856. Why Good Leaders Stop Trying to Control Everything

What if the moments that shape your purpose are not the dramatic ones, but the small interactions you almost overlook? On this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Geoffrey “Geoff” Smith, founder and Chief Moment Officer of Moments of Experience and host of the Moments of Experience podcast. With more than 25 years of experience in employee engagement, leadership development, and organizational culture, Jeff shares how deeply personal experiences with healthcare, illness, and loss transformed the way he understood his own work and purpose. Jeff explains why employee engagement is not simply an HR initiative, particularly in healthcare, where the employee experience can directly shape the patient and caregiver experience. He shares powerful stories that demonstrate how seemingly small acts of compassion and human connection can become defining moments for the people experiencing them. Gregg and Jeff also explore what compassionate leadership looks like when accountability is still required, why employees need to feel seen, heard, and valued, and how leaders can build trust through consistent attention and authentic presence. Jeff offers three simple questions leaders can ask their teams each week: What did you love this week? What didn’t you love? And how can I help? The conversation also examines a common leadership mistake: trying to solve problems without involving the people actually experiencing them. Jeff explains why frontline employees need a meaningful voice in organizational decisions and how their involvement can produce stronger solutions, greater trust, and better adoption. Finally, Jeff shares a simple reminder for anyone feeling disconnected from purpose: stay present, look for joy in small moments, celebrate the daily wins, and practice self-compassion when life becomes difficult. In this episode: • Why small moments can reveal a larger sense of purpose • How employee experience influences customer and patient experience • Why feeling seen, heard, and valued builds trust and engagement • Three questions leaders can use to strengthen connection with their teams • Why frontline employees must be included in solving frontline problems • How self-compassion and noticing everyday joy can help reconnect you with purpose Connect with Geoffrey P Smith: Visit mo-mentsofexperience.com or connect with him on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreypsmith/

In this revisit to episode 344 of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Dave Molenda, founder of Positive Polarity, best-selling author, and host of the Positive Polarity Podcast. Dave shares his journey from growing a business to $10 million in annual sales to becoming a coach focused on building high-performing teams and enhancing customer experiences. We dive into the importance of aligning personal values with business growth, the power of DISC assessments in fostering team collaboration, and how uncovering blind spots can unlock new opportunities. Dave also gives practical advice on stepping out of comfort zones and becoming more adaptable in our interactions. Tune in for actionable insights to help you grow with purpose, build trust, and create lasting positive influence. https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmolenda/ [email protected] davemolenda.com

What happens when you achieve the goals you spent years pursuing and realize they no longer feel meaningful? On this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with executive coach and facilitator Mark Guay to explore what Mark calls the “second mountain”: the stage where accomplished leaders begin questioning whether the definition of success that drove them forward still reflects who they want to become. Mark explains why financial success, status, influence, and achievement do not automatically create fulfillment. He shares how inherited expectations from family, culture, education, and other influences can quietly shape the goals people pursue, and why reaching those goals can force a deeper examination of identity and purpose. The conversation also explores how leaders can redefine success without necessarily abandoning the businesses, careers, or lives they have built. Mark outlines a practical process for identifying core values, envisioning what living those values would actually look like, and reverse-engineering that vision into actions over the next 90 days, seven days, and even the next 24 hours. Listeners will learn: • Why the goals that helped you succeed may eventually become limiting • How inherited definitions of success can influence your decisions • Why redefining success does not always require a dramatic life change • How to reconnect achievement with meaning and personal values • A simple exercise for identifying what genuinely matters to you now • How small, intentional actions can help you begin building your next chapter If you have ever wondered whether you are still pursuing the life you actually want or simply continuing toward goals you chose years ago, this conversation offers a practical framework for defining success more intentionally and taking responsibility for what comes next. Website: https://markwguay.com/ Second Mountain Path: https://secondmountainpath.com/

Success isn’t about grand, dramatic moments—it’s about the power of small, consistent actions over time. In this revisit to episode 450 of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with writer, speaker, and chief storyteller Carla Birnberg to explore how steady daily effort leads to transformational results. Carla shares insights from her journey, from fitness and leadership to storytelling and social impact, emphasizing why consistency—not motivation—is the key to progress. She discusses how to shift from chasing bursts of inspiration to building sustainable habits, the importance of structure in leadership, and simple ways to integrate consistency into daily life. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by big goals or struggling with staying on track, this conversation offers practical advice on embracing small steps to create meaningful change. Tune in and discover how consistency builds success in business, personal growth, and beyond. 👉 Subscribe and share to help spread positivity and the power of steady effort! Connect with Carla at: https://carlabirnberg.substack.com/ https://www.instagram.com/carlabirnberg/

What happens when you stop viewing knowledge as something you possess and start treating it as something you are responsible for sharing? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with pharmacist, educator, entrepreneur, and longtime volunteer Dan Krinsky about how teaching, listening, collaboration, and service can create an influence that extends far beyond a single interaction. Dan shares lessons from decades of educating future pharmacists, counseling patients, developing healthcare programs, and participating in medical missions in Honduras. He explains why effective communication begins with understanding what another person already knows, why expertise should never replace listening, and how recognizing each person as an individual can lead to better decisions and stronger relationships. The conversation also explores the importance of leaving ego at the door, being willing to change course when others identify a better solution, and following through to determine whether the guidance we provide is actually making a difference. Listeners will learn: • Why sharing information is different from creating understanding • How listening and asking better questions strengthen responsible influence • Why individualized thinking matters when helping people make decisions • How collaboration can uncover opportunities one person may overlook • Why responsible service begins with understanding what people actually need • How teaching and mentoring can create a lasting ripple effect • Why follow-through is essential if we want our influence to extend beyond the moment Dan’s message is a reminder that knowledge has its greatest value when it is shared responsibly and when the people we help are empowered to carry that knowledge forward. I think this title is stronger than a pharmacy-specific title because it captures the central idea that runs through the entire conversation and gives the episode broader relevance to the Daily Influence audience. Website: https://www.educare-4u.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-krinsky-bs-ms-rph-fapha-a8537a/

In today’s revisit to episode 496 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores how one simple tool—your calendar—can become the foundation for intentional and responsible influence. He shares personal habits and professional insights on how structured time management supports clarity, trust, and leadership. Learn how the calendar acts not only as a scheduling tool, but as a strategic framework for aligning your values with action, using the S.M.A.R.T. methodology and the Six to Sixty planning model. If you’re ready to bring order to chaos and elevate your influence, this episode is your starting point.

Strong leadership is not about maintaining control over every decision, task, or person. It is about creating the clarity, trust, and accountability that allow people to perform well even when the leader is not in the room. On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Jeff Vreeland, Chief Operating Officer of The Prosper Group, entrepreneur, strategist, and leadership coach, about the difference between leading with conviction and leading through control. Jeff shares candid lessons from his own leadership mistakes, including what happened when he thought he had delegated responsibility but never actually gave up control—and another difficult experience that taught him the danger of making assumptions about an employee before understanding the full situation. Together, Gregg and Jeff explore how leaders can hold people accountable without micromanaging, prepare for difficult conversations, recognize when ego or pressure is influencing their decisions, and create greater ownership by asking better questions instead of immediately providing the answer. Jeff also offers a practical 30-day leadership challenge: consistently asking team members, “How can I serve you?” and then creating enough space to genuinely listen to the answer. In this episode, you’ll learn: • The difference between leadership based on conviction and leadership based on control • How to recognize when accountability has turned into micromanagement • Why leaders should examine their own motivations before reacting • How assumptions can damage trust and credibility • How to approach difficult employee conversations with both truth and grace • Questions that help employees develop stronger ownership and problem-solving skills • A simple leadership practice that can strengthen communication and influence over the next 30 days Leadership requires standards and accountability, but responsible influence also requires self-awareness, humility, and the willingness to examine your own behavior before assuming someone else is the problem. To learn more about Jeff Vreeland, his leadership work, The Prosper Group, and his forthcoming book Manage Like Jesus, visit workjeff.com.

In this revisit to episode 260 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith delves into the core principles of Sustainable Leadership. Often misunderstood as merely environmental responsibility, sustainable leadership goes beyond to prioritize long-term success and the well-being of an organization and its people. Brian discusses the importance of maintaining high ethical standards, fostering a people-centric approach, and ensuring resilience and adaptability within your team. Learn how to integrate these elements with SMART management practices to create a balanced, transparent, and innovative organizational culture. Tune in to discover actionable insights that will help you build a sustainable and thriving business.

What happens when a high school assignment becomes the beginning of something much bigger? On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno talks with children’s author and BioGuides creator Ariel Castillo Jr. about turning curiosity, creativity, and an interest in science into Tango in the Rainforest, a children’s book designed to make biology more engaging and approachable for young learners. Ariel shares how a senior-year AP Biology project sparked the idea, why storytelling and poetry can help children connect with complex concepts, and what he learned while navigating the realities of writing, designing, and self-publishing his first book. The conversation also explores the responsibility that comes with influencing young minds, including how creators can simplify information without losing its meaning and how educational content can encourage children to see learning as an adventure. Ariel also offers practical advice for young people with ambitious ideas: research the landscape, seek guidance from people with experience, understand the risks involved, give yourself more time than you think you will need, and be willing to work through unexpected obstacles. This episode is a reminder that meaningful influence often begins with curiosity but it grows when we take responsibility for developing our ideas and putting them into action.

In this revisit to episode 488 of The Daily Influence, Brian explores the often-unspoken language that defines our impact—our body language. From posture and eye contact to facial expressions and even wardrobe choices, your physical presence begins influencing others the moment you enter a room. Learn how to align your nonverbal signals with your mission and values to cultivate trust, build deeper connections, and create responsible influence. Whether you're leading a team or just showing up for a conversation, discover how intentional awareness of your physical self can elevate your leadership and relationships.