Unlocked with Skot Waldron

Mark Miller spent almost 45 years at Chick-fil-A, rising to VP of High Performance Leadership, and along the way he accidentally co-wrote a book with Ken Blanchard that's now in 34 languages. He's back on Unlocked to talk about the newly re-released edition of THE SECRET: What Great Leaders Know and Do, a third of it rewritten, with a research-backed free assessment and facilitator's guide added.

We get into why "servant leadership" has become a tarnished brand, and why buying donuts and walking dogs is service, not leadership. Mark shares data from a global survey of 4,000 leaders across six countries where over 60% named the same thing as their boss's biggest limitation: ego.

Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Cold Start & Intro 00:08:40 – Why Rewrite a Book That Already Sold 700K Copies 00:12:50 – Why "Servant Leadership" Got a Bad Name 00:15:26 – The Definition Problem Nobody Talks About 00:20:13 – The #1 Thing Blocking Your Boss 00:26:35 – When Learning Becomes a Hiding Place 00:31:34 – Why the Quarter Kills the Relationship 00:38:33 – Own Your Bias, Then Compensate 00:45:20 – Does Pressure Reveal Character or Build It?

Guest: Mark Miller Websites: leadeveryday.com, www.markmillerleadership.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/highperformanceleaders Book: The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do www.markmillerleadership.com/product/the-secret-what-great-leaders-know-and-do Instagram: www.instagram.com/MarkMillerLeadership Twitter/X: x.com/MarkMillerLeads YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LeadEveryDay

Why do smart, capable people resist change even when it is good for them? In this episode of Unlocked, Dr. Rosie Ward, CEO of Salveo Partners and bestselling author of Future-Proofing Leadership and Rehumanizing the Workplace, explains what is really happening in our brains when change and uncertainty show up.

Rosie reveals the seven "faulty programs" quietly running our inner operating systems: the counterfeit, the fraud, the overachiever, the perfectionist, the control freak, the mime, the people pleaser, and the martyr. She explores how these patterns can hijack leaders, teams, and entire workplace cultures, why change-management strategies fail without mindset work, and how one 100-year-old company moved from a decade of flat growth to record-breaking results by becoming intentional about its people.

Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Cold Start & Intro 00:04:36 – The Change Story That Happens Every Single Day 00:06:41 – Why We're Not Wired for Change 00:07:42 – Is It Really Change We Resist? 00:11:31 – The 7 Faulty Programs Running Your Brain 00:17:35 – Control Freaks, Mimes & People Pleasers 00:21:24 – Why We Lead Humans Like Machines 00:27:19 – How a 100-Year-Old Company Finally Changed 00:34:00 – Inside Future-Proofing Leadership 00:38:01 – The Stories We Tell Ourselves

Guest: Dr. Rosie Ward Websites: drrosieward.com, salveopartners.com, salveopartners.com/courageous-leadership-program LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rward Book: Future-Proofing Leadership Facebook: www.facebook.com/drrosieward Instagram: www.instagram.com/drrosieward YouTube: www.youtube.com/@DrRosieWard Podcast: drrosieward.com/my-podcast

Most leaders think results are the whole job. Keith Wyche spent 30 years learning why that belief quietly destroys teams, trust, and sometimes your own family.

In this episode of Unlocked, Keith, a former Walmart, IBM, and Pitney Bowes executive and author of the new book Uncommon Leadership, gets refreshingly honest about his early years as a "bull in the china shop" leader. The guy who locked the meeting room door at nine o'clock sharp. The dad who missed the father-daughter dance for a proposal deadline. And the wake-up call that changed how he leads.

We dig into why trust in leadership has collapsed across business, faith, and government, why integrity is actually measurable and not a soft skill, the real difference between a manager and a leader, and why athletes train 95% of the time while leaders barely train at all. Keith also shares the story of Lana Porter, the boss who chose to believe in him instead of firing him, and how that one decision shaped his entire career.

Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Cold Start & Intro 00:04:28 - The Question That Sparked the Book 00:06:27 - The Trust Numbers Nobody Wants to See 00:07:58 - Private Equity and Culture Killers 00:10:24 - Confessions of a Bull in the China Shop 00:15:10 - What Integrity Actually Looks Like 00:21:53 - Why Leaders Train 5% and Perform 95% 00:26:42 - How Cultures Quietly Turn Toxic 00:34:24 - When Someone Believes in You 00:38:35 - The Uncommon Leader Mindset

Guest: Keith Wyche Website: keithwyche.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/keithwyche

Uncertainty grows when attention leaves the present and lives entirely in the future.

Whether in business or in life, uncertainty is something we all face. The problem is, when we obsess over what might happen, we end up spending our energy on things we can't control.

In this episode of Thoughts Unlocked, I share to you how great leaders navigate uncertain times without pretending they have all the answers. Here's a simple exercise to help you and your team focus on what truly matters.

Identify what can't we control? What can we influence? What can we control?

Because confidence doesn't come from predicting the future. It comes from taking meaningful action on what's right in front of you.

00:00 Introduction 01:17 Understanding the Nature of Uncertainty 04:02 The Impact of Uncertainty on Leadership 07:02 Navigating Uncertainty Effectively 09:25 Building Confidence Amidst Uncertainty

Website: skotwaldron.com

Most leaders think they need another skill, another framework, or maybe one more leadership book stacked on the nightstand for "future growth." Ryan Watts thinks the real issue is often deeper than that.

In this episode of Unlocked, Skot Waldron talks with Ryan Watts about the internal negotiations leaders carry around every day. The replayed conversations. The overthought emails. The quiet question of, "Do I really have the authority to say this?" That tension can make leadership feel heavier than it needs to be.

Ryan unpacks how leaders can move from forced momentum to calm authority, why confidence and conviction are connected, and how naming the tension can create the clarity leaders are looking for. If you have ever looked successful on the outside while feeling tangled up on the inside, this one will feel uncomfortably useful in the best way.

Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Cold Start & Intro 00:03:20 - The Leadership Tension Nobody Sees 00:06:09 - Why Skills Are Not Always the Problem 00:07:52 - Confidence, Conviction, and Authority 00:09:18 - The Fatigue Behind Success 00:16:51 - The Hidden Negotiation 00:18:55 - Can You Be Too Self-Aware 00:24:12 - Healthy Authority vs Unhealthy Force 00:36:08 - Name the Tension 00:40:00 - Leadership Gets More Human

Guest: Ryan Watts Website: https://www.ryanwattscoaching.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanwattsmba YouTube Ryan Watts Coaching: https://www.youtube.com/@UCMS4V_JkZBDXr7G_7d1RTfw YouTube The Personal Success Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCtQSjGsiY1XTaFT6ty8UD7A

In today's fast-paced work environments, we often find ourselves frustrated by the differing work styles and paces of our colleagues. Have you ever left a meeting feeling energized and ready to act, only to notice a teammate who seems to be lost in thought? Or perhaps you're the one who needs time to process information, while others rush ahead with action plans.

Productivity shaming manifests in subtle ways through comments, sighs, or even the frequency of follow-up emails. Often, those who engage in productivity shaming believe they are encouraging accountability, but the reality is that they may be creating an environment where team members feel judged, leading to decreased effectiveness. Research suggests that when employees feel shamed, they shift their focus from productive work to managing perceptions, thus hindering their performance.

This episode of Thoughts Unlocked explores the concept of pace empathy and how it can transform workplace interactions, fostering better communication and collaboration.

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Understanding Work Styles and Pace 02:56 The Concept of Pace Empathy 04:27 The Dangers of Productivity Shaming 05:45 Visible Activity vs. Meaningful Progress 12:51 Challenging Pace Bias and Seeking Understanding

Website: skotwaldron.com

Procrastination is often labeled as a personal flaw, but what if it's not that simple?

It's essential to ask deeper questions. Why is this person not moving forward? What are the barriers they face? If you've ever felt stuck or unmotivated, you're not alone. We'll dissect the concepts of work, will, and weight – the three critical aspects that can influence your productivity and decision-making.

In this episode of Thoughts Unlocked, we'll explore the deeper underlying factors of procrastination and how understanding these can lead to more effective solutions.

Timestamps: 01:13 Introduction to Procrastination and Its Misdiagnosis 05:34 When Progress Becomes Invisible 07:40 Understanding the Friction: Work, Will, and Weight 12:12 Reframing Procrastination: Questions Over Labels

Website: www.skotwaldron.com

Effective communication is often touted as a cornerstone of successful teams, yet many struggle with it. Why is that? In this episode of Thoughts Unlocked, I'll explore the true nature of communication in teams, emphasizing intentionality over mere talking.

The 'communication codes' framework – clarify, critique, collaborate, care, and celebrate. You'll not only enhance clarity but also foster a culture of collaboration and support.

Remember, communication shapes culture, and every conversation is an opportunity to make a brand deposit into your team's emotional account.

Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:44 Understanding Communication Problems 02:58 The Five Communication Codes 03:37 Clarifying Communication 05:05 The Importance of Constructive Critique 07:38 Collaborative Efforts in Teams 08:25 The Role of Care in Communication 09:31 Celebrating Achievements 10:55 Building a Positive Communication Culture

Website: www.skotwaldron.com

In this episode of Unlocked, Skot sits down with Mike Soltys ESPN's official historian and a 45-year veteran of the company and Garrett Sutton, attorney, bestselling author, and executive producer of the new documentary Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN. Together, they pull back the curtain on Bill Rasmussen, the 43-year-old who got fired from a hockey team and decided to build a 24-hour sports network instead of feeling sorry for himself.

What makes this conversation compelling isn't just the ESPN story it's what that story reveals about leadership, conviction, optimism, and the willingness to believe in something before anyone else does. Bill Rasmussen had to simultaneously close deals with Getty Oil, RCA, Anheuser-Busch, the NCAA, and the city of Bristol none of them finalized while racing toward a launch date he'd already announced publicly.

That's not luck. That's a specific kind of leadership most people never talk about. If you've ever had a vision that no one else could quite see yet, this episode will feel like a permission slip.

Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Cold Start & Intro 00:05:15 – Why Getting Fired Was the Best Thing That Happened 00:07:26 – The Doubters, the Vision, and Sports 24/7 00:08:41 – Conviction vs. Consensus 00:12:39 – The Culture That Built ESPN 00:20:51 – When Bill Was Pushed Out - and What It Did to the Team 00:29:30 – The Juggle: How Bill Closed Five Deals Simultaneously 00:33:21 – Almost Shut Down: The Moment ESPN Nearly Didn't Survive 00:38:35 – What Startups Can Learn from Early ESPN

Websites: Book, Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN, Watch: tenero.tv/pages/feature-films/sports-heaven Mike Soltys LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mike-soltys-149b498 Garrett Sutton LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/garrettsutton

Most leaders walk into uncertainty with a 15-point plan, but Karina Mangu-Ward argues that the plan is almost always going out the window and the leaders who admit that openly are often the ones people trust most. In this episode, Skot sits down with Karina, partner at August and author of Teams That Meet the Moment, to unpack the assumptions that keep teams stuck. They explore why humans are neurologically wired to crave certainty even when certainty is impossible, the difference between avoidable failures and intelligent ones, and why one of the most powerful things a leader can say right now is, "Here's what I don't know."

Karina also introduces her Candid Comms framework, built around three deceptively simple questions that could change how you approach your next one-on-one. The conversation also tackles the goal-setting debate, the real cost of blame culture, and why strategy, superstar talent, and hard work alone are never enough. If your team feels buried in pressure, reactive, and stuck in a failure narrative when they should be learning, this conversation deserves your full attention.

Timestamps 00:00:00 - Cold Start & Intro 00:02:03 - Meet Karina and the Book Launch 00:04:58 - Why Companies Say Agile But Act Rigid 00:06:37 - The Say-Do Gap Nobody Talks About 00:08:48 - What "I Don't Know" Actually Does to Trust 00:12:31 - When Leaders Protect People From the Truth 00:15:49 - What Kills Learning Faster Than Failure 00:20:28 - How to Actually Build Psychological Safety 00:24:14 - Goals vs. Purpose: What Really Moves Teams 00:34:13 - What to Do When Your Team Hits a Wall 00:41:54 - Takeaways and the Know-It-All Problem

Website: aug.co/book LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karina-mangu-ward-276a558