What’s the Difference Between the Learning Zone and the Performance Zone? with Eduardo Briceño

Working hard matters, but it does not automatically help us improve. Eduardo Briceño joins Michael to explain the performance paradox: leaders need time in the performance zone to get things done and time in the learning zone to experiment, seek feedback, and develop new abilities. He shares ways to build learning into work even when time is scarce, from small daily reminders to changes in team meetings. They also discuss identity change, humility, trust, and how leaders can model learning for others. Eduardo closes with a practical question for the AI era: are we using AI only to complete tasks, or are we using it to help ourselves learn?Chapters:00:00:00 Growth mindset and the performance paradox00:04:00 Personal patterns and leadership presence00:08:00 Identity change, coaching, and AI00:15:00 Humility and learning from others00:20:00 Radical imagination and what limits leaders00:28:00 The performance zone and the learning zone00:32:00 How to make time for learning at work00:37:00 Trust, feedback, and modeling growth00:42:00 Using AI for deliberate learning00:47:00 Influencing through curiosity and better questionsLinks and Resources:Eduardo Briceño Website – https://briceno.com/Growth.how – https://growth.how/The Performance Paradox by Eduardo Briceño – https://briceno.com/the-performance-paradox/Hoffman Process – https://www.hoffmaninstitute.org/the-process/Presence-Based Coaching – https://presencebasedcoaching.com/Mindset Works – https://www.mindsetworks.com/How to Get Better at the Things You Care About — TED Talk – https://www.ted.com/talks/eduardo_briceno_how_to_get_better_at_the_things_you_care_aboutThe Power of Belief: Mindset and Success — TEDx Talk – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN34FNbOKXcClaude Code – https://claude.com/product/claude-codeClaude – https://claude.ai/Eduardo Briceño on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduardo-briceno/Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.comStrategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-callPodcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcastMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastainMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastainArc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integratedThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

Why do smart people stay quiet in team meetings? Dr. Amy Climer joins The Influential Leader to show how leaders can make creativity more deliberate. She explains why innovative thinking matters during change, how to hold competing truths, and how systems can create space for better work. Amy shares a simple way to get everyone speaking early in a meeting, when to listen instead of offering solutions, and how a card can help people express a difficult thought. They also explore where AI helps and hinders creativity, and the three elements of an innovative team: clear purpose, healthy dynamics, and a creative process.CHAPTERS00:00:00 Why leadership teams need creativity amid change00:06:00 Reading, empathy, and a better feedback habit00:12:00 Use systems to handle complexity and opposing truths00:18:00 When analog thinking helps teams create00:24:00 Facilitate meetings so every voice is heard00:30:00 Model authenticity and understand your audience00:36:00 Fix team friction with structure and Climer Cards00:42:00 What AI can and cannot do for team creativity00:48:00 AI literacy, influence, and better questions00:53:00 Deliberate Creative Teams and Amy’s three part modelLinks and Resources:Amy Climer Website – https://climerconsulting.com/Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results – https://climerconsulting.com/book/Climer Cards – https://climercards.com/Climer Cards Free eBook: 50+ Prompts – https://climercards.com/about/The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune – https://www.tjklunebooks.com/the-house-in-the-cerulean-seaDon’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor – https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Dont-Shoot-the-Dog/Karen-Pryor/9781982106461The Tim Ferriss Show – https://tim.blog/podcast/Google Docs – https://workspace.google.com/products/docs/Asana – https://asana.com/QuickBooks – https://quickbooks.intuit.com/Amy Climer on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyclimer/Amy Climer on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/amyclimer/Climer Consulting on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/climerconsulting/Amy Climer on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmyClimerArc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.comStrategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-callPodcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcastMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastainMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastainArc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integratedThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

What happens to a business when its owner is ready to leave, or has to step away unexpectedly? Succession planning advisor Jim Erben joins Michael Diettrich-Chastain to make the case for preparing long before a sale or retirement is imminent. Jim explains why owners need to define their goals, understand the value of the company alongside their personal needs, reduce dependence on themselves, and tell senior leaders what the future could look like. They also discuss passing values to the next generation, finding a purpose after an exit, hiring people who care and can learn, and answering employees’ questions about change and AI. Chapters:00:00:00 Meet Jim Erben and why succession begins with trust00:06:00 Why owners should plan before a sale offer arrives00:12:00 Define the owner’s goals and communicate the plan00:18:00 Succession by Design and the coming wave of exits00:24:00 Owner dependence, business value, and potential buyers00:29:00 Passing wealth, values, and expectations to family00:35:00 What will give you purpose after the business?00:41:00 Hire for trust, curiosity, and care00:45:00 Build culture and prepare family successors to lead00:49:00 Answer employees’ questions about AI and the futureLinks and Resources:Erben Associates Website – https://erbenassociates.com/Succession by Design Book by Jim Erben – https://successionbydesignbook.com/Succession by Design Framework – https://erbenassociates.com/our-process/succession-by-design/Good to Great by Jim Collins – https://www.jimcollins.com/books.htmlKing Richard Movie – https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/king-richardForrest Gump Movie – https://www.paramountmovies.com/movies/forrest-gumpArc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.comStrategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-callPodcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcastMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastainMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastainArc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integratedThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

How do you help people grow when you cannot make them change? John Eades joins Michael Diettrich-Chastain to explore the influence leaders have through mentorship, clear standards, honest feedback, and optimism grounded in reality. John shares his “double bounce” metaphor for helping others reach higher, explains why leaders need to understand their own identity, vision, and skills, and offers a practical approach to behavior change: show people why it matters, then make the first step small enough to take. They also discuss protecting focus, giving praise people can learn from, and building an impact that lasts beyond a title.Chapters:00:00:00 Meet John Eades and the value of seeking mentors00:05:00 The “double bounce” and a leader’s wider impact00:11:00 Why your impact can outlast your title00:17:00 Developing leaders through identity, vision, and skills00:22:00 Optimism that faces reality00:29:00 Choosing people and setting clear team standards00:35:00 Why specific, honest feedback matters00:41:00 ADHD, attention, and protecting your focus00:47:00 How to make behavior change easier to start00:52:00 John’s books, newsletters, podcasts, and closing thoughtsLinks and Resources:John Eades Website – https://www.johneades.com/LearnLoft – https://learnloft.com/The Sales Infrastructure – https://thesalesinfrastructure.com/Building the Best by John Eades – https://learnloft.com/building-the-best-book/The Optimistic Outlook Book – https://learnloft.com/the-optimistic-outlook/The Leadership Lens Newsletter – https://jeades.beehiiv.com/The Optimistic Outlook Newsletter – https://optimisticoutlook.beehiiv.com/The John Eades Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-eades-podcast/id1093687579The Optimistic Outlook Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-optimistic-outlook-with-john-eades/id1804989860Accelerate Leadership Program – https://learnloft.com/accelerate-leadership/Catalyst for Growth Program – https://learnloft.com/catalyst-organization/Lead the Room Presentation Skills Program – https://learnloft.com/lead-the-room/Good to Great by Jim Collins – https://jimcollins.com/books.htmlFirst Who, Then What by Jim Collins – https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/first-who-then-what.htmlRegrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware – https://bronnieware.com/blog/regrets-of-the-dying/Dr. Myles Munroe / Munroe Global – https://www.munroeglobal.com/about-us/Jon Gordon – https://jongordon.com/The Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz – https://app.ascensionpress.com/podcasts/bibleHoarders – https://www.aetv.com/shows/hoardersArc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.comStrategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-callPodcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcastMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastainMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastainArc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integratedThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

Bill Treasurer was afraid of heights even while diving from more than 100 feet. In this conversation with Michael, he explains how practicing at gradually greater heights shaped his approach to courage at work. They explore how leaders can create safety before challenging people, receive difficult feedback without becoming defensive, ask more questions than they make statements, and address conflict before avoidance becomes costly. Bill also reflects on authenticity, family, succession, and a question from his mentor that still brings him back to his own motives. The episode closes with practical lessons from six of his books and a reminder to pause before reacting.Chapters:00:00:00 Courage at Work and Bridging Differences00:07:00 Bill’s Fear of Heights and High Diving00:14:00 What Is Your Courage For?00:21:00 Psychological Safety and Receiving Feedback00:28:00 Authenticity, Family, and Work Identity00:35:00 How to Build Leadership Training That Works00:42:00 Ask More Questions and Address Conflict Debt00:49:00 Succession Planning at Giant Leap Consulting00:56:00 Finding Purpose Beyond Work and Asking Why01:03:00 Practical Lessons From Bill’s Six Books01:10:00 The Beautiful Beat and Starting the Day WellLinks and Resources:Giant Leap Consulting Website – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/Courage Building Website – https://couragebuilding.com/Right Risk – https://bkconnection.com/products/9781576758854_right-riskCourage Goes to Work – https://bkconnection.com/products/9781523098569_courage-goes-to-workLeaders Open Doors – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/leaders-open-doors/A Leadership Kick in the Ass – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/kickass/The Leadership Killer – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/killer/Leadership Two Words at a Time – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/2words/Bill Treasurer’s Coaching Q Cards – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/digital-qcards/Margie Warrell – https://margiewarrell.com/StoryBrand by Donald Miller – https://storybrand.com/ storybrand.comRadical Candor Framework – https://www.radicalcandor.com/our-approachThe Good Fight by Liane Davey – https://lianedavey.com/books/goodfight/Conflict Debt by Liane Davey – https://lianedavey.com/conflict-debt/The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson – https://books.google.com/books?id=galpAAAAMAAJArc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.comStrategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-callPodcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcastMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastainMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastainArc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integratedThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

If every decision still lands on your desk, how much room does your team really have to think for themselves? Chad Littlefield, cofounder of We and Me and coauthor of Ask Powerful Questions, joins Michael to explore how leaders can build trust and help people take greater ownership. Drawing on stories from his work and family life, Chad shares how to ask questions that get beyond predictable answers and give employees the freedom to figure things out. The conversation also gets into what meaningful mentorship requires and why your next good idea might need more thinking time before it becomes another project for your team. Throughout the episode, Chad makes a practical case for giving connection more attention, from noticing work that usually goes unseen to creating meetings people actually want to attend. For busy leaders looking to improve engagement, there is plenty here to bring into your next conversation.Chapters:(00:00:00) - Chad Littlefield on Leadership and Human Connection(00:06:50) - Personal Growth Through Challenge and Connection(00:13:35) - Asking Better Questions and Listening With Intention(00:20:20) - Employee Engagement and the Power of Slowing Down(00:27:19) - Employee Autonomy and Three Keys to Effective Mentorship(00:33:58) - Building Company Culture Through Transparency(00:40:58) - Leadership Confidence and Building Team Trust(00:47:30) - How to Influence People With Better Invitations(00:54:23) - AI and the Future of Human Connection(01:01:16) - Leading Through Uncertainty With an Entrepreneurial MindsetLinks and Resources:Ask Powerful Questions - https://shop.weand.me/products/ask-powerful-questionsWe! Connect Cards - https://shop.weand.me/products/we-connect-cardsThe Art of Learning - https://www.joshwaitzkin.com/the-art-of-learningWorthy Goal Framework - https://www.mbs.works/books/Chad Littlefield on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@chad.littlefieldConnectors Summit - https://weand.me/connectors-summit/Liberating Structures - https://www.liberatingstructures.com/Liberating Structures Resources - https://www.liberatingstructures.com/resources-1Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.comStrategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-callPodcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcastMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastainMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastainArc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integratedThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

Why does a behavior keep showing up even after coaching, training, and clear expectations? Dr. Jade Teta joins Michael Dietrich-Chastain to explore the stories and identities that may sit beneath what leaders see at work. He shares a three part approach to difficult conversations that begins with recognizing someone’s humanity, showing empathy, and asking a question that helps them speak honestly. Jade also explains why he puts connection before correction, how to care deeply while holding someone accountable, and what it means to believe in a person without taking responsibility for their choices. Later, he describes using AI to challenge his ideas and spot his own patterns. The conversation gives leaders a way to look more closely at what is driving behavior before deciding what to do next.Chapters(00:00:00) - Dr. Jade Teta on Identity, Leadership, and Essentia(00:10:37) - Unconscious Patterns and the Identity Beneath Behavior(00:21:25) - Three Rules for Difficult Employee Conversations(00:31:37) - Connection Through Service and Leading Through Struggle(00:42:33) - Extreme Ownership and Three Responses to Suffering(00:52:24) - Fulfillment, Purpose, and Movement Beyond Mission Statements(01:03:23) - Rewrite, Rewire, Retrain: Changing Identity and Behavior(01:09:08) - The Morpheus Effect and Confident Detachment(01:17:43) - How to Use AI to Think With You, Not for You(01:27:59) - The Story You Live and the Story Your Team FollowsLinks and Resources:Johari Window – https://johari-window.com/aboutInternal Family Systems (IFS) – https://ifs-institute.com/The Charisma Myth – https://www.charismamyth.com/Rewrite, Rewire, Retrain – https://www.nextlevelhuman.com/blog/identity-based-changePygmalion Effect – https://dictionary.apa.org/pygmalion-effectGolem Effect Research – https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01581/fullWispr Flow – https://wisprflow.ai/Next Level Human – https://www.nextlevelhuman.com/Dr. Jade Teta on Substack – https://substack.nextlevelhuman.com/Dr. Jade Teta – https://www.jadeteta.com/Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.comStrategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-callPodcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcastMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastainMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastainArc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integratedThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

What helps a leader bring out the best in the people they lead? In this introductory episode of The Influential Leader, Michael Diettrich-Chastain shares how his work in psychology, mental health, and organizational leadership led him to that question. He explains why he started the podcast and introduces the idea he wants to explore with future guests: that influence may begin with the questions we ask ourselves and others. Michael also considers why asking thoughtful questions could matter even more as AI makes information easier to access.Chapters:00:00:00 The Question Behind The Influential Leader00:01:00 Michael’s Background in Behavior Change00:02:00 From Organizational Work to Clinical Therapy00:03:00 Returning to Leadership and Launching Arc Integrated00:04:00 Changes: The Book and Question Cards00:05:00 Leadership Challenges and One Core Question00:07:00 Four Reasons for Starting the Podcast00:08:00 Testing the Theory: Influence Through Inquiry00:09:00 Asking Better Questions in the Age of AILinks and Resources:Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.comStrategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-callPodcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcastMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastainMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastainArc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integratedThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

What happens to a team when its leader acts from insecurity? Victor Cho joins Michael Dietrich-Chastain to explore how self awareness, empathy, and transparency shape trust at work. Victor explains why he asks questions before advocating for a decision, and why employees at every level should be able to flag a problem when they see one. He also introduces his Fourth Stakeholder Framework, which asks leaders to consider how their companies affect society beyond their customers, employees, and shareholders. As the conversation turns to AI, Victor makes the case for planning how organizations will change and protecting trust in digital communication. It is a conversation about the questions leaders ask, the problems they choose to see, and the example they set for everyone around them.Chapters:(00:00:00) - Victor Cho on Leadership, Inquiry, and AI(00:05:02) - Defining Your Three Circles of Purpose and Impact(00:09:40) - How Insecurity, Empathy, and Transparency Shape Leadership(00:16:07) - Inquiry Versus Advocacy: How Leaders Influence Behavior(00:22:43) - CEO Frameworks and Emotional Intelligence(00:29:41) - The Fourth Stakeholder and Business Responsibility to Society(00:36:33) - Business Ripple Effects and the Employee Red Button(00:43:21) - AI Strategy and the Future Structure of Companies(00:50:11) - Deepfakes and Trust in Business Communication(00:54:03) - Why Leaders Must Address Their Own InsecurityLinks and Resources:Website - https://www.victorcho.com/4 Stakeholder - https://www.victorcho.com/4th-stakeholderCEO Career Accelerator - https://www.victorcho.com/courseInquiry vs. Advocacy - https://www.victorcho.com/course-lesson-4Leadership Frameworks - https://www.victorcho.com/resourcesThe Deming Institute - https://deming.org/What Should We Tell the Kids? Navigating Work, Learning, and Purpose in the Age of AI - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMnIJJ3_khAArc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.comStrategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-callPodcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcastMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastainMichael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastainArc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integratedThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

Even successful leaders wrestle with the same question: How do I influence the behavior of the people I lead? Michael introduces The Influential Leader and the idea at the heart of the show: influence begins with the questions we ask ourselves and others. Moments from guest conversations touch on setting clear expectations, understanding employees, and challenging our assumptions. For senior leaders who want to strengthen engagement and help their teams change, the trailer offers a glimpse of the conversations to come.