Insights with Emil Everett

Most leadership teams don’t fail because people are weak. They fail because they’re built wrong.Too similar. Too agreeable. Too comfortable.In the latest episode of Insights, I break down one of the greatest team designs in history, and what modern leaders can learn from how their differences, not their harmony, created influence and leverage.This episode connects elite team-building across arenas, championship sports teams, high-stakes leadership groups, and history’s most consequential coalition, and turns it into a practical framework you can use right now.If your leadership team agrees too quickly, meets too smoothly, and avoids friction, this one may hit close to home.Listen to this Insights episode and pressure-test how your team is really built.Visit Us at: ThinkNewAmsterdam.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠

Everyone loves to talk about authentic leadership. Very few talk about what happens when it goes wrong.Authenticity without boundaries turns into ego.Empathy without self-definition becomes exhaustion.Leadership skills without sincerity feel like manipulation.In the latest episode of Insights, I push back on the idea that leadership is just “be yourself.” It’s not. Real leadership is about calibration, knowing when your strengths are helping and when they’re quietly hurting the team.If you’re tired of leadership buzzwords and want something more honest, give this episode a listen.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠Visit Us at: ThinkNewAmsterdam.

Trust is the foundation of leadership, but most leaders underestimate how intentional it must be.In a special episode of my Insights podcast, I recorded the introduction to my new book, Leading With Trust.The episode begins with a simple moment: an unexpected leadership decision, a choice to trust, and the impact that trust had on performance, confidence, and results. It’s a reminder that trust isn’t theoretical; it’s lived, earned, and reinforced through everyday behavior.Trust enables people to step up.Trust allows teams to collaborate under pressure.Trust is what carries organizations through both success and crisis.This episode sets the foundation for the book and introduces the thinking behind The 12 Elements of Trust, the behaviors that drive peak performance and lasting leadership impact.If the episode resonates, the book takes you deeper, providing the structure, questions, and tools to build a culture of trust intentionally, not accidentally.Leadership starts with trust.What you build on top of it is up to you.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠

Everyone loves talking about “culture.” Most leaders don’t actually build one.Tonight’s national championship isn’t being decided by hype speeches or talent alone. It’s being decided by standards, the kind most organizations say they have but don’t enforce.In this week’s Insights episode, I break down what Curt Cignetti’s leadership teaches us about winning:• Why motivation is overrated• How performance earns opportunity (not potential)• The danger of hiring résumé instead of fit• How belief is built with proof, not posters• Why calm leaders outperform loud onesFive minutes. One story. Five takeaways.If your culture collapses under pressure, don’t blame your people. Blame your standards.Listen before the game. Then ask yourself, would your team win tonight?Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠Visit Us at: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.

He’s been behind some of the biggest power shifts in modern sports, yet most people have never heard his name.Free agency, athlete compensation, equal pay, and structural reform didn’t result from clever words at the table. They came from leverage built long before negotiations even began. Nearly 70% of his most important cases never went to trial; they settled because the system itself was under pressure.In the latest episode of Insights, I break down how he approaches negotiation, how he builds leverage before the conversation, shapes the narrative to shift power, anchors decisions in objective standards, and negotiates for systems rather than just one-time wins.If you lead, influence decisions, or negotiate at any level, this episode will change how you prepare for your next conversation.

Most people still see AI as just a research tool for negotiations, but that belief is outdated.In 2024, Amazon announced that AI agents were negotiating supplier contracts and cloud-service pricing directly with partners, analyzing patterns, adjusting concessions, and closing deals more quickly and sometimes more effectively than human teams. This wasn’t just experimentation. It was operational. It worked.Negotiation is no longer solely a human skill. It’s evolving into a hybrid approach: partly strategic, partly relationship-focused, and partly AI-led.In this Insights episode, we examine what AI negotiators can currently do, how they will transform deal-making, and what leaders must begin doing now to remain competitive as AI progresses from being an assistant to an active participant.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠.

As we wrap up the year and get ready for 2026, here’s a quick five-minute boost for anyone looking to lead with more clarity, calm, and purpose.This week’s Insights episode uses the eagle-and-crow metaphor in a fresh, practical way, transforming it into five actions leaders can apply right away to rise above the chaos, conserve their energy, strengthen their teams, and foster an environment where great work thrives.If you want a quick, meaningful reset to start the new year on the right foot, give this episode a listen.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠.

Remaining calm in a negotiation is wise… until it becomes the reason you’re being exploited.There’s always a moment when the other side tests your boundaries. They push past fairness, assuming you’ll keep giving ground.That’s when you need what I call a Conviction Spike, a controlled burst of intensity that clearly shows your value isn’t negotiable.It’s not about losing control; it’s about resetting respect and shifting leverage back in your favor.In this Insights episode, I explain when the Conviction Spike works, how to use it without damaging the relationship, and why top negotiators rely on it more than you might think.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠.

Outstanding leadership doesn’t occur by chance; it’s developed through purpose, humility, and daily decisions that add up to excellence.That idea really resonated with me when my twins recently attended a Penn State wrestling match against Drexel, connecting our family’s history (Doug Frey '53) with today’s leading college program.This week on Insights, we examine Cael Sanderson’s leadership blueprint and what any leader can learn from it.Five minutes. One compelling story. Five useful insights you can apply today.If you want a quick, meaningful boost to your week, this is it.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠.

Many leaders cut costs to protect the present but forget that these same cuts can quietly weaken the future. Cost discipline is smart and responsible. However, when it becomes a fundamental part of the culture and every decision is based on “what’s cheapest” instead of “what creates value,” the organization doesn’t become leaner; it becomes smaller. Innovation slows down. Risk tolerance collapses. Builders leave. Suddenly, the company is no longer prioritizing the mission; it’s focused on protecting the margins. In this week’s episode of Insights, we explore how well-intentioned cost-cutting can lead to cultural drift, why great talent often senses it first, and how strong leaders can stabilize today without sacrificing tomorrow.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠.

Silence isn’t awkward; it’s powerful.In negotiations, and meetings, we often rush to speak, defend, or fill space. But research from MIT Sloan shows that even a three-second pause can transform outcomes. It creates space to think, listen, and discover value neither side had recognized before.In this Insights episode, I explore how deliberate silence can change the tone, tempo, and results of your most important conversations.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠.

In business and in teams, conflict is inevitable. The question is: will it divide you or drive you?In the film Air, Nike’s basketball division was falling apart. Opinions clashed, egos collided, and no one agreed on a path forward. Then one person reframed the fight, turning tension into focus and skepticism into belief. That clarity led to one of the greatest partnerships in business history: Michael Jordan and Nike.In this Insights episode, I explore how leaders can do the same, reducing unhealthy conflict before it starts.Question: How do you turn tension into teamwork on your team?Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠.

In 2008, the world was in a state of panic. Warren Buffett wasn’t.While banks scrambled for survival, Buffett sat calmly on the other side of the table with something rarer than cash, credibility. Goldman Sachs needed both.He didn’t chase the deal. He waited. And when they came calling, he offered $5 billion in preferred shares paying 10 percent plus warrants to buy more stock later. Goldman got stability. Buffett got extraordinary returns. That’s leverage, earned over years, used in a single, decisive moment.In this episode of Insights, I break down how Buffett’s approach reveals the Five Pillars of Leverage and how you can apply them to your own negotiations.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠.

Ever notice how in golf the tiniest adjustment can change everything? One stroke is often the difference between making the cut or going home.Leadership is no different. The small choices we make every day, easy to do, easy not to do, are what compound into long-term success.In this episode of Insights, I share how the Slight Edge theory and golf teach us to lead with consistency, patience, and daily discipline.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com.⁠

Disruptions aren’t the exception anymore; they’re part of the landscape.Shutdowns, supply shortages, labor disputes, reorganizations, and even political or social unrest can send shockwaves through even the most prepared teams. We live in a period of VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous).So what’s a leader to do? Ignore it and hope for calm? Push harder and risk burnout? Or use the disruption itself as a way to build resilience and clarity?In the latest episode of Insights, I share practical ways leaders can respond when disruption hits. You’ll hear why acknowledging uncertainty openly, creating clarity where you can, reconnecting to purpose, adapting workflows thoughtfully, and caring for people’s resilience matter more than ever.I revisit Delta Air Lines’ journey, which began with a rocky loyalty program rollout but ultimately became one of its strongest assets through learning from the disruption.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:⁠Amazon⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com.⁠

My wife went to Penn State. Her dad and his twin brother were part of Penn State’s first wrestling national championship team. Her family is full of Nittany Lion alumni. One of my boys, Dylan, in a memorable moment for him, high-fived Coach James Franklin before a game last year. So when Franklin was fired after more than a decade at Penn State, it wasn’t just another sports headline; it hit close to home. It’s also a leadership story worth exploring. He rebuilt a broken program, restored belief, and won over 100 games. But in leadership, the real challenge isn’t building success, it’s maintaining it. Over time, expectations change, trust shifts, and what was once sufficient… no longer is. In this episode of Insights, I examine what we can all learn from Franklin’s tenure about clarity, culture, reinvention, and knowing when to adapt before others step in.Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:AmazonBarnes & NobleSign up for the Insights email: ThinkNewAmsterdam.com

Ever feel like your team has more potential than it shows? This episode breaks down seven behaviors you can personally apply to spark new ideas, influence your team’s direction, and unlock major breakthroughs. Visit Emil at New Amsterdam⁠

Power is real, and as a leader, you can’t ignore it. In this episode of Insights, I share how to use power intentionally so it builds trust, creates space for others, and strengthens results. Visit Emil at New Amsterdam⁠

Are you preparing your team for the game, or for the reality that follows?When The New York Times / The Athletic profiled how Victor Wembanyama trains, one detail jumped out at me: he doesn’t just rehearse set plays. He practices under constraints, in smaller spaces, with unusual rules, and unpredictable conditions. The idea is simple: if you can adapt in chaos, you’ll thrive when the real game comes.The same principle, known as the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA), is transforming how we think about leadership. Instead of teaching people one “right way,” CLA is about creating environments where teams learn to adjust, innovate, and respond when the unexpected happens.In my latest podcast, I share how leaders can apply CLA to build organizations that are more resilient, more creative, and better prepared for uncertainty.What about you? Are you giving your team perfect rehearsals or preparing them for the real thing?Visit Emil at New Amsterdam⁠

Every leader knows the hardest word in the job: no.And many admit they wish they had learned how to say it earlier in their careers.The truth is, no one likes hearing it, and no one enjoys giving it. But “no” is critical to protecting focus and priorities. The key is how you deliver it.In this episode of Insights, I explore 11 ways to say no without demoralizing your team. You’ll see how subtle techniques we use with friends (yes, even at a restaurant) can help leaders set boundaries with grace.Visit us at ThinkNewAmsterdam.com

After Ohio State’s painful loss to Michigan, the season could have unraveled. Instead, players and coaches gathered for a raw, honest conversation. That heart-to-heart didn’t just heal wounds; it became the turning point that fueled their historic run to a national championship.Business teams aren’t so different. There are moments when morale dips, trust frays, or setbacks sting. That’s when a leader’s willingness to pause, open up, and have a genuine conversation can reset everything.In the latest episode of Insights, I share when and how to know it’s time for a heart-to-heart with your team, and how to use those moments to build unity and momentum.Visit ThinkNewAmsterdam.com

The Golden State Warriors credit part of their 2022 NBA Championship run not just to talent, but to the way they communicated—structured, clear, and consistent. That same principle separates high-performing business teams from those that constantly spin their wheels.In the latest episode of Insights, I share how leaders can create communication protocols that cut through noise, build trust, and keep teams moving in sync. You’ll hear practical approaches you can apply immediately—without adding red tape.👉 Give it a listen and see how a few minor changes in how your team communicates can transform the way you work together.Visit ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠

Courage doesn’t always roar. More often, it whispers.In 2024, Microsoft engineers raised concerns about AI safety. Leadership didn’t silence them; they created forums for open dialogue. That everyday courage improved outcomes and reinforced trust.In the newest Insights episode, I share five ways to practice courage daily: normalizing candor, using stories, asking questions, standing with allies, and practicing in small moments.Visit ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠

Silence isn’t neutral; it has a cost.During the 2023 NFL season, Tua Tagovailoa broke the silence around concussions, sparking a league-wide conversation about safety. In business, the same principle holds: staying quiet often costs more than speaking up. In the latest episode of Insights, I explore five powerful moments when courage matters most: standing on values, reframing risk, sharing bold ideas, protecting fairness, and treating feedback as a gift.Visit us at ThinkNewAmsterdam.com

What makes a great presenter stand out? It isn’t about adding more slides or talking more; it’s about knowing what to cut. In this episode of Insights, discover why less is more. You will learn simple techniques to deliver clearer, concise, and to-the-point presentations.Visit us at ThinkNewAmsterdam.com

Dak Prescott. CeeDee Lamb. Micah Parsons. Jerry Jones waited until the very last minute to strike a deal with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, and it cost the Cowboys tens of millions more than it should have. Will he do the same with Micah Parsons? Waiting until the end may not be the best strategy when negotiating.In business, we may fall into the same trap as Jerry Jones. Don’t confuse “waiting” with “winning.”Visit us at ThinkNewAmsterdam.com