Today’s guest is Mark King, the CEO of Taco Bell. Of course, Taco Bell was already an iconic brand when Mark took over in 2019, but he has helped them achieve even more success and innovation.  Get this: he even had the Taco Bell logo shaved into the side of his head, if that tells you ANYTHING about the kind of leader you’re about to learn from.  That’s the thing about Mark. He is NOT afraid to go big. In fact, he believes leaders have to set big aspirational goals. That’s what he’s doing at Taco Bell, and it’s also how he led incredible turnarounds at both TaylorMade and Adidas North America. It’s not enough to just aim for incremental growth. If you really want to disrupt the status quo, you’ve got to chase something extraordinary.  This is one of those conversations that’s gonna leave you buzzing with practical ideas AND big time inspiration.  You’ll also learn: How to find the best hybrid and return-to-work solutions The key to becoming a more innovative organization Two practical ways to find out what’s really going on in your organization Three things to look for when you’re interviewing job candidates The key difference between managers and leaders ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What’s your experience been like writing your new book compared to books you’ve written in the past? How should leaders go about hunting down new ideas? Have you ever been in a role where you’ve faced a lot of rejection? ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

Today’s guest is Jim Levine, who is the founder and principal at his literary agency, LGR. He represents authors like Tom Brady, Ray Dalio, Patrick Lencioni, and our very own David Novak! As a literary agent, Jim’s mentality is all about helping others win. He wants to land good deals for his authors, help publishers find the right books, and coach everyone on his team to succeed. There’s a level of satisfaction you just can’t get until you learn to help others win. It’s a mentality every leader needs to develop, and Jim is the perfect person to show you how it’s done. Plus, if you’ve ever thought about writing a book, you’re about to get a rare inside look into the world of publishing. You’ll also learn: The three elements of a successful nonfiction book The most important thing to do when you offer feedback  The aspect of listening most people miss Insider tips on what it really takes to write a book (and it’s not what you think) A piece of parenting advice that has nothing to do with parenting ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What impressed you most about Yamini? What advice can you give CEOs who are taking over from founders of companies, particularly in a scenario when the company is healthy and thriving? What’s something leaders can learn from treating their culture as a product? ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

As a leader, you’ve got a LOT of things vying for your attention. How do you know what deserves your time and focus … and what doesn’t? Today’s episode will help you answer that big question! David is joined by Yamini Rangan, the CEO of HubSpot, a popular online CRM platform that’s growing by leaps and bounds. A big reason for HubSpot’s success is the clear sense of focus that Yamini has instilled to help everyone make better decisions and prioritize the right opportunities.  In fact, Yamini even has a phrase for it: fortune favors the focused. The way you apply your attention and focus has a huge bearing on the results you can achieve. So if you’re feeling spread a little thin, or you’re just not sure what you need to be focused on right now to really move the needle for your organization, then you’re going to love this episode! You’ll also learn: Your most strategic tool in leadership (this one will surprise you!) A paradigm-shifting way to think about company culture Practical advice for shifting out of functional roles into management A helpful mindset to overcome imposter syndrome Fresh ideas to put customers at the center of your business ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How should leaders at the very top stay informed about what’s actually going on in their business? How should leaders handle disagreements with their boss? What do leaders need to be thinking about when it comes to recruiting? ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

Today’s guest is Dr. Mark Esper, who served as the 27th United States Secretary of Defense. He has spent his whole life in military service, and he is proof positive that we can accomplish amazing things when we stay focused on the mission.  If you’re like most leaders, you’re dealing with a million details a day. It’s far too easy to take your eye off the bigger goals you’re working toward. This conversation with Mark will remind you why it’s vital to stay focused on the mission. It’s how you bring a team together and navigate situations where people don’t see eye to eye.  And Mark knows a thing or two about that after his time in the Trump administration, when he and the President weren’t always aligned. If you’ve ever disagreed with your boss (and, let’s be honest, who hasn’t?!), then you’re going to love these insights.  You’ll also learn: Practical insights for anyone who doesn’t see eye to eye with their boss  Why every leader needs to understand history One strategy to try if you need to boost innovation How to unify a group of people, even if they’re from different walks of life The best way to deflate a big ego As we observe Veterans Day this Saturday, November 11th, this episode is dedicated to all the brave men and women of our military who serve and sacrifice on behalf of our great country. From all of us at How Leaders Lead, thank you for your service. ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Should you hire people for their input or their output? When have you failed fast and what did you learn from it? What’s your take on how companies today should incorporate DE&I into their organizations? ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

It’s our responsibility as leaders to make sure that people from every walk of life are included and heard and valued when they come to work.  But how do we do that? This is a challenge that everyone is working on, though, let’s be honest: a lot of diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives at the corporate level just aren’t moving the needle enough.  Our guest in this episode thinks about DEI (diversity, equality, and inclusion) differently. Paul Sarvadi is the Chairman and CEO of Insperity, an HR solutions company for small and midsize businesses. Hear how Paul and his team embrace diversity as a starting point and then build on it to find a true sense of commonality and cohesion.  Instead of just checking off a box for DEI initiatives, they’re actually developing genuine connections that really move their business forward, all while making sure everyone has a voice at the table.  You’re going to love hearing how Paul values people and how it shows up in the way his company operates. You’ll also learn: Why you need a people plan (and how to build one) A better way to think about hiring that goes beyond a boost in productivity The reason many DEI programs fall short The powerful insight Paul got by talking to his closed-lost accounts early on  Tips for growing as a leader as your company grows, too ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What advice can you give leaders about how to negotiate well? What can someone do to move from a specialized role to one of a leader / General Manager? Why do you think leaders derail and what can leaders do to avoid that? ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

Today’s guest is Mike White, who served as the Chairman and CEO of DirecTV from 2010 until his retirement in 2015. As you might recall, that’s exactly when streaming services really took off. People were cutting the cord on traditional TV left and right and the whole media landscape got turned upside down.  So what does it take to be a great leader when the world is changing right before your eyes?  It takes resilience—and a lot of it! And if you’ve ever wanted to really see what resilience looks like in action, then you’re going to love this conversation.  Mike doesn’t lose his stride when things get tough. He knows how to see around corners and anticipate what’s coming. And most importantly, he knows how to keep people going when things feel uncertain. The truth is, the world is ALWAYS changing, and this conversation will help you tap into the power of resilience in a changing world.  You’ll also learn: What it’s like to be a CEO on the TV show Undercover Boss Three big-picture market trends that every leader needs to understand The most common blind spot in business (and how to account for it) How to leverage the advantages of being an underdog to a major competitor Three negotiation tricks—including one weird one you’ve probably never heard The #1 factor that derails leaders  ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: For leaders trying to scale their business, what should they be focusing on? What are ways leaders can reward their hard-working team in a time that demands more of their employees? What kind of balance do leaders need to have between instructing people on what to do, then setting them loose to go and do it? ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

There are few things more frustrating than a leader who sets up a bunch of meetings, presents ideas, and talks strategy… … but then doesn’t know how to motivate everyone to actually get all that stuff done! Fortunately, our guest today is NOT that kind of leader. Liz Elting is the former CEO of TransPerfect, a translation solutions company that she started and built into a billion-dollar business.  Today you’re going to hear how she did it. And as you’ll see, a huge part of her success comes from Liz’s strong bias toward action. She is willing to put in the hard work and long hours. She is incredibly goal-oriented. And best of all, she knows how to motivate a team to go out and operate in the same way. If you’re feeling stagnant or weighed down by too much bureaucracy, this episode is going to help you be the kind of leader who’s biased toward action – and whose teams are, too.  You’ll also learn: What to focus on early in a startup if you want to get out of the weeds and scale quickly A big personnel mistake Liz made early (and how she fixed it) One big reason you might not be hitting your goals A key characteristic to look for when you’re hiring for a sales role Practical sources of new ideas that you’re probably overlooking Three critical safeguards EVERY business partnership needs ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: Was there a time in your career you resisted the urge to dispense advice and instead, asked more questions to your team to pull out their insights? What practices have you used to celebrate others' ideas? What are some practical ways to shift from “boss” to “coach”? ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

Picture this: Someone on your team comes to you with a question about how to approach a problem theyr’e facing.  What do you do?  If you’re like most leaders, your first instinct is to dispense some advice. And that’s understandable! You’re sitting in that leadership role precisely because you’ve got all kinds of great wisdom and insight to share. But according to today’s guest, that approach can backfire. Michael Bungay Stanier is a bestselling author and the founder of a company called Box of Crayons that equips leaders to become better coaches. He’s on a mission to help leaders move away from giving advice and instead leverage the power of curiosity to draw out their team. For Michael, curiosity is a leadership superpower that helps you find better ideas, pinpoint the right problems, and get more from your teammates. And this conversation is jam-packed with practical ways to help you do ALL that.  You’ll also learn: One three-word question that will change the way you coach your team The three different kinds of “Advice Monsters” (and how to tame yours!) How to use the power of silence The one thing you need to do in a difficult working relationship A practical framework to navigate a big company leadership transition  One specific question that will help you dig deeper in any relationship Three principles to improve your communication skills ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: How can leaders eliminate the layers that build up between them and the people who work on the front lines of their organization? What do you do when you've lost the passion for your job? How can leaders convey the big-picture mission of their company to the employees so they don’t get distracted by temporary challenges? ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

We all have those days where we hop from meeting to meeting, only to look back on the day and wonder what we really accomplished. If that sounds familiar, then you’re going to find a lot of value in this conversation with Bill George, the former Chairman & CEO of Medtronic. He’s also an executive fellow at Harvard Business School and, like all of us here at How Leaders Lead, he is passionate about developing great leaders. But he sees so many leaders spending more and more time in meetings, and less and less time with customers and front-line employees. How can you eliminate the layers that tend to build up between you and the people who work on the front lines of your organization? Hit play if you want to see how to do it and why it matters so much. Plus, you’ll hear great wisdom about leading with authenticity, finding your purpose, and so much more. You’ll also learn: How to calibrate your ambition and drive, especially early in your career Advice for forging a career path that fits who you are and what you want The danger of making your job your identity—and how to avoid it The reason behind great successions (Microsoft) and not-so-great ones (GE) Tips for focusing on long-term goals without ignoring immediate issues ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we take all the great wisdom from the last three months and highlight the most impactful takeaways for you. The Best Of Q3 features leadership insights from these incredible leaders: Alan Mulally, Former CEO of Ford Brandon Beane, GM of Buffalo Bills Kevin Warsh, Former Member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors Diana Murphy, Former President of the USGA Geoff Colvin, Fortune Magazine Senior Editor at Large Ben Weprin, CEO of AJ Capital and Graduate Hotels Jim Fish, CEO of Waste Management Mike McCoy, Walker Cup captain Dr. Bob Grossman, CEO of NYU Langone Health Scott Redler, Cofounder of Freddy’s and Chairman of the National Restaurant Association Korie Robertson, Television star on Duck Dynasty Patrick Lencioni, Bestselling author and Founder of the Table Group ALSO... Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

On this episode of 3 More Questions, you'll hear David Novak's answers to: What characteristics would you look for if you were on the search committee for a new CEO? What advice would you give to a leader trying to keep a sales team motivated? How would you suggest people navigate working for a boss they don't like? ALSO... Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!

Today’s guest is Diana Murphy, the former President of the USGA. She also serves on the boards of AIG, Landstar, Synovus, and the Atlanta Braves – and it’s no surprise, because she’s a phenomenal leader who really knows how to get people working together. Everybody talks about collaboration these days, but Diana has always had it in her DNA. Teams who can collaborate well tend to do better work in less time … and they have more fun doing it, too! If you want to tap into the power of collaboration for your own team and career, you are going to get a ton of insight from Diana in this episode. And if you’re a golfer, don’t miss the story about Arnold Palmer playing golf with her husband on their wedding day! You’ll also learn: The mindset you need when you’re facing a new challenge The “secret sauce” to motivate a sales force How to handle internal dissent in a healthy way The most important traits to have if your goal is the C-suite ——— ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Get coaching from David by signing up to receive his Weekly Leadership Plan. It builds on each podcast episode by offering actionable steps you can take each week to incorporate the learnings from the episode into your leadership style. It only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start off your week! Become a better leader in 5 days with our free, 5-Day Leadership Tune Up. This five-minute-a-day program is designed for the busy leader – it cuts right to the chase and gives you the practical know-how you’ll need to boost your confidence as a leader. Subscribe to the How Leaders Lead podcast to ensure you never miss an episode!