Do Something Different: A Leadership Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Delegation is the management skill behind promotion and career growth—the professional development shift that builds executive presence. Most leaders stay buried in the work because they believe quality requires their personal involvement. It does -- just not how you think. If you don't learn this, it becomes a ceiling on your growth. In this video, you'll learn why delegation is an emotional challenge, not a time-management one; and how mastering it accelerates your c...

Send us Fan Mail Stop having unproductive meetings that waste your team's time. Use this simple method to improve meeting quality and boost engagement. Many professionals struggle with meetings with lots of wasted time, where the most valuable content is buried at the end. If you are tired of disengaged participants, try this one simple fix. It will boost your executive presence, leadership skills, and improve engagement and connection for meeting participants. Rusty Gaillard is an executive...

Send us Fan Mail If you keep getting passed over for promotion even though you're a top performer, if your career advancement is stalled, if you think you have good leadership skills, but you're not moving up... this video is for you. The real reason you're not advancing usually has nothing to do with your work ethic. It's something quieter that most people never get told directly, and that even your own boss may struggle to put into words. In this video I unpack: 👉 why so many hardworking ...

Send us Fan Mail Executive presence is the difference between having the right answer and actually sounding like a CEO in the room. If you've ever wondered how to speak with confidence when the stakes are high — and then watched someone less prepared get taken more seriously than you — this episode is about why that keeps happening. Here's the uncomfortable part: it isn't about intelligence, and it isn't a gap in your leadership skills. Some of the smartest, most capable people I coac...

Send us Fan Mail Stop trying to resolve conflict at work. When you do, it costs you promotions, hurts your career, and shows weak leadership skills. Of course workplace conflict is frustrating, and it can feel personal, political, and exhausting. Often times, the harder you work to resolve it, the more stuck you feel. The truth is, the higher you rise, the more conflict you face. Competing agendas, ambiguous decisions, no clean answers. That's not dysfunction — that's what leadership at sen...

Send us Fan Mail Are you being passed over at work? Learn the specific career blind spot that keeps high performers from getting a promotion. Many smart people struggle with career advancement because their own intelligence masks a critical professional issue: executive presence. If you are doing everything right but still not getting promoted, earning the recognition you deserve, this breakdown helps identify the exact behavior holding you back -- and how your own intelligence makes you mo...

Send us Fan Mail Most confidence advice is designed to help you look confident to other people. That's the wrong game. In this video, I break down why the three most common confidence tips — prepare more, fake it till you make it, and stack small wins — are either incomplete or actively working against you. Then I share what actually changed confidence for me, through two of the hardest seasons of my life. If you're a high-achiever who does everything right on paper but still feels like you...

Send us Fan Mail If you're feeling stuck in your career, the problem may be invisible to you, but everyone else sees it. Until you see it, working harder, executive presence skills, or personal development won't help you move forward. In this episode, I share the story of a client who had four bad bosses in a row and never figured out he was the common factor. From there, we look at the four ways people answer the question "why is this happening to me" — and why only one of those four answer...

Send us Fan Mail If you've ever wondered why some people command the room the moment they walk in — and others don't — it's not about what they're saying. Your executive presence speaks for itself, before you even open your mouth. Learn the behaviors that quietly undermine your authority in every meeting, every hallway conversation, every moment someone is watching — and learn what to do instead. The answer isn't about doing more. It's about stopping the damaging behaviors. Rusty Gail...

Send us Fan Mail If you're working hard but still not getting career growth, nobody told you the rules changed. After 30, getting promoted at work has nothing to do with doing more. It requires the professional development to become the leader your organization actually needs. In this episode, I break down why the habits that built your career — reliability, responsiveness, the "I'll handle it" attitude — quietly become the things that keep you stuck. This isn't a motivation problem o...

Send us Fan Mail Most professionals think feedback is essential to self improvement. But what if feedback limits your personal growth? This episode challenges one of the most common practices in professional development and gives you a 3-step framework that will transform how you think about self improvement, leadership development, and building confidence. If you're a business leader focused on career planning, executive presence, and personal development, this episode will change your app...

Send us Fan Mail Most leaders think executive presence in high-stakes meetings comes from being well prepared. But they prepare the wrong thing. In this episode, I share the 3-step formula I use with my coaching clients to help them walk into high-stakes meetings as a contributor, not just a survivor. You'll hear the question that completely changed how one of my clients prepared for a meeting with a demanding SVP — and why the best-prepared person in the room is often the least impressive. ...

Send us Fan Mail Executive presence isn’t just about communication. It’s also about making good decisions. In this episode, we discuss how to use leadership intuition in decision making when the stakes are high. Featuring Samyr Qureshi, CEO and co-founder of Knack, this conversation dives into the internal compass behind career growth, how to trust your gut when data falls short, and what it really takes to lead with clarity, confidence, and conviction in today’s fast-moving world. Key Poi...

Send us Fan Mail Most professionals are never taught how to choose a career that leads to lasting professional growth and meaningful personal development. This episode reveals powerful insights from career coaching that will help you rethink everything you’ve been told about success. Forget the tired advice about following your passion or creating a rigid five-year plan. If you're feeling stuck or unfulfilled, it's not because you're doing it wrong—it's because the rules you're following are ...

Send us Fan Mail Grit may get you started in your career, but it’s not what gets you promoted. In this conversation on leadership, personal development, and professional development, Guy Yalif—Chief Evangelist at Webflow—challenges the belief that success requires relentless hustle. Key Takeaways: Why our culture rewards hustle, and how that mindset can quietly stall your career growthHow time tracking elevates focus and effectivenessThe four things only a CEO can own, and how to stop doing e...

Send us Fan Mail Success in your career doesn't just come from mastering skills—it comes from mastering your mindset. In this powerful conversation with Krishnan Venkata, Chief Client Officer at LatentView Analytics, we uncover two game-changing principles that can rapidly accelerate growth for any professional ready to step outside their comfort zone. Krishnan shares real-world stories from his journey scaling a 10-person startup into a 2,000-person global enterprise. The insights are bold, ...

Send us Fan Mail Many high performers unknowingly sabotage their chances at promotion by making a single critical mistake. Discover the hidden obstacle that holds back smart, capable leaders—and learn the three essential steps to break through it. With real-life stories and a clear roadmap, this conversation will shift how you think about advancement and help you align your actions with the role you want, not just the one you have. Key Points Covered: The career-limiting trap that block...

Send us Fan Mail If you've ever wondered how to speak like a leader at work, this episode delivers the answer—through practical, tactical language shifts that instantly elevate your presence. Whether you're leading a team, presenting to executives, or looking to grow in your role, the way you speak plays a powerful role in how others perceive your leadership. In this episode, discover how confident leaders use intentional language to project authority, clarity, and calm—even under pressure. T...

Send us Fan Mail What if the fastest way to advance your career isn’t about working harder, but thinking differently? In this episode, discover the mindset shift that elevates your leadership skills, strengthens your executive presence, and accelerates your income and impact. Learn how embracing mistakes and leaning into discomfort creates the foundation for self improvement and sustained personal development. This mindset unlocks the Success Trifecta: more success at work, more control of yo...

Send us Fan Mail There’s one deceptively simple question that most people never stop to ask, but it holds the key to clarity, confidence, and success. Whether you're facing a career crossroads, navigating workplace conflict, or stepping into a new opportunity, this question can shift your entire approach. This episode breaks down how three professionals—each facing wildly different challenges—found their way forward by starting with this one question. You’ll hear how leaders get trapped by ex...

Send us Fan Mail Executive presence is stubbornly difficult to define. This episode breaks down the critical connection between communication style and executive presence, and challenges the common belief that being smart is enough to lead effectively. Whether you're naturally collaborative, soft-spoken, or conflict-averse, your style may be holding you back more than you realize. The key? Evolve how you communicate without losing who you are — and unlock the version of yourself that’s alread...

Send us Fan Mail When leaders build teams they can trust, they unlock not only organizational impact—but personal freedom. In this powerful episode, Eric Bensley, Head of Global Product Marketing at Asana, breaks down what it truly takes to lead a high-performing team you can count on, even during critical launches and high-stakes moments. This conversation goes beyond theory. It’s a practical, honest look at the tension between control and empowerment, and the kind of leadership mindset requ...

Send us Fan Mail High performers often double down on results—but that mindset alone ultimately leads to failure. Sustainable leadership requires more than performance. In this episode, discover why prioritizing personal and professional growth is not optional—it’s essential for long-term success. The difference between those who thrive and those who plateau comes down to one thing: growth. Key takeaways: Why delivering results isn’t enough to succeed as a leader in today’s fast-p...

Send us Fan Mail Smart, successful professionals often assume that career growth is about learning new skills. But the real unlock isn’t about your skillset—it’s about your mindset. In this episode, discover why redefining how you see yourself can be the most powerful move you make in your professional life. Key Takeaways: The most common mistake ambitious people make in career development—and how to avoid it.Why asking “What do I want?” is more transformational than learning another new skil...

Send us Fan Mail Your quality of life as a leader is directly tied to how well you leverage your team. Two real client stories illustrate this concept, one of which demonstrates the Success Trifecta—being more successful at work, working less, and actually enjoying your job. But how do you get there? This episode dives deep into the essential skillset and mindset needed to delegate effectively, empower your team, and create sustainable success without burnout. You'll discover why the go...

Send us Fan Mail Is it possible to be too nice as a leader? We examine this question using the tension between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively as a real-world lens into leadership challenges. Explore how excessive niceness can become a barrier to strength, clarity, and effectiveness in leadership. Listen to learn four key truths about leadership and the pitfalls of prioritizing likability over strength: Being nice is not the same as being strong.Pleasing others leads to leadership failu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Do Something Different, Rusty Gaillard sits down with Erin Mantz, VP of Marketing at Zeno Group and founder of Gen X Girls Grow Up. They dive into the importance of your first boss, how generational traits shape leadership styles, and what Gen X can learn from Gen Z in today’s workplace. From latchkey resilience to mentoring the next generation, this conversation is packed with insights on navigating careers, building strong teams, and adapting as a m...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like your corporate experience is just a little too similar to dystopian fiction? From emotional avoidance to culture as control, Severance hits uncomfortably close to the reality of corporate life—and offers a blueprint for leading with more authenticity, presence, and connection. Learn to stop operating like “outies”—detached, numb, and running from discomfort—and start showing up like “innies”—fully engaged, human, and real. You’ll walk away with fresh insights a...

Send us Fan Mail Leaders often find themselves with competing decision-making frameworks: impact vs. optics, managing risk vs. capturing potential, what you want vs. what you should do. This is a recipe for bad decisions. There's also a fundamental problem with analytical decision-making. Even the most rigorous frameworks can be manipulated to justify the outcome you secretly want. Meanwhile, some of the greatest business breakthroughs in history—think Steve Jobs or Elon Musk—weren't driven b...

Send us Fan Mail There's a big gap between how most managers lead their teams and how the best CEOs drive organizational success. A good CEO builds a team that makes strategic decisions, executes independently, and continuously improves. Many mid-level leaders remain trapped in cycles of micromanagement, approval-seeking, and task-oriented direction. This episode explores why managing like you're the smartest person in the room limits your impact, and introduces a powerful framework to help y...

Send us Fan Mail At a senior level, jobs aren't posted... they're whispered. Join CEO of Whispered Andy Mowat for this conversation on how to run a successful job search. You'll learn: Why clarity and specificity are critical to an effective executive job searchThe counterintuitive reason why narrowing your focus actually creates more opportunitiesHow to take control of interviews and stand out as a candidateNetworking approaches that build authentic relationships without feeling transa...

Send us Fan Mail Most professionals claim they want to be respected as leaders, but they act like they want to be liked. This disconnect prevents many talented individuals from achieving their full leadership potential and earning the respect they desire. Discover why the behaviors that feel most comfortable may be the very ones limiting your effectiveness as a leader. You'll learn: The five critical questions to assess whether you prioritize being liked over being respectedWhy conflict avoid...

Send us Fan Mail Despite best intentions, many high achievers make suboptimal decisions in the workplace. The combination of stress, information overload, social pressure, and authority figures creates an environment where even the smartest professionals fall into predictable decision-making traps. These patterns—often the very same behaviors that brought early career success—become the invisible barriers preventing advancement to higher leadership levels. You'll learn: The seven factors that...

Send us Fan Mail Influence is about changing how others think and act, not simply directing them what to do. Discover why transformational influence—the kind that creates lasting change and builds strong relationships—requires a completely different approach than the transactional tactics many resort to. You'll learn: The difference between authority and influenceWhy common influence "hacks" often backfireThe Triangle of Influence that drives transformational influenceThree tactical behaviors...

Send us Fan Mail Many accomplished professionals hit a ceiling not because they lack skills, but because they overuse "pleaser" behaviors that undermine their executive presence. This episode exposes how an over-reliance on being likeable and getting along - qualities that may have served you well early in your career - can actually diminish your leadership impact. Through real coaching scenarios, learn why expanding your behavioral range beyond "nice" is crucial for authentic leadershi...

Send us Fan Mail What is executive presence, and why do so many talented leaders struggle to develop it? That is the theme of this conversation with Cindy Skalicky. Through practical examples and proven frameworks, this episode reveals why focusing solely on technical expertise and data can actually undermine leadership effectiveness, and how authentic storytelling and human connection create lasting impact. Key themes: Why technical excellence alone doesn't translate to executive presenceThe...

Send us Fan Mail This episode tackles the counterintuitive truth about high achievement: doing more isn't always the path to greater success. Learn why many successful professionals get trapped in patterns of overwork and discover the CALM framework for breaking free from this cycle. Through real-world examples of executives who transformed their approach to work, the episode reveals how strategically working less can lead to better outcomes, including faster decision-making, improved team pe...

Send us Fan Mail The ingrained belief that "my work speaks for itself" - while admirable - is not true. It may be a major factor keeping you from reaching your full potential and gaining the recognition your contributions deserve. Learn why "the work speaks for itself" doesn't work, and how to authentically speak up about your accomplishments. Key themes: Why letting work "speak for itself" becomes limiting as you advanceHow ingrained messages about humility can hold us backBreaking free from...

Send us Fan Mail Many high achievers struggle with deeply empowering their team. Learn why letting go might be the key to unlocking your next level of leadership. Rather than focusing on doing more, explore how doing less - strategically - could transform both your effectiveness and your team's engagement. Key themes: Why control can become a career liabilityThe hidden cost of "adding value" to every situationBreaking the cycle of micromanagementA practical framework for effective delegationL...

Send us Fan Mail Do you consistently avoid doing things you know would make you more successful? In this episode, Rusty tackles the hidden truth about why high achievers struggle to implement important changes. Learn why defaulting to "I need more discipline" or "I don't have time" completely misses the point, and discover a new way to understand what's really holding you back. Key themes: Why smart people think they need more disciplineHow success patterns can become invisible barriersThe re...

Send us Fan Mail Many people struggle maintaining motivation to achieve their goals. It's why so many people don't achieve their New Year's resolutions. In this episode you will discover a powerful perspective shift that can transform how you approach change - whether in your career, health, or relationships. Perfect for: Professionals feeling stuck in unproductive routinesAnyone struggling with New Year's resolutionsLeaders wanting to create lasting changeThose seeking more satisfaction and ...

Send us Fan Mail Are your New Year's resolutions setting you up for another unfulfilling year? This episode tackles the common pitfall of traditional goal-setting that keeps ambitious professionals stuck in patterns of busyness and disconnection. Through examining holiday reflections and end-of-year planning, learn why focusing solely on achievements and to-do lists undermines the potential for meaningful growth and joy. Perfect for: High achievers seeking a fresh approach to annual planningP...

Send us Fan Mail High achievers often get trapped by their own success. Learn why the mindsets and behaviors that fueled early career wins often become barriers to reaching senior leadership roles. Discover why the relentless drive to do more, better, and faster can actually limit growth, and why stepping out of your comfort zone and changing those habits may be exactly what's needed to advance. Perfect for: - Rising leaders feeling stuck despite strong performance - High perfor...

Send us Fan Mail Smart, high achieving leaders often make sub-optimal decisions. In this episode, learn how our brain's built-in bias toward risk and safety can derail confident decision-making, and uncover the biological reason why focusing on potential problems feels so natural. Through an exploration of brain science and behavioral patterns, the episode reveals why traditional "pros and cons" analysis may actually increase paralysis rather than lead to clarity. Perfect for: * High ...

Send us Fan Mail Struggling to command respect at work? This episode tackles why blaming external factors - like company culture or difficult colleagues - completely misses the point. The discussion explores how habitual behaviors, particularly those of high achievers, can actually undermine authority and influence. Through 3 simple yet powerful new habits, professionals can learn to command the respect they deserve without compromising relationships or authenticity. The episode reveals why ...

Send us Fan Mail Meetings with senior leaders are a prime opportunity to demonstrate executive presence. But they make many leaders anxious. In this episode, we tackle the uncomfortable truth about why capable professionals often stay silent in high-stakes conversations. From claiming introversion to avoiding vulnerability, discover the five hidden barriers that may be limiting your impact and visibility when it matters most. Through concrete examples and real client experiences, we explore w...

Send us Fan Mail On Thanksgiving, most of us practice gratitude. It's easy during the holidays, but finding gratitude in the midst of difficulties requires a fundamental shift in perspective that can transform how we experience and overcome obstacles. Rusty Gaillard is an executive coach, helping mid-level corporate leaders create more career success while working less and enjoying it more. That's real freedom. Get more leadership tips to grow your skillset and mindset at rustygaillard.com, ...

Send us Fan Mail Has your career progression slowed down? In this episode of Do Something Different, we tackle promotion and career advancement - specifically why many high achievers hit a plateau and struggle to reach the next level. Learn why the behaviors that made you successful early in your career may now be holding you back, and how the "A Trap" can limit your growth. Through practical strategies and real-world examples, discover how to shift from pure execution to true leadership, why...

Send us Fan Mail Is performance review season making you anxious? In this episode, Rusty Gaillard tackles the elephant in the room: why most leaders either avoid giving feedback or do it poorly. He reveals why treating feedback as a time management problem completely misses the point, and shares a personal commitment that transformed how he approaches difficult conversations. Through the simple but powerful COIN framework (Context, Observation, Impact, Next Steps), Rusty demonstrates how to ...

Send us Fan Mail Are you a high achiever who's built your career on being smart and avoiding mistakes? In this episode, Rusty tackles the paralyzing pressure that successful professionals face when it comes to making mistakes, especially in high-stakes situations. Through a revealing client story about "Steve," who struggles with a seemingly unfixable situation, Rusty challenges the common belief that avoiding mistakes is the path to success. He introduces a simple but powerful framework call...