Podcast
Things Leaders Do
Hosted by Colby Morris · EN
Whether you're a new manager figuring out how to lead your first team or a seasoned executive refining your approach, host Colby Morris delivers actionable tools and real-world frameworks you can use today to lead with confidence, clarity, and impact.
Things Leaders Do is the straight-talk podcast for leaders who want practical strategies that actually work—not just leadership theory that sounds good in a boardroom.
Each week, Colby breaks down people-first leadership with humor, insight, and straight talk—covering how to communicate effectively and build trust, create high-performance team cultures, handle pressure and setbacks, balance accountability with empathy, and master the intersection of strategy, execution, and influence.
Perfect for new leaders stepping into management, seasoned executives leveling up their skills, and anyone tired of leadership advice that doesn't translate to the real world.
Weekly episodes tackle succession planning, conflict resolution, one-on-ones that actually work, performance reviews that don't suck, employee development, and how to create workplaces where people want to stay—not just show up.
No fluff. No vague concepts.
Just tactical frameworks and processes you can implement Monday morning.
New episodes drop every Monday. Subscribe now and join thousands of leaders building stronger teams and better workplace cultures.
Host Colby Morris is the founder of NXT Step Advisors, providing executive coaching, team training, and keynote speaking focused on people-first leadership that drives real business results.
Connect at nxtstepadvisors.com or linkedin.com/in/colbymorris
36episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Conflict Series, Episode 3: Managing Up — How to Disagree with Your Boss Without Killing Your Career
May 28, 202500:12:51Tap to summarizeManaging Up — How to Disagree with Your Boss Without Killing Your CareerDisagreeing with your boss doesn’t have to be career suicide. In fact, it might be your most powerful leadership move—if you do it the right way.In the final episode of The Conflict Series, Colby Morris tackles one of the toughest challenges for leaders in the middle: how to manage up. Whether you’re a middle manager, a team lead, or a high-performing individual contributor, you’ve likely faced the tension of wanting to speak up without stepping out of line.This episode gives you the mindset, language, and strategy to disagree with leadership without damaging trust or credibility. Learn how to bring respectful pushback, contribute solutions instead of complaints, and connect feedback to shared goals—all while strengthening your influence from the middle of the org chart.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why most leaders get managing up completely wrongHow to challenge direction without sounding combativeA 3-part framework to speak up clearly, calmly, and crediblyReal-world examples of how to bring feedback up the chainA leadership challenge to help you practice the right way this weekWhether you’re looking to build credibility with your boss, influence strategy from the middle, or coach your team on how to lead up well—this is the episode that brings it all together.If this episode gave you new insight or language to lead from the middle, share it with your team or send it to another leader you respect. Want to bring this conversation into your organization? Colby is available for speaking engagements, executive trainings, and leadership retreats focused on communication, culture, and courageous leadership. Connect on LinkedIn or reach out through the link below.NXT Step Advisors Colby's LinkedIn Profile Things Leaders Do Instagram
Transcribe →The Conflict Series, Episode 2: How to Say Hard Things Without Burning Bridges
May 20, 202500:12:01Tap to summarizeStruggling to have tough conversations without damaging relationships? You’re not alone—and this episode shows you how to lead with clarity and care.In Part 2 of The Conflict Series, Colby Morris breaks down a practical 3-step framework for saying hard things as a leader—without losing trust, morale, or momentum. Drawing from years of leadership experience and a real-life story with a former supervisor, Colby reveals how consistent one-on-ones, clear expectations, and people-first leadership make tough conversations easier and more effective.Whether you're giving performance feedback, addressing accountability gaps, or confronting team dynamics, this episode gives you the exact words, mindset, and tools you need to lead like a pro—even in the uncomfortable moments.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why avoiding tough conversations erodes trust faster than speaking the truthA 3-step framework for direct and compassionate feedbackHow consistent one-on-ones and feedback rhythms make accountability easierThe biggest mistakes leaders make when delivering hard messages—and how to fix themA leadership challenge to help you take immediate action this weekThis episode is a must-listen for new managers, seasoned executives, HR leaders, and anyone committed to building a culture of clarity, care, and high performance.If this episode challenged or helped you, share it with your leadership team. Colby is available for speaking engagements, team offsites, and leadership trainings focused on building people-first leaders who communicate with courage. Connect with him on LinkedIn or reach out through the contact link below.Webpage Colby's LinkedIn Profile Things Leaders Do Instagram
Transcribe →The Conflict Series: Your Team is Not a Family
May 13, 202500:10:25Tap to summarizeThe Conflict Series: Your Team is Not a FamilyIs your workplace really a family—or are you avoiding the tough conversations your team actually needs?In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris kicks off The Conflict Series by taking aim at one of the most popular myths in leadership today: the idea that your team should function like a family. While “we’re like a family here” sounds heartwarming, it often creates confusion, stifles innovation, and sabotages accountability.Colby shares personal stories, expert quotes, and hard-won lessons from the front lines of leadership to help you build a culture of trust, performance, and growth—without the emotional traps that “family culture” can bring. Whether you're a new leader trying to define your voice or a seasoned executive looking to shift your organization’s culture, this episode gives you the tools to lead with clarity and courage.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why calling your team a “family” can lead to underperformance and missed opportunitiesHow avoiding conflict in the name of harmony kills innovationReal-world examples of leadership mistakes and what they taught ColbyThe exact language to use instead of “we’re a family” to inspire accountability and unityA 3-step leadership challenge to reset expectations and take action this weekThis episode is ideal for frontline managers, senior leaders, HR professionals, and leadership coaches who want to create high-trust, high-performance cultures without falling into the emotional traps of outdated leadership clichés.If this episode hits home, share it with your team and open the conversation. Interested in bringing this message to your organization? Colby is available for leadership trainings, offsites, and team culture resets. Connect with him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbymorris/) or reach out directly using the contact link below:Nxtstepadvisors.com Colby's LinkedIn Profile Things Leaders Do Instagram
Transcribe →How to Build Backup Systems That Scale — Without Creating Bottlenecks or Burnout
May 6, 202500:10:54Tap to summarizeHow to Build Backup Systems That Scale — Without Creating Bottlenecks or BurnoutShow Description:If your business relies on one person to keep a process running, you don’t have a system — you have a single point of failure.In this follow-up to last week’s episode, Colby shares real stories and practical tools to help you build backup systems that scale without piling on red tape or burning out your team.You’ll hear:A true story from Colby’s hospital leadership days that changed the way he trained teamsHow to test whether your team is truly cross-trained or just good at talkWhy most SOPs fail — and how to fix them by documenting context, not just tasksA powerful “Mission-Critical Map” exercise to find and fix your hidden bottlenecksA weekly challenge to help you build a more resilient, scalable team — starting nowThis episode is for leaders who want to grow without becoming the bottleneck, lose sleep over operational gaps, or build a company that falls apart if one person goes on vacation.Need help building resilient teams, systems that scale, or leaders who can handle the weight of growth?Colby offers executive coaching, keynote speaking, and custom leadership training for organizations that want to grow with clarity, confidence, and consistency.Contact Colby directly: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbymorris/ Booking or inquiries: https://www.nxtstepadvisors.com/Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another leader.And you know why?Because those are the things that leaders do.#leadership #businesssystems #operations #scalingbusinesses #founderlife #teamdevelopment #thingsleadersdo Colby's LinkedIn Profile Things Leaders Do Instagram
Transcribe →Eliminating Single Points of Failure
Apr 29, 202500:11:14Tap to summarizeEpisode Title:Eliminating Single Points of Failure | Things Leaders Do PodcastEpisode Description (Show Notes):What happens if the one thing holding your organization together suddenly falls apart?In today's episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down the critical leadership concept of eliminating single points of failure—before they cripple your business.You will hear a real-world story from Colby’s time leading hospital operations, where an entire system was unknowingly dependent on a single employee. Plus, we explore how many founders unknowingly become their own organization’s biggest risk—and how to fix it.In this episode, you will learn:Why inspecting what is working is just as important as fixing what is brokenHow Andy Stanley’s leadership principle applies to scaling resilient teamsThe difference between managers who react and leaders who stress-test systems earlyWhy burnout is your biggest hidden threat—and how to build sustainable, resilient teamsHow to involve your team in uncovering operational risks before they explodeWhether you are a CEO, a founder, or a team leader, you will walk away with actionable strategies to protect your organization from invisible risks—and build something that can truly scale.If you want a resilient business, it starts today—with the right questions, the right systems, and the right leadership moves.Resources and Links:Connect with Colby on LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbymorris/)Book Colby for keynotes, corporate training, or webinars: www.nxtstepadvisors.comContact Colby directly for speaking engagements or consulting: Colby@nxtstepadvisors.com Colby's LinkedIn Profile Things Leaders Do Instagram
Transcribe →If AI Can Do Your Job, It’s Time to Lead Differently
Apr 22, 202500:09:05Tap to summarizeIf AI Can Do Your Job, It’s Time to Lead DifferentlyEpisode Description:If AI can do your job, what exactly are you bringing to the table?This week on Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris delivers a direct challenge to every leader navigating the rise of artificial intelligence: You can’t automate emotional intelligence. You can’t delegate trust. And you sure can’t replace real leadership with a chatbot.In this short, high-impact episode, you’ll learn:Why your team is silently wondering if their work still matters—and how to lead through the fear.What AI can do exceptionally well—and what it will never be able to do.Why emotional intelligence (EQ) is the one skill that separates real leaders from human-shaped task bots.How to use AI as a tool—without using it as a crutch.Why the future of leadership is more human, not less.This episode is designed for your drive to work or wind-down after—so you can listen, reflect, and lead differently by the time you show up.🔗 Want to connect with Colby or book him to speak? Visit nxtstepadvisors.com or connect with Colby on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbymorris/)Subscribe. Share it with another leader. And show up like only you can. And you know why? Because those are the things that leaders do. Colby's LinkedIn Profile Things Leaders Do Instagram
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