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Northbound Podcast — Action Study: Leadership When Plans Break (Start Here!)

What do you do when the plan breaks, the conditions aren't perfect, and your team lands "off course"?

In this Northbound Podcast Action Study, Chris builds on the previous audio episode (Start Here) with a practical leadership lesson drawn from D-Day, June 6, 1944 — specifically the landing at Utah Beach and the decisive leadership of General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. When troops landed at the wrong location, Roosevelt's response became a leadership moment that still teaches today:

"We'll start the war from right here."

This episode explores what decisive leaders do under pressure — and how you can build those traits before the pressure hits. Because the truth is: you don't magically rise to the occasion… you often fall to the level of your preparation. That's why this episode focuses on turning insight into action, not just information.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why bold, timely decisions create opportunity (and indecision creates vulnerability)

• How to lead when plans break and outcomes are uncertain

• The traits of decisive leaders: competence, courage, servanthood, security, responsibility, initiative, character, commitment, discernment, and problem-solving

• Why leadership includes emotion — but your response must be decisive

• Practical action steps to build decisiveness through:

  • Skill development and preparation

  • Identity and security as a leader

  • Ownership, trust, and responsibility

  • Practicing "fast decisions" (assess → decide → act → track)

  • Strengthening courage daily through hard conversations, boundaries, and saying yes

Key takeaway:

You will land off course at times. Plans will break. Conditions won't be perfect. The leadership question is simple: Will you hesitate—or will you advance?

Join the community

If you want to go deeper and apply these lessons with other leaders, join the Northbound Approach Community on Skool. It's where we discuss episodes, share action steps, connect with other members, and grow together.

Join the Northbound Approach Community on Skool — link in the episode description.

Go Northbound.

 

Northbound Podcast — Action Study: Leadership When Plans Break (Start Here!)

What do you do when the plan breaks, the conditions aren't perfect, and your team lands "off course"?

In this Northbound Podcast Action Study, Chris builds on the previous audio episode (Start Here) with a practical leadership lesson drawn from D-Day, June 6, 1944 — specifically the landing at Utah Beach and the decisive leadership of General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. When troops landed at the wrong location, Roosevelt's response became a leadership moment that still teaches today:

"We'll start the war from right here."

This episode explores what decisive leaders do under pressure — and how you can build those traits before the pressure hits. Because the truth is: you don't magically rise to the occasion… you often fall to the level of your preparation. That's why this episode focuses on turning insight into action, not just information.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why bold, timely decisions create opportunity (and indecision creates vulnerability)

• How to lead when plans break and outcomes are uncertain

• The traits of decisive leaders: competence, courage, servanthood, security, responsibility, initiative, character, commitment, discernment, and problem-solving

• Why leadership includes emotion — but your response must be decisive

• Practical action steps to build decisiveness through:

  • Skill development and preparation

  • Identity and security as a leader

  • Ownership, trust, and responsibility

  • Practicing "fast decisions" (assess → decide → act → track)

  • Strengthening courage daily through hard conversations, boundaries, and costly yeses

Key takeaway:

You will land off course at times. Plans will break. Conditions won't be perfect. The leadership question is simple: Will you hesitate—or will you advance?

Join the community

If you want to go deeper and apply these lessons with other leaders, join the Northbound Approach Community on Skool. It's where we discuss episodes, share action steps, connect with other members, and grow together.

Join the Northbound Approach Community on Skool — link in the episode description.

Go Northbound.

 

WATCH THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

Join the Northbound Community Here. 

 

On D-Day, General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. landed nearly a mile off course at Utah Beach. The plan had already broken down. They weren't where they were supposed to be.

In that moment, he made a decision that defined leadership:

"We'll start the war from right here."

In this episode, we unpack what it takes to make bold, timely decisions when life, leadership, or ministry doesn't land where you planned. You'll learn the 10 traits required for decisive leadership — including competence, courage, servanthood, character, discernment, and initiative — and why none of them can be faked under pressure.

We also walk through practical action steps to help you build those traits:

• How to develop real competence

• How to strengthen courage daily

• How to know your identity in Christ

• Why listing the people you serve changes how you lead

• And how prepared character matters more than perfect conditions

Your life won't land exactly where you expected.

The question is: will you hesitate… or will you advance?

Let's build the kind of leadership that starts from right here.

This is another Northbound Action Study that builds upon a previous podcast episode titled Climb The Hard Pass First    Watch the video version on YouTube!    Leadership isn't a checklist — it's terrain. And some parts of that terrain are just hard.   If there's a conversation or decision you've been avoiding, you're not alone. Most leaders do it at some point. It can feel like you're protecting your energy by delaying it, but in reality, avoidance usually makes things heavier. The pressure doesn't go away — it just sits there in the background.   Real leadership momentum is psychological before it's operational. Easy wins can feel good, but they often delay the progress that actually matters. Confidence doesn't come before action — it comes because of it. And those hard moments you'd rather sidestep? They're often the ones that build your judgment, resilience, and trust with your team.   This week, identify one thing you've been putting off. Ask yourself: What needs to happen first, not later? Choose clarity over comfort and take that step with intention.   Notice what shifts once the hardest part is behind you. Momentum changes. Things feel lighter. And you're reminded that you're more capable than you think — and your team feels it too.   Go lead knowing God created you for this.     Watch more on You-Tube. 

Watch video version on YouTube    This Northbound Action Study builds on the Don't Sit It Out podcast episode and is designed to help you move from insight to action. You've probably heard the advice to "focus only on what you can control," but this study challenges you to examine when that mindset becomes wisdom—and when it turns into avoidance.   You'll explore the difference between control and agency, why staying on the sidelines can be just as damaging as trying to control everything, and how leadership shows up through your responses, communication, and boundaries—not just your position. Along the way, you'll get clear main points, key takeaways, and practical action options you can apply immediately to lead with influence, set healthy boundaries, and take the next responsible move—even when the system doesn't change. This is a short, focused study meant to help you engage, lead, and not sit this one out.   The video below has premiered on You-Tube.     Come join the Northbound Approach Community here. 

This is another Northbound Action Study that builds upon a previous podcast episode titled Climb The Hard Pass First      Leadership isn't a checklist — it's terrain. And some parts of that terrain are just hard.   If there's a conversation or decision you've been avoiding, you're not alone. Most leaders do it at some point. It can feel like you're protecting your energy by delaying it, but in reality, avoidance usually makes things heavier. The pressure doesn't go away — it just sits there in the background.   Real leadership momentum is psychological before it's operational. Easy wins can feel good, but they often delay the progress that actually matters. Confidence doesn't come before action — it comes because of it. And those hard moments you'd rather sidestep? They're often the ones that build your judgment, resilience, and trust with your team.   This week, identify one thing you've been putting off. Ask yourself: What needs to happen first, not later? Choose clarity over comfort and take that step with intention.   Notice what shifts once the hardest part is behind you. Momentum changes. Things feel lighter. And you're reminded that you're more capable than you think — and your team feels it too.   Go lead knowing God created you for this.     Watch more on You-Tube. 

This Northbound Action Study builds on the Don't Sit It Out podcast episode and is designed to help you move from insight to action. You've probably heard the advice to "focus only on what you can control," but this study challenges you to examine when that mindset becomes wisdom—and when it turns into avoidance.   You'll explore the difference between control and agency, why staying on the sidelines can be just as damaging as trying to control everything, and how leadership shows up through your responses, communication, and boundaries—not just your position. Along the way, you'll get clear main points, key takeaways, and practical action options you can apply immediately to lead with influence, set healthy boundaries, and take the next responsible move—even when the system doesn't change. This is a short, focused study meant to help you engage, lead, and not sit this one out.   The video below has premiered on You-Tube.     Come join the Northbound Approach Community here. 

Join the Northbound Community Here

 

"You can't control everything—just focus on what you can control."

We've all heard that advice. But what if it's not always wisdom? What if sometimes it's a cop-out?

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, host Chris challenges one of the most common pieces of leadership advice and digs into when "focus on what you can control" becomes a way to avoid conflict, responsibility, or hard conversations.

Chris explores the difference between control and agency, why staying on the sidelines can be just as damaging as trying to control everything, and how leaders (at any level) can take responsible action—even when systems, bosses, or organizations don't change.

If you've ever felt stuck, disengaged, burned out, or tempted to say "that's outside my control," this episode will help you rethink your role, reclaim your agency, and lead with intention—whether you're in charge or not.

Main Points

• Why "focus on what you can control" can be wisdom or a quiet surrender

• The origin of the term cop-out and how it shows up in modern leadership

• How labeling everything as "out of my control" leads to burnout and disengagement

• The two traps leaders fall into:

  • Staying on the sidelines

  • Trying to control everything

• Control vs. agency: forcing outcomes vs. taking intentional action within constraints

• What is always within your control:

  • Your responses

  • Communication with leadership

  • Expectations and definitions of success

  • Learning, effort, and energy

  • Boundaries (time, emotional labor, tolerance for dysfunction)

• Practical examples:

  • Addressing toxic leadership directly instead of tolerating it

  • Giving feedback on organizational direction, budgets, and resourcing

  • Asking for feedback before performance reviews or promotion decisions

  • Speaking up about process and technology improvements

• Why encouragement is one of the most powerful acts of leadership

• Leadership isn't about position—it's about agency

Key Takeaways

• Focusing on what you can control becomes a problem when it helps you avoid hard conversations, boundaries, or decisions.

• Staying on the sidelines and trying to control everything both lead to the same outcome: stress, burnout, and disengagement.

• The goal of leadership is agency, not control.

• Even when systems don't change, you still have a "next responsible move."

• Boundaries are always your responsibility—and tolerating toxic behavior is not leadership.

• Giving direct, honest feedback is healthier than gossip or silence.

• Leadership is something you practice, not a title you're given.

• Encouragement is real leadership—and it's available to everyone.

Northbound Community and Courses. 

 

Have you ever had a boss who was… kind of a buffoon? Not evil, not stupid—just unaware of how they land.

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris breaks down why leadership usually fails: not because of bad intentions, but because self-awareness is missing. You'll learn how blind spots hide behind confidence, how power quietly shuts down honesty, and how "that's just how they are" becomes a culture that protects the wrong things.

Chris introduces the idea of "buffoon busting"—practical leadership work focused on identifying blind spots, auditing your language, building feedback loops, and creating a culture where clarity replaces chaos. This isn't about shaming leaders. It's about removing what's in the way so you can lead boldly, humbly, and with real credibility.

Main Points

• What "buffoon" really means

  • Not malicious, not stupid—often confident and well-intentioned.

  • The problem is impact without awareness (power used casually, language used carelessly).

  • "I didn't mean it that way" doesn't erase harm.

• How blind spots form

  • Blind spots don't announce themselves—they often look like confidence.

  • Power distorts feedback: the more power you have, the less truth you get.

  • Silence can become fake approval; laughter can replace honesty.

• Culture can calcify bad behavior

  • "That's just how he is" / "She didn't mean it like that" protects dysfunction.

  • Sometimes the "dirt bag" truly doesn't know—because no one tells them.

• Common blind spot categories

  • Language blind spots: "Relax, it was a joke," "You're too sensitive," "That's not what I meant" (invalidating/gaslighting).

  • Gender & identity blind spots: talking over, dismissing until repeated, mansplaining, commenting on tone/appearance instead of substance.

  • Emotional authority blind spots: using "intuition" to exclude; reframing dissent as ego/aggression; shutting down pushback.

  • Control confusion: mistaking leadership for control instead of creating belonging.

• Leadership behaviors that reveal blind spots

  • "Open door" leaders who punish honesty.

  • Favoritism disguised as trust (rewarding yes-people).

  • Asking for feedback but immediately defending or demanding examples to dismiss.

  • If feedback feels threatening, the blind spot is already active.

• The Northbound way forward

  • Being the buffoon isn't the failure—staying the buffoon is.

  • Replace certainty with curiosity:

    • "I missed that." "Tell me more." "What am I not seeing?"

  • Audit language, watch who goes quiet, notice who never challenges you.

  • Build structures: feedback loops, language/power audits, role play, coaching, "leadership mirror" sessions.

• Course / next steps

  • "Buffoon busting" course includes checklists, feedback sheets, deeper videos, and optional 1:1 Zoom coaching.

  • Focus: build a culture where clarity replaces crisis and chaos.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership breakdown is usually a self-awareness problem, not an intent problem.

• Power reduces honesty—leaders must design feedback back into their world.

• "That's just how they are" is a cultural excuse that protects dysfunction.

• Dissent isn't disloyalty—shutting it down creates blind spots and resentment.

• Credibility grows when leaders can say:

  • "I was wrong." "I'm sorry." "Help me understand."

• If nobody challenges you, that's not peace—that's data.

Join the Northbound Community Here. 

 

The idea of a "work wife" or "work husband" gets tossed around casually—but is it actually harmless?

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris tackles why this language isn't just unprofessional, but actively harmful to individuals, marriages, teams, and organizations. What sounds like a joke often masks blurred emotional boundaries, misplaced intimacy, and real legal and ethical risk at work.

Chris breaks down why emotional intimacy is still intimacy—even without romance—and why borrowing marriage language in the workplace erodes trust, psychological safety, and respect for real partnerships at home. He also offers practical, healthy alternatives for building strong professional relationships without crossing lines that should never be crossed.

This episode is a must-listen for leaders, managers, and professionals who want to foster trust at work without sacrificing integrity, boundaries, or their most important relationships.

Main Points Discussed

• Why the terms "work wife" and "work husband" are toxic, not harmless

• How marriage language at work normalizes emotional boundary crossing

• Why emotional intimacy without romance is still inappropriate in the workplace

• The way "work spouse" dynamics create exclusion, favoritism, and broken trust

• How this language disrespects real marriages and partnerships

• The legal, ethical, and HR risks tied to perceived favoritism and power dynamics

• What people usually mean when they say "work spouse"—and better ways to say it

• The difference between healthy professional support and unhealthy emotional reliance

• Practical guidance for honoring boundaries while still building deep trust at work

Key Takeaways

• You don't get a second spouse at work—you get coworkers.

• Emotional intimacy is still intimacy, even without romance.

• If you wouldn't explain a "work spouse" relationship comfortably to your real spouse, that's your answer.

• Strong professional relationships do not require blurred emotional boundaries.

• Language shapes culture—and careless language creates real consequences.

• Trust, support, and collaboration can exist without borrowing intimacy from the home.

• Healthy workplaces protect marriages, teams, and psychological safety at the same time.

 

Do you need encouragement and support with your marriage? 

Contact Matt Hallock at www.ManWarriorKing.com

 

Don't go through the whitewater on your own. Join the Northbound Approach Community 

 

Can you have loyalty without action?

In this episode of Northbound Leadership, Chris reflects on a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon and draws a powerful parallel to leadership under pressure. Once you're in the canyon, you're committed. The water moves fast, the weather changes, and the rapids don't care how confident your guide sounds. In that kind of environment, loyalty isn't proven by words—it's proven by action.

Chris explores why loyalty without action is empty, how hesitation and silence expose teams to danger, and why decisive leadership builds trust when things get rough. Using real-world rafting experiences, he shows that great leaders prepare for what others can't see, step in when risk is highest, and absorb pressure so their people don't have to.

This episode challenges leaders to move beyond lip service and lead with courage, clarity, and commitment—especially when the waters are rough. Because loyalty isn't what you say when things are calm; it's how you lead when the rapids hit.

Pick up the oar. Read the river. Lead the raft.

Click here to join the Northbound Approach Community 

 

What happens when you trip—and no one's watching?

In this episode of Northbound, Chris shares a moment from the trail that became a powerful leadership lesson. While backpacking alone in the woods, Chris trips, falls flat, and immediately feels embarrassed—despite having no audience. That moment sparks a deeper reflection on leadership, performance, and the pressure to always look put together.

Through humor, Scripture, and honest self-examination, Chris explores why leaders often perform instead of live authentically, how image management makes us fragile, and why humility and self-awareness are essential for healthy leadership. He challenges the idea that falling is failure and reframes it as proof that you're moving forward.

This episode reminds us that great leaders don't pretend to be untouchable. They laugh at themselves, learn from the stumble, and keep walking—trusting that God shapes real people, not curated images.

Trip. Fall. Get up. Lead on.

Hike With Northbound 

Northbound Summit - Remember The Trail That Got You There

The best shower of your life doesn't come from luxury—it comes after going without.

In this episode, Chris shares a backcountry story about three weeks without a shower and how discomfort sharpens gratitude. Using the Northbound climb as a framework, he explores why leaders who remember what it's like to go without stay more humble, empathetic, and grounded as they rise. Because comfort can create blind spots—but gratitude keeps leaders connected to their people.

The higher you climb, the more important it is to remember the trail that shaped you.

Northbound Community

 

Northbound Ascent - The Purpose Driven Climb

In this episode, Chris unpacks why this popular workplace phrase quietly trains burnout, replaces health with coping, and encourages people to escape their work instead of sustaining it. Using the Northbound framework of ascent, summit, and descent, he explains why healthy leadership isn't about pushing harder or rewarding exhaustion, but about designing rhythms people can actually endure.

Because leadership is a long climb—and the goal isn't surviving the week, it's staying strong for the journey ahead.

Northbound Approach Community - You are personnally invited. 

 

Ultralight Leadership: Carry Less, Lead Farther

What if leadership worked the same way as ultralight backpacking?

In this episode, Chris uses the trail to illustrate a powerful leadership truth: the more unnecessary weight we carry, the harder it is to go farther. From auditing your "pack" to navigating the ascent, summit, and descent, this episode explores how removing excess—old processes, emotional baggage, and unnecessary systems—allows leaders to care for people better, move with clarity, and stay healthy for the long haul.

Because in leadership, just like on the trail, less weight means you can lead farther.

 

Contact Chris Miser: chris@go-northbound.com

Northbound Approach Community 

Contact Matt Hallock: mattbhallock@gmail.com

DNA of a Man (Book on Amazon)

Man Warrior King Website 

Man Warrior King Council

 

Staying On The Trail - Leading Well At Home And At Work

"We're like family here" sounds loyal and warm… until it quietly produces burnout, resentment, blurred boundaries, and leaders carrying emotional weight they were never meant to carry.

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris continues a conversation about popular leadership ideas that sound healthy but create long-term damage. Joined by Matt Hallock (author of DNA of a Man and founder of the Man Warrior King Project), they unpack why work is not family—and why treating it like it is often reveals something deeper: unmet emotional needs at home, unresolved tension in marriage, and leaders using work as an escape.

You'll hear a practical framework for examining your "inner world," leading yourself first, resetting your home leadership, and leading teams with clarity and purpose—without asking the workplace to carry what only family and faith can.

Bottom line: healthy teams aren't built on guilt and obligation. They're built on clarity, respect, growth, shared purpose—and clear boundaries that create safety.

Main points

• Why the phrase "we're like family" can create unhealthy expectations and hidden damage over time

• How blurred boundaries lead to burnout, resentment, misplaced loyalty, and heavier leadership

• The common root issue: when home life feels unhealthy, work becomes emotionally attractive

• "Inner world" self-examination:

  • Am I seeking identity, validation, belonging, respect primarily from work?

  • Am I emotionally neglecting my spouse/family because work feels safer or more affirming?

• A two-step leadership progression:

  1. Lead yourself (spiritual health, habits, vision, values, discipline)

  2. Lead your family (boundaries, direction, encouragement, example)

• The role of boundaries: boundaries aren't harsh—they can be loving and stabilizing

• The difference between peacekeeping vs peacemaking (real peace may require hard conversations)

• Practical "reset" steps: honesty, commitment, time with God, and a reset conversation with your spouse

• Work and home both improve when emotional weight returns to where it belongs: home first, work second

Key takeaways

• Work is not family. Don't ask your job—or your team—to carry emotional needs meant for home.

• If you aren't anchored internally, you'll look for external anchors. Work often becomes that anchor.

• Leadership gets lighter when boundaries get clearer. Clarity reduces resentment and burnout.

• Lead yourself before you lead others. Your home leadership starts with your inner life and discipline.

• Boundaries are often love in action. They stop enabling destructive patterns and create safety.

• Peacemaking beats peacekeeping. Avoiding conflict doesn't create health—it delays it.

• Take ownership. Even if something isn't your fault, it may still be under your stewardship.

Join the Northbound Community

 

Still On The Trail - Why Education Matters For Leaders

Many leaders will tell you that education doesn't matter once you've made it. But the truth is more nuanced—and far more important.

In this episode of Northbound, Christopher Miser breaks down why continuing your education is critical for long-term leadership success. Using the metaphor of adventure and backpacking, he explains how leadership isn't a destination, but a long and changing trail—one where preparation, learning, and intentional growth make the difference between staying relevant or getting left behind.

From senior leaders quietly watching how you invest in yourself, to choosing the right kind of education that actually builds capability, this episode challenges leaders to think differently about learning, preparation, and what it really means to be ready for the next climb.

If you're serious about leadership longevity, adaptability, and impact—this episode is for you.

🧭 Main Discussion Points 1. Leadership Is a Journey, Not a Destination

Leadership is a long trail, not a finish line. Continuing education keeps leaders from becoming irrelevant, outdated, or lost as the terrain changes.

2. The Terrain Changes as You Climb

Early-career skills don't scale into senior leadership. As leaders rise, challenges shift from technical execution to strategic decision-making and organizational impact. Education helps leaders anticipate the terrain instead of reacting to it.

3. Senior Leadership Is Watching (Even When They Say They Aren't)

While some leaders claim degrees don't matter, most senior leaders do notice who is investing in themselves, stretching beyond minimum requirements, and preparing for future responsibility.

4. Education Is Pack Weight—Choose It Wisely

Not all education is equal. Overloading on credentials without purpose slows leaders down. The goal is capability, not collecting degrees or certifications.

5. Leaders Who Keep Learning Go Farther—and Stay Longer

Leaders who stop learning rely on outdated instincts, resist change, and lose relevance. Continued education keeps leaders curious, humble, adaptable, and effective over the long haul.

🎯 Key Takeaways

• Leadership requires continuous preparation, especially at higher levels

• The higher the elevation, the more intentional learning matters

• Senior leaders value those who demonstrate long-term thinking and discipline

• Education alone won't guarantee promotion, but a lack of growth can limit trust and opportunity

• Choose education that improves decision-making and prepares you for future roles

• Learning isn't about proving intelligence—it's about staying capable

• Leaders who keep learning stay relevant, adaptable, and effective longer

 

Your Personal Invitation 

I want to personally invite you into the Northbound Approach Community.

This is a space built around leadership, faith, and adventure—created intentionally in a world where influence often matters more than integrity. Northbound is different on purpose. It's not about platforms, algorithms, or followers. It's about trust, humility, encouragement, and walking the leadership journey together.

I created this community because leadership was never meant to be done alone. There's a small cost to join, not for exclusivity, but because commitment matters and shapes how we show up for one another.

Whether you join the community or continue listening to the podcast, the mission stays the same: to encourage bold, humble, and confident leadership rooted in faith and purpose.

This is an open invitation—to grow together, lead well, and keep climbing Northbound.

-Chris 

Do you have a culture in crisis?  Email me at Chris@Go-Northbound.com

 

If your week feels like one long fire drill, it's not because you're busy — it's because leadership has become reactive. In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris tackles why so many teams live in constant crisis mode and how leaders unknowingly train their organizations to wait until everything is on fire before acting.

This conversation exposes the hidden cost of reactive leadership, why waiting until Friday feels normal, and how chaos becomes culture when clarity is missing. Chris explains why fire drills aren't accidental — they're built, rewarded, and reinforced — and what it takes to break the cycle. Instead of surviving crisis after crisis, leaders can reclaim control by front-loading discomfort, addressing hard issues early, and replacing urgency with ownership.

If you're tired of putting out the same fires week after week, this episode lays out a clear path from crisis leadership to calm, intentional, proactive leadership — the Northbound way.

🔥 Main Points Discussed

• Why constant fire drills are a symptom, not the real problem

• How avoided decisions, delayed conversations, and unclear ownership fuel crisis culture

• Why waiting until Friday trains urgency instead of responsibility

• How fire drills reward hustle and overwork while punishing planning and prevention

• The danger of reactive leadership on long-term strategy and people development

• Why proactive leadership requires front-loading discomfort

• How ownership is the exit ramp from crisis mode

• The role of calm, steady leadership in breaking the fire drill addiction

• Why repeated fires point to weak systems, not bad luck

🔥 Key Takeaways

• Fire drills don't just happen — they are trained and reinforced

• Crisis mode is often a leadership habit, not a season

• Avoidance compounds difficulty and creates chaos

• Waiting until problems are urgent makes leadership harder, not easier

• Proactive leaders address hard issues early, even imperfectly

• Ownership replaces urgency with responsibility

• Calm leadership creates clarity, trust, and stability

• Leadership isn't about performing well in crisis — it's about rarely needing one

• Breaking the fire drill cycle requires leading early and choosing clarity over chaos

🔥 Northbound Truth:
Leadership isn't proven by how well you respond to emergencies — it's proven by how intentionally you prevent them.

Contact me directly Chris@Go-Northbound.com

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, we explore why effective leadership requires front-loading difficulty instead of avoiding it. Drawing from a northbound journey through California's High Sierra, this conversation uses Forester Pass and Glen Pass—two of the most demanding climbs on the trail—as a metaphor for leadership. These passes don't eliminate future challenges, but they fundamentally change how the rest of the journey is experienced. Leadership works the same way.

This episode challenges the tendency to delay hard conversations, decisions, and accountability in favor of "easy wins." Avoidance doesn't preserve energy—it compounds difficulty. Courage, on the other hand, compresses it. When leaders tackle the hardest issues first, confidence grows, clarity increases, and momentum follows. The terrain doesn't flatten, but leaders become more capable of carrying the weight.

This is a practical, action-oriented conversation about building leadership capacity, earning trust, and creating speed by addressing reality head-on. Leadership is not a checklist—it's terrain. And how you navigate it determines how far you and your team can go.

Main Points Discussed

• Leadership is terrain, not a checklist

• Forester Pass and Glen Pass as a metaphor for front-loading difficulty

• Why avoidance compounds leadership challenges instead of reducing them

• How hard leadership moments build confidence, judgment, and resilience

• The psychological nature of momentum in leadership

• Why starting with "easy wins" delays real progress

• The difference between courageous leadership and reckless decision-making

• How tackling hard issues immediately builds trust within teams

• Why courage early creates speed later

Key Takeaways

• Tackle the hardest leadership issues first

• Avoidance drains energy and grows problems

• Hard conversations strengthen leaders rather than weaken them

• Confidence follows action, not the other way around

• Momentum shifts after the hardest climb

• Easy-first leadership delays progress

• Teams trust leaders who confront reality

• Courage early creates clarity, trust, and long-term speed

This episode is a call to leaders to stop avoiding the climb and start leading with courage. At Northbound, we don't avoid hard terrain—we take it head-on, and we help each other carry the load all the way to the summit.

Contact me directly at Chris@Go-Northbound.com

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, we confront a growing wave of leadership advice that sounds like peace but quietly gives permission to disengage. Much of today's popular leadership messaging prioritizes comfort, self-protection, and emotional relief over responsibility, service, and courage. While it may feel empowering in the moment, this mindset erodes trust, weakens culture, and shrinks leadership influence over time.

This conversation draws a clear line between healthy boundaries and self-centered disengagement. Using the example of the Good Samaritan, we explore what leadership without convenience really looks like—choosing to stop, to care, and to take responsibility even when the problem wasn't yours to create. Northbound offers a different path to the summit: one rooted in moral courage, responsibility, and showing up even when it's inconvenient.

This episode is raw, direct, and honest about the cost of "me-first" leadership and why real leadership often requires being the bigger person, fixing what you didn't break, and stepping toward problems rather than away from them. The summit matters—but how you get there matters more.

Main Points Discussed

• The rise of "leadership noise" and emotionally validating advice that removes obligation

• Why not all leadership advice actually builds leaders

• How comfort-based leadership leads to disengagement and weakened culture

• The difference between healthy boundaries and self-centered disengagement

• Why leadership often requires fixing problems you didn't cause

• The Good Samaritan as a model of leadership without convenience

• The cost of me-centered leadership on teams, culture, and influence

• Northbound's belief that leadership is responsibility, not comfort

Key Takeaways

• Not all leadership advice is good leadership

• Comfort-based leadership erodes responsibility and influence

• Boundaries should sustain leadership, not excuse disengagement

• Leadership often requires being the bigger person

• Responsibility does not require blame

• Influence grows when leaders step toward problems, not away from them

• Peace is not the same as purpose

• Leadership is not about you—it's about the people you lead

This episode is a call to leaders who want to reject shallow advice and lead with courage, responsibility, and integrity. Northbound exists to help leaders reach the summit the right way—together, with purpose, and without abandoning the people along the path.

Need a Culture Change?  Email me  Chris@Go-Northbound.com

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In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, we challenge one of the most common—and most damaging—phrases in the workplace: "That's above my pay grade." While it sounds responsible and safe, this mindset quietly trains people to disengage, defer responsibility, and disconnect from outcomes. In an era where bureaucracy is shrinking and ideas can turn into action overnight, that excuse no longer protects organizations—it exposes them.

This conversation is not about recklessness or bypassing leadership. It's about reclaiming responsibility and understanding why silence, disengagement, and "not my job" thinking are especially dangerous right now. As AI accelerates change and levels the playing field, the organizations that win will not be the most efficient—they will be the ones filled with people who care, think, speak up, and take ownership.

We explore the difference between authority and responsibility, why leaders must eliminate disengaging language, and how people-centered leadership creates cultures of courage, clarity, and shared ownership. The future does not belong to those who optimize the most—it belongs to those who are willing to think, act, and lead with conviction.

Main Points Discussed

• Why "that's above my pay grade" trains disengagement rather than responsibility

• The difference between decision-making authority and moral or professional responsibility

• How silence is still a decision—and one that carries real consequences

• Why leaders must eliminate language that rewards compliance over ownership

• Lessons from the rise of human capital development during rapid technological change

• Why AI and automation increase the value of people rather than replace them

• The danger of efficiency-only cultures in a world where tools are universally available

• Why courage, conviction, and ownership will determine who wins in the future

• How modern leadership shifts from permission-based to ownership-based cultures

• The importance of healthy boundaries that encourage responsibility without chaos

Key Takeaways

• Authority is not handed down by pay grade—it is exercised through responsibility

• You may not make the final decision, but you always have the authority to notice, speak up, and care

• Silence and disengagement are more dangerous than rebellion

• AI eliminates bureaucracy, not the need for people or human judgment

• Organizations obsessed only with efficiency will struggle in this era

• The most effective leaders say "I don't know," invite insight, and create ownership

• Healthy cultures reward people for caring, surfacing issues, and protecting the mission

• Nothing is above your pay grade when it comes to people, truth, and the mission

 

This episode is a call to courageous leadership in a time that demands it—where responsibility is shared, authority is multiplied, and people are empowered to think, act, and lead together.

Contact me directly at Chris@Go-Northbound.com 

 

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, we confront one of the most damaging leadership mindsets still lingering in workplaces today: the belief—spoken or implied—that people are paid to comply, not to think. While this mentality may produce short-term obedience, it quietly destroys trust, initiative, innovation, and long-term growth.

This conversation explores how toxic leadership often shows up subtly through dismissive behavior, silence, or body language rather than explicit words—and how those behaviors train teams to disengage. We examine the real cost of organizational silence, why thinking is essential to action, and what people-centered leadership looks like in a year that demands bold movement, clarity, and responsibility.

As organizations face accelerating change, new technology, and AI-driven tools, this episode reinforces a critical truth: while systems and applications can support execution, human judgment, creativity, and ownership remain irreplaceable. Leadership is not about control—it's about unleashing potential.

Main Points Discussed

• How the "I don't pay you to think" mentality creates short-term compliance but long-term stagnation

• Why toxic leadership often appears through subtle behaviors rather than direct statements

• The hidden cost of organizational silence and disengaged teams

• The connection between thinking, ownership, and meaningful action

• What action-oriented, people-centered leadership looks like in practice

• Why technology and AI can support leadership—but never replace human judgment

• The importance of self-awareness and evaluating how leaders show up for their teams

Key Takeaways

• Silencing thinking doesn't create order—it kills initiative, trust, and growth

• Compliance without ownership leads to passive, reactive organizations

• Healthy leadership encourages independent thinking, problem-solving, and accountability

• Action-driven leadership requires clarity, autonomy, and room to learn from mistakes

• Technology can optimize tasks, but people drive innovation and impact

• Leadership is not about control—it's about creating space for people to think, act, and grow

 

This episode is a call to leaders at every level to reject toxic habits, protect thinking, and build cultures where people are empowered to contribute fully—because when people are allowed to think, organizations move forward faster and farther.

🎙️ Episode Description

If you need a form to tell someone how they're doing, you've already missed the moment.

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris challenges one of the most common — and most ineffective — leadership tools in modern organizations: feedback forms. While forms promise structure and safety, they often drain feedback of what actually makes it work — presence, trust, and human connection.

Using the trail as a metaphor once again, Chris explains why broken gear slows you down in the backcountry and how broken feedback processes do the same thing in leadership. Transformational leaders don't hide behind paperwork or checklists. They give feedback in real time, face to face, when it actually matters — and they document it after the human moment, not instead of it.

If your feedback process feels heavy, awkward, or ineffective, it might be time to throw it away.

🔑 Key Points

• Why feedback forms often act as bad gear in leadership

• How forms shift feedback from relationship to compliance

• Why growth doesn't happen on paper — it happens in conversation

• The danger of letting process replace presence

• What real-time, transformational feedback actually sounds like

• Why listening first builds trust and confidence

• How to document feedback without killing the moment

• Why leaders should write things down after the conversation

• How forms create false safety and distance instead of trust

• Why Northbound leadership prioritizes growth over paperwork

⭐ Main Takeaways

• Feedback forms are often heavy, impersonal, and ineffective in the moment

• Growth happens in real-time conversations, not checklists

• Transformational leadership is relational, personal, and human — not procedural

• The best feedback is timely, present, and face to face

• Documentation is important, but it should never replace the conversation

• Strong leaders fix broken processes instead of normalizing them

• Northbound leaders defend people, not tools

 

Join the community here: www.Go-Northbound.com

 

🎙️ Episode Description

Discomfort isn't the goal — growth is.

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris builds on the last conversation about resilience and clarifies a critical distinction: it's not discomfort itself that makes leaders stronger, but what they learn through it. Drawing again from backcountry experience, Chris explains why strong leaders don't chase pain, but they also don't avoid it.

Broken gear on the trail doesn't make you tougher — it makes you colder, slower, and more vulnerable. The same is true in leadership. This episode explores the difference between healthy discomfort and unnecessary suffering, why some leaders avoid discomfort while others glorify it, and how wise leaders pursue growth without burning themselves or their teams out.

If you want to lead north — farther, higher, and longer — this episode will help you learn how to use discomfort wisely.

🔑 Key Points

• Why discomfort alone doesn't build resilience — learning does

• The difference between healthy discomfort and unnecessary suffering

• Why strong leaders don't chase pain or glorify hardship

• How broken systems, habits, and tools create preventable suffering

• The danger of both avoiding discomfort and pursuing it for ego

• What chosen discomfort looks like in leadership (hard conversations, growth assignments, honest feedback)

• Why leaders must fix what's broken instead of romanticizing it

• How seeking counsel helps leaders move lighter and smarter

• Why discomfort should clarify and sharpen leaders, not cripple them

• How leaders grow people by supporting them through hardship, not sacrificing them to it

⭐ Main Takeaways

• Discomfort is a tool for growth, not a badge of honor

• Not all suffering is productive — some of it is preventable

• Strong leaders fix what's broken instead of glorifying hardship

• Growth accelerates when leaders learn, adapt, and seek counsel

• Carrying less weight — bad systems, habits, and ego — builds endurance

• Leaders shouldn't avoid discomfort or chase it; they should use it wisely

 

Reach me directly at Chris@Go-Northbound.com

 

🎙️ Episode Description

Leadership isn't built in comfort — it's built in the hard miles.

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris shares lessons drawn from walking over 1,500 miles alone on backcountry trails. From fear and injury to loneliness and exhaustion, those experiences didn't weaken him — they built resilience. And that same kind of resilience is exactly what leadership requires.

This episode challenges the myth of comfortable leadership and explores why adversity, pain, and even loneliness are not signs of failure, but tools for growth. Resilience isn't a personality trait — it's formed through exposure, pressure, and perseverance.

If you want to lead north, you have to be willing to walk through uncomfortable places and keep moving forward.

🔑 Key Points

• Leadership resilience is built through discomfort, not theory

• How the trail mirrors leadership: it doesn't adjust to your feelings or intentions

• Why comfort never prepares leaders for real challenges

• The difference between panic and adaptation under pressure

• Why pain is feedback, not failure

• How hardship teaches pacing, preparation, awareness, and humility

• The role of loneliness in building internal strength and self-awareness

• Leaders must sometimes walk alone to confront themselves

• Resilience compounds over time and builds credibility

• Leaders who endure hardship lead with deeper empathy

⭐ Main Takeaways

• Resilience is not a personality trait — it's a product of discomfort

• Leadership is formed when things are hard, not easy

• Pain and setbacks are signals to grow, not reasons to quit

• Loneliness isn't always bad; it builds conviction and internal strength

• Leaders who've walked hard miles lead with humility and courage

• Comfort creates managers — adversity creates leaders

• The strongest leaders empathize deeply because they've been there

 

Join the Northbound Approach Community: https://northbound-approach.circle.so/feed

 

🎙️ Episode Description

Too many leaders wait until performance scores drop before investing in their people. It sounds efficient — but it's reactive, passive, and ultimately misguided.

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris challenges a common leadership mindset: tying development to decline. Drawing from real leadership experience and what he's seeing across today's leadership noise, Chris explains why development should never be a response to failure — it should be a constant investment.

Metrics matter, but they are lagging indicators. Real leadership happens long before dashboards turn red. If you want to build trust, engagement, and long-term performance, you must develop people before the decline.

If you want to lead north, this episode is for you.

🔑 Key Points

• Why tying development plans to falling scores is reactive leadership

• The danger of outsourcing leadership to dashboards, metrics, and spreadsheets

• How performance metrics are lagging indicators, not early warnings

• Why development after decline becomes corrective instead of formative

• How reactive development erodes trust and associates growth with punishment

• Why every employee should have a development plan from day one

• How proactive development builds psychological safety, engagement, and retention

• The difference between managing scores and leading people

⭐ Main Takeaways

• Waiting for performance scores to drop before developing people is reactive, not leadership

• Most metrics only show problems after they already exist

• Development plans should be standard practice, not a consequence

• Proactive development builds trust, engagement, and long-term performance

• High performers need development just as much as struggling employees

• The best leaders invest in people before there's ever a problem

• Leading north means acting early — not responding late

 

Need a leadership coach? Contact me personally at Chris@Go-Northbound.com

 

Anonymous surveys are often sold as safe, honest, and necessary — but are they really helping your organization? In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris dives into the hidden dangers of anonymous feedback and why these surveys can quietly erode trust, silence courage, and undermine accountability. Learn how to move from forms to face-to-face conversations, cultivate a culture of openness, and build leaders who inspire honesty and solutions — not just venting.

Main Points:

1. The Intention vs. Reality of Anonymous Surveys

   • Surveys give people a voice, especially in low-trust environments.

   • They can surface real issues but don't create honesty. They often reveal fear rather than build trust.

2. Hidden Dangers

   • Feedback becomes indirect, relational trust is lost.

   • Leaders may overcorrect due to skewed or incomplete data.

   • Ownership and accountability are removed; the loudest voices dominate.

3. When Anonymous Feedback Might Work

   • Temporary use in deeply broken or unsafe cultures (e.g., mergers, layoffs).

   • Must always be paired with a plan to move toward open dialogue.

4. Northbound Alternatives

   • Build feedback-rich relationships through one-on-ones and 360 feedback.

   • Teach feedback as a skill; focus on behaviors, encourage solutions.

   • Make respectful disagreements safe; model vulnerability as a leader.

5. Christ-Centered Leadership Perspective

   • Jesus led with open conversation, not anonymous feedback.

   • Courage, humility, and relationships build healthy cultures.

   • Leaders should move toward hard conversations, not avoid them.

Key Takeaways:

• Anonymous surveys reveal fear, they don't heal it.

• Trust grows through relationships, not forms.

• Courageous cultures are built face-to-face.

• Northbound leaders create environments where people feel safe to speak with them, not around them.

• If your team only speaks truth anonymously, it's a signal to assess your culture.

Call to Action:

Want to create a culture where people share honest, solution-oriented feedback? Reach out to Chris at chris@go-northbound.com or join the Northbound community at go-northbound.com to learn how to lead with courage, Christ-centered values, and relational trust.

Contact me personally: Chris@Go-Northbound.com

 

When we think about investing, we usually think about money—stocks, real estate, returns, and risk. But the greatest investment leaders can make isn't found in a portfolio. It's found in people.

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris explores the powerful connection between financial investing and leadership investing. Drawing from personal experience, biblical wisdom, and the Northbound adventure mindset, this conversation challenges leaders to stop burying potential and start intentionally investing in the people they lead.

Just like financial investing, leadership investment requires patience, vision, consistency, and courage. When done well, it produces compounding returns that multiply far beyond the initial effort—strengthening teams, shaping culture, and changing lives for the long haul.

This episode is a guide for leaders who want to move northbound by developing people, not just managing outcomes.

Main Points

1. Investing in People Mirrors Investing in Money
Leadership investment requires patience, long-term vision, and consistent effort. People grow when they are nurtured, supported, and challenged—and leaders must never bury the potential they've been given.

2. Leadership Is a Northbound Journey
Leadership is an adventure filled with uncertainty, risk, and growth. Each person has different passions, gifts, and goals, and leaders are called to guide, encourage, and invest in each individual along the journey.

3. High-Value Leadership Investments
The greatest leadership investments include mentorship, training, coaching, and empowerment—trusting people to take action, learn from mistakes, and grow through experience.

4. Compounding Returns Through People
Small, intentional investments today lead to exponential growth tomorrow. Strong teams become more capable, self-sufficient, and impactful over time, multiplying leadership influence and organizational health.

5. Avoid Bad Leadership Investments
Micromanagement and neglect destroy growth. Healthy leaders balance guidance with autonomy to create environments where people can thrive.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is the ultimate long-term investment

• Consistency, patience, and encouragement produce compounding growth

• Empowered people drive innovation, loyalty, and results

• True leadership returns are measured in people who grow, take action, and invest in others

• Leaders are called to steward what they've been given—not bury it

 

Northbound Podcast has partnered with Man Warrior King. 

Man Warrior King Podcast: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/02WfLtAhTiq655P4V0qfTJ?si=64e52abef3cb4713

Follow the host Matt Hallock here: https://www.manwarriorking.com/

Grab your copy of DNA of a Man: https://a.co/d/5F1Zy5P

Email me at Chris@Go-Northbound.com Join Community at www.Go-Northbound.com Episode Description

You've probably heard it before: "We're like family here."
At first, it sounds warm, inviting—maybe even inspiring. But what if that phrase is quietly creating burnout, resentment, and unhealthy leadership dynamics?

In this episode of Northbound, Chris unpacks why treating your workplace like a family often does more harm than good. Drawing from real leadership experience and a Christ-centered perspective, this conversation explores the hidden dangers of blurred boundaries, misplaced loyalty, and emotional expectations that leaders were never meant to carry.

Leadership is an adventure—and healthy teams aren't built on guilt or obligation. They're built on clarity, respect, growth, and shared purpose. Join Chris as he reframes leadership not as family management, but as guiding partners on a northbound journey toward excellence.

Main Points

• Why "We're Like Family" Is So Appealing
  It promises belonging, loyalty, and connection—but often at the cost of professionalism and accountability.

• The Toxic Side of the Family Metaphor
  Blurred boundaries lead to overwork, tolerated bad behavior, burnout, and resentment.

• Why Work Is Not Family
  Everyone already has a God-ordained family at home. Work was never meant to replace that role.

• Unhealthy Expectations Placed on Leaders
  Leaders are pressured to provide emotional support beyond their role, creating imbalance and frustration.

• A Better Northbound Approach
  Treat your team as valued partners on a shared journey—clear roles, mutual respect, and aligned goals.

• What Healthy Leadership Actually Looks Like
  Professionalism, accountability, development, empathy, and sending people home better than you found them.

Key Takeaways

• Stop saying "We're like family." It's appealing, but it can hide or create toxic dynamics.

• Boundaries aren't cold—they create safety, clarity, and long-term growth.

• Leadership is about guiding, empowering, and developing people—not replacing the family role.

• Teams thrive when loyalty comes from respect and trust, not guilt or obligation.

• Great leaders model professionalism and work-life balance—and make sure people get home to their families.

Go North in 2026!   

 

www.Go-Northbound.com

 

2026 is here, and leadership is moving faster than ever before. AI is reshaping how we work—streamlining tasks, improving processes, and accelerating decision-making. But while technology continues to advance, it can never replace the most transformative elements of leadership: human connection, wise counsel, and decisive action.

In this episode of Northbound, Chris explores what leadership must look like in 2026. Using a Northbound adventure mindset, he challenges leaders to leverage AI as a powerful tool—without surrendering their responsibility to lead people well. Grounded in Proverbs 11:14, this episode reminds us that technology is no substitute for wisdom, relationships, and accountability.

If you want to experience real growth in 2026—personally, professionally, and organizationally—this episode will help you chart a clear path forward: use AI for efficiency, invest deeply in people, and lead with courage and action.

Key Points

• Leadership Is Changing, But People Still Matter Most
  AI can optimize tasks and processes, but it cannot replace human connection, motivation, or morale.

• Technology Is a Tool, Not a Replacement
  AI should empower leaders, not replace judgment, wisdom, or relational leadership.

• Wise Counsel Still Comes First
  As technology accelerates, leaders must remain grounded in biblical wisdom and trusted relationships.

• Relationships Must Remain the Priority
  One-on-ones, authentic check-ins, and honest feedback are essential in an AI-driven world.

• Transparency Builds Trust
  Leaders should be open about how AI is used and reassure teams that people are not being replaced.

• 2026 Is a Year of Action
  AI can inform decisions, but leaders must still act decisively and thoughtfully.

• Efficiency Creates Opportunity
  When AI frees up time, leaders should reinvest it into coaching, mentoring, and development.

Key Takeaways

• AI can increase efficiency, but only leaders can build trust and culture.

• Technology should support leadership—not define it.

• Wise counsel, starting with God's Word, remains essential in a fast-moving world.

• People-centered leadership is the true growth engine.

• Action-oriented leadership turns insight into results.

• Efficiency plus intentional leadership leads to exponential growth.

• In 2026, the greatest competitive advantage is still your people.

Hi, I'm your host Chris. Thank you for listening. Email me directly at chris@Go-Northbound.com

 

Present Leadership, Northbound Culture - People Are Worth Your Attention

What does your phone, your laptop, or your inbox say about how much you value your people?

In this episode of Northbound, Chris opens with an uncomfortable—but familiar—moment: starting a conversation distracted, busy, half-present. And that's the point. Too many leaders invite people into meetings, feedback sessions, and one-on-ones, only to communicate—without saying a word—that something else matters more.

This episode unpacks a hard truth: distraction is communication. When leaders don't remove distractions, they erode trust, waste time, shut down psychological safety, and quietly tell their people they don't matter. Chris walks through eight leadership lessons that challenge efficiency-driven leadership and call leaders back to presence, care, and stewardship.

If you want to lead people who feel valued, heard, and safe to speak honestly—this episode is a must-listen.

Main Talking Points

1. Distraction Is Communication
Leaders are always communicating, even when they're silent. A buzzing phone, an open laptop, or emails mid-conversation all say something—and usually not what the leader intends.

2. Feedback Requires Presence, Not Efficiency
Feedback isn't a task to optimize; it's a moment of trust transfer. Multitasking during feedback turns development into discipline and care into correction.

3. Meetings Are Stewardship of Time
Time is a nonrenewable resource. Distracted leaders waste time and energy, creating longer meetings, less clarity, and quiet resentment.

4. Distraction Reveals an Unhealthy Hierarchy
When leaders refuse to pause, they communicate rank instead of respect—emails over people, urgency over importance.

5. Presence Builds Psychological Safety
People speak honestly only when they feel heard. Distraction shuts down vulnerability, innovation, and healthy disagreement. When people stop speaking, leaders start guessing.

6. Leaders Go First
Culture follows behavior. If leaders check their phones, everyone checks their phones. If leaders close the laptop, the room changes.

7. Northbound Practices for Undistracted Leadership
Close the laptop. Put the phone face down—or turn it off. Avoid paperwork during feedback. Delegate interruptions. Declare the moment important.

8. The Heart Lesson
People don't need perfect leaders—they need present ones. No one wants to feel like an interruption when they sit across from their leader.

Key Takeaways

• What you refuse to put down reveals what you value

• Presence communicates care more clearly than words

• Feedback without attention damages trust

• Meetings are a promise—honor them with focus

• Psychological safety starts with undivided attention

• Leaders set the pace and tone for distraction

• Your people should feel like the most important thing in the room

• Leadership isn't about being busy—it's about being present

Email me direct at chris@go-northbound.com

 

Leadership Into The Unknown

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris takes listeners deep into the Grand Canyon—literally and figuratively. Drawing from a seven-day rafting expedition with his family and the historic journey of explorer John Wesley Powell, this conversation unpacks what leadership looks like when the map is incomplete and the stakes are real.

Through adventure, history, and hard-earned insight, Chris outlines timeless leadership principles learned in uncomfortable terrain: conviction, honesty, courage, care for people, adaptability, and stewardship. Powell's journey down the Colorado River—with no maps, wooden boats, and only one arm—becomes a powerful reminder that leaders don't wait until they feel ready. They move forward because they were created to lead.

📌 Main Points

• Adventure reveals leadership because it strips away comfort and exposes reality.

• John Wesley Powell led with conviction and vision, even when no maps existed.

• Leaders must balance boldness with wisdom—organizations need a clear map.

• Reality matters more than comfort; honesty builds trust.

• Courage always involves risk, but leadership requires stepping forward anyway.

• Missions fail when leaders stop caring for their people.

• Adaptability is essential—nature, culture, and reality will not adapt to you.

• Vision without stewardship leads to collapse.

• Limitations do not disqualify leaders—Powell led his team down the Grand Canyon with one arm.

🧭 Key Takeaways

• Leadership is forged in uncomfortable places—don't avoid them.

• Conviction and passion move people forward, especially in uncertainty.

• Be honest about reality; comfort-driven leadership erodes trust.

• Risk is not failure—it's the cost of courageous leadership.

• Care for your people or you will lose both them and the mission.

• Adapt quickly or fall behind; rigidity kills momentum.

• Vision must be stewarded wisely to be sustained.

• If you're in a leadership position, it's time to lead—God designed you for this.

Email me directly at chris@Go-Northbound.com

Join the community at www.Go-Northbound.com and get access to a simple 360 degree tool for leaders. 

Trust Before Feedback - 360° Leadership

In this episode of Northbound, Christopher Miser dives into 360° feedback and the role trust plays in leadership. Feedback only works where trust exists—without it, feedback becomes filtered, delayed, or silent. Christopher shares why the most valuable voices often belong to those with the least power, why leaders must respond to feedback to earn ongoing trust, and practical steps for implementing 360° feedback that strengthens your culture and organization.

Main Points

• Trust is foundational for effective feedback.

• Power distorts honesty; the lowest-power voices are often the clearest.

• Feedback must lead to visible change or it loses value.

• Leaders earn trust by responding to feedback and showing humility.

• 360° feedback is a mirror of leadership humility.

Key Takeaways

1. Trust determines the quality of feedback.

2. The most valuable feedback often comes from those with the least power.

3. Feedback is only leadership when it produces visible change.

4. You must earn trust; you cannot demand it.

5. Be brave enough to hear the truth and act on it.

 

Northbound Podcast has partnered with Man Warrior King. 

Man Warrior King Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/02WfLtAhTiq655P4V0qfTJ?si=64e52abef3cb4713

Follow the host Matt Hallock here: https://www.manwarriorking.com/

Grab your copy of DNA of a Man: https://a.co/d/5F1Zy5P

 

Email the host direct at chris@go-northbound.com

 

Lessons From The Back Room - Organizational Leadership

In this episode of Northbound, Chris shares a powerful story from his early days as an Air Force lieutenant about the importance of valuing back-office employees and listening to voices often overlooked. He recounts how a young enlisted member—quiet and unnoticed by many—knew the squadron's culture and history better than the senior officers. This episode explores how culture happens when leaders aren't in the room, why the lowest-level employees often hold the clearest view of your organization, and how humility and feedback are essential for effective leadership.

Main Points

• Leadership isn't just about the people at the top; back-office employees often hold the keys to culture and operations.

• Culture is not only written—it's repeated. Observing and listening to how your team lives out values is critical.

• The youngest or lowest-level employees may know your culture better than you do.

• Surveys and formal metrics can't replace authentic feedback and attentive listening.

• Leaders must be humble enough to seek and honor feedback from overlooked voices.

Key Takeaways

1. Value and trust your back-office employees—they may run your organization more than you realize.

2. Culture exists beyond your observation—pay attention to what happens when you're not in the room.

3. Listen to those with less power—their insights are often the clearest reflections of your culture.

4. Reinforce the good and learn from the bad—know your history, values, and repeated successes/failures.

5. Leadership requires humility—seek feedback, honor it, and let it guide growth.

Schedule leadership coaching with your host, Chris at chris@go-northbound.com

 

What's Keeping Your Wheels Northbound? - Organizational Leadership

In this episode of Northbound, Chris highlights the critical role of office assistants as organizational linchpins. He explores how assistants often run the culture, operations, and communication hubs of an organization—even more than some executives realize. This episode provides practical guidance for leaders on giving assistants authority, building trust, preventing burnout, providing fair compensation, and fostering a culture of respect. Discover why supporting your office staff isn't just kindness—it's essential leadership.

Main Points

• Office assistants are organizational linchpins, keeping both culture and operations running smoothly.

• Authority, trust, and access are key: assistants must be empowered to lead within their roles.

• Effective communication from leadership is crucial for office staff to succeed.

• Monitoring burnout and providing proper compensation (monetary and cultural) protects your organization.

• Assistants set the tone of the office and influence loyalty and culture more than many leaders realize.

Key Takeaways

1. Respect and authority: Give assistants real authority and don't undermine them.

2. Trust and access: Allow assistants to act and provide them the tools they need.

3. Prevent burnout: Watch for stress absorbed from all directions and intervene early.

4. Compensation and value: Fair pay, benefits, and a positive culture reduce turnover and increase loyalty.

5. Culture and leadership: Assistants often enforce and reflect organizational values; they are vital to long-term success.

6. Ask yourself: If your assistant quit tomorrow, would your office survive?

Schedule a free consultation. Email me at Chris@Go-Northbound.com

 

The Emperor Has No Clothes - Leading So People Feel Safe to Disagree

Episode Topic: Encouraging healthy disagreement to strengthen leadership and team performance

Episode Description:
In this episode of Northbound, Chris explores how leaders can foster an environment where team members feel safe to disagree. Through personal stories—including a funny and unexpected example of an old recliner becoming a "feedback chair"—Chris illustrates the value of open dialogue and psychological safety in leadership. He explains why encouraging constructive dissent leads to better decisions, innovation, and stronger team buy-in, while also sharing actionable steps for leaders to normalize dissent and respond thoughtfully to differing perspectives.

Main Points:

• The value of disagreement – Why leaders should welcome challenges to ideas.

• Psychological safety – Creating an environment where people feel respected and comfortable speaking up.

• Leading with humility and openness – Encouraging feedback regardless of seniority or experience.

• Benefits of disagreement – Better decisions, innovation, and stronger buy-in from your team.

• How to encourage it –

  • Ask open-ended questions.

  • Invite alternate perspectives regularly.

  • Respond respectfully and thoughtfully to dissent.

• Personal anecdotes / examples – Stories of learning from unexpected sources, like a young team member offering invaluable feedback.

• Pitfalls to avoid – Overreacting, shutting down dissent, or displaying frustration.

• Actionable advice for leaders –

  • Normalize dissent as part of team culture.

  • Reward honest feedback and constructive challenges.

  • Model vulnerability by admitting when you're wrong or unsure.

Key Takeaways:

• Disagreement, when encouraged, strengthens both leadership and team performance.

• Psychological safety is essential for people to feel comfortable sharing different perspectives.

• Leaders must listen, respect, and thoughtfully respond to challenges and alternate ideas.

• Normalizing open communication fosters innovation and strong organizational collaboration.

• Small, creative actions—like creating spaces for feedback—can have a lasting impact on team culture.

Northbound Approach Community -- https://northbound-approach.circle.so/c/posts/

 

Empowerment Over "Face-Time" - How To Showcase Your People Naturally 

Episode Description:
In this episode of Northbound, Chris dives into the misguided workplace concept of "FaceTime"—the idea that employees need to spend artificial time with higher-ups to get noticed. Chris shares personal experiences from his career where forced visibility felt awkward, transactional, and unproductive. Instead, he highlights how effective leadership empowers employees, creates natural opportunities to showcase abilities, and focuses on results rather than optics. Through stories and lessons, Chris shows leaders how to support their people while avoiding the pitfalls of superficial "FaceTime."

Talking Points:

• The myth of "FaceTime" – Why leaders often emphasize it and what it really means.

• The problem with forced visibility – How artificial "FaceTime" can feel awkward, transactional, or unproductive.

• Showcasing abilities naturally – Encouraging leaders to create opportunities for employees to demonstrate skill and value through meaningful work, projects, or outcomes.

• Trust over optics – Why leadership should focus on results and competence rather than constant physical presence or attention-seeking.

• Empowerment vs. permission – How giving autonomy and real responsibility allows people to shine without "FaceTime."

• Personal anecdotes / examples – Sharing moments where natural exposure worked better than forced face-to-face meetings.

• Actionable advice for leaders:

  • Delegate high-impact projects.

  • Recognize contributions in front of peers or leadership naturally.

  • Encourage proactive reporting rather than micromanagement.

Key Takeaways:

• Effective leadership is about creating meaningful visibility, not forcing "FaceTime."

• Employees shine best when given autonomy and real responsibility.

• Communication up the chain should focus on results and measurable impact.

• Recognition should feel organic, highlighting genuine contributions.

• Leaders who avoid superficial practices build trust, engagement, and a stronger team.

Email your host directly at Chris@Go-Northbound.com

 

From Inbox to Outbox - How Efficient Leaders Give Time Back

Episode Description:
In this episode of Northbound, Chris reflects on lessons learned from his grandfather and a particularly disciplined boss. From perfectly packed camping trips to an office inbox meticulously managed by priority, Chris explores how structure, efficiency, and clear expectations can transform the way we work and lead. He shares personal stories that show how great leaders value both results and the people achieving them, creating environments where teams can thrive without staying late unnecessarily.

Main Points:

• How structured processes and prioritization improve performance.

• The importance of leaders modeling efficiency before expecting it from others.

• The impact of valuing employees' time on morale and productivity.

Key Takeaways:

• Well-designed processes give teams clarity and freedom to excel.

• Efficient leadership prevents unnecessary overtime and stress.

• Leaders who value their people's time foster loyalty, engagement, and better results.

• Time management is not just about business efficiency—it's about respecting people's lives outside of work.

Email your host directly at Chris@Go-Northbound.com

 

How to Get Promoted - The Right Way

In this episode, Chris dives into the overwhelming noise of modern leadership advice—especially the kind that circulates on social media. Using a popular LinkedIn article about "how to get promoted" as a springboard, he breaks down 11 common pieces of promotion advice, evaluates their strengths and pitfalls, and reframes them through the lens of transformational leadership. Instead of playing political games for advancement, Chris argues for a mindset shift: focus on elevating others and leading with integrity from your current seat. Promotion, he says, should come as a necessity.

Main Points & Commentary 1. The Problem With Leadership Noise

• The internet—especially LinkedIn—is saturated with leadership content.

• Some advice is good, some is harmless, and some is outright counterproductive.

• The challenge: discerning truth from noise.

2. The LinkedIn Promotion Advice Breakdown #1 — The Power of Being Liked

• The article suggests smiling more and remembering coffee orders.

• Chris warns this can quickly slip into "kissing up".

• Better principle: be trustworthy and perform well—not manipulative.

#2 — Recognize Your Manager's Insecurities

• The article suggests making your manager look good publicly.

• Chris cautions: this crosses into flattery and can backfire.

• Better approach: offer private encouragement, not public posturing.

#3 — Be the Person Who Brings Donuts

• Small acts of thoughtfulness matter.

• Chris agrees this is harmless and often helpful—when done authentically.

#4 — Water Cooler Conversations / Proximity to Power

• "FaceTime" can be useful but feels like a dirty game when forced.

• Seek influence for positive impact, not status climbing.

#5 — Being the Quiet Person in Meetings

• Listening is powerful.

• Gathering others' insights often beats being the loudest voice.

• Chris supports this one.

#6 — Your Reputation With Assistants

• Assistants often have more influence than people realize.

• Treating people with respect isn't a strategy—it's character.

• Chris says this belongs at the top.

#7 — Your Last Interaction Matters

• People remember how you made them feel.

• Ending with gratitude encourages and builds rapport.

#8 — Company Culture Shifts

• Pay attention to what's being rewarded.

• Adapt—but never compromise your integrity or ethics to fit a toxic shift.

#9 — Digital Body Language

• Read messages aloud; delay your send; match communication style to your audience.

• Chris admits learning this the hard way.

#10 — Saying "I Don't Know"

• Honesty builds more trust than false expertise.

• "I don't know, but I'll find out" is powerful leadership.

• Asking for feedback also demonstrates humility.

#11 — The Power of Follow-Through

• Many people promise; few deliver.

• Don't overpromise—overdeliver.

• When situations change, communicate early and clearly.

Northbound Reframe: The Mindset Shift

Chris wraps the episode by challenging the core premise of the LinkedIn article:

You shouldn't do any of these things to get promoted.
You should do them to elevate others.

Key emphasis:

• Don't chase promotion.

• Lead with integrity from any seat.

• Encourage and uplift your peers.

• Build trust, deliver results, and treat people with dignity.

• When you adopt transformational leadership, promotion becomes unavoidable—your organization needs you at a higher level.

This is the heart of Northbound: leadership that transforms people, not leadership that seeks position.

Key Takeaways 1. Promotion Should Be a Byproduct, Not a Goal

Shift from "How do I climb?" to "How do I elevate others?"

2. Integrity > Tactics

Some advice leads to manipulation; true leadership requires authenticity.

3. Respect Everyone

Treating assistants, peers, and coworkers with dignity creates real influence.

4. Communicate Thoughtfully

Digital tone matters; delay your send and speak with intention.

5. Be Honest About Your Limits

"I don't know" builds trust more than bluffing.

6. Follow Through

Reliability is one of the most underrated leadership traits.

7. Lead From Where You Are

Transformational leadership impacts the whole team—not just you.

Follow along and join our team at: 

www.Go-Northbound.com

 

Episode Title: The Greater Shackleton - 

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris contrasts two legendary Antarctic explorers—Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton—to reveal a timeless leadership lesson. While Scott's obsession with being first to the South Pole led to tragedy and loss, Shackleton's leadership focused on the people around him, their well-being, and shared success along the journey.

Through Shackleton's example, Chris highlights how authentic leadership—grounded in truth, compassion, and clear purpose—can turn even the most extreme challenges into victories for the team. This episode shows that true success isn't just reaching a destination, but how we guide, support, and care for the people alongside us.

Main Points 1. Learning from the Past

• Scott pushed his team toward a goal at all costs—leading to death and disappointment.

• Shackleton, in contrast, prioritized his team's safety, morale, and shared purpose.

2. Shackleton's Leadership Principles

• Communicated clear purpose and "the why" to his team.

• Led with compassion and authenticity, modeling every challenge he asked others to face.

• Encouraged team morale with recreation, shared meals, and mutual support.

• Maintained honesty about risks and difficulties.

3. Overcoming Extreme Challenges

• Shackleton's ship was crushed by ice, yet he safely relocated his team.

• He undertook a 14-day, 780-mile open-sea journey, followed by a 25-mile mountain crossing, to rescue men stranded on Elephant Island.

• Despite extreme danger, not a single member of his team perished.

4. Redefining Success

• Success isn't only measured by reaching a goal.

• Real success lies in the challenges overcome, the people supported, and the lessons learned along the journey.

• Leadership is remembered not for ambition alone, but for how we care for and inspire those we lead.

Key Takeaways

• People-first leadership saves lives and builds loyalty.

• Success is found along the journey, not just at the destination.

• Authenticity, compassion, and communication are critical traits for effective leadership.

• Leaders are remembered for how they treat their people, not the accolades they achieve.

• Extreme circumstances reveal the true character of a leader.

Join and follow the Northbound Team at:

www.Go-Northbound.com

Great Scott - A Case Study in Poor Priorities 

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris unpacks the tragic Antarctic expedition of Robert Falcon Scott and reveals how a leader's obsession with reaching the summit or South Pole in this case—literally and figuratively—can destroy the very people they're called to guide. Through Scott's story, Chris highlights the dangers of prioritizing mission over people and challenges leaders to evaluate whether their strategy truly supports the teams they rely on.

With a Christ-centered lens, Chris explores the importance of aligning goals, vision, and mission with the needs of your people—because success achieved the wrong way isn't success at all. This powerful case study sets the stage for a contrasting, more effective leadership example coming in the next episode.

Main Points 1. The Drive to Achieve Is Not Enough

• Leaders often have strong mission, vision, and goals—but those mean little if the strategy ignores the people tasked with accomplishing them.

2. Who Was Robert Falcon Scott?

• Early naval training built his discipline and courage.

• His first Antarctic expedition made him a national hero.

• His desire for more adventure and recognition consumed him.

3. The Fatal Terra Nova Expedition

• Poorly chosen equipment, inadequate supplies, and harsh conditions slowed the team.

• Scott neglected critical planning elements—especially the needs and limits of his crew.

• When Scott's team reached the South Pole, they discovered Norway's Roald Amundsen had beaten them.

• The return journey became deadly—men died from exposure, exhaustion, and starvation.

4. Where Leadership Went Wrong

• Scott overloaded his men instead of using dogs.

• Decisions lacked flexibility, wisdom, and support for the team.

• His focus on personal achievement overshadowed the well-being of the people he led.

5. The Leadership Lesson

• A strategic plan must integrate mission + people.

• True leadership aligns ambition with human limits and needs.

• Christ-centered leadership models how to honor people above personal glory.

6. Northbound Vision

• Elevate your team through Christ-centered leadership.

• Grow, get promoted, and lead well—without sacrificing people in the pursuit of success.

Key Takeaways

• Mission without people-centered strategy leads to failure.

• Your team is not a resource to burn; they're the heart of your success.

• Leadership requires wisdom, planning, and care—not just drive and ambition.

• Jesus models a leadership style that values people first.

• Your goals matter, but your people matter more.

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris unpacks a powerful leadership lesson inspired by an Eagle Scout whose life embodied humility, vigilance, focus, and decisive action—Neil Armstrong. As the Apollo 11 lunar module descended toward its marked landing zone, Armstrong recognized that the planned site was covered with dangerous boulders and debris. With fuel running low and no time to abort, he took manual control and guided the spacecraft to safety.

This moment becomes a vivid metaphor for leadership today: organizations need strategic roadmaps and vision, but the best leaders must also recognize when it's time to take the controls and adjust course. Drawing from his own heritage as a third-generation Eagle Scout, Chris reflects on how the lessons learned in scouting—and embodied by Armstrong—shape leaders who are prepared, steady, and ready to act.

This episode dives deep into how leaders balance direction with adaptability, and why the courage to course-correct is essential for mission success.

Main Points

• Neil Armstrong's leadership during the Apollo 11 descent shows the power of decisive action when conditions change.

• Strategic roadmaps are essential—but they must allow room for course correction.

• Great leaders know when to trust the process and when to grab the controls.

• Course correction is not failure; it's stewardship, responsibility, and leadership.

• Communication, alignment, and clarity form the foundation that enables healthy adaptation.

• A strong, consistent mission anchors an organization even when methods must shift.

• People—the team carrying out the mission—are always the most important factor.

Join our leadership team at - www.Go-Northbound.com

 

Episode Title: From Wilderness to Summit: Finding Growth in Leadership

Leadership can be grueling, invisible, and exhausting — but it doesn't have to break you. In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris reflects on his journey from the most challenging moments of his military career to a 68-day solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, a period of deep reflection and personal growth. Through this story, he shares how leaders can move from the "wilderness" of stress, isolation, and emotional fatigue to the "summit" of resilience, clarity, and Christ-centered leadership.

Chris provides actionable strategies for handling the hidden weight of leadership, emphasizing the importance of boundaries, support systems, physical and mental care, spiritual grounding, and shared community. This episode ties together lessons from previous discussions on the "Miles That No One Sees" and "The Weight You Carry," showing leaders how to transform challenges into growth, impact, and renewed purpose.

Main Points Covered in This Episode

1. Reflection in the Wilderness: Using solitude and challenge to process leadership stress and past experiences.

2. Recognizing the Load: Identifying the emotional, mental, and relational weight you carry as a leader.

3. Boundaries and Support Systems: The necessity of setting limits and cultivating a strong network of encouragement.

4. Physical and Mental Health: Prioritizing your body, delegating, simplifying processes, and managing cognitive load.

5. Spiritual Grounding: Restoring and trusting in God to maintain resilience and Christ-centered leadership.

6. Embracing Adventure and Community: Using life and leadership challenges as opportunities for growth and shared experiences.

7. Leading Humbly: Recognizing that leadership is supported by mentors, peers, and those you lead — moving from "I" to "We."

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is a journey from wilderness (stress, fatigue, isolation) to summit (resilience, growth, impact).

• Solitude and reflection can provide clarity, but shared support and community amplify leadership effectiveness.

• Recognizing your load, setting boundaries, and maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual health are critical for sustainable leadership.

• Christ-centered leadership emphasizes humility, service, and shared growth, turning hard experiences into meaningful impact.

• Adventure and challenge, when embraced intentionally, strengthen both personal and team leadership.

Next Steps / Call to Action:
Connect with Chris and the Northbound community at www.go-northbound.com to share experiences, build support networks, and grow as leaders together. Join the community to learn how to lead boldly, humbly, and confidently — and to take the journey from wilderness to summit with others walking alongside you.

Episode Title: The Weight You Carry

Leadership isn't just about making decisions or guiding a team — it's about carrying the unseen weight of the people you lead. In this deeply personal and raw episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris shares one of the most challenging moments of his leadership journey: a close call with a team member contemplating suicide. Through this story, he explores the heavy emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual toll that leadership can take, and the critical importance of support, community, and faith in navigating those difficult moments.

This episode is part of the ongoing series on the "Miles That No One Sees," highlighting the often-hidden struggles leaders face, and providing insight and encouragement for those walking that difficult trail.

Main Points Covered in This Episode

1. Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Wear: The toll of caring deeply for those in crisis, often at the expense of your own well-being.

2. High-Stakes Leadership Scenarios: Handling sensitive, life-and-death situations, and the intense emotional responsibility that comes with it.

3. The Physical and Mental Cost: How extreme stress can manifest physically (paralysis, chest pain, exhaustion) and mentally (constant problem-solving, decision-making under pressure).

4. Relational and Spiritual Burdens: Supporting others while maintaining personal faith and moral responsibility.

5. The Importance of Support Systems: How community, mentorship, and Christ-centered guidance are essential for sustaining leaders under pressure.

6. Real-Life Application: The need for leaders to intervene, act decisively, and ensure those in their care are not alone in their struggles.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership carries an invisible weight that affects emotional, physical, and spiritual health.

• Compassion fatigue is real, and even strong leaders need help and support.

• Faith and community provide critical grounding for making difficult decisions under pressure.

• Being present and attentive to the struggles of others can literally save lives.

• Sharing leadership challenges builds resilience, encourages others, and strengthens the broader leadership community.

Next Steps / Call to Action:
Connect with Chris and the Northbound community at www.go-northbound.com to share your experiences, gain support, and grow alongside other leaders navigating the difficult miles of leadership. The next episode, The Wilderness of Leadership, will explore lessons learned after the military and practical strategies for leading boldly, humbly, and confidently.

Episode Title: The Miles No-One Sees

Leadership is hard, messy, and often invisible — just like the long, lonely miles on a backpacking trail. In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris explores the unseen struggles that leaders carry every day: the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual weight that doesn't show up on anyone else's radar. Using personal stories, historical examples like Abraham Lincoln, and his own experiences in the military, Chris shines a light on what it truly means to lead well — even when it's exhausting, isolating, and challenging.

This episode kicks off a new series focused on the raw realities of leadership, helping listeners understand that the hard miles are part of the journey and that resilience, support, and faith are essential to making it through.

Main Points Covered in This Episode

1. Emotional Wear and Tear – The loneliness, decision fatigue, conflict management, and emotional masking leaders carry daily.

2. Physical Cost – Chronic fatigue, tension, poor sleep, and stress manifesting physically.

3. Mental and Cognitive Load – Constant problem-solving, running scenarios in your mind 24/7, and working in ambiguity.

4. Spiritual and Identity Impact – The strain on your sense of self, the importance of faith, and leaning on Christ for strength.

5. Relational Burden – Missing family moments, carrying confidential burdens, and supporting others while managing your own fatigue.

6. Compassion Fatigue – Emotional depletion from caring deeply for others over long periods, sometimes without reciprocation.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership comes with hidden challenges that affect every part of a leader's life — emotional, physical, mental, relational, and spiritual.

• Support systems, faith, and community are critical to sustain resilience and prevent burnout.

• Recognizing and naming the weight you carry is the first step toward healthy leadership.

• True leadership requires both courage and vulnerability — asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

• The "miles no one sees" are part of the journey; learning to navigate them shapes you into a more effective and Christ-centered leader.

Next Steps / Call to Action:
Join the Northbound Approach community at www.go-northbound.com to connect with other leaders, gain encouragement, and grow together. Upcoming adventures and discussions will continue exploring the realities of leadership — both on and off the trail.

Podcast Summary: The Leadership Legacy of Air Force Pilot Edgar Lewis

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris shares the powerful and inspiring story of Edgar Lewis, the first African American B-47 and B-52 pilot in the United States Air Force. His journey is a testament to perseverance, emotional control, and courageous leadership in the face of racism and relentless adversity.

Chris recounts how Lewis—who had never even seen an airplane before enlisting—faced challenge after challenge, many of them created by the very people meant to serve beside him. From racial discrimination in training assignments to a cross being burned at the foot of his bed, to being labeled a troublemaker for reporting the incident, Lewis repeatedly encountered obstacles intended to push him out. But every time, he refused to quit.

One of the most powerful moments in the story comes when a newly assigned co-pilot told Lewis he needed reassignment—because his wife, from Selma, Alabama, didn't want him flying with a Black pilot. Instead of reacting with anger, Lewis responded calmly and professionally. That night, he told his wife, Tommy Juanita, who offered a surprising response:
"Invite them to dinner."
What followed was an unlikely friendship that lasted for years, showing how courage, grace, and emotional maturity can dismantle prejudice.

Chris highlights this moment as a masterclass in leadership—not just from Edgar Lewis, but from his wife as well. They embodied humility, courage, kindness, and emotional control in circumstances where anger and retaliation would have been understandable. Their example challenges today's leaders to rise above hurt, take the high road, and create change through character.

The episode closes by honoring Lewis' 23 years of service in the Air Force, 22 years with the FAA, and the quiet strength of his wife, who stood with him through it all.

Chris invites listeners facing workplace conflict or leadership challenges to reach out directly at Chris@go-northbound.com, and encourages everyone to lead humbly, boldly, confidently—because they were created for this.

Episode Description – "They're Gonna Get Called"

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris unpacks a powerful leadership lesson inspired by a recent press conference with Nebraska Huskers head coach Matt Rhule. When asked whether he worries about other teams trying to recruit his top players, Rhule responded with confidence: "They're gonna get called"—and that's a good thing.

Chris uses this moment to highlight what exceptional leadership looks like: developing people so well that others notice, investing deeply in their growth, and refusing to lead from a place of fear. He explores how leaders can create personalized development plans, build thriving culture, and embrace the "retention paradox" with confidence and faith.

Main Points:

• Great leaders don't fear losing people—they develop them so well that they become sought after.

• Matt Rhule's response provides a model for confident, healthy leadership.

• Every employee should have a personalized development plan that includes training, coaching, mentoring, collaboration, and formal learning.

• Effective development must include 360-degree feedback and alignment with organizational vision and goals.

• Culture, not just compensation, plays a major role in retaining great people.

• The "retention paradox": fear of losing people leads to stunted development—investment and empowerment lead to loyalty.

• God gives each person unique passions and desires; good leadership helps align these with mission and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• Develop your people boldly—don't hold them back out of fear.

• Invest in personalized growth plans that reflect both professional needs and individual passions.

• Healthy culture attracts and retains talent more effectively than salary alone.

• Use feedback systems, training, and clear vision to elevate your team.

• Opportunities for your people are not threats—they're signs you're leading well.

• Lead boldly, humbly, and confidently—you were created for this.

 

www.Go-Northbound.com

 

Episode Description – Northbound Podcast: Intentional Relationships and Time Management

In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris dives into the critical role time management plays not just in business, but in family and personal relationships. Drawing from his experience in the Air Force and leadership discussions, Chris shares practical insights on how intentional relationships and daily spiritual rhythms can strengthen focus, integrity, and trust—both at home and in the workplace.

Main Points:

• The importance of balancing business, leadership, and family life, especially during busy seasons.

• How intentional relationships build trust and culture in families and organizations.

• Using daily rhythms of prayer, scripture, and reflection to improve focus and integrity.

• Lessons from Chris's deployment experience and limited communication with family.

• The difference between transactional conversations and relationship-building interactions.

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritize relationships over mere "business" interactions with loved ones.

• Prayer and reflection can help clarify priorities before important conversations.

• Time management is not just about tasks—it's about making space for meaningful connection.

• Building intentional relationships strengthens both personal life and leadership impact.

• Leadership growth happens best in community, learning from and encouraging each other.

Listeners are invited to join the Northbound Approach community to participate in live leadership calls and share in the learning experience.

 

www.Go-Northbound.com

 

Episode Title: The Power of Being Present

 

Description:
In this deeply impactful episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris discusses the critical role of presence in leadership, especially when lives are at stake. Drawing from his time in the military, he shares a story of an airman struggling with suicidal thoughts and how the simple act of showing up—being present—can make a life-changing difference.

 

Key Takeaways:

• True leadership goes beyond words—it's shown through actions.

• Being present interrupts isolation and shows people they are valued and cared for.

• Small, intentional acts can create courage, belonging, and hope.

• Presence builds trust and can be a turning point in someone's life.

• Christ-centered leadership leaves a lasting legacy and positively shapes culture.

This episode highlights how even simple actions can save lives.

 

Trigger Warning: This episode addresses suicide. If this topic is sensitive for you, please consider skipping this episode.

Join the Northbound community to explore Christ-centered leadership, build each other up, and make a real difference in the lives of those you lead.

 

www.Go-Northbound.com