Things Leaders Do: Leadership for Managers and Executives

If you’ve ever said, “Because I said so” in a meeting, you might be leading like it’s still 1989.
In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris calls out his own generation—Gen X leaders—for the outdated habits that are quietly holding teams back.

With a mix of self-awareness, humor, and hard truth, you’ll discover:

• Why clinging to old leadership habits kills engagement—and how to evolve without losing your identity
• How “professional distance” is eroding trust, and the simple shift that builds credibility fast
• Why tenure doesn’t equal trust—and what earns it instead
• How feedback (or the lack of it) is shaping your culture more than you realize
• Why your work ethic might be intimidating your team instead of inspiring them

Drawing from insights by John Maxwell, Patrick Lencioni, Simon Sinek, and research from Harvard Business Review, this episode is packed with actionable “do this instead” strategies.

You’ll walk away with:

• A 7-day habit experiment to keep your leadership fresh
• A quick method to bring appropriate vulnerability into your team conversations
• A simple formula for delivering meaningful feedback every week

Gen X leaders have a lot to be proud of—but thriving today means challenging the habits that no longer serve you or your team.

For more people-first leadership tools, visit nxtstepadvisors.com.

Connect with Colby on LinkedIn

Support the show

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• NXTStepAdvisors.com

Ever get frustrated trying to lead someone who sends emails in lowercase with no punctuation... but somehow they're your top performer? If you're a Gen X leader, you're sandwiched between generations with completely different values and expectations. In this episode, Colby breaks down why leading younger generations feels so challenging—and gives you practical strategies to bridge the gap without losing your edge.

What You'll Learn

• Why your frustration with younger employees isn't really about them (it's about conflicting operating systems)
• How to use Simon Sinek's "Why First" framework to create genuine buy-in
• The 5 biggest mistakes Gen X leaders make with Millennials and Gen Z (and what to do instead)
• What younger generations are really looking for from leadership (hint: it's not ping pong tables)
• A practical 3-step action plan you can implement this week

Key Takeaways

The Real Issue: The tension between generations isn't about entitlement or work ethic—it's about fundamentally different experiences that shaped different expectations.

Start With Why: Before explaining what needs to be done, explain why it matters. Connect every task to a bigger purpose.

The Four C's: Younger generations want Clarity, Consistency, Coaching, and Care from their leaders.

Your Weekly Action Items:

1. Audit your leadership mindset—where are you still leading like it's 1999?
2. Practice the "Why First" framework on one delegation this week
3. Ask one team member: "What's one thing we could change to make your work more meaningful?"

Episode Quotes

"That frustration you feel when they ask 'why' isn't about their entitlement. It's about your discomfort with a different way of working."

"The question isn't whether you should adapt. The question is: what's it costing you not to?"

"EQ isn't soft—it's the hardest skill to master and the most important one for results."

Resources Mentioned

• Simon Sinek's Golden Circle (Why-How-What framework)
• Things Leaders Do One-on-One Series (previous episodes)
• Visit nxtstepadvisors.com for more leadership tools

Connect with Colby

• Website: nxtstepadvisors.com
• LinkedIn
• Share this episode with another Gen X leader navigating generational challenges

Reflection Question

What belief about leadership are you holding onto that might be holding your team back?

Things Leaders Do is hosted by Colby Morris, helping leaders create clarity, build cultures people want to be part of, and lead with purpose.

Support the show

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• NXTStepAdvisors.com

Gen X leaders have seen it all—floppy disks, dial-up, the rise of email, and the shift to remote work. So why does AI feel like such a curveball? In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris explores how Gen X is uniquely positioned to lead through digital transformation—not by mastering every tool, but by mastering what really matters: people-first leadership.

From past transitions to today’s AI moment, Colby walks through five key steps Gen X leaders can use to bring clarity, confidence, and wisdom to an AI-enabled future. You’ll learn how to avoid the common traps of reactive tech adoption and instead guide your team with intentionality, purpose, and trust.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why Gen X is the “bridge generation” and how that gives you a strategic advantage
• What Harvard Business Review says about why most AI initiatives fail
• A five-step framework for leading AI adoption the right way
• How to create psychological safety around new technology
• Real stories of Gen X leaders making AI work—without losing their people

Your Weekly Action Plan:

1. Identify one real problem AI could help solve.
2. Pair two team members to explore a use case collaboratively.
3. Ask each person on your team what questions or concerns they have about AI.
4. Draft your team’s principles for ethical, human-centered AI adoption.

Connect with Colby:

• nxtstepadvisors.com
• Colby Morris on LinkedIn

If you're a Gen X leader navigating uncertainty in the age of AI—this episode is your roadmap. Let’s not fall behind. Let’s lead forward.

Because those are the things that leaders do.

Support the show

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• NXTStepAdvisors.com

What Gen X Gets Right About Leadership

Episode Summary
Gen X leaders don’t always get the spotlight—but they’ve been holding organizations together with grit, practicality, and quiet confidence for decades. In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the six distinct leadership strengths Gen X brings to the table—and why today’s teams need them more than ever.

From solving real problems under pressure to earning respect through action (not just title), Gen X has been tested, refined, and built to lead in chaos. But many of these leaders are undervalued or underestimated—until now.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked in the leadership conversation, this episode will remind you exactly why your experience, resilience, and no-nonsense leadership style still matter.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Gen X leads with earned authority, not entitlement
• The power of practical, fast problem-solving (and why it's a Gen X superpower)
• How Gen X mastered accountability without cruelty
• The unique “translator” role Gen X plays across generations
• Real-world stories of Gen X resilience through crisis after crisis
• Why quiet confidence is one of the most undervalued traits in modern leadership

Whether you’re a Gen Xer leading from the middle or the top—or someone who wants to understand and support them better—this episode will give you a whole new lens on what makes this generation’s leadership so effective.

Resources & References

• Visit nxtstepadvisors.com for leadership tools, workshops, and coaching
• Connect with Colby on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colbymorris
• Subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with a Gen X leader who needs to hear it

Your Next Step
Write down three examples of how your Gen X leadership has made a difference—and pick one way to adapt your style to meet your current team’s needs.

Because building others...
 That’s what leaders do.

Support the show

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• NXTStepAdvisors.com

How People-First Leaders Handle What Bosses Just React To

Episode Description:
It’s easy to lead when everything’s running smoothly. But real leadership shows up in the messy moments—the missed deadlines, the underperforming team member, the big mistake that lands in your inbox first thing Monday morning.

In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby walks through five real-world scenarios leaders face every week—and shows how a people-first leader responds differently than a reactive boss.

From late arrivals to burned-out top performers, you’ll see the stark contrast between managing behavior and developing people. Through story, insight, and practical conversation prompts, Colby helps you shift from reacting to root causes to responding with intentionality, clarity, and compassion.

You’ll also hear insights inspired by Jon Acuff’s Soundtracks and Jocko Willink’s Extreme Ownership, and how the mindsets of great leaders shape their teams for the long haul.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to handle chronic lateness without sacrificing accountability
• Why missed deadlines are often symptoms, not problems
• What to do when a high performer starts to disengage
• How to keep your best people from burning out
• How to turn a costly mistake into a system improvement

If you're ready to lead differently, respond thoughtfully, and create a culture where people grow—not just perform—this episode is for you.

Connect with Colby:
🔗 nxtstepadvisors.com
🔗 Colby on LinkedIn

Whether you're looking for coaching, training, or a keynote that moves your leaders to action—Colby helps you build a culture that performs and lasts.

Because caring for your people and getting results aren't opposites.
 That’s what leaders do.

Support the show

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• NXTStepAdvisors.com

You Don’t Have a Succession Plan. So What Happens When Your Top Performer Leaves?

Episode Description:
If your top performer walked out tomorrow… would you have someone truly ready to step in? Most organizations wouldn’t—and that’s the problem.

In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris pulls back the curtain on why the absence of a real succession plan is one of the most dangerous blind spots in leadership today. And it’s not about building spreadsheets—it’s about building people.

Colby shares a powerful leadership lesson he calls the Michael Jordan Effect, where we mistake performance for leadership potential. He also breaks down a practical, people-first strategy for developing your future leaders—starting with your next one-on-one.

You’ll learn:

• Why succession planning isn’t about legacy—it’s about readiness
• How to avoid the trap of promoting the wrong people
• A 3-layer development plan that aligns employee growth with organizational needs
• Real-world stats from SHRM and Forbes that will reframe how you prioritize leadership development
• How to use one-on-ones as your most powerful tool in preparing your team for what’s next

Whether you’re leading a team of 5 or 500, this episode will give you the mindset, structure, and urgency you need to stop winging it—and start planning for sustainable leadership growth.

Ready to develop real leaders inside your organization?
Let’s talk coaching, team training, or booking Colby to speak at your next leadership event.
Visit nxtstepadvisors.com to get started.

Or connect with Colby on LinkedIn at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/colby-morris/

Support the show

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• NXTStepAdvisors.com

Delegating Isn’t Leading—Until You Let Go of Control

Episode Description 

Are you delegating… or just redistributing your to-do list?

In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the difference between delegating tasks and developing leaders. Drawing from Craig Groeschel’s principle that “you don’t delegate tasks to create leaders, you delegate authority,” this episode helps you make the shift from micromanagement to real leadership development.

Colby shares a simple 3-step delegation framework, along with real stories of how handing over ownership—not just responsibility—transforms teams and unlocks leadership potential.

If you’re feeling burned out, constantly followed up with, or unsure why your team isn’t stepping up, this episode will help you create the clarity, structure, and trust your team needs to grow.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why delegating tasks doesn’t develop your team
• The mindset shift required to delegate authority, not just execution
• A clear 3-step delegation framework you can apply today
• How to set parameters that empower your team without losing control
• What real people-first delegation looks like—and why it builds future leaders

Leadership Challenge This Week:

Look at your calendar or task list. Choose one responsibility you’ve been holding too tightly.
 Define success, set guardrails, and delegate not just the task—but the authority to own it.
 Then check in by asking, “What support do you need from me?”
 That’s where leadership begins.

Need Help Developing Leaders in Your Organization?

Colby offers coaching, team trainings, and keynote speaking for leadership teams who want to build people-first, high-performance cultures.
 To connect, visit:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbymorris/

Website:  nxtstepadvisors.com

Enjoying the Show?

If this episode helped you lead better, please leave a review and share it with another leader. That’s how we grow this movement—together.

Support the show

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• NXTStepAdvisors.com

Drowning in Decisions? You’re Leading the Wrong Way

Podcast Description
If your team can’t move without your input, you’re not leading—you’re bottlenecking.

In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris shares the leadership shift that changed everything when he was managing a 350-person team. If you're overwhelmed by decision fatigue or constantly solving problems your team could handle, this episode will show you how to stop being the answer—and start building a team that knows how to think without you.

You’ll learn:

• Why answering every question is slowing you—and your team—down
• How to coach your people into confident, independent decision-makers
• A practical question that ends decision paralysis
• How to lead with people in mind—ethically, strategically, and with trust
• Why developing leaders is one of your most important jobs

Leadership Challenge:
Stop giving every answer. Start asking better questions.
Set the expectation: if they bring a problem, they bring two solutions.

If this episode helped you lead better:
Leave a quick review and share it with another leader. That’s how we grow this movement and build stronger teams, together.

Need a speaker for your next leadership event, team training, or offsite?
Colby works with organizations across the country to develop people-first leaders who know how to move fast without burning out.
To connect, visit: NxtStepAdvisors.com 

or connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/colby-morris/

Support the show

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• NXTStepAdvisors.com

Title:
Being People-First Doesn’t Mean Being Passive—It Means Being Proactive

Episode Description:
Too many leaders confuse being people-first with being conflict-avoidant. In this episode, Colby Morris reframes that idea completely.

Great leaders don’t just react well to conflict—they prevent it. And they do that through consistent, structured one-on-ones that uncover tension before it escalates.

Drawing on insights from the One-on-One Meeting Series and the Conflict Series, Colby shares a real-world leadership story, introduces the Three Levels of Conflict Prevention, and breaks down practical ways to lead with proactive clarity instead of reactive clean-up.

If you care about people, lead a team, or want to strengthen your culture while scaling—this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why people-first doesn’t mean being soft or avoiding hard conversations
• How great one-on-ones help prevent most team conflict
• The Three Levels of Conflict Prevention every leader should know
• How to use energy, tone, and expectations as early warning signals
• How to apply the Four Quadrants to stay proactive as a leader

Tools and Takeaways:

• Use one-on-ones as a leadership intelligence system
• Ask: “Is there anything I should be aware of on the team?”
• Apply the 48-hour rule to avoid letting small problems grow
• Reinforce trust and alignment through the quadrant-based conversation model

Work With Colby:
Want help building leadership systems that prevent drama, drive clarity, and scale culture the right way? Colby Morris is available for:

• Executive coaching
• Leadership team development
• Corporate keynotes and training
• One-on-one and team communication system design

Start the conversation on LinkedIn or contact him via the webpage. 

Support the show

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• NXTStepAdvisors.com

The Secret to Great One-on-Ones: The Four Quadrants Every Leader Needs to Cover

If your one-on-ones are starting to feel routine—or worse, like a waste of time—this episode is for you.

In Part 2 of the One-on-One Series, Colby Morris breaks down the four essential quadrants every leader must cover in their one-on-ones to actually drive engagement, performance, and trust. You’ll learn how to structure your meetings with purpose, even if you’re only meeting monthly—and how to adjust your approach based on the number of direct reports you have.

Colby shares real-world stories, practical questions, and a cadence model that works—so your one-on-ones stop feeling like just another meeting and start becoming the leadership moments that shape culture.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The difference between Employee Development and Performance Management—and why most leaders confuse them
• What Maslow’s Hierarchy has to do with leadership
• How Quint Studer’s Leader Rounding can change your feedback loop
• How to tailor your one-on-one cadence based on team size (weekly, biweekly, or monthly)
• What to include every single time—no matter how often you meet

Whether you’re leading 4 or 40, this episode will help you structure your meetings in a way that builds trust, drives clarity, and develops your people.

Resources Mentioned:
Want a copy of the Monthly One-on-One Agenda? Message Colby on LinkedIn or email him to request it.

Subscribe & Share:
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Connect with Colby:
Connect on LinkedIn

Booking Inquiries:
Colby Morris is available for keynotes, leadership team trainings, workshops, webinars, and executive coaching. Whether it’s in person or virtual, small groups or conferences, reach out to discuss availability and options. 

Support the show

• Colby's LinkedIn Profile
• NXTStepAdvisors.com