Lead with Empower Podcast

Dan Jaskot
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Great leadership looks, sounds, and feels different based on the leader and the situation. However, there are common threads that connect all tremendous leaders. Our goal is to connect with leaders who are in the trenches each day leading themselves and others; to learn about their unique leadership style, explore their leadership practices, and to provide our listeners with inspiration to lead.

  1. 2 days ago

    2026 - E19 Lead with Empower Podcast

    Activity Synopsis: Team Memory Challenge This episode of the Lead with Empower Podcast features an in-depth introduction and discussion of the Team Memory Challenge - a staple team building initiative in the Empower Leadership programmatic arsenal. Core Overview & Expectations: The Team Memory Challenge is a highly dynamic, relay-race style team-building activity that looks deceptively simple on paper but serves as a rigorous exercise in communication and planning. Facilitators use the challenge to expose a group's tendency to prioritize immediate gratification and quantity/speed over high-quality execution and detailed preparation. Participants should expect a high-stress environment where they must fight the instinct to rush, instead focusing on meticulous planning and collective accountability. Standard Setup & Rules: ● The Layout: The entire team stands at a starting or staging cone. Across the way (typically 25 to 30 feet away), 20 face-down plaques are arranged in a 4x5 grid. ● The Goal: The grid consists of 10 pairs of matching words, phrases, or numbers. The collective objective is to successfully uncover all 10 matching pairs. ● The Relay: One teammate at a time leaves the staging cone and goes to the grid to flip over two plaques. ● If the plaques match, they stay facing up. ● If they do not match, the player must flip them back face-down exactly as they found them before returning to the cone. ● Strict Communication Rules: When a player is actively at the grid, there is zero communication permitted—no talking, hand signals, or gesturing to the team back at the cone. The team can only strategize and debrief when the active player returns to the staging cone. ● The Mistake Rule: If a player gets frustrated and forgets to flip a non-matching pair back face-down, the next player in line cannot flip new plaques. Their entire turn must be spent fixing their teammate's mistake. Equipment Requirements: Specialized equipment is not required to run this activity. While professional facilitators often use custom-made plastic logos or branded plaques, it can easily be replicated using common items: ● A standard deck of playing cards (e.g., matching red aces or black aces). ● Numbered tennis balls covered by bandanas. ● Old athletic or workspace gear hidden under bandanas. ● Optional Tool: Teams can be given a whiteboard or paper to map out coordinates, which tests their ability to label grids and maintain accurate record-keeping under pressure. Activity Variations: The challenge is highly adaptable to space limitations, age groups, and physical fitness goals: ● Indoor / Limited Space: For tight environments like conference rooms or classrooms, teams can sit just 3 to 4 feet away but must face completely away from the grid so they cannot watch other turns. ● Mega Memory: Scaled up into a larger project using a grid of 40 plaques (20 matches). ● Physical Conditioning: For athletic teams, the grid can be placed at the top of a 100-yard hill or require pairs to "buddy carry" a teammate up to flip the plaques. ● Multi-Player Trips: If group sizes are exceptionally large (e.g., 16 people), participants can go up in pairs or trios to uncover multiple plaques, heavily testing synchronized execution. Find out more at https://lead-with-empower-podcast.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  2. 2 days ago

    2026 - E18 Lead with Empower Podcast

    The core discussion centers on ten leadership lessons extracted from the New York Knicks' unexpected 2025–2026 NBA championship run. The hosts highlight how the team maximized their success by creating a perimeter to block out intense media noise, staying highly adaptable to roster changes, and embracing regular-season challenges as vital playoff preparation. Furthermore, players exemplified selfless servant leadership by sacrificing individual statistics for the collective good, fully embracing specialized roles, and focusing heavily on unglamorous "dirty work" like defense and rebounding. The Knicks ultimately overcame the more physically gifted San Antonio Spurs by maintaining an absolute "no quit" attitude, engineering massive comebacks, and prioritizing complete unity over division or blame. The hosts conclude that these principles of discipline, role ownership, and persistence through necessary but tedious tasks apply directly to achieving long-term success in business and everyday life. 1. Creating a Perimeter: The team successfully tuned out intense media overanalysis and social media distractions to focus entirely on internal relationships and things within their immediate control. 2. Adaptability: The coaching staff and players embraced an iterative mindset of trying new strategies, evaluating the results, making adjustments, and trying again. 3. Embracing Challenges as Preparation: The organization viewed regular-season dry spells and losing streaks not as failures, but as necessary preparation to harden them for the playoffs. 4. Giving of Oneself for the Whole: Superstar players actively sacrificed individual statistics and money to allow the front office to build a better, more unified roster. 5. Embracing Roles: Players did not complain about their playing time or roster placement; instead, they strove for individual greatness within their specific assignments. 6. The Dirty Work Matters: Championship success requires "grindy" behind-the-scenes work, such as tough defense and rebounding, that rarely makes highlight tapes or video games. 7. No Ounce of Quit: The team maintained an absolute "no-quit" attitude, enabling them to execute massive 20- and 30-point comebacks by focusing on taking games one bucket at a time. 8. Selfless/Servant Leadership: Leaders on the team focused entirely on lifting their peers up and maintaining absolute belief in teammates even after poor individual performances. 9. Doing More with Less: Rather than trying to fit a generic mold, individuals maximized and mastered the specific unique physical tools and skills they possessed. 10. Togetherness over Division: Win, lose, or draw, the team refused to engage in finger-pointing, blaming referees, or infighting, choosing instead to own their outcomes collectively. Find out more at https://lead-with-empower-podcast.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  3. 11 Jun

    2026 - E17 Lead with Empower Podcast

    The Empower Leadership Podcast episode #17 focuses on the Pipeline activity, a foundational team-building initiative used to teach leadership, collaboration, trust, and accountability. Activity Overview The primary objective of Pipeline is for a group to transport an object (typically a golf ball) from a starting line into a finishing bucket using sections of halved PVC tubes. ●       Group Size: Ideally suited for teams of 6 to 12 people. ●       Setup: The distance between the start and finish must be greater than the total length of the tubes combined, forcing participants to move and reconnect their sections. ●       Standard Rules: ●       Each participant receives one tube. ●       While the ball is in their tube, a participant can rotate their upper body but cannot move their feet. ●       The ball cannot stop, roll backward, or fall. ●       The ball may only touch the inside of the tubes or the bucket. ●       Any rule break requires the entire team to restart at the beginning. Common Mistakes and Facilitation Points The speakers highlight several common behavioral patterns that emerge during the activity, which serve as key teaching moments: ●       Speed vs. Control: Teams often rush, creating a "rocket launcher" effect that makes the ball impossible to catch. Facilitators use this to teach that control and visibility are often more important than raw speed. ●       The "Observer" Mentality: Participants often watch the ball roll past rather than immediately moving to the end of the line. This highlights a lack of trust and a failure to perform one's specific role. ●       Failure to Plan the Finish: Groups frequently plan for the transport but neglect the actual drop into the bucket, often overshooting it due to excitement or crowding. ●       Credit vs. Team Success: Sometimes an individual will try to "steal the glory" by inserting their tube at the last second, often causing a failure. This leads to discussions on whether the individual's accolades or the team's success is the priority. Modifications and Variations The activity is highly flexible and can be adjusted for different difficulty levels: ●       Terrain: Adding slopes or slalom courses with cones increases the challenge. ●       Objects: Using balls with more friction (whiffle balls) makes it easier, while smaller or faster objects (marbles, super balls) make it harder. ●       Pipeline Pandemonium: A competitive version using multiple objects and targets with varying point values. ●       DIY Options: For those without PVC, the activity can be replicated using pool noodles cut in half or even manila folders. Episode Timeline: ●       Introduction to Pipeline: The speakers introduce "Pipeline" as a staple team-building activity they have referenced many times in previous episodes. (00:01)1 ●       Activity Setup: The goal is to transport an object, usually a golf ball, from a start line to a finish bucket using sections of PVC pipe cut in half. (03:45)2 ●       Core Rules: Participants cannot move their feet while holding the ball, and the ball must never stop, roll backward, or touch anything except the tube. (05:24)3 ●       The "Speed" Trap: A common initial mistake is groups trying to go too fast, which often leads to losing control of the ball. (06:51)4 ●       Trust and Observation: A lack of trust is shown when players watch the ball instead of moving immediately to the end of the line to extend the pipeline. (09:18)5 ●       Operational Breakdowns: Failures at the end of the line are often a result of how the ball was  handled earlier in the pipeline, rather than just the last person's fault. (14:56)6 ●       Planning the Finish: Groups frequently fail because they plan for the start and transport but do not coordinate how to actually drop the ball into the bucket. (18:08)7 ●       Distance and Terrain Mods: The difficulty can be adjusted by changing the distance (from 30 feet to 200 yards) or using sloped terrain. (26:47)8 ●       Equipment Variations: Using different objects like marbles (faster/harder) or tennis balls (slower/easier) can scale the challenge. (31:22)9 ●       Pipeline Pandemonium: A competitive version involves multiple targets and objects with different point values to introduce strategy. (33:18)10 ●       DIY Pipeline: The activity can be replicated cheaply using pool noodles cut into sections or even manila folders in an office setting. (36:47)11 ●       Conclusion: The speakers emphasize that the game's value lies in teaching individual accountability, focus, and setting teammates up for success. (41:24) Find out more at https://lead-with-empower-podcast.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  4. 11 Jun

    2026 E16 Lead with Empower Podcast

    The 16th episode of the Lead with Empower podcast, recorded just before Memorial Day weekend, features hosts Dan and Zack discussing the nuances of designing team-building experiences. Determining Difficulty Levels Finding the "sweet spot" for a group's challenge level is described as an art that requires significant inquiry during the sales and design process. Key factors used to gauge the appropriate level of difficulty include: ●       Group Size: Larger groups often face more internal conflict due to "too many cooks in the kitchen". To manage this, facilitators may break a large group of 50 into smaller lanes of eight or nine people to ensure everyone remains engaged. ●       Physical Exertion: Programs are tailored to the group's daily activity levels; for example, a high school sports team would receive a more physically demanding program than a corporate group that is typically sedentary. ●       Age and Wiring: Adults tend to overthink and strategize extensively before acting, whereas younger participants often dive into problems immediately without a set strategy. ●       Desired Outcomes: Facilitators ask whether a client wants pure fun (an outing), professional skill development, or a mix of both to determine the program's structure. Stages of Group Development The hosts reference Bruce Tuckman’s research on group dynamics to explain how they adjust activities based on a team's current stage: ●       Forming: New groups with social barriers are given low-complexity icebreakers (e.g., favorite hobbies) rather than deep personal sharing. ●       Storming: Teams experiencing power struggles or conflict are given collaborative tasks without competition to avoid creating further division. ●       Norming: As people settle into roles, activities with clearly defined, different roles are used to highlight how individual strengths contribute to team success. ●       Performing: Groups that are "firing on all cylinders" are given more challenging levels to prevent complacency. Facilitation Tactics ●       Frontloading: To maintain trust, facilitators inform groups at the start if there are multiple tiers of difficulty or if an activity might be modified to build momentum after a struggle. ●       Managing Mistakes: Facilitators use "nickel and dime" rule enforcement as a tool for difficult or uncooperative groups. Conversely, for groups showing high effort and positive growth, facilitators may overlook "hustle mistakes" near the end of a program to ensure the experience concludes with a sense of accomplishment. ●       Core Objectives: Every program aims to achieve three things: Engagement, Challenge, and Accomplishment. Episode Timeline: ●       Never Quit Mentality (03:01): The speakers emphasize giving 100% effort until the "clock hits zero," using the New York Knicks' historic 22-point comeback as a prime example. ●       The Difficulty "Sweet Spot" (06:51): Facilitators must find the right challenge level; too hard leads to participants giving up, while too easy results in "dead air" and disengagement. ●       Inquiry-Based Sales (08:22): A program's success starts during the sales process by asking if a client wants pure fun, a mix of learning, or intensive skill development. ●       Large Group Friction (13:10): Groups of 30 often take twice as long as groups of five because "too many cooks in the kitchen" can cause members to work against each other. ●       Adult vs. Youth Problem Solving (16:01): Adults frequently overthink and delay action to find a "perfect" answer, whereas youth often dive into tasks without any plan or strategy. ●       Tuckman's Stages of Development (20:56): Facilitators use the four stages—forming, storming, norming, and performing—to assess group dynamics and choose appropriate activities. ●       Avoiding Storming Competition (25:13): For groups in the "storming" phase of conflict, facilitators avoid competitive tasks that could "feed the fire" of existing internal power struggles. ●       The Power of "Frontloading" (28:17): To maintain trust, leaders should inform groups ahead of time if an activity has multiple tiers or harder levels rather than using a "sneak attack" challenge. ●       Strategic Rule Enforcement (32:16): Facilitators may overlook minor "hustle mistakes" for engaged teams but strictly enforce rules (a "nickel and dime" approach) for difficult or argumentative groups. ●       The Ultimate Goal (35:16): Team building's purpose is for participants to leave feeling positive and confident, ready to apply lessons to their real-world environments. ●       Selecting a Partner (39:00): Organizations should choose partners who ask deep questions about group outcomes and physical exertion levels rather than offering a "cookie-cutter" approach. Find out more at https://lead-with-empower-podcast.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  5. 7 May

    2026 E15 Lead with Empower Podcast

    This episode of the Lead with Empower podcast discusses the common frustration of individuals feeling that their ideas are not being heard within a group. The speakers explore how both leaders and individual participants can improve communication dynamics to ensure every voice has an opportunity to be shared. Strategies for Leaders and Facilitators Leaders can proactively create environments that encourage diverse participation and mutual respect: ● Establish Clear Communication Standards: Consistently enforce expectations, such as allowing only one person to speak at a time and encouraging others to be active listeners ● Utilize Structured Tools: Implement physical objects, like a “talking tool,” where only the person holding the object is permitted to speak ● Active Facilitation: Explicitly call on different group members to share their ideas to ensure quieter individuals are not overlooked ● Encourage Stepping Out of Comfort Zones: Challenge naturally vocal members to step back and listen, while encouraging quieter members to speak with confidence ● Promote the “80/20 Rule”: Remind participants that since they have four senses for intake (two eyes and two ears) and only one for output (the mouth), they should aim to listen and observe 80% of the time and speak only 20% of the time Strategies for Individual Participants Individuals who feel unheard can use self-reflection to improve how they present their ideas: ● Evaluate Tone and Delivery: Avoid aggressive, sarcastic, or demanding tones, as these often cause others to “mute” or ignore the speakers ● Communicate with Confidence and Reason: State ideas clearly and always follow up with a “why” to provide context and rationale for the suggestion ● Practice Reciprocity: Reflect on how you treat others’ ideas; if you dismiss or “steamroll” teammates, they are likely to reciprocate that behavior when you try to speak ● Respond Gracefully to Rejection: Avoid reacting negatively or becoming “dead weight” if the group chooses a different strategy, as a poor reaction can discourage the group from listening to you in the future Find out more at https://lead-with-empower-podcast.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  6. 7 May

    2026 E14 Lead with Empower Podcast

    This episode of the Lead with Empower Podcast features a discussion on how leaders and team members can effectively handle mistakes within a group dynamic. The speakers emphasize that while mistakes are inevitable, particularly in challenging activities designed for growth, the reaction to these mistakes dictates whether a team improves or faces further conflict. The discussion outlines three primary ways to respond when a team member makes a mistake: ● Ignore the mistake: Choosing to do nothing might work if the individual takes personal ownership to fix the error. However, frequently ignoring mistakes often leads to growing frustration, potentially culminating in a "crash out" or emotional meltdown. ● "Blast" the person: This "old school" approach involves publicly berating or yelling at the person who made the mistake. While some may respond to "tough love," most individuals will shut down or begin making mistakes out of spite because they feel small and mistreated. ● "Coach up" the individual: This proactive method involves pausing to breathe and discussing the root of the problem without making the person feel "voted off the island". Leaders should use inquiry to understand the struggle and ask what support the team can provide. Key takeaways from the speakers include: ● Know your people: Understanding an individual's personality is critical to providing the right layer of feedback, as some may handle tough love while others require reassurance. ● Front-end work pays off: While "coaching up" takes more effort initially than a visceral emotional reaction, it leads to more efficient processes and fewer long-term mistakes. ● Leadership through listening: An example was shared of a mature group of fourth graders who successfully navigated mistakes because they ensured everyone had a voice and was listened to. ● Solution-oriented approach: Strong leaders do not let emotions hinder productivity; they focus on building people up and finding solutions. Find out more at https://lead-with-empower-podcast.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  7. 16 Apr

    2026 E13 Lead with Empower Podcast

    Episode 13 of the "Lead with Empower" podcast, features Zachary Morello and Dan Jaskot from Empower Leadership discussing some common reasons why participants may not engage in team building experiences and a series of tips and pointers for reengaging them! Reasons for Participant Withdrawal ● Preconceived Notions: Participants often enter an experience with negative feedback assumptions based on poor past experience with team building or professional development ● Lack of Relevance: Participants may not see a “one-to-one” correlation between activities, such as a “pipeline” game, and their real-world goals, like improving athletic performance or office productivity ● Activity Mismatch: If an activity is too physically demanding for a non-active group, or if the difficulty level is too high or too low for their skill set, they are more likely to check out ● Negative Group Dynamics: When a group is allowed to berate or blame individuals for failures, those being targeted will naturally withdraw. Warning Signs of Withdrawal ● Group Fragmentation: A larger group may begin “chunking off” into smaller “clicks” or isolated individuals ● Steamrolling: High-energy or “alpha” leaders may dominate the conversation, causing more quiet members with good ideas to feel unheard and stop contributing ● Physical Cues: Facilitators look for overt body language like round shoulders, increased physical distance from the group, and a “shorter fuse” ● Frustration Boiling Over: In extreme cases, participants may storm off or throw equipment Proactive Leadership Strategies ● Establish Social Connection: Leaders must ensure participants feel valued as individuals before attempting to lead them ● Communicate the “Why”: It is critical to explain that the process of the activity-communication, problem-solving, and building trust is what relates to their actual work ● Present the Energy: Leaders must be energized (“juice”), prepared, and efficient to maintain group attention ● Appropriate Challenge: The difficulty of a task should be set at or slightly above the group’s current skill level to keep them engaged without overwhelming them Reactive Management Techniques ● One-on-One Conversations: When withdrawal occurs, a leader should try to have a private conversation to help the participant connect their reaction to real-world scenarios ● Provide Space: Sometimes the best response is to give a frustrated person room to breathe rather than immediately following them ● Validate Emotions: Leaders should avoid telling participants “don’t get frustrated,” as it dismisses their feelings; instead, they should help them find a “refocus tool” to re-engage productivity ● Role Re-engagement: If a participant does not want to do the activity, they can be re-engaged, in a different role, such as helping the leader “officiate” or observe the group Find out more at https://lead-with-empower-podcast.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

  8. 16 Apr

    2026 E12 Lead with Empower Podcast

    This episode of the Lead with Empower podcast explores strategies for maintaining the attention of a group after it has been captured. The speakers emphasize that while gaining attention is the first hurdle, keeping that attention is a distinct skill that directly impacts engagement and progress toward goals. Key themes and strategies discussed include: ● Facilitator Energy: A leader’s energy, enthusiasm, and focus service as a standard for the group. If a facilitator appears disengaged or tried, the group will likely mirror that behavior. ● Managing “Dead Air”: While silence can be a useful tool during group debriefs to encourage reflection, it is generally a significant pitfall during initial instructions or group management. Prolonged dead space can lead to disengagement, and facilitators should strive for a seamless flow. ● Knowing the Audience and Staying on Track: Effective leaders must understand what their specific audience can handle. While some groups might tolerate a joke or a deviation from the plan, others require a direct, concise approach to remain focused on the rules and objectives. ● Minimizing Distractions: ○ Physical Objects: Objects in participants’ hands act as distractions. Removing these items before instructions can help maintain focus. ○ Environmental Positioning: Leaders should strategically position themselves and their groups to avoid distractions, such as other activities occurring nearby. ○ Instructional Location: It is often better to move a group away from equipment to explain an activity, rather than briefing them at the site where distractions are present. ● Consistency and Preparedness: A consistent, repeatable process for organizing groups and delivering instructions is vital. Facilitators should prepare and potentially script their transitions to avoid unnecessary complexity. ● Learning Through Play: Because the goal is often learning through play, leaders should aim to provide essential instructions and safety guidelines, then allow the group to begin the activity. Allowing the group to experience initial struggle or success can make them a more attentive audience for subsequent check-ins or debriefs. The speakers conclude that while gaining attention requires significant effort, maintaining it is an ongoing process of preparation, consistency, and awareness of the group's needs. Over time, consistently enforcing these standards helps build a more attentive and engaged group. Find out more at https://lead-with-empower-podcast.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

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About

Great leadership looks, sounds, and feels different based on the leader and the situation. However, there are common threads that connect all tremendous leaders. Our goal is to connect with leaders who are in the trenches each day leading themselves and others; to learn about their unique leadership style, explore their leadership practices, and to provide our listeners with inspiration to lead.

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Jaskot
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026
  • Show Website
    Lead with Empower Podcast