Download. Listen. Lead.
Better. Faster. Easier.
The Good Leadership Podcast explores what leadership looks like today, and shares insights and success habits from hosts and executive team coaches, Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig.
You will learn how to lead teams effectively and what it means to coach teams.
Episode 31: A Conversation on Accountability with Amy Cook
On today’s episode, Good Leadership CEO, Paul Batz discusses healthy accountability with another one of the Accountability Research Steering Team members. Amy Cook, Global Talent Director with Reckitt, shares her valuable insights on the subject. Most people do not recognize the organization Reckitt by its name but know the organization by way of their product lines such as Lysol and Enfamil. In recent years, the world was faced with two different crises that leaned heavily on some of their products – the Covid-19 pandemic, and the infant formula crisis. In the interview, Amy touches on accountability in crisis, as well as what it looks like when you work for leaders who are good at holding their employees accountable in a healthy way, and how she believes her involvement in the Accountability Research Project has influenced her personal leadership.
Episode 30: Changing Perspectives through Healthy Accountability with Darin Lynch
The Accountability Research Project is well underway. Good Leadership took the lead on coordinating the project, but the Steering Team of 15 executives from 15 companies across the U.S. was instrumental in shaping the project and kicking off the research. Darin Lynch, Founder and CEO of Irish Titan based in Minneapolis, MN is one of those steering team members. On today’s podcast, Paul Batz interviews Darin Lynch about his experience as a part of this project, how it is changing his perspective on leadership in his organization, and what he is already doing differently to improve the accountability in his organization.
Episode 29: Manager Consistency: What We Mean and Why It Matters
The Spring 2024 Good Leadership Breakfast series was titled: Celebrating the Magic of Managers. In today’s podcast, Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig reflect on what they learned from the three speakers this spring around the importance of managers in their organization and how to best support those in this long-overlooked position. Good Leadership offers specific programming for managers that help create consistency in Teams of Teams environments, to help minimize the whip-lash employees feel when working within several teams within the organization. Learn more at goodleadership.com.
Episode 28: Celebrating the Magic of Managers: Uplifting Managers with Kristine Fortman
Join Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig on the Good Leadership Podcast as they recall the May 2024 Good Leadership Breakfast, featuring Kristine Fortman, CEO of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation. In this episode, learn how she blended her love of science with a desire to uplift the voices of those leading her teams. She leads by honoring the differing and unique talents of each leader, adapting her leadership style to match the needs of each unique situation, and by honoring questions – both asking and answering – to make sure her teams are aligned.
Episode 27: Paul Batz featured on The Learn-It-All Podcast
Good Leadership’s CEO, Paul Batz, shares a podcast in which he was the featured interview. The Learn-It-All Podcast is produced by Learnit, based in San Francisco. Learnit provides flexible learning solutions designed to empower organizations to thrive today and prepare for tomorrow. Good Leadership was introduced to Learnit through the Accountability Research Project, and Learnit CEO, Damon Lembi, asked Paul if he could interview him for his listeners. Once you’ve finished listening to today’s podcast – don’t forget to check out other episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Youtube.
Episode 26: Psychological Safety
Psychological safety is a hot topic in workplaces right now. By definition, psychological safety is the belief that you won’t be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig reflect on an article published on neuroleadership.com called “Psychological Safety and Accountability: Three Insights From NLI’s Conversation with Amy Edmondson”. Listen to their thoughts on the article, and how the topics of psychological safety and accountability intersect and how they can work with, or if used incorrectly - against, each other.
Episode 25: Defining Accountability: What Does It Mean?
Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig use the data gathered from the Accountability Research Steering Team members to create a definition of accountability that feels accurate to what people are seeking in their workplaces today. Listen as they discuss the many definitions that contributed to the conversation, the key themes, and how Good Leadership will define accountability as a part of this project. If you are not familiar with 2024 Accountability Research Project, visit the episode that was released on November 22 entitled “Exciting News”.
Episode 24: Celebrating the Magic of Managers: Understanding Your Managers with Jeff Augustin
Join Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig on the Good Leadership Podcast as they recall the April 2024 Good Leadership Breakfast, featuring Jeff Augustin, Senior Vice President of Global Business Services for Merck & Co. In this episode, learn how understanding managers, both personally and professionally, is so integral in Jeff’s global leadership. He leads his teams by thinking big, explaining both the business and the global “why” behind the work they do, and providing autonomy to his leaders after first aligning the team.
Episode 23: Discovery Data: Gathering insights from the Accountability Research Steering Team
Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig reflect on the meaningful and thought-provoking responses from the first set of interviews in the 2024 Accountability Research Project. Discovery Interviews are a process that Good Leadership uses in its work with clients to gather information anonymously and present it back to the interviewees to digest before important conversations. The same process was used with the Accountability Research Steering Team for their kickoff meeting on February 22. Listen as Paul and Kevin share impactful responses, themes, and why starting this way is important to the process. If you are not familiar with 2024 Accountability Research Project, visit the episode that was released on November 22 entitled “Exciting News”
Episode 22: Celebrating the Magic of Managers: Encouraging Teamwork with Rod Young
Join Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig on the Good Leadership Podcast as they recall the February 2024 Good Leadership Breakfast, featuring Rod Young, Chief Executive Officer at Delta Dental of Minnesota. In this episode, learn why team work is so integral in Rod's leadership, and how he leads his teams by listening for diverse perspectives, treating his employees like people first, and emphasizing the power of working in teams.
Bonus Episode: Exciting News: Accountability Research Project in 2024
In mid-November, Good Leadership announced a new and exciting shared research project. On this episode of The Good Leadership Podcast, Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig share details about the Accountability Research Project which will focus on how organizations can create a healthy spirit of accountability in a collaborative teams of teams culture. For information on how you can be involved, email info@goodleadership.com.
Episode 21: Winning With Archie Black
Join Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig on the Good Leadership Podcast as they recall the November Good Leadership Breakfast, featuring Archie Black, recently retired CEO of SPS Commerce in Minneapolis, MN. In this episode, Paul and Kevin reflect on how Archie has lead his team to years of growth and success - "winning" in their industry.
Episode 20: Recognizing Goodness with Mai-Anh Tran
Join Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig on the Good Leadership Podcast as they recall the October Good Leadership Breakfast, featuring Mai-Anh Tran, Associate Vice President of Philanthropic Services at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. In this episode, learn how Mai-Anh leads by recognizing others, lifting up all voices at the table, and implementing processes that keep everyone on her team accountable to each other.
Episode 19: The Art of Healthy Tension with Michele Havens
Join Paul Batz and JC Lippold on the Good Leadership Podcast as they recall the September Good Leadership Breakfast, featuring Michele Havens, President of the West Region for Northern Trust. In this episode, learn how Michele leads with an artful balance of structural and relational integrity, something we call "healthy tension" at Good Leadership.
Episode 18: The Power of Positivity with Glen Gunderson
Join Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig on the Good Leadership Podcast as they recap the impactful May Good Leadership Breakfast, featuring Glen Gunderson, President and CEO of the YMCA of the North. Gain insights into Glen's remarkable efforts in building a strong culture of goodness within the community through his extensive work at the Y. Tune in to discover the power of fostering a culture of goodness.
Episode 17: The Power of Empathy with Christine Geissler
Join the Good Leadership Podcast as Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig debrief the April Good Leadership Breakfast featuring Christine Geissler, Global SVP Human Resources of Reckitt. Learn about how Christine truly wins with a goodness culture drawing on the power of empathy.
Episode 16: Good Leadership is a Team Sport
Good Leadership recently launched its newest book: Good Leadership Is a Team Sport. Paul and Kevin talk about the early drafts of the book and how it came to the final product it is today.
Episode 15: Understanding the Seven Fs
Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, Friends, Fun, and Future. In this episode, Paul and Kevin discuss the Seven Fs, the concept of "blending", and how to make these concepts come to life both personally and professionally.
Episode 14: What is Goodness and how does it pay?
Why is common sense not common practice? Paul and Kevin discuss the central mission of Good Leadership and explain how goodness pays in the workplace.
Episode 13: Taking time off to be a better leader
After a brief hiatus, The Good Leadership Podcast is back! This week Paul and Kevin discuss taking time off (both planned and unplanned) and how role modeling time off can help both you and your team.
Episode 12: Is there a bigger topic than trust?
Trust is an outcome of how people behave and solve problems together. In this episode, Paul and Kevin discuss the importance for leaders to build trust with their teams, and some practical tips on how to start building that trust.
Episode 11: Communication is the key
We are drawn to leaders who can make their ideas simple and compelling. Paul and Kevin discuss how you can measure the communication skills of a team and share success habits to improve communication throughout the entire organization.
Episode 10: Shared Commitments vs. Ground Rules
What is the difference between a shared commitments culture and a ground rules culture? Kevin and Paul explore how a shared commitments culture in organizations allows teams to thrive together.
Episode 9: Blended Benefits: Supporting personal and professional growth
Lead with less stress and less fear by fostering an environment of care – both personally and professionally. Listen in as Paul and Kevin discuss how to build that in your teams and share how the Seven Fs are a good metric to measure by.
Episode 8: Disciplined follow through, a cautionary tale
We all know what disciplined follow through is and why it’s important. But what happens when it doesn’t happen? Paul and Kevin explore what happens when leaders don’t do what they say they will.
Episode 7: How transparent should your decision making be?
As a leader, you make a lot of decisions. How much transparency is expected these days? Listen as Paul and Kevin discuss their thoughts on transparent decision making in the work place.
Episode 6: Defining Clear Roles and Responsibilities
What does it mean to have clear roles and responsibilities? You might think you know, but how can you be sure? Paul and Kevin define clear roles and responsibilities and share how you can transform your team by calling them out.
Episode 5: Compelling Plans and why you should have one
What’s the difference between a compelling plan and a business plan? Paul and Kevin dive into what makes a compelling plan compelling, and why you should invest time into making one.
Episode 4: Understanding Epoxy Theory
This isn’t a science podcast, but epoxy theory is a relatively scientific concept. Paul and Kevin discuss why equal parts of relational capital and structural integrity create the strongest teams.
Episode 3: Healthy Tension…it’s a good thing?
No more Minnesota Nice…Paul and Kevin discuss the concept of healthy tension and why it is vital for high-performing teams to master it.
Episode 2: We is Greater than Me
Nothing significant happens alone. Paul and Kevin dive into why leadership is a plural concept and how to “shed the superhero cape” and lead a group.
Episode 1: Welcome to the Good Leadership Podcast
Welcome to the start of The Good Leadership Podcast, hosted by Paul Batz and Kevin Sensenig. In this episode, they will discuss the story of a hospital executive who experienced the catalytic power of coaching teams instead of individuals.
