11 Ten Leadership

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Aug 2026

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The 11 Ten Leadership Podcast tackles topics at the intersection of leadership, faith and culture. Leadership is challenging. Now more than ever. Today’s leaders need a vision for their leadership that engages culture AND weaves health and wholeness into their companies and communities. But to do this well, leaders need a radically different approach to their leadership. Proverbs 11:10 lays out a bold (and counter-cultural) vision… “when the righteous prosper, the city rejoices.” But what does it look like, practically, to be this type of leader—leaders willing to invest everything they have so that everyone around them can thrive? Join hosts David Spickard and Rob Shields on the journey as they lean in, listen, and learn how to become Proverbs 11:10 kind of leaders—the kind of leaders that make our cities rejoice.

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August 18, 202631 min

Which Belief Is Running Your Leadership?

Every leader hits a wall and the instinct is to blame what's around us: the budget, the team, the difficult boss. But after two decades coaching hundreds of executives, Muriel Wilkins found the biggest blockers almost never live out there. They live in here, in beliefs so ingrained we don't even know we're carrying them. In this episode, Rob and David explore Wilkins's seven hidden blockers — from “I know I'm right” to “I can't make a mistake” to “I don't belong here” — and self-diagnose in real time. They walk her three-step framework (uncover, unpack, unblock) and connect it to the work of just leadership: seeing the whole playing field starts with seeing yourself clearly. Along the way they get honest about where these beliefs come from, why a blocker is often a real strength that's outgrown its boundary, and why lasting change is an identity issue before it's a behavior one. Because the healthiest leaders aren't the ones without blind spots — they're the ones humble enough to name them and invite others in. That's what it looks like to help people and cities thrive. Listen in, then take the challenge: put the seven in front of someone you trust and ask which one they see in you. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome and the seven beliefs running your leadership 02:10 – The article behind the conversation: Wilkins on hidden blockers 03:20 – Which one jumps out? David and Rob self-diagnose 05:50 – The three blockers they see most in the leaders they coach 09:40 – Seeing yourself clearly, and step one: uncover 10:40 – Step two, unpack: where the belief came from 11:30 – When strengths become blockers 18:20 – Why you can't skip straight to fixing 19:40 – Not a behavior problem, an identity problem 23:40 – Step three, unblock: reframing the belief 26:40 – Faith, identity, and where the reframe comes from 28:30 – The bottom line: your team already knows 30:50 – Closing thoughts and a challenge to listeners RESOURCES 11 Ten Leadership The Hidden Beliefs That Hold Leaders Back — Muriel Wilkins, Harvard Business Review The Just Leader: Thriving in a Fractured World — David Spickard

August 4, 202628 min

Why Every Team Needs a Super Facilitator

What separates good teams from great ones? The answer often isn’t another superstar—it’s someone who quietly helps everyone else become better. Inspired by a recent Harvard Business Review article, Rob and David explore the role of the super facilitator and why every high-performing team needs one. Drawing on Jamil Zaki’s research and the “Chris Paul effect”—the remarkable ability to elevate every team he joins—they unpack the three practices that define a super facilitator: Attunement (making people feel seen), Communication (helping them believe in themselves), and Distribution (making sure every voice is heard). Along the way, they explore why empowering leadership consistently outperforms a directive, top-down approach over the long haul and share practical ways to identify and develop the super facilitator already on your team. At its heart, this conversation is about “die to self” leadership—the willingness to decrease so others can increase. That’s the kind of leadership that helps people thrive, strengthens teams, and transforms communities. As you listen, consider: Who is the super facilitator on your team? And how can you become the kind of leader who helps everyone around you thrive? TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome and introduction 01:00 – From super communicator to super facilitator 02:00 – The Chris Paul effect: the star who makes everyone better 03:30 – What a super facilitator actually is, and collective intelligence 06:00 – Why the most talented team doesn’t always win 08:00 – The mindset shift: making your team great 11:00 – Three core practices: Attunement, Communication, Distribution 19:00 – Directive vs. empowering leadership over the long haul 22:00 – Three practical ways to start 25:00 – Bottom line: die to self leadership RESOURCES 11 Ten Leadership “Every Team Needs a Super-Facilitator” by Jamil Zaki The Just Leader by David Spickard

July 21, 202626 min

Care Without Limits: Why Healthy Leaders Build Systems That Last

In the final episode of our State of Leadership series, Rob Shields and David Spickard move from insight to action. After analyzing leadership data from organizations across the country, one conclusion rises to the surface: leaders don’t have a passion problem—they have a sustainability problem. Many leaders genuinely care deeply about their people. In fact, “I truly care for my employees” was the highest-scoring statement in the THRIVE Assessment. Yet leader health continues to decline, work-life balance remains a struggle, and giving power away ranks among the lowest-scoring leadership habits. So what needs to change? In this conversation, Rob and David explore how leaders can build healthier rhythms, create sustainable cultures, and empower their teams to thrive. If you want to build an organization that flourishes—not just one that succeeds—this episode offers practical insights you can begin applying today. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome and the thesis: caring without limits 02:00 – Two ends of the assessment: care at 97, work-life balance at 42 04:00 – Cultural norms of work and the irony of AI eroding margin 06:00 – The downstream cost: what doesn’t get built without margin 07:00 – You manage what you measure: wholeness and thriving 10:00 – Shifting the work through your people 11:00 – Leadership teams as a rhythm 14:00 – Being your team’s biggest fan 19:00 – Inside 11 Ten: meeting depleted leaders where they are 20:00 – The smallest rhythm: listening before directing 22:00 – One structural limit every leader should build in 24:00 – How a rest plan empowers your team 25:00 – A teaser: model good health, not hard work RESOURCES 11 Ten Leadership 2026 State of Leadership

July 7, 202631 min

Leadership Beyond the Organization: Giving Power Away to Your City

Across 100-plus episodes, one thread has continually surfaced without ever being fully pulled: place. In this episode, Rob and David finally pull on that thread, asking a deceptively simple question: How does where you lead actually shape the way you lead? For leaders whose work has become increasingly remote, individualized, and untethered, it’s a question that gets to the very purpose of business. Drawing on insights from the State of Leadership Report, Rob and David explore why Giving Power Away ranks as the lowest of the four qualities of Just Leadership. They unpack the gap between investing in a community and truly measuring its impact, challenge the limits of the traditional “service day” model, and invite leaders to adopt a different posture—one of humility, curiosity, and learning. Through the story of 11 Ten Leadership’s Just Fund, they share how giving away decision-making power to trusted community leaders has transformed not only their approach to generosity, but also their understanding of leadership itself. This conversation brings the vision of Proverbs 11:10 to life—leaders using their influence so their cities can flourish. If you’ve ever felt there has to be more to leadership than growing your organization, this episode is an invitation to expand your vision, invest more deeply in the place you lead, and discover what your own “Just Fund” could look like. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome 02:00 – Are leaders tethered to place? 03:00 – The Proverbs 11:10 foundation 08:00 – State of Leadership Report findings 10:30 – Community impact as a success metric 13:30 – Beyond the service day 14:30 – The posture of a learner 16:00 – The Just Fund 21:00 – The cost — and why it’s worth it 24:00 – “Would the work stop?” 26:30 – Bottom line 30:30 – Closing RESOURCES 11 Ten Leadership 2026 State of Leadership The Just Leader by David Spickard

June 23, 202629 min

The Purpose Gap: Helping Leaders and Teams Connect to Their Why

Employees with a strong sense of purpose are 5.6 times more likely to be engaged at work—yet only 18% of workers say their job has a purpose they believe in. In the 11 Ten Leadership’s State of Leadership Report, leaders consistently reported feeling more connected to their organization’s purpose than their teams. That gap isn’t just a statistic; it’s a leadership challenge. In this episode, Rob Shields and David Spickard explore why purpose has become one of the most important conversations in leadership today. From the impact of COVID and remote work to the rise of AI and shifting generational expectations, they discuss why people are increasingly asking deeper questions about meaning, work, and contribution. They also unpack why many leaders struggle to articulate their own personal why, how purpose differs from success, and what leaders can do to help their teams move beyond simply knowing the mission statement to truly owning the mission. David closes with practical exercises leaders can use to reconnect with their purpose — and create cultures where people show up knowing exactly how their work contributes to th TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Purpose and engagement: the leadership challenge 00:01 – The 5.6x engagement statistic and the purpose gap 00:03 – Why purpose gets lost in organizations 00:04 – Why purpose matters more than ever in today’s workplace 00:07 – Work, faith, and human flourishing 00:09 – AI, efficiency, and the deeper question leaders must answer 00:10 – Why leaders often lose sight of their own why 00:13 – Purpose versus success: understanding the difference 00:17 – Signs your team has truly embraced the mission 00:20 – Closing the gap between leaders and teams 00:21 – Helping employees connect their work to impact 00:24 – Why purpose can’t be treated as a profit hack 00:25 – Practical exercises for discovering and renewing purpose 00:28 – Final reflections and encouragement for leaders RESOURCES 11 Ten Leadership State of Leadership Report Start With Why by Simon Sinek Gallup Employee Engagement Research

June 9, 202629 min

Building Super Teams: Lessons from the Oklahoma City Thunder

What does it take to build a team that keeps getting better? The Oklahoma City Thunder's rise from a 24-win team to NBA champions in just three seasons offers an unexpected leadership blueprint. In this episode, Rob and David explore research on "super teams" and unpack the three traits that set them apart: they get more done, they make each other better, and they continually improve. Along the way, they discuss why great leaders create permission to fail, how intellectual humility builds trust, and why coaching conversations often matter more than status updates. The conversation concludes with a powerful reminder that exceptional teams are fueled by more than performance metrics. Great leaders help people understand why their work matters, who it serves, and how it contributes to something bigger than themselves. If you're looking to build a team that grows stronger, adapts faster, and stays connected to a meaningful mission, this episode is for you. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction 01:00 – Summer check-in and NBA Finals conversation 03:30 – The Oklahoma City Thunder and the research behind super teams 05:00 – The three traits of high-performing teams 06:00 – Why continuous improvement is difficult to prioritize 08:00 – Creating a culture of experimentation and permission to fail 14:00 – Intellectual humility and the power of saying “I don’t know” 17:00 – Better one-on-ones: moving from updates to problem-solving 19:30 – Staying involved without micromanaging: the coach's role 23:00 – Connecting people to purpose, place, and community 26:00 – Why younger generations are seeking meaning at work 27:30 – Expanding the definition of success beyond outcomes 28:30 – Closing thoughts and key takeaways RESOURCES 11 Ten Leadership How to Build a Superteam That Keeps Getting Better — Seven research-backed practices, by Ron Friedman The Just Leader by David Spickard

May 26, 202628 min

Why Leaders Hold Onto Control

What does it actually mean to “give power away” as a leader — and why is it so difficult to do? In this episode, Rob Shields and David Spickard why leaders often hold onto control without realizing it, how identity and fear of insignificance drive that behavior, and what it costs teams when leaders don’t fully let go. The conversation also reframes vulnerability — not as weakness, but as strength — and shows how giving power away can lead to greater freedom, trust, and healthier team culture. Finally, they offer practical first steps for leaders who want to build real ownership and empowerment within their teams. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro and the topic of giving power away 03:15 – Understanding power and leadership blind spots 06:15 – Why giving power away scored lowest in the Thrive Assessment 09:15 – The emotional and operational cost of holding onto control 12:15 – How teams experience leadership blind spots 15:15 – Delegation vs. true empowerment and authority 18:00 – Fear, identity, and the struggle to let go 20:00 – How faith reshapes leadership and power 23:15 – Practical first steps leaders can take today 25:00 – The “training wheels” analogy for empowering teams Resources 11 Ten Leadership 2026 State of Leadership

May 12, 202632 min

Why Leader Health Is Declining And What It's Costing Your Team

In this episode of the 11 Ten Leadership Podcast, Rob Shields and David Spickard unpack one of the most concerning findings from the 2026 State of Leadership report: leader health is declining even as other leadership metrics improve. The conversation explores the growing tension between external success and internal depletion, revealing how burnout, stress, overwork, and “always-on” leadership cultures are impacting both leaders and their teams. Rob and David discuss the ripple effects unhealthy leadership has on trust, morale, communication, and workplace culture and why organizations can no longer afford to ignore employee well-being. They also tackle generational expectations around work-life balance, the hidden costs of hustle culture, and practical steps leaders can take to build healthier rhythms for themselves and their teams. 00:00 – Welcome + introducing leadership health 03:00 – Key findings from the State of Leadership report 08:00 – The hidden cost of success and burnout culture 13:00 – Generational differences and workplace expectations 19:00 – The ripple effects unhealthy leadership has on teams 23:00 – How overwork impacts families and relationships 27:00 – Practical ways leaders can create healthier rhythms 31:00 – Preview of next episode Resources 11 Ten Leadership 2026 State of Leadership

April 28, 202626 min

Trust Is Built by Letting Go

What does it look like when leaders and their teams are in perfect alignment on trust, down to the decimal? In this episode, David Spickard and Rob Shields dive deep into one of the most compelling findings from 11 Ten Leadership's State of Leadership Report: trust scores that were identical between leaders and their teams, and what that means for building a thriving culture. The conversation gets practical fast, exploring what happens when leaders get stuck in the weeds of day-to-day execution, why leaving the office might be the single best thing a leader can do to build trust, and the rhythms that make that sustainable. If you lead a team and want to know where trust really comes from and how to find out if you actually have it, this episode is for you. 00:00 – Welcome 01:00 – Why this conversation matters (State of Leadership Report) 03:30 – The highest scoring leadership question 05:00 – Care vs. thriving: where leaders overestimate impact 08:30 – Trust data insights: high scores + zero gap explained 11:00 – How trust impacts relationships, value, and engagement 14:00 – The danger of leaders stuck “in the weeds” 17:00 – First step out of overwhelm: creating space to think 19:30 – Why rhythms (daily, weekly, monthly) matter more than breaks 21:30 – The surprising trust-builder 24:00 – Practical takeaway: how to assess and grow trust today 26:00 – Closing thoughts + preview of next episode (health) Resources 11 Ten Leadership 2026 State of Leadership

April 14, 202636 min

2026 State of Leadership

In this episode, David Spickard and Rob Shields introduce the 2026 State of Leadership Report, built from insights gathered through the THRIVE Assessment™. The data reveals an encouraging trend: leaders and teams are thriving more than in previous years, with noticeable gains in trust, relationships, and value. However, a major tension remains—leader health continues to decline, highlighting a growing gap between external success and internal sustainability. 00:00 – Welcome + intro to the State of Leadership report 02:00 – What the report is + how data was gathered 04:30 – Key insight: leaders are thriving more 06:00 – Why scores are improving (focus on people) 07:00 – Growth in trust, relationships, and value 12:30 – Tension: health scores are still low 14:00 – Why leader health is declining 18:00 – Rethinking success + whole leadership 21:00 – The importance of knowing your “why” 24:30 – Expanding impact to teams and communities 28:00 – Leadership health tied to community health 29:30 – Rest as a competitive advantage 33:00 – Final takeaways + encouragement Resources 11 Ten Leadership 2026 State of Leadership Email: info@11tenleadership.com