The reason your best employees are struggling (and the neuroscience-backed solutions)
Nearly 8 out of 10 workers feel stressed at work, and most say it's leaving them completely drained. If you're seeing warning signs on your team or feeling the impact yourself, this deep dive into the burnout epidemic will give you the science-backed strategies you need.Dr. Ethan Kross, neuroscientist at the University of Michigan and author of Chatter and Shift, breaks down what's actually happening in your brain when stress feels debilitating. Jennifer Moss, workplace wellness expert and author of Why Are We Here? and The Burnout Epidemic, shares the organizational strategies that companies like Google and TD Bank use to transform their workplace cultures.Together, they deliver both the "why" behind burnout and the "how" to fix it, giving you actionable frameworks to implement immediately. You'll learn:The science behind burnout and brain functionCase studies from Deloitte, Google and TD Bank on how they’re improving workplace cultureIntroduction to the WOOP framework to help employees build resilienceThe leadership practices that genuinely transform team mental fitness and engagementThings to listen for:(00:00) Introducing Dr. Ethan Kross and Jennifer Moss(01:24) The science behind stress and burnout in the workplace(03:51) How chronic stress affects focus and performance(06:03) Emotional regulation and the impact on internal dialogue(08:07) How stress alters brain function and decision-making(09:01) The threat mode response and its influence on behavior(15:19) The role of uncertainty and lack of control in workplace dissatisfaction(17:53) Why culture plays a major role in mental fitness(21:44) Building mental fitness muscles for long-term success(25:23) Using the WOOP framework to handle negative emotions(30:03) How leaders can help teams regain a sense of controlTo learn more about Ethan, check out his website, most recent TED talk, and his books, Shift and Chatter.And to learn more about Jennifer, check out her website and her books, The Burnout Epidemic, Why Are We Here, and Unlocking Happiness at Work.Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus
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The human-centered leader: How to develop talent and build influence with Al Dea
In this episode of How to Make a Leader, we're joined by Al Dea, founder of Edge of Work consulting and a respected voice in talent and leadership development. Al breaks down why true leadership success hinges on a human-centric approach focused on two essential drivers: viewing leaders as developers of people and building social capital within organizations.Drawing from his extensive experience as a consultant, keynote speaker, and podcast host, Al shares practical insights on how day-to-day leadership actions directly impact talent development. He challenges the notion that employee growth belongs solely to HR and L&D departments, revealing the common mistakes leaders make when developing their teams and offering actionable strategies that extend beyond traditional training programs.You'll discover:Why developing your people is the highest-impact leadership investmentPractical ways to implement human-centric leadership principlesHow to build and leverage social capital to enhance team performanceEffective development strategies that don't require formal training programsThings to listen for:(00:00) Introducing Al Dea(01:13) The evolution of workplace dynamics(07:10) Defining human-centric leadership in real terms(09:41) Leaders as developers of people(12:09) Building growth into your weekly workflow(15:28) How HR and L&D scale development(18:02) Why investing in people ultimately saves time(20:23) Common mistakes leaders make when developing others(25:02) How to build social capital (and why it matters)(31:26) A leadership development program that built real connections(34:35) How to measure development and social capitalTo learn more about Al and his work, check out his Linkedin profile, his website, and his podcast.Interested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/eventsWant to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus
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39:18
The state of L&D in 2025: What 115,000 learners taught us
In this episode of How to Make a Leader, we sit down with members of Big Think+’s very own product team, Charlotte Sharpe and Monica Karunakaran. They share insights learned from observing the learning habits and preferences of 115,000 learners that used our platform last year, as well as learnings from our 300 person user survey. They share juicy insights such as the truth behind optimal learning times (and length of content), the top skills learners searched on our platform, and the top challenges keeping L&D leaders up at night. You’ll learn:The type of career development that learners actually care aboutThe most in-demand leadership skillsWhat’s keeping L&D leaders up at night (and how to fix it)The humans skills that matter more than AIHow to think about L&D strategyThings to listen for:(00:00) Introducing Charlotte Sharpe and Monica Karunakaran(05:29) The role of Big Think+ in shaping leadership development(06:58) Insights from a year of data from 115,000 learners(09:43) What’s keeping L&D leaders up at night(13:14) Leadership content for mid-level managers(15:28) Balancing employee engagement with measurable success(17:44) The most in-demand leadership skills(19:08) Why emotional intelligence is so important(26:31) Data on the learning experience (when, where, how long)(28:37) The influence of AI on leadership development strategies(33:27) The biggest surprise with the data(35:03) The future of L&D: Integrating human connection with technologyTo learn more about Charlotte and Monica, check out their LinkedIn profiles:Charlotte SharpeMonica KarunakaranInterested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/eventsWant to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus
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40:41
The communication playbook: From conflict to collaboration with HBR’s Amy Gallo
Can conflict actually make your team stronger?In this episode of How to Make a Leader, communication expert and Harvard Business Review podcast host Amy Gallo discusses the communication dynamics that shape high-performing professionals and teams. Amy shares strategies to build trust, improve collaboration, and ensure that even the toughest conversations lead to progress. Whether you’re a team leader, an aspiring manager, or someone navigating complex work relationships, this episode is packed with insights to strengthen your communication skills and leadership approach.You’ll learn:How high performing teams disagree respectfully and collaborativelyHow to approach difficult conversations in the workplaceStrategies to improve communication across remote, hybrid, and in-person teamsThe leadership mindset shift that drives long-term successThings to listen for:(00:00) Introducing Amy Gallo(01:39) Building trust quickly to enhance workplace communication(04:57) Three key principles for navigating workplace conflict(09:34) How remote and hybrid work impact workplace communication(13:31) Strategies to prevent miscommunication in digital environments(18:38) When to vent, when to wait, and when to take action(21:27) What distinguishes high-performing teams from struggling teams(24:49) Leadership strategies to encourage open and honest communication(29:08) Emotional regulation and its impact on leadership effectiveness(35:25) How societal tensions are influencing workplace interactions(39:39) Maintaining composure in high-conflict situations(44:13) Why connection should be a leadership priorityTo learn more about Amy and her work, check out her Linkedin profile, her website, and her podcast. Read Amy Gallo’s book: Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People).Interested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/eventsWant to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus
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46:50
The case for DEI in 2025: How today's leaders can build inclusive workplaces
How do strong leaders tackle today’s DEI challenges?In a time of shifting policies and conflicting public discourse around DEI, consider this episode a practical guide to build inclusive teams with inclusive leaders. In this special How to Make a Leader episode, we’re sharing a virtual panel discussion with experts Chloé Valdary, Ruchika T. Malhotra, and La’Kita Williams, who bring decades of experience in inclusion, workplace culture, and leadership to tackle some of the toughest questions in DEI today.From navigating fear-based rhetoric to rebuilding trust in organizational initiatives, this conversation cuts through the noise to focus on what truly matters: creating workplaces where everyone thrives.You’ll learn:How to address fear and backlash surrounding DEI effortsThe biggest reasons DEI initiatives succeed (or fail)Practical ways to build inclusion into leadership at every levelHow to foster real belonging beyond performative policiesWhat leaders can do today to create lasting, meaningful changeThings to listen for:(00:00) Introducing Chloé Valdary, Ruchika T. Malhotra, and La’Kita Williams(05:18) What diversity and inclusion look like in the workplace (09:29) Challenges of making DEI truly inclusive for people of all backgrounds(12:28) The role of leadership in fostering inclusion and psychological safety(23:13) Translating DEI into business language: Efficiency, innovation, and growth(24:58) Common pitfalls in DEI initiatives and how to rebuild trust(29:39) Crafting mission statements that reflect diversity as a business asset(32:08) Audience Q&A about DEI Initiatives(35:03) Avoiding scarcity thinking and expanding leadership opportunities(39:45) Creating safe spaces for diversity and difficult conversations in the workplaceTo learn more about our panel and their respective work, check out the links below:Chloé Valdary - LinkedIn Profile | Theory of EnchantmentRuchika T. Malhotra - LinkedIn Profile | Inclusion on PurposeLa’Kita Williams - LinkedIn Profile | CoCreate WorkInterested in attending an interview live? Find out more at bigthink.com/plus/eventsWant to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus
Welcome to "How to Make a Leader," a leadership development podcast from Big Think+ where we take the best ideas from the biggest minds in learning and development and distill them into actionable insights. In each episode, host Hannah Beaver sits down with learning and development leaders to discuss how to create world-class leadership development programs, how to nurture frontline leadership skills, and even how to combat burnout.
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