Lead From the Heart

The first chapter of my new book, The Power of Employee Well-Being is titled Know Thyself—and for good reason. I’ve long believed that the most important work a leader can do begins inward, with deeply understanding who you are, how you show up, and the patterns that shape your behavior. That’s exactly what Margaret Andrews explores in Manage Yourself to Lead Others. Leadership, she argues, isn’t about talent, technical skill, or even hard work alone. Those things matter, but they aren’t enough. Sustainable, effective leadership starts with self-awareness—the willingness to examine the experiences, influences, and assumptions that shape your decisions and relationships. It’s the foundation that allows you to manage yourself, work effectively with your team, navigate your relationship with your boss, and make better choices under pressure. Margaret draws on decades of experience teaching executives at Harvard to show how this self-understanding translates into practical leadership. In the book, she invites readers to reflect on the leader they are now, the leader they want to become, and the gaps that stand in the way. She explores the blind spots that derail leaders, the relational skills that often outweigh technical ability, and the ways composure and authenticity separate the most capable leaders from the rest. In our conversation, we discuss why interpersonal skills continue to be undervalued in leadership development, how leaders can begin the work of self-assessment today, and the subtle ways self-awareness transforms how we influence, support, and collaborate with others. Whether you’ve just taken on a leadership role or have been leading for decades, this episode is a reminder that the work of leadership is never just outward. It starts with curiosity, honesty, and the real courage to confront what you may not yet fully see about yourself. Margaret’s insights offer a roadmap to that work—and a simple but powerful challenge: to lead others, first understand yourself. The post Margaret Andrews: Why Leading Others Begins with Understanding Yourself appeared first on Mark C. Crowley.

Mark Thompson is widely recognized as the world’s #1 CEO coach, bringing more than 30 years of experience preparing top executives and boards — from global corporations to fast-growing startups — to step confidently into their next leadership roles. As founding Chairman of the Chief Executive Alliance and former Chief Experience Officer at Charles Schwab Corporation, he has guided leaders through high-stakes challenges, career transitions, and moments that define organizational success. Few guests bring the depth of operating experience, boardroom insight, and leadership wisdom that Mark does, making this conversation a rare opportunity for any leader seeking to grow. High performance alone is not enough to secure the promotion you deserve — and Mark knows it. He helps leaders prepare in ways they often don’t realize matter: building the confidence of decision-makers, developing influence without self-promotion, uncovering blind spots, and cultivating leadership agility. In this discussion, he shares practical strategies to navigate these subtleties so leaders are ready when opportunity knocks. We also explore lessons from his new book, CEO Ready: What You Need to Know to Earn the Job and Keep the Job, which offers an actionable roadmap for leaders at every level. Whether you aspire to the corner office or want to lead more effectively today, Mark’s insights reveal the often-overlooked factors that determine who rises and who stalls — and how to position yourself to succeed. Mark goes deeper into the human side of leadership, showing how emotions, relationships, and self-awareness shape career growth and organizational impact. He offers guidance on building trust, earning respect, creating cultures where people feel seen and motivated, and addressing challenges like impostor syndrome before they derail your progress. Finally, Mark shares lessons few leaders ever get the chance to hear directly from someone with his experience: how to reinvent yourself proactively, stay agile, and elevate your leadership so you’re not only prepared for promotion but also ready to excel once you get there. This is a conversation packed with rare insight, practical strategies, and wisdom you can apply immediately — one you’ll want to listen to all the way through. The post Mark Thompson — The #1 Coach to CEOs Prepares Leaders for Their Next Opportunity appeared first on Mark C. Crowley.

Have you ever noticed how many people — even highly successful leaders — live in constant overdrive? They’re productive, disciplined, and always “on,” but inside, they’re exhausted. That’s survival mode — and according to Jon Rosemberg, author of A Guide to Thriving: The Science Behind Breaking Old Patterns, Reclaiming Your Agency, and Finding Meaning, it’s where far too many of us spend our days. In our conversation with Jon, he shows that survival mode isn’t just about burnout — it’s about a deeper disconnection from calm, choice, and purpose. We get stuck reacting to life instead of truly living it. While it can look like high performance on the outside, it quietly erodes creativity, well-being, and authentic leadership. In this conversation, Jon explains: Why high achievers are especially prone to it — and why it often feels “normal” How to recognize the subtle signs that you’re no longer thriving How to reclaim your agency and live with greater energy, clarity, and meaning How leaders can create cultures where people feel safe, inspired, and fully alive at work Jon also introduces his highly adoptable “AIR model” — Awareness, Inquiry, and Reframing — a set of tools to help you move from autopilot to intention, from surviving to thriving. We discuss this at length. At its core, thriving isn’t about having easy days. It’s about learning to meet challenges with grounded confidence, to respond rather than react, and to cultivate environments where people can flourish. If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on autopilot — or want to help your team move beyond stress and into sustainable performance — this episode offers both insight and hope.  Listen now to learn how to shift from surviving to thriving — in your leadership, and in your life. The post Jon Rosemberg: How To Break Out Of Survival Mode — And Start Thriving appeared first on Mark C. Crowley.

Why Do Smart, Capable Leaders So Often Get In Their Own Way? Muriel M. Wilkins — executive coach, host of the Harvard Business Review podcast Coaching Real Leaders, and author of the brilliant new book Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential — has spent her career helping senior leaders uncover the invisible beliefs that quietly sabotage their effectiveness. In this episode, Muriel joins me to explore what she calls hidden blockers — seven deeply ingrained mindsets that cause leaders to overcontrol, overwork, or second-guess themselves. These blockers sound deceptively simple — “I need to be involved in every detail,” “I need it done now, no matter what,” “I know I’m right,” and “I don’t belong here” — but they drive some of the most common leadership breakdowns we see today. Muriel shares how her own leadership struggles early in her career — and one pivotal question from her partner, “Did you ever think maybe the problem is you?” — led her to uncover the truth that changed everything: the biggest obstacles to our leadership rarely come from others; they come from within ourselves. Together, we dive into: Why it’s so hard for leaders to see that we might be the problem How the need for control and speed quietly destroys trust and engagement Why certainty can masquerade as confidence — and how to lead with curiosity instead How even the most accomplished leaders can secretly feel like outsiders, a belief closely tied to impostor syndrome, and what to do about it The single underlying fear that fuels all these hidden blockers If you’ve ever wondered why you keep repeating the same patterns — or why leading sometimes feels harder than it should — this conversation will help you see what’s really been standing in your way. Muriel’s insights are both deeply human and immediately actionable. You’ll walk away seeing leadership — and yourself — through a whole new lens, with practical tools to unstick the hidden beliefs that have been holding you back. The post Muriel Wilkins: Breaking Through the Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back appeared first on Mark C. Crowley.

The core message of Colin M. Fisher’s new book, The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups, is simple but profound: we dramatically overestimate the role of individuals in success and underestimate the extraordinary power of groups. History celebrates “great men” like Edison, Jobs, and Musk, but the truth is that real breakthroughs nearly always come from teams—groups that learn how to cooperate effectively, stick together, and build upon one another’s strengths. Too often, workplace managers mirror this cultural bias becoming infatuated with star performers. They lavish praise and resources on individuals, hoping one person’s brilliance will carry the whole. But as Colin makes clear, the true competitive advantage lies in developing cohesive, resilient teams. A star may dazzle for a while, but groups that collaborate well produce enduring results—driving innovation, loyalty, and resilience that no single person can deliver on their own. Colin argues that our obsession with individual genius has left workplaces fractured and often mismanaged. And when leaders cling to fear-based tactics—believing pressure and intimidation will push people to perform—they undermine the very conditions groups need to excel. Negative experiences weigh five times more heavily on the human brain than positive ones. They consume energy, erode trust, and ensure people take fewer risks. Fear creates compliance, at best, but never the creativity, loyalty, or innovation required for long-term success. Our conversation zeroed in on what makes groups thrive. Loyalty, belonging, and well-being aren’t “soft” ideas (as our podcast audience knows very well); they are competitive advantages. Teams that stay together outperform those plagued by turnover. Organizations that invest in caring for people not only attract and retain talent but also become more adaptable in times of disruption. Colin’s research powerfully confirms what many of us already know: well-being is not separate from performance—it’s the fuel that allows groups to commit fully, collaborate deeply, and sustain high achievement over time. Colin’s research also reveals that truly effective cooperation requires more than just hitting goals—it demands that members feel satisfied enough to remain personally committed. That’s why enduring teams, like the Rolling Stones, last for decades: they balance performance with the relational glue that keeps people engaged. We also explored some of Colin’s most compelling insights for leaders not previously heard with past guests. In a world increasingly divided and polarized, Colin’s work is a reminder that our greatest strength comes not from going it alone, or idolizing lone stars, but from rediscovering the collective edge—unlocking the trust, creativity, resilience, and well-being that only groups can deliver. The post Colin Fisher: Why Teams, Not Stars, Create Lasting Success appeared first on Mark C. Crowley.