The Modern Manager

When disruption hits your team, confidence often drops, communication gets messy, and progress slows. But disruption isn’t the problem; how we respond to it is.Fortunately, this week’s guest offers a clear, practical framework for leading with steadiness even when everything around you is shifting. And just as importantly, he explains how we can become positive disruptors in order to facilitate a brighter future.Patrick Leddin is a global speaker, former Army Ranger, Vanderbilt professor, and bestselling author of Disrupt Everything and Win. He shares how managers can help their teams stay focused, take smart risks, communicate clearly, and build healthier relationships during periods of uncertainty.If you want to lead with more clarity and confidence when change hits, this conversation gives you the tools to do it.Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Join the conversation now!Conversation Topics(00:00) Rethinking disruption as opportunity rather than threat(02:17) Why mindset shapes everything(03:30) How disruptions show up at work and in life(09:59) The danger of avoidance, “waiting it out,” and living in survival mode(11:11) What it means to be a positive disruptor(14:27) The 5 Positive Disruptor Roles (24:10) The 4-step disruptive leadership cycle(26:30) The 16 disruptive strengths (31:03) Keep up with Patrick(38:20) [Extended] Creating conditions for positive disruption inside your team’s culture(39:08) [Extended] Clarifying decision authority so your team knows when they can act(40:35) [Extended] Disrupting unhealthy workplace relationships📚 Additional Resources:✨ Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Gn-X2Pv1G3algfHWZDD0Vf9hDscJxW6gIKfivGVUY9Y/edit?usp=sharing ✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamieks/ ✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨Upskill your team: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle ✨Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Keep up with Patrick Leddin- Follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickleddin/- Visit his website: www.patrickleddin.comGuest Bonus: 2 Book Giveaway!Patrick is giving away two copies of his new book, Disrupt Everything and Win: Take Control of Your Future. Every day, we are confronted with sudden pivots at our workplace and in the job market, with changing technology such as artificial intelligence, unexpected crises, and a culture of chaos, and with that sinking feeling that we are losing control of our lives. This book is about taking back control. It's easy to follow and easy to turn into lifelong habits. It has been thoroughly researched and examined. You must enter the drawing by January 9th, 2026. To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

Ever feel like you should know more, be more confident, or have everything figured out by now?You’re not alone, and more importantly, you don’t need to be a “know-it-all” to be an exceptional leader.In fact, the strongest leaders today share one trait:They are learn-it-alls, people who grow through challenges instead of shrinking from them.Fortunately, this week’s guest brings a powerful, actionable framework that helps managers move from self-doubt into genuine capability.Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit, a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.We explore why action transforms confidence faster than motivation ever could, how to stop perfectionism from stalling your growth, and how “possibility spotting” turns obstacles into opportunities for advancement. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not ready, not experienced enough, or not “the right fit,” this conversation will help you step forward as the leader you truly are.Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Join the conversation now!Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction: Why imposter syndrome spikes when stepping into leadership(01:12) What imposter syndrome really is (and why nearly everyone experiences it)(05:42) Why we undervalue ourselves when taking on bigger roles(08:30) Confidence through action, not waiting to feel ready(11:18) Building leadership skills through mentors, reps, and learning(13:44) Why difficult conversations trigger self-doubt for new managers(15:56) Owning your gaps to build credibility(18:03) Asking for help and advocating for your development(22:58) Finding opportunities inside constraints(25:57) [Extended Only] Why everyone has imposter syndrome(26:45) [Extended Only] Damon’s 4-step framework for overcoming imposter syndrome(34:05) [Extended Only] Turning obstacles into an advantage📚 Additional Resources:✨ Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MDa7N-6PlvtCn8v2-Nvau0HB7Ljq7OzM5r3sutaU1Do/edit?usp=sharing ✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamieks/ ✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨Upskill your team: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle ✨Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Keep up with Damon Lembi and The Learn-It-All PodcastConnect with Damon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembiFollow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembiFollow him on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/damonlembiSubscribe to his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@learnittrainingListen to The Learn-It-All Podcast: TheLearnItAllLeader.comExplore Learnit: Learnit.comCheck out his book The Learn-It-All Leader: https://a.co/d/5oebQ6aGuest Bonus (available to members of Podcast+): FREE Digital Version of Learn-It-All LeaderIn The Learn-It-All Leader, Learnit CEO Damon Lembi shares:How being a "Learn-it-All" vs "Know-it-All will set you up for success and get you invited to more happy hours!A three-step approach to overcoming imposter syndromeHow to use Purposeful Awfulizing to overcome fear and build resilienceDiscover why treating your employees as a team rather than as family can lead to greater successWhy you should choose potential over experience in the hiring processWhat the “Trust Tax” is and why it’s worth payingHow a leader's personal model of integrity is crucial to creating trust and a thriving workplaceA proven model for building great teamsHow implementing a culture of continuous learning & professional development helps attract & retain talentWhy you should focus on elevating strengths over improving weaknessesWith entertaining anecdotes and inspirational examples, The Learn-It-All Leader is a compelling guide to being your best and playing to win every time.To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#Leadership #Management #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceSkills #ManagerTips #BusinessMindset #GrowthMindset #ImposterSyndrome #ContinuousLearning #LeadershipMindset #TeamManagement #CareerAdvice

In a world that constantly demands breakthrough solutions, do you ever feel like innovation is reserved for a select few, or that you’re simply not "creative enough"? This week’s guests are here to set the record straight: that we are all capable of creative thinking if we just give ourselves permission and a little guidance. Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden are the co-authors of Innovation-ish: How Anyone Can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems in the Real World. Tessa is a cognitive scientist exploring how we work, learn, and innovate. She is a co-founder of Harvard's Next Level Lab and teaches Design Thinking and Innovation at Harvard, DCE, and Stanford D School. Rich is the founder and CEO of People Rocket, which helps leaders and teams overcome innovation hesitation; there, they guide clients through the innovation-ish approach, a flexible human-centered framework built on mindset shifts, small adaptive steps, and reflective practice he also teaches at Stanford D School.In this episode, we're cutting through the myth of the "right-brained" innovator. You’ll learn how to integrate the six innovation mindsets into your work, overcome "innovation hesitation," and embrace your "whole brain" approach to problem-solving. This conversation offers practical tools to foster fresh thinking within your team, create space for ideas to thrive, and give you the concrete tools to move those ideas forward, no matter your role.Plus, in the extended episode, Tessa and Rich share tips for normalizing failure and using “F-Up Nights” to build a culture that learns from failure.Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Join the conversation now!Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction – Why experimentation beats opinion-driven decision-making(01:18) The root of spiraling: fear, assumptions, and cognitive bias(04:02) Why small experiments create big clarity(07:10) The danger of optimizing parts of a system instead of the whole(10:42) A real-world case study: redesigning a supply chain through small tests(15:45) Why most ideas fail and why that’s a good thing(18:04) How emotional attachment to ideas sabotages good decisions(21:30) Cognitive caution: What your brain is really doing when you avoid failure(25:14) Practicing emotional regulation while testing ideas(28:33) Creating a culture where testing > guessing(30:20) [Extended only] How leaders can use data to reduce conflict and opinion-driven debate(36:24) [Extended only] Normalizing failure and learning from it as a team(40:18) [Extended only] Global “F-Up Nights” and how leaders can model healthy failure📚 Additional Resources:✨ Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KFafl5klc5iycyAmqq_Mlqp3ARyogW-mCWto2HNGfNc/edit?usp=sharing  ✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamieks/ ✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ ✨ Upskill your team: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle ✨ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 Keep up with Tessa Forshaw & Rich BradenFollow Tessa on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessaforshaw/Follow Rich on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcoxbraden/Get a copy of Innovation-ish here: https://a.co/d/5Dhg9wHGuest Bonus: 1st Chapter of Innovation-ish: How Anyone can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems in the Real WorldInnovation-ish is your no-nonsense guide to unlocking your innate creativity. This book shows you how to solve problems and generate solutions in a huge variety of personal and professional situations. Tessa and Rich demystify the myths that surround innovation, reveal the six mindsets that underlie innovation, and show how the moves you make drive innovation forward. And they share the latest relevant cognitive science research in a compelling and digestible way - no degree required.To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!#DesignThinking  #Experimentation #ManagerTips #BetterDecisions #LeadershipSkills #WorkplaceLearning#Innovation #Creativity #CreativeThinking #InnovationMindset #Leadership #ProblemSolving #TeamInnovation #GrowthMindset #SkillBuilding #ProfessionalGrowth #ThinkSmart #LeadershipDevelopment

When the world around you feels chaotic, leading a team can feel overwhelming, especially when your inner world is just as loud. Most managers try to push through, rely on willpower, or double down on doing more. But in reality, external chaos only becomes manageable when we learn to work with the internal chaos driving our emotions, reactions, and habits.Fortunately, this week’s guest helps us unpack exactly why leaders get stuck in overwhelm and how to shift back into clarity and confidence.Rob Kalwarowsky is a world-renowned executive coach, author of the best-selling book Capitalizing on Chaos, and keynote & TEDx speaker. We explore the hidden parts of ourselves that shape our leadership, the subconscious fears that drive “DIY leadership,” people-pleasing, and imposter syndrome, and the practice that brings you back to center when everything feels too much.If you’ve ever found yourself spiraling, overworking, micromanaging, avoiding decisions, or doubting your capability even when you're successful… this conversation will help you understand what’s happening inside your brain and what to do next.Rob’s practical framework gives you the mental tools to lead yourself and your team with steadiness, self-awareness, and strength, even when everything feels uncertain.Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Join the conversation now!Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction – Leading through internal and external chaos.(01:07) How self-awareness impacts leadership and team dynamics.(04:14) The DIY Leader—When doing everything holds you back.(07:44) TA tool for acknowledging stress and building empathy.(10:25) Understanding internal leadership behaviors.(16:21) Using self-awareness to improve interactions and decision-making.(19:41) Applying the “Parts Framework” to enhance collaboration.(22:50) How your internal state affects team morale.(24:41) Recognizing and managing energy-draining saboteurs.(30:39) [Extended only] Team strategies for shared language and stress signals.(32:56) [Extended only] Using vulnerability and playful cues to improve team communication.📚 Additional Resources:- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month- Read the full transcript here- Follow me on Instagram here - Visit my website for more here- Upskill your team here- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here- Take the Saboteur Assessment here Keep up with Rob Kalwarowsky- Follow Rob on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kalwarowsky/ - Subscribe to his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveCoachRobK - Check out his book Capitalizing on Your Strengths here: https://www.robkalwarowsky.com/capitalizing Guest Bonus: 10 Book Giveaway and Free Find Your Reason WorksheetThe Find Your Reason worksheet (PDF Download) is designed to clarify your goals and to support you in overcoming any subconscious resistance to taking action. Studies show that writing down your goals increases your probability of achieving them to 42% and sharing them with me increases it even further to 70%.  Who wouldn’t spend a few minutes to dramatically improve their chances of success?10 book giveaway of Capitalizing On Chaos: The Executive’s Guide to Succeed in Disruption. We all have the capacity to demonstrate ineffective and even harmful behaviors, creating our own version of chaos. But we also have the capacity to change. To find our true selves inside of the uncertainty. And to move forward by moving beyond our circumstances to proven leadership strategies for organizational growth. Capitalizing on Chaos is the handbook on bringing order and clarity to the future of work.To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!---------------------------------------------------------------#leadership #management #workplacewellbeing #professionaldevelopment #personaldevelopment #leadershipdevelopment #careeradvice #selfawareness #mindsetmatters #stressmanagement #emotionalintelligence #overcomingoverwhelm #performanceatwork #leadershipskills #workculture

Managers play a crucial role in shaping how employees experience work. But when ADHD enters the mix, good intentions can backfire if not handled thoughtfully. With the right mindset and tools, you can create a space where everyone performs at their best.Fortunately, this week’s guest brings both personal and professional expertise to this conversation.Rita Ramakrishnan is an executive leadership coach and consultant who helps neurodivergent professionals and their teams amplify their strengths and work more naturally. Her work focuses on neurodivergent leadership success, helping individuals and organizations embrace differences as a pathway to thriving.In this episode, Rita and I explore what ADHD looks like in adults, why it’s often misunderstood, and how managers can support themselves and their teams through empathy, structure, and flexible systems. You’ll learn strategies for managing focus, energy, and motivation, plus how to build habits that sustain success over time.In the extended episode, Rita shares how to approach conversations about ADHD respectfully, even when a team member hasn’t disclosed, and how to foster a collaborative, psychologically safe culture that supports everyone’s best work.Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Join the conversation now!Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction: Why ADHD awareness matters for managers(01:02) Meet today’s guest: Rita Ramakrishnan(03:04) How ADHD shows up in adults, and why many go undiagnosed(06:16) The connection between neurodiversity, performance, and burnout(09:28) Building psychological safety for employees with ADHD(12:47) Shifting from fixing people to redesigning work(17:11) The right way to talk about ADHD (and what not to say)(22:08) Supporting focus, follow-through, and accountability on your team(25:11) Managing ADHD Team Members(30:22) [Extended Episode Only] Raising sensitive topics with empathy and care(33:35) [Extended Episode Only] Redesigning roles and work for energy and well-being📚 Additional Resources:- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month- Read the full transcript here- Follow me on Instagram here - Visit my website for more here- Upskill your team here- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel hereKeep up with Rita Ramakrishnan- Follow Rita on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaram- Visit Iksana here: https://www.iksana.comGuest Bonus: 20% Off Coaching ServicesRita is offering members of Podcast+ 20% off her coaching services. She provides executive and team coaching specifically designed for neurodivergent leaders and the teams who work with them, helping executives leverage their cognitive differences as strategic advantages while creating psychologically safe, high-performing environments.To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#ADHDAtWork #NeurodiversityInTheWorkplace #LeadershipDevelopment #InclusiveLeadership#PeopleManagement #WorkplaceWellbeing #TheModernManagerPodcast