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

In this episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I talk with executive coach and keynote speaker Kathryn Landis about leading through uncertainty and overcoming decision paralysis. We explore why indecision costs organizations millions, how leaders can manage up and down effectively, and how to identify personal “tells” of stress that undermine leadership effectiveness. Kathryn also shares how shared purpose, delegation, and vulnerability can transform team performance.

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 talk with retired executive and Navy veteran Scott Millson, author of The Frequency of Excellence. We explore how leaders can “tune into excellence” by cultivating a growth mindset, fostering mentorship, and leading with reflection and humor. Scott shares his powerful B5 Framework and insights from decades of leadership experience — including why culture is the shadow of the leader, how to use feed forward instead of feedback, and why laughter may be one of the most underrated leadership tools.

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 unpack the five biggest blind spots that cause leaders to unintentionally create the very problems they complain about.

From blaming others and silencing honest feedback to confusing activity for results, I reveal how these hidden habits quietly undermine trust, accountability, and culture. You’ll learn how to recognize these patterns, model ownership, and transform your leadership approach to build a stronger, more aligned team.

If you’ve ever wondered why your team isn’t taking more ownership or why the same issues keep showing up again and again—this episode might hit close to home.

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 talk with Danielle Baldwin, author of Sparking Greatness, about how leaders can create inspired, high-performing teams. We explore the difference between motivation and inspiration, the five elements of truly inspiring stories (Courage, Hardship, Authenticity, Resilience, and Transformation), and how leaders can cultivate trust, vulnerability, and stillness to spark greatness in themselves and others.

Danielle also shares actionable tools—from spaciousness and self-forgetfulness to storytelling and self-care—that help leaders shift from burnout to inspiration.

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