In this episode, Mike Phillips sits down with Doug Gray, PhD, CEO of Action Learning Associates, to unpack practical, outcome based leadership and family-business succession that actually works. Doug reframes SWOT so leaders focus on what they can control, explains why the least structure necessary accelerates execution, and walks through his simple rubric for succession: pace, space, grace. You will also hear when to use closed LLMs to protect sensitive data, how to leverage AI as a right-seat tool, and why curiosity is currency for modern leaders.

What you’ll learn

• A cleaner way to apply SWOT for real decisions

• How to assess organizational maturity without bureaucracy

• The “pace, space, grace” model to reduce conflict in family transitions

• Smart AI adoption for compliance-heavy workflows

• Actionable next steps leaders can run this week

Guest highlightsDoug has coached thousands of leaders across sectors, authored multiple books on leadership and OKRs, and builds tools that help teams make better decisions with measurable results.

Resources mentioned

• Action Learning Associates: Action-Learning.com

• Family Business assessment directory: Family-Wealth.org

• JIT Coach: JITcoach.com

Contact Information:

Doug Gray, PhD

Web: Action-Learning.com

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/Doug-Gray-PhD

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guests: Doug Gray, PhD — Outcome based leadership strategist and family-business succession guide

Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!

Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.

Thank you for watching and listening!

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

*** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

Leadership inspires. Management delivers. In this high energy conversation, Dr. James Chitwood joins host Mike Phillips to show why organizations must stop over indexing on “leadership” and start training managers in the nuts and bolts of performance. You will learn a simple weekly one on one format that blends humanity with accountability, how to quantify work so you can actually manage it, and Dr. Chitwood’s TRAC model that unifies Training, Recognition, Accountability, and Communication into one performance system.

We also dig into psychological safety, building internal communication that helps employees “see themselves in the numbers,” and using the question “What’s your next” to align company goals with each person’s personal and professional goals.

🧰 Tools of the Trade: Top Takeaways You Can Use

1️⃣ Leadership vs management: Leadership gets people to want the job. Management ensures the job gets done. Bake the management cake first, then add leadership icing.

2️⃣ Weekly one on ones that matter: Split time in half. Human first, performance second. Arrive prepared with data so reviews never surprise anyone.

3️⃣ TRAC model for performance: Training, Recognition, Accountability, Communication work as one unified strategy, not four disconnected initiatives.

4️⃣ Internal comms carry culture: Great internal communication helps every employee see how their work moves the whole. It must flow up, down, and across.

5️⃣ Develop people through, “What’s your next...?”: Align company goals to employees’ personal and professional next steps to build motivation and loyalty.

Contact Information:

Email: dr.j@performanceculture.expert

Linkedin: Linkedin.com/in/DrJChitwood

Web Links: LeadershipIsNotEnough.com, DrJamesChitwood.com

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guests: Dr. James Chitwood, performance culture architect and author of Leadership Is Not Enough

Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5 star review.

Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues. Thank you for watching and listening.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

What defines real leadership? Not the stage, the title, or the metrics, it’s the choices you make when nobody’s looking. In this powerhouse panel, host Mike Phillips is joined by returning friends of the show Mike Ashie (Leadership with Mike) and Jim Burgoon (Lead with Jim / The Unshakable Life Podcast) for an honest conversation about the unseen side of leadership: character in the dark, daily discipline, tough truth-telling, and building a legacy that outlasts your role.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Invisible leadership: how private integrity fuels public impact

• Consistency > Intensity: why habits beat hype (and how to build them)

• Courageous conversations: framing hard feedback with respect and clarity

• Leading through uncertainty: being the calm, present leader your team needs

• • Legacy leadership: leaving principles in people, not just things for people

  
  

  🔑 My Top 5 Takeaways

  1. Invisible Leadership = Character Development: Leadership is forged in private — through unseen effort, integrity, and resilience.

     “True leadership is built in the shadows long before it shines in the spotlight.” — Mike Phillips

  2. Consistency Outlasts Intensity: Big bursts of effort may impress, but steady habits create lasting impact.

     “Intensity impresses people; consistency impacts them.” — Mike Phillips

  3. Give Yourself Grace: Progress over perfection. Even leaders need room to breathe, recalibrate, and grow.

     “We need to give ourselves grace, you can’t earn it; you just have to accept it.” — Mike Ashie

  4. Courageous Conversations Define Culture: Hard talks done with respect strengthen relationships.

     “Courageous conversations don’t divide teams; they define them.” — Mike Phillips

  5. Legacy is Built on Impact, Not Ego: People remember how you made them feel; not your title or your metrics.

     “Are you more interested in your name being remembered, or your impact?” — Jim Burgoon

• 
  Action challenge: Ask daily—"Who did I serve today, and how?" Write it down and grow from this daily reflection!

  
  

  Contact Information:

  Mike Phillips

  Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

  LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

  YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

  
  

  Credits:

  Hosted by Mike Phillips

  Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

  Guests: Mike Ashie, who went from baggage handler to people builder offering real-world leadership unapologetically & Jim Burgoon who's a faith-fueled growth coach that offers strategies that work in real life.

  
  

  Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

  
  

  If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!
  Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.
  Thank you for watching and listening!

  
  

  * Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

  
  

  * Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

This week on The Leadership Toolkit, Mike Phillips welcomes Lena M. Wilson, Transition Coach, 3x author, and CEO of Real Inspiration LLC. With 25 years in corporate HR, Lena helps people and organizations navigate change with clarity and confidence.

Together, they explore how to lead through transitions, create psychological safety, and reframe uncertainty into opportunity. Lena also shares her six-pillar framework, The Transition Blueprint™, to help leaders and teams thrive through change — not just survive it.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to build resilience, regulate emotions, and realign your goals when life’s “why” starts to shift.

Check out these free resources from Lena M. Wilson:

• Career Transition Guide with an actionable Worksheet - https://www.lenawilson.com/career-transition-guide
• 6 Tips To Help You Navigate Change - https://www.lenawilson.com/6-tips

Contact Information:

Lena M. Wilson

Connect with Lena: ⁠LenaMWilson.com

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Lena M. Wilson, entrepreneurial inspiration, dynamic leader, and amazing transition coach

Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!

Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.

Thank you for watching and listening!

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

*** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

What does it take to step away from the corporate grind and build a thriving agency on your own terms?

In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with Kym Insana — multi-million dollar business owner, digital marketing expert, and founder of AlwaysOn Digital. With more than 20 years of experience in advertising, Kym shares her inspiring journey from the demanding pace of NYC agency life to creating a women-owned agency that empowers working parents while delivering for clients like the U.S. Air Force, Enfamil, and Johnston & Murphy.

Kym breaks down her reverse-engineering approach to leadership and marketing, showing why asking “what’s the KPI?” must come before budget or tactics. She explains how small businesses can grow through referrals, how leaders can differentiate by finding their unique angle, and why consistency is the foundation for both leadership and entrepreneurship.

If you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or small business owner, you’ll walk away with strategies you can apply today — whether it’s clarifying your goals, choosing the right marketing channels, or simply showing up consistently in your own growth journey.

🧰 Tools of the Trade: Top Takeaways You Can Use

1️⃣ Start with the KPI. Before budget or channels, define what success looks like.

2️⃣ Reverse engineer outcomes. Ask what, who, where, how, then consider what is new.

3️⃣ You need less than you think to start. Begin lean, learn fast, formalize later.

4️⃣ Different channels serve different goals. Search captures active demand, social builds attention, outdoor and audio can lift other metrics.

5️⃣ Measure creatively. Pair third-party tech with old school surveys or follow-ups to attribute lift.

6️⃣ Differentiate. Offer multi-channel simplicity and unified reporting so clients avoid eight vendors.

7️⃣ Grow through consistency and referrals. Show up with useful content, network locally, and ask for introductions.

Contact Information:Kym Insana

Website: https://getalwayson.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyminsana/

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Kym Insana — Entrepreneur, Agency Founder, and KPI-First Leader

🎧 Watch more episodes of The Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!
Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.
Thank you for watching and listening!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

Are you busy, or are you truly focused? In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with internationally recognized speaker, trainer, and author Jones Loflin, who has spent more than 32 years helping leaders and organizations cut through overload and distractions.

Jones shares why you can’t actually manage time but you can manage choices — and how aligning daily actions with meaningful outcomes transforms both work and life. He introduces six powerful “permissions” from his latest book Focused As A Bee, co-authored with his daughter Sydney, that empower leaders to prioritize, plan, recharge, and stay consistent.

You’ll also discover:

• Why planning your day is a leadership superpower

• How to prune back tasks to grow forward

• The difference between being “busy” and being effective

• Practical steps to make meetings worth the time

• Why consistency builds trust and focus in every team

From organizations like Toyota and FedEx to his bestselling books Juggling Elephants and Always Growing, Jones’ storytelling and practical tools will give you actionable ways to lead with clarity and purpose.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how to stop juggling elephants and start focusing on what matters most.

Contact Information:

Jones Loflin

Email: Jones@JonesLoflin.com

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/JonesLoflin

Web: JonesLoflin.com

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Jones Loflin, leadership expert, speaker, and beekeeper extraordinaire.

Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!

Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.

Thank you for watching and listening!

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

*** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with Kute Blackson — transformational teacher, global speaker, and best-selling author of You.Are.The.One. and The Magic of Surrender.

Kute shares his extraordinary journey from being ordained as a minister at 14 to walking away from expectation and following the deeper calling of his soul. Known as “The Mindfulness Guru Billionaires Go To For Advice” by Inc. magazine, Kute unpacks how true leadership requires surrender, authenticity, and service.

You’ll discover:

• Why listening to your inner guidance matters more than outside approval

• How to recognize “soul tests” as preparation, not punishment

• The difference between forcing outcomes and flowing with divine timing

• Why service and inner freedom are the foundations of real leadership

If you’re ready to lead with authenticity, courage, and a deeper sense of purpose, this episode will shift the way you think about leadership and life.

You can check out these two websites for some free gifts from Kute:

• 8LevelsOfGratitude.com
• ManifestationMasterClassOnline.com

🎧 Tune in now to hear Kute’s powerful insights and practical wisdom.

Contact Information:

Kute Blackson

Instagram: Instagram.com/KuteBlackson

Web: KuteBlackson.com

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Kute Blackson, "Mindfulness Guru to Billionaires" and transformational leader and speaker.

Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!

Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.

Thank you for watching and listening!

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

*** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.