The Better Leadership Team Show helps growth-minded, mid-market CEO's to grow their business without losing their minds. It’s hosted by Leadership Team Coach, Mike Goldman. If you find yourself overwhelmed by all of the obstacles in the way to building a great business, this show will help you improve top and bottom-line growth, fulfillment and the value your company adds to the world. If you want to save years of frustration, time and dollars trying to figure it out on your own, check out this show!!
The Secret to Maximizing Influence and Behavior Change with Owen Fitzpatrick
What if the biggest obstacle to better leadership isn't external—but the stories we tell ourselves? In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with social psychologist, speaker, and bestselling author Owen Fitzpatrick to discuss his new book, Inner Propaganda: Leading Hearts and Minds Through Turbulent Times . We explore how beliefs shape behavior, why people become attached to limiting ideas, and how great leaders influence lasting change by understanding what truly motivates others. We also discuss intellectual humility, communication, sacred values, asking better questions, and why relationships are becoming even more important in the age of AI. If you want to become a more influential leader and build stronger teams, this conversation offers practical insights you can start applying immediately. Connect with Owen Fitzpatrick https://owenfitzpatrick.com Podcast: The Inner Propaganda Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owenfitzp/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owenf23/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ofi23 Check out Owen’s new book! 👇 https://innerpropaganda.com Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Preventing HR Crisis With Behavioral Analytics with Karine Shahar
n this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Karine Shahar, Founder of Strategic Global Talent, to explore how behavioral analytics can help leaders build stronger teams, improve hiring decisions, and prevent costly HR crises before they happen. With more than 20 years of global HR experience across 36 countries, Karine shares why integrity is the foundation of great leadership, how strategic HR differs from tactical HR, and why many organizations wait too long to invest in people leadership. We also dive into the power of Predictive Index, how behavioral analytics can improve communication, hiring, onboarding, leadership development, and team performance, and why understanding how people naturally work can dramatically improve culture and engagement. Whether you’re leading a growing company, developing your leadership team, or looking to create a stronger workplace culture, this conversation offers practical insights that can help you build a healthier, higher-performing organization. Website: https://strategicglobaltalent.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karineshahar Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Personal Branding for Senior Leaders with Alyssa Gelbard
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Alyssa Gelbard, Founder and CEO of Point Road Group, to explore why personal branding is far more than a marketing exercise. We discuss how leaders shape company culture, build trust, attract talent, strengthen customer relationships, and drive revenue through the way they communicate and show up every day. Alyssa shares practical insights on executive presence, LinkedIn credibility, leadership communication, personal brand awareness, and the common mistakes that unintentionally undermine trust. We also discuss why leadership teams must align around a consistent company story and how personal branding impacts both internal team dynamics and external business relationships. If you want to strengthen your leadership team, improve organizational alignment, and create greater influence as a leader, this conversation provides actionable strategies you can begin applying immediately. Employee Branding Snapshot Assessment https://assessment.pointroadgroup.com/assessment/17340 Website: https://www.pointroadgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssagelbard/ Point Road Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/point-road-group/ Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Turn Negotiations into Winning Outcomes with Rick Czaplewski
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with negotiation expert Rick Czaplewski to explore how leaders can turn difficult conversations into winning outcomes. Rick shares lessons from a remarkable career spanning finance, operations, project management, and high-stakes negotiations that have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in closed deals and cost savings. We discuss why negotiation is about far more than price, how leaders negotiate every day without realizing it, and the common mistakes that cause organizations to leave value on the table. Rick introduces his OPERATE negotiation framework, explains the four major sources of leverage using his DEAL model, and shares practical strategies for building trust, improving outcomes, and preserving relationships during challenging conversations. Whether you’re negotiating with customers, vendors, employees, or business partners, this episode provides actionable tools to help you prepare effectively, communicate with confidence, and create win-win outcomes. Website: https://noonewalksalone.com Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Creating a More Agile Company with Jaime Taets
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Jaime Taets, CEO and Founder of Keystone Group International, to discuss what it really takes to build an agile organization in today’s rapidly changing business environment. We explore why many leadership teams struggle with execution, how decision rights and decision speed impact organizational performance, and why executive operating models may be the missing ingredient behind successful strategy implementation. Jaime shares insights on strategic agility, AI’s growing impact on business, risk tolerance, talent development, leadership activation, and how organizations can better engage the next generation of employees. We also discuss why traditional leadership development programs often fail and what companies can do to create lasting behavior change. Finally, Jaime shares powerful lessons learned from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and how adversity can shape stronger leaders. If you’re looking to improve decision-making, increase organizational agility, develop stronger leaders, and prepare your company for the future, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately. Website: https://keystonegroupintl.com Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Wording, Speaking and Presence with David Goldberg
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I speak with David Goldberg, CEO of The Prosody Center and one of the leading experts on wording, speaking, and presence. Born hearing impaired with delayed speech, David developed an extraordinary sensitivity to sound, voice, tone, and communication that eventually led him to coach CEOs, politicians, entrepreneurs, athletes, speakers, and performers on how to communicate with greater authority and impact. We explore why leaders often spend so much time thinking about branding, visuals, and presentations while overlooking one of the most important parts of influence: how they sound. David shares practical insights on hedge words, pacing, pauses, vocal tone, positive language, Zoom presence, and the subtle communication habits that either strengthen or weaken credibility. This conversation is packed with immediately actionable communication strategies leaders can use in presentations, meetings, interviews, sales conversations, investor pitches, and everyday interactions. Website: https://prosody.center Email: david.goldberg@prosody.center Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Building an Authentic Leadership Brand in an AI World with Elizabeth Rosenberg
n this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Elizabeth Rosenberg, founder of The Good Advice Company, to talk about the future of leadership, authenticity, intuition, personal branding, and workplace culture in an AI-driven world. We explore why accountability remains one of the most important traits of strong leadership teams, how intuition can become a competitive advantage, and why leaders are struggling to balance data, AI, and human judgment. Elizabeth also shares insights on C-suite personal branding, the risks of inauthentic leadership, how executives can build trust through vulnerability, and why employees increasingly want to work for leaders who genuinely care about people. We also dive into: The role of intuition in decision-making AI as a creative collaborator instead of a replacement for thought leadership Why authenticity matters more than perfection Managing personal brands inside organizations Mentorship, remote work, and the loss of informal leadership development The importance of spiritual health and human connection in leadership This conversation challenges traditional ideas about leadership while offering practical insights for executives, founders, and leadership teams trying to navigate an increasingly fast-moving and polarized world. Website: https://thegoodadvicecompany.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-rosenberg/ Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Improv and Moments of Mastery with Nicole Eull
On this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with leadership expert, psychologist, and certified improv facilitator Nicole Eull to explore how improv principles can transform leadership teams and workplace culture. We dive into concepts like “Yes, And,” psychological safety, support versus autonomy, moments of mastery, and the difference between cultural fit and cultural contribution. Nicole shares how leaders can create environments where innovation, collaboration, and creativity thrive while avoiding the reactive habits that shut people down. This conversation is packed with practical leadership strategies, mindset shifts, and communication tools that leaders can immediately apply to build stronger, more engaged teams. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
The New Talent Playbook with Rob Levin
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Rob Levin, entrepreneur, author, and co-founder of Work Better Now, to talk about the dramatic shift happening in talent, hiring, and leadership. We explore why hiring great people feels harder than ever, what today’s workforce expects from leadership, and why culture has become one of the biggest competitive advantages a business can have. Rob shares practical insights on building a culture that attracts top talent, making core values actually matter, managing remote teams effectively, and how AI is changing the hiring process. If you’re leading a team, hiring talent, or trying to build a stronger organization in today’s evolving workplace, this conversation is packed with actionable ideas. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Managing the White-Collar/Blue-Collar Divide with Josh Zolin
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show , I sit down with Josh Zolin, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, founder of BITNW Academy, and author of Blue Is the New White , to talk about one of the biggest leadership challenges many organizations face today: the divide between white-collar leadership and blue-collar frontline teams. We discuss why so many office leaders unintentionally lose credibility with field employees, how assumptions create resentment, and why respect is built through curiosity, transparency, and shared experience. Josh shares lessons from scaling a service business, leading technicians in the field, and helping companies create stronger cultures through better communication and leadership development. We also dive into financial transparency, leadership coaching, investing in employees, and why the future of the skilled trades deserves far more attention and respect than it often receives. If your organization has office teams, field teams, operations staff, technicians, drivers, or frontline employees, this conversation offers practical ways to close communication gaps and build a healthier, more unified culture. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Turning Adversity Into Opportunity with Buddy Teaster
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I talk with Buddy Teaster, President and CEO of Soles4Souls, about turning adversity into opportunity, leading with transparency, and building a mission-driven leadership team that performs. Buddy shares the story of how Soles4Souls moved through financial crisis, bad press, COVID, personal loss, and major organizational transformation by staying committed to truth, accountability, and purpose. We also explore the TEAM values framework, what for-profit leaders can learn from nonprofits, how social enterprise can create lasting impact, and why leadership requires both business discipline and heart. This conversation is a powerful reminder that great leadership teams are not built only in moments of success. They are revealed and strengthened in moments of pressure, uncertainty, and adversity. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
What Can Business Learn From Show Business? with Simmy Kustanowitz
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I talk with Simmy Kustanowitz, founder of Clock Tower Innovation and an Emmy-nominated television producer turned corporate showrunner. Simmy spent more than 20 years producing hit television shows like Impractical Jokers and Adam Ruins Everything . Today, he helps companies apply entertainment-style thinking to leadership, communication, innovation, and problem-solving. We talk about what business can learn from show business, why clarity is one of the most important characteristics of a great leadership team, and how leaders can use time pressure as a tool instead of treating it like the enemy. Simmy also shares his Clock Tower Method, built around time, volume, creativity, and repetition. This conversation is packed with practical ideas for leadership teams that want to move faster, think more creatively, and turn complex challenges into clear, engaging action. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Pressures That Lead Good People to Make Bad Decisions with Richard Bistrong
On this episode, I sat down with Richard Bistrong to talk about the pressures that can lead good people to make bad decisions and what leadership teams can do to prevent that from happening. Richard shares his extraordinary journey from international sales executive to federal investigation, prison, and eventually becoming a trusted advisor to companies on ethics, compliance, and anti-bribery. In this conversation, we explore how pressure, silence, unclear guardrails, and “win at all costs” cultures can create real risk inside organizations of any size. Richard also breaks down practical steps leaders can take to build a culture where people speak up, ethical behavior is clearly defined, and doing the right thing becomes part of how the business grows. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
The 10 Questions Great Leadership Teams Never Stop Asking
On this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I break down 10 questions great leadership teams should never stop asking. In a world where answers get stale fast, strong leadership teams stay sharp by asking better questions that improve focus, talent decisions, execution, accountability, and culture. I walk through the questions that matter most, why they matter, and where they belong in your leadership meeting rhythm, from weekly check-ins to annual planning retreats. If you want a stronger leadership team and a better company, this episode will help you rethink the way your team leads, decides, and grows. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Execute on What Matters with JB Glossinger
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with JB Glossinger, founder of Morning Coach and creator of the Get It Done Now framework, to talk about what it really takes to execute on what matters. We dig into the difference between being busy and being productive, why high achievers often struggle with cognitive overload, and how clarity around mission, vision, and values can transform both leadership and personal effectiveness. JB also shares why saying no is one of the most powerful disciplines leaders can build, how to simplify goals into projects and tasks, and what consistency really looks like when life gets messy. This conversation is full of practical insights on self leadership, focus, planning, and building a system that supports steady momentum without burnout. If leadership has started to feel reactive, overloaded, or scattered, this episode offers a grounded path back to clarity and execution. Visit morningcoach.com/BLT to download the free planner and learn more about Morning Coach. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
The 90-Day Talent Sprint: How to Dramatically Upgrade Your Team in One Quarter
In this Mike on the Mic episode, without launching a massive talent initiative. I break down a practical framework for evaluating each direct report based on productivity and culture fit, then show how to take targeted action with high performers, medium performers, low producers, and low culture-fit team members. I also explain why so many development efforts stall, why annual and quarterly performance reviews are not enough, and how leaders can create visible wins by focusing on the team they directly lead. If you want to raise the bar, retain your best people, make smarter talent decisions, and build momentum in one quarter, this episode gives you a simple and actionable way to do it. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Tackling the Hard Conversation with Mary Nestor
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show , I sit down with leadership strategist and author Mary Nestor to tackle one of the biggest challenges leaders face—having hard conversations. We explore why leaders avoid speaking up, the hidden cost of silence, and how delaying feedback can destroy trust. Mary shares powerful frameworks from her book Say It Now, Say It Right to help leaders communicate with clarity, confidence, and care. I also dive into practical tools you can use immediately to create a culture where people speak up, contribute openly, and address issues before they escalate. If you want to build a high-performing, trust-based leadership team, this conversation is essential. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
The Leadership Meeting Blueprint That Actually Works
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I break down why meetings feel so draining—and why they fail to produce real results. If your calendar is packed but nothing seems to move forward, I walk you through exactly what’s broken and how to fix it. I share the four types of meetings every leadership team needs, how to shift from status updates to real accountability, and the simple changes that can transform your meetings into a powerful driver of execution. If you’re a leader who feels stuck in meetings all day, this episode will help you turn meetings into your most valuable tool for growth and performance. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Creating an Influential Organization with Jeremy Weber
In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Jeremy Weber to explore how organizations can become more influential by elevating the voices of their people. Jeremy has spent more than two decades helping experts, executives, and organizations build strategic influence. Together, we discuss why the future of branding isn’t just about company messaging—it’s about empowering employees to become trusted thought leaders. We cover the three major trends reshaping influence today, why companies can’t afford to ignore personal branding inside their organizations, and the four key roles that can dramatically increase an organization’s reach and credibility. If you want to attract top talent, strengthen trust with customers, and build a truly influential organization, this conversation will give you a powerful new perspective. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
Do We Have the Right Leaders to Achieve Our Vision?
Many companies believe stalled growth is a strategy problem, but more often it is a leadership problem. In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I tackle one of the hardest questions leaders face: Do we have the right leaders to achieve our vision? I walk through how to determine whether your leaders can scale with the business and how to recognize the signals that someone may not be able to grow with the company. I also share practical frameworks you can use to evaluate leadership effectiveness, including mindset, skillset, behavior, and my Talent Density framework. If your company has ambitious growth goals, the most important question may not be about strategy at all. It may be about whether the leadership team you have today can take you where you want to go tomorrow. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach
