Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast 90th Percentile Leadership: Insights. Backed by Data.

For decades, employee development has largely been reserved for leaders and high-potential talent. But as organizations face growing succession challenges, talent shortages, and a rapidly changing workforce, many are beginning to ask an important question:

What about everyone else?

In this episode of The 90th Percentile, BreAnne Okoren sits down with Susan Christensen to discuss the hidden development gap affecting organizations today. Together, they explore why traditional development models leave so many employees behind, how that impacts engagement and succession readiness, and what organizations can do to build a stronger talent pipeline from the ground up

• Why succession challenges are really development challenges
• How the retirement of Baby Boomers is exposing weaknesses in organizational talent pipelines
• Why employees don’t need leadership titles to deserve meaningful development
• What happens when development opportunities are reserved for only a small percentage of the workforce
• The barriers that have historically made development difficult to scale
• How Extraordinary You was designed to bring research-based development to individual contributors earlier in their careers

Whether you’re an HR leader, talent development professional, manager, or executive, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on how organizations can create a more engaged, capable, and future-ready workforce.

Interested in bringing Extraordinary You to your organization?

Visit Zenger Folkman to learn how Extraordinary You helps individual contributors identify their strengths, accelerate their development, and make a greater impact—long before they step into formal leadership roles.

The post The Future of Employee Development first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Why 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.

1. 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.

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.

The post Filling the Missing Gap in Early Career Development: Extraordinary You first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Why do so many capable people overestimate their effectiveness at work? And what are the hidden behaviors quietly damaging trust, credibility, communication, and career growth?

In this episode of The 90th Percentile, BreAnne Okoren sits down with Joe Folkman to explore new research from Zenger Folkman on the surprising gap between how individual contributors see themselves… and how their managers actually experience them. Based on a study of more than 15,000 professionals, the conversation uncovers the 8 workplace behaviors people most commonly misjudge — from follow-through and communication to trust and work ethic.

Joe explains why self-awareness is one of the greatest competitive advantages in today’s workplace and how blind spots can quietly limit performance and growth. BreAnne and Joe also discuss why organizations need to start development earlier — before someone becomes a formal leader — and how 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.

If you’ve ever wondered whether others experience you the way you think they do… this episode is for you.

1. Most people have larger professional blind spots than they realize.

Research from more than 15,000 individual contributors revealed major gaps between self-ratings and manager ratings, especially in behaviors tied to trust, communication, follow-through, and influence.

2. Self-awareness is a competitive advantage.

The professionals who improve the fastest are not necessarily the most naturally talented — they are the most accurate at seeing their strengths and weaknesses clearly.

3. Small daily behaviors shape your reputation more than you think.

Reliability, preparation, responsiveness, and consistency quietly build — or erode — credibility over time.

4. High performers proactively seek feedback instead of waiting for reviews.

People who actively ask for specific behavioral feedback are better able to close the gap between intention and impact.

5. Leadership development should start earlier.

BreAnne and Joe discuss why organizations often wait too long to develop employees and how Extraordinary You helps individual contributors build self-awareness, strengths, and effectiveness long before they move into formal leadership roles

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.

The post Episode 185: Are You Overestimating Your Effectiveness? (And Why It Matters More Than You Think) first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Episode Description In this episode of The 90th Percentile Podcast, BreAnne Okoren and Jack Zenger sit down with leadership expert Michelle Fabian to explore one of the most overlooked—but critical—elements of effective coaching: presence. While many leadership coaching models focus on goal setting, performance gaps, and action plans, this conversation takes a different approach. Michelle shares … Continued

The post Coaching is Connection First— Why Presence Outperforms Advice first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Episode Description Gossip may seem like a minor workplace habit, but the research tells a very different story. In this episode of The 90th Percentile, BreAnne and Joe Folkman explore new data from Zenger Folkman’s 360-degree leadership assessments revealing how destructive comments about others can quietly undermine a leader’s effectiveness. Based on feedback from hundreds of … Continued

The post Episode 183: The Gossip Trap— One Leadership Habit That Quietly Destroys Trust first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Episode Description In a time of tighter budgets and higher scrutiny, leadership development is often one of the first investments leaders feel pressure to justify—or cut. But what if that decision is quietly costing organizations far more than they realize? In this episode, BreAnne Okoren sits down with Orin Salas, Vice President of Sales at Zenger … Continued

The post Episode 182: Does Leadership Development Actually Pay Off? The ROI Leaders Can’t Ignore first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, BreAnne Okoren and Joe Folkman unpack Zenger Folkman’s new Leadership Skills 2026 Report?and explore what truly differentiates leaders in an AI-accelerated world. As AI makes information faster and cheaper, one capability is becoming increasingly scarce: human leadership. Drawing on fresh data from tens of thousands of leaders and direct … Continued

The post Episode 181: Highlights from The Leadership Skills Report 2026 first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details Trust in leadership is often framed as a generational issue—older leaders are assumed to be more credible because of experience, while younger leaders are expected to “prove themselves” before earning trust. But Zenger Folkman research challenges these assumptions. In this episode of The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast, BreAnne Okoren sits down with renowned … Continued

The post Episode 180: The Generational Trust Myth—Why Behavior Beats Age Every Time first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details Emotional intelligence has dominated leadership conversations for years—and for good reason. Leaders who listen, empathize, and build strong relationships create healthier, more engaged teams. But what if EQ isn’t the primary capability driving leadership effectiveness? Drawing on a global dataset of 128,000 leaders and 360-degree feedback from over a million raters, they explore what … Continued

The post Episode 179: Strategic Expertise vs. Emotional Intelligence—Which Drives Leadership Success? first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details Are workplace evaluations truly objective—or do subtle perceptions still shape how we see male and female leaders differently? In this episode, host Bre Okoren sits down with leadership researcher Joe Folkman to unpack one of the largest real-world analyses ever conducted on gender and leadership effectiveness. Drawing from 12,000+ 360-degree evaluations, Joe reveals a surprising paradox: women … Continued

The post Episode 178: The Hidden Truth About Gender and Leadership Ratings first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details Consider this episode your Strengths-Based Leadership 101. BreAnne and Joe revisit the foundation of Zenger Folkman’s entire leadership philosophy — the data-driven insight that extraordinary leaders are not well-rounded; they’re exceptional in a few distinctive areas that matter most. Drawing from over 100,000 leadership assessments, Joe explains why traditional development programs focused on fixing weaknesses … Continued

The post Episode 177: Why Strengths-Based Development Outperforms Traditional Methods first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In this special episode of The 90th Percentile, we unpack how Jotun—the Norway-based, family-owned paints and coatings company operating in 100+ countries—elevated leadership effectiveness using Zenger Folkman’s Extraordinary Leader program. Partnering with Arcadia Consulting, Jotun moved from a baseline well below industry average to outperforming peers, all by doubling down on a strengths-based approach to leadership. We’re joined by Alistair … Continued

The post Episode 176: Jotun Case Study in Extraordinary Leadership first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details What separates the best decision-makers from the rest? In this episode, Joe Folkman shares research on nearly 16,000 leaders to reveal seven key qualities that enable effective decision-making. Discover why information overload slows decisions down, how to balance speed with quality, and the surprising link between decision-making effectiveness and employee engagement. If you’re struggling … Continued

The post Episode 175: 7 Key Leadership Behaviors of the Most Effective Decision Makers first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In 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 … Continued

The post Episode 174: Making Development Popular with Desert Financial Credit Union first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details What if great leadership could go viral? In this episode of The 90th Percentile Podcast, Dr. Jack Zenger joins BreAnne Okoren to explore how positive leadership behaviors—like openness, respect, and accountability—spread through organizations and transform cultures. Drawing on decades of research, Jack reveals why developing leaders at scale creates psychological safety, sparks innovation, and … Continued

The post Episode 173: The Surprising Way Leadership Behaviors Go Viral at Work first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details Psychological safety is not a new term anymore, but it has matured into a foundational leadership capability, much like communication or trust no longer a “nice to have,” but a critical driver of collaboration, retention, and innovation. Drawing on Amy Edmondson’s groundbreaking research and Zenger Folkman’s data from 18,000 employees, they unpack the eight leadership behaviors that … Continued

The post Episode 172: Why Psychological Safety Matters More Than Ever first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

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

The post Bonus Episode– Susan David, Emotional Agility first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In today’s episode, we’re unpacking the results of a massive leadership study — over 63,000 assessments — to answer one key question: What makes certain leaders truly unforgettable? We’ll explore the 10 specific behaviors that set the most exceptional leaders apart, backed by real-world examples from sports, business, and history. Whether you work in … Continued

The post Episode 171: Memorable Leadership—10 Behaviors That Make Leaders Unforgettable first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In today’s episode of The 90th Percentile, we challenge one of the most persistent myths in modern work: that you must choose between speed and excellence. As AI accelerates productivity at lightning pace, many leaders are wondering—can humans keep up without compromising quality? Dr. Jack Zenger joins us to share groundbreaking research from over … Continued

The post Episode 170: AI, Speed, and the Future of Thoughtful Work first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In today’s episode, we’re unpacking new research from Zenger Folkman that reveals what truly separates high-performing teams from the rest. After analyzing 171 teams—many of which were struggling with negative customer feedback—we identified 10 key behaviors that predict whether a team will turn things around or stay stuck. If you’re leading teams or responsible … Continued

The post Episode 169: 10 Leadership Behaviors That Set Great Teams Apart first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we explore why wellbeing programs are more than just perks—they are a leadership imperative. Shanna Goodell shares how Druva is shifting the narrative around employee wellness, embedding it into leadership development, and addressing real-life challenges like women’s health in the workplace. From building inclusive spaces to driving … Continued

The post Episode 168: Well-Being Is a Business Strategy—Leadership Lessons from Druva first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we sit down with Rose Christensen, Senior Learning & Development Leader at Wright Service Corp., to explore what it really takes to grow leaders across dispersed, specialized, and fast-growing teams. With over 6,000 employees spread across North America and roles ranging from field-based technicians to executives, Wright … Continued

The post Episode 167: Flexible, Focused, and Future-Ready—L&D at Wright Service Corp. first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details With pressure mounting on managers to coach more often and more effectively, can AI offer real help—or does it risk making coaching feel robotic? In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we talk with Mark Schaff, former Principal Learning Administrator at the Orange County Transportation Authority. Mark brings decades of coaching and leadership development … Continued

The post Episode 166: Can AI Be Your Coach? The Promise and Peril of AI in Leadership Development first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details What if the biggest barrier to performance isn’t an individual leader—but the team itself? In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we speak with Paul Leboffe, longtime facilitator of Zenger Folkman’s Extraordinary Team experience. With 25+ years of business and legal expertise, Paul has helped teams uncover blind spots, strengthen trust, and dramatically improve … Continued

The post Episode 165: Stop Training Leaders Alone—The Case for Team Development first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we explore the enduring relevance of a decades-old leadership theory that feels more urgent than ever. Joe Folkman joins us to revisit Control Graph Theory—first introduced in the 1960s—and shares new research from over 200 teams showing why the total amount of influence in an organization matters … Continued

The post Episode 164: Control vs. Influence—What Today’s Leader’s Get Wrong first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details There’s a need to greatly increase the frequency and the quality of the recognition they give to their colleagues. That means recognition for people who report to them, their peers, and, yes, even their boss. The reality is that people in every direction in your organization need recognition. While the “great resignation” may have … Continued

The post Episode 89: Employee Recognition– Improving the Substance and Delivery first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Bard Parnell, Senior Manager of Learning and Development at Mesa Labs, to talk about what really drives effective leadership—especially in a time of nonstop disruption. While many organizations are quick to chase the latest leadership trends, Bard shares why … Continued

The post Episode 163: Staying the Course—Why Core Leadership Skills Still Matter first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In this episode, we’re diving into resilience—a critical skill for today’s leaders—with Evelyn Swanson, Vice President of Learning and Organizational Development at Core & Main. As a leading distributor of water, sewer, storm drain, and fire protection products, Core & Main has declared this year the “Year of the Resilient Leader.” Evelyn shares valuable … Continued

The post Episode 162: Building Resilient Leaders: Lessons from Core & Main first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details When the pandemic hit, many expected a decline in leadership effectiveness due to burnout, isolation, and crisis fatigue. However, surprising research from Zenger Folkman revealed just the opposite: leaders didn’t deteriorate under pressure—they improved. In this insightful episode, Joe Folkman shares compelling data showing how the challenges of COVID-19 transformed leaders worldwide, enhancing their … Continued

The post Episode 161: Then and Now—How the Pandemic Boosted Leadership Effectiveness first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details Research shows that both giving and receiving feedback triggers stress responses similar to physical threats—but understanding these brain mechanisms can help us build better feedback cultures. Our guest today is Dr. David Rock, who coined the term “neuroleadership” and serves as Co-founder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute. This 23-year-old cognitive science consultancy has … Continued

The post Episode 160: Using Neuroscience to Make Feedback Work with David Rock first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In this episode, we’ll explore four distinct leadership styles—the Expert, the Connector, the Driver, and the Strategist—and reveal surprising findings about which approach yields the best results. We’ll also connect Joe’s research to Daniel Goleman’s six leadership styles featured in last year’s popular Harvard Business Review article, giving you practical insights on how to … Continued

The post Episode 159: Is One Leadership Style Better Than Others? first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details Building a high-performance team isn’t just about hiring the right people—it’s about leading them in the right way. In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we sit down with leadership expert Jack Zenger to uncover five key behaviors that separate exceptional teams from dysfunctional ones. Based on research from over 66,000 respondents, Jack shares … Continued

The post Episode 158: 5 Ways to Build a High-Performance Team first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details Trust is the foundation of any high-performing team, but in today’s fast-paced, uncertain business environment, building and maintaining trust has become more challenging than ever. Research shows that trust isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s a leadership behavior that impacts everything from team collaboration to overall business performance. So, how can organizations create a culture where … Continued

The post Episode 157: Team Trust at BJ’s Wholesale Club with Scott Schmadeke first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Would you rather hear positive feedback about your performance or suggestions for improvement? Does preferring positive feedback make you seem weak, and is corrective feedback really that helpful? Whether you’re a CEO, manager, teacher, or parent we all give and receive feedback. In this episode, we discuss the emotional complexities and science behind the positive … Continued

The post Episode 7: The Enigma of Positive and Negative Feedback first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details Receiving feedback at work can be tough—it’s natural to feel uncomfortable when you’re told you’re not doing something well. That doesn’t make you ‘arrogant ‘ or ‘ too defensive and won’t take feedback’—it means you obviously care about how you’re doing at work, and that’s a good thing. But what happens when the feedback … Continued

The post Episode 156: What To Do When The Boss Gives You Baseless Feedback first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In today’s fast-paced business environment, leaders often focus on grand strategies and bold initiatives, overlooking the foundational behaviors that shape their success. It’s easy to rationalize small missteps, telling ourselves they don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. However, our research paints a different picture. When we analyzed 60 distinct leadership behaviors, … Continued

The post Episode 155: The 7 Minor Leadership Behaviors That Actually Determine Your Success first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we dive into the shifting landscape of Learning and Development (L&D) with Dani Johnson, co-founder and principal analyst at RedThread Research. Dani explores the concerning trend of L&D’s “demotion” within organizations, the rise of federated models, and the opportunities for L&D leaders to adapt and thrive. Together, … Continued

The post Episode 154: Is Learning and Development Being Demoted? first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details When work and life are overwhelming, it can be difficult to reclaim a sense of joy at work. Research has shown the benefits of incorporating joy, hope, and optimism into the workplace to combat burnout and improve well-being. Our guest today is Daisey Auger-Dominguez, a Chief People Officer, workplace strategist, speaker, and author on … Continued

The post Episode 153: Finding Joy as a Leader (Even on the Hard Days) first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details As we step into a new year filled with possibilities, this episode of The 90th Percentile dives into the powerful connection between passion and performance. Hosts Bre and Joe explore Zenger Folkman’s groundbreaking research on how passion influences leadership effectiveness, with compelling stories like Koel Thomae’s journey to build Noosa Yoghurt. They discuss the … Continued

The post Episode 152: How Much Does Passion Influence Performance? first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details This holiday, we encourage you to find stability and joy in the customs that have persisted for generations. Though the world may sometimes feel uncertain, the enduring spirit of the holidays can provide comfort, connection, and hope. Connect with Joe Folkman LinkedIn Twitter Webinar Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where … Continued

The post Zenger Folkman Holiday Message 2024 first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Details Do the people you manage love their jobs? Or do you sense that some are dissatisfied or disengaged? It’s no secret that employees who love their jobs work harder and are willing to go the extra mile, which benefits any organization. While the core of great leadership remains unchanged, the landscape of work has … Continued

The post Episode 151: 3 Ways to Help Employees Love Their Jobs first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

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

The post Episode 150: The Unexpected Strengths of Each Generation of Leaders first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

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

The post Episode 149: Building Empathy and Drive at the Same Time first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.