How do leaders unknowingly create cultures of compliance instead of commitment? In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Michael Stevens, Presidential Professor of Leadership Studies and a global expert on the people side of performance, to explore what truly separates management from leadership and why respect, not authority, is the real driver of execution.

🔻 Why leadership is less about directing work and more about influencing how people choose to show up

🔻 The critical difference between managing processes and leading people

🔻 Michael’s two-axis leadership model: assertive vs passive and respectful vs disrespectful

🔻 Why intent does not matter nearly as much as how leadership behavior lands with employees

🔻 The concept of “intelligent disobedience” and why leaders must create space for employees to challenge decisions

🔻 Why asking questions before giving answers dramatically increases ownership and execution

🔻 How emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and empathy enable better leadership conversations

🔻 The four barriers that prevent managers from becoming leaders: knowing, doing, feeling, and being

🔻 Why “clear is kind” even when feedback stings and how respectful candor builds trust

This conversation is a masterclass in why leadership development is not about learning more techniques, but about rethinking how power, respect, and influence actually work inside organizations.

🔗 Connect with Michael Stevens on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstevensphd/

🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/

🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

How do bad meetings quietly destroy culture, morale, and execution? In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Evan Unger, a leadership and culture expert with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations improve how decisions actually get made.

🔻 Why meetings are where leadership actually shows up—and why people judge leaders based on how meetings feel

🔻 The real cost of 50% effective meetings on culture, morale, and execution

🔻 Evan’s POPRA model for effective meetings: Purpose, Objectives, Process, Roles, and Agreements

🔻 The difference between informational meetings, status updates, and true collaborative decision-making sessions

🔻 Why the “highest paid person’s opinion” (HPPO) often derails better decisions

🔻 How collaborative facilitation leads to stronger buy-in and faster execution

🔻 Practical techniques for running better virtual meetings, including timeboxing and simultaneous chat

🔻 Why leaders must “go slow to go fast” when designing meetings that actually stick

🔻 How improving meetings becomes one of the fastest ways to change organizational culture

🔗 Connect with Evan Unger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-unger-6553597/

🔗 Learn more about the Collaborative Leadership Virtual Facilitation Skills Program:: https://www.terischwartzassociates.com/virtual/

🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/

🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Bryan Schmidt, a CPA, author, and finance transformation leader who spent more than two decades turning manual, paper-heavy finance processes into streamlined, automated systems.

🔻 Why ERP systems are the foundation of any successful finance transformation

🔻 The simple ROI math executives expect and how to frame improvement ideas for approval

🔻 Why quick wins matter more than big projects early on

🔻 How automation can improve morale, not just efficiency

🔻 Why honesty and trust are essential when leading change

🔻 Practical advice for CI leaders on prioritization, governance, and learning from every project

🔗 Connect with Bryan Schmidt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-schmidt99/

🔗 Learn more about Bryan's book: https://www.financeautomationblueprint.com/my-book

🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/

🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.