In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I challenge the way most organizations think about employee engagement. Engagement isn’t something you measure or delegate to HR—it’s something leaders create every day through how they engage their people.

I share six practical, immediately actionable ways leaders can increase engagement by changing their own behaviors—from accelerator sessions and stay interviews to purpose-driven conversations and career planning. If you’re tired of surveys without results, this episode will change how you lead.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this Mike on the Mic episode, I break down why conflict isn’t a leadership problem—it’s a leadership strategy. I explain why most teams either avoid conflict or engage in the wrong kind, how that damages decisions and execution, and what leaders can do to build healthy, idea-based debate. I also share real client stories, clear ground rules, and eight practical tools you can use immediately to turn conflict into a competitive advantage.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I tackle one of the toughest leadership challenges: accountability without authority. I explain why accountability breaks down in cross-functional environments, how silos and finger-pointing form, and what senior leaders must do differently to drive results when they don’t control every lever. I also share practical mindset shifts and eight concrete strategies leadership teams can use to strengthen ownership, influence, and execution across the organization.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I’m joined by Chris Happ, Founder of Virtuous AI, to unpack how business leaders can use AI to close execution gaps, move faster, and compete more effectively—without massive budgets or technical teams. We explore why AI must be CEO-led, how business AI differs from consumer tools, and how mid-market organizations can turn speed into a competitive advantage. If you’re trying to move beyond AI experimentation and toward real outcomes, this conversation will change how you think about leadership in the AI era.

https://www.virtuousai.com/

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I explain why relationships—not job boards or recruiters—must become your number one hiring strategy. I break down the true cost of mediocre hires, why resumes no longer differentiate top talent, and how to build a virtual bench of superstars before you need them. I also share practical strategies for employee referrals, alumni programs, and leadership-team involvement so you can consistently raise the talent bar and build an elite leadership team.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

Roni Jacknow is the CEO of RJ Coaching & Consulting and recently retired after more than 17 years leading talent development at Kaiser Permanente. Her background spans leadership roles across multiple industries, including finance positions at Chevron and Charles Schwab, before transitioning fully into the talent development space. She is deeply passionate about employee and leadership development, wellbeing, and cultivating workplace cultures rooted in belonging, gratitude, and continuous learning.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I sit down with strategy advisor and author Alex M. H. Smith to break down what real strategy looks like—and why most leadership teams are misaligned without even realizing it. We explore why strategy is not a goal, why “better” is not a winning position, and why companies succeed when they refuse to compete and instead create truly unique value.

Alex shares practical insights on how businesses of any size can discover what makes them different, double down on those strengths, and confidently let go of everything else. We also talk about the surprising parallels between strengths-based leadership and strategy, and how leaders can use both to build high-performing organizations.

Learn more about Alex’s work and resources at: https://www.basicarts.org/welcome

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach