DiscoverThe Leadership Line
The Leadership Line
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The Leadership Line

Author: Tammy Rogers and Scott Burgmeyer

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Leading people, growing organizations, and optimizing opportunities is not for the faint of heart. It takes courage, drive, discipline and maybe just a dash of good fortune. Tammy and Scott, mavericks, business owners, life-long learners, collaborators and sometimes competitors join forces to explore the world of work. They tackle real-life work issues – everything from jerks at work to organizational burnout. And while they may not always agree – Tammy and Scott’s experience, perspective and practical advice helps viewers turn the kaleidoscope, examine options and alternatives, and identify actionable solutions. 

239 Episodes
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A lot of organizations say they want flexibility, then quietly slide back to the easiest rule of all: be in the office, be online, be “on” for 40 hours. We push on that default and ask a sharper question: what outcomes are we actually paying for, and why do we keep treating presence like performance? We unpack what we’re hearing from the market about workplace flexibility, from reduced schedules and “parent hours” to job sharing and realistic part-time roles. We talk about the talent you los...
Ever left a room and realized your silence got read as doubt, disengagement, or indecision? We unpack why thoughtful people get overlooked in fast-talking cultures and how small, intentional moves can change everything—without forcing you to become someone you’re not. Together we explore the real “why” behind speaking up, from countering perfectionism to clarifying alignment, and we map out practical steps for showing presence in the moments that matter. We share a coaching story of a CFO-tr...
What if one honest question could change the course of your company? We dive straight into the hard edge of leadership: the unseen costs of waiting, the myth that misaligned teams “eventually sync,” and the moment a CEO realized their top staff could not take the organization where it needed to go. From there, we get practical—how to set nonnegotiables, make tough personnel calls with clarity and care, and turn good intentions into time-bound action that protects momentum. We share the coach...
Ever notice how fast “great” shows up in status updates—and how little it explains? We dig into the quiet habits that separate busy leaders from effective ones, starting with a bold experiment: give up being right for six weeks. Instead of supplying answers, we practice staying curious longer, asking for specifics, and creating short pockets of headspace that sharpen judgment and reduce reactivity. We share simple scripts to turn shallow check-ins into real conversations: What does great mea...
Stuck between “I could write a book” and an actual manuscript? We unpack the messy middle with a candid look at purpose, process, and the practical moves that turn ideas into finished pages. From the spark that pushes you to write to the systems that keep you going, we share what truly matters when the goal is to publish work you’re proud of. We start by interrogating motivation: legacy, learning, credibility, or pure creativity. That clarity sets your scope, shapes your voice, and protects ...
The quickest way to change a team’s culture might be just four words: Who helped you? We dug into this deceptively simple question and uncovered how it disarms ego, turns success into a teachable process, and brings unseen contributors into the light. Instead of celebrating lone heroes, we trace the gratitude chain behind real wins, from mentors and managers to the people who polish details and keep systems stable. We share concrete stories: closing big deals that leaned on old lessons and r...
Ever notice how “I’ll just do it” feels efficient and heroic, right up until you’re answering emails at 10 p.m. and your team waits on you for every decision? We dig into the invisible costs of holding on and the practical steps that turn delegation from a guilt trip into a growth engine. We start by calling out the classic excuses leaders use to avoid asking for help and why those patterns create yes‑people instead of thinkers. Then we flip the script: as leaders, we own the learning curve....
What does a good coworker look like when the stakes are real, the calendar is packed, and life crashes through the door? We share the story of a year that stripped leadership down to the studs and revealed a team stronger than anyone realized. When personal loss shook the top, our crew didn’t freeze—they stepped in, made decisions, and carried the load without keeping score. That experience reframed how we think about support, accountability, and the space leaders must create for others to gr...
New year, clear eyes. We open the door to 2026 by examining what 2025 really taught us about promises, time, and the quiet habits that make or break momentum. Instead of scoring our stop, start, continue pledges, we dig into what changed just by naming commitments out loud—and what didn’t change until we wrote them down, protected time, and owned the tradeoffs. We talk frankly about integrity and self-trust: when a “commitment” is just a wish, confidence leaks and imposter feelings grow. Shi...
Ever been handed “one more thing” and wondered whether pushing back would help you or haunt you? We dig into the real art of saying no at work—how to protect your bandwidth without damaging trust, and how to turn tense requests into clear decisions that move the right work forward. Along the way, we share the exact phrases that keep conversations calm, the questions that reveal hidden context, and the negotiation steps that map tradeoffs without sounding defensive. We start by separating cor...
Are we becoming workplace jerks in our quest for self-care? This provocative question frames our candid conversation about a troubling trend in modern self-help literature. When bestsellers like "The Courage to Be Disliked" and "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" encourage readers to prioritize themselves, set rigid boundaries, and worry less about others' opinions, something valuable yet dangerous emerges. We unpack Emma Goldberg's thoughtful New York Times piece questioning whether these...
Have you ever wondered if you can truly be your authentic self at work? That question lies at the heart of our conversation, sparked by a hilarious meme: "I accidentally used my real personality at work today. I'll just take myself to HR." We dive deep into the tension between authenticity and professionalism, exploring whether self-management means betraying who you are or simply choosing which aspects of yourself to emphasize in different contexts. The truth is, everyone has amazing qualit...
Have you ever felt trapped in your career, wondering if the only way up is out? This candid conversation delves into the fascinating dynamics of succession planning and career advancement within organizations. We tackle the uncomfortable truth many professionals face: the perception that meaningful career advancement often requires leaving your current employer. Our discussion explores how different organizational structures impact growth opportunities – from learning-focused environments th...
Have you ever been bombarded with sales calls after showing the slightest interest in a product or service? That frustrating experience is exactly what we tackle in this candid conversation about marketing follow-up strategies that actually work—and the ones that drive potential customers away forever. Carmen shares her maddening experience with a lawn service that wouldn't stop calling despite clear boundaries, while another team member describes the overwhelming vendor calls following the ...
What if many of the HR "rules" you've always followed aren't actually rules at all? This eye-opening exploration of workplace urban legends challenges common misconceptions about human resources practices that have become deeply embedded in organizational cultures. We start by tackling perhaps the biggest myth of all: that HR exists primarily to ensure employee happiness. Tracing the evolution from the old "personnel department" hostess-like function to today's strategic partner role, we rev...
Ever found yourself so mentally drained at the end of a workday that you can't even decide what to eat for dinner? That's decision fatigue in action – a leadership challenge that silently erodes effectiveness and energy. During our candid conversation, we dive deep into why so many leaders hit this mental wall and the surprising ways they often create their own exhaustion. When leaders make decisions that should rightfully belong to their team members, they not only overburden themselves but...
Leading Through Change

Leading Through Change

2025-08-1323:01

What happens when you're responsible for leading a change you don't fully believe in? This question sits at the heart of modern leadership challenges, where changes arrive faster than ever and often from sources beyond our control. For leaders navigating this landscape, the critical skill isn't avoiding change but transforming how we process it. The most effective approach starts with recognizing our emotional reactions—the fear, resistance, or uncertainty—and deliberately shifting to analyt...
Every strength has a shadow side. That confident communication style that makes you so persuasive? It might be shutting down the very conversations you're trying to create. Those brilliant ideas constantly flowing from your mind? They could be overwhelming your team instead of inspiring them. Your nurturing approach that makes people feel safe? It might make your necessary feedback feel unexpectedly harsh. In this refreshingly honest conversation, we dive into the paradox of leadership trait...
"Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn." This simple yet profound statement encapsulates a crucial mindset for effective leadership and personal growth. Our conversation dives deep into the transformative power of embracing failure as a catalyst for development rather than a source of shame. We explore how our relationship with competition shapes our leadership style. Tammy shares insights from growing up with an ultra-competitive father who viewed drive and hustle as essential traits, whil...
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