The Future Of Work Podcast With Jacob Morgan | Futurist | Workplace | Careers | Employee Experience & Engagement |

How can the strategic principles of chess be applied in a professional environment? By developing similar critical thinking skills, leaders will be prepared to address challenges with nuanced and anticipatory responses, strategizing five steps ahead in true chess fashion. Today I am joined by Danny Rensch, Chief Chess Officer of Chess.com and international chess master, as we explore how the game’s principles can be translated into effective business strategies. Listeners will gain tips on innovation, team building, and the importance of self-reflection, drawing parallels between mastering chess and excelling in leadership roles.   Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Feeling stuck in your quest for career advancement despite your ambition and hard work? It’s a common challenge in today’s fast-paced workplace. Simply putting in extra hours and taking on more tasks often doesn’t lead to the desired recognition or progression. The key lies in adopting smart, strategic approaches. After having hundreds of conversations with CEOs, I’ve distilled powerful strategies that go beyond ordinary advice. These tested and proven methods are designed to make a tangible difference in your career trajectory. In today’s leadership spark, I’ll be sharing the guide to navigating the complexities of the modern workplace with confidence and achieving the success you’ve been striving for.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Do you know how to handle toxic influences in your workplace? Conflict can oftentimes be resolved with compassion rather than defensiveness. Today I am joined by John Miles, best-selling author of “Passion Struck” and host of the Passion Struck Podcast. In this episode John will be sharing frameworks and strategies for cultivating purpose and potential in yourself and your teams through mindful shifts in mindsets and leadership approaches. You will learn how to harness purpose-driven living, applied to your career development. The model centers around four pillars - mindset shifts, behavior shifts, deliberate action, and intrinsic motivation.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Leadership isn’t just about success; it’s about impact. Jack Welch’s financial-driven approach and Elon Musk’s struggles with interpersonal relations showcase the pitfalls of traditional leadership. Tom Peters, best-selling author Thinkers50 inductee into the hall of fame, argues for a shift towards nurturing growth and fostering a positive work culture. In this leadership spark, Tom talks about the difference between being remembered for what you did at work and who you were as a person.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Failure is a powerful teacher, and nobody knows this better than Dr. Amy Edmondson, our guest in today’s discussion. A Harvard Professor and the author behind influential works like “The Fearless Organization” and “Right Kind of Wrong” Dr. Edmondson discusses how to create a culture that not only tolerates failure but learns from it. She outlines the critical distinctions between basic, complex, and intelligent failures, stressing that the real learning comes from the latter. This episode offers leaders a roadmap to build trust among their teams, encourage the sharing of missteps, and adopt a mindset of psychological safety and intelligent risk-taking.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

No matter the organization, friction is inevitable...but the key is knowing how to navigate and harness it for better leadership. In today’s discussion I sit down with Bob Sutton, Stanford professor, organizational psychologist and best selling author of books including “The No A$$hole Rule” and “The Friction Project” as he dives into the world of ‘friction-fixer’ leadership. Drawing from his extensive research, Sutton shares how to distinguish between beneficial and detrimental friction, explore the tools of ‘friction forensics,’ and implement strategies that can streamline processes, enhance performance, and reduce burnout. Join us for a captivating discussion that equips leaders with actionable tactics to conquer challenges and embrace positive change. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

In a cancel culture world, how do you speak up and share what you’re thinking? Leaders are often scared to share their opinions, worried about losing their job, status, or credibility. In today’s leadership spark, Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest hedge funds, addresses these challenges. He talks about the importance of being true to yourself and making hard choices, even when it’s difficult. Ray shares his own story of starting from little and working his way up, showing that facing challenges is key to growing personally and professionally. Today’s episode is all about getting rid of the victimhood mentality and taking ownership over your own path. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

In high-stakes environments like NASA, the margin for error is incredibly slim. Even minor mistakes can lead to substantial setbacks and costs, which is why Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s Former Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator, emphasizes the critical need for precision and careful management in space exploration. In today’s leadership spark, I chat with Thomas to discuss how NASA approaches making critical decisions, having a culture of open communication, and learning from mistakes. These have all been vital elements of leadership during projects like the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workleap Workleap Officevibe is a set of simple engagement, recognition and performance management tools. A game-changing product that enable businesses to team up HR leaders with their managers to instantly act on engagement insights, fuel meaningful peer recognition, and even drive continuous performance management. Visit Workleap.com/Officevibe to know mo

Running a fully remote company while making sure you can deliver on short-term goals and long-term innovation is not an easy thing to do! In today’s discussion I sit down with Workleap Co-founder and CEO Simon De Baene who shares hard-earned lessons in leadership from 18 years of building a successful company. He dives into frameworks for maintaining innovation as the company grows, and the importance of delegating without losing control. Simon also offers a candid look at both his strengths and weaknesses as a leader. You will learn the value of authenticity and humility at the top, as well as how to improve at having difficult conversations around accountability. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Workleap Workleap Officevibe is a set of simple engagement, recognition and performance management tools. A game-changing product that enable businesses to team up HR leaders with their managers to instantly act on engagement insights, fuel meaningful peer recognition, and even drive continuous performa

Have you ever felt like you don’t deserve to be where you are or that you aren’t good enough? Imposter syndrome is something that most people in the world will experience at some point in their lives and, believe it or not, many aspiring leaders often doubt their abilities and suitability for higher roles, especially when they come from backgrounds that don’t typically align with those positions. In today’s Leadership Spark, Chano Fernandez, Former Co-CEO at Workday, shares the importance of overcoming self-doubt and embracing opportunities, even when they seem out of reach. Chano also touches on leadership challenges, including the loneliness that can accompany senior executive roles, the significance of maintaining a positive attitude, and the value of connecting with employees through shared experiences. His story serves as a testament to overcoming self-doubt and reaching your maximum potential. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership

Are you lucky or are you good? The smallest and seemingly most random decisions you make in your life can have a profound impact on your career success. Does this mean that we shouldn’t try to be the best at what we do? In today’s discussion I speak with Dr. Brian Klaas, a professor at the University of College London and best-selling author of “Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters.” In this episode, Klaas offers counterintuitive advice for embracing uncertainty and experimentation over excessive optimism and control. You’ll learn how chaos theory impacts your life, if you can create your own luck, if change is driven by trends or leaders, and how meritocracy battles with luck for making the greatest impact in what you do. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Imagine if you could feel calm and in control even during your most stressful moments at work. What if small shifts in how you process emotions allowed you to make better decisions and strengthen important relationships? NYT Best selling author and Psychologist Rick Hanson reveals how understanding your feelings through vulnerability is the overlooked key to resilience. Discover the science behind stress and anxiety, and learn why emotional awareness enhances well-being and performance under pressure. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Is AI going to take your job? Yes! But is that really a bad thing and what does it mean for the future of work? Sweetgreen is an American fast-casual food chain with more than 220 locations and 6,000 employees. They are actively implementing technology in their restaurants to make the food, but are they losing people as a result? Jonathan Neman is the Co-Founder & CEO of Sweetgreen and in today’s episode we’re talking about balancing humanity with technology and people with profits. After today’s episode, you’ll walk away with strategies for thoughtfully integrating new technologies, prioritizing employee well-being and finding “win-win” solutions that benefit all parties. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Before Netflix, Facebook or Google even existed, a small group of entrepreneurs took a huge risk launching what would become the first major internet service.  In today’s Leadership Spark, Steve Case, Co-Founder of AOL and CEO of Revolution LLC, shares his journey of what it took to get America Online off the ground before people even heard of the Internet. While most people would think investing in internet companies in the 80’s was CRAZY RISKY, Steve had a vision that this new technology could change the world if they could just get it into people’s hands. In this interview, he shares never-before-told stories of the challenges they faced connecting users at dial-up speeds and convincing skeptical investors to back their idea. Steve also touches on how Revolution now does its part in funding and investing in companies of the future. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.sub

Do you practice having gratitude everyday? Positivity can powerfully alter your ability to connect with your team and slingshot your leadership to new bounds of resilience and success. In this episode, we’re joined by Jon Gordon 15x best-selling author, most popularly known for “The Power of Positive Leadership” with over 1,700 reviews on Amazon. Learn how to unite your organization in the face of adversity, build a strong company culture, and develop a connected and committed team. Tune into today’s episode to better establish positivity in your leadership approach and learn to view every challenge as an opportunity to grow. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

There’s a difference between getting feedback vs getting CANDID feedback, and that’s what leaders need more of. Not only that, but leaders need to make sure that ALL employees are able to provide that feedback and to challenge their leaders. This creates a culture where every voice, from every background, is not just heard but valued. In today’s leadership spark, I talk with Peyman Kargar, the Global Chairman and CEO of INFINITI. He shares valuable insights on leadership that inspires and motivates employees. We explore his commitment to open communication, regularly seeking feedback from his team helps him make informed decisions and respect their expertise. He also stresses the importance of personal hobbies in maintaining work-life balance. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Is working in the office dead? With the rise of remote work it appears that home offices becoming the new corporate hubs. But what does the data actually say? Dr. Nicholas Bloom from Stanford University has been studying the work from home trend from over 20 years and he has hard data that shows what has been going on and why. In today’s episode we are tackling the big questions around the rise of WFH: How does it affect productivity and innovation? What does it mean for the balance of power in organizations? Is in office work really dead? What does the future of working from home look like? What are the pros and cons of working from home? What are some of the top companies actually doing? Get ready for an in-depth discussion on the future of work. The bonus episode with Dr. Bloom will explore some practical tips and strategies for leading a hybrid workforce effectively. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your

Are 360 reviews effective? If you’re skeptical, then you won’t want to miss this story from Frank Blake, the former CEO of The Home Depot. We’ll explore leadership lessons he learned, his approach to feedback, and his unconventional rise to CEO. Blake shared compelling tales, such as how he unexpectedly took the reins of one of the largest companies in the world after a last-minute call from the board. We also get his take on learning from the intense Jack Welch at GE early in his career. But it's Blake's strong opinions on 360 reviews that provide truly valuable insight. Frank Blake says they are complete waste of time, do you agree? ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

What’s more important for leadership, emotional intelligence or IQ? The right use of EQ can revolutionize your approach to decision-making, relationship building, leadership, and communication. In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Travis Bradberry, best-selling author of "Emotional Intelligence. 2.0," as he reveals how emotional intelligence can be consciously developed and refined. We’ll explore why so many leaders struggle with EQ, what EQ is and why it’s important, and the four core EQ skills. You won't want to miss this episode! ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Should you really be hiring for “culture fit?” It turns out that doing this could actually keep you from finding your best people! My guest on today’s show explains why that’s the case and what leaders should really be looking for. On this Leadership Spark, I sit down with former Navy SEAL Mike Sarraille to get his perspective on attracting top performers. We discuss why solely assessing culture fit can cause you to miss great candidates, the importance of regularly reviewing your talent pool, tactical advice on hiring for qualities that can’t be taught, and the nine key characteristics that special operations look for in high performers. We also cover the importance of vulnerability in leadership and why asking for help shows strength, not weakness. __________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/