Asking for what you need at work wasn’t an accommodation, but a leadership skill. In this episode, I sit down with Stew Friedman, the pioneer of Total Leadership and founding director of Wharton’s Work-Life Integration Project, to rethink how we approach work, life, and leadership. We talk about why so many high performers feel guilty asking for flexibility, time, or support and why leaders who understand their whole lives are actually better, more sustainable performers. Stew also breaks down the Total Leadership model, which centers on being real, being whole, and being innovative to create what he calls “four-way wins” across work, home, community, and self. Get ready to stop asking for permission and start leading your life with intention.

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In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why asking for what you need at work feels like an accommodation.

06:00 How work, home, community, and self must work together.

10:00 Why self-knowledge is the foundation of sustainable leadership.

17:45 What “four-way win” experiments look like in life.

22:15 Why flexibility works best when framed as mutual value.

27:30 How leaders unintentionally block agency on their teams.

32:30 What is the biggest mistake people make when asking for support?

38:30 What mental health and leadership have in common. 

43:30 Why different minds require different leadership models.

49:00 What makes us whole?

Resources + Links

Learn more about Total Leadership Org HERE

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Stew Friedman on LinkedIn