Humanity Leads

Tanner Bechtel shares a unique approach to engaging in meaningful conversations, using a visual map of six places that typical human conversations can go. Each place represents a different aspect of a person's life, allowing for deeper and more enjoyable conversations and a system of never running out of things to talk about.TakeawaysEngage in meaningful conversations by exploring six key areas of a person's life.Listening and genuine curiosity are essential for building real human connections during conversations.Chapters00:00 The Art of Conversation03:09 The Visual Map of Conversation03:40 The House: Home and Origins04:40 The Chimney: Work and Profession05:35 The Jet: Travel and Exploration06:34 The Golf Club: Hobbies and Play08:03 The Trophy: Accomplishments and Pride09:30 The Light Bulb: Ideas and Convictions

The conversation delves into the topics of assurance and observability, the impact of AI on enterprise networking, the role of Model Context Protocol (MCP) in enterprise integration, the future landscape of AI and enterprise, the importance of humanity in the age of AI, fear and opportunity in the age of AI, agentic AI and its applications, learning and leading in the age of AI, and personal leadership and responsibility.TakeawaysAI's impact on enterprise networkingThe importance of humanity in the age of AIChapters00:00 Understanding Assurance and Observability02:34 The Impact of AI on Enterprise Networking04:28 Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Enterprise Integration07:45 The Future Landscape of AI and Enterprise10:18 The Importance of Humanity in the Age of AI12:06 Fear and Opportunity in the Age of AI14:51 Agentic AI and its Applications17:21 Learning and Leading in the Age of AI20:29 Personal Leadership and Responsibility

In this episode, Tanner explores the subtle nature of insecurity in leaders and its impact on team dynamics. It delves into behavioral indicators of insecurity, the impact on team dynamics, and the difference between genuine courage and the performance of confidence. The key takeaways include the recognition of insecurity in leaders and the importance of self-awareness in leadership.TakeawaysInsecurity in leaders can manifest in subtle and harmful waysSelf-awareness and self-doubt are part of leadership, but should not be projected onto the teamChapters00:00 The Subtle Nature of Insecurity in Leaders03:02 Behavioral Indicators of Insecurity in Leadership08:20 Impact of Insecurity on Team Dynamics12:04 The Difference Between Courage and the Costume of CourageFind Humanity Leads on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever else you go for great podcasts.

The conversation focuses on the art of effective presentation, emphasizing the importance of starting with change, treating the first 90 seconds as valuable attention, creating meaning, distinguishing between slides and the presentation, the role of AI in presentation creation, and ending with a clear ask.TakeawaysStart with changeTreat the first 90 seconds as expensive borrowed attentionChapters00:00 Starting with Change04:40 The First 90 Seconds05:44 Creating Meaning06:54 Slides vs. Presentation08:51 AI in Presentation Creation10:14 Ending with a Clear Ask

Tanner shares a powerful experience of standing up for his process in the face of opposition, leading to a valuable lesson in executive presence. He emphasizes the importance of calibrated confidence, clear communication, and taking responsibility for recommendations.TakeawaysCalibrated confidenceClear communicationChapters00:00 The Power of Executive Presence05:35 The Essence of Executive Presence07:29 The Translator's Mountain09:24 The Human Side of Leadership10:22 Practical Application of Presence11:18 The Language of Confidence16:43 The Source of Executive Presence19:10 Becoming Unforgettable22:03 Taking Responsibility

In this episode, Tanner explores the challenge of culture change and the science behind behavior learning. It debunks the myth of change failure and emphasizes the importance of modeling and repetition in shaping organizational culture.TakeawaysCulture change requires modeling and repetitionBehavior is learned through observationChapters00:00 The Challenge of Culture Change03:13 The Science of Behavior Learning11:04 The Myth of Change Failure13:24 Culture Watches Behavior16:45 Modeling and Psychological Safety19:30 The Power of RepetitionSources:Bandura, Ross & Ross (1961) — Bobo dollCarla Shatz coined "fire together, wire together"Mark Hughes (2011) — 70% change-failure mythBrown & Treviño (2005) — ethical leadership / social learningChartrand & Bargh (1999) — the chameleon effectSy, Côté & Saavedra (2005) — the contagious leaderEdmondson (1999) — psychological safetyGoogle Project Aristotle — re:WorkDeci & Ryan — Self-Determination TheoryLally et al. (2010) — 66 days to a habit

In this episode Tanner delves into the power of empathy and its critical role in leadership, emphasizing the need to understand and connect with others on a deeper level. It highlights the Bart Simpson exercise and the empathy map as tools for cultivating empathy and understanding. The episode also explores the impact of judgment, the iceberg principle, and the distinction between empathy and sympathy. It concludes with a focus on empathy as a practice and the competitive advantage it offers to leaders.TakeawaysEmpathy is a powerful tool for understanding and connecting with others.Leaders who prioritize empathy and understanding will have a competitive advantage in the age of AI.Chapters00:00 The Power of Empathy03:22 The Bart Simpson Exercise05:15 The Empathy Map07:32 The Weight of Judgment10:13 The Iceberg Principle11:10 Empathy vs. Sympathy12:22 The Age of AI and Empathy14:58 Empathy as a Practice16:37 The Leader's Advantage

The most effective leadership framework I've ever used, I didn't find in a boardroom. I built it at my kitchen table — for nine-year-olds.Every night at six o'clock, before anyone picked up a fork, my kids knew four questions were coming. I thought I was making dinner. I was building leaders.In this first episode of Humanity Leads, executive coach and 20-year technology leader Tanner Bechtel breaks down a simple, repeatable leadership framework — four questions that quietly build self-awareness, accountability, gratitude, and a genuine instinct to serve. Then he shows why the sharpest leaders ask the same four questions of themselves, their teams, and anyone they're trying to develop.The four questions:What are you most proud of?What would you change?What are you grateful for?What did you do to help someone?The thesis underneath it all: the best leadership frameworks aren't invented in conference rooms — they come from being a good human first. As work gets more automated and more uncertain, the leaders who know how to measure their humanity, not just their output, are the ones this decade will belong to.Your challenge this week: pick one of the four questions and ask it in your next 1:1. Then notice what changes.If this resonated, subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next episode — and leave a comment with the question you're going to ask first.LISTEN & CONNECTApple Podcasts: Spotify: Newsletter: Web: humanityleads.comInstagram: @HumanityLeadsHQLinkedIn:#Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #HumanityLeads