Are you putting off a tough conversation at work? Whether it’s with a colleague, employee, or your boss, delaying these moments can make workplace communication even more challenging. This episode is your essential guide to handling tough conversations at work with confidence, clarity, and true leadership skills. Difficult conversations aren’t hard because the truth is hidden—they’re tough because we avoid them until the consequences are unavoidable. In this powerful episode, Barry shares a real-life workplace communication case study (the Bill story) and unveils a proven 4-step framework designed to help you lead tough conversations at work without damaging trust, team culture, or your leadership credibility.

You’ll discover: - A 4-part framework that transforms tough conversations at work into constructive opportunities for growth - Exact phrases and questions to lower defensiveness and encourage honest reflection - Real-world insights for leading with empathy while upholding high standards - A clear path to restore trust, reset expectations, and move forward—even after uncomfortable feedback - Tools to stay calm, connected, and clear, no matter how awkward the workplace topic If you’ve been avoiding a difficult discussion, now’s the time to step up and strengthen your workplace communication and leadership skills. Use this framework to protect your team’s culture and lead with both strength and respect. Hit play now!

Get the Difficult Conversations Prep Checklist at: https://tinyurl.com/Diff-Con-Checklist

The Leadership Career Accelerator

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

For more information and resources, visit: https://barrymoline.com/resources

The Leadership Career Accelerator podcast is for young professionals, team leads, emerging leaders, new managers, entry-level managers, and first-time managers navigating real-world career challenges. They're ambitious professionals, high achievers, and corporate climbers striving for career advancement, career growth, and professional success. Along the way, they face imposter syndrome, self-doubt, fear of failure, burnout, and career anxiety, often feeling overlooked, undervalued, underpaid, or trapped in stagnation and job pressure. They want to overcome micromanagement, office politics, comparison, and difficult bosses, while learning how to lead through influence, trust, persuasion, and emotional intelligence. These business professionals seek leadership training that builds confidence, executive presence, and authority, with tools like communication skills, public speaking, negotiation, and storytelling. They care about productivity, self-improvement, mindset, decision making, and professional development—all while trying to stand out in complex workplace dynamics. Their goals include earning respect, recognition, a promotion, or a raise, building credibility, gaining clarity, and achieving the visibility and upward mobility they deserve through sharpened leadership skills and true impact.

Barry Moline is a longtime energy industry CEO and public speaker specializing in teamwork, leadership, and influence. With extensive experience managing diverse teams, Barry provides practical insights and strategies to foster a positive, productive workplace. Connect with Barry on LinkedIn for more tips on effective leadership and team management, on his website, or email at [email protected].

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

Each episode gives you practical tools to build executive presence, influence with impact, and get recognized and promoted.

This podcast is for ambitious early-career leaders facing imposter syndrome, burnout, office politics, and tough bosses. If you’re uncertain about what actions to take to be seen as a leader, you’re in the right place. You’ll learn influence, communication, confidence, and executive presence so you can earn respect, gain visibility, and achieve the promotions and career growth you deserve.

Listen:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-career-accelerator/id1855695140

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4AsoxD5yowhg0uN3ibyUw4?si=f367e778f060486b

Read: Substack: https://leadershipcareeraccelerator.substack.com/

Watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsaUixOhhTSYYLnk3BJsVApjAokRHbx7S

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Dare to Lead with Brené Brown, which explores courage, vulnerability, and culture shifts in leadership; The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, offering practical and actionable advice for leading teams and organizations; The Maxwell Leadership Podcast with John C. Maxwell, known for classic, principle-based lessons from one of the world’s foremost leadership experts; HBR IdeaCast hosted by Alison Beard and Curt Nickisch, which covers leadership, strategy, and innovation with top thinkers and executives; The EntreLeadership Podcast with Dave Ramsey, focusing on leadership in entrepreneurial and business contexts; How Leaders Lead with David Novak, featuring interviews with top leaders from business, sports, and entertainment; The Leadership Podcast with Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos, which highlights real-world leadership experiences; Just One Question with Dr. Nick Morgan, a fast-paced show that distills leadership insights into one powerful question per episode; Leadership Biz Café with Tanveer Naseer, exploring the human side of leadership and teamwork; and The Learning Leader Podcast with Ryan Hawk, which emphasizes continuous learning, personal growth, and leadership development through conversations with high performers.

Tough Conversations | Difficult Conversations At Work Examples

Do you have a tough conversation you’ve been avoiding—maybe with a colleague, employee, or even your boss? Every day you delay, it gets more uncomfortable. This episode is your playbook for handling those moments with courage, clarity, and impact.

Welcome to the Leadership Career Accelerator, where we help aspiring leaders build executive presence, influence with impact, and get recognized and promoted. I’m longtime CEO Barry Moline. If you enjoy practical leadership tools, please hit subscribe.

Tough conversations.

They’re not hard because the truth is unclear. They’re hard because we delay them until consequences show up. I’ll share a real-life case study—the Bill Story—and a simple four-part framework you can use immediately.

Quick lesson on direct feedback: early in my first season as a professional hockey referee, I was coasting instead of skating into position. After a game, a senior ref told me, “When the puck leaves the attacking zone and crosses the blue line, that’s your cue to get your ass out of the zone.” Then he added, “I want you to be a better referee.” Direct. Clear. Future-focused. Great difficult conversations correct the present without destroying the future.

Now the workplace.

I had an employee named Bill who led committee meetings. One day, in a meeting I wasn’t in, he made an inappropriate comment: “That sounds like what the Nazis did in Germany.” People were shocked and said nothing in the moment. Later, a staff member told me what happened and asked me to address it so it wouldn’t happen again. This is the leadership moment: you’re busy, you’re human, and it’s tempting to wait. But waiting lets the issue spread—and it quietly changes culture.

Here’s the four-phase framework I used:

1. Clarity: Put the issue on the table early, directly, and without distortion. I scheduled time quickly and messaged, “Bill, can we meet for 20 minutes? I received feedback from the committee meeting today that we need to talk through.” In the meeting I stuck to facts: “Multiple people reported you compared something to the Nazis in Germany.” Then I verified: “Did you say that, or something close?” He acknowledged he did. Next, I explained impact: “It offended people. Even if you intended humor, comments like that can make a meeting feel unsafe. People stop contributing, trust erodes, and collaboration suffers. And to be clear: those kinds of comments can’t happen again in meetings you lead.”
2. Control: Reduce defensiveness by giving agency. I asked permission: “This is a difficult topic—are you open to talking about it?” Then I used interrogative questions instead of a lecture: “What was your intent? How do you think it landed? If you were in the room, how would you feel hearing it?” Reflection without humiliation.
3. Respect: Keep your tone steady and professional. Acknowledge the person without surrendering the standard. You can be firm and human at the same time.
4. Future orientation: Shift to what “good” looks like next time. Agree on the pathway forward, the next steps, and what you’ll both do to prevent a repeat.

How to start a difficult conversation.

Lead with clarity, invite engagement, protect dignity, and move the discussion toward a better future.

Difficult conversations at work examples.

Use this framework to address problems early while keeping the culture strong.

Difficult conversations with employees examples.

Handled well, they become turning points that restore trust, reset expectations, and improve performance.

Conclusion

In Conclusion, Navigating Difficult Conversations At Work Examples Requires A Structured Approach. By Using The Four-Phase Framework, Leaders Can Transform Difficult Conversations With Employees Examples Into Opportunities For Growth And Understanding. Remember, Clarity, Control, Respect, And Future Orientation Are Key To Ensuring These Tough Conversations Lead To Positive Outcomes. Implement These Strategies To Foster A More Open And Trusting Workplace Environment.

#ToughConversations #DifficultConversations #WorkplaceCommunication #LeadershipSkills #CareerAdvice #ProfessionalDevelopment #ConflictResolution #HowToStartADifficultConversation #DifficultConversationsAtWork #LeadershipTips #ExecutivePresence #WorkplaceSuccess #CareerGrowth #ManagementSkills #CommunicationSkills

Timecode:

0:00

Handling Tough Conversations

3:13

The Bill Story Case Study

6:26

Four-Phase Framework Introduction

9:39

Phase One: Clarity

12:52

Phase Two: Control

16:05

Phase Three: Respect

19:18

Phase Four: Future Orientation

AI integration is transforming the workplace faster than most leaders ever imagined, creating a critical workplace transition that demands new strategies and trust-building at every level. In this episode, discover a clear, actionable game plan to guide your team through the next phase of AI integration with confidence, clarity, and a human-centered approach.

If you’ve been wondering how to start this workplace transition, this episode is your essential playbook. Learn what steps to take in the next 7 to 14 days to kickstart momentum, and how to follow through over the next 90 days to foster a culture of trust and sustainable AI adoption.

You’ll learn:

- How to set safe, simple AI usage rules your team will actually follow

- Why focusing on just 1–3 workflows is the smartest way to begin your AI integration

- The most effective ways to build trust and capability within your team during this workplace transition

- What to track to ensure real progress (and why gut feelings aren’t enough)

- How to redesign roles and conversations without fear or chaos

- A clear, month-by-month path to scale AI responsibly—without breaking trust or culture

If you lead a team, now is the time to act. Pick one process, name the moment, and set the tone for curiosity, clarity, and trust-building. This is your window to lead—not just react—through this pivotal workplace transition.

The Leadership Career Accelerator

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

For more information and resources, visit: https://barrymoline.com/resources/

Send Barry a note at: [email protected]

Check out LCA on Substack: https://leadershipcareeraccelerator.substack.com/

The Leadership Career Accelerator podcast is designed for aspiring leaders who want to develop executive presence, master trust-building, and navigate workplace transitions with confidence. Learn about influence, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, communication, resilience, innovation, and more.

If you enjoy podcasts like Dare to Lead with Brené Brown, The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, The Maxwell Leadership Podcast, HBR IdeaCast, or The EntreLeadership Podcast, you’ll love this show. Tune in and take the first step toward leading your team through successful AI integration!

AI is accelerating faster than most organizations are prepared for—and leaders are feeling the pressure. But this isn’t just about adopting a new tool. It’s about navigating a workplace transition that will redefine jobs, roles, and trust.

In this episode, you’ll get a clear, practical game plan for how to lead your team through the next phase of AI integration—with confidence and clarity. If you’ve been asking, “Where do we even start?”, this is your playbook. Learn what to do in the next 7 to 14 days to kickstart momentum, and how to follow through over the next 90 days to build a sustainable, human-centered AI culture.

You’ll learn:

1. How to set safe, simple AI usage rules your team will actually follow
2. Why picking just 1–3 workflows is the smartest place to start
3. The best way to build trust and capability inside your team
4. What to track (and why vibes aren’t enough)
5. How to redesign roles and conversations without fear or chaos
6. A clear, month-by-month path to scale AI responsibly—without breaking culture or trust

If you lead a team, start now. Pick one process, name the moment, and set the tone for curiosity and clarity. This is your window to lead—not react.

The Leadership Career Accelerator

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

For more information and resources, visit: https://barrymoline.com/resources/

Send Barry a note at: [email protected]

Check out LCA on Substack: https://leadershipcareeraccelerator.substack.com/

The Leadership Career Accelerator podcast is for aspiring leaders to learn how to build executive presence, influence with impact, and get recognized and promoted. You’ll learn how to develop integrity, expand your self-awareness, empathy and emotional intelligence, developing vision and strategic thinking, grow your communication skills, active listening, decision-making, adaptability and agility, collaboration and team-building, responsibility and accountability, courage, humility, innovation and creativity, a growth mindset and learning agility, resilience and persistence, authenticity, influence without authority, motivation and inspiring others, trust-building, focus and prioritization, coaching and developing others, conflict management, inclusivity and diversity awareness, transparency and openness, and servant leadership.

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll ours too! Dare to Lead with Brené Brown, which explores courage, vulnerability, and culture shifts in leadership; The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, offering practical and actionable advice for leading teams and organizations; The Maxwell Leadership Podcast with John C. Maxwell, known for classic, principle-based lessons from one of the world’s foremost leadership experts; HBR IdeaCast hosted by Alison Beard and Curt Nickisch, which covers leadership, strategy, and innovation with top thinkers and executives; The EntreLeadership Podcast with Dave Ramsey, focusing on leadership in entrepreneurial and business contexts; How Leaders Lead with David Novak, featuring interviews with top leaders from business, sports, and entertainment; The Leadership Podcast with Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos, which highlights real-world leadership experiences; Just One Question with Dr. Nick Morgan, a fast-paced show that distills leadership insights into one powerful question per episode; Leadership Biz Café with Tanveer Naseer, exploring the human side of leadership and teamwork; and The Learning Leader Podcast with Ryan Hawk, which emphasizes continuous learning, personal growth, and leadership development through conversations with high performers.

There are moments in business when everything changes—not just a new tool or trend, but a full rewrite. AI is now one of those moments. If you led through the early days of COVID, you’ll remember the speed, uncertainty, and disruption.

That same intensity is back, but this time it’s driven by technology, not crisis. In just months, AI has gone from curiosity to capability, fundamentally reshaping how work gets done, how decisions are made, and—most importantly—how people feel about their value at work.

Employees everywhere are asking: Is my job safe? Am I behind? Do I need to reinvent myself? Is my company handling this well? The question of AI and job security is front and center, and as a leader, these concerns land on your desk. In this episode, Barry breaks down: - 10 clear predictions for AI in 2026—real shifts you can already see taking root - How AI is reshaping work at every level, from task design to team culture - Why management is changing, not disappearing - What happens when AI tools start taking action, not just suggesting ideas - The growing workplace emotional divide—anxiety versus advantage—and what leaders must do about it This isn’t just about staying ahead of a trend.

It’s about understanding the new workplace emotional divide and learning how to lead through a turning point. Tune in to get grounded in what’s happening with AI and job security—so you can guide your team with clarity, confidence, and credibility as AI tools begin taking real action.

This isn’t about staying ahead of a trend. It’s about leading through a turning point.

Tune in and get grounded in what’s happening — so you can lead your team with clarity, confidence, and credibility.

The Leadership Career Accelerator

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

For more information and resources, visit: https://barrymoline.com/resources

The Leadership Career Accelerator podcast is for young professionals, team leads, emerging leaders, new managers, entry-level managers, and first-time managers navigating real-world career challenges. They're ambitious professionals, high achievers, and corporate climbers striving for career advancement, career growth, and professional success. Along the way, they face imposter syndrome, self-doubt, fear of failure, burnout, and career anxiety, often feeling overlooked, undervalued, underpaid, or trapped in stagnation and job pressure. They want to overcome micromanagement, office politics, comparison, and difficult bosses, while learning how to lead through influence, trust, persuasion, and emotional intelligence. These business professionals seek leadership training that builds confidence, executive presence, and authority, with tools like communication skills, public speaking, negotiation, and storytelling. They care about productivity, self-improvement, mindset, decision making, and professional development—all while trying to stand out in complex workplace dynamics. Their goals include earning respect, recognition, a promotion, or a raise, building credibility, gaining clarity, and achieving the visibility and upward mobility they deserve through sharpened leadership skills and true impact.

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Dare to Lead with Brené Brown, which explores courage, vulnerability, and culture shifts in leadership; The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, offering practical and actionable advice for leading teams and organizations; The Maxwell Leadership Podcast with John C. Maxwell, known for classic, principle-based lessons from one of the world’s foremost leadership experts; HBR IdeaCast hosted by Alison Beard and Curt Nickisch, which covers leadership, strategy, and innovation with top thinkers and executives; The EntreLeadership Podcast with Dave Ramsey, focusing on leadership in entrepreneurial and business contexts; How Leaders Lead with David Novak, featuring interviews with top leaders from business, sports, and entertainment; The Leadership Podcast with Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos, which highlights real-world leadership experiences; Just One Question with Dr. Nick Morgan, a fast-paced show that distills leadership insights into one powerful question per episode; Leadership Biz Café with Tanveer Naseer, exploring the human side of leadership and teamwork; and The Learning Leader Podcast with Ryan Hawk, which emphasizes continuous learning, personal growth, and leadership development through conversations with high performers.

Have you ever dreaded delivering bad news—especially when the stakes are high and emotions are raw?

Whether you're a leader, educator, healthcare professional, or sales executive, chances are you've faced moments where you had to share something tough. This episode breaks down how to handle those high-stakes conversations with confidence, empathy, and clarity—so you maintain trust and preserve relationships even in the most difficult situations.

1. You’ll learn a 6-step framework for delivering difficult news in a way that keeps dignity and respect intact for everyone involved.
2. You’ll discover why traditional methods like the "compliment sandwich" may fall short—and what to use instead.
3. You’ll hear real-world examples from leadership, education, and business where this communication method transforms tension into productive next steps.

Learn how to turn your next difficult conversation into a moment of clarity, connection, and leadership growth.

The Leadership Career Accelerator

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

For more information and resources, visit: https://barrymoline.com/resources

Get a free 30-minute consultation with Vlad Bushin by contacting him at [email protected]

The Leadership Career Accelerator podcast is for aspiring leaders to learn how to build executive presence, influence with impact, and get recognized and promoted. You’ll learn how to develop integrity, expand your self-awareness, empathy and emotional intelligence, developing vision and strategic thinking, grow your communication skills, active listening, decision-making, adaptability and agility, collaboration and team-building, responsibility and accountability, courage, humility, innovation and creativity, a growth mindset and learning agility, resilience and persistence, authenticity, influence without authority, motivation and inspiring others, trust-building, focus and prioritization, coaching and developing others, conflict management, inclusivity and diversity awareness, transparency and openness, and servant leadership.

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll ours too! Dare to Lead with Brené Brown, which explores courage, vulnerability, and culture shifts in leadership; The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, offering practical and actionable advice for leading teams and organizations; The Maxwell Leadership Podcast with John C. Maxwell, known for classic, principle-based lessons from one of the world’s foremost leadership experts; HBR IdeaCast hosted by Alison Beard and Curt Nickisch, which covers leadership, strategy, and innovation with top thinkers and executives; The EntreLeadership Podcast with Dave Ramsey, focusing on leadership in entrepreneurial and business contexts; How Leaders Lead with David Novak, featuring interviews with top leaders from business, sports, and entertainment; The Leadership Podcast with Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos, which highlights real-world leadership experiences; Just One Question with Dr. Nick Morgan, a fast-paced show that distills leadership insights into one powerful question per episode; Leadership Biz Café with Tanveer Naseer, exploring the human side of leadership and teamwork; and The Learning Leader Podcast with Ryan Hawk, which emphasizes continuous learning, personal growth, and leadership development through conversations with high performers.

Confidence doesn’t look the same for women as it does for men—and it shouldn’t be treated like it does. In this empowering episode, we’ll unpack five research-based strategies that speak directly to the unique challenges women face in leadership, from being judged more harshly to getting vague feedback like “Be more assertive.” This conversation is for women who are ready to lead with clarity, not apology.

In this episode, you’ll

1. Discover why naming the “confidence gap” is the first step to neutralizing it and taking back your power.
2. You’ll learn how to advocate for yourself with language that is confident, professional, and leadership-aligned.
3. You’ll understand the importance of building a confidence community and own the leadership strengths you already have—like collaboration, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking.

You’ll walk away with one action you can implement today: speaking up with clear, assertive language that makes people listen—and respect what you bring to the table.

The Leadership Career Accelerator

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

For more information and resources, visit: https://barrymoline.com/resources/

Send Barry a note at: [email protected]

Check out LCA on Substack: https://leadershipcareeraccelerator.substack.com/

The Leadership Career Accelerator podcast is for aspiring leaders to learn how to build executive presence, influence with impact, and get recognized and promoted. You’ll learn how to develop integrity, expand your self-awareness, empathy and emotional intelligence, developing vision and strategic thinking, grow your communication skills, active listening, decision-making, adaptability and agility, collaboration and team-building, responsibility and accountability, courage, humility, innovation and creativity, a growth mindset and learning agility, resilience and persistence, authenticity, influence without authority, motivation and inspiring others, trust-building, focus and prioritization, coaching and developing others, conflict management, inclusivity and diversity awareness, transparency and openness, and servant leadership.

Ever wonder why some people naturally command the room — while others (equally smart and talented) hold themselves back?

If you’ve ever second-guessed yourself, stayed silent in a meeting, or felt like you weren’t “ready” yet to lead — this episode is for you. The truth is, confidence isn't something you're born with. It's something you build. And in this episode of The Leadership Career Accelerator, longtime CEO Barry Moline walks you through exactly how to do it — with clear, actionable strategies you can start using today.

Learn why confidence comes after action — not before it

• Discover the “micro-win” technique that builds self-trust and momentum
• Use body language, clarity, and preparation to instantly show up stronger
• Reframe your inner critic into an inner coach that works for you
• Define your leadership identity and values to lead with purpose, not performance

Press play now to start building real confidence through action, clarity, preparation, and purpose — and become the confident leader you’re meant to be.

The Leadership Career Accelerator

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

For more information and resources, visit: https://barrymoline.com/resources/

Send Barry a note at: [email protected]

Check out LCA on Substack: https://leadershipcareeraccelerator.substack.com/

The Leadership Career Accelerator podcast is for aspiring leaders to learn how to build executive presence, influence with impact, and get recognized and promoted. You’ll learn how to develop integrity, expand your self-awareness, empathy and emotional intelligence, developing vision and strategic thinking, grow your communication skills, active listening, decision-making, adaptability and agility, collaboration and team-building, responsibility and accountability, courage, humility, innovation and creativity, a growth mindset and learning agility, resilience and persistence, authenticity, influence without authority, motivation and inspiring others, trust-building, focus and prioritization, coaching and developing others, conflict management, inclusivity and diversity awareness, transparency and openness, and servant leadership.

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll ours too! Dare to Lead with Brené Brown, which explores courage, vulnerability, and culture shifts in leadership; The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, offering practical and actionable advice for leading teams and organizations; The Maxwell Leadership Podcast with John C. Maxwell, known for classic, principle-based lessons from one of the world’s foremost leadership experts; HBR IdeaCast hosted by Alison Beard and Curt Nickisch, which covers leadership, strategy, and innovation with top thinkers and executives; The EntreLeadership Podcast with Dave Ramsey, focusing on leadership in entrepreneurial and business contexts; How Leaders Lead with David Novak, featuring interviews with top leaders from business, sports, and entertainment; The Leadership Podcast with Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos, which highlights real-world leadership experiences; Just One Question with Dr. Nick Morgan, a fast-paced show that distills leadership insights into one powerful question per episode; Leadership Biz Café with Tanveer Naseer, exploring the human side of leadership and teamwork; and The Learning Leader Podcast with Ryan Hawk, which emphasizes continuous learning, personal growth, and leadership development through conversations with high performers.

Do you ever feel like a fraud, despite your accomplishments—and fear one day someone will "find you out"? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to stay stuck.

Impostor syndrome affects up to 80% of professionals—and hits ambitious leaders the hardest. It shows up in meetings, decisions, promotions, and performance, quietly undermining your confidence. In this episode, we unpack what impostor syndrome really is and offer a toolkit of strategies to help you lead with clarity and courage.

• Learn the psychological roots of impostor syndrome and how to reframe it as a sign of growth, not inadequacy.
• Discover why “fake it till you make it” backfires—and what to replace it with instead.
• Explore how impostor syndrome impacts women differently, and how everyone can take concrete steps to reclaim their leadership confidence.

Listen now to stop second-guessing yourself and start building a more grounded, authentic leadership presence.

The Leadership Career Accelerator 

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

For more information and resources, visit: https://barrymoline.com/resources/ 

Send Barry a note at: [email protected] 

Check out LCA on Substack: https://leadershipcareeraccelerator.substack.com/ 

The Leadership Career Accelerator podcast is for aspiring leaders to learn how to build executive presence, influence with impact, and get recognized and promoted. You’ll learn how to develop integrity, expand your self-awareness, empathy and emotional intelligence, developing vision and strategic thinking, grow your communication skills, active listening, decision-making, adaptability and agility, collaboration and team-building, responsibility and accountability, courage, humility, innovation and creativity, a growth mindset and learning agility, resilience and persistence, authenticity, influence without authority, motivation and inspiring others, trust-building, focus and prioritization, coaching and developing others, conflict management, inclusivity and diversity awareness, transparency and openness, and servant leadership.

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll ours too! Dare to Lead with Brené Brown, which explores courage, vulnerability, and culture shifts in leadership; The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, offering practical and actionable advice for leading teams and organizations; The Maxwell Leadership Podcast with John C. Maxwell, known for classic, principle-based lessons from one of the world’s foremost leadership experts; HBR IdeaCast hosted by Alison Beard and Curt Nickisch, which covers leadership, strategy, and innovation with top thinkers and executives; The EntreLeadership Podcast with Dave Ramsey, focusing on leadership in entrepreneurial and business contexts; How Leaders Lead with David Novak, featuring interviews with top leaders from business, sports, and entertainment; The Leadership Podcast with Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos, which highlights real-world leadership experiences; Just One Question with Dr. Nick Morgan, a fast-paced show that distills leadership insights into one powerful question per episode; Leadership Biz Café with Tanveer Naseer, exploring the human side of leadership and teamwork; and The Learning Leader Podcast with Ryan Hawk, which emphasizes continuous learning, personal growth, and leadership development through conversations with high performers.

What do you do about racist jokes, and second, what actions can you take when your dream job isn’t so dreamy.

In today’s episode, Barry critiques a recent New York Times "Work Friend" column, calling out the gap between theoretical advice and real-world business leadership. He dives into two workplace dilemmas—one involving a firing over a racist joke, and another about feeling stuck in a dream job abroad—to offer grounded, experienced-based guidance you won’t find in the media.

• Hear why a fired employee may have a strong legal case—and what leaders must learn about modeling behavior.
• Get real talk on career growth, frustration, and why loving 100% of your job is a myth.
• Learn how to advocate for more fulfilling work without derailing your career—or romantic life.

Listen now for straight-shooting leadership insights that challenge the headlines and empower you to navigate your career with clarity and confidence.

Link to New York Times "Work Friend" Column: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/business/racist-joke-at-work.html?searchResultPosition=4

The Leadership Career Accelerator 

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

For more information and resources, visit: https://barrymoline.com/resources/ 

Send Barry a note at: [email protected] 

Check out LCA on Substack: https://leadershipcareeraccelerator.substack.com/ 

The Leadership Career Accelerator podcast is for aspiring leaders to learn how to build executive presence, influence with impact, and get recognized and promoted. You’ll learn how to develop integrity, expand your self-awareness, empathy and emotional intelligence, developing vision and strategic thinking, grow your communication skills, active listening, decision-making, adaptability and agility, collaboration and team-building, responsibility and accountability, courage, humility, innovation and creativity, a growth mindset and learning agility, resilience and persistence, authenticity, influence without authority, motivation and inspiring others, trust-building, focus and prioritization, coaching and developing others, conflict management, inclusivity and diversity awareness, transparency and openness, and servant leadership.

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll ours too! Dare to Lead with Brené Brown, which explores courage, vulnerability, and culture shifts in leadership; The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, offering practical and actionable advice for leading teams and organizations; The Maxwell Leadership Podcast with John C. Maxwell, known for classic, principle-based lessons from one of the world’s foremost leadership experts; HBR IdeaCast hosted by Alison Beard and Curt Nickisch, which covers leadership, strategy, and innovation with top thinkers and executives; The EntreLeadership Podcast with Dave Ramsey, focusing on leadership in entrepreneurial and business contexts; How Leaders Lead with David Novak, featuring interviews with top leaders from business, sports, and entertainment; The Leadership Podcast with Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos, which highlights real-world leadership experiences; Just One Question with Dr. Nick Morgan, a fast-paced show that distills leadership insights into one powerful question per episode; Leadership Biz Café with Tanveer Naseer, exploring the human side of leadership and teamwork; and The Learning Leader Podcast with Ryan Hawk, which emphasizes continuous learning, personal growth, and leadership development through conversations with high performers.

Do you ever feel like you don’t deserve your success—or that one day someone will “find you out”? You’re not alone. Up to 80% of professionals experience imposter syndrome at some point.

In this candid episode, author, entrepreneur, and executive coach Kris Kelso joins me to unpack the psychology behind self-doubt and why the most accomplished people are often the ones who feel like impostors. Kris shares lessons from his book Overcoming the Imposter—including how to replace “proud insecurity” with “humble confidence,” and why vulnerability is actually the secret to authentic leadership.

You’ll Learn:

• How to identify imposter thoughts before they derail your confidence.
• Why “fake it till you make it” creates more fear—and what to do instead.
• 10 mindset and behavioral shifts that help you lead with humility, courage, and clarity.

You’re going to discover how to turn imposter syndrome into your superpower—and lead with the kind of confidence that inspires trust and growth.

The Leadership Career Accelerator

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

For more information and resources, visit: https://barrymoline.com/resources/

Send Barry a note at: [email protected]

Check out LCA on Substack: https://leadershipcareeraccelerator.substack.com/

The Leadership Career Accelerator podcast is for aspiring leaders to learn how to build executive presence, influence with impact, and get recognized and promoted. You’ll learn how to develop integrity, expand your self-awareness, empathy and emotional intelligence, developing vision and strategic thinking, grow your communication skills, active listening, decision-making, adaptability and agility, collaboration and team-building, responsibility and accountability, courage, humility, innovation and creativity, a growth mindset and learning agility, resilience and persistence, authenticity, influence without authority, motivation and inspiring others, trust-building, focus and prioritization, coaching and developing others, conflict management, inclusivity and diversity awareness, transparency and openness, and servant leadership.

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll ours too! Dare to Lead with Brené Brown, which explores courage, vulnerability, and culture shifts in leadership; The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, offering practical and actionable advice for leading teams and organizations; The Maxwell Leadership Podcast with John C. Maxwell, known for classic, principle-based lessons from one of the world’s foremost leadership experts; HBR IdeaCast hosted by Alison Beard and Curt Nickisch, which covers leadership, strategy, and innovation with top thinkers and executives; The EntreLeadership Podcast with Dave Ramsey, focusing on leadership in entrepreneurial and business contexts; How Leaders Lead with David Novak, featuring interviews with top leaders from business, sports, and entertainment; The Leadership Podcast with Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos, which highlights real-world leadership experiences; Just One Question with Dr. Nick Morgan, a fast-paced show that distills leadership insights into one powerful question per episode; Leadership Biz Café with Tanveer Naseer, exploring the human side of leadership and teamwork; and The Learning Leader Podcast with Ryan Hawk, which emphasizes continuous learning, personal growth, and leadership development through conversations with high performers.

Worried about political arguments derailing your holiday dinner? What if you could make it through the season without a single fight?

In today’s divided world, holiday gatherings often turn into battlegrounds over politics—damaging relationships and stealing the joy. This episode offers practical ways to keep the peace, even with the most opinionated relatives.

• Learn how to redirect heated conversations with grace, humor, and curiosity.
• Discover powerful techniques like the “Newscaster Tactic” to stay calm and engaged.
• Use simple tools like “House Rules” and conversation pivots to preserve family harmony.

Listen now to equip yourself with tools to create a joyful, conflict-free holiday—no matter who’s sitting at the table.

The Leadership Career Accelerator

Build Executive Presence, Influence With Impact & Get Promoted

For more information and resources, visit: https://barrymoline.com/resources

Send Barry a note at: [email protected]

The Leadership Career Accelerator podcast is for aspiring leaders to learn how to build executive presence, influence with impact, and get recognized and promoted. You’ll learn how to develop integrity, expand your self-awareness, empathy and emotional intelligence, developing vision and strategic thinking, grow your communication skills, active listening, decision-making, adaptability and agility, collaboration and team-building, responsibility and accountability, courage, humility, innovation and creativity, a growth mindset and learning agility, resilience and persistence, authenticity, influence without authority, motivation and inspiring others, trust-building, focus and prioritization, coaching and developing others, conflict management, inclusivity and diversity awareness, transparency and openness, and servant leadership.

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll ours too! Dare to Lead with Brené Brown, which explores courage, vulnerability, and culture shifts in leadership; The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, offering practical and actionable advice for leading teams and organizations; The Maxwell Leadership Podcast with John C. Maxwell, known for classic, principle-based lessons from one of the world’s foremost leadership experts; HBR IdeaCast hosted by Alison Beard and Curt Nickisch, which covers leadership, strategy, and innovation with top thinkers and executives; The EntreLeadership Podcast with Dave Ramsey, focusing on leadership in entrepreneurial and business contexts; How Leaders Lead with David Novak, featuring interviews with top leaders from business, sports, and entertainment; The Leadership Podcast with Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos, which highlights real-world leadership experiences; Just One Question with Dr. Nick Morgan, a fast-paced show that distills leadership insights into one powerful question per episode; Leadership Biz Café with Tanveer Naseer, exploring the human side of leadership and teamwork; and The Learning Leader Podcast with Ryan Hawk, which emphasizes continuous learning, personal growth, and leadership development through conversations with high performers.