The Leadership Habit

Managing Change Effectively in the Workplace With Nick Montalbine

> Summary > > > Managing change in the workplace requires more than new strategies or systems. In this episode, Nick Montalbine explains why many change efforts fail due to overloaded systems, lack of trust, and employee burnout. He explores practical frameworks for improving focus, rebuilding trust, and creating healthier workplaces that adapt more effectively to change. Organizations are experiencing constant disruption. AI is changing workflows. Teams are navigating restructures, layoffs, shifting priorities, and increasing pressure to produce results with fewer resources. Amid all this uncertainty, leaders are still expected to guide teams confidently through change. The problem? Most organizations are approaching change the wrong way. In the latest episode of The Leadership Habit Podcast, Jenn DeWall sits down with change leadership expert Nick Montalbine [https://www.nickmontalbine.com/professional] to discuss why so many workplace change initiatives fail and what leaders can do differently. Their conversation explores overloaded systems, employee burnout, breakdowns in trust, and the hidden signals leaders often miss during organizational change. MEET NICK MONTALBINE, FOUNDER OF INNER VOICE ANALYTICS Nick Montalbine is the founder of Inner Voice Analytics [https://www.innervoiceanalytics.com/about-1], a consultancy focused on helping organizations detect cultural and operational issues before they become major problems. With more than 20 years of experience leading transformation efforts in complex organizations across Nike, healthcare, finance, and retail, Nick specializes in leadership development, organizational listening, and transformation strategy. Throughout the episode, Nick introduces a simple but powerful framework leaders can use to better manage change in the workplace: attention, trust, and energy. WHY MANAGING CHANGE IN THE WORKPLACE OFTEN FAILS One of the most important takeaways from the episode is that most change initiatives do not fail because employees resist change. They fail because organizations operate within overloaded systems. According to Nick, overloaded systems occur when organizations attempt to manage too many competing priorities at once. Problems become filtered, decisions get delayed, communication breaks down, and employees stop speaking up early about risks or concerns. As a result, workplace change efforts slowly lose momentum and direction. Nick explains that leaders should pay close attention to three critical areas that determine whether change efforts succeed or fail: * Attention * Trust * Energy When these areas become depleted, employees stop signaling problems. They stop sharing ideas, raising concerns, or challenging assumptions. By the time leaders recognize the issue, long-term damage is often already done. ATTENTION: THE HIDDEN BARRIER TO WORKPLACE CHANGE Modern workplaces are overloaded with competing priorities. Teams are juggling strategic initiatives, daily operations, meetings, emails, system changes, reporting requirements, and constant interruptions. Leaders often continue adding more initiatives without removing old ones. According to Nick, this creates a major attention problem inside organizations. Employees struggle to determine what truly matters day-to-day because everything is presented as urgent and important. One practical framework Nick recommends is evaluating work based on two factors: * Strategic importance * Complexity This creates four categories: * Boulders: high importance, high complexity * Rocks: high importance, lower complexity * Pebbles: low importance, low complexity * Low-value work: low importance, high complexity The goal is not to eliminate important work. The goal is to prevent organizations from taking on too many “boulders” at once. This is especially important for leaders managing organizational change. Employees cannot focus effectively when priorities constantly shift or when every project is treated like a top priority. Clear communication, monthly prioritization conversations, and realistic workloads all help improve organizational focus during periods of change. TRUST: WHY EMPLOYEES STOP SPEAKING UP Trust plays a major role in successful workplace change. Nick describes trust as employees feeling safe enough to say the hard things. When trust is low, people stop raising concerns, stop sharing ideas, and stop challenging decisions. Leaders often mistake silence for agreement. In reality, silence may signal disengagement, fear, exhaustion, or psychological withdrawal. Jenn DeWall highlights a common workplace reality many leaders overlook: eventually, employees may stop trying to help because they no longer believe their input matters. Nick points to several warning signs that trust may be declining: * Fewer ideas are shared in meetings * Reduced curiosity * Less disagreement or debate * Employees are becoming quieter or more withdrawn Rebuilding trust requires leaders to consistently listen and act on feedback. Nick also recommends creating intentional space for dialogue by encouraging healthy disagreement and even assigning someone to play the “contrarian” role during meetings. Another important insight from the episode is that annual employee engagement surveys are no longer enough. Employee sentiment changes too quickly in modern workplaces. Leaders need more frequent opportunities to understand how employees are feeling and to identify concerns before they become larger cultural problems. ENERGY: THE BURNOUT PROBLEM LEADERS CANNOT IGNORE Many employees are trying to manage heavy workloads while simultaneously adapting to organizational change. That creates a major energy problem. Nick references research identifying three different forms of burnout: * Overload burnout * Under-challenged burnout * Neglect burnout Most leaders recognize overload burnout, where employees feel buried under excessive work demands. But many overlook the other two forms. Team members may feel disengaged because they are underutilized or disconnected from meaningful work. Others may neglect their own well-being due to stress, isolation, or emotional exhaustion. This is particularly important during periods of organizational change because burnout reduces engagement, creativity, collaboration, and resilience. Leaders should pay attention to shifts in participation, energy, communication patterns, and overall engagement. Small behavioral changes may indicate that employees are struggling long before performance issues appear. MANAGING CHANGE REQUIRES BETTER LEADERSHIP SYSTEMS Managing change in the workplace is not just about communication plans or new processes. It requires leadership systems and a company culture that support people through uncertainty. Organizations need: * Clear priorities * Open communication * Psychological safety * Regular employee listening * Realistic workloads * Ongoing leadership development Without those systems, even well-intentioned change initiatives can fail. This is one reason leadership development matters so much during periods of disruption. Leaders need practical tools to manage communication, accountability, emotional intelligence [https://crestcom.com/blog/2025/09/05/emotional-intelligence-still-matters-in-the-age-of-ai-with-caroline-stokes/], trust, delegation, and organizational alignment as they navigate change. Programs like Crestcom International’s Crestcom LEADER help leaders build these skills through live-facilitated learning, real-world application, accountability, and ongoing coaching support. WHERE TO FIND MORE FROM NICK MONTALBINE * Visit Nick’s website: nickmontalbine.com [http://nickmontalbine.com] * Connect on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmontalbine/] FINAL THOUGHTS Change is not slowing down. However, successful organizational change management isn’t just about moving the fastest. Managing change effectively requires creating an organizational structure in which employees can stay focused, speak honestly, and maintain the energy needed to adapt. As Nick Montalbine explains throughout the episode, leaders should pay attention to the signals their organizations are sending. Silence, disengagement, burnout, and confusion are not random workplace problems. They are indicators that systems may be overloaded, and people may need more support. If your organization is navigating workplace change and looking to strengthen leadership capabilities, request a complimentary Leadership Skills Workshop [http://crestcom.com/freeworkshop] from Crestcom International. In this interactive two-hour workshop, your team will gain practical leadership tools to improve communication, accountability, trust, and decision-making during times of change.   The post Managing Change Effectively in the Workplace With Nick Montalbine [https://crestcom.com/blog/2026/05/22/managing-change-effectively-in-the-workplace-with-nick-montalbine/] appeared first on Crestcom International [https://crestcom.com].

Why Decisive Leadership Matters More Than Ever With John Register

> Summary:  Former Paralympian and Army veteran John Register joins The Leadership Habit to discuss leadership decision-making, resilience, and overcoming adversity. After losing his leg while training for the Olympics, Register rebuilt his life and became a Paralympic silver medalist. In this episode, he shares his “Amputate to Elevate” leadership philosophy, encouraging leaders to let go of indecision, outdated thinking, and limiting beliefs in order to adapt and move forward. The conversation explores leadership under pressure, leading through uncertainty, and the critical importance of decisive leadership for organizational growth and change.  Leadership today requires more than vision. It requires the courage to make difficult decisions before all the answers are available. On the latest episode of the Leadership Habit podcast, John Register [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnregister/] joined host Jenn DeWall for a conversation about resilience, leadership decision-making, and what it truly means to move forward after adversity. John’s story is remarkable. A decorated Persian Gulf War Army veteran and elite athlete, he was training for the Olympic Games when a devastating injury changed everything. After a missed hurdle caused severe damage to his leg, he made the life-altering decision to amputate above the knee. Instead of allowing that moment to define him, he adapted, rebuilt, and eventually became a two-sport Paralympic athlete and silver medalist. But this episode is about much more than athletics. It is about leadership under pressure and the decisions leaders avoid making every day. MEET JOHN REGISTER, PARALYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST John Register [https://johnregister.com/media-appearances/] is a leadership keynote speaker, strategic advisor, Army combat veteran, Paralympic silver medalist, and co-founder of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Paralympic Military Sports Program. Today, he helps organizations navigate change and uncertainty through his “Amputate to Elevate” philosophy, which focuses on removing what no longer serves you in order to move forward with clarity and purpose. Throughout the conversation, John shares lessons from military leadership, elite sports, and personal adversity that apply directly to today’s workplace challenges. THE LEADERSHIP COST OF INDECISION One of the biggest themes in this episode is indecision. According to John, many leaders already know what needs to change. The challenge is not awareness. The challenge is commitment. Whether it is addressing an underperforming employee, adopting new technology, changing strategy, or having a difficult conversation, leaders often stay stuck waiting for certainty that never comes. As John explains in the episode: “You know what you need to cut. You know you’ve been holding onto that thing for a very long time.” That hesitation creates organizational drag. Teams lose momentum. Problems linger. Innovation slows down. Employees lose confidence in leadership.  In many organizations, the real issue is not a lack of strategy. It is a lack of decisive leadership. THE “AMPUTATE TO ELEVATE” LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY John’s “Amputate to Elevate” philosophy challenges leaders to let go of what no longer supports growth. That might mean: * Letting go of outdated systems * Releasing limiting beliefs * Moving on from ineffective processes * Making difficult personnel decisions * Re-evaluating priorities * Accepting that old approaches may no longer work The concept is uncomfortable by design. Transformation is difficult because it requires leaders to become something different. As John explains, most people say they want transformation, but what they really want is transition. They want improvement without discomfort. Real growth rarely works that way. This is especially relevant in a business environment shaped by rapid technological change, shifting employee expectations, economic uncertainty, and AI disruption. Organizations that wait too long to adapt risk falling behind. THE RESONANCE MODEL: A FRAMEWORK FOR LEADING THROUGH CHANGE A major portion of the episode focuses on John’s “Resonance Model,” which includes three stages leaders move through during change: RECKONING This is the stage where leaders recognize something is no longer working. However, many organizations stay stuck here because they resist acknowledging the real problem. John describes reckoning as the tension between wanting things to stay the same while simultaneously knowing change is necessary. REVISION Revision is the planning and possibility stage. Leaders begin exploring options, considering new paths, and imagining different outcomes. This is where creativity and adaptability become essential leadership skills. RENEWAL Renewal begins when leaders commit to action. Once a decision is made, there is no returning to the previous version of reality. That commitment creates momentum, learning, and growth. John repeatedly emphasizes that nothing changes until action happens. “Nothing starts until the button is pushed.” For many leaders, this is the hardest step. LEADERSHIP DECISION MAKING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES One of the strongest leadership lessons from this episode is the idea that certainty is an illusion. Leaders often delay decisions because they want more data, more confidence, or guarantees about outcomes. John references former Secretary of State Colin Powell and his “40/70 Rule.” The idea is simple: * With less than 40% of the information, you likely do not know enough to decide. * With more than 70%, you may already be waiting too long. At some point, leaders must act without perfect information. This mindset is critical for modern leadership development. Markets change quickly. Employee expectations evolve rapidly. Technology advances constantly. Teams need leaders who can make thoughtful decisions and move forward with confidence. LEADERSHIP RESILIENCE IS BUILT THROUGH ACTION Another powerful takeaway from this episode is that resilience is not passive [https://crestcom.com/blog/2025/03/11/the-secret-to-success-is-leadership-grit-and-resilience/]. John did not become resilient because adversity happened to him. He became resilient because he continued moving forward after adversity. After losing his leg, he did not initially know about the Paralympic Games. He simply took the next step available to him by swimming for physical therapy. That one step eventually opened entirely new opportunities. That lesson applies directly to leadership. Leaders do not need to have every answer immediately. They need the willingness to move forward, learn, adapt, and continue making progress. Action creates clarity. Indecision creates stagnation. WHY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT MATTERS MORE THAN EVER This episode reinforces why leadership development cannot be treated as a one-time event. Strong leadership requires ongoing growth, adaptability, communication, and decision-making practice. Leaders need opportunities to strengthen their confidence, challenge limiting assumptions, and develop the skills necessary to lead through uncertainty. Organizations that invest in leadership development create leaders who are better equipped to: * Navigate change * Communicate clearly * Make difficult decisions * Build trust * Adapt quickly * Support employee engagement * Create accountability Those capabilities matter now more than ever. WHERE TO FIND MORE FROM JOHN REGISTER * Listen to the full episode [https://open.spotify.com/show/5HfSiwCBm13zYMVH5fWnLz] * Visit John Register’s website [https://johnregister.com/about?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Connect with John on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnregister/] READY TO STRENGTHEN YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS? Leadership growth does not happen by accident. It happens through intentional development, practice, and learning. If your organization is looking to improve communication, accountability, decision making, and leadership effectiveness, Crestcom’s complimentary Leadership Skills Workshop can help. The workshop is available virtually or in person for teams around the world. Learn more at: Crestcom Leadership Skills Workshop [https://crestcom.com/freeworkshop/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Source transcript:   The post Why Decisive Leadership Matters More Than Ever With John Register [https://crestcom.com/blog/2026/05/08/why-decisive-leadership-matters-more-than-ever-with-john-register/] appeared first on Crestcom International [https://crestcom.com].

How Understanding Leadership Communication Styles Transforms Team Performance

UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION STYLES WITH JEREMIE KUBICEK Leadership often breaks down in moments that seem small. A missed expectation. A frustrating conversation. A team member who just doesn’t seem to “get it.” But what if the issue isn’t effort or intent? What if it’s communication? In this episode of The Leadership Habit Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/5HfSiwCBm13zYMVH5fWnLz], host Jenn DeWall sits down with Jeremie Kubicek [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiekubicek/] to explore how understanding personality styles in leadership can improve communication, build trust, and drive stronger results. The conversation centers on a simple idea: Leaders don’t struggle because they don’t care. They struggle because they communicate in a way their team doesn’t understand. MEET JEREMIE KUBICEK Jeremie Kubicek [https://www.jeremiekubicek.com/about] is an entrepreneur, leadership architect, and co-founder of Giant Worldwide. He is also the author of multiple leadership books, including The Five Voices and The Voice-Driven Leader. His work focuses on helping leaders better understand how people think and communicate so they can lead more effectively. WHY LEADERS STRUGGLE TO DEVELOP THEIR TEAMS One of the most practical insights from this episode is how often leaders unintentionally prioritize tasks over people. Many leaders default to “managing up” instead of developing their teams. As Kubicek explains, pressure from above often pulls leaders away from investing in the people they are responsible for. > “There’s pressure to just do our day job… so it becomes a default to focus on the person above them instead of developing the people they’re responsible for.” This creates a common leadership trap. Teams become dependent instead of empowered. Leaders feel overwhelmed. Performance suffers over time. And most importantly, teams disengage. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPLIANCE AND ENGAGEMENT A key theme in this episode is the difference between getting people to follow directions and getting them to care about the outcome. Command-and-control leadership can produce compliance. But it rarely produces engagement. > “Leaders who rely on pressure may get results in the short term, but they miss out on ownership, initiative, and long-term performance.” When people don’t feel understood, they stop contributing beyond what is required. They do the work, but they don’t invest in it. That is where leadership communication becomes a competitive advantage. THE FIVE VOICES: A PRACTICAL FRAMEWORK FOR LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION To help leaders better understand personality styles, Kubicek introduces the Five Voices framework: 1. Nurturer: Relationship-focused and values harmony 2. Creative: Future-oriented and idea-driven 3. Guardian: Detail-focused and structure 4. Connector: Relationship builder and network-oriented 5. Pioneer: Results-driven and decisive This framework simplifies personality styles into something leaders can actually use inside their teams. Instead of relying on complex assessments, it creates a shared language that helps leaders quickly identify how their team members think and communicate. WHY SPEAKING YOUR TEAM’S LANGUAGE MATTERS One of the most powerful ideas in the episode is that leadership communication is not about what you say. It is about how it is received. Kubicek compares this to speaking a foreign language. If you speak only in your own style, you may still get results, but you create friction. When you adapt your communication to match the other person, you build trust. Leaders who learn to “speak the language” of their team members: – Improve clarity – Reduce misunderstandings – Increase engagement – Strengthen relationships This shift is simple in concept, but it requires intentional effort. HOW MISCOMMUNICATION HAPPENS INSIDE TEAMS Miscommunication often comes from differences in how people interpret information. For example, a leader may share an idea casually, thinking out loud. But a team member may interpret that idea as a commitment. The result is frustration on both sides. As Kubicek explains, this tension often exists between future-oriented thinkers and present-oriented thinkers. Without a shared understanding of communication styles, these small moments can turn into larger trust issues over time. SIMPLE WAYS TO APPLY THIS IN YOUR TEAM This episode offers practical ways leaders can begin applying these ideas immediately: 1. Start with self-awareness. Understand how you naturally communicate and how others experience you. 2. Learn your team. Identify how each person processes information, makes decisions, and responds under pressure. 3. Adjust your communication. Speak in a way that resonates with the other person instead of defaulting to your own style. 4. Structure meetings intentionally. Give quieter voices the opportunity to contribute before dominant voices take over. 5. Recognize stress behaviors. Different personalities react differently under pressure. When you understand those patterns, you can respond with intention instead of reacting emotionally. These small adjustments can significantly improve team dynamics and performance. WHY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT STILL MATTERS MORE THAN EVER This episode reinforces a key idea: leadership is not a one-time skill. It is built over time through consistent development. Organizations that invest in developing their leaders see stronger results, better retention, and more engaged teams. Yet leadership development is often the first thing reduced when pressure increases. That approach creates long-term challenges. Leadership is the multiplier. When leaders improve, everything else improves with them. WHERE TO FIND MORE FROM JEREMIE KUBICEK If you want to go deeper into the Five Voices framework and learn how to apply it in your organization, here are a few ways to explore more from Jeremie Kubicek: – Listen to the full episode [https://open.spotify.com/show/5HfSiwCBm13zYMVH5fWnLz] – Visit his website [https://www.jeremiekubicek.com/] – Connect on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiekubicek/] FINAL THOUGHTS: LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE At its core, this episode reinforces a simple truth. Leadership is about people. And people don’t all think, communicate, or respond the same way. “You can’t give what you don’t possess… if you get excited about learning from other people, leadership slows down, and you can begin to read the room.” When leaders take the time to understand their team, everything changes. Communication improves. Trust grows. Results follow. READY TO STRENGTHEN YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS? If you want to improve communication, build trust, and lead more effectively across different personality styles, Crestcom offers a complimentary two-hour leadership skills workshop. You’ll walk away with practical tools you can apply immediately to your team. Request your session at crestcom.com/freeworkshop [https://crestcom.com/freeworkshop]   The post How Understanding Leadership Communication Styles Transforms Team Performance [https://crestcom.com/blog/2026/04/24/how-understanding-leadership-communication-styles-transforms-team-performance/] appeared first on Crestcom International [https://crestcom.com].

Essential Leadership Skills for New Leaders with Bruce Mayhew

> Summary > > > Most leaders step into their role without formal training. That gap often leads to uncertainty, hesitation, and missed opportunities to build trust early. In this episode of The Leadership Habit, Bruce Mayhew [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucemayhewconsulting/] shares practical leadership skills for new leaders, focusing on building confidence, establishing trust, and creating a strong team culture from day one. MEET BRUCE MAYHEW Bruce Mayhew is a corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and author with over 20 years of experience helping leaders improve team performance and workplace culture. After working in leadership roles at Scotiabank, he saw how leadership directly impacts engagement, trust, and results. His latest book, The Path of an Inspired Leader [https://brucemayhewconsulting.com/book], is designed as a practical guide covering more than 18 real-world leadership scenarios. Each chapter focuses on situations leaders face, from hiring and feedback to building trust and managing change.   WHY LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR NEW LEADERS MATTER MORE THAN EVER Many professionals are promoted into leadership roles without the tools to succeed. They are expected to lead, but never taught how. As Bruce explains, this creates hesitation: “They don’t want to ruffle any feathers… they think they have to sit back and really learn the ropes for two months or six months.” The problem is not capability. It is a lack of clarity. New leaders often wait for permission instead of setting direction. But strong leadership requires stepping in early to shape the environment your team operates in.   WHAT CONFIDENCE REALLY MEANS IN LEADERSHIP One of the most important leadership skills [https://crestcom.com/blog/2026/03/26/the-leadership-skill-that-drives-performance-more-than-talent/] for new leaders is confidence. But confidence is often misunderstood. It is not about having all the answers. Bruce reframes it clearly: “Confidence isn’t control… confidence isn’t knowing everything.” Instead, confidence looks like: – Being clear about the environment you want to create – Being willing to make mistakes – Trusting your team before they prove themselves Strong leaders do not walk in trying to prove their worth. They walk in reinforcing the value of others. HOW TO BUILD TRUST AS A NEW LEADER If there is one skill that defines effective leadership, it is trust. Trust is not built through speeches or titles. It is built through behavior. Bruce shares a powerful example of a leader who transformed a disengaged team in just weeks by focusing on trust and transparency. What did that leader do? – Spoke to people directly and consistently – Created a relaxed, human environment – Asked for input and feedback – Clearly shared a vision for the team The shift was immediate because people felt seen, heard, and safe. One simple but powerful reminder: “You can’t command respect. You have to give respect to get respect.” The same is true for trust.   SET THE TONE EARLY INSTEAD OF WAITING A common mistake new leaders make is waiting too long to establish expectations. They observe. They analyze. They hold back. But your team is forming opinions immediately. Strong leaders take action early by: – Introducing themselves personally – Sharing how they lead – Setting expectations around communication and accountability – Creating clarity around team culture Even small actions, like where you sit or how often you engage, send strong signals. Leadership is always being interpreted. TURN COMPANY VALUES INTO REAL LEADERSHIP TOOLS Many organizations have values posted on a wall or website. Few teams actually use them. Bruce offers a simple exercise that every leader can apply: Take your company values and discuss them with your team. Ask: – What does this value actually mean in our daily work? – What does it look like in action? – Where do we see gaps? This creates shared understanding and reduces confusion. You can go further by asking: – What additional values do we want to define as a team? When people help define expectations, they are far more likely to follow them. HOW TO HANDLE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AS A LEADER Avoiding difficult conversations is one of the fastest ways to lose credibility as a leader. Relationship building is crucial to becoming an effective leader. Bruce makes an important distinction: “Difficult conversations don’t have to be conflict… if you leave them alone, then they will become conflict.” The goal is not to avoid discomfort. It is to address it early. A simple leadership approach: – Set expectations for feedback from the beginning – Ask for permission to give input – Focus on improvement, not blame For example: If I see something that could help you improve, do I have permission to share it? This creates a culture where feedback is normal, not threatening. LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT CREATING THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT At its core, leadership is not about control. It is about creating the conditions where people can succeed. That includes: – Psychological safety – Clear expectations – Open communication – Accountability in both directions When those conditions exist, performance improves naturally. Without them, even strong teams struggle. KEY TAKEAWAYS: LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR NEW LEADERS 1. Confidence comes from clarity, not control. 2. Trust is built through consistent, everyday actions. 3. Leaders should set the tone early, not wait. 4. Values should be defined and discussed as a team. 5. Difficult conversations prevent larger issues. 6. Leadership is about creating an environment for success. WHERE TO FIND MORE FROM BRUCE MAYHEW Bruce leaves leaders with a simple reminder: You do not need to have everything figured out to lead. You just need to start.  Listen to the full episode today [https://open.spotify.com/show/5HfSiwCBm13zYMVH5fWnLz]! Then, to learn more from Bruce Mayhew, you can:  – Visit his website: brucemayhewconsulting.com [https://brucemayhewconsulting.com/] – Connect on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucemayhewconsulting/] – Get his book: The Path of an Inspired Leader [https://brucemayhewconsulting.com/book] WHAT’S NEXT?  If you are developing new leaders or stepping into a leadership role yourself, the right tools make all the difference. Crestcom’s Leadership Skills Workshop helps leaders build confidence, improve decision-making, and strengthen team performance in just two hours. Request a complimentary workshop at crestcom.com/freeworkshop [http://crestcom.com/freeworkshop]   The post Essential Leadership Skills for New Leaders with Bruce Mayhew [https://crestcom.com/blog/2026/04/10/essential-leadership-skills-for-new-leaders-with-bruce-mayhew/] appeared first on Crestcom International [https://crestcom.com].

AI and Leadership Responsibility with Sylvie di Giusto

AI is changing how we work, lead, and make decisions. For many leaders, that shift brings uncertainty. Will AI replace roles? What skills will still matter? And how should leaders respond? In this episode of The Leadership Habit Podcast, Jenn DeWall sits down with Sylvie di Giusto to explore what it means to stay “Forever Human” in an AI-driven world. Their conversation challenges fear-based thinking and offers a practical path forward. AI is not something to compete with. It is something to understand, adapt to, and use with intention. MEET SYLVIE DI GIUSTO, CSP, HALL OF FAME SPEAKER Sylvie di Giusto is an international keynote speaker, author, and leadership consultant who helps organizations lead better, sell faster, and influence with intention. With decades of corporate experience and a unique 3D holographic speaking style, she brings forward-thinking insights on leadership presence, perception, and human behavior. Her expertise has been integrated into Crestcom’s curriculum for years, helping leaders around the world strengthen communication, emotional intelligence, and decision-making. AI ISN’T THE FIRST DISRUPTION—AND IT WON’T BE THE LAST One of the most important takeaways from this conversation is perspective. AI may feel new, but disruption is not. Every major technological advancement has created uncertainty, fear, and resistance before eventually becoming part of everyday life. As Sylvie explains, “Humans have a tendency to fear and panic first and see everything as a threat rather than an opportunity.” From the printing press to the internet, leaders have always faced moments where they had to choose between resisting change and adapting to it. The same is true today. AI is not going away. The question is not whether it will impact your role, but how you will respond to that impact. Sylvie makes this clear when she explains that the real risk lies in choosing not to adapt. Leaders who ignore AI may eventually find themselves replaced, not because AI is inherently better, but because they chose not to evolve alongside it. DON’T COMPETE WITH AI. COMPLEMENT IT. A central theme of this episode is a mindset shift that every leader must embrace. Many professionals are trying to compete with AI by working faster, producing more, or relying heavily on automation. But that approach misses the point. Sylvie puts it simply, “The goal was never to beat the machine. It is to build with it.” AI will always outperform humans in speed, data processing, and memory. Trying to compete in those areas is not sustainable. The real opportunity lies in focusing on what AI cannot do. Leadership in the AI era is about combining strengths. AI handles efficiency. Leaders bring judgment, context, and human understanding. When used together, the result is far more powerful than either alone. WHERE AI WINS—AND WHERE LEADERS STILL MATTER AI’s strengths are undeniable. It can analyze data at scale, generate content instantly, and automate repetitive tasks. But leadership has never been defined by those capabilities alone. Take speed as an example. AI can respond instantly, but speed is not always the right answer. Sylvie advises the listeners that “AI will always win the race… but only humans know when actually you have to slow down.” Leaders understand timing. They recognize when a situation requires pause, reflection, or a more thoughtful approach. That level of discernment cannot be automated. The same is true for data. AI can retrieve information quickly, but it does not understand meaning. Leaders interpret data through experience, emotion, and context. They connect information to real-world impact, making decisions that go beyond what the data alone can suggest. And when it comes to relationships, AI falls even shorter. It can mimic tone, but it cannot build trust. As AI-generated communication becomes more common, leaders face a new challenge: ensuring authenticity remains intact. Sylvie highlights this shift clearly: “There is this new level of mistrust… people are not sure anymore what comes from the machine and what comes from the humans.”  Because of this, transparency and authenticity are no longer optional. They are essential. WHY SOFT SKILLS ARE MAKING A COMEBACK For years, organizations prioritized efficiency, technical skills, and productivity. But AI is now outperforming humans in many of those areas, shifting the value back to human-centered capabilities. Sylvie emphasizes that, “there will be a big comeback for soft skills [https://crestcom.com/blog/2024/03/07/15-essential-soft-skills-for-leaders-in-2024/] because those are the skills that AI cannot replicate.” Skills like emotional intelligence, communication, adaptability, and critical thinking are becoming more valuable, not less. Leaders who invest in these areas will be better equipped to navigate complexity, build trust, and guide teams through change. This is a major opportunity. While AI handles the mechanical aspects of work, leaders can focus on what drives performance at a deeper level—people. CREATIVITY STILL BELONGS TO HUMANS AI can generate ideas quickly, but those ideas are based on existing data. It recombines what already exists rather than creating something entirely new. As Sylvie explains, “AI just sources ideas that already exist… it really can’t invent something that has never existed before.” This reinforces the importance of human creativity. Innovation still depends on original thinking, curiosity, and the ability to challenge assumptions. Leaders who rely solely on AI for ideas risk producing predictable results. Those who combine AI insights with human creativity can push beyond what already exists and create something truly new. ETHICS, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY Perhaps the most critical leadership responsibility in an AI-driven world is accountability [https://crestcom.com/blog/2018/05/07/promoting-culture-accountability/]. AI can generate recommendations, but it cannot take responsibility for outcomes. Sylvie illustrates this point, saying, “AI might look into the performance data… and say you have to fire that person. But you as a human… have the ability to question why.” Leaders must consider context, circumstances, and human factors that AI cannot fully understand. They must apply judgment, empathy, and ethical reasoning to every decision. Equally important is resisting the temptation to shift blame. “You cannot allow yourself… to point at AI and say, ‘It wasn’t me.’” No matter how advanced the tool, accountability remains with the leader. HOW AI IS CHANGING LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOR AI is not just changing how work gets done. It is changing how people think, communicate, and behave. Sylvie points to several shifts leaders must recognize. Focus is decreasing as distractions increase. At the same time, people are becoming more selective with their attention. “Attention is the new currency—and it’s becoming very expensive.” This means leaders must communicate more clearly and concisely than ever before. If a message is not immediately relevant, it will be ignored. Patience is also declining. People expect faster responses and quicker outcomes. Leaders must balance this urgency with thoughtful decision-making, ensuring that speed does not come at the cost of quality. At the same time, communication itself is changing. AI tools make it easier to produce content quickly, but that efficiency can come at the expense of authenticity. Leaders must ensure their voice remains present in what they share. THE RISK LEADERS AREN’T TALKING ABOUT One of the more overlooked risks of AI is how freely people share information with it. In many cases, individuals are more comfortable asking AI questions than speaking with a colleague or leader. Sylvie warns that this behavior has consequences, “Whatever you share with AI creates… a shadow profile about you.” Over time, this data contributes to a broader digital footprint that may influence how information is generated and shared. Leaders must be intentional about what they input into AI systems and encourage their teams to do the same. KEY TAKEAWAYS AI is not replacing leadership. It is reshaping it. The leaders who succeed will be the ones who adapt, not resist. They will understand where AI adds value and where human skills must take the lead. They will invest in emotional intelligence, communication, and critical thinking. They will remain accountable for decisions. And they will focus on building trust in a world where authenticity is increasingly important. Or, as Sylvie summarizes it best, “Don’t compete with AI. Focus on what you do in the moments that matter most as a human being.” WHERE TO FIND MORE FROM SYLVIE DI GIUSTO To learn more from Sylvie, visit sylviedigiusto.com [https://sylviedigiusto.com/inspirational-keynote-speaker/], connect with her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviedigiusto/], or explore her keynote presentations [https://sylviedigiusto.com/programs-female-keynote-speaker/] and books focused on leadership, perception, and influence [https://sylviedigiusto.com/books-by-sylvie-di-giusto/]. STRENGTHEN YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AI will continue to evolve, but leadership will always remain human. The ability to communicate clearly, think critically, and lead with intention will only become more important. If you want to strengthen these skills within your organization, request a complimentary two-hour leadership workshop at crestcom.com/freeworkshop. [http://crestcom.com/freeworkshop]   The post AI and Leadership Responsibility with Sylvie di Giusto [https://crestcom.com/blog/2026/03/27/ai-and-leadership-responsibility-with-sylvie-di-giusto/] appeared first on Crestcom International [https://crestcom.com].