Leading Organizations That Matter

In this episode of Leading Organizations That Matter, I dive into the strange, fascinating rise of Eddie Dalton — the soulful, chart‑topping singer.Here, I explore why Eddie’s success leaves us feeling both outraged and oddly indifferent, what’s at stake for human creativity, and why the “blank sheet of paper” still matters more than ever.Bottom line: If creativity becomes effortless… do we lose something essential about being human?

What if the clearest way to think isn’t in your head at all... but on the page? In this episode, I explore why writing isn’t just a creative act, but a leadership discipline. Drawing on Flannery O’Connor, the rise of AI‑generated text, and my own unexpected path into journaling, I makes the case that putting pen to paper might be the most powerful tool you have for decision‑making, clarity, and growth. If you’ve been stuck, scattered, or second‑guessing yourself, this episode might just change how you think... by changing how you write.

What if the way you see the world is shaping the way you lead - without you even realizing it? In this episode, I draw on a surprising source - photography - to explore why some leaders naturally zoom out to the big picture while others instinctively focus on the smallest details. And more importantly, why the most effective leaders learn to do both. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re seeing too wide… or too narrow… this conversation might just change the way you look at your organization.

What does it take to lead a mission‑driven health care organization with clarity and heart? In this episode, I sit down with Renee McInnes, CEO of Croí Health, to talk about purpose, culture, and the real work of caring for both patients and the people who serve them. It’s an honest, energizing look at leadership in a time when health care needs it most.During this episode, I reference an earlier one on the topic of Medicare Advantage. Please see here for that episode.

What does it mean to truly accompany someone at the end of life? In this episode, I sit down with Maureen Groden, author of When a Loved One Is Dying, to explore the wisdom, clarity, and compassion she offers to families navigating one of life’s most tender passages. We talk about what to expect, how to stay present, and how small acts of love can become moments of profound meaning. If you’ve ever wondered how to show up when it matters most, this conversation is a gentle, grounding guide. To find out more about Maureen and her book, please click here.

What if being “data driven” isn’t actually about the data at all? This week, I unpack a deceptively simple confession from a client and reveal the two hidden skills every leader needs - but most never develop. One is about understanding the dashboard of your organization. The other is about turning numbers into a story people will actually follow. If you’ve ever wondered why your metrics don’t move people - or why your decisions don’t land - this episode might change the way you lead.

What can a photography workshop teach us about leadership? More than you’d think. This episode breaks down why a strong portfolio matters, how to separate real expertise from polished marketing, and what every leader should look for when selecting a coach or consultant.

We all love positivity - but what happens when it becomes performative, relentless, or downright harmful? In this episode, I dig into the rise of toxic positivity, why it’s everywhere online, and how it can leave us feeling more disconnected and less authentic.

This milestone episode explores what happens when the roles we play become so separate that we start to feel divided from ourselves. Drawing on a candid personal story and a powerful coaching conversation, it looks at how compartmentalization can quietly shape our lives and what it takes to move toward greater authenticity and integration. If you’ve ever felt like different parts of your life don’t quite connect, this episode offers a reflection on finding wholeness in the midst of modern leadership and modern living.

So many leaders say, “I want to be more strategic”—but what does that really mean? In this episode of Leading Organizations That Matter, I break down the myths and offer four practical ways to sharpen your strategic thinking and lead with greater clarity, impact, and purpose. If you’re ready to elevate how you see, decide, and act, this one’s for you.

In this week's episode, I take on the AI revolution with a candid confession: I use the tools - but refuse to let them write for me. In this episode, I describe the moment I realized that I was standing at the edge of a creative waterfall, the five reasons I'm pulling back, and what authenticity looks like in a world where everyone suddenly has “superpowers.” From the erosion of human skill to the economic fallout and the uneasy ethics of passing off machine‑generated work as our own, I attempt to offer a grounded, values‑driven perspective on why I'm choosing a slower, more intentional path. My goal this week was to offer a brief but thoughtful challenge to the AI hype - and an invitation to rethink what we’re all willing to trade for convenience.

A milestone episode kicks off Season 3 as I pull back the curtain on what nearly 100 episodes have revealed about what listeners truly crave: honest reflections on leadership, meaning, faith, and the pursuit of work that actually matters. With the show far outlasting most podcasts, I share the surprising data shaping what comes next—shorter, sharper episodes, a renewed commitment to audio-first storytelling, and a clear stand against the flood of sales‑driven pitches that don’t align with the show’s purpose. It’s a reset, a recommitment, and a preview of a season designed to meet listeners where they are and offer something real.Thanks for listening!

We all chase something—grades, success, recognition, comfort, connection. Chasing can be good, but it can also lead us astray. In a world of likes, outrage, marketing hooks, and even AI pretending to be us, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Recently, a friend told me, ‘You seem to value authenticity.’ That simple observation made me pause and ask: What am I really chasing? In this episode, I explore how to reevaluate our pursuits, prioritize what matters, and choose authenticity over distraction.

Strategic plans used to be something boards revisited every three to five years. But today, the pace of change—and the unexpected shocks we’ve all lived through—are forcing boards to ask new questions: How do we stay involved over time? And how will we know when it’s time to shift?In this episode, I share three practical strategies that can give boards a clearer line of sight into progress, keep goals measurable, and build in a refresh point that ensures plans stay relevant. If you’re leading in health care or the nonprofit sector, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

One of my most popular episodes was about building a personal knowledge management system. And here’s the surprising truth: the system itself matters less than the discipline of using it. Today, I’m sharing a simple life hack that’s saved me countless times—because let’s face it, our future selves are often forgetful, distracted, and, well… a little doltish. The trick? Leave breadcrumbs. Clear instructions. Notes that anticipate what your future self will need, right when they’ll need it. From everyday tasks to professional deliverables, this practice has transformed the way I work and live. Be kind to your future self—they’ll thank you for it.

In my work with mission-driven organizations, I’ve seen how trust isn’t just a virtue—it’s a strategy. The way we initiate conversations says everything about our integrity, our intent, and our respect for others. Sales and development efforts rooted in honesty build relationships that last. The rest? Just noise that is best ignored.

Forget the tools—do you have a system? In this episode, I explore why personal knowledge management isn’t about the latest app—it’s about discipline, consistency, and devotion. From steno pads to second brains, I discuss what separates high performers from the forgetful, and why even seasoned executives need a system they trust.

Can you really have your cake and eat it too in nonprofit M&A? In this episode, we explore the mindset behind mergers, acquisitions, and strategic affiliations—not the math, but the meaning. When organizations face pressure to scale without sacrificing identity, leaders are often sent on a quest for the impossible. Tune in as we unpack the cross currents, the trade-offs, and the conversations that matter most before the deal is even on the table.

In a world flooded with AI-generated content, standing out is harder than ever. In this episode, I explore what it really takes to rise above the noise—and why your unique voice matters more now than ever.Fountain pens. Film photography. Franklin Planners. Maybe the future isn’t faster. Maybe it’s more… rum raisinish.

What makes a team brave enough to face transformational change—together?In this episode, I explore the power of vision, trust, and storytelling in leading organizations through risk, resistance, and renewal.Listen in. The fire’s real—but so is what’s on the other side.

“Why Are Young People So Lazy?” (Spoiler: they’re not.)A c-suite exec dropped that line—and it sparked a deeper dive into generational shifts, workplace loyalty, and what younger leaders really want.Listen in for a fresh take on what’s changing—and why it matters.

What does it really mean to step into the CEO role—especially as an interim? In this episode, I share lessons from my own experience leading organizations in transition, and offer practical advice for navigating the delicate balance between “keeping the seat warm” and truly leading. If you’ve ever been tapped to step up, this one’s for you.

Organizations stuck in urgent crises often sacrifice long-term planning, focusing only on immediate fixes. This short-term mindset creates a cycle of unpreparedness that repeats itself. Building awareness of this pattern is the first step toward breaking free and planning for a more sustainable future.

In this week’s episode, I dive deeper into a powerful lesson drawn from my journey as a photographer—why falling in love with what you create transforms not just your art, but your life and career. From average snapshots to meaningful images, I share how shifting focus from process to passion unlocks greater fulfillment and impact. Whether you’re navigating your career path or reflecting on what truly motivates you, this episode offers a fresh perspective on finding joy and purpose in the work you do.

What do photography and career planning have in common? More than you’d think. In this episode, I share how years behind the lens—starting with a beat-up rangefinder—taught me the art of seeing, of waiting, and of wandering. Whether you're a sunrise-chasing planner or a thrill-seeking discoverer, this conversation explores how balancing preparation with openness can shape not just your images, but your life.Because sometimes, the best shot—and the best opportunity—is just around the bend.

Accountability isn’t rocket science—it’s a notebook. In this episode, we skip the complexity and spotlight a painfully obvious yet wildly underused leadership tool: writing things down. From toxic cultures to missed follow-ups, we explore how a simple habit can transform organizational trust, clarity, and follow-through. No apps required. Just a pen, a plan, and a little discipline.

What if the loudest leaders are the most insecure—and the quietest, the strongest? In this episode, we unpack a paradox at the heart of leadership: how humility, not bravado, shapes resilient cultures and lasting impact. From personal reflections to a poignant story of legacy and retirement, this is a candid exploration of what strength really looks like when the stakes are high. If you lead—or aspire to—you’ll want to hear this.

We all learned a lot about life, leadership, values, and priorities during the Covid pandemic. I recently was reminded of one while in the drive-through line at Starbucks. 

Some mission driven organizations benefit from considering their purpose, their objective, their very reason for being as a diamond that is distinct from its setting. This week's quick episode is a thought experiment that several of my clients have found helpful. Perhaps you will as well.

"Should I Stay or Should I Go?"... sang The Clash all the way back in 1982. Let's say you have been debating this same question at your job... and ultimately conclude: I'm so done here.As an executive coach, I have been in a number of conversations with individuals who can relate. I sometimes then find myself in a "how do I quit?" discussion. I hope my advice here helps if you find yourself in this sticky situation.

Figuring out what went wrong and then learning from our mistakes is vital to an organization's long-term success and impact. Unfortunately, some organizations struggle to move past the woe-is-us wound licking phase. This is a topic of great interest to me personally and one I have studied and written about quite a bit. The key to progress here is for groups to lament... for a bit... and then to move forward into the learning mode. In this episode, I suggest a distinct and simple set of steps - in this case, four questions - to help leaders get over this hurdle.

Finding meaning at work impacts organizational culture.Organizational culture impacts our ability to retain and hire the necessary talent for our mission driven organizations.Finding talent to fill our key positions is essential to the success of our "organizations that matter".In this week's episode, I discuss this phenomenon cut against the backdrop of the rapidly changing (i.e., for-profitization) of the hospice industry.

I took a leap of faith, left behind the world I knew and tried to do something completely different. Yet somehow, in the process, I rebuilt everything I had just walked away from. For me, wisdom, insight, and inspiration came from the unlikeliest of sources: Jerry Seinfeld.Perhaps his own self reflection can help you too.

This week, I discuss the impact of busyness on the business of health care with author and expert, Susan Keane Baker. We review issues related to kindness, accountability, presence, leadership, and the state of the industry when it comes to elevating the patient experience.Thank you to Susan for her time and insights. She can be reached at her website here: https://susanbaker.com/.

You need to determine whether change is necessary and then, if so, how best to accomplish that change. This week, I offer another important question that must be considered: is the organization ready for that change? I then discuss the implications of high change readiness and the actions you can take if you encounter low change readiness.

Sometimes the most important lessons are also the most obvious ones.

Ok, let's say it happens. Zombies take over. Which side are you going to be on?

Teaching.Management.Racquetball.Consulting.They actually do have something in common and it's instructive for anyone responsible for choosing a consultant for their organization.

This week, I discuss the connection and differences between having a sense of balance versus integration in your life.And no plates were harmed in the production of this episode.

I'm pleased to interview three guests today from The Ignatian Spirituality Project, an organization that surely "matters". It's a conversation about hope and healing... and second chances and redemption. I hope you'll find this to be inspiring.For more information, see here.

Ask your staff this one question. You'll learn something and they will appreciate being asked.

Here I discuss a valuable insight gleaned from Navy Seals training. And from my mentor.

In this week's episode, I describe the art of management as too many new and inexperienced leaders tend to focus on the science. 

You remember those early days of Covid - back then, we didn't know what we didn't know. It's not too early to begin thinking about lessons learned and so today, I discuss the restaurant industry and how some of them demonstrated critical leadership skills. And some did not.

On my podcast, I often cover topics associated with meaning, purpose, impact, and personal values… though I have not as of yet discussed issues pertaining to faith. I’m happy to change that with today’s interview. Matthew Potter is a co-founder of the Pray.com platform which contains over 1,700 years of content consumption. We discuss his fascinating path to the point of developing the app and several of the cultural trends that have supported its incredible success and impact. Podcast listeners can receive a full year of free access by going to Pray.com/Matt. With gratitude to Matthew and the Pray.com team!

In this episode, I speak with change and leadership expert, Jim Carlough, on the topics of change management versus managing change, the six characteristics of effective leaders, building strong and effective teams, and the common mistakes that leaders make. 

This week, I had a chance to chat with Professor Erin Sullivan (Harvard Medical School and Suffolk University) about physician and provider burnout, a problem that is getting worse and negatively impacting all of us. How did this happen and what can we do about it?

Strategic planning exercises offer a unique opportunity to gather feedback from employees. In this week's episode, I discuss recent trends in this regard.

Have you ever been in a meeting and someone (or perhaps you yourself) said "I wish we had more accountability here." In this week's episode, I suggest a strategy for moving in this direction.

Peter Drucker said: "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." I actually see it a bit differently.