Podcast Archives - ZENGER FOLKMAN: Recent Episodes
Zenger Folkman Leadership
Episode DescriptionWhy do so many capable professionals overestimate their effectiveness at work? And what are the hidden behaviors quietly limiting trust, credibility, communication, and career growth?
In this episode of The 90th Percentile, BreAnne Okoren sits down with Zenger Folkman co-founder Jack Zenger to explore new research on one of the most important drivers of professional growth: self-awareness. Drawing on data from thousands of individual contributors, they uncover a surprising gap between how employees view their own effectiveness and how their managers actually experience them.
BreAnne and Jack discuss the eight workplace behaviors people most commonly misjudge—including trust, communication, follow-through, initiative, and speaking up—and why these blind spots can stall development long before someone enters a leadership role. They also explore why traditional development programs often miss the mark and how organizations can begin building stronger contributors earlier through meaningful feedback and strengths-based development.
Whether you’re an individual contributor looking to accelerate your career or a leader responsible for developing talent, this episode offers practical insights on how greater self-awareness can become a powerful competitive advantage.
Zenger Folkman’s new development experience, Extraordinary You, is designed to help individual contributors build strengths, increase self-awareness, and accelerate growth at every stage of their career.
Key Learnings1. Self-awareness is a competitive advantage.
The most effective professionals aren’t the ones who think they’re perfect—they’re the ones who have an accurate understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and impact on others.
2. Blind spots are more common than most people realize.
Research shows that many individuals significantly overestimate their effectiveness in areas such as trust, communication, follow-through, and initiative, creating barriers to growth.
3. Feedback from others is more accurate than self-assessment alone.
Managers and colleagues often have a clearer view of our effectiveness than we do ourselves. Without external feedback, development efforts can be built on faulty assumptions.
4. Small behaviors have a big impact on reputation.
Trust, reliability, communication, and credibility are built through everyday actions. Consistently following through on commitments and aligning actions with words can dramatically improve effectiveness.
5. Development should start before leadership roles.
Organizations often wait until employees become leaders to invest in development. The research suggests that building self-awareness and strengths earlier can significantly accelerate performance and career growth.
WebinarZenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.
The post Episode 186: Filling the Missing Gap in Early Career Development: Extraordinary You first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
DetailsIn this episode of The 90th Percentile, we sit down with Kathleen Crenshaw and Christopher Bisgrove from Desert Financial Credit Union to explore how they are rethinking leadership development and investing in people. From building programs that reach leaders earlier in their careers to making learning opportunities more accessible, Desert Financial shares the principles and practices behind their growth. Their story highlights what it looks like when a financial institution prioritizes people as much as performance.
Key Points
- Early investment in leaders pays off – Developing leadership skills at the start of a career builds confidence and sets a foundation for long-term success.
- Accessibility drives engagement – Leadership development should not be reserved for executives; broad access creates a stronger leadership pipeline.
- Culture of learning sustains growth – Embedding leadership development into the culture ensures learning continues beyond formal programs.
- Practical experiences matter – Rotations, projects, and hands-on opportunities accelerate growth more effectively than classroom training alone.
- People-first strategies strengthen organizations – By putting leadership growth at the center, Desert Financial connects employee development with business results. WebinarZenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.
The post Episode 174: Making Development Popular with Desert Financial Credit Union first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
DetailsDr. 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 Bio:Susan David, Ph.D. is one of the world’s leading management thinkers and an award-winning Harvard Medical School psychologist. Her #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling book, Emotional Agility based on the concept that Harvard Business Review heralded as a Management Idea of the Year and winner of the Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea Award, describes the psychological skills critical to thriving in times of complexity and change. Susan’s TED Talk on the topic of emotional agility has been seen by more than 8 million people. She is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and guest on national radio and television. She is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and is a Co-founder of the Institute of Coaching (a Harvard Medical School/McLean affiliate). Susan lives outside of Boston with her family.
WebinarZenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman, and join in a conversation about the latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register at https://zengerfolkman.com/webinar-registration/.
Additional Resources:Emotional Agility– Explore the eBook with leadership insights from Susan David.
Zenger Folkman’s Leadership eBooks– Enjoy our complimentary eBooks filled with groundbreaking research, compelling interviews, and practical solutions to everyday leadership issues.
Music: Pleasant Pictures
The post Bonus Episode– Susan David, Emotional Agility first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
DetailsWhen a company needs a supervisor for a team, senior leaders often anoint the team’s most productive performer. Some of these stars succeed in their new role as manager; many others do not. And when they fail, they tend to leave the organization, costing the company double: Not only has the team lost its new manager but it’s also lost the best individual contributor. And the failure can be personally costly for the new manager, causing them to doubt their skills, smarts, and future career path. Everyone loses. In this episode, we will explore why the most productive people don’t always make the best managers.
Connect with Jack Zenger* LinkedIn * Twitter
WebinarZenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman, and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.
Additional ResourcesWhy the Most Productive People Don’t Always Make the Best Managers– Article by Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman
7 Traits of Super-Productive People-Article by Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman
Developing Strengths or Weaknesses– WHITEPAPER Compelling evidence supports the idea that leaders who focus on their strengths have greater success in their development plans. Thought leader Jack Zenger illustrates why building strengths is the key to a strong development plan.
The post Episode 36: Why the Most Productive People Don’t Always Make the Best Managers first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Details As you think about your peers at work, are they some of your best friends, always helpful and supportive, or are they your harshest critics, pointing out your mistakes and flaws? While everyone’s situation is different, the answer to this question often is, “It depends.” Context is critical here, and overtime in an organization, … Continued
The post Episode 77: The Shifting Alliances of Peers appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
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
The post Episode 76: Identifying and Managing Micro-stressors appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Details Too many managers avoid giving any kind of feedback, regardless of whether it’s positive or negative. If you work for a boss who doesn’t provide feedback, it’s easy to feel rudderless. In this episode, we will discuss how to improve at work when you’re not getting feedback. New Self-Directed Course Learn more about our short … Continued
The post Episode 63: How to Improve When You’re Not Getting Feedback appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Details Demand for coaching within organizations is exploding. Yet certain barriers seem to be blocking the way for coaching to reach its full potential. In this episode, we will discuss the expanding access to coaching and the best practices every leader and organization should follow. Join us on May 23 & 24 for our award-winning … Continued
The post Episode 59: Expanding Access to Coaching appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
(Rerun) The companies that focus on teamwork and collaboration are the companies that maximize the strengths of individuals as well. Why? Because being a part of an effective team can bring forth wonderful increases in the work ethic and strength attributes of the individuals. In this episode, we are talking about teams and what leaders … Continued
The post Episode 14: The Power of Teams appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Thanks for tuning into The 90th Percentile Podcast this year. In the book, Blueprint, the Yale scholar Nikolas Christakis, argues that over time we have developed a set of highly beneficial social features that lead us to love, community, friendships, and cooperation. He contends that we cannot escape our overall blueprint for goodness. After reviewing … Continued
The post Happy Holidays from Jack and Joe appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Details Are you the type of leader who will work hard, assume the risk, and try to save everyone? Are you the type that looks to develop those around you and give them the opportunity to grow? Or are you just getting the job done? What types of leaders do organizations need most? In this … Continued
The post Episode 58: Heroes, Zeros, and Guides appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Details When CEOs describe what they want most in the people they hire, they consistently talk about honesty and integrity. Among the leadership competencies that we measure, honesty and integrity have consistently received high scores, putting them at the first or second position in comparison to everything else. In this episode, we’ll unravel the real harm of … Continued
The post Episode 55: The Value of Honesty appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Details Have you ever questioned whether you or your direct reports are being as productive as they can be? With the flexibility to work anywhere and anytime, how do you stay connected with your team and manager to maintain trust and signal productivity. In today’s episode, we discuss the five behaviors that indicate productivity. Connect … Continued
The post Episode 46: Are Employees At Home Actually Working? 5 Behaviors That Signal Productivity To Managers appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Details How is the issue of personal accountability viewed in your organization? Seasoned workers have undoubtedly seen their share of finger-pointing, dishonesty, and “CYOA.” However, personal accountability is a critical step toward improving leadership. In this episode, we are discussing how when people are accountable for their own decisions the effectiveness of an organization can greatly … Continued
The post Episode 43: How to Encourage Personal Accountability appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Details There is a great deal of interest today in our society on the topics of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. While some people are flat-out biased the larger portion deal with an unconscious bias they often don’t recognize. In this episode, we’re exploring the benefits of 360 feedback tools that enable the gathering of sensitive … Continued
The post Episode 42: Uncovering Unconscious Bias appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Details Remember that event that happened in 2020 that kind of disrupted your life? It turns out that despite all the chaos that happened last year employee engagement increased. In this episode, we explore the new behaviors that led to this sudden increase in employee engagement.
Connect with Joe Folkman
Webinar Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.
Additional Resources 5 New Skills That Drove Up Employee Engagement This Year– Article by Joe Folkman
The post Episode 41: 5 New Skills That Increase Employee Engagement appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Details We found that while women generally outperform their male counterparts on most leadership competencies, they are not perceived by their managers, peers, and subordinates as being as adept at strategic thinking as their male counterparts. This gap between women and men in perceived strategic thinking skills begins early, but by age 50, the difference vanishes. In this episode, we are unraveling the research around this curious case.
Register for the Webinar–The Confidence Gap: Overcome Doubts with Data That Builds You Up.
Connect with Jack Zenger * LinkedIn * Twitter
Webinar Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman, and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.
Additional Resources The Extremely Curious Case of Women’s Strategic Thinking– Article by Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman
Study of How Men and Women are Treated Differently at Work– Harvard Business Review
Research: Women are Better Leaders During a Crisis- HBR article by Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman
Learn about Zenger Folkman’s Microlearning Session in Strategic Thinking
The post Episode 40: The Curious Case of Women’s Strategic Thinking appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.
Details The pandemic rapidly accelerated many companies’ digital efforts, but did you possess the digital expertise necessary to function in a completely new work environment? Sure you’ve had a year to work on your zoom skills, but are you running with the rest of your team, or do still feel like you are lagging behind and things are continuing to evolve too quickly. In this episode, we discuss the dangers of being considered a digital dunce and some ways to help others perceive you as the technical hero you aspire to be.
Connect with Joe Folkman
Webinar Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman, and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.
Additional Resources How To Build Digital Expertise– Article by Joe Folkman
The Luddites– History UK
The post Episode 38: How To Build Digital Expertise appeared first on ZENGER FOLKMAN.