Stop choosing between people and profit. In this episode, we dig into why the best-performing teams are built on engagement, leadership development, and purpose—and how those three levers translate into measurable gains in productivity, retention, and customer loyalty. The fastest route to better results runs straight through your people. We start by dismantling the myth that attention to people pulls focus from outcomes. Engaged employees don’t just complete tasks; they take ownership...
Ready to breathe new life into the meetings you are leading? Today's episode provides four simple keys to turn meetings many dread into a tool for clarity, trust, and results. Four simple keys—purpose, agenda, motives, and ground rules—show how to design conversations that people want to attend and that move work forward. In this episode we cover- • defining a clear outcome and attendee list • building and sending an agenda 24–48 hours ahead • designing for people, performance, and process ...
Change doesn’t stick because leaders fixate on what’s broken. We take a different route: ask better questions, unlock real energy, and turn strengths into results. In this fast, practical walkthrough, we break down appreciative inquiry—the strengths-based approach that transforms organizations, teams, and one-on-one coaching—using four simple phases that anyone can apply today. In this week's episode, Elise shares a strengths-based approach for leading strategic change that creates energy, b...
If there’s one skill that defines modern leadership, it’s the ability to lead through uncertainty. Whether it’s navigating normal organizational change, disruptions in your market, or unexpected global events, like COVID — uncertainty has become something leaders are having to navigate like never before. And yet, some leaders manage to not just survive uncertain times — they actually help their people thrive through them In this episode, I talk about what uncertainty looks like for lea...
Think inspiration requires charisma? We unpack a different model of leadership—one built on purpose, integrity, emotional connection, and real empowerment—so your team gives its best by choice, not by pressure. Elise Boggs Morales draws on 17 years of coaching thousands of leaders to explain how small, repeatable behaviors convert compliance into commitment and keep people engaged when change hits hard. We start by grounding performance in a clear why. When you connect day-to-day work to mis...
When deadlines pile up and your calendar leaves no breathing room, purpose is usually the first thing to slip. Episode 23 of 12MinuteLeadership is a short, practical reset to bring you—and your team—back to center. We walk through four anchors that restore focus and energy: Lead with a mission: Separate job from calling and use your “why” as a decision filter and retention magnet.Create meaningful change: Let frustration become “divine discontent”—fuel for improving what’s stale or broken.Ach...
In this episode, I break down how to make tough conversations easier by building trust, adapting to conflict styles, and using simple frameworks that keep feedback factual and fair. I also share practical phrases, a clear prep checklist, and a reframe that turns calling out into calling up. Here are the key takeaways: • building relational equity to create trust for hard talks • reading conflict styles: accommodate, assert, analyze • adapting tone, pacing, and content to their motive • prep...
In this episode, I identify five qualities that make leaders hard to follow, then show practical alternatives that raise trust, engagement, and results. Based on my 17+ years coaching and training leaders and analyzing hundreds of 360 results, there are some clear themes that make leaders "difficult" to follow and some clear actions that can put them back on course. Topics covered in this episode are: • micromanagement and delegating for development • emotional regulation and modeling ...
Ever feel like you're speaking a different language with that one difficult team member? You're not alone. Leadership effectiveness hinges on our ability to influence across differences, yet most of us instinctively label challenging people rather than seeking to understand them. In this practical episode, I unpack what truly makes someone "difficult" and why that label often masks a simpler truth: they're just different from us. Whether you're dealing with the perpetually negative team memb...
Big transformations often start with small, strategic shifts. In Episode 19 of 12minuteleadership, you’ll hear how three leaders used executive coaching to create ripple effects across their organizations: Jennifer cut stress and earned a promotion by setting strategic boundaries. Alan prevented costly turnover by choosing empathy over rigid policy.Catherine mastered capacity management, accomplishing more without burnout.Each gained clarity, empathy, and practical tools—and the co...
Executive coaching is misunderstood as a remedy for struggling leaders when in reality it's a strategic tool used by top performers to maintain their edge and accelerate growth. Coaching delivers measurable ROI through improved decision-making, stronger team alignment, and prevention of leadership plateaus. • Myth: Coaching is only for struggling leaders • Truth: The best leaders use coaching to stay at the top of their game and scale themselves effectively • Myth: Coaching takes too much ti...
Have you ever wondered why some leaders experience exponential growth while others remain stuck in incremental improvements? The difference often lies not in working harder, but in adopting powerful mindset shifts that transform how we approach challenges and opportunities. When I hired my business coach in 2023, I couldn't have imagined the profound impact her guidance would have. Within just one year, after struggling with infertility for over five years, I finally conceived my daughter. I...
Leadership is a journey best not traveled alone. After nearly two decades as both a leadership coach and someone who benefits from coaching, I've witnessed firsthand the remarkable transformation that happens when leaders invest in professional guidance. The numbers speak volumes – coaching delivers an average ROI of seven times the investment. My personal experience confirms this: I accomplished more in one year with a coach than in the previous five years combined. From writing a book to l...
Leadership development can be a maze of options, but after 17 years helping thousands of leaders achieve remarkable results, I've discovered one training that consistently delivers transformative outcomes. Core Strengths isn't just another leadership program—it's a comprehensive solution that reveals what truly motivates people, improves communication instantly, prevents conflict, builds stronger teams, and offers immediate practical application. At its heart, Core Strengths introduces the t...
Communication is the golden thread that weaves together trust, clarity, collaboration and results in leadership. I share how customizing your communication to match your audience's core motivation can transform your effectiveness and help your ideas gain traction. • The Three Ps framework identifies core motivations: People (relational, story-driven), Performance (results-oriented, big picture), and Process (detail-oriented, structured) • Real-life example of John, a creative director who tr...
Ever wondered why some workplace conflicts seem to erupt out of nowhere? The answer lies in understanding what triggers different personality types. In this episode of the 12-Minute Leadership Podcast, I unpack how the three core motives—People, Performance, and Process—not only drive behavior but also reveal what potentially sparks conflict when these values are threatened or ignored. Dive deep into the world of "Blues" (people-motivated individuals) who thrive on relationships and inclusio...
Ever shared what you thought was a brilliant idea with your team only to watch it fall flat? Or delivered feedback that seemed perfectly reasonable but somehow missed the mark? The problem likely wasn't your message—it was how you delivered it and to whom. Leadership effectiveness often hinges on communication, but many leaders overlook a crucial element: matching their delivery to their audience's core motivational drivers. In this engaging episode, leadership expert Elise Boggs-Morales unp...
Discover how to build trust as a leader using Brené Brown's powerful BRAVING framework, which breaks trust into seven measurable components. These practical leadership strategies will help you strengthen people's trust in your leadership through daily micro-moments. • B - Boundaries: Be clear about what's okay and what's not for yourself and others • R - Reliability: Do what you say you'll do, consistently over time • A - Accountability: Own your mistakes, apologize, make amends, and hold ot...
Empathetic leadership creates higher-performing teams by building psychological safety, engagement, and trust. Research confirms that leaders with high empathy drive better employee retention and performance outcomes. • Empathy is a strategic leadership skill, not a sign of weakness • Three key moments when empathy matters most: when team members struggle, during tough feedback, and through organizational change • Specific scripts for handling each situation with empathy while maintaining ac...
Trust lies at the heart of leadership effectiveness. When it breaks down—through miscommunication, unfulfilled expectations, or leadership missteps—rebuilding it becomes crucial. Stephen Covey wasn't exaggerating when he called trust "the operating system in every relationship." Without it, teams stagnate, conversations stay superficial, and results suffer. Drawing from my 17 years of leadership expertise, I share three powerful, actionable strategies to quickly restore trust with your team....