You already have a personal brand, whether you’ve chosen it or not. And every meeting, email, and interaction at work is quietly shaping it.

Many managers assume personal branding is about being visible online or promoting yourself. But in reality, it’s about how you show up, how others experience working with you, and what people say about you when you’re not in the room. It’s essentially your reputation.

This week’s guest helps us unpack what personal brand really means at work and how to be intentional about it without feeling inauthentic, salesy, or self-promotional.

Andy Storch is a keynote speaker, author of Own Your Career, Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career, and host of multiple podcasts. He works with leaders and managers to help them build reputations that earn trust, influence stakeholders, and attract opportunity. In this episode, we explore how your internal behaviors, external presence, and everyday choices combine to shape your brand and how small shifts can make a big difference over time.

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

If you want more influence, stronger relationships, and greater career opportunities without becoming an “influencer,” this conversation will help you lead with clarity and intention.

Join the conversation now!

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) You already have a personal brand
• (02:07) What a personal brand really is (and why it matters at work)
• (04:54) Internal vs external brand: how reputation is formed
• (07:01) How small behaviors quietly shape how others see you
• (10:29) The balance between humility and visibility
• (12:50) How to assess your current brand with self-reflection and feedback
• (17:49) Why building your brand isn’t fake; it’s intentional
• (22:01) Appearance, perception, and owning your choices
• (27:11) What great leaders are remembered for long-term
• (35:27) [Extended Episode] Using values to guide what you share publicly
• (36:08) [Extended Episode] How celebrating your team strengthens your leadership brand
• (38:12) [Extended Episode] Networking, relationship-building, and long-term opportunity

📚 Additional Resources:

✨Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CyrOt9hWfHFy54Dg6px0nJZOFChrfNcEXsZ0rF4k1Xg/edit?usp=sharing 

✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamieks/ 

✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ 

✨Upskill your team: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle 

✨Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 

Keep Up with Andy Storch

🔸 Connect with Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andystorch/

🔸 Visit Own Your Career, Own Your Life (book) here: https://ownyourbrandbook.com

🔸 Explore Andy’s work and podcast here: https://andystorch.com

Guest Bonus: FREE Digital Copy of Own Your Brand, Own Your Career

Andy Storch and Mike Kim—two seasoned experts in career development, personal branding, and thought leadership—show you how to position yourself for lasting success strategically. Drawing from decades of experience helping corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders around the world, they reveal how to:

→ Identify and clarify your unique value, story, and message

→  Build credibility and visibility inside and outside your organization

→  Use modern platforms and tools to share your expertise effectively

→  Create opportunities for promotions, career pivots, and business ventures

→ Stay authentic while amplifying your impact

Packed with real-world examples, step-by-step frameworks, and actionable exercises, this book will equip you to take control of your professional reputation and future—before someone else defines it for you.

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

#PersonalBrand #ReputationManagement #Leadership #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerAdvice #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceSuccess #InfluenceAtWork

Hiring a friend can feel both generous and like a leadership landmine waiting to explode.

Good intentions aren’t enough when power dynamics shift, boundaries blur, and personal relationships collide with professional expectations. The risk isn’t just losing a friendship; it’s undermining trust, fairness, and team culture if the situation isn’t handled thoughtfully.

Fortunately, this week’s guest helps us unpack how to navigate one of leadership’s most uncomfortable decisions with clarity and integrity.

Dr. Cindi Baldi is the founder and CEO of Culsure, a management science firm, co-host of the Management Muse podcast, and co-author of the Uncertainty Playbook. From blackjack dealer to PhD in organizational behavior, Cindi has seen the full spectrum of workplace behavior. Now she helps leaders across the country understand their people better through data and decades of consulting experience. Cindy explains when hiring a friend can work, when it absolutely won’t, and how to protect both the relationship and the organization if you decide to move forward.

You’ll learn how to say no to a friend without damaging the relationship, what boundaries must be set upfront if you do hire them, and why conflict style in friendships is a strong predictor of workplace behavior.

In the extended conversation, Cindy goes deeper into the hidden risks of managing friends, including what must be off-limits once a friend reports to you, how oversharing personal information can undermine fairness and trust, and how to lead with integrity when professional and personal lines start to blur.

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Join the conversation now!

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) The hidden risks and rewards of hiring a friend
• (03:03) Why friendships change once power dynamics enter the picture
• (06:00) Using social capital responsibly when recommending friends
• (12:42) What you can legitimately vouch for when referring someone
• (15:11) When hiring a friend actually makes strategic sense
• (17:03) The bias trap leaders fall into with people they like
• (20:25) How to protect fairness when making the hiring decision
• (22:36) Setting expectations before your friend starts the job
• (27:02) Power dynamics that make hiring a friend a bad idea
• (30:31) [Extended Episode Only] What to do when your friend applies but isn’t a good fit
• (36:29) [Extended Episode Only] Preventing personal boundaries from bleeding into work

📚 Additional Resources:

✨Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bDdd0ol67WBTmohak12Nyi8XKXUOvWjVWfG4edyXDvo/edit?usp=sharing

✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamieks/ 

✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ 

✨Upskill your team: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle 

✨Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 

Keep up with Cindi Baldi

🔸 Connect with Cindi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindibaldi 

🔸 Follow Management Muse on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/management-muse-podcast/ 

🔸 Subscribe to Management Muse on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ManagementMusePodcast 

🔸 Follow Management Muse on Instagram: https://instagram.com/managementmuse 

🔸 Follow Management Muse on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/managementmusepodcast 

Guest Bonus: 3 Book Giveaway: The Uncertainty Playbook: 14 Strategies for Work Success in a Chaotic World

There is a blizzard of uncertainty—technological, geopolitical, demographic, climate-related, and more—impacting us at work today, and it is only accelerating.  Drawing on two decades of research and practice by organizational scientists Geoffrey Tumlin and Cindi Baldi, this book equips readers with essential strategies to grow and even flourish in unstable times.

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

Salary conversations are inherently complex and challenging, filled with hidden traps. They are high-stakes, deeply personal, and blend factors like budgets, fairness, expectations, and emotions. Since these discussions are infrequent, many managers lack the necessary practice, which adds to the difficulty.

Fortunately, this week’s guest breaks down exactly how to navigate compensation conversations with confidence, clarity, and leverage, without damaging relationships or risking the offer.

John Gates is an author and founder of Salary Coach, where he helps C-suite executives and senior leaders negotiate higher compensation packages without risking their job offers or future relationships. John’s unique approach, born from his extensive experience in corporate recruiting, consistently helps his clients secure 10-20% more in their pay packages, even in challenging job markets.

In this episode, we explore the biggest mistakes candidates and managers make when discussing pay, how to respond to the dreaded “What are your salary expectations?” question, and how to negotiate thoughtfully before an offer is on the table. If you want to avoid losing great candidates and negotiate with confidence, this conversation is for you.

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Join the conversation now!

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Introduction
• (02:05) Why salary conversations feel so intimidating
• (05:48) The biggest mistake candidates make early in the process
• (08:41) How recruiters decide whether to move you forward
• (12:10) A smarter way to answer “What are your salary expectations?”
• (17:06) Why giving a range protects your leverage
• (21:42) The danger of accepting an offer too quickly
• (26:09) Common fears that stop people from negotiating
• (30:12) How effective negotiation actually works
• (33:16) [Extended] The exact script for handling salary screeners
• (37:59) [Extended] Gender differences in negotiation fears
• (45:02) [Extended] Using trade-offs and benefits to close compensation gaps

📚 Additional Resources:

✨Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R7mD2jYo8pYIIohhkBWaoi9fHLnj1yp24F7bPl00-LY/edit?usp=sharing 

✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamieks/ 

✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ 

✨Upskill your team: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle 

✨Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 

Keep up with John Gates

- Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johngates-salarycoach/

Guest Bonus: Free PDF download of Chapter 5 of his book: Use a Range, not a Number.

John is providing members of podcast+ a PDF download of Chapter 5 of his book: Use a Range, not a Number. In this chapter, he provides actionable advice and plug-and-play scripts for how to talk about a salary range so you avoid getting screened and don’t end up leaving money on the table.

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

#SalaryNegotiation #CareerGrowth  #JobSearchTips #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #SalaryExpectations #PayNegotiation #InterviewTips #CareerAdvice #JobInterview

When disruption hits your team, confidence often drops, communication gets messy, and progress slows. But disruption isn’t the problem; how we respond to it is.

Fortunately, this week’s guest offers a clear, practical framework for leading with steadiness even when everything around you is shifting. And just as importantly, he explains how we can become positive disruptors in order to facilitate a brighter future.

Patrick Leddin is a global speaker, former Army Ranger, Vanderbilt professor, and bestselling author of Disrupt Everything and Win. He shares how managers can help their teams stay focused, take smart risks, communicate clearly, and build healthier relationships during periods of uncertainty.

If you want to lead with more clarity and confidence when change hits, this conversation gives you the tools to do it.

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Join the conversation now!

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Rethinking disruption as opportunity rather than threat
• (02:17) Why mindset shapes everything
• (03:30) How disruptions show up at work and in life
• (09:59) The danger of avoidance, “waiting it out,” and living in survival mode
• (11:11) What it means to be a positive disruptor
• (14:27) The 5 Positive Disruptor Roles 
• (24:10) The 4-step disruptive leadership cycle
• (26:30) The 16 disruptive strengths 
• (31:03) Keep up with Patrick
• (38:20) [Extended] Creating conditions for positive disruption inside your team’s culture
• (39:08) [Extended] Clarifying decision authority so your team knows when they can act
• (40:35) [Extended] Disrupting unhealthy workplace relationships

📚 Additional Resources:

✨ Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Gn-X2Pv1G3algfHWZDD0Vf9hDscJxW6gIKfivGVUY9Y/edit?usp=sharing

✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamieks/ 

✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ 

✨Upskill your team: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle 

✨Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 

Keep up with Patrick Leddin

- Follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickleddin/

- Visit his website: www.patrickleddin.com

Guest Bonus: 2 Book Giveaway!

Patrick is giving away two copies of his new book, Disrupt Everything and Win: Take Control of Your Future. Every day, we are confronted with sudden pivots at our workplace and in the job market, with changing technology such as artificial intelligence, unexpected crises, and a culture of chaos, and with that sinking feeling that we are losing control of our lives. This book is about taking back control. It's easy to follow and easy to turn into lifelong habits. It has been thoroughly researched and examined. 

You must enter the drawing by January 9th, 2026. 

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

Ever feel like you should know more, be more confident, or have everything figured out by now?

You’re not alone, and more importantly, you don’t need to be a “know-it-all” to be an exceptional leader.

In fact, the strongest leaders today share one trait:

They are learn-it-alls, people who grow through challenges instead of shrinking from them.

Fortunately, this week’s guest brings a powerful, actionable framework that helps managers move from self-doubt into genuine capability.

Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit, a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.

We explore why action transforms confidence faster than motivation ever could, how to stop perfectionism from stalling your growth, and how “possibility spotting” turns obstacles into opportunities for advancement. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not ready, not experienced enough, or not “the right fit,” this conversation will help you step forward as the leader you truly are.

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Join the conversation now!

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Introduction: Why imposter syndrome spikes when stepping into leadership
• (01:12) What imposter syndrome really is (and why nearly everyone experiences it)
• (05:42) Why we undervalue ourselves when taking on bigger roles
• (08:30) Confidence through action, not waiting to feel ready
• (11:18) Building leadership skills through mentors, reps, and learning
• (13:44) Why difficult conversations trigger self-doubt for new managers
• (15:56) Owning your gaps to build credibility
• (18:03) Asking for help and advocating for your development
• (22:58) Finding opportunities inside constraints
• (25:57) [Extended Only] Why everyone has imposter syndrome
• (26:45) [Extended Only] Damon’s 4-step framework for overcoming imposter syndrome
• (34:05) [Extended Only] Turning obstacles into an advantage

📚 Additional Resources:

✨ Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MDa7N-6PlvtCn8v2-Nvau0HB7Ljq7OzM5r3sutaU1Do/edit?usp=sharing

✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamieks/ 

✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ 

✨Upskill your team: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle 

✨Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 

Keep up with Damon Lembi and The Learn-It-All Podcast

• Connect with Damon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonlembi
• Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonlembi
• Follow him on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/damonlembi
• Subscribe to his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@learnittraining
• Listen to The Learn-It-All Podcast: TheLearnItAllLeader.com
• Explore Learnit: Learnit.com
• Check out his book The Learn-It-All Leader: https://a.co/d/5oebQ6a

Guest Bonus (available to members of Podcast+): FREE Digital Version of Learn-It-All Leader

In The Learn-It-All Leader, Learnit CEO Damon Lembi shares:

• How being a "Learn-it-All" vs "Know-it-All will set you up for success and get you invited to more happy hours!
• A three-step approach to overcoming imposter syndrome
• How to use Purposeful Awfulizing to overcome fear and build resilience
• Discover why treating your employees as a team rather than as family can lead to greater success
• Why you should choose potential over experience in the hiring process
• What the “Trust Tax” is and why it’s worth paying
• How a leader's personal model of integrity is crucial to creating trust and a thriving workplace
• A proven model for building great teams
• How implementing a culture of continuous learning & professional development helps attract & retain talent
• Why you should focus on elevating strengths over improving weaknesses

With entertaining anecdotes and inspirational examples, The Learn-It-All Leader is a compelling guide to being your best and playing to win every time.

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#Leadership #Management #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceSkills #ManagerTips #BusinessMindset #GrowthMindset #ImposterSyndrome #ContinuousLearning #LeadershipMindset #TeamManagement #CareerAdvice

In a world that constantly demands breakthrough solutions, do you ever feel like innovation is reserved for a select few, or that you’re simply not "creative enough"? 

This week’s guests are here to set the record straight: that we are all capable of creative thinking if we just give ourselves permission and a little guidance. 

Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden are the co-authors of Innovation-ish: How Anyone Can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems in the Real World. Tessa is a cognitive scientist exploring how we work, learn, and innovate. She is a co-founder of Harvard's Next Level Lab and teaches Design Thinking and Innovation at Harvard, DCE, and Stanford D School. Rich is the founder and CEO of People Rocket, which helps leaders and teams overcome innovation hesitation; there, they guide clients through the innovation-ish approach, a flexible human-centered framework built on mindset shifts, small adaptive steps, and reflective practice he also teaches at Stanford D School.

In this episode, we're cutting through the myth of the "right-brained" innovator. You’ll learn how to integrate the six innovation mindsets into your work, overcome "innovation hesitation," and embrace your "whole brain" approach to problem-solving. This conversation offers practical tools to foster fresh thinking within your team, create space for ideas to thrive, and give you the concrete tools to move those ideas forward, no matter your role.

Plus, in the extended episode, Tessa and Rich share tips for normalizing failure and using “F-Up Nights” to build a culture that learns from failure.

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Join the conversation now!

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Introduction – Why experimentation beats opinion-driven decision-making
• (01:18) The root of spiraling: fear, assumptions, and cognitive bias
• (04:02) Why small experiments create big clarity
• (07:10) The danger of optimizing parts of a system instead of the whole
• (10:42) A real-world case study: redesigning a supply chain through small tests
• (15:45) Why most ideas fail and why that’s a good thing
• (18:04) How emotional attachment to ideas sabotages good decisions
• (21:30) Cognitive caution: What your brain is really doing when you avoid failure
• (25:14) Practicing emotional regulation while testing ideas
• (28:33) Creating a culture where testing > guessing
• (30:20) [Extended only] How leaders can use data to reduce conflict and opinion-driven debate
• (36:24) [Extended only] Normalizing failure and learning from it as a team
• (40:18) [Extended only] Global “F-Up Nights” and how leaders can model healthy failure

📚 Additional Resources:

✨ Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

✨ Read the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KFafl5klc5iycyAmqq_Mlqp3ARyogW-mCWto2HNGfNc/edit?usp=sharing 

✨ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamieks/ 

✨ Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ 

✨ Upskill your team: https://themodernmanager.com/replaybundle 

✨ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation=1 

Keep up with Tessa Forshaw & Rich Braden

• Follow Tessa on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessaforshaw/
• Follow Rich on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcoxbraden/
• Get a copy of Innovation-ish here: https://a.co/d/5Dhg9wH

Guest Bonus: 1st Chapter of Innovation-ish: How Anyone can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems in the Real World

Innovation-ish is your no-nonsense guide to unlocking your innate creativity. This book shows you how to solve problems and generate solutions in a huge variety of personal and professional situations. Tessa and Rich demystify the myths that surround innovation, reveal the six mindsets that underlie innovation, and show how the moves you make drive innovation forward. And they share the latest relevant cognitive science research in a compelling and digestible way - no degree required.

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a 

working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

#DesignThinking  #Experimentation #ManagerTips #BetterDecisions #LeadershipSkills #WorkplaceLearning

#Innovation #Creativity #CreativeThinking #InnovationMindset #Leadership #ProblemSolving #TeamInnovation #GrowthMindset #SkillBuilding #ProfessionalGrowth #ThinkSmart #LeadershipDevelopment

When the world around you feels chaotic, leading a team can feel overwhelming, especially when your inner world is just as loud. Most managers try to push through, rely on willpower, or double down on doing more. 

But in reality, external chaos only becomes manageable when we learn to work with the internal chaos driving our emotions, reactions, and habits.

Fortunately, this week’s guest helps us unpack exactly why leaders get stuck in overwhelm and how to shift back into clarity and confidence.

Rob Kalwarowsky is a world-renowned executive coach, author of the best-selling book Capitalizing on Chaos, and keynote & TEDx speaker. We explore the hidden parts of ourselves that shape our leadership, the subconscious fears that drive “DIY leadership,” people-pleasing, and imposter syndrome, and the practice that brings you back to center when everything feels too much.

If you’ve ever found yourself spiraling, overworking, micromanaging, avoiding decisions, or doubting your capability even when you're successful… this conversation will help you understand what’s happening inside your brain and what to do next.

Rob’s practical framework gives you the mental tools to lead yourself and your team with steadiness, self-awareness, and strength, even when everything feels uncertain.

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Join the conversation now!

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Introduction – Leading through internal and external chaos.
• (01:07) How self-awareness impacts leadership and team dynamics.
• (04:14) The DIY Leader—When doing everything holds you back.
• (07:44) TA tool for acknowledging stress and building empathy.
• (10:25) Understanding internal leadership behaviors.
• (16:21) Using self-awareness to improve interactions and decision-making.
• (19:41) Applying the “Parts Framework” to enhance collaboration.
• (22:50) How your internal state affects team morale.
• (24:41) Recognizing and managing energy-draining saboteurs.
• (30:39) [Extended only] Team strategies for shared language and stress signals.
• (32:56) [Extended only] Using vulnerability and playful cues to improve team communication.

📚 Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Upskill your team here

- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here

- Take the Saboteur Assessment here 

Keep up with Rob Kalwarowsky

- Follow Rob on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kalwarowsky/ 

- Subscribe to his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveCoachRobK 

- Check out his book Capitalizing on Your Strengths here: https://www.robkalwarowsky.com/capitalizing 

Guest Bonus: 10 Book Giveaway and Free Find Your Reason Worksheet

• The Find Your Reason worksheet (PDF Download) is designed to clarify your goals and to support you in overcoming any subconscious resistance to taking action. Studies show that writing down your goals increases your probability of achieving them to 42% and sharing them with me increases it even further to 70%.  Who wouldn’t spend a few minutes to dramatically improve their chances of success?

• 10 book giveaway of Capitalizing On Chaos: The Executive’s Guide to Succeed in Disruption. We all have the capacity to demonstrate ineffective and even harmful behaviors, creating our own version of chaos. But we also have the capacity to change. To find our true selves inside of the uncertainty. And to move forward by moving beyond our circumstances to proven leadership strategies for organizational growth. Capitalizing on Chaos is the handbook on bringing order and clarity to the future of work.

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

---------------------------------------------------------------

#leadership #management #workplacewellbeing #professionaldevelopment #personaldevelopment #leadershipdevelopment #careeradvice #selfawareness #mindsetmatters #stressmanagement #emotionalintelligence #overcomingoverwhelm #performanceatwork #leadershipskills #workculture

Managers play a crucial role in shaping how employees experience work. But when ADHD enters the mix, good intentions can backfire if not handled thoughtfully. With the right mindset and tools, you can create a space where everyone performs at their best.

Fortunately, this week’s guest brings both personal and professional expertise to this conversation.

Rita Ramakrishnan is an executive leadership coach and consultant who helps neurodivergent professionals and their teams amplify their strengths and work more naturally. Her work focuses on neurodivergent leadership success, helping individuals and organizations embrace differences as a pathway to thriving.

In this episode, Rita and I explore what ADHD looks like in adults, why it’s often misunderstood, and how managers can support themselves and their teams through empathy, structure, and flexible systems. You’ll learn strategies for managing focus, energy, and motivation, plus how to build habits that sustain success over time.

In the extended episode, Rita shares how to approach conversations about ADHD respectfully, even when a team member hasn’t disclosed, and how to foster a collaborative, psychologically safe culture that supports everyone’s best work.

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Join the conversation now!

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Introduction: Why ADHD awareness matters for managers
• (01:02) Meet today’s guest: Rita Ramakrishnan
• (03:04) How ADHD shows up in adults, and why many go undiagnosed
• (06:16) The connection between neurodiversity, performance, and burnout
• (09:28) Building psychological safety for employees with ADHD
• (12:47) Shifting from fixing people to redesigning work
• (17:11) The right way to talk about ADHD (and what not to say)
• (22:08) Supporting focus, follow-through, and accountability on your team
• (25:11) Managing ADHD Team Members
• (30:22) [Extended Episode Only] Raising sensitive topics with empathy and care
• (33:35) [Extended Episode Only] Redesigning roles and work for energy and well-being

📚 Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Upskill your team here

- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here

Keep up with Rita Ramakrishnan

- Follow Rita on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaram

- Visit Iksana here: https://www.iksana.com

Guest Bonus: 20% Off Coaching Services

Rita is offering members of Podcast+ 20% off her coaching services. She provides executive and team coaching specifically designed for neurodivergent leaders and the teams who work with them, helping executives leverage their cognitive differences as strategic advantages while creating psychologically safe, high-performing environments.

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

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#ADHDAtWork #NeurodiversityInTheWorkplace #LeadershipDevelopment #InclusiveLeadership

#PeopleManagement #WorkplaceWellbeing #TheModernManagerPodcast

Have you ever had a great idea but struggled to get others on board?

You don’t need a title to have influence; you need a strategy.

Fortunately, this week’s guest knows exactly how to build credibility and momentum without formal power.

Tami Reiss is an expert on influence-driven leadership. She’s a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and CEO of Leader Within, where she helps leaders master influence and maximize impact. Through tools like the LEAD Framework, MAP, the Influence Canvas, and the Confident Communicator GPT, she makes leadership concepts practical and accessible to professionals around the world. Her latest passion project is a rhyming illustrated book on leadership.

In this episode, Tami shares how to use the MAP Framework (Manifest, Assess, Promote) to move ideas forward, align your vision with others, and build relationships that lead to collaboration instead of resistance. We explore what to do when your ideas are dismissed, how to avoid losing your cool under pressure, and why influence is really about connection, not control.

In the extended conversation, Tami shares practical tools for managing crisis moments with calm, rallying allies before big decisions, and communicating risks in ways that help others listen and engage constructively.

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Join the conversation now!

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Introduction: Why Influence Without Authority Matters
• (02:09) The MAP Framework: Manifest, Assess, Promote
• (05:06) Why Influence is About Connection, Not Power
• (09:15) Manifesting a Vision That Inspires Buy-In
• (12:38) Assessing Stakeholders and Building Relationships
• (17:02) Promoting Your Ideas Authentically
• (21:19) Managing Pushback and Reframing Resistance
• (25:26) Lessons from Great Managers: Buy-In vs. Being Right
• (29:03) Connect with Tami Reiss
• (30:35) [Extended Episode Only] Staying Calm and Building Allies in Crisis
• (34:24) [Extended Episode Only] The “Meeting Before the Meeting” to Gain Real Support

📚 Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Upskill your team here

- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here

Keep up with Tami Reiss

- Visit Tami’s website here: https://tamireiss.com

- Follow Tami on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamireiss

- Follow Tami on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/reisstami

- Subscribe to her Leader Within newsletter here: https://leaderwithin.substack.com

- Watch Tami’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/tamireiss

- View her speaker reel playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/tamireiss — get a peek into the energy she brings to audiences.

- Download the free M.A.P. Canvas here: https://learn.myleaderwithin.com/influence

- Read her blog here: https://learn.myleaderwithin.com/blog/

- Pre-order her upcoming book What Do Product Managers Do? A Primer for Aspiring PMs of All Ages here: https://mascotbooks.com/product/what-do-product-managers-do-a-primer-for-aspiring-pms-of-all-ages/

- Explore her custom GPT, The Leader Within: Tami from Miami, here: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-679afb821a6c81918edef32295c26b8b-the-leader-within-tami-from-miami

Guest Bonus: Mastering Executive Presence Online Course for $49

Mastering Executive Presence is a practical, high-impact course for leaders who’ve been told to “show up stronger” but were never shown how. You’ll learn and practice real behaviors across Awareness, Adaptability, Authenticity, and Authority to build trust, increase influence, and lead with confidence in every high-stakes moment. ($499 value) 

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#Leadership #InfluenceWithoutAuthority #CommunicationSkills #ManagerTips #WorkplaceInfluence #ProfessionalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #SoftSkills #TeamManagement #CareerSuccess #LeadershipMindset #PeopleSkills #Collaboration #EffectiveCommunication #ManagerAdvice #OfficePolitics #LeadershipTools

Are you showing up as your full, authentic self or just the version you think others expect?

Authenticity isn’t a matter of oversharing or saying whatever’s on your mind. It’s about honesty balanced with humility and vulnerability, the kind that builds genuine trust and stronger teams.

Thankfully, today’s guest brings both experience and expertise to this conversation. 

Mike Robbins is the author of five books, including Bring Your Whole Self to Work and his latest, We’re All In This Together. For the past 25 years, Mike has been a sought-after keynote speaker and executive coach who delivers keynotes, workshops, and coaching programs for some of the top companies in the world. His clients include Google, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Walmart, eBay, Schwab, and many more.

In this episode, we delve into what it truly means to “bring your whole self to work,” examine why self-righteousness undermines connection, and explore how vulnerability cultivates trust and psychological safety. Mike shares his “authenticity equation” and practical ways managers can model openness without crossing professional boundaries.

In the extended conversation, Mike delves deeper into the art of authentic appreciation, why most people are uncomfortable receiving praise, how to cultivate a culture of gratitude on your team, and the key distinction between appreciation and recognition. He also shares a powerful team practice, “the appreciation seat,” that helps managers cultivate belonging and empathy at work.

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Join the conversation now!

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Introduction: Why Authenticity Matters at Work
• (01:03) The Challenge of Showing Up Authentically
• (01:46) The Authenticity Equation Explained
• (03:14) Removing Self-Righteousness from Your Leadership
• (06:55) The Subtle Ways Self-Righteousness Shows Up in Coaching
• (10:21) Lowering the Waterline on the Iceberg
• (16:24) The Art of Appropriate Disclosure
• (18:53) Navigating Grief and Personal Struggles at Work
• (22:30) Authenticity, Identity, and Belonging
• (26:11) The Power of Sweaty Palm Conversations
• (30:18) Connect with Mike Robbins
• (31:07) [Extended Only] The art of appreciation: how to give and receive it authentically
• (37:38) [Extended Only] Recognition vs. appreciation—what every manager should know

📚 Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Upskill your team here

- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here

Keep up with Mike Robbins

- Connect with Mike on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrobbins/ 

- Follow Mike on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/mikedrobbins/

- Visit Mike’s website here: https://mike-robbins.com/ 

- Follow Mike on X here: https://x.com/mikedrobbins 

- Follow Mike on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikedrobbins 

Guest Bonus: Book Giveaway: 3 Copies of We're All in This Together: Creating a Team Culture of High Performance, Trust, and Belonging

In this book, corporate consultant Mike Robbins dives deep into the ways great businesses build trust, collaborate, and operate at their peak level. The book’s core principles include facilitating an environment of psychological safety, fostering inclusion and belonging, addressing and navigating conflict, and maintaining a healthy balance of high expectations and empathy. 

Throughout, Mike shares powerful exercises and tools he’s successfully utilized in the keynote speeches, group sessions, and corporate retreats that he delivers so that you and your team can communicate more authentically, give and receive feedback with skill, and create deeper connections.

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

#AuthenticLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagerTips #WorkplaceCulture #PsychologicalSafety #Vulnerability #TrustAtWork #Leadership #Management #TeamLeadership #WorkCulture #ProfessionalGrowth #HumanCenteredLeadership #FutureOfWork #TheModernManager

At some point in your career, you’ve probably worked with someone who is on the autism spectrum, but you might not have known. There are many misconceptions about autism, which damage how we understand and therefore support these colleagues. Viewing autism through a new lens can help every manager unlock hidden potential and design environments where everyone thrives.

Today’s guest brings both personal experience and professional insight to help us all better appreciate the talents of neurodiverse team members. 

Clain Udy is reshaping the way society views autism by shifting our perspectives from deficit-focused to one that sees autism through a strengths-based lens. As the father of a high-functioning autistic adult son, Clain has spent over two decades researching and investigating what it takes to help his son and other autistic individuals have successful, fulfilling careers.

Clain’s new book, Rebranding Autism: A Guide to Seeing Strength on the Spectrum, details his journey from initially thinking he had to “fix” his autistic son to wholeheartedly embracing his son’s beautifully unique strengths.

In this episode, we explore how autism shows up in the workplace, what managers often misunderstand about communication and performance, and practical ways to create environments where neurodiverse employees can do their best work.

In the extended conversation, Clain shares how managers can better understand social communication preferences, why “chasing normal” harms both managers and employees, and how reframing autism as a different but equally valid way of processing the world changes everything about inclusion.

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Join the conversation now!

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Introduction – Understanding how neurodivergent brains enrich the workplace
• (02:03) The hidden prevalence of autism in professional environments
• (04:38) Dispelling misconceptions and shifting from deficit-based thinking
• (07:16) Recognizing the strengths of autistic individuals
• (12:34) Adapting environments for sensory and cognitive needs
• (13:43) Communication strategies that support neurodivergent team members
• (20:12) Strength-based management and inclusive leadership
• (25:14) Real stories of inclusive managers in action
• (29:18) [Extended Episode Only] Building authentic relationships with neurodivergent employees
• (34:54) [Extended Episode Only] Designing communication to meet different social needs

📚 Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here 

- Visit my website for more here

- Upskill your team here

- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here

Keep up with Clain Udy

- Check out his website: https://autismelevated.com/

- Follow Clain on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clainudy/

- Follow Clain on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Autism-Elevated/61559009841770/

- Follow Clain on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autismelevated/

Guest Bonus: 10 Book Giveaway: Rebranding Autism: A Guide to Seeing Strength on the Spectrum

This insightful book is both a memoir and a practical guide that aims to dismantle the current assumptions and mindset around autism and empower parents, educators, and employers to recognize and nurture the inherent abilities of autistic individuals.

To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

---------------------

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

#Neurodiversity #AutismAwareness #InclusiveLeadership #WorkplaceInclusion #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagerTips #FutureOfWork #TeamManagement #PsychologicalSafety #HumanCenteredLeadership #TheModernManager

#AutismAtWork #Neurodiversity #InclusiveLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagerTips #WorkCulture #Inclusion #WorkplaceInclusion #Leadership #Management #TeamLeadership #FutureOfWork #PeopleManagement #AutismAwareness