Details Picture a modern workplace leadership meeting: A Baby Boomer executive types deliberately on her laptop while referencing printed handouts, a Gen X director efficiently leads the agenda via his tablet, and a Millennial manager seamlessly orchestrates remote team participation through multiple digital platforms. This isn’t just a scene of technological evolution – it’s a … Continued

Details In a time where AI disrupts traditional workplace dynamics and remote work reshapes human connections, business leaders face a crucial question: How do we maintain our humanity while driving results? The answer might surprise those who still cling to the “tough boss” stereotype. In our episode today we’re discussing how most effective leaders aren’t … Continued

Details Dr. Susan David is a founder and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital of Harvard Medical School and an Instructor in Psychology at Harvard University. In this episode, Susan discusses her research on emotional agility and how to master challenges without getting derailed. Download the eBook of her full interview here. Guest … Continued

Details Have you noticed a remarkable shift where major companies are mandating return to office policies. Amazon recently joined the ranks of Meta, Google, and others in requiring employees to return full time to the office. What’s particularly interesting is the timing – why now, after years of remote work? We all know that organizations … Continued

Details In a time with constant communication and information overload, the ability to truly listen stands out as a cornerstone for building trust within teams. In this episode, We’ll explore how listening practices vary across cultures and organizations, the growing awareness of its importance in leadership, and the challenges leaders face in balancing listening with … Continued

Details In today’s episode, we dive into a fascinating topic that many leaders grapple with—quality versus quantity. Are they truly competing objectives, or can organizations achieve both simultaneously? We’ll unpack findings from a recent study that examines leaders’ preferences for quality or quantity and what the data tells us about leadership effectiveness. From industry trends … Continued

Details Today we are looking at coachability and its intriguing role across different career decades. Each stage in our professional lives—whether it’s the exploration of the 20s, the depth-building of the 30s, the influence and leadership in the 40s, or the legacy-building in the 50s and beyond—comes with unique challenges and opportunities. By understanding how … Continued

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, hosts BreAnne Okoren  and Joe Folkman explore the powerful connection between leadership, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction. Drawing on research and real-world examples from companies like Sears and Zappos, they discuss how effective leadership drives employee engagement, which in turn boosts customer satisfaction and profitability. They also … Continued

Details We can all admit that we have felt a little threatened by AI. After all its whole purpose is improve and ultimately replace Human intelligence. And leadership will not be spared by the impact of AI.  Certain leadership qualities, such as deep domain expertise, decisiveness, authority, and short-term task focus, are losing their impact, … Continued

Details What’s the main thing for leadership development? Is it excelling at selecting the right people? Is it a well-funded corporate learning center with renowned faculty? Is it using the most powerful learning technologies? Worse yet, what if we’ve been missing the main thing? In this episode, we are looking at the development industry and … Continued

Details Recently, a compelling question emerged: How do trust and conflict resolution impact a leader’s effectiveness? To explore this, we analyzed a robust dataset of 360-degree assessments from 4,347 leaders, collected over the past three years.  In environments where leaders are untrustworthy or avoid resolving conflicts, dissatisfaction and disengagement flourish. Conversely, trusted leaders who adeptly … Continued

Details Stress comes to us all in tiny minor assaults throughout our day through relationships and interactions that are too numerous to shake off quickly. The problem is that most of us have come to accept micro-stresses as just a normal part of a day, but they are wearing us down. In our episode, Karen … Continued

Details Can individuals truly recover from being perceived as fundamentally flawed in honesty and integrity? We embarked on a research journey to uncover whether redemption is possible for those who have fallen into the pit of distrust. We analyzed data from 6,025 leaders who participated in 360-degree assessments, receiving feedback from their managers, peers, direct … Continued

Details In this episode of “90th Percentile,” co-hosts Jack Zenger and BreAnne Okoren take a culinary approach to discussing effective leadership development. They compare the essentials of a good family meal to the key components of a successful leadership development plan. Just as family meals become staples due to their simplicity and consistent outcomes, leadership … Continued

Details  CEO, Vice President, Director, Supervisor, Manager, or Individual contributor each organizational position comes with its own set of demands. While being great at everything would be ideal, the majority of us are only human and subject to our inability to achieve perfection. In this episode, we discuss the different skills that leaders need at … Continued

Details We are all forced to make hundreds of little and big decisions every day. It can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Some people are so crippled with the fear of making a bad decision that they refuse to decide. Based on research from 50,000 leaders, we’re exploring the root causes for poor decision-making and how … Continued

Details 360-degree assessments are a central component in many leadership-development programs. But not all assessments provide the same value to individual leaders or to the organization. The best assessments offer participants powerful insights into how others perceive their leadership strengths and weaknesses. These become a solid impetus for personal change. Organizations that offer multi-rater feedback … Continued

Details Why does one person get selected for a promotion while others with equal skills, education and experience get passed over? While there may be several valid answers to that question, I submit that a person’s demonstrated willingness to behave responsibly is one of the major reasons. Much management literature surprisingly overlooks this characteristic, yet … Continued

Details Join us in this enlightening episode of “The 90th Percentile” as hosts BreAnne Okoren and Joe Folkman delve into the crucial dynamics of trust in leadership. We’ll explore the fine line between keeping teams informed and involving them in decision-making, backed by compelling data from Zenger Folkman’s extensive research. Through engaging stories and expert … Continued

Details Coachable leaders distinguish themselves by actively seeking and responding to feedback, a practice that not only enhances their personal growth but also significantly influences their leadership efficacy. In this episode, we’ll explore how embracing feedback can catalyze positive changes across various leadership dimensions, from advocating for change to fostering inclusivity within teams. Drawing insights … Continued

Details Feedback is a powerful tool that can make or break an individual’s growth and development. It can be a valuable gift that leads to success and well-being, but it can also be a dreaded message that is associated with negativity and criticism. The impact of feedback ultimately depends on how it is given, received, … Continued

Details Why is humility important for leaders? This pivotal question underpins Zenger Folkman’s two decades of research into how leadership traits, specifically humility and arrogance, affect leadership effectiveness Humble leaders tend to empower their employees by recognizing their strengths and contributions. This leads to increased employee engagement and motivation. People want confidence yet humble leaders. So … Continued

Details In this enlightening podcast episode, expert coaching master Kathleen Stinette shares her invaluable insights on the evolution of leadership coaching in the wake of the pandemic. With over 25 years of experience, Kathleen discusses the subtle yet significant shifts in coaching methodologies prompted by remote and hybrid work environments, emphasizing the growing importance of … Continued

Details After some initial uncertainty, most companies have now found their footing with respect to adopting office-based, remote, or hybrid working models. Despite a common belief that we’ve mastered the flexibility of working from anywhere, the reality is we’re still on a learning curve—and that’s perfectly acceptable. In today’s discussion, we aim to highlight the … Continued