Lead In 30 Podcast
Russ Hill hosts the Lead In 30 Podcast. Strengthen your ability to lead others in less than 30 minutes. Russ makes his living coaching and consulting senior executive teams of some of the world's biggest companies. He's one of three co-founders of the fastest-growing leadership training company in the world. Tap the follow or add button and get two new episodes every week of the Lead In 30 Podcast.
Why the Smartest Leaders Disappear Every Summer
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 Biggest Regrets in Leadership
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.
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Systems vs. Drifting: Stop Dreaming and Start Building Systems
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...
Your Meetings Are Killing Productivity and Here's Why
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
•...
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella On Becoming a 3rd Leader
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
<...Want to Play on a Bigger Stage? Three Critical Moves to Scale Your Leadership
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...
The Validation Trap: Where Do You Look to Determine Your Value?
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...
Vision Vs Execution: Which One Is More Valuable in a Leader?
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 accountabilityÂ
• Most execution issues result from not clearly defining the 2-3 metrics that matter most
• When leader...
Embracing Uncertainty: Three Truths for Your Next Chapter
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.Â
• 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...
4 Restaurant Companies: How Change Crushed Two & Propelled Two Forward
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.Â
This is part two of our series on leading through change with Lone Rock Leadership Co-founder Russ Hill.Â
• 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...
What's Your Strategy to Lead Through All This Change?
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?Â
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...
Disrupting Your Organization: Why Stability Can Be Your Biggest Enemy
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...
Division: The Killer of Team Performance
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...
The AI Robots are Coming! These Managers Should Be Scared...
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 conversationsÂ
• Importance of leaders understanding AI tools for career relevanceÂ
• Job roles at greater risk of being replaced by automationÂ
• The need for professionals to articulate their unique contributionsÂ
• Identi...
Say What You Think! How to Create Tight Feedback Loops
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.Â
• Feedback loops streamline communication and foster trustÂ
• Seeking feedback is the first and most important stepÂ
• Appreciative feedback increases receptiveness to constructive critiqueÂ
• Constructive feedback should be specific and actionableÂ
• Deliver feedback promptly to ensure relevanceÂ
• Direct conversations enhance understanding over...
How do you rate your day? Good to Great Author Jim Collins Shares System
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 resultsÂ
• Jim Collins' system after writing Good to Great book
• Evaluating productivity through a personalized rating systemÂ
• Practical applications of tracking emotional and intellectual engagementÂ
• Encouragement for leaders to define their own metrics for successÂ
• Importance of aligning actions with personal an...
The Newest Leadership Innovation: Start Cutting!
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.Â
What Elon Musk and DOGE are doing in the US government is the same thing innovative e...
Your Team Moves Way Too Slow: How To Fix It!
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...
Start Communicating Powerfully: Say Less!
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 leadershipÂ
• Practical tips for concise messagingÂ
• The impact of clarity in key performance metricsÂ
• Importance of engaging and responsive dialogueÂ
• Call for self-reflection on personal communication...
The Power of Adapting to Change: Chick-fil-A Revenue Stunning!
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.
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What Happened In Dayton & How You Should Copy It
Don't look to Detroit or Menlo Park, NJ. The answer to the most effective leadership revealed itself in Dayton. This is part two of two episodes about the industrial age and rise of the corporation.Â
In part one we looked at the leadership styles put forward by Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. In this episode we look at what we uncovered from the same time period in Dayton, Ohio at a place called the National Cash Register Corporation.
John Patterson was the CEO and what he created at NCR is still being used at companies l...
Henry Ford vs Thomas Edison: The Birth of Two Leadership Styles
It was the dawn of the American industrial and innovation boom. The corporation was on the rise. Individual craftsmen were joining teams as the marketplace transformed overnight. It was in this moment that two different forms of leadership emerged. One came from Thomas Edison. The other came from his employee Henry Ford.
In this episode I share with you some of the fascinating research we've done into the birth of modern leadership modes and the benefits and costs of the two dominant modes. Which one do you lean towards and why does it matter?Â
Let's d...
The Best Ways to Communicate with Your Team & Customers
Please tell me you're not using email as your main communication tool for both team members and customers? It's time to innovate if that's the case.
In this episode we walk through why technology matters and what you might be missing out on in the ways your interact most frequently with your team members and your customers.
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What's Your Vision for Your Team for Next Year?
How are you feeling about the last year? What did we learn as an organization? What emotions are you experiencing as you look back? What about next year? What excites you? How do you think it will be different? What opportunities are you most bullish about? What changes are you making and how will the organization be different and better next year?
Have you shared all of that with your team or company?Â
In this episode I dig into why that's important and the best way to do it.
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How to Capture Your Thoughts & Share Them Powerfully
Effective leaders are powerful communicators. I learned that lesson in a moment of total failure. The CEO of a Fortune 10 company called on me in a meeting and what transpired was a moment that changed how I have showed up in every meeting since then. It was humiliating but transformative.Â
In this episode I share the best practices I developed in that moment that have helped me powerfully communicate in discussions with others. See what you think!
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How Often Should You Meet With Your Team?
I get this question all the time. Executives who wonder how often leadership teams should meet. In this episode I share what I've seen work best across all the various executive teams we've worked with over the last two decades.
We dive into how often you might consider meeting in your standard leadership team meetings, how often to do strategic offsite meetings, and the best way to do one-on-ones.Â
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Strengthen Your Ability to Create Silence
Have you ever thought of creating silence as an ability? What if it were a skill that you could develop? In this episode we dig into how most leaders simply aren't good at listening and the impact that creating silence can have on a team and their performance.
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern workplaces, your ability to lead others cannot remain stagnant. Ryan Holiday talks about how practicing silence can empower leaders to engage their teams. This episode emphasizes the importance of stepping back and creating space for others to contribute, ultimately enhancing team dynamics and i...
Leadership Lessons From the 2024 Election
What if the emotional rollercoaster of a presidential election could teach us more about leadership than politics? In this episode we unpack the intense emotions surrounding the recent U.S. presidential election and dig into why both euphoria and despair might be misplaced. We draw a parallel to the pressures faced by a field goal kicker, discovering essential lessons in leadership and personal mindset. As someone who experienced the relentless tide of political ads firsthand, returning to the Lead in 30 podcast after a short hiatus feels like a breath of fresh air.
The heated rivalry between BYU...
Leadership Lessons from Gettysburg: What I Saw & Learned Walking the Battlefield
349: What can a 160-year-old battlefield teach us about modern leadership? Join me as I recount a transformative experience walking the historic grounds of Gettysburg with Marco's Pizza executive team. This episode intertwines powerful leadership lessons from figures like General Meade and General Gouverneur Warren with contemporary strategies, revealing how history's past victories can guide today's leaders. With the backdrop of Gettysburg's pivotal Civil War battle, we'll explore collaborative and visionary leadership styles that continue to influence and inspire.
As we navigate through stories of strategic brilliance and critical decisions, I'll also share my personal journey, racing back...
The Power of Curiosity in Leadership: Conversations with Chick-fil-A and a Base Jumper
348: What happens when leaders stop asking questions? In this episode of Lead in 30, you'll discover how a lack of curiosity can impede collaboration, shrink networks, and stifle innovation. Drawing from my experiences with senior executive teams, I'll share stories and observations that illustrate the remarkable impact of curiosity on both personal and organizational growth.
Listen to the tales of two striking in-flight encounters—an adrenaline-pumped base jumper and a focused Chick-fil-A franchise owner—that reveal the broader issue of a "kiss the ring" mentality. Despite their fascinating lives and careers, these individuals showed little interest in engaging deep...
The Battle Between the Comfort Culture & Performance Culture with All In Podcast Hosts
347: Is there a work ethic crisis today? The guys from the All In Podcast debate Comfort Culture vs Performance Culture after recent comments from the former Starbucks CEO and Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google. We unpack the implications of their contrasting views—one advocating for switching off after 6 pm and the other emphasizing the necessity of intense work for startups.Â
In another compelling chapter, we navigate the enduring importance of in-person collaboration amid a wave of corporate returns to the office. Using case studies from Dell, Apple's campus designs by Steve Jobs, and Bell Labs, we hig...
Choosing Growth Over Comfort: Did This Executive Surrender?
#346 What drives a successful senior executive to abandon a high-stakes career for a quieter life? Is she surrendering? This episode of Lead in 30 uncovers the profound motivations and challenges behind such bold career decisions. We'll explore the fears and apprehensions that come with leaving behind a demanding role, and the broader implications for mental and physical health when opting for a slower pace.
Next, we delve into the delicate balance between maintaining a sustainable work pace and the desire to slow down. Is it possible to stay mentally sharp and physically active without the rush of a...
Balancing Leadership and Life: Insights from a Fortune 20 Executive's Sabbatical
#345: What happens when a top executive steps away from the helm for personal reasons? We're pulling back the curtain on an incredible story of a senior leader at a Fortune 20 company who took a sabbatical to address family matters and found her leadership skills enhanced in unexpected ways. This episode promises to challenge your views on balancing personal life with high-stakes professional roles.Â
Discover the art of maintaining strategic presence. This episode provides keen insights into why leaders need to focus on future planning rather than getting bogged down in the minutiae of daily operations. Learn the c...
Questions Every Leader Should Answer
#344: Our ghostwriter for our next book asked us three questions that I wanted to share with all of you. These are incredibly basic questions that every leader should be able to answer.Â
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Tap here to check out my first book, Decide to Lead, on Amazon. Thank you so much to the thousands of y...
3 Things My Parents Did That Helped Me Become Successful
#343: Have you ever thought about what things happened in your childhood that helped you become successful? Maybe it was things you had to overcome. Or maybe there were lessons you were taught in your home that gave you a foundation for success. In this episode I share three things my parents did in our home that made a difference for me.
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Are You A Spectator Or A Participant?
#342: Are you sitting on the couch eating nachos watching what's happening in your life, career, and organization or are you out participating in the outcomes? I was asked to speak to all the teenagers in our local area of our church. I wanted to share what I am planning to say to them and share why I think all of us could benefit from considering the same question I'm posing to them.
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Your Company's Leadership Training Approach Isn't Working
#341: Your company is likely making the same mistakes we're seeing everywhere in the way managers and leaders are developed. After nearly four years of building a leadership training company it's become clear that most companies are doing four things wrong when it comes to how their managers are being developed. I had to say it all out loud finally!
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Do You Have Emotional Intelligence?
#340: I had an experience today with a brand new consulting client that caused me to think about the concept of emotional intelligence. What is emotional intelligence? It really comes down to reading the room. What are you reading in your "room?" Let's dig into that in this episode of Lead In 30.
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Massive Leadership Mistake by President Joe Biden
#339: Joe Biden is putting on a masterclass on how to show up as a 2nd Leader right now! Don't worry - this is not a political episode. Donald Trump provides no shortage of leadership failures as well. But what Joe Biden has been doing regarding his age demonstrates something we all need to watch closely so we don't do the same thing with our teams!
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Answering the 5 Most Common Questions About Leadership
#338: I'm answering questions about leadership in this episode. These are the questions that Claude - the AI engine - spit out to me about the five most frequency questions about leadership.
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Subscribe to our leadership email newsletter
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Tap here to check out my first book, Decide to Lead, on Amazon. Thank you so much to the thousands of you...