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What if the fastest way to stronger results isn’t a bold new strategy but a return to fundamentals? We dive into the leadership playbook behind Kurt Cignetti’s rapid turnaround at Indiana University football, and translate his on-field methods into tools any manager can use to reset expectations, stabilize culture, and lower stress across the team.

We start with clarity. Cignetti wins by obsessing over basics—blocking, tackling, clean execution—which in the workplace becomes precise roles, consistent standards, and plain-language accountability. From there, we unpack why stability builds culture, how loyal, well-compensated staff preserve momentum, and why high turnover quietly erases progress. You’ll hear practical ways to co-write job descriptions with your team, build simple measurements everyone understands, and create a cadence that turns feedback into growth rather than surprise.

Talent gets a hard look, too. Instead of chasing shiny résumés, we show how to hire for mindset, character, and a high motor, then coach skills on top. Drawing on lessons from Nick Saban’s process-driven program, we connect clear goals, steady standards, and daily discipline to dependable outcomes. We also tackle stress head-on: identify root causes in systems, leadership, or culture; close the gaps between expectations and communication; and choose environments that align with your values and capacity so you can thrive rather than grind.

By the end, you’ll have a checklist to evaluate your team, your leaders, and your workplace with fresh eyes—and a way to make change without theatrics. If this conversation helps you lead with more confidence and less chaos, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review so others can find it.

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Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell

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Retention is changing fast, and so are the tools leaders can use to keep people engaged, growing, and proud to stay. We explore how supervisors and managers can blend real human coaching with smart AI insights to protect high performers, prevent burnout, and turn feedback into visible progress. The conversation starts with why people leave—stalled growth, weak communication, unfair loads, and unclear rewards—then moves into a practical framework that any manager can start using this week.

Greg and I map clear job levels and competencies, show how to craft individual growth plans with milestones, and explain where AI genuinely helps: surfacing certifications, predicting skill gaps, spotting workload imbalances, and benchmarking compensation. We get candid about the 80 20 reality, advocating for the top 20 percent who carry outcomes while addressing chronic underperformance with clarity and speed. Along the way, we outline communication habits that rebuild trust—weekly check-ins, 360 feedback that actually drives change, and transparent decision-making that earns buy-in.

Recognition only works when it carries weight, so we highlight rewards that matter: one-time bonuses for impact, stretch roles, extra paid time off, and specific, timely praise that names the outcome. We also dive into pay fairness and total compensation, including how to use market benchmarks to advocate with HR. The thread that ties it all together is leadership style: less micromanaging, more coaching; less fear of AI, more informed use. Want a simple starting point? Hold a weekly check-in, recognize one concrete achievement, and ask a real career follow-up.

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Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell

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Leadership shouldn’t feel like a solo climb. When pressure builds and decisions stack up, the difference between burning out and bouncing back is often a small circle of real friends who listen, challenge, and show up. We explore how to go beyond likes and contacts to build genuine connection that strengthens emotional resilience and makes you a better leader and a better human.

Greg and I unpack why “more networking” isn’t the answer if it stays shallow. You’ll hear a candid audit of contacts vs. close friends, a simple cadence for staying in touch, and the practical difference between professional friends and the people you call at 9 p.m. for honest feedback. We talk about modeling connection for younger managers, turning vulnerability into a team skill, and the subtle ways leaders accidentally choose escapism over belonging.

Then we get tactical. Learn how to form peer mentoring circles that actually stick, design purpose-driven gatherings around shared values, and borrow the best of women’s intentional networks to deepen trust. We share ideas for service-based projects that bond teams, story forums that normalize fear and failure, and wellness meetups that pair health with human connection. Along the way, we return to one simple habit: schedule friendship like any important priority, and bring constructive optimism to every touch point.

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Presented by John Wandolowski and Greg Powell