FranklinCovey On Leadership

Bestselling author and longtime Guardian columnist Oliver Burkeman brings decades of research into time, focus, and the psychology of meaning to challenge the belief that control and optimization lead to fulfillment. Drawing on ideas from Four Thousand Weeks and Meditations for Mortals, he explores why accepting our finite time, letting go of unrealistic expectations, and turning toward discomfort can create deeper focus and purpose. Burkeman contrasts the fantasy of “superyacht control” with the reality of navigating life in a “kayak,” where uncertainty is constant but agency remains. He offers practical ways leaders can prioritize what matters, make peace with tradeoffs, and cultivate a more grounded presence amid overwhelm. Watch now to explore how acknowledging limits can become a powerful source of clarity and effectiveness.

Bestselling author and workplace equity expert Minda Harts outlines the seven trust languages from her book Talk to Me Nice and explains why trust must be treated as a daily leadership practice—not a corporate initiative. She shares how transparency, acknowledgment, security, and follow-through shape whether teams feel respected and safe enough to contribute their best work. Harts also challenges leaders to examine power dynamics, close expectation gaps, and recognize the influence middle managers hold in shaping culture. Minda shares data connecting trust to productivity, retention, and reduced anxiety, and offers practical ways to rebuild trust even in organizations facing uncertainty. This conversation will teach you how to build trust through clearer expectations, better communication, and consistent follow-through.

Former Procter & Gamble CEO AG Lafley explains why enduring performance depends on treating even the most established business as an “eternal restart”—constantly innovating, pruning distractions, and staying grounded in real customer behavior rather than stated preference. Drawing on decades leading one of the world’s largest consumer companies, he outlines how organizations can sharpen strategic choices, build ambidextrous cultures, and simplify management systems to execute with consistency. Lafley also details P&G’s shift toward open innovation, its rigorous process for exiting underperforming categories, and the leadership behaviors required to create competitive advantage at scale. Listen now to explore how leaders can refocus resources, empower teams closest to the customer, and cultivate innovation that actually reaches the market.

Trust is not a soft value—it’s a force multiplier. Drawing on decades leading elite military units and advising global organizations, Gen. Stanley McChrystal argues that excessive controls, approvals, and safeguards are often signs of distrust—and they quietly cripple performance. In this conversation with Will Houghteling, McChrystal unpacks how trust is built through repeated interaction, proven competence, and shared context, not slogans or policies. He explains why modern organizations must replace rigid hierarchies with shared consciousness, how leaders can empower faster decision-making without losing accountability, and why underinvesting in leadership development carries long-term costs. From battlefield lessons to boardroom realities, this episode challenges leaders to rethink how trust, communication, and character drive execution at scale. Listen now to explore what it really takes to lead effectively in complexity and uncertainty.