In this episode, we dive deep into active mentoring and why it’s an essential, non-negotiable responsibility for leaders. Too many leaders treat mentorship as an afterthought—if it happens, great; if not, oh well. But that’s not leadership. Bob and Josh break down why mentorship must be intentional, how to create a culture of continuous growth, and the tools leaders can use to develop their teams . If you’re not actively growing your people, you’re failing them (and yourself). Stay Connected and...
Mar 10, 2025•38 min•Ep 67•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Meta-Cast Podcast , Josh Anderson and Bob Galen dive into the "smells" of leadership—both the sweet and the downright stinky. From the signals that indicate strong leadership to the subtle (or not-so-subtle) signs of dysfunction, this episode will challenge leaders to assess their habits and identify where they need to level up. They discuss the power of listening, the dangers of canceled one-on-ones, the importance of clear vision and context, and why great leaders take f...
Mar 03, 2025•27 min•Ep 66•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Meta-Cast, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen dive into the nuanced leadership challenge of balancing democracy and decisiveness. They explore when and how leaders should open the floor for team input and when they need to make the tough calls. With real-world examples and candid insights, they break down the importance of psychological safety, structured decision-making, and the role of patience in leadership. Whether you’re leading a team, department, or an entire company, this...
Feb 24, 2025•36 min•Ep 65•Transcript available on Metacast In today's episode of The Meta-Cast Podcast , Josh and Bob tackle the complexities of leading teams in politically charged environments. As societal discourse seeps into the workplace, leaders must remain vigilant in upholding cultural standards while fostering open communication and respect. The duo shares practical strategies to navigate tough conversations, maintain unity, and build resilient, diverse teams. Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthou...
Feb 17, 2025•35 min•Ep 64•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Meta-Cast, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen dive deep into the challenge of coaching leaders and teams effectively. They explore the balance between coaching individuals versus coaching the system, sharing real-world examples of how leadership presence (or over-presence) can either empower or stifle teams. Josh reflects on a time when Bob challenged him to step back as a leader, and together they discuss how situational awareness plays a critical role in leadership effectivenes...
Feb 10, 2025•25 min•Ep 63•Transcript available on Metacast Forget the Agile buzzwords—Josh Anderson and Bob Galen break down what actually works. In this episode of The Meta-Cast, they challenge Agile 2.0, reveal the real distractions holding teams back, and give leaders a roadmap to focus on what truly matters. Listen now to get back to the basics and lead your team to success. Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse" Dive deeper into the world of Agile leadership and management with Josh Anderson's "Lead...
Feb 03, 2025•21 min•Ep 62•Transcript available on Metacast Learn the keys to driving meaningful change in any organization. Bob Galen and Josh Anderson discuss grit, focus, and actionable leadership tactics to help you achieve lasting success, even in the most challenging environments. Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse" Dive deeper into the world of Agile leadership and management with Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse." This bi-weekly newsletter offers insights, tips, and personal stories to he...
Jan 27, 2025•32 min•Ep 61•Transcript available on Metacast Explore the implications of the Agile Alliance and PMI partnership in this insightful episode. Learn how it could reshape agile practices, improve leadership strategies, and challenge your perspectives on organizational alignment and adaptability. Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse" Dive deeper into the world of Agile leadership and management with Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse." This bi-weekly newsletter offers insights, tips, and pe...
Jan 20, 2025•26 min•Ep 60•Transcript available on Metacast Discover the transformative power of succession-based culture in leadership. In this episode, we share practical strategies to break dependency bottlenecks, empower your team, and prepare for long-term organizational success. Listen now to reshape your leadership mindset! Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse" Dive deeper into the world of Agile leadership and management with Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse." This bi-weekly newsletter offe...
Jan 13, 2025•34 min•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast Discover how leaders can adapt to growth and scale their organizations effectively. Learn actionable tips for evolving processes, empowering teams, and navigating leadership challenges as your company grows. Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse" Dive deeper into the world of Agile leadership and management with Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse." This bi-weekly newsletter offers insights, tips, and personal stories to help you navigate the ...
Dec 30, 2024•40 min•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast Discover how great leaders thrive under pressure, make tough calls with incomplete information, and refine their instincts over time. Learn actionable strategies for navigating ambiguity, pivoting effectively, and building confidence in your team. Tune in for insights that will transform your leadership style. Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse" Dive deeper into the world of Agile leadership and management with Josh Anderson's "Leadership Ligh...
Dec 16, 2024•33 min•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast This episode of The Meta-Cast challenges you to simplify, declutter, and refocus. We dive deep into why overcomplicated processes, bloated practices, and "agile industrial complex" mindsets are holding organizations back. It's time to cut the noise and return to the basics—delivering value efficiently and effectively. Learn how to streamline your work, eliminate waste, and start 2025 with clarity and purpose. Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse...
Dec 09, 2024•33 min•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is a bold and unapologetic exploration of leadership in the toughest situations. Josh Anderson and Bob Galen dive into the moments when leaders must make hard, unpopular decisions, advocate fiercely for their teams, and challenge the status quo. From addressing ethical dilemmas to pushing for necessary but uncomfortable change, this conversation provides real-world insights and strategies for becoming the kind of leader who steps up when it matters most. Key Takeaways Sometimes you ...
Nov 25, 2024•31 min•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Josh and Bob explore the parallels between sports, particularly football, and leadership. Drawing lessons from the gridiron, they dive into key leadership fundamentals that separate average leaders from great ones. From practicing consistency and clarity in expectations to building trust and fostering resilience, they connect sports strategies to actionable leadership insights. Listeners will leave equipped with practical ways to improve their leadership game. Stay Connected and...
Nov 19, 2024•44 min•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 53 of The Meta-Cast , Bob Galen and Josh Anderson dive deep into one of the biggest responsibilities of leaders: growing the next generation of leaders. They discuss essential qualities to look for, the importance of “grit,” and how to know when someone might be ready to lead—even if they’re unaware of it. They share personal stories of mentorship, explain the value of experimenting with leadership roles, and stress the importance of providing a safety net for those stepping up. Liste...
Nov 11, 2024•29 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen dive deep into the art of effective listening for leaders. They explore the significance of truly hearing your team, applying patience, and removing ego from conversations to drive understanding and empowerment within an organization. They share actionable tips to improve listening skills, balance conversation dynamics, and build stronger, more genuine connections with team members. Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Lea...
Nov 04, 2024•37 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the Meta-Cast, Bob Galen and Josh Anderson delve into the crucial concept of 360-degree advocacy. They discuss how leaders, team members, and peers alike can create a positive workplace culture by advocating not just for their teams, but also for themselves and each other. By embracing advocacy as a shared responsibility, individuals can drive better teamwork, greater motivation, and exceptional results. Tune in to learn how to foster a culture of mutual respect, and get pract...
Oct 28, 2024•28 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Bob and Josh share the 10 things leaders need to stop doing to build more effective and empowered teams. They explore key leadership mistakes like reorganization as a cure-all, relying on copycat models from other companies, and focusing too much on planning instead of delivering value. Packed with practical insights and hard-earned lessons, this episode challenges leaders to rethink their approach to management and leadership. Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Jo...
Oct 21, 2024•30 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen discuss the crucial role of advocacy in leadership. Learn how to support and elevate your team, navigate organizational barriers, and create a culture of continuous growth and recognition. Discover practical strategies for fostering advocacy and why it is key to becoming an effective leader. A great TED Talk helping you learn how to ask, when it feels very uncomfortable... Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Leadership Li...
Oct 14, 2024•33 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Josh and Bob dive deep into the challenges of handling brilliant yet toxic individuals in the workplace. They discuss how leaders often fail to address these individuals, allowing toxic behavior to persist at the expense of team morale and overall organizational health. Through candid conversation, the hosts share personal experiences and insights on how to confront these difficult situations, provide radical candor, and ultimately create healthier, more productive work environm...
Oct 07, 2024•32 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast The episode features Bob and Josh discussing their top 10 book recommendations aimed at improving leadership skills. They make references to personal experiences and emphasize the influential role these books had on their own leadership journeys. Alongside individual book recommendations, they also suggest resources like Harvard Business Review for staying current with leadership trends. Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse" Dive deeper into the...
Sep 23, 2024•38 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Bob and Josh discuss the inherent loneliness and challenges that come with leadership roles. They emphasize the importance of accepting the reality that leadership can be isolating and offer strategies to mitigate this loneliness. This includes finding a 'venting buddy', appreciating rare moments of genuine feedback, and seeking external coaching. Both hosts share personal experiences and anecdotes to illustrate the difficulties leaders face, such as the weight of responsibility, the rarity of f...
Sep 16, 2024•39 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Meta-Cast Podcast, Bob Galen and Josh Anderson explore the transformative power of reflection in leadership. They discuss why reflection isn't just a "nice-to-have" but a critical tool for leaders to recalibrate, adjust strategies, and foster an inclusive, high-performing culture. Bob and Josh emphasize that leaders must model reflective practices, be open to changing their minds, and ensure psychological safety within their teams. They challenge leaders to become "reflect...
Sep 09, 2024•43 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast Discover how to recognize and overcome the sunk cost fallacy in your organization. Learn actionable strategies for leaders to make smarter decisions, pivot effectively, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Don't let past investments hold you back—empower your team to identify and address failures early! Stay Connected and Informed with Our Newsletters Josh Anderson's "Leadership Lighthouse" Dive deeper into the world of Agile leadership and management with Josh Anderson's "Leadership ...
Sep 02, 2024•36 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Bob Galen and Josh Anderson tackle the often misunderstood topic of "demotion" within organizations. Rather than viewing it as a negative consequence, they challenge leaders to reframe it as a strategic move to better align talent with roles where individuals can thrive. They share personal experiences, including instances where Bob himself voluntarily stepped down from leadership roles to focus on coaching, which ultimately led to greater organizational success. The episode emp...
Aug 26, 2024•44 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Meta-Cast Podcast, Josh Anderson and Bob Galen dive deep into the complexities of promotions, discussing the challenges from both the perspective of the promoter and the promotee. They explore the importance of balancing hard and soft skills, the nuances of leadership roles, and how to avoid the common pitfalls of promotion processes. Josh and Bob also tackle the controversial topic of whether promoting the "best" person is always the right decision and share personal insi...
Aug 19, 2024•46 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Bob and Josh delve into the mindset and application of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs). They emphasize viewing PIPs as positive tools for growth rather than punitive measures. They stress the importance of clear and continuous communication of role expectations, the ethical responsibility leaders have to coach their team members effectively, and the need for a fair and thorough process to ensure mutual understanding. Real-life anecdotes and strategies for effectively implementing PIPs, espe...
Aug 12, 2024•38 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast Bob Galen and Josh Anderson delve into the intricacies of performance reviews and continuous feedback in leadership. They discuss the common pitfalls of traditional annual reviews and offer practical advice on how to transform these processes to foster growth and improvement within teams. They emphasize the importance of continuous feedback, leveraging strengths over weaknesses, and the value of face-to-face communication. The episode also explores handling HR constraints, the role of self-asses...
Aug 05, 2024•44 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Josh Anderson and Bob Galen tackle the concept of implementing change within stagnant or resistant environments. They emphasize the power of incremental progress and the necessity of personal leadership in catalyzing organizational transformation. Key discussions revolve around overcoming fear of the first step, the illusion of change ease at the executive level, and practical strategies for communicating effectively and fostering an environment conducive to change. The "Who Wants To Chang...
Jul 29, 2024•47 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast Discover how every team member, regardless of position, can significantly impact leadership and initiate organizational change. Hosts Josh Anderson and Bob Galen discuss the critical role every individual plays in shaping and improving leadership within an organization. They debunk the myth that only top leaders hold the power to influence change, emphasizing that true leadership involves contributions from all levels . The hosts explore strategies for individuals to assert their influence and d...
Jul 22, 2024•29 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast 
