The Better Leadership Team Show

Hosted by Mike Goldman

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Episodes

187

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The Better Leadership Team Show helps growth-minded, mid-market CEO's to grow their business without losing their minds. It’s hosted by Leadership Team Coach, Mike Goldman. If you find yourself overwhelmed by all of the obstacles in the way to building a great business, this show will help you improve top and bottom-line growth, fulfillment and the value your company adds to the world. If you want to save years of frustration, time and dollars trying to figure it out on your own, check out this show!!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 18, 2026Episode 18649 min

The Untapped Value of Age in the Workforce with Dan Pontefract

n this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Dan Pontefract, leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and author of The Future of Work is Gray, to explore one of the most overlooked challenges facing organizations today: the untapped value of age in the workforce. We discuss why demographic shifts, longer careers, and age bias are creating what Dan calls “age debt” and why many organizations are unknowingly losing critical knowledge, wisdom, and expertise. Dan introduces his Rivers, Rocks, and Rubies framework, explains the concept of crystallized intelligence, and shares practical strategies leaders can use to capture institutional knowledge before it walks out the door. We also dive into how AI should complement human intelligence rather than replace it, why age-diverse teams consistently outperform homogeneous ones, and what forward-thinking organizations like BMW are doing to preserve experience while developing future leaders. If you’re a CEO, business owner, or leadership team member looking to build a stronger organization for the future, this conversation will challenge the way you think about talent, succession planning, and workforce strategy. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

August 11, 2026Episode 18520 min

Your #1 Team Isn't the One You Manage

What if the most important team you belong to isn't the one you lead? In this Mike on the Mic episode, I share one of the most important leadership lessons I've learned in nearly four decades of coaching executive teams. Using Alan Mulally's remarkable turnaround of Ford as the backdrop, I explain why organizations struggle when leaders prioritize their own departments over the leadership team. I'll walk through how silos develop, why "disagree and commit" is essential for executive alignment, and the five practical moves that help leadership teams become true strategic partners instead of simply reporting updates around the table. If you want your organization to break through growth barriers, it starts with strengthening the team at the top. Key Takeaways Why your first team should be the leadership team—not the department you manage. The leadership lesson behind Ford's dramatic turnaround under Alan Mulally. How silos quietly limit organizational growth. What "disagree and commit" really means. Five practical ways to build a stronger leadership team. A simple question that reveals whether your executives are truly operating as one team. Website: https://www.mike-goldman.com Breakthrough Leadership Team Assessment: https://www.mike-goldman.com/bltassessment Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

August 4, 2026Episode 18454 min

The Secret to Maximizing Influence and Behavior Change with Owen Fitzpatrick

What if the biggest obstacle to better leadership isn't external—but the stories we tell ourselves? In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with social psychologist, speaker, and bestselling author Owen Fitzpatrick to discuss his new book, Inner Propaganda: Leading Hearts and Minds Through Turbulent Times . We explore how beliefs shape behavior, why people become attached to limiting ideas, and how great leaders influence lasting change by understanding what truly motivates others. We also discuss intellectual humility, communication, sacred values, asking better questions, and why relationships are becoming even more important in the age of AI. If you want to become a more influential leader and build stronger teams, this conversation offers practical insights you can start applying immediately. Connect with Owen Fitzpatrick https://owenfitzpatrick.com Podcast: The Inner Propaganda Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owenfitzp/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owenf23/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ofi23 Check out Owen’s new book! 👇 https://innerpropaganda.com Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

July 28, 2026Episode 18345 min

Preventing HR Crisis With Behavioral Analytics with Karine Shahar

n this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Karine Shahar, Founder of Strategic Global Talent, to explore how behavioral analytics can help leaders build stronger teams, improve hiring decisions, and prevent costly HR crises before they happen. With more than 20 years of global HR experience across 36 countries, Karine shares why integrity is the foundation of great leadership, how strategic HR differs from tactical HR, and why many organizations wait too long to invest in people leadership. We also dive into the power of Predictive Index, how behavioral analytics can improve communication, hiring, onboarding, leadership development, and team performance, and why understanding how people naturally work can dramatically improve culture and engagement. Whether you’re leading a growing company, developing your leadership team, or looking to create a stronger workplace culture, this conversation offers practical insights that can help you build a healthier, higher-performing organization. Website: https://strategicglobaltalent.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karineshahar Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

July 21, 2026Episode 18244 min

Personal Branding for Senior Leaders with Alyssa Gelbard

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Alyssa Gelbard, Founder and CEO of Point Road Group, to explore why personal branding is far more than a marketing exercise. We discuss how leaders shape company culture, build trust, attract talent, strengthen customer relationships, and drive revenue through the way they communicate and show up every day. Alyssa shares practical insights on executive presence, LinkedIn credibility, leadership communication, personal brand awareness, and the common mistakes that unintentionally undermine trust. We also discuss why leadership teams must align around a consistent company story and how personal branding impacts both internal team dynamics and external business relationships. If you want to strengthen your leadership team, improve organizational alignment, and create greater influence as a leader, this conversation provides actionable strategies you can begin applying immediately. Employee Branding Snapshot Assessment https://assessment.pointroadgroup.com/assessment/17340 Website: https://www.pointroadgroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssagelbard/ Point Road Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/point-road-group/ Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

July 14, 2026Episode 18146 min

Turn Negotiations into Winning Outcomes with Rick Czaplewski

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with negotiation expert Rick Czaplewski to explore how leaders can turn difficult conversations into winning outcomes. Rick shares lessons from a remarkable career spanning finance, operations, project management, and high-stakes negotiations that have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in closed deals and cost savings. We discuss why negotiation is about far more than price, how leaders negotiate every day without realizing it, and the common mistakes that cause organizations to leave value on the table. Rick introduces his OPERATE negotiation framework, explains the four major sources of leverage using his DEAL model, and shares practical strategies for building trust, improving outcomes, and preserving relationships during challenging conversations. Whether you’re negotiating with customers, vendors, employees, or business partners, this episode provides actionable tools to help you prepare effectively, communicate with confidence, and create win-win outcomes. Website: https://noonewalksalone.com Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

July 7, 2026Episode 18047 min

Creating a More Agile Company with Jaime Taets

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Jaime Taets, CEO and Founder of Keystone Group International, to discuss what it really takes to build an agile organization in today’s rapidly changing business environment. We explore why many leadership teams struggle with execution, how decision rights and decision speed impact organizational performance, and why executive operating models may be the missing ingredient behind successful strategy implementation. Jaime shares insights on strategic agility, AI’s growing impact on business, risk tolerance, talent development, leadership activation, and how organizations can better engage the next generation of employees. We also discuss why traditional leadership development programs often fail and what companies can do to create lasting behavior change. Finally, Jaime shares powerful lessons learned from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and how adversity can shape stronger leaders. If you’re looking to improve decision-making, increase organizational agility, develop stronger leaders, and prepare your company for the future, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately. Website: https://keystonegroupintl.com Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

June 30, 2026Episode 17944 min

Wording, Speaking and Presence with David Goldberg

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I speak with David Goldberg, CEO of The Prosody Center and one of the leading experts on wording, speaking, and presence. Born hearing impaired with delayed speech, David developed an extraordinary sensitivity to sound, voice, tone, and communication that eventually led him to coach CEOs, politicians, entrepreneurs, athletes, speakers, and performers on how to communicate with greater authority and impact. We explore why leaders often spend so much time thinking about branding, visuals, and presentations while overlooking one of the most important parts of influence: how they sound. David shares practical insights on hedge words, pacing, pauses, vocal tone, positive language, Zoom presence, and the subtle communication habits that either strengthen or weaken credibility. This conversation is packed with immediately actionable communication strategies leaders can use in presentations, meetings, interviews, sales conversations, investor pitches, and everyday interactions. Website: https://prosody.center Email: david.goldberg@prosody.center Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

June 23, 2026Episode 17845 min

Building an Authentic Leadership Brand in an AI World with Elizabeth Rosenberg

n this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with Elizabeth Rosenberg, founder of The Good Advice Company, to talk about the future of leadership, authenticity, intuition, personal branding, and workplace culture in an AI-driven world. We explore why accountability remains one of the most important traits of strong leadership teams, how intuition can become a competitive advantage, and why leaders are struggling to balance data, AI, and human judgment. Elizabeth also shares insights on C-suite personal branding, the risks of inauthentic leadership, how executives can build trust through vulnerability, and why employees increasingly want to work for leaders who genuinely care about people. We also dive into: The role of intuition in decision-making AI as a creative collaborator instead of a replacement for thought leadership Why authenticity matters more than perfection Managing personal brands inside organizations Mentorship, remote work, and the loss of informal leadership development The importance of spiritual health and human connection in leadership This conversation challenges traditional ideas about leadership while offering practical insights for executives, founders, and leadership teams trying to navigate an increasingly fast-moving and polarized world. Website: https://thegoodadvicecompany.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-rosenberg/ Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

June 16, 2026Episode 17742 min

Improv and Moments of Mastery with Nicole Eull

On this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with leadership expert, psychologist, and certified improv facilitator Nicole Eull to explore how improv principles can transform leadership teams and workplace culture. We dive into concepts like “Yes, And,” psychological safety, support versus autonomy, moments of mastery, and the difference between cultural fit and cultural contribution. Nicole shares how leaders can create environments where innovation, collaboration, and creativity thrive while avoiding the reactive habits that shut people down. This conversation is packed with practical leadership strategies, mindset shifts, and communication tools that leaders can immediately apply to build stronger, more engaged teams. Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram @mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach