2026 State of Leadership

The Purpose Gap: Helping Leaders and Teams Connect to Their Why

Employees with a strong sense of purpose are 5.6 times more likely to be engaged at work—yet only 18% of workers say their job has a purpose they believe in. In the 11 Ten Leadership’s State of Leadership Report, leaders consistently reported feeling more connected to their organization’s purpose than their teams. That gap isn’t just a statistic; it’s a leadership challenge. In this episode, Rob Shields and David Spickard explore why purpose has become one of the most important conversations in leadership today. From the impact of COVID and remote work to the rise of AI and shifting generational expectations, they discuss why people are increasingly asking deeper questions about meaning, work, and contribution. They also unpack why many leaders struggle to articulate their own personal why, how purpose differs from success, and what leaders can do to help their teams move beyond simply knowing the mission statement to truly owning the mission. David closes with practical exercises leaders can use to reconnect with their purpose — and create cultures where people show up knowing exactly how their work contributes to th TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Purpose and engagement: the leadership challenge 00:01 – The 5.6x engagement statistic and the purpose gap 00:03 – Why purpose gets lost in organizations 00:04 – Why purpose matters more than ever in today’s workplace 00:07 – Work, faith, and human flourishing 00:09 – AI, efficiency, and the deeper question leaders must answer 00:10 – Why leaders often lose sight of their own why 00:13 – Purpose versus success: understanding the difference 00:17 – Signs your team has truly embraced the mission 00:20 – Closing the gap between leaders and teams 00:21 – Helping employees connect their work to impact 00:24 – Why purpose can’t be treated as a profit hack 00:25 – Practical exercises for discovering and renewing purpose 00:28 – Final reflections and encouragement for leaders RESOURCES * 11 Ten Leadership [https://11tenleadership.com/] * State of Leadership Report [https://11tenleadership.com/] * Start With Why [https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action] by Simon Sinek * Gallup Employee Engagement Research [https://news.gallup.com/poll/697403/purposeful-work-boosts-engagement-few-experience.aspx]

Building Super Teams: Lessons from the Oklahoma City Thunder

What does it take to build a team that keeps getting better? The Oklahoma City Thunder's rise from a 24-win team to NBA champions in just three seasons offers an unexpected leadership blueprint. In this episode, Rob and David explore research on "super teams" and unpack the three traits that set them apart: they get more done, they make each other better, and they continually improve. Along the way, they discuss why great leaders create permission to fail, how intellectual humility builds trust, and why coaching conversations often matter more than status updates. The conversation concludes with a powerful reminder that exceptional teams are fueled by more than performance metrics. Great leaders help people understand why their work matters, who it serves, and how it contributes to something bigger than themselves. If you're looking to build a team that grows stronger, adapts faster, and stays connected to a meaningful mission, this episode is for you. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction 01:00 – Summer check-in and NBA Finals conversation 03:30 – The Oklahoma City Thunder and the research behind super teams 05:00 – The three traits of high-performing teams 06:00 – Why continuous improvement is difficult to prioritize 08:00 – Creating a culture of experimentation and permission to fail 14:00 – Intellectual humility and the power of saying “I don’t know” 17:00 – Better one-on-ones: moving from updates to problem-solving 19:30 – Staying involved without micromanaging: the coach's role 23:00 – Connecting people to purpose, place, and community 26:00 – Why younger generations are seeking meaning at work 27:30 – Expanding the definition of success beyond outcomes 28:30 – Closing thoughts and key takeaways RESOURCES * 11 Ten Leadership [https://11tenleadership.com/] * How to Build a Superteam That Keeps Getting Better — Seven research-backed practices, by Ron Friedman [https://hbr.org/2026/05/how-to-build-a-superteam-that-keeps-getting-better] * The Just Leader by David Spickard [https://www.amazon.com/Just-Leader-Thriving-Fractured-World-ebook/dp/B0CPMTXGMB]

Why Leaders Hold Onto Control

What does it actually mean to “give power away” as a leader — and why is it so difficult to do? In this episode, Rob Shields and David Spickard why leaders often hold onto control without realizing it, how identity and fear of insignificance drive that behavior, and what it costs teams when leaders don’t fully let go. The conversation also reframes vulnerability — not as weakness, but as strength — and shows how giving power away can lead to greater freedom, trust, and healthier team culture. Finally, they offer practical first steps for leaders who want to build real ownership and empowerment within their teams. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro and the topic of giving power away 03:15 – Understanding power and leadership blind spots 06:15 – Why giving power away scored lowest in the Thrive Assessment 09:15 – The emotional and operational cost of holding onto control 12:15 – How teams experience leadership blind spots 15:15 – Delegation vs. true empowerment and authority 18:00 – Fear, identity, and the struggle to let go 20:00 – How faith reshapes leadership and power 23:15 – Practical first steps leaders can take today 25:00 – The “training wheels” analogy for empowering teams RESOURCES * 11 Ten Leadership [https://11tenleadership.com/] * 2026 State of Leadership [https://11tenleadership.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-State-of-Leadership.pdf]

Why Leader Health Is Declining And What It's Costing Your Team

In this episode of the 11 Ten Leadership Podcast, Rob Shields and David Spickard unpack one of the most concerning findings from the 2026 State of Leadership report: leader health is declining even as other leadership metrics improve. The conversation explores the growing tension between external success and internal depletion, revealing how burnout, stress, overwork, and “always-on” leadership cultures are impacting both leaders and their teams. Rob and David discuss the ripple effects unhealthy leadership has on trust, morale, communication, and workplace culture and why organizations can no longer afford to ignore employee well-being. They also tackle generational expectations around work-life balance, the hidden costs of hustle culture, and practical steps leaders can take to build healthier rhythms for themselves and their teams. 00:00 – Welcome + introducing leadership health 03:00 – Key findings from the State of Leadership report 08:00 – The hidden cost of success and burnout culture 13:00 – Generational differences and workplace expectations 19:00 – The ripple effects unhealthy leadership has on teams 23:00 – How overwork impacts families and relationships 27:00 – Practical ways leaders can create healthier rhythms 31:00 – Preview of next episode Resources * 11 Ten Leadership [https://11tenleadership.com/] * 2026 State of Leadership [https://11tenleadership.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-State-of-Leadership.pdf]

Trust Is Built by Letting Go

What does it look like when leaders and their teams are in perfect alignment on trust, down to the decimal? In this episode, David Spickard and Rob Shields dive deep into one of the most compelling findings from 11 Ten Leadership's State of Leadership Report: trust scores that were identical between leaders and their teams, and what that means for building a thriving culture. The conversation gets practical fast, exploring what happens when leaders get stuck in the weeds of day-to-day execution, why leaving the office might be the single best thing a leader can do to build trust, and the rhythms that make that sustainable. If you lead a team and want to know where trust really comes from and how to find out if you actually have it, this episode is for you. 00:00 – Welcome 01:00 – Why this conversation matters (State of Leadership Report) 03:30 – The highest scoring leadership question 05:00 – Care vs. thriving: where leaders overestimate impact 08:30 – Trust data insights: high scores + zero gap explained 11:00 – How trust impacts relationships, value, and engagement 14:00 – The danger of leaders stuck “in the weeds” 17:00 – First step out of overwhelm: creating space to think 19:30 – Why rhythms (daily, weekly, monthly) matter more than breaks 21:30 – The surprising trust-builder 24:00 – Practical takeaway: how to assess and grow trust today 26:00 – Closing thoughts + preview of next episode (health) RESOURCES * 11 Ten Leadership [https://11tenleadership.com/] * 2026 State of Leadership [https://11tenleadership.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-State-of-Leadership.pdf]