Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holley explore the difference between being busy and being effective as a leader. They illustrate how motion—such as planning and preparing—can often masquerade as progress when true impact comes from taking decisive action. You'll discover lessons from real-life case studies and practical strategies for turning meetings and collaboration into actionable steps that deliver real results.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, our hosts discuss what it means to become an influential person instead of an influencer. You'll learn about the five levels of leadership, discover how influential people think differently, and gain practical tips to build authentic connections with others. Our hosts also explore the impact of emotional intelligence, long-term thinking, and leading with principles instead of preferences. Discover strategies for handling pressure, fostering an abundance mindset, and developing influence through consistent, intentional actions.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holley explore common leadership blind spots and what growth requires to overcome them. Find out how to leverage self-awareness, honest feedback, and systems to identify and address often overlooked areas. This episode also shares practical strategies for handling difficult conversations, balancing results with team development, and maintaining clarity in communication.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holley explore the critical role of self-awareness in effective leadership. They highlight the challenges of maintaining self-awareness, especially as leaders move higher in an organization. You'll learn 3 ways to strengthen this essential skill and leverage it to build stronger, more trusted teams.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holley explore the signs of a broken workplace culture and outline why leaders hold primary responsibility for shaping it. Discover 3 ways to create an environment where people feel valued, seen, and heard, plus 3 elements crucial in transforming and sustaining a healthy culture. You'll gain practical strategies to identify challenges in your own teams and drive meaningful cultural change.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Perry Holley and Chris Goede explore how leaders can accelerate their growth and unleash their full potential by adopting a mentoring mindset. Find out how staying teachable, seeking out diverse perspectives, and continuously asking intentional questions fosters your development, and what 3 things most help you and your team grow. You'll gain actionable strategies to audit current relationships, structure purposeful learning conversations, and extend the value of mentoring to those around you.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holley highlight the need for organizations to show their team members that they belong. Along with practical strategies inspired by Horst Schulze's approach at Ritz-Carlton, they also explore the critical role of empathy, honest feedback, and psychological safety in helping individuals feel valued and included. Gain actionable insights for creating authentic environments where every team member feels a genuine sense of belonging and purpose.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! This week, Chris Goede and Perry Holley are joined again by Dr. Greg Steely to explore how systems consistently outperform individual heroics in driving organizational success. Leaders often celebrate working harder and longer hours, yet neglect the long-term benefits of building effective systems. This discussion focuses on the importance of creating guardrails—simple or complex—that guide behavior and enable team members to excel together. You'll also hear practical strategies for shifting from a culture of crisis-driven heroics to one where empowered teams and strong systems fuel sustainable results.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Perry Holley, Chris Goede, and guest Greg Steely explore the critical difference between momentum and clarity in leadership. They share practical strategies for ensuring organizational clarity, like the "clarity sandwich" approach and aligning team members around a shared purpose. They discuss common pitfalls leaders face when relying too much on activity and energy instead of driving clear execution and results. Discover actionable tips for fostering alignment, accountability, and sustainable momentum built on a foundation of clarity.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holley explore practical strategies for improving results in periods of underperformance. They discuss the critical role of clarity in expectations, outlining how leaders can identify gaps in communication and simplify complex processes for better outcomes. They also highlight the need to focus on developing people rather than clamping down with tighter controls, encouraging leaders to adopt a coaching mindset and foster trust within their teams. Additionally, they address common obstacles such as system inefficiencies, misalignment among departments, and low trust. Discover actionable questions and approaches to drive both immediate improvement and long-term scalable performance.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holley explore what it takes to design a workplace culture where people genuinely want to stay. They outline the critical role that psychological safety, meaningful autonomy, and consistent leadership play in building loyalty rather than just retention. They also discuss the power of growth opportunities, recognition, and high standards paired with strong support in keeping top talent engaged. This episode offers practical strategies and real-world examples for leaders committed to creating a thriving, high-retention work environment.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holley explore why culture consistently shapes organizational success more than strategy alone. They share practical examples of how leaders can close the gap between stated values and everyday behaviors, ensuring the team's actions truly reflect the company's core beliefs. They highlight specific steps leaders can take to build trust, promote accountability, and reinforce key behaviors that define a positive culture. The conversation offers actionable guidance for leaders eager to create a work environment where consistency, clarity, and real-time feedback drive exceptional results.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holley explore eight key questions leaders should ask themselves to build a memorable leadership legacy. They discuss how true leadership involves developing others, creating clarity, and fostering an environment where team members feel safe to share the truth. They also examine the importance of building future leaders, being transformational rather than transactional, and ensuring every interaction leaves people stronger. Throughout the conversation, they share practical strategies and thought-provoking examples to help leaders reflect on their influence and grow into leaders who leave a lasting, positive impact.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holly explore the challenge of managing cognitive overload in today's workplace. They talk about the generational differences in how employees approach boundaries between work and personal life, highlighting the importance of understanding individual needs. They introduce a practical "RESET" framework to help leaders create healthier environments through clear boundaries, prioritization, and encouraging recovery. Listeners gain actionable strategies to reduce team burnout and improve overall engagement.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede, Perry Holley, and Tricia Sciortino explore how executives can harness the power of a strong executive assistant to maximize their leadership impact. They discuss strategies for building trust, delegating effectively, and rethinking the leader-assistant partnership as both roles and organizations evolve. Tricia shares practical steps to overcome the reluctance to delegate and highlights the benefits of leveraging the unique strengths of an executive assistant. Listeners will receive actionable insights on reshaping their workload, improving communication, and creating systems that lead to greater productivity and organizational growth.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Perry Holley and Chris Goede answer key leadership questions submitted by listeners, offering practical advice for real-world challenges, including: coaching young leaders to shift from self-focused language to team-oriented communication how new leaders can maximize their first 90 days by building relationships, listening, and learning rather than rushing into action balancing strategic thinking with daily operations, and provide tips for leading remote teams without falling into micromanagement Overall, the episode equips leaders with actionable steps to increase their influence and enhance team performance.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! Get your copy of John Maxwell's How to Get a Return on Failure In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holley explore how leaders can gain a return on failure by shifting their mindset and approach. They encourage listeners to view failure not as part of their identity but as a valuable learning opportunity that fuels growth and innovation. The hosts break down strategies for differentiating between good and bad misses, extracting lessons, and modeling resilience. They also offer actionable advice on creating a culture where teams embrace mistakes, analyze outcomes, and consistently improve performance.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Perry Holley and Chris Goede explore the crucial difference between being nice and being kind as a leader. They explain how avoiding difficult conversations might seem nice, but choosing kindness—delivering honest, clear feedback with care—actually drives growth and trust within teams. Through practical examples and personal stories, they show listeners how to be honest with empathy and clarity. They also offer actionable strategies for setting expectations, building trust, and creating a culture where team members feel valued and challenged to improve.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! Wondering how much it costs to develop your teams? In this episode, Perry Holley and Chris Goede share research that shows how investment in leadership development not only increases team effectiveness, but also positively impacts employee engagement and retention. They discuss how developing leaders can multiply productivity, reduce turnover, and shape a strong company culture. Get practical advice on how to create and implement effective development plans without unnecessary complexity, for long-term organizational success.

Get the learning guide from today's episode here! In this episode, Chris Goede and Perry Holley sit down with speaker and executive coach Corey Baker to discuss what's off-limits for leaders: disengagement. They share practical stories demonstrating the importance of self-awareness and intentionality in a leader's daily actions and choices. They also highlight the necessity for leaders to set personal guardrails and maintain authenticity, even when facing challenging circumstances. Discover actionable strategies for building accountability, strengthening team culture, and ensuring a positive influence in both professional and personal settings.