The Better Leadership Team Show – Details, episodes & analysis

In this Mike on the Mic episode of The Better Leadership Team Show, I explain why relationships—not job boards or recruiters—must become your number one hiring strategy. I break down the true cost of mediocre hires, why resumes no longer differentiate top talent, and how to build a virtual bench of superstars before you need them. I also share practical strategies for employee referrals, alumni programs, and leadership-team involvement so you can consistently raise the talent bar and build an elite leadership team.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

Roni Jacknow is the CEO of RJ Coaching & Consulting and recently retired after more than 17 years leading talent development at Kaiser Permanente. Her background spans leadership roles across multiple industries, including finance positions at Chevron and Charles Schwab, before transitioning fully into the talent development space. She is deeply passionate about employee and leadership development, wellbeing, and cultivating workplace cultures rooted in belonging, gratitude, and continuous learning.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Laura Sicola—cognitive linguist, executive coach, and author of Speaking to Influence—to explore how leaders can communicate with greater impact on stage, in the boardroom, and over Zoom.

We dig into the “expert’s curse,” the importance of repeating and reinforcing vision, and how to align what you say with how you say it so your message truly connects. We also cover common vocal pitfalls like uptalk, monotone, and vocal fry, and share practical tips you can apply in your very next meeting.

Together, we discuss how to balance vulnerability with authority, inspire action with your voice, and build credibility whether you’re leading a team, presenting to a board, or pitching big ideas. This conversation is packed with strategies to help you communicate with clarity, confidence, and influence.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode of the Better Leadership Team Show, I welcome Pam Nemec. She is a brand culture expert and speaker. Her thought leadership around Brand Culture via HR and Brand Communications has led to recruiting, retaining, and caring for over 50,000 employees and connecting with millions of customers over the course of her 20-year career, where she ultimately led HR, Brand Communications, and Culture for Whataburger, a multi-billion-dollar restaurant brand.

Pam knows that a business can only be as good as the internal cohesion and satisfaction of its people, hence her drive and continued advocacy for building systems that protect and promote the organizational culture.  Pam speaks and consults on her proprietary model, "The Remarkable Brand Blueprint - The 8 Steps to Building a Remarkable Brand from the Inside-Out."

https://pamnemec.com/

https://www.instagram.com/pam_nemec_/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamnemecculturecoach/

https://www.facebook.com/PamNemecBrandCultureCoach/

Free 45-minute call/consultation https://pamnemec.com/contact

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

Jeannie Walters, CCXP is an award-winning customer experience expert, international keynote speaker, and Founder of Experience Investigators, a firm helping companies increase sales and customer retention through elevated customer experiences. Trailblazing the movement from “Reactive Customer Service” to “Proactive Customer Experience,” Jeannie wants business leaders to see customer experience as a winning mindset, strategy, and discipline for all organizations. In this conversation, we speak about the many tactics to improve your organization and team skills. Jeannie highlights the significance of team and organizational alignment, distinguishing between customer service and customer experience, and the importance of truly understanding customers' thoughts and feelings without making assumptions, hence creating a loyal and consistent customer roster.

https://www.experienceinvestigators.com

https://www.instagram.com/jeanniewalters  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniewalters/ 

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode of Mike on the Mic, I'll focus on the common challenge of finding and attracting good people in today's workforce. I'll discuss the importance of surrounding yourself with the right individuals in both your work and personal life and explore how this can impact your success as a leader. I'll address various obstacles that can hinder the process of finding good people, such as the perception of a scarcity of talented individuals and the challenges of building a team with mediocre performers. This episode is designed to encourage leaders to think strategically about their hiring and mentorship practices, as well as the importance of creating a supportive and inspiring environment for team members. Join me to gain valuable insights and strategies for surrounding yourself with the right people and building a high-performing team. Discover how finding and attracting good people can significantly impact leadership and organizational success.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this episode of the Better Leadership Team Show, I welcome another special yet non-traditional guest, Tammy Barlette, a US Air Force fighter pilot who retired in 2018 as a Lieutenant Colonel.  Upon retiring, she became a professional speaker and founded Athena’s Voice, a speaker referral business featuring female military pilots from around the United States. She is also the founder and CEO of Crosscheck, a mindset and mental performance coaching business for aviators, helping pilots increase confidence and improve performance.  Tammy has a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, is the mother of three, and is married to a US Federal Agent. She brings us a perspective outside the business world from her experiences and knowledge taken from her time in the US Air Force that leaders and leadership teams can contribute to their organization’s skills. She believes that understanding and genuinely caring about one's team members can significantly enhance their motivation and performance.

https://tammybarlette.com

https://www.athenasvoiceusa.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammybarlette/

https://www.instagram.com/tammybarlette/

https://www.facebook.com/tammybarlette

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

On this Mike on the Mic episode, I’ll step into the concept of your neighborhood - not just in terms of physical location but mainly the people you surround yourself with. I explore the impact that your business neighborhood, family neighborhood, social neighborhood, and local community neighborhood can have on your life. The idea that our lives are profoundly influenced by the people we choose to associate with, and our relationships can be pivotal in shaping our success, fulfillment, and personal growth. This one one-on-one episode will provide you with practical tips on assessing and improving your neighborhood, bringing encouragement to evaluate the level of support, inspiration, and impact in each area and to consider actions you can take to enhance the quality of your relationships.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

In this Better Leadership Team Show episode, I speak with Trey Dunavant. He has over 15 years of experience helping scale B2B, B2C, and e-commerce companies. Through multiple leadership roles, he expanded a nationwide specialty products business division from sub-5-figures to mid-8-figures through the most challenging season of its 60+ year existence. Companies like Hyatt, Cisco, Starbucks, and the Lakers are just some of the noteworthy opportunities he’s been a part of. Implementing leadership, productivity, and growth strategies that deliver impact while creating a culture that allowed them to simultaneously lead healthy, sustainable lives.

www.thescalefactor.com

Have you ever asked yourself, "how much could I really grow my business?" you can know with our free ScalabilityScore assessment. Get your scalability score at: www.thescalefactor.com/myscore

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach

On this Mike on the Mic episode, I’ll dive into how "growing your people leads to growing your profit." and how much significance the "talent density framework" has as I break it down into small sections to highlight the steps to take when applying this framework. My aim is to help leaders comprehend what fuels revenue and profit growth. Many leaders often overlook this fundamental principle. While various strategies and improvements are essential for top and bottom-line growth, the central and sustainable factor lies in nurturing and developing the organization's talent.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us at mike-goldman.com/blog and on Instagram@mikegoldmancoach and on YouTube @Mikegoldmancoach