A group of porcupines huddling together in winter provides an unlikely but powerful metaphor for leadership. In this episode, John Eades dives into the critical importance of direct dialogue and the necessity of difficult conversations for team performance, accountability, and growth.

You'll learn:

• Why avoiding conflict is more harmful than facing it

• The 3-part formula for effective direct dialogue: Standards, Evidence, and Courage

• How to act on the truth behind Alex Hormozi's quote: "Confronting someone in the short term always beats resenting them in the long term for things left unsaid."

Whether you're leading a team, managing a project, or striving for healthier relationships, this episode will equip you to speak up, lean into conflict, and lead with clarity.

Check out LearnLoft Here

"Great leadership inspires followership. It get people to follow the strategy. Followership doesn't happen by just telling people what to do."

Adam Weber joins the show in this week's episode. He is the former Chief People Officer at 15Five, co-founder of Emplify, and author of Lead Like a Human.

You can learn more about Adam here

Interested in booking a free workshop for your organization, go here.

Talent gets the headlines, but character wins championships.

In this episode, John Eades shares a story from NBA All-Star Draymond Green about his rookie teammate Trace Jackson-Davis — and the quiet, selfless act that every team leader should notice.

Then, John introduces the Talent Cross Model, a practical tool for evaluating the people on your team through two powerful lenses: ability and selflessness.

If you want to build a team that performs at a high level and elevates one another, this episode is a must.

🔑 In this episode:

• Why selfless teammates are more valuable than you think

• The 4 types of talent on any team

• How to use the Talent Cross Model to guide hiring, development, and accountability

You can watch the video on youtube here.

Proficiency in leadership doesn't always follow tenure. While tenure provides experience, without a growth mindset and a desire to learn, skill doesn't automatically improve.

Take golfers as an example; plenty of golfers have played for decades, and rarely do they improve. The same is true in leadership. Tenure doesn't always equal leadership. However, in leadership, there are a few basic principles that, if you know them, can help you shorten your timeline to proficiency and deliver better results. Before we get there, let's level set on what a principle is and where these came from.

A principle, by definition, is a concisely worded statement of truth that transcends circumstances. They are cornerstones to rely on and lean on to help with comprehension and application. Most of these principles are drawn from our research studying world-class leadership and my book Building the Best. Hopefully, they help you focus your efforts and solve some of your people problems.

So let's dig in.

Everyone is too busy focusing on themselves.

"To get in the spotlight, you have to have a bias for action when no one is watching."

In the latest episode, John Eades covers the Spotlight Effect, whereby we overestimate the degree to which other people are noticing or observing our appearance, actions, behaviors, or results.

You can subscribe to the Optimistic Outlook for Free Here

You can check out Amy Eades '"They Told Me to Share Newsletter Here"

"The voice in your head that's telling you to quit isn't real. It's ego, and you can lower the volume of that voice."

In the latest episode, Craig Siegel joins the show. He is the author of The Reinevention Formula, you can find it here.

Subscribe to John's Optimistic Outlook Newsletter

"You won't get it if you don't ask."

In the latest episode of the John Eades Podcast, he covers five essential lessons from going to the Michael Marcagi concert.

"If you want people to know you for something, you must make something."

You can watch the show here on Youtube

In the latest episode of the podcast, John Eades covers 10 short messages to help you choose optimism today. Which one is your favorite?

You can get the simple daily message of Optimism via email by subscribing for free here.

If you don't pick your optimistic voice, by default, you pick your pessimistic voice.

In the latest episode, John Eades covers the Daily Free Three:

1. Was how you thought today your best?
2. Was what I did today my best?
3. Was how you communicated today your best?

You can subscribe to the free Optimistic Outlook Newsletter

You can talk to a team member about Leadership Development Here

Ever wondered how to deal with a toxic rock star employee? Or if it's okay to show frustration in front of your team?

In this episode of The John Eades Podcast, I tackle five of the trickiest questions managers face every day.

• "How do I deal with a star employee who's becoming a toxic influence?"

• "What's the best way to hold someone accountable without micromanaging?"

• "We lost a big client. My team is discouraged—what's my first move?"

• "Is it ever okay for a leader to show frustration or cry in front of their team?"

• "One of my team members has great ideas but struggles to communicate them—how can I help?"

This is your guide to navigating real-world leadership challenges with confidence. Tune in and level up your management game!

Check out the Accelerate Leadership Program for Your Organization Here.

Book John to speak at your next event here