Thank you for all of your support. Please let us know what you think about our podcast and what topic you may want to hear from us. Leaders, Lead Well!

For decades, organizations have been built around the idea of the heroic CEO—the singular visionary, chief decision-maker, and ultimate problem solver. But in 2026, that model is breaking down.

In today’s environment of complexity, speed, AI acceleration, and constant disruption, leadership can no longer sit at the top of a single individual. The hero CEO doesn’t scale. It concentrates risk, slows decision-making, and quietly undermines trust and accountability across the organization.

If you’re a senior leader, board member, or executive coach navigating the realities of leadership in 2026, this conversation challenges some of the most deeply held assumptions about power, control, and what it truly means to lead.

Join Rich and Maikel on this episode of Mainline Executive Coaching ACT as we explore why the era of the hero CEO is ending—and why collective leadership is emerging as the only sustainable model for high-performing organizations. We unpack what collective leadership really means (and what it doesn’t), the hidden costs of over-centralized leadership, and the inner shifts CEOs must make to move from being “the answer” to becoming the architect of leadership systems.

Leaders, Lead Well!

Thank you to all of our listeners in over 100 countries and now, 1,000 cities worldwide, we greatly appreciate your support! We truly hope that what we bring to our listeners will improve your ability as leaders.

Mainline Executive Coaching ACT has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the top Executive Coaching Podcast in the world based on thousands of podcasts on the web and ranked by traffic, social media, followers & freshness.

https://blog.feedspot.com/executive_coaching_podcasts/

John Mattone Global: https://johnmattone.com/

Rich Baron:
rbaron@richbaronexecutivecoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-baron/
https://www.richbaronexecutivecoaching.com/

Maikel Bailey:
mbailey@intelligentleadershipec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maikelbailey/
https://maikelbailey.com/

Thank you for all of your support. Please let us know what you think about our podcast and what topic you may want to hear from us. Leaders, Lead Well!

As we close out 2025, one thing is clear: leaders and teams can’t simply optimize their way into the future — they must renew. In a world shaped by rapid AI advancement, hybrid work, and ongoing uncertainty, renewal is no longer a soft idea. It’s a strategic reset.

This episode explores what renewal of leadership and teams truly means as we move into 2026. Renewal isn’t about adding more — it’s about releasing what no longer serves us: outdated behaviors, rigid structures, and fear-based cultures — and amplifying what does: trust, empathy, agility, and human connection.

For leaders, renewal means shifting from reactive problem-solvers to proactive navigators. It requires pairing human judgment with AI fluency, leading with greater self-awareness, and building cultures grounded in psychological safety and truth-telling. Less hierarchy and control — more clarity, courage, and ethical decision-making.

For teams, renewal shows up as energy, ownership, and adaptability. The highest-performing teams in 2026 are psychologically safe, hybrid by design, skills-focused, and deeply accountable. They break down silos, learn through experimentation, and grow through coaching, mentoring, and real-time feedback.

We also outline a practical roadmap for renewal:

• Reflect and release what’s holding leaders and teams back
• Set antifragile goals that align growth with purpose
• Invest in development through coaching, mentorship, and AI-enabled learning
• Foster collaboration through flatter structures and shared ownership
• Measure, adapt, and celebrate progress to sustain momentum

Ultimately, renewal isn’t a one-time initiative — it’s a continuous cycle. Organizations that commit to it build stronger cultures, make better decisions, and achieve more sustainable performance.

Join Rich and Maikel on this episode of Mainline Executive Coaching ACT, as we challenge leaders to rethink renewal — not by adding more, but by letting go of what no longer serves their teams.

Leaders, Lead Well!

Thank you to all of our listeners in over 100 countries and now, 1,000 cities worldwide, we greatly appreciate your support! We truly hope that what we bring to our listeners will improve your ability as leaders.

Mainline Executive Coaching ACT has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the top Executive Coaching Podcast in the world based on thousands of podcasts on the web and ranked by traffic, social media, followers & freshness.

https://blog.feedspot.com/executive_coaching_podcasts/

John Mattone Global: https://johnmattone.com/

Rich Baron:
rbaron@richbaronexecutivecoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-baron/
https://www.richbaronexecutivecoaching.com/

Maikel Bailey:
mbailey@intelligentleadershipec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maikelbailey/
https://maikelbailey.com/

Thank you for all of your support. Please let us know what you think about our podcast and what topic you may want to hear from us. Leaders, Lead Well!

In Part One, we exposed the myth that performance automatically equals potential. This follow-up episode digs deeper into the real differentiators—what actually signals high potential, why these traits predict executive success, and how leaders can intentionally build the inner architecture required to lead at the highest level.

In this segment, we are joined by Patrick Duriaux. Patrick is a global CHRO and seasoned HR leader with over 20 years of experience driving cultural transformation, leadership development, and performance improvement in international organizations. A certified Intelligent Leadership Master Coach trained by John Mattone, he brings a decade of coaching expertise focused on emotional intelligence, human connection, and purposeful growth.

He is also the founder of ALTO.cool, a platform designed to reduce loneliness by fostering meaningful intergenerational connections. Patrick additionally supports academic research and mentors emerging HR leaders.

Patrick joins Rich and Maikel on Mainline Executive Coaching ACT, as we go deeper into the traits, the mindset, and the inner architecture that allow a leader to operate at the executive level. Because world-class executives aren’t built on performance alone. They’re built on character, courage, self-awareness, and the maturity to lead through complexity.”

Patrick"s Contact Information:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickduriaux/

info@hrtouch.ch

www.hrtouch.ch

Leaders, Lead Well!

Thank you to all of our listeners in over 100 countries and now, 1,000 cities worldwide, we greatly appreciate your support! We truly hope that what we bring to our listeners will improve your ability as leaders.

Mainline Executive Coaching ACT has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the top Executive Coaching Podcast in the world based on thousands of podcasts on the web and ranked by traffic, social media, followers & freshness.

https://blog.feedspot.com/executive_coaching_podcasts/

John Mattone Global: https://johnmattone.com/

Rich Baron:
rbaron@richbaronexecutivecoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-baron/
https://www.richbaronexecutivecoaching.com/

Maikel Bailey:
mbailey@intelligentleadershipec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maikelbailey/
https://maikelbailey.com/