Lead In 30 Podcast

Trying to improve in too many areas simultaneously is the fastest path to nowhere. In this thought-provoking episode, Russ Hill tackles the widespread problem of focus dilution that plagues both organizations and individuals.

Drawing from his extensive experience coaching executive teams at major companies, Russ reveals how well-intentioned HR departments and leaders often sabotage progress by overwhelming their teams with too many priorities, resources, and development initiatives. He vividly describes the "whack-a-mole" approach that leaves people paralyzed by good intentions rather than empowered to make meaningful improvements.

Through personal anecdotes and organizational examples, Russ demonstrates...

Are you leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance your leadership, or are you getting left behind? The technology revolution isn't waiting for anyone, and leaders who resist adapting to these powerful new tools are choosing obsolescence.

In this action-packed episode, I reveal the six essential ways every leader should be using AI tools right now. These aren't futuristic concepts—they're practical applications already transforming how the most effective leaders operate. From automatically archiving every meeting with voice recognition that identifies each speaker, to preparing for client interactions with comprehensive research, to enhancing presentations with compelling data and stories, AI...

Ever find yourself fixating on that one harsh critique while ignoring dozens of positive comments? You're not alone. This deeply human tendency to focus on criticism over praise affects leaders at every level—and it could be holding you back from your full potential.

Through candid personal stories about receiving feedback on an upcoming book and observing a woman's extreme reaction to a tiny nail in a gym sauna, we explore the critical distinction between constructive feedback and chronic criticism. The first builds leaders and fuels growth; the second only drains energy and creates paralysis.

Wh...

Stop being invisible in meetings. Stop decreasing your value in the company. Have a take! Offer an opinion. Give some insight. 

In this episode Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill takes a position! He claims the most valuable people in any organization aren't those who simply show up. They're the ones who listen carefully, then boldly state: "I think we should sell this division" or "We need to delay this product launch by six months." These clear positions immediately engage others, creating momentum where before there was only stagnation.

This episode explores why decisiveness matters s...

Have we lost our sense of urgency? That's the uncomfortable question at the heart of this eye-opening episode featuring an exclusive preview from Lone Rock Leadership's upcoming book "Deliver."

Step into the cracked pavement and broken windows of an abandoned factory outside Memphis where something extraordinary happened. In just 122 days, a team transformed this derelict appliance plant into the world's most powerful AI supercomputer—a feat industry standards suggested should take 18-24 months minimum.

"We need to think back to the 22 or 25-year-old version of us—how hungry we were, what we were willing to do...

If you're using AI apps then maybe you've already learned this lesson. Maybe you're discovering that what you get back from ChatGPT, Grok, or Claude is largely determined by the prompt you type in. In this episode Lone Rock Leadership's Russ Hill dig into the lessons that teaches us for leaders. 

• Leadership communication is like a prompt for AI - quality in, quality out
• Frustration with team performance often stems from unclear expectations
• When disappointed with output, examine the clarity of your instructions first
• Strengthening your "prompts" as a leader leads to better team results

True team buy-in requires both operational involvement (hands and feet) and emotional involvement (hearts and minds), with many managers struggling to achieve both simultaneously. The distinction matters because emotional investment drives innovation, resilience, and sustained performance beyond mere task completion. In this episode of the Lead In 30 podcast, Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill dives into the difference between operational and emotional involvement.

• Operational involvement means team members show up and do the work but may just be going through the motions
• Emotional involvement means they genuinely care about outcomes and are intellectually invested
• A river...

What's your unique value in the marketplace? What problem are you uniquely able to solve? In this episode of the Lead In 30 podcast we explore the critical importance of identifying your unique value proposition and leveraging it in today's marketplace. The opportunity to monetize your distinct abilities has never been greater, especially when you clearly understand what problems you're solving according to Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill. He dives into:

• Understanding what makes you irreplaceable beyond technical skills
• Learning from Roger, a consultant who loved "doing deals" and creating marketplace value
• Recognizing that everyone is in...

Ready for a science-backed permission slip to disconnect this summer? Discover how Harvard's longest running happiness study proves that getting completely off the grid isn't just good for your wellbeing—it's critical for your leadership effectiveness.

Drawing from his personal experiences volunteering at camps and preparing for family houseboating trips, Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill breaks down exactly why intentional disconnection creates more impactful leaders. The evidence is compelling: people who regularly disconnect to spend quality time connecting with others show higher happiness levels, faster stress recovery, and greater perspective on challenges. Most importantly for professionals, th...

The 10 things he wish he knew when he was younger. Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill shares a list of things he regrets not knowing when he was a younger manager. See what you think of the list and which ones you've unlocked through experience in managing people.

Share this episode with a colleague, your team, or a friend. Tap on the share button and text the link.

--
Get weekly leadership tips delivered to your email inbox:
Subscribe to our leadership email newsletter
https://www.leadin30...

Is your team drifting or in reactionary mode? Do you wish you were scaling faster? In this episode Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill dives into the value of systems. He defines the importance of setting identity and vision first and then building out the systems that activate those things in order to drive growth.

• Systems transform dreams and intentions into tangible results
• Growth requires both leadership (vision) and management (systems)
• The four strategic focus areas need one-word descriptions for clarity
• Project Rock Climb represents our growth initiative with specific revenue targets
• Effective...

The science shows we're doing it all wrong! New research about virtual and offsite meetings shows they're leading to burnout and lack of engagement. We're doing it all wrong. In this episode Lone Rock Leadership cofounder Russ Hill shares three new scientific research studies that shows how we need to adjust our virtual meetings and our offsite schedules to boost engagement and drive results.

• Virtual meetings should ideally last 30 minutes, never exceeding 2 hours
• Limit meetings to 3-4 per day with substantial breaks between them
• For offsites, start later (9-10am) or at noon, not 8am
•...

He is the opposite of Elon Musk and "Founder Mode" being promoted by some of the loudest voices in business today. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talks about human-centered leadership. It's what Lone Rock Leadership Co-Founder Russ Hill says is the core of the 3rd Leader approach advocated in the Lead In 30 course. Staya Nadella transformed Microsoft from a competitive, siloed culture into a collaborative powerhouse that grew from $300 billion to $3 trillion in market value.

Link to full interview between Adam Grant and Satya Nadella: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0E8eUQ5KXg

You want to get promoted. You want to be invited to the higher-level meetings. You want to make more money. You want to scale your career faster. How do you make that happen? In this episode of the Lead In 30 podcast, Lone Rock Leadership Co-founder Russ Hill shares three critical moves to unlock the career advancement you're seeking for yourself.

• Own your narrative by building a consistent story of impact and articulating how your work connects to strategic priorities
• Define what makes you different from others with your title and identify gaps in your professional story that...

Some of you just want to be liked. Others of you are obsessed with the scoreboard. The crowd and the metrics shouldn't be your ultimate gauges of success or value. In this episode Lone Rock Leadership Cofounder Russ Hill explores where leaders seek validation and how this fundamental choice defines leadership effectiveness, sustainability, and ability to scale.

• First Leaders seek validation from the crowd, prioritizing harmony and being liked
• This approach creates pleasant environments but often fails to drive results
• Second Leaders seek validation from scoreboard metrics, authority, and status symbols
• While driving short-term results...

Which one are you stronger in? Which one does your organization value more? Which one will help you scale your career more? In this episode Lone Rock Leadership cofounder Russ Hill digs into vision vs execution and which one matters most.

• Vision encompasses purpose, key results, first principles, and the "why" behind organizational actions
• Leaders with vision maintain altitude by looking beyond immediate tactics to see the horizon
• Execution problems typically stem from undefined deliverables or lack of accountability 
• Most execution issues result from not clearly defining the 2-3 metrics that matter most
• When leader...

It's graduation time. Russ has three people in his expanded family getting college degrees this month. The advice Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill would give them is no different than what he says he would share with so many of you who are trying to lead teams and companies. 

• Contrary to popular belief, your college major rarely determines your career success
• Research shows intolerance of uncertainty correlates directly with higher anxiety and lower happiness
• Studies reveal each additional two hours of daily sitting increases depression risk by 27%
• Financial stability gives you freedom to make c...

You've heard of all four companies. Two of them are battling massive declines. Two are incredible examples of growth. Why the difference? It all came down to their leadership teams' ability to lead through change and disruption. 

This is part two of our series on leading through change with Lone Rock Leadership Co-founder Russ Hill. 

• Pizza Hut and Subway demonstrate the consequences of failing to adapt to changing market conditions
• Both chains failed to return to pre-pandemic revenue levels due to outdated business models
• Chipotle doubled revenue and quadrupled net income by embracing digital...

Your brain hates and loves change. It despises it yet craves it at the same time. If it's true for your brain then it's true for all your employees too. So, as the rate of change increases in the world around us - think tariffs, think AI, think market swings, think customer demands, think hybrid work - have you stopped to consider what your strategy is for leading through change? 

Here's some of what Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill dives into in this jam-packed episode:

• Status quo bias makes us perceive changes as...

Organizational disruption is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of leadership that can dramatically enhance innovation and growth when applied strategically. Too many companies keep the same people in the same seats for too long, creating stagnation that hurts creativity, motivation, and ultimately, market performance.

• Johnson & Johnson's military-style three-year rotation model promotes innovation and fresh thinking
• Whitney Johnson's book "Disrupt Yourself" details the S-curve of innovation and why personal disruption is essential
• Strategic disruption increases motivation, innovative thinking, and helps break through status quo mentality
• Organizations with the same leadership for extended periods often see flat...

We call them silos but what we really are describing is division that exists in our organizations. Division is one of the biggest issues in society, and this same problem exists within many of the companies we lead.

• What truly creates a team is having both a common desired purpose and a common external threat
• Organizations with cultural problems typically have internal enemies (other departments) rather than external threats
• Underdeveloped leaders are holding organizations back when companies only train on technical skills and not leadership
• Purpose must drive organizations, not just revenue or growth t...

It's so clear which managers and executives are going to lose their jobs and who shouldn't be concerned as the AI army begins to deploy across the workforce. In this episode Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill dives into how to stay ahead of the AI learning curve and how to know if your job is at risk.

• The growing prevalence of AI in business conversations 
• Importance of leaders understanding AI tools for career relevance 
• Job roles at greater risk of being replaced by automation 
• The need for professionals to articulate their unique contributions 
• Identi...

Do they know what you think? Are you sharing your beliefs? How long do you wait before saying what you really think?

You're impacting and steering the efficiency of your team. In this episode Lone Rock Leadership cofounder Russ Hill shares why a tight feedback loop is critical to delivering results. 

• Feedback loops streamline communication and foster trust 
• Seeking feedback is the first and most important step 
• Appreciative feedback increases receptiveness to constructive critique 
• Constructive feedback should be specific and actionable 
• Deliver feedback promptly to ensure relevance 
• Direct conversations enhance understanding over...

You track your calories, steps, and tasks but how are you tracking your productivity and fulfillment? The author of Good to Great, Jim Collins, shares his system for rating each day. Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill shares the system and why he's a huge fan of it.

• Distinction between activity and meaningful results 
• Jim Collins' system after writing Good to Great book
• Evaluating productivity through a personalized rating system 
• Practical applications of tracking emotional and intellectual engagement 
• Encouragement for leaders to define their own metrics for success 
• Importance of aligning actions with personal an...

I hate cutters. But this is a different kind of cutting I'm advocating. It's not to save money. It's not to cut expense. It's to increase speed to market and to gain competitive advantage.

In this episode the cofounder of Lone Rock Leadership, Russ Hill, talks about the seismic shift that is happening in the marketplace. Leaders who innovate are discovering their organizations are bloated. They move too slow. They over message. They have too many layers of management. 

What Elon Musk and DOGE are doing in the US government is the same thing innovative e...

They call it Infobesity. Too much information. Too much noise. Too much discussion. Too many emails. Too many direct messages. Too many meetings. Not enough execution and getting things done!

It's the biggest problem facing leaders today. Is it driving you insane? What are you going to do about it?

In this episode Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill goes off on the issue. We explore how leaders can effectively prioritize what truly matters in their organizations amidst information overload, emphasizing the need for streamlined communication and operational efficiency. The discussion focuses on key strategies...

Some of you can't help yourselves. Most of us can't. We start talking in meetings and it's this endless wave of points and data and stories and reasons and explanations and side stories and jokes and then everyone is left wondering what in the world we even said. We need to change. In this episode Lead In 30's Russ Hill digs into:

• The significance of effective communication in leadership 
• Practical tips for concise messaging 
• The impact of clarity in key performance metrics 
• Importance of engaging and responsive dialogue 
• Call for self-reflection on personal communication...

The numbers are in on Chick-fil-A's performance through the pandemic. You're all aware of some of the changes they made after the world shut down several years ago. But, there's new data about what adjustments they made inside and outside the restaurants and what impact it had on revenue.

The results are stunning!

Most organizations get stuck in the mourning phase when changes hit. Chick-fil-A is not that type of company. In this episode we dig into the latest case study of what it looks like to adapt.

--
Get weekly...