The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast

In a time where AI disrupts traditional workplace dynamics and remote work reshapes human connections, business leaders face a crucial question:

The answer might surprise those who still cling to the “tough boss” stereotype. In our episode today we’re discussing how most effective leaders aren’t choosing between being empathetic or being driven—they’re mastering both.

Connect with Joe Folkman

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and talk about their latest leadership development research. Find out more information and register here.

Empathy and Drive: A Powerful Combination– Article by Joe Folkman

The post Episode 149: Building Empathy and Drive at the Same Time first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Dr. Susan David is a founder and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital of Harvard Medical School and an Instructor in Psychology at Harvard University. In this episode, Susan discusses her research on emotional agility and how to master challenges without getting derailed. Download the eBook of her full interview here.

Susan David, Ph.D. is one of the world’s leading management thinkers and an award-winning Harvard Medical School psychologist. Her #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling book, Emotional Agility based on the concept that Harvard Business Review heralded as a Management Idea of the Year and winner of the Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea Award, describes the psychological skills critical to thriving in times of complexity and change. Susan’s TED Talk on the topic of emotional agility has been seen by more than 8 million people. She is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and guest on national radio and television. She is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and is a Co-founder of the Institute of Coaching (a Harvard Medical School/McLean affiliate). Susan lives outside of Boston with her family.

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman, and join in a conversation about the latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register at https://zengerfolkman.com/webinar-registration/.

Emotional Agility– Explore the eBook with leadership insights from Susan David.

Zenger Folkman’s Leadership eBooks– Enjoy our complimentary eBooks filled with groundbreaking research, compelling interviews, and practical solutions to everyday leadership issues.

Music: Pleasant Pictures

The post Bonus Episode– Susan David, Emotional Agility first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Have you noticed a remarkable shift where major companies are mandating return to office policies. Amazon recently joined the ranks of Meta, Google, and others in requiring employees to return full time to the office. What’s particularly interesting is the timing – why now, after years of remote work? We all know that organizations are concerned with productivity so today we want to share some of Zenger Folkman’s research on what we found was the single key to improving employee engagement.

Connect with Jack Zenger

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and talk about their latest leadership development research. Find out more information and register here.

The post Episode 148: The Real Key to Employee Engagement—Leadership Over Location first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

In a time with constant communication and information overload, the ability to truly listen stands out as a cornerstone for building trust within teams. In this episode, We’ll explore how listening practices vary across cultures and organizations, the growing awareness of its importance in leadership, and the challenges leaders face in balancing listening with the fast pace of business. From leveraging technology to understanding diverse perspectives, we’ll uncover how becoming a better listener can strengthen relationships, enhance decision-making, and foster innovation.

Connect with Joe Folkman

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and talk about their latest leadership development research. Find out more information and register here.

The Power of Listening: A Leader’s Secret Weapon for Building Trust– Article by Joe Folkman

The post Episode 147: Listening—An Essential Tool for Building Trust first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

In today’s episode, we dive into a fascinating topic that many leaders grapple with—quality versus quantity. Are they truly competing objectives, or can organizations achieve both simultaneously?

We’ll unpack findings from a recent study that examines leaders’ preferences for quality or quantity and what the data tells us about leadership effectiveness. From industry trends to differences across roles, geographies, and even gender, we’ll explore how the most successful leaders navigate these dimensions and achieve both high performance and high standards. So, is it possible to scale up without sacrificing quality?

Connect with Jack Zenger

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and talk about their latest leadership development research. Find out more information and register here.

The post Episode 146: Quality And Quantity Are Not Trade-offs—How Some Leaders Are Choosing Both first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Today we are looking at coachability and its intriguing role across different career decades. Each stage in our professional lives—whether it’s the exploration of the 20s, the depth-building of the 30s, the influence and leadership in the 40s, or the legacy-building in the 50s and beyond—comes with unique challenges and opportunities. By understanding how coachability can serve as a crucial safeguard against common career pitfalls, we aim to provide insights into how to remain adaptable, curious, and humble, regardless of where you are on your career timeline. Join us as we discuss the art of asking the right questions and the importance of lifelong learning for enduring success.

Coachability—The Leadership Superpower by Kevin Wilde

Connect with Joe Folkman

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and talk about their latest leadership development research. Find out more information and register here.

The Art of Coachability Through the Decades– Article by Kevin Wilde

The post Episode 145: What You Should Know About Coachability Through Career Decades first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

In this episode of The 90th Percentile, hosts BreAnne Okoren  and Joe Folkman explore the powerful connection between leadership, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction. Drawing on research and real-world examples from companies like Sears and Zappos, they discuss how effective leadership drives employee engagement, which in turn boosts customer satisfaction and profitability. They also examine the critical role of culture, leadership development, and the difference between givers and takers in creating cohesive, high-performing teams. Tune in to discover actionable insights for fostering better leadership and ultimately delivering superior customer experiences.

Connect with Joe Folkman

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and talk about their latest leadership development research. Find out more information and register here.

Connecting The Manager, Employee, and Customer Satisfaction Chain– Forbes Article by Joe Folkman

The post Episode 144: Connecting The Manager, Employee, and Customer Satisfaction Chain first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

We can all admit that we have felt a little threatened by AI. After all its whole purpose is improve and ultimately replace Human intelligence. And leadership will not be spared by the impact of AI.  Certain leadership qualities, such as deep domain expertise, decisiveness, authority, and short-term task focus, are losing their impact, while others, such as humility, adaptability, vision, and emotional connection, are likely to play a key role in more-agile types of leadership. Charles Darwin said in On the Origin of the Species that it’s not the strongest or most intelligent of the species that survives but the one that’s most adaptable to change In the episode, we are looking at the adaptability of leaders and whether they will survive or thrive with AI.

Connect with Joe Folkman

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and talk about their latest leadership development research. Find out more information and register here.

Leadership and AI: Will You Barely Survive or Thrive?— Article by Joe Folkman and Jack Zenger

The post Episode 143: Are You Surviving or Thriving With AI? first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

What’s the main thing for leadership development? Is it excelling at selecting the right people? Is it a well-funded corporate learning center with renowned faculty? Is it using the most powerful learning technologies? Worse yet, what if we’ve been missing the main thing? In this episode, we are looking at the development industry and some of the puzzle pieces that we believe are missing to make more progress happen.

Register for Zenger Folkman’s upcoming webinar, TRANSFORMING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: The Missing Pieces To Produce Change.

Connect with Jack Zenger

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar monthly, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and talk about their latest leadership development research. Find out more information and register here.

Transforming Leadership Development: Are We Missing the Main Thing? – Article by Jack Zenger

The post Episode 109: Transforming Leadership Development—Are We Missing The Main Thing? first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Recently, a compelling question emerged: How do trust and conflict resolution impact a leader’s effectiveness? To explore this, we analyzed a robust dataset of 360-degree assessments from 4,347 leaders, collected over the past three years.  In environments where leaders are untrustworthy or avoid resolving conflicts, dissatisfaction and disengagement flourish. Conversely, trusted leaders who adeptly navigate conflicts foster high levels of employee engagement and effectiveness. Today, we’ll dive deeper into the data, exploring how trust and conflict resolution enhance leadership, and reveal four key behaviors that help build these essential skills.

Connect with Joe Folkman

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and talk about their latest leadership development research. Find out more information and register here.

Resolving Conflicts in the Workplace: Key Behaviors for Leaders— Article by Joe Folkman and Jack Zenger

The post Episode 142: Trust and Resolving Conflict in the Workplace—Key Behaviors for Leaders first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.