Are your leadership habits helping you adapt…or holding you back? Kevin Eikenberry shares highlights from his new book, Flexible Leadership, and explores what it truly means to lead with confidence in uncertain times.

Using the powerful image of a tree, deeply rooted yet able to bend, Kevin offers a fresh take on how leaders can stay grounded in their values while adapting their approach. The discussion covers the essential elements of mindset, skillset, and habitset, and how each one shapes a leader’s ability to navigate complexity with clarity and purpose.

This conversation brings practical wisdom and real-life application to the forefront. The concept of the “confidence-competence loop” offers a hopeful reminder that growth builds momentum. Whether you’re leading a team, managing change, or working on personal development, you’ll find actionable insights for growing stronger through flexibility.

Kevin is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a leadership and learning company based in Indianapolis, Indiana, with a team across the United States. He has spent over 30 years helping organizations and leaders from at least 53 countries become more effective.

You’ll discover:

• How to stay grounded in your values while adapting your approach
• The power of “it depends” in shifting perspective
• What the confidence-competence loop means for leaders
• Why resistance isn’t a problem—it’s an invitation
• How to use questions to unlock better decisions

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What if the only thing standing between you and stronger leadership is the way you see and lead yourself? In this conversation, Ben Albert shares how losing his job during the pandemic became the catalyst for his growth as an entrepreneur and podcaster.

We explore why self-leadership matters, especially when no one else is steering the ship, and how habits, relationships, and honest feedback can help you grow. Ben also explains how self-care, personal branding, and seeking out mentors can transform your impact on others and yourself.

We also discuss overcoming fears, turning weaknesses into strengths, and the power of empathy and curiosity in personal development. Ben describes building a supportive community of growth-minded leaders and why genuine connections are the foundation of lasting success. Whether you’re looking to lead more effectively or become a better version of yourself, you’ll find practical ideas and inspiration in this episode.

Ben hosts a network of 5 podcasts called “Real Business Connections,” ranked in the top 1% globally. He also runs a massively successful marketing firm, Balbert Marketing. Ben is on a mission to move the needle on one million lives, one conversation at a time.

You’ll discover:

• How self-leadership can empower you during times of uncertainty and change.
• The role of self-care in supporting both personal growth and your ability to lead others.
• Why personal branding matters and how to shape the way others perceive you.
• Practical ideas for overcoming fears and turning past weaknesses into strengths.
• The benefits of joining a growth-minded community for networking and ongoing development.

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What if the real secret to great leadership isn’t found in strategy or skill, but in the strength of your character? This conversation with Dane Deutsch explores how character forms the true foundation of leadership, shaped by his own family values, military service, and years of leading diverse teams.

Through stories from the Air Force and his own experience as a CEO, Dane reveals why caring for people and building trust matter more than any title or technique. His insights show that whether you’re coaching athletes, running a business, or guiding a community, authentic leadership always begins with character.

Dane also introduces the “tricycle effect,” illustrating how qualities like trustworthiness, respect, and responsibility steer both personal and professional growth. From practical tools for self-coaching to the power of empathy and humility, you’ll come away inspired to strengthen your own character skills, build genuine connections, and lead with heart in every area of life.

Dane was a Commander in the US Air Force and first applied character skills in the military. He’s the CEO of LMDC Academy, which stands for Leadership Management and Development in Character. Over the past 40 years, he’s coached and trained athletes, businesses, and teams. Dane owned a cybersecurity company and sold it in 2020. He’s also taught classes on cybersecurity at the university level. He and his wife own a gymnastics training center for pre-k to high school students, and character is the #1 skill they teach, followed by leadership, and then technical skills. Dane’s most recent book is titled "Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect: Coaching Character as the Foundation of Leadership."

You’ll discover:

• Why character skills are the true foundation of great leadership
• How self-talk and body posture can help you manage anxiety and boost confidence
• The “tricycle effect” and how it can guide your personal and professional growth
• Real stories about empathy, humility, and the power of being coachable
• Practical ways to develop trust, respect, and authentic connections in any area of your life

Check out all the episodes
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn
Follow Meredith on Twitter
Download the free ebook Listen Like a Pro