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How to Lead with Clay Scroggins
How to Lead with Clay Scroggins episodes
- What’s the Purpose (and Future) of Middle Management?
Middle management gets a bad rap: too much pressure, not enough power, and none of the credit. But what if we’ve misunderstood its purpose all along?
In this episode, we reframe the middle—not as a corporate purgatory, but as a vital proving ground. You’ll discover why this role is more than a rung on the ladder—it’s a shaping season that builds vision, resilience, and sound judgment.
We’ll explore:
Why the role is misunderstood (and unfairly maligned)
How the valley of middle management forms you—not just frustrates you
Where the role is headed in the future—from manager to wayfinder
Key takeaway: Stop trying to escape the middle. Start learning from it.
Challenge: Ask yourself: How is this season shaping me into the leader I’m becoming?
About Clay Scroggins: Clay Scroggins is a sought-after speaker and leadership coachknown for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably How to Lead When You're Not In Charge. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his weekly email. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com
About Adam Tarnow: Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at PeopleWorks International, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com
16 min - How to Become an Enlightened Control Freak
When you hear “control freak,” what comes to mind? Probably someone who micromanages, hoards tasks, and drives everyone nuts. But what if the real issue isn’t being controlling—it’s trying to control everything?
In this episode, we reclaim the term and explore what it means to become an Enlightened Control Freak—someone who’s focused, self-aware, and ruthlessly clear about what’s theirs to own.
You’ll learn a simple 1-2-3 framework to help you:
Name what you want
Separate goals from desires
Control the controllable
If you’re tired of being overwhelmed by things outside your control, this episode will show you a better path—one that leads to clarity, peace, and progress.
Challenge: This week, make two lists—your goals and your desires—and ask: What can I control?
About Clay Scroggins: Clay Scroggins is a sought-after speaker and leadership coachknown for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably How to Lead When You're Not In Charge. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his weekly email. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com
About Adam Tarnow: Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at PeopleWorks International, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com
17 min - Is All Development Self-Development?
Peter Drucker once wrote, “For development is always self-development.” In this episode, we unpack why that simple idea might be the most overlooked (and freeing) truth in the professional world.
Clay and Adam explore:
Why so many people wait to be “developed” by their company or manager
The real reasons we resist taking initiative
What self-development actually looks like in everyday life
The role organizations should play (but often overplay) in your growth
If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting for someone to invest in you, this episode is your reminder: development doesn’t require permission—it requires a posture.
About Clay Scroggins: Clay Scroggins is a sought-after speaker and leadership coachknown for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably How to Lead When You're Not In Charge. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his weekly email. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com
About Adam Tarnow: Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at PeopleWorks International, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com
23 min - I'm Not Management Material
“I was promoted once… and quickly realized I’m not management material.”
If you’ve ever thought or said those words, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken.
In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack why so many talented professionals opt out of management and why that decision often has more to do with broken systems than broken people.
We explore the cultural shift that’s made leadership feel more like a trap than a reward, and we ask a better question: What if you’re not management material… yet?
You’ll learn:
Why Gen Z and Millennials are skeptical of traditional management
What “I’m not management material” usually means underneath
How to reframe the role of a manager from a pressure-filled title to a purposeful growth path
Why good managers aren’t born—they’re built
If you’ve ever doubted your place in leadership, this one’s for you.
About Clay Scroggins: Clay Scroggins is a sought-after speaker and leadership coachknown for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably How to Lead When You're Not In Charge. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his weekly email. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com
About Adam Tarnow: Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at PeopleWorks International, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com
19 min - How to Get Noticed Without Being Too Loud
Many talented leaders quietly do excellent work, wondering why no one sees it. If that’s you, you’re not alone. In this episode, Clay and Adam explore how to show up, stand out, and get noticed without becoming someone you’re not.
They’ll cover:
The difference between humility and invisibility
Three common reasons you feel overlooked (and what to do about it)
How to get noticed without selling out: narrate your thinking, ask better questions, and offer help upward
This episode is for leaders who want to be more influential without being louder—who want to lead with clarity, courage, and consistency.
📝 “Don’t try to be louder. Just be clearer, bolder, and more consistent.”
About Clay Scroggins: Clay Scroggins is a sought-after speaker and leadership coachknown for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably How to Lead When You're Not In Charge. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his weekly email. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com
About Adam Tarnow: Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at PeopleWorks International, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com
24 min - How to Get Unstuck Without Changing Jobs
You don’t have to hate your job to feel stuck in it. In fact, some of the most respected, well-paid professionals still find themselves restless, unmotivated, and going through the motions. In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack what it really means to feel “stuck” at work—and why it doesn’t always mean it’s time to quit.
Drawing on insights from thinkers like Mel Robbins, Dan Heath, Jocko Willink, and Patrick Lencioni, they challenge the common belief that the only solution to feeling stuck is to change jobs. Instead, they offer a fresh perspective: what if “stuck” is just a signal, not a verdict?
You’ll learn three common reasons people feel stuck (and what to do about each one), plus simple, practical strategies to reignite your growth, energy, and sense of purpose—without switching careers. Whether you’re feeling passive, frustrated, or disconnected from your “why,” this conversation will help you stop waiting for permission and start leading again right where you are.
Key Takeaway:
You don’t need a new job. You need a new mindset about the one you already have.
About Clay Scroggins: Clay Scroggins is a sought-after speaker and leadership coachknown for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably How to Lead When You're Not In Charge. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his weekly email. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com
About Adam Tarnow: Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at PeopleWorks International, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com
20 min - How to Avoid the Curse of Knowledge
Most leaders overestimate what their team knows. We assume too much, communicate too little, and then get frustrated when people miss the mark.
In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack the Curse of Knowledge —the tendency to forget what it’s like not to know something and share 4 practical ways to lead with more clarity:
✅ Assume nobody knows anything
✅ Define success clearly and repeatedly
✅ Repeat yourself more than you think you should
✅ Ask “What’s unclear?” instead of “Any questions?”
About Clay Scroggins: Clay Scroggins is a sought-after speaker and leadership coachknown for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably How to Lead When You're Not In Charge. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his weekly email. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com
About Adam Tarnow: Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at PeopleWorks International, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com
19 min - How to Stop Caring What Other People Think of You
Caring too much about what others think will shrink your leadership, steal your courage, and keep you from making the impact you’re meant to make. In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack why approval addiction is so common—and so costly and give you three practical ways to lead with clarity, confidence, and conviction. You’ll learn how to filter feedback, clarify your values, and build real confidence through action.
If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself, overthinking every decision, or leading for applause instead of impact—this one’s for you.
About Clay Scroggins: Clay Scroggins is a sought-after speaker and leadership coachknown for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably How to Lead When You're Not In Charge. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his weekly email. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com
About Adam Tarnow:
Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at PeopleWorks International, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com
23 min - How to Build a Successful Speaking Business
PushPay proudly sponsors this episode. Unleash generosity at your church: pushpay.com
______________________________________________________________
Clay and Adam break down the steps to building a speaking business—particularly if you’re doing it on the side. Clay shares how two decades of church speaking and writing books laid the foundation for his speaking career, and together they unpack the key lessons anyone can apply:
- How to get started (even without a big platform)
- Why making the leader look good is your secret weapon
- The one talk you need to absolutely crush
- Why being easy to work with matters more than you think
- How to turn one gig into long-term momentum
If you’ve ever thought, “Could I do this?”—this episode is for you.
About Clay Scroggins:
Clay Scroggins is a sought-after speaker and leadership coachknown for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably How to Lead When You're Not In Charge. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his weekly email. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com
About Adam Tarnow:
Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at PeopleWorks International, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com
30 min - Play the Hand You're Dealt: How to Build a Great Relationship with Your Boss
In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack how to thrive at work by understanding and adapting to your boss’s world, even if they’re less than perfect. They explore five key strategies: empathizing with your boss’s challenges, learning their communication style, being a low-maintenance problem solver, managing your expectations, and influencing without being manipulative. The episode challenges listeners to stop waiting for the “perfect boss” and instead focus on playing the hand they’re dealt—with a few practical tips to start using right away.
About Clay Scroggins:
Clay Scroggins is a sought-after speaker and leadership coachknown for his practical and engaging approach to leadership. He is the author of three books, most notably How to Lead When You're Not In Charge. With a passion for helping leaders thrive in any environment, Clay brings valuable insights and real-world experience to this podcast and his weekly email. Learn more at ClayScroggins.com
About Adam Tarnow:
Adam Tarnow is a recovering CPA and now a partner at PeopleWorks International, where he heads the Leadership Development Practice. He is the co-author of The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In and shares his insights on leadership through his Substack, Beyond the Obvious. Learn more at AdamTarnow.com
21 min
About How to Lead with Clay Scroggins
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A podcast designed to help you develop yourself and those around you.
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