Claim OwnershipThings Leaders Do
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© 2026 Things Leaders Do
Description
Whether you're a new manager figuring out how to lead your first team or a seasoned executive refining your approach, host Colby Morris delivers actionable tools and real-world frameworks you can use today to lead with confidence, clarity, and impact.
Things Leaders Do is the straight-talk podcast for leaders who want practical strategies that actually work—not just leadership theory that sounds good in a boardroom.
Each week, Colby breaks down people-first leadership with humor, insight, and straight talk—covering how to communicate effectively and build trust, create high-performance team cultures, handle pressure and setbacks, balance accountability with empathy, and master the intersection of strategy, execution, and influence.
Perfect for new leaders stepping into management, seasoned executives leveling up their skills, and anyone tired of leadership advice that doesn't translate to the real world.
Weekly episodes tackle succession planning, conflict resolution, one-on-ones that actually work, performance reviews that don't suck, employee development, and how to create workplaces where people want to stay—not just show up.
No fluff. No vague concepts.
Just tactical frameworks and processes you can implement Monday morning.
New episodes drop every Monday. Subscribe now and join thousands of leaders building stronger teams and better workplace cultures.
Host Colby Morris is the founder of NXT Step Advisors, providing executive coaching, team training, and keynote speaking focused on people-first leadership that drives real business results.
Connect at nxtstepadvisors.com or linkedin.com/in/colbymorris
117 Episodes
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What should you do when your January plans fall apart? Acknowledge what slipped, identify why it happened, and make one small adjustment to get back on track. This episode shares a three-step recovery process refined over 20+ years of leadership—because leadership isn't about perfect execution, it's about recovery. Episode Description What happens when your January plans fall apart by Week 2? How can you recover when you've already slipped back into old habits? What's the difference between...
What should leaders do in the first week of January to set their team up for success in 2026? How can middle managers use the first week back to re-engage their teams and set the tone for the entire year? Most leaders waste the first week of January drowning in email and attending pointless meetings. But the first week of January isn't about catching up—it's about resetting. In this episode, Colby breaks down the specific conversations leaders need to have, why one-on-ones are non-negotiable,...
93% of employees can't align their personal goals with company objectives—because most goal-setting is one-directional garbage. This episode shows you how to create SMART goals using the two-way framework that balances corporate priorities with what your team actually wants to develop. What You'll Learn: Why SMART goals remove ambiguity and prevent performance review conflictsHow to cascade corporate goals using the trickle-down effect (not copy/paste)The two types of personal development goa...
Year-end performance reviews often fail because feedback evaporates by February. This episode shows you how to deliver feedback that actually changes behavior—whether you've been doing one-on-ones all year or you're starting fresh in 2026. What You'll Learn: How to own it when you haven't been present (the 10-second script that builds trust)The four steps for giving feedback when you've been MIAHow to introduce one-on-ones without the awkwardness derailing youThe three anchors of feedback tha...
Employee Recognition Strategies That Actually Work How do you recognize employees effectively? Most leaders only show appreciation during holidays—a team lunch at Thanksgiving, gift cards at year-end—but your people deserve consistent recognition year-round. Research shows 76% of employees don't feel adequately recognized at work, yet gratitude often becomes a seasonal checkbox instead of a daily leadership practice. This episode gives you a proven framework for meaningful employee reco...
Ever felt stuck between speaking up to your boss and protecting your career? You're in a meeting, your boss makes a decision you know is wrong, but you stay silent—worried that disagreeing will make you look insubordinate or damage the relationship. Here's the truth: you're not alone. 76% of employees avoid workplace conflict, and nearly 24% of all workplace conflict happens between employees and their direct supervisors. This episode tackles the biggest challenge middle managers face: how to...
You delegated the project. Now you're wondering: Should I check in without micromanaging? How do I hold people accountable without hovering? Here's the tension every middle manager feels: You want accountability, but you don't want to be the micromanager everyone complains about. In this episode, leadership consultant Colby Morris breaks down the critical difference between holding someone accountable and micromanaging—and shows you exactly how to check in on your team without making them fee...
You had the tough conversation. You thought you were clear. But nothing changed. Now what? Most leadership advice stops at "have the conversation" and never tells you what to do when the issue repeats. In this episode, leadership consultant Colby Morris walks you through exactly how to handle the second conversation—and why it's often more important than the first. What You'll Learn: Why the first conversation probably didn't work (and how to avoid the same mistake)The two bad paths leaders ...
You believe in people-first leadership, but you work in a results-only culture. Your peers manage by spreadsheet. Your boss treats people like resources. You're wondering: Can I actually lead differently without getting crushed? Here's the truth: You can't change the entire company culture right now. But you CAN change your team culture. And that's more powerful than you think. In this episode, leadership consultant Colby Morris shares how middle managers can pioneer people-first leadership i...
Your inbox is full of articles about AI replacing jobs. You're wondering: Am I next? Here's the truth: Great people-first leaders won't be replaced by AI—but 88% of heavy AI users are burning out because they're doing it wrong. In this episode, you'll learn how to use AI strategically to become MORE people-first, not less. Get the exact methods leaders are using to save 100+ hours per year while spending more time with their teams, not less. What You'll Learn: Why 88% of AI users burn out (a...
Look around your executive team. How many of you were external hires? Every hand goes up. Now show me how many managers you have promoted from front-line positions. Zero. Not one. Crickets. Host Colby Morris shares the devastating boardroom moment that exposed why one organization could not stop the turnover bleeding. When every leadership opening goes external, you are sending your team a clear message - there is no path forward for you here. This episode transforms succession planning from ...
Your top performer just quit without a backup plan. They're driving Uber while they figure out their next move. Why? Because the pain of staying became greater than the pain of change. In 2025, 35% of Gen Z workers will quit without another job lined up, and 1 in 4 employees have considered quitting due to mental health concerns. The gig economy changed everything—your people have options now, and being a "nice boss" isn't enough. Host Colby Morris reveals the critical difference between boss...
This deep-dive follow-up delivers exactly what you asked for: three specific, actionable systems that successful hybrid leaders use to build trust, measure performance, and manage remote teams without losing their minds. Host Colby Morris shares a real transformation story about Lisa, a marketing director whose team was crushing goals but sending deliverables at 2:00 AM - creating massive anxiety about "when" her people were working. Discover how implementing SMART goal-aligned KPIs eliminate...
BREAKING: New 2025 research reveals 51% of workers would quit rather than return to traditional management styles. Is your hybrid leadership approach driving away top talent? If your best performer just quit with an exit interview citing "micromanagement" and "lack of trust," you're experiencing the hybrid leadership dilemma that's costing organizations their most valuable people. The hybrid workplace has exposed a critical flaw in how most leaders manage remote teams, virtual employees, and ...
When national tragedy strikes, leaders don’t have the luxury of silence. In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris reflects on the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University and what it reveals about the role of leaders during moments of crisis. This conversation isn’t about politics. It’s about leadership. It’s about how you show up when your team is already processing fear, anger, confusion—and yes, sometimes celebration. In this episode, we cover: Why silence in the f...
How do leaders invite productive conflict? Most leaders avoid workplace conflict, then wonder why teams never bring them the truth until it's too late. In this final Conflict IQ episode, discover the advanced skill that separates good leaders from great ones: actively inviting disagreement to strengthen team performance. Learn specific language patterns that encourage honest pushback and practical tools for creating environments where the best ideas emerge from anywhere on your team. What Yo...
Welcome to Episode 100 of Things Leaders Do! I can’t believe we’ve hit this milestone together. Thank you to every listener who’s been here along the way—your feedback and stories keep pushing me to bring leadership conversations that actually matter. For this milestone episode, we’re continuing the Conflict IQ series with Part 2: Reading the Room—How to Spot Hidden Conflict Before It Explodes. Here’s the truth: by the time conflict becomes visible, it’s already too late. The real leadership ...
Ever walked out of a meeting thinking everyone was aligned—only to realize the real conversation started in the hallway? That’s not alignment. That’s avoidance. And it’s killing your team’s potential. In this kickoff episode of the Conflict IQ series, Colby Morris unpacks why most leaders get conflict wrong—and how you can build the intelligence to turn tension into trust. Drawing from research at Melbourne Business School, insights from Harvard Business Review, and Patrick Lencioni’s work on...
Ever wondered why your Gen X boss seems to speak in code? Why they get weird when you ask "why" or seem obsessed with how many hours you work? This episode flips the script—giving Millennials and Gen Z the backstage pass to understanding what makes their Gen X bosses tick. It's not about excusing poor leadership; it's about cracking the code so you can work together more effectively. What You'll Learn The real reason Gen X leaders act the way they do (hint: it's not personal)Why common Gen X...
If you’ve ever said, “Because I said so” in a meeting, you might be leading like it’s still 1989. In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris calls out his own generation—Gen X leaders—for the outdated habits that are quietly holding teams back. With a mix of self-awareness, humor, and hard truth, you’ll discover: Why clinging to old leadership habits kills engagement—and how to evolve without losing your identityHow “professional distance” is eroding trust, and the simple shift that b...
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