S6: E3 Why Telling The Hard Truth Beats Spin Every Time

S6: E6 From Roller Rinks To 11 Thinking Traps

A roller rink decal sparks a cascade of memories... backward skating for Greg and arcades for Mark... before we steer into a surprisingly timely question: what stories from the 80s still shape how we think today? Then we flip the mirror. Using the 11 cognitive distortions as a roadmap, we unpack the thinking traps that quietly bend reality: all-or-nothing thinking, mind reading, mental filtering, discounting the positive, magnification and minimization, emotional reasoning, catastrophizing, and personalization. We connect these patterns to our built-in negativity bias, explain why they feel so credible in the moment, and show how they sabotage performance, parenting, and leadership.  If you enjoyed the ride, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves 80s deep cuts, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us. What’s your most quotable 80s line.. and which thinking trap do you want to retire this week? Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1950650/fan_mail/new] Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

S6: E5 Turning 50, Dodging Back Spasms, And Smashing Toilets For Science... And Why It's Important for Leaders To Be Curious

A little 80s nostalgia opens the door to a bigger conversation: why curiosity beats certainty for modern leaders. After trading theme songs, fashion misses, and sitcom houses with secret passages, we shift into the practical work of building teams where people feel safe to question, challenge, and improve ideas without fear. We unpack the deep link between curiosity, vulnerability, and authenticity. Admitting you don’t know isn’t weakness; it’s the fastest path to better data and smarter decisions. We talk about the pressure leaders feel to have answers, and why trading the performance of confidence for the practice of listening changes everything. You’ll hear concrete ways to create psychological safety, from setting clear norms to modeling the habit of asking real questions and reflecting back what you heard. Then we tackle the HIPPO problem: the highest paid person’s opinion. When the boss speaks first, diversity of thought collapses. Our fix is simple and transformative—leaders go last. Let the room explore, get the edges on the table, then synthesize, stress test, and make the call. We share the “two-question pause” to slow fast reactions, plus a toolkit for balancing inquiry with decisiveness: define decision criteria, timebox debate, and tie choices back to mission and strategy. By the end, you’ll have a playbook to turn meetings into engines of clarity instead of echo chambers. If you’re leading a team or hoping to shape one, this is your map for turning curiosity into an everyday habit that lifts trust, speed, and outcomes. Listen, share with a colleague who needs it, and tell us: what’s one norm your team will adopt this week? Subscribe and leave a quick review to help more people find the show. Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1950650/fan_mail/new] Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

S6: E4 Progress. Not Perfection.

How can leaders overcome their perfectionism? Join us to chat about: * Leadership traps that tie personal worth to appearances,  * Leaders who won’t delegate, and  * Teams smothered by micromanagement. If you’re trying to move a team forward, launch a service, or just hit send on that email (you know the one!) without falling into a spiral, this episode gives you some food for thought. Subscribe, share this with a colleague who over-edits, and leave a review with one habit you’re changing this week...  Remember: The price of perfection is never worth the cost! Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1950650/fan_mail/new] Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

S6: E3 Why Telling The Hard Truth Beats Spin Every Time

What does honesty look like when stakes are high and timing matters?  This episode centers on a simple rule from Big Mike: Bad news doesn’t get better with age. We unpack the difference between truth, spin, and omission and why partial honesty with a slant can be just as damaging as a clean mistake. From leadership credibility to team culture, we explore how delays create confusion, why silence isn’t neutral, and how a one-minute feedback moment can change a career.  If you care about honest leadership, crisis communication, feedback that lands, and building trust without theatrics, you’ll find practical takeaways here.   If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find it.  Ask yourself: What truth do you need to say sooner? Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1950650/fan_mail/new] Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!

S6: E2 Twelve Life Lessons: Words of Wisdom From Gian-Carlo Rota

What if your best ideas landed cleaner, faster, and stuck longer?  Guided by mathematician and philosopher Giancarlo Rota’s 12 life lessons, we break down a toolkit for memorable talks and better leadership found on the Farnam Street Blog: https://fs.blog/gian-carlo-rota/ If this conversation sharpened your next talk or reset your priorities, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more, and leave a quick review telling us the one change you’ll make this week. Send us a text and let us know how we're doing. In the meantime, make it a great day & innovate the USA! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1950650/fan_mail/new] Check out all episodes of Lead On with Greg & Mark on your favorite podcast platform!