The Conversation with Clinton M. Padgett

Clinton M. Padgett
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

Did you realize the key to business and team success finds its roots deep in conversation? Join Clint Padgett, who’s built his career helping Fortune 100 companies optimize their businesses, as he interviews leaders who encourage employees to learn, challenge, and grow. If you want to effectively manage people and optimize results, this is the podcast for you. The Conversation with Clinton M. Padgett from Forbes Books.

  1. Aug 12

    Leading Through Pressure and Change: A Conversation with Scott Mautz (Part Two)

    In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Scott Mautz, former Procter & Gamble senior executive and bestselling author of “Leading from the Middle,” Scott shares practical strategies for building trust, creating accountability, leading through uncertainty, and influencing others without formal authority. From managing remote teams to helping people embrace smart risks, he explains how leaders can create stronger teams, navigate pressure, and drive meaningful change from the middle of an organization. This is the second part of a two-part conversation. Topics Covered: Why great leaders assist success instead of avoiding failureHow to earn commitment instead of simple complianceBuilding a culture of accountability that actually worksWhy managers should clearly define the "rules of risk-taking"Turning setbacks and crises into opportunities for growthCreating purpose-driven teams that stay alignedManaging pressure without passing it down to your teamLeading remote and hybrid teams with stronger communicationWhy overcommunicating is essential in today's workplaceHow to influence peers when you have no formal authorityPractical strategies for leading change from the middleCreating your own Middle Action Plan (MAP) for leadership growth Links:Scott’s website - https://scottmautz.com/  Scott’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmautz/  Scott’s book, “Leading from the Middle” - https://amzn.to/4vDWZaj

  2. Aug 5

    How to Lead Without Authority: A Conversation with Scott Mautz (Part One)

    In this episode, Clint sits down with Scott Mautz, former Procter & Gamble senior executive and bestselling author of “Leading from the Middle,” to talk about why middle managers are some of the most influential (and most overlooked!) leaders in any organization. Scott shares the research behind why leading from the middle is uniquely challenging, why it often feels "messy," and how managers can successfully influence up, down, and across without relying on formal authority.  This is the first part of a two-part conversation. Topics Covered: Why the middle of an organization is often the most stressful place to lead The surprising research on why great middle managers drive better business results The "messy middle" and the unique challenges of leading in every direction How successful leaders reframe the role of middle management Why influence matters more than authority Managing constant role changes and competing priorities Lessons from LEGO on navigating leadership contradictions Why middle managers are often the best drivers of organizational change The Karasek model and balancing responsibility with decision-making authority What it means to be an "intrapreneur" inside your organization Others-oriented leadership vs. servant leadership Why affirmation is one of the most powerful tools a leader can use Links: Scott’s website - https://scottmautz.com/ Scott’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmautz/ Scott’s book, “Leading from the Middle” - https://amzn.to/4vDWZaj

  3. Jul 29

    Becoming a Leader: A Conversation with Ryan Hawk (Part Two)

    In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Ryan Hawk, host of “The Learning Leader Show” and author of “The Price of Becoming,” Ryan talks about the daily habits, disciplines, and mindset shifts that separate good leaders from great ones. F rom protecting time for deep work and building intentional cultures to mentoring others, giving feedback, and staying fully present with the people who matter most, this conversation is packed with practical leadership advice you can apply immediately. This is the second part of a two-part conversation. Topics Covered:Why deep work is becoming a competitive advantageBuilding focus in a world full of distractionsThe importance of presence, attention, and intentional communicationCreating healthy morning routines that set the tone for leadershipBalancing ambition, work, and familyDefining culture through behaviors, not slogansBuilding strong cultures in remote and hybrid organizationsEscaping zero-sum thinking and adopting an abundance mindsetIdentifying "givers" during the hiring processWhy bad news only gets worse with timeRunning meetings that create value instead of wasting timeThe power of handwritten notes, reflection, and continuous learningLinks:Ryan’s website - https://learningleader.com/ Ryan’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhawk12/ Ryan’s book, “The Price of Becoming” - https://amzn.to/4piQs3k

  4. Jul 22

    Leading Yourself Before Leading Others: A Conversation with Ryan Hawk (Part One)

    In this episode, Clint sits down with Ryan Hawk, host of The Learning Leader Show and author of “The Price of Becoming” and “Welcome to Management,” to discuss one of the biggest challenges in leadership: making the transition from top performer to effective leader. Ryan shares practical lessons on self-awareness, curiosity, mentorship, feedback, and intentional leadership, drawing from hundreds of conversations with world-class leaders and his own experience leading teams. If you've recently stepped into management, or aspire to, this conversation offers a roadmap for becoming the kind of leader people want to follow. This is the first part of a two-part conversation. Topics Covered: Why leadership begins with leading yourselfThe difficult transition from individual contributor to managerBuilding greater self-awareness through honest feedbackWhy every leader needs "truth tellers" in their lifeHow to receive criticism without becoming defensiveDeveloping curiosity as a leadership superpowerThe difference between managing people and genuinely caring about themCreating meaningful relationships with your teamWhy thoughtfulness and intentionality drive sustained excellenceLearning from both successes and failures through after-action reviewsFinding mentors and writing cold outreach emails that actually get responsesThe difference between a mentor and a coachLinks: Ryan’s website - https://learningleader.com/ Ryan’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhawk12/ Ryan’s book, “The Price of Becoming” - https://amzn.to/4piQs3k

  5. Jul 15

    What High-Performing Teams Do Differently: A Conversation with Dr. Colin M. Fisher (Part Two)

    In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with Colin Fisher, author of “The Collective Edge,” the discussion turns from why groups matter to how leaders can help them succeed. Colin explains why the smartest teams aren't necessarily the most successful, how healthy competition can both motivate and derail performance, why psychological safety and social sensitivity matter, and what leaders can do to build stronger, more collaborative organizations. The conversation also explores meetings, hybrid work, communication, and the surprisingly simple habits that make teams more effective over time.This is the second part of a two-part conversation. Topics Covered: When collaboration helps … and when it hurts Why talent alone doesn't create high-performing teams The surprising trait that predicts team success How asking better questions improves collaboration Setting goals that people can actually rally around The hidden dangers of unhealthy competition What the Pig and Potato War teaches us about conflict and cooperation Avoiding the sunken cost fallacy in teams and organizations Why psychological safety starts with conversations Building stronger teams in hybrid and remote environments The importance of keeping successful teams together Why information-sharing meetings are hurting organizations Practical lessons leaders can apply to improve teamwork immediately Links: Colin’s website - https://colinmfisher.com/ Colin’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinmfisher/ Colin’s book, “The Collective Edge” - https://amzn.to/442Xu2E

  6. Jul 8

    Why Great Teams Outperform Great Individuals: A Conversation with Dr. Colin M. Fisher (Part One)

    In this episode, Clint sits down with Dr. Colin M. Fisher – professor, speaker, and author of “The Collective Edge” – to explore why our biggest accomplishments are almost never the work of a single person. Colin challenges the myth of the lone genius and explains how cooperation, group dynamics, and collective intelligence have shaped everything from innovation and leadership to business success and human civilization. Along the way, he shares practical insights into why so many organizations misunderstand teamwork and what leaders can do differently to unlock the full potential of their teams. This is the first part of a two-part conversation. Topics Covered: Why cooperation is humanity's greatest competitive advantage The myth of the lone genius What leaders can learn from group dynamics and collective intelligence The fundamental attribution error and why we blame the wrong people Why replacing the "problem employee" often doesn't solve the problem What makes a real team instead of just a group of people Why adding more people can actually slow projects down The hidden costs of social loafing and coordination How clear goals create high-performing teams Why smaller teams often outperform larger ones The conditions that allow teams to achieve true synergy Why successful teams should stay together longer Links: Colin’s website - https://colinmfisher.com/ Colin’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinmfisher/ Colin’s book, “The Collective Edge” - https://amzn.to/442Xu2E

  7. Jul 1

    Building the Systems that Scale: A Conversation with Alisa Cohn (Part Two)

    In Part Two of Clint's conversation with Alisa Cohn, top-ranked executive coach and author of “From Start-Up to Grown-Up,” the discussion turns from personal leadership to organizational leadership. Alisa shares practical advice for leaders who want to better understand their impact, give more effective feedback, build stronger cultures, and create the structure necessary for growth. She explains why difficult conversations are often acts of service, how trust is built in remote and hybrid environments, and why the most successful leaders continuously make time to reflect and learn. Whether you're leading a startup, managing a growing team, or simply looking to become a more effective leader, this conversation is packed with actionable insights you can put to work immediately. This is the second part of a two-part conversation. Topics Covered: How to gather honest feedback about your leadershipUnderstanding the difference between intention and impactThe "COIN" framework for difficult conversationsWhy hinting is not a leadership strategyTurning feedback into growth opportunitiesWhy structure is essential for scaling organizationsCreating productive meetings and better decision-making processesBuilding intentional company cultureThe difference between stated values and actual behaviorsLeading remote and hybrid teams effectivelyBuilding trust when teams aren't physically togetherThe role of communication in organizational successWhy reflection and learning agility separate great leaders from the restLinks:Alisa’s website - https://www.alisacohn.com/  Alisa’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/  Alisa’s book, “From Start-Up to Grown-Up” - https://amzn.to/4gk9p38

  8. Jun 24

    Managing Yourself Before Managing Others: A Conversation with Alisa Cohn (Part One)

    In this episode, Clint sits down with Alisa Cohn, one of the world's leading executive coaches and author of “From Start-Up to Grown-Up.” Having coached founders and executives at companies including Venmo, Etsy, DraftKings, Microsoft, Google, and IBM, Alisa has spent her career helping leaders navigate the challenges that come with growth. In Part One of their conversation, Clint and Alisa discuss why leadership starts with self-awareness, how founders unintentionally shape company culture through their words and actions, and why many leadership challenges have less to do with the business itself and more to do with the person leading it. They also cover imposter syndrome, emotional regulation, the importance of reflection, and why praise may be one of the most underutilized tools in a leader's toolbox. This is the first part of a two-part conversation. Topics Covered:Why a founder's suggestions often become "orders"The leadership challenge of scaling yourself as a company growsManaging yourself before managing your teamReflection versus reaction in difficult situationsWhy leadership is an "unnatural act"The dangers of hiring people who are too similar to youImposter syndrome among successful founders and executivesBuilding comfort with discomfort as a leaderWhy praise is a leadership superpowerUnderstanding the difference between intention and impactCreating cultures where people feel valued and appreciatedThe importance of self-awareness in effective leadershipLinks:Alisa’s website - https://www.alisacohn.com/  Alisa’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/ A lisa’s book, “From Start-Up to Grown-Up” - https://amzn.to/4gk9p38

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Did you realize the key to business and team success finds its roots deep in conversation? Join Clint Padgett, who’s built his career helping Fortune 100 companies optimize their businesses, as he interviews leaders who encourage employees to learn, challenge, and grow. If you want to effectively manage people and optimize results, this is the podcast for you. The Conversation with Clinton M. Padgett from Forbes Books.

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