FranklinCovey On Leadership with Scott Miller

How does it get better? That is one of many questions posed by #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hollis as she returns to the On Leadership podcast. Rachel joins the podcast to discuss her new book, What if YOU Are the Answer, which poses thoughtful questions to get readers thinking intentionally about what’s next in their lives. She emphasizes the importance of falling in love with the creative process, encouraging people to focus on what they are passionate about even if it doesn’t lead to immediate results. Rachel opens up about personal challenges she has faced in recent years, including divorce, the death of her ex-husband, and a miscarriage, offering encouragement to others to give themselves grace and time to grieve during difficult times.

Three-time New York Times bestselling author, renowned behavioral economist, and Duke professor Dan Ariely joins On Leadership for a thoughtful discussion on the business case for building cultures of trust inside organizations. Dan shares insights from his extensive research, which shows that factors like employee appreciation, fairness, and psychological safety have a strong correlation with a company's stock market performance. He also discusses the phenomenon of "misbelief,” digging into what makes rational people believe irrational things. Dan delves into the psychology behind the spread of misinformation and offers thoughts on how individuals and businesses can work to combat this troubling trend and restore trust in institutions and basic facts.

Learn how to turn anxiety into a force for good with Dr. Wendy Suzuki, a neuroscientist and professor at NYU. Dr. Suzuki joins On Leadership to share insights from her book Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion, discussing how anxiety is a normal human emotion that exists on a spectrum, and how we can harness the "good" aspects of anxiety to become more productive and empathetic. She shares practical tips like turning anxious "what-if" thoughts into a to-do list, as well as the benefits of physical activity in managing anxiety.

Thriving in spite of setbacks changes the second you wake up in the morning. That’s the take bestselling author Hal Elrod has in his renowned book The Miracle Morning, which details his own major life challenges and setbacks, including the death of his sister, a near-fatal car accident, and a cancer diagnosis. Hal was able to turn these adversities into opportunities for growth and transformation and shares how he did that through the development of a consistent morning routine built around his SAVERS acronym for Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing.

If you have young people in your life, you need to take 42 minutes to listen to this episode. Join Dr. Leonard Sax, renowned physician, bestselling author, and psychologist, for a crucial conversation on modern-day parenting and the challenges facing young people today. Dr. Sax discusses the importance of parents establishing a culture of respect in the home, the risks of prioritizing a child's popularity and social status over their relationship with their parents, and the negative impact of a "culture of disrespect" in media and popular culture.

Join New York Times bestselling author, speaker, world record holder, and founder of the fastest-growing whiskey company in the U.S., Fawn Weaver, for a masterclass in business, leadership, and communication. Fawn shares her remarkable story, including how she became interested in the whiskey business, the challenges she faced as a woman of color entering a historically white-male-dominated industry, and the principles and strategies that have driven her company's success.

A parable for our times shines light on important personal and professional life lessons we could all benefit from refocusing on. Bestselling author James Rhee joins On Leadership to discuss his book, Red Helicopter, which thoughtfully blends personal memoir, business lessons, and a philosophy for navigating life's complexities with kindness, wisdom, and a systems-based perspective. James shares his unconventional background, from teaching high school to working in private equity, and how those experiences shaped his approach to leading the once-struggling retailer Ashley Stewart. He emphasizes the value of pattern recognition, the need to question conventional systems and assumptions, and the importance of leading with both kindness and a mathematical, systems-based mindset. 

Learn your “money type” and how it’s helping or hurting your relationship with bestselling author and personal finance expert, Ramit Sethi. Ramit joins On Leadership to discuss the importance of couples having open and positive conversations about money, and shares insights on the four main "money types" that people tend to fall into - the avoider, the optimizer, the worrier, and the dreamer. He provides practical advice for how partners with different money types can better communicate and work together to achieve their shared financial and life goals.

This episode features an interview with Dr. Ruth Gotian, an expert in mentorship and author of the book "Mentoring: A Complete Guide to Effective Mentoring". Dr. Gotian discuss the importance of mentorship, how to effectively find and cultivate mentor-mentee relationships, and the common pitfalls to avoid. She also shares her personal experience as both a mentor and mentee, and provides practical advice on how to make the most of mentoring relationships, both formal and informal.

This episode features an illuminating conversation with Hala Gorani, the renowned and beloved international journalist and anchor who has covered some of the most significant news events of our time. Hala shares insights into her diverse background and the journalistic principles that guide her work, emphasizing the importance of objectivity, fact-checking, and listening to her interview subjects. She provides valuable communication advice for leaders, stressing the need to connect authentically with audiences rather than lecturing them. Gorani also recounts harrowing personal experiences, such as being caught in the Arab Spring uprisings in Egypt, underscoring the risks and challenges faced by foreign correspondents. Throughout the interview, Gorani demonstrates her deep understanding of the evolving media landscape and the challenges facing journalism in the digital age.

In this episode, host Scott Miller interviews author and former business executive Bill Bennett about his impressive work in fiction writing and the creative process behind his latest book, Jacob T. Marley. Bill shares how he discovered his passion for storytelling, the strategies he uses to develop engaging backstories and characters, and the discipline and rituals he follows as a writer. Throughout the discussion, Bill provides advice and encouragement for aspiring writers, emphasizing the importance of finding your creative voice and being willing to experiment outside your comfort zone.

Paying the price and planting metaphorical acorns might not make you remarkable, but New York Times bestselling author Guy Kawasaki offers lessons in these areas that sure will get you on the right path. Guy shares thoughtful, pragmatic wisdom on how to build a remarkable life of impact, all grounded in his diverse experiences as an entrepreneur, author, and technology evangelist.

Matthew Frederick, the acclaimed author of the 101 Things I Learned series, brings his unique perspective on blending creativity, practical wisdom, and personal growth. In this episode, he delves into the origins of his popular books, the key lessons they've uncovered across disciplines, and how these principles can be applied to leadership and everyday challenges. Whether you're looking to spark creativity, solve problems more effectively, or find inspiration in unexpected places, this episode offers valuable takeaways to enhance your thinking and impact.

Keith Ferrazzi, author of Never Eat Alone, returns to discuss his latest book, Never Lead Alone. Keith explores the concept of transitioning from traditional leadership to a more collaborative approach—what he calls "teamship." This conversation offers insights into building stronger, more effective teams and fostering a leadership style that prioritizes collective success over individual achievement.

Reimagining how to leverage AI effectively and responsibly is at the forefront of a lot of leader’s minds right now, including Sal Khan, Founder of the Khan Academy. Sal returns to On Leadership to discuss how AI-powered tools can provide personalized tutoring to students, assist teachers with administrative tasks, and transform assessment and credentialing. He advocates for embracing AI’s potential and argues that while there are valid concerns about AI, the technology also presents immense opportunities to improve education and support learners if implemented thoughtfully and ethically.

Marketing and branding in the digital age is a constantly evolving realm to manage, but it’s one that Marcus Collins has mastered. Marcus joins On Leadership to share the importance of understanding culture and how it shapes human behavior and brand perceptions. He discusses the concept of finding your congregation, or your community of people who share a brand’s beliefs and values, and use the brand to communicate their own worldviews. Marcus offers practical advice for executives and leaders on how to build a strong social media presence by focusing on communicating their beliefs and values rather than just promoting their products.

Take an inspiring journey into the life and wisdom of Lisa Nichols, a renowned speaker, entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author of the recent book Abundance Now: Amplify Your Life and Achieve Prosperity. Lisa shares how she rose above adversity and intentionally shaped the life she wants to be remembered for, offering listeners a roadmap to do the same. Through her diverse career—from co-authoring Chicken Soup for the Soul books and appearing in The Secret, to coaching others on public speaking and goal-setting—Lisa shows how each experience has been driven by her passion for empowering people.

Something changes in your mindset when you bounce back from something you had a five percent chance of bouncing back from. In fact, Roy Reid would argue that his story of surviving a life-threatening aortic dissection actually bounced him forward, not back. Roy shares his story of how his experience transformed his perspective, discussing the foundational role of trust in health, wellbeing, and performance in your personal and professional life.

Stay more focused in an age where there is more demand on our attention than ever before. Dr. Gloria Mark is a leading expert on human attention and the impacts of technology. Dr. Mark shares her research on the different "attentional states" people experience - focused attention, rote attention, boredom, and frustration - and the importance of balancing these states throughout the day to maintain productivity and well-being. Manage Your Energy to Do Your Job Well: To identify areas where you're putting yourself at risk of burnout, answer the questions in our guide, then choose one good self-care habit you can start practicing this week.

Harvard Business School professor Dr. Michael Norton joins On Leadership to share how rituals can be identified and used as a tool for all of us in our personal and professional lives. Dr. Norton explains the difference between rituals, habits, and compulsions, discussing how elite performers like athletes and celebrities often have elaborate pre-performance rituals that help them feel more prepared to perform. Dr. Dorton describes how rituals are often used to provide a sense of control and reduce anxiety, but can become compulsive and interfere with one's goals if taken too far. Manage Your Time Like a Pro—Hard-working professionals should be spending more time on their long-term goals. We can help with these 7 Tips for Doing What Matters Most.