The Step UP - Where Leaders, Talent Managers and Leadership Development pros find expert tips for Leadership excellence

Kent Kniebel
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

About the Podcast The Step Up brings together experts who help leaders elevate their impact. Each 45-minute episode features conversations with thought leaders, practitioners, and innovators who are changing how we think about leadership development and helping leaders step up their game. Why This Podcast Exists Throughout my career—from my time at organizations like Korn Ferry, Cargill, General Mills, and Buffalo Wild Wings to my current work as an independent leadership consultant—I've witnessed firsthand how leaders struggle during moments of change and transition and when learning higher-level skills. Work never slows down, and leaders often find themselves trying to grow while in the thick of daily demands. The Step Up is designed to provide practical wisdom and actionable strategies that busy leaders can implement immediately to enhance their effectiveness. What to Expect Each episode follows a two-part format: Part One: Leadership Journeys We explore our guest's background, expertise, and unique perspective on leadership development. You'll hear authentic stories about their experiences supporting leaders and the insights they've gained along the way. Part Two: Actionable Strategies Our guests share three specific, practical tools or approaches that you can apply to your leadership right away. We dig into each one, discussing how to implement it effectively in your unique context. Your Host Kent Kniebel brings over 20 years of experience in leadership development, talent management, and DEI consulting to each conversation. Drawing on his background in corporate HR roles and external consulting work, Kent guides discussions that bridge theory and practice, focusing on what really works in today's leadership landscape. Connect with Kent Have questions about the podcast or want to continue the conversation? Connect with Kent on LinkedIn or visit Kniebel Leadership Advisory to learn more about his work supporting leaders during critical transitions.

  1. 5d ago

    From Insight to Action: Why Your Assessment Data Sits on the Shelf

    Leaders love assessment data. Then it goes on a shelf. Former Hogan Assessments CEO Scott Gregory joins Kent to dig into why the gap between self-awareness and behavior change is so persistent — and what actually moves the needle. They cover how to filter what's worth developing, why context beats comprehensiveness, and the one question every leader should ask before acting on any piece of feedback. Guest: Scott Gregory is an IO psychologist, former CEO of Hogan Assessments, and longtime executive coach and assessment practitioner with decades of experience in personality research and leadership development. In this episode: 02:00 — Scott's career arc: professional musician to IO psychology PhD to PDI, Pentair, MDA Leadership, and ultimately CEO of Hogan Assessments10:26 — Why assessment data ends up in a binder on a shelf — and what goes wrong between insight and action13:04 — The data overload problem: leaders are rarely surprised by their feedback, so why are we giving them 75 pages?19:37 — The definition of leadership nobody has (Scott once asked 50 Fortune 500 HR leaders to raise their hand — no one did)20:31 — Hogan's working definition: leadership is the ability to develop and sustain a high performing and highly engaged team21:01 — The shift from personal output to team output — why it's hard at every level of the pipeline, not just the first promotion26:17 — Why personality is stable after 25 and what that means for development (it's a marathon, not a binder event)28:48 — The "can do" vs. "will do" distinction — and why most leaders genuinely want to improve but still get stuck33:53 — The one question Scott uses to filter assessment data into actual development priorities: "Will it help me help my team?"35:02 — The coaching skills vs. vision-sharing example: why context determines which low scores actually matter36:49 — Using team feedback as the bridge from assessment insight to action — and as the check afterward40:19 — Advice for newly promoted leaders: the two herculean tasks of the transition, and why stopping yesterday's job is step one Resources mentioned: Hogan Assessments — Scott's former company; extensive library of research articles and leadership resourcesRobert Hogan — personality psychologist, foundational figure in IO psychology and personality measurementJoyce Hogan — researcher and co-architect of Hogan Assessments' foundational workJohn Holland — Holland Codes / occupational interest theory; foundational framework for career interests and fit (search "Holland Codes career interests")Personnel Decisions International (PDI) — acquired by Korn Ferry; kornferry.comMDA Leadership — mdaleadership.com Links for today's show: Scott Gregory on LinkedInHogan AssessmentsKent Kniebel on LinkedInThe Promoted Leader Toolkit Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com and on all major streaming platforms. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

    47 min

  2. Jun 24

    Strength Through Vulnerability: The Inner Work Leaders Skip

    Vulnerability and emotional intelligence keep coming up in leadership conversations — and Randy Lyman has a physicist's take on why. A patent-holding engineer who spent 36 years doing his own emotional work, Randy makes the case that the inner work isn't soft: it's the mechanism behind every result you care about. Kent and Randy unpack what leaders who want to grow actually have to let go of — and how showing up more honestly turns out to be the most effective thing you can do. Guest: Randy Lyman is a physicist, serial entrepreneur, and authority on emotional intelligence — he founded and scaled multiple 8-figure companies (including an Inc. 500 business) before writing The Third Element, a #1 New Release in Personal Growth, on how emotional awareness drives leadership results. In this episode: [02:05] — Randy's background: physicist, engineer, business owner — and how a three-year relationship in 1989 cracked open the emotional side of his leadership[03:48] — Why Randy thinks AI is a distraction from what actually matters: the emotional revolution, and what it means for leaders right now[07:51] — Before and after Randy: from fear-driven overachievement to service-based leadership, and the personal work that bridged the gap[09:12] — The three things every person on your team needs: acknowledgment, a sense of contribution, and a sense of belonging — and why they look different for every individual[12:16] — The three-minute investment: how remembering one personal detail about someone changes everything about how they show up for you[15:08] — Why the self-work has to come first: you can't hide your emotional state from the people you lead, and trying to hold it down makes it worse[22:12] — Randy as contradiction: how his left-brain credibility actually makes him a better messenger for emotional leadership with the leaders who need to hear it most[25:18] — Gender and leadership: why women leaders often over-index on masculine traits trying to prove themselves — and why men need to stop leaving their feminine leadership tools in the drawer[28:44] — The cross-functional breakdown story: how walking into a meeting saying "I don't know the answers — I need your help" unlocked results that months of planning couldn't[30:55] — Advice for leaders seeking promotion: stop performing, start multiplying — the results your team produces are the only currency that matters[33:27] — Advice for newly promoted leaders: make yourself unnecessary at the level you're at, and develop the leaders underneath you Resources mentioned: The Third Element by Randy Lyman — available through Randy's website and major online booksellers (search "The Third Element Randy Lyman")Herb Kelleher and Southwest Airlines — Kelleher co-founded Southwest and built its people-first culture; his often-cited principle: take care of your people and they'll take care of your customers. (Note: the transcript spells this "Herb Keller" — the correct name is Herb Kelleher.)Tapping exercises / EFT — Randy references free tapping resources on his website Links for today's show: Randy Lyman on LinkedInRandy's Website: randylyman.comThe Third Element (#1 New Release in Personal Growth) — available via randylyman.com and major booksellersKent Kniebel on LinkedInThe Promoted Leader Toolkit Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com and on all major streaming platforms. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

    37 min

  3. Jun 16

    Mindset, Awareness, and Practice: The Leadership Map with Garrett Benz

    Trust isn't built through big gestures. It's built, and broken, through small ones. In this episode, Kent talks with leadership consultant and author Gerd Bents about his Leadership Map framework and what it actually takes to develop as a leader over time. The conversation covers why skills alone aren't enough, how AI is going to break human trust before it builds it, and what it means to lead from a place of courage rather than confidence. Guest: Gerd Bents is a leadership consultant, coach, and author with nearly 30 years of experience working with executives and organizations through change, drawing on backgrounds in psychology, sociology, and leadership development. In this episode: 02:10 — Gerd's background: from athletics to executive leadership consulting in the finance industry03:42 — The Leadership Map: mindset, awareness, and practice as three dynamic, ongoing elements06:45 — Why focusing only on skills is a fixed mindset trap08:00 — Skills vs. mastery: using feedback as a case study, and getting your 10,000 reps11:55 — AI, layoffs, and why human leadership skills are becoming more valuable, not less18:33 — How trust erodes slowly and why AI is going to break it at scale22:40 — Working with skeptical senior leaders in finance: how to bring mindset work to people who don't expect it28:57 — The three illusions from Profound Space: confidence, information, and freedom34:05 — Gerd's advice for leaders seeking promotion and leaders who just stepped up Resources mentioned: Profound Space by Gerd Bents — createprofoundspace.comRadical Candor by Kim ScottCoachability by Kevin Wilde (Carlson School, former General Mills HR leader)Viktor Frankl on autonomy and mindsetSimon Sinek on asking for advice instead of feedbackBrene Brown on courage and vulnerabilityFeel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers Links for today's show: Gerd Bents on LinkedIn (flag for Kent to fill in)createprofoundspace.comProfound Space BookKent Kniebel on LinkedInThe Promoted Leader Toolkit Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com and on all major streaming platforms. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

    38 min

  4. Jun 9

    Resilience Isn't About Being Bulletproof, It's About Becoming

    Most of us were taught that resilience means gritting your teeth and pushing through. Leadership advisor Angus Nelson challenges that idea head-on — and what he offers instead is both more practical and more human. In this conversation, Kent and Angus explore why a dysregulated nervous system is the most expensive bottleneck in any business, and what leaders can actually do about it. Guest: Angus Nelson is the author of Neuro Resilient Leader and founder of Evolve Leadership — he helps high-performing leaders install what he calls Leadership Stability through his C³ Protocol: Clarity, Capacity, and Composure. In this episode: [00:00] — Why resilience is about becoming, not pressing through[02:26] — Angus's origin story: losing $72K, hitting rock bottom, and finding a new path[06:45] — Redefining resilience: from white-knuckling to absorbing life's lessons[09:31] — Why you can't outwork the pace of AI and market velocity[13:18] — The C³ Protocol: Clarity, Capacity, and Composure unpacked[25:54] — Leadership stability as infrastructure: how a dysregulated leader creates a dysregulated team[29:45] — Practical tools: breathwork, EFT tapping, visualization, meditation, and rewriting your narrative[37:58] — Certainty addiction: why waiting to feel confident is a trap[45:03] — Humanity as competitive advantage in an AI-driven world Resources mentioned: Neuro Resilient Leader by Angus Nelson — freebook.vip (free copy + 10-day experience at time of recording)C³ Protocol (Clarity, Capacity, Composure) — Angus's leadership frameworkEFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) — search "EFT tapping" for tutorialsBox breathing / breathwork — widely covered on YouTube and in wellness resourcesJack Dorsey's memo on middle management and player-coach leadership — search "Jack Dorsey middle management memo" Links for today's show: Angus Nelson on LinkedInangusnelson.comNeuro Resilient Leader — freebook.vipKent Kniebel on LinkedInThe Promoted Leader Toolkit Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com and on all major streaming platforms. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

    55 min

  5. Jun 3

    From Engineer to Executive: Learning People Skills the Hard Way

    What happens when your technical brilliance gets you promoted — and then becomes your biggest liability? Frank Sherwood spent his early career as a high-performing engineer who needed "finishing school" to survive leadership. In this conversation, Frank traces his career from aerospace engineering at Rosemount to managing a 500-site global real estate portfolio to joining CBRE — and what each transition demanded of him as a leader. Guest: Frank Sherwood is First Vice President at CBRE, with a 20+ year career in corporate real estate spanning leadership roles at JLL, Staubach, Cushman & Wakefield, and CRESA, including managing real estate portfolios across 75 countries. In this episode: 0:00 — Cold open: Frank's mentor on delivering hard messages with grace3:25 — How Frank went from entry-level engineer to engineering manager almost overnight at Rosemount Aerospace4:31 — The performance review that sent him to "finishing school" — and why people skills became the priority6:30 — Crossing to the service provider side: why Frank called his old vendor to apologize10:27 — Why hiring to your weak side (not your strength) leads to better leadership12:35 — Building cross-functional alliances: lessons from Roger Staubach on client service and peer relationships16:27 — Practical advice for leaders new to a role: ask questions before making decisions25:17 — How to position yourself for promotion: anticipate your boss's needs before they ask27:11 — Frank's core leadership belief: dignity, fairness, and respect for everyone Resources mentioned: What Got You Here Won't Get You There — Marshall Goldsmith (referenced by Kent) — amazon.com searchHow to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale Carnegie (Frank references the Carnegie principle on helping others get what they want) — amazon.com searchHarvard Business Review — hbr.orgThe Economist — economist.comRoger Staubach / The Staubach Company — now part of JLL (search "Roger Staubach commercial real estate")Vern Heath, founder of Rosemount Aerospace (historical reference)CBRE — cbre.com Links for today's show: Frank Sherwood on LinkedInKent Kniebel on LinkedInThe Promoted Leader Toolkit Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com and on all major streaming platforms. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

    28 min

  6. May 19

    Engagement Isn't a Happy Hour Problem: What Actually Drives Performance

    Most companies measure engagement once a year and then throw a happy hour at the results. Seth Thomas, HR leader at Claris Health, argues that's exactly backwards — engagement lives in the 364 other days, not the survey or the social event. In this conversation, Kent and Seth dig into the real relationship between engagement and performance, why feedback culture is harder to build than it looks, and what leading a fully remote workforce of 30+ states has taught Seth about making connection feel less optional. Guest: Seth Thomas is an HR leader at Claris Health with a background in industrial-organizational psychology, focused on engagement, performance, and building feedback cultures inside software organizations. In this episode: 01:49 — Seth's background: I/O psychology, MTSU grad school, and why he chose in-house HR over consulting06:32 — Why Seth sees engagement as a measure of culture, not just a survey score07:51 — Buffalo Wild Wings case study: tying engagement data directly to beer and wing sales10:29 — The biggest gap Seth sees: expectations and the cost of delayed feedback14:14 — Why managers know feedback matters and still don't give enough of it22:58 — Happy hours as attraction tools, not retention tools — and what actually moves the needle30:16 — Cross-functional tension in software teams and why your direct manager often isn't the person most affecting your engagement39:27 — Leading a fully virtual, 30-state workforce: cameras, recognition rhythms, and recreating the hallway bump44:58 — Advice for leaders looking to get promoted: your team's performance is your performance46:22 — Advice for newly promoted leaders: document, share expectations, and build real-time feedback loops Resources mentioned: Getting Things Done by David Allen — the two-minute rule and task capture system Seth referencesGallup engagement research — stat referenced: 75%+ of employees want feedbackCrucial Conversations / Crucial Feedback training (referenced by Claris Health's internal training team) Links for today's show: Seth Thomas on LinkedInKent Kniebel on LinkedInThe Promoted Leader Toolkit Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com and on all major streaming platforms. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

    49 min

  7. May 12

    What Do You Need to Shed? Nicole Nelson on Leading Up Through the Ranks

    What actually changes when you stop being the best individual contributor in the room and start being responsible for the people around you? Nicole Nelson has navigated that question at every level of a 20+ year career in CPG sales, from her first people management role covering Southern California and Hawaii to leading cross-functional teams as a Senior Director. In this conversation, she gets specific about the moments that forced her to recalibrate, the mentors who saved her, and why self-assurance beats imposter syndrome every time. Guest: Nicole Nelson is Senior Director of Sales, Distribution and Sales Planning at CJ Schwan's, with a career spanning General Mills, Lactalis, and roles across retail and food service sales. In this episode: 00:02:45 — Nicole's career path: from General Mills sales intern to Senior Director across retail, food service, and sales ops00:12:00 — The first people management role: why even high performers struggle to leave the doing behind00:14:51 — The manager who reset her on day one: "You're not doing the job we hired you for"00:18:58 — Redefining what a "solid day's work" looks like as you move up00:27:23 — The jump to director at General Mills: no onboarding, high stakes, and leading alongside00:32:13 — Managing former peers, former mentors, and the person who wanted the job you got00:38:54 — The loneliness of leadership and why being close-vested is part of the job00:42:43 — Nicole's single best piece of advice for newly promoted leaders: find a feedback partner Resources mentioned: "No bad teams, only bad leaders" — a leadership principle Nicole references throughout (associated with Jocko Willink's Extreme Ownership, search for this)The concept of "leadership aspiration vs. leadership drive" — referenced by Kent from his consulting background in assessment and succession planningSwiss army knife career development — building breadth of skills before depth of title (no specific resource; Nicole references a mentor who shaped this philosophy) Links for today's show: Nicole Nelson on LinkedInKent Kniebel on LinkedInThe Promoted Leader Toolkit Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com and on all major streaming platforms. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

    46 min

  8. May 5

    Leadership Is an Ecosystem, Not an Event: Rethinking How We Develop Leaders

    Leadership expectations are rising faster than leader preparation. That's the tension at the center of this conversation with Justin Roscoe, VP of Learning and Organizational Development at California Credit Union. Justin makes a sharp case that organizations have been treating leadership development as an event when it needs to be an ecosystem, and the results of getting that wrong show up in turnover, disengagement, and leaders who are stuck managing the shift instead of leading the business. Guest: Justin Roscoe is VP of Learning and Organizational Development at California Credit Union, where he leads training and development for approximately 530 employees. He also serves as VP of Certifications for the San Diego chapter of SHRM. In this episode: 00:11:42 — What we're actually asking of leaders today, and how those expectations have outpaced development00:15:41 — The shift from managing processes to leading the human behind the worker00:16:59 — HR as a cost center: who's responsible for telling the value story?00:22:50 — Why leaders stuck in shift-to-shift thinking never develop strategic vision00:24:48 — The business owner mindset: spending 50% of your time on the business, not just in it00:36:45 — "What got you here won't take you there" and why unlearning is the first job of a newly promoted leader00:42:31 — EQ isn't a future skill, it's a current requirement; how AI raises the bar for human connection00:50:57 — What to unlearn the moment you get promoted: the myth that leaders need all the answers Resources mentioned: Peter Principle — the concept that people are promoted to their level of incompetence (search "Peter Principle Laurence Peter")"What Got You Here Won't Get You There" by Marshall Goldsmith (search for this)SHRM certification programs — SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP (shrm.org) Links for today's show: Justin Roscoe on LinkedIn (flag for Kent to fill in)California Credit Union (add link if applicable)Kent Kniebel on LinkedInThe Promoted Leader Toolkit Music for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com and on all major streaming platforms. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.

    55 min
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About

About the Podcast The Step Up brings together experts who help leaders elevate their impact. Each 45-minute episode features conversations with thought leaders, practitioners, and innovators who are changing how we think about leadership development and helping leaders step up their game. Why This Podcast Exists Throughout my career—from my time at organizations like Korn Ferry, Cargill, General Mills, and Buffalo Wild Wings to my current work as an independent leadership consultant—I've witnessed firsthand how leaders struggle during moments of change and transition and when learning higher-level skills. Work never slows down, and leaders often find themselves trying to grow while in the thick of daily demands. The Step Up is designed to provide practical wisdom and actionable strategies that busy leaders can implement immediately to enhance their effectiveness. What to Expect Each episode follows a two-part format: Part One: Leadership Journeys We explore our guest's background, expertise, and unique perspective on leadership development. You'll hear authentic stories about their experiences supporting leaders and the insights they've gained along the way. Part Two: Actionable Strategies Our guests share three specific, practical tools or approaches that you can apply to your leadership right away. We dig into each one, discussing how to implement it effectively in your unique context. Your Host Kent Kniebel brings over 20 years of experience in leadership development, talent management, and DEI consulting to each conversation. Drawing on his background in corporate HR roles and external consulting work, Kent guides discussions that bridge theory and practice, focusing on what really works in today's leadership landscape. Connect with Kent Have questions about the podcast or want to continue the conversation? Connect with Kent on LinkedIn or visit Kniebel Leadership Advisory to learn more about his work supporting leaders during critical transitions.

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