in your network who might need to hear it today.