Lead With More: Character-Driven Leadership for Today's Leaders

Tom DeBell

Leadership isn't just about what you produce — it's about who you're becoming in the process. Lead With More is a practical leadership development podcast for today's emerging and established leaders who want to grow with clarity, character, and purpose. Each episode — whether a solo teaching or a conversation with a guest leader, coach, or expert — delivers honest insight and actionable steps you can apply immediately at work, with your team, and in life. Because the best leadership always starts from the inside out.

  1. 3d ago

    3 Ways to Invest in Yourself as a Leader

    Episode 36 Unlock your leadership potential with actionable insights that elevate your growth journey! In this episode, Tom reveals three powerful ways to invest in your leadership development when you’re ready to take the next step. Whether you’re feeling stuck or simply seeking more, these strategies will guide you toward meaningful transformation. Building on last week's exploration of free resources, Tom dives deep into the realm of paid opportunities that can supercharge your skills. Discover the importance of attending structured trainings and workshops that go beyond surface-level learning. You'll learn how to capture and apply what you gain from these experiences, ensuring that your investment translates into real change. But that’s just the start! Tom shares the benefits of joining a paid mastermind group, emphasizing the value of accountability and a tailored curriculum designed to propel you forward. You’ll understand how this collaborative environment fosters applied learning and helps you connect insights directly to your unique challenges. Finally, hear Tom’s personal journey about hiring a coach—a decision he delayed for years but ultimately transformed his approach to leadership. He candidly discusses the significance of finding the right fit in a coach, ensuring that your partnership is effective and aligned with your goals. This episode is not just about spending money; it’s about being intentional with your resources to cultivate character-driven leadership. The stakes are high: without this investment, you risk stagnation in your personal and professional growth. The best leaders are always learning—don't miss this chance to take action! Perfect for aspiring leaders and seasoned professionals alike, this episode is essential listening if you want to elevate your leadership game. Tune in now and empower yourself to lead with more! Listen to Episode 35 - https://youtu.be/wWzp4uu-cnM Timestamps: 00:00 Why Free Resources Only Take You So Far 00:44 Get the Most Out of Leadership Trainings and Workshops 01:31 Why a Paid Mastermind Accelerates Leadership Growth 02:18 Should You Hire a Leadership Coach? 02:50 How to Find the Right Leadership Coach For You 03:41 Invest in Your Leadership With Intention ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell is the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. Learn more about Tom and Modern Leadership Solutions here: https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Thumbnail created using ThumbnailCreator https://thumbnailcreator.com?atp=BXnO05 ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/)

  2. Jul 27

    3 Free Ways to Grow as a Leader Today

    Think leadership growth requires a big budget? It doesn't. In this abbreviated episode of Lead With More, Tom DeBell breaks down three free — or nearly free — ways to build your leadership skills starting today. This episode is about more than consuming information; it's about building a system to capture what you learn and apply it. If you've been waiting for the budget or the time to start growing as a leader, this episode removes that excuse. Episode 35 Timestamps: 00:00 Grow as a Leader Without Spending a Dime 00:51 1. Build a Reading Habit for Leadership Growth 02:02 2. Listen and Learn: Podcasts for Leadership Skills 02:52 3. Find a Mentor or Peer Group for Leadership Growth 03:33 BONUS: Free Leadership Content on LinkedIn and YouTube 03:56 Turn Leadership Ideas Into Action Today ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell is the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. Learn more about Tom and Modern Leadership Solutions here: https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Thumbnail created using ThumbnailCreator https://thumbnailcreator.com?atp=BXnO05 ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/)

  3. Jul 20

    FURTHER | Life Plan to Daily Action — Why the Best Leaders Don't Need Anyone Watching

    Episode #34 The higher you climb in leadership, the less anyone is watching — and most leaders aren't ready for that. In this Further episode, Tom DeBell builds on Episode 5: Turn a Life Plan into Daily Action by going deeper into the connection most leaders miss: the cascade from quarterly goals to weekly priorities to daily action. Tom shares what he discovered after leaving corporate — that he had been relying on his environment for accountability far more than he realized — and how that struggle led to a practical framework that applies to leaders at every level. Using the Full Focus system developed by Michael Hyatt, Tom walks through a three-layer structure — the Quarterly Big 3, Weekly Big 3, and Daily Big 3 — and explains how connecting each layer to the one above it replaces external accountability with something far more durable: intentional self-leadership. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur, a newly promoted manager, or a senior leader with increasing autonomy, this episode gives you a simple, actionable starting point. Timestamps: 00:00 What Happens When No One Is Holding You Accountable? 00:46 Building on Episode 5: Turn a Life Plan into Daily Action 01:19 The Missing Link: Why the Daily-to-Quarterly Connection Matters 01:58 How Leadership Autonomy Creates an Accountability Gap 03:34 The Full Focus System: A Three-Layer Accountability Framework 04:02 Layer 1: Quarterly Goals That Actually Drive Progress 04:56 Layer 2: Weekly Planning - The Bridge Most Leaders Skip 05:45 Layer 3: Daily Priorities That Connect to Your Bigger Leadership Goals 06:49 Self-Accountability: The Leadership Skill Every Level Needs 08:18 Three Questions to Start Building Your Accountability Cascade 09:05 Why Self-Led Leaders Outperform Everyone Else ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell is the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. Click here to learn more: https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/)

  4. Jul 13

    Servant Leadership: Lead People, Don't Just Manage Them

    Ep.#33 What does it actually mean to lead with a servant's heart, and how do you make it work across military, government, corporate, and nonprofit cultures? In this episode of Lead With More, Tom DeBell sits down with Kevin Wayne Johnson, founder and CEO of The Johnson Leadership Group, to explore what three decades of federal leadership taught him about the difference between leaders who earn loyalty and leaders who simply demand compliance. Kevin shares why servant leadership isn't soft leadership — it's strategic. He explains how recognizing people's basic needs, leading with empathy, and adapting your communication style to your audience aren't feel-good extras. They're the conditions that make sustained performance possible. The conversation also tackles one of the most common failures in leadership development: the training that goes in one ear and out the other. Kevin breaks down why a one-time workshop rarely changes behavior — and what accountability, executive coaching, and measurable follow-through actually look like in practice. Kevin closes with the framework that drives everything he teaches: Know Better. Do Better. Lead Better. What you'll take away: Why servant leadership is a strategic advantage, not a soft skillHow to lead effectively across military, civilian, and contractor culturesThe real reason leadership training fails — and what to do insteadWhy accountability and feedback need to be two-way conversationsKevin's "Know Better, Do Better, Lead Better" framework for ongoing growthConnect with Kevin at thejohnsonleadershipgroup.com — including a complimentary coaching session. Timestamps: 00:00 Servant Leadership: Lead People, Don't Just Manage Them 00:50 Meet Kevin Wayne Johnson: 34 Years of Federal Leadership 03:23 "Be Prepared": The Leadership Mindset That Starts at Home 05:46 Staying True to Servant Leadership Inside Government 07:01 Leading Across Military, Civilian, and Contractor Cultures 15:03 What People Actually Need From Their Leader 18:55 Leadership With A Servant's Heart: The Book Series 21:52 Why Leadership Growth Never Stops 22:20 Why Training Alone Fails and What to Do Instead 25:56 Accountability and Feedback as Two-Way Leadership Tools 28:14 Connect with The Johnson Leadership Group 30:24 Know Better, Do Better, Lead Better 32:19 Closing Thoughts ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell is the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. Learn more about Tom here: https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Podcast guests are managed through PodMatch. If you’re a podcast guest or host (or both!), I would encourage you to check it out: https://www.podmatch.com/member/tomdebell (affiliate link). #PodMatch ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/)

  5. Jul 6

    No Finish Line: Leadership Has No End Zone

    Most leaders have heard the advice: leadership is a marathon, not a sprint. And it's true — but it's not the whole picture. A marathon still has a finish line. Leadership doesn't. In this episode of Lead With More, Tom DeBell unpacks why treating trust-building or results-driving as a phase you eventually complete is one of the most common — and costly — mistakes leaders make. Tom walks through two distinct leadership failure modes: the leader who chases results before building relational trust, and the leader who builds trust but never drives the team toward meaningful outcomes. Both create a ceiling. Neither serves the people being led. The real key? Trust and results aren't sequential stages — they're a compounding loop. Each one accelerates the other. And the leaders who sustain both, indefinitely, are the ones who build teams that keep getting stronger over time. If you lead people — at any level — this episode will challenge you to look honestly at which side of that loop you've been neglecting. Timestamps: 00:00 Why Leadership Is Not a Marathon 00:57 The Networking Insight That Inspired This Episode 01:47 Failure Mode #1: Chasing Results Before Building Trust 02:55 Why Trust Is a Structural Requirement for Leaders 03:07 Failure Mode #2: Building Trust but Never Driving Results 04:30 The Trust and Results Loop That Builds High-Performing Teams 05:55 Why The Marathon Metaphor Finally Breaks Down 06:45 What Character-Driven Leadership Actually Demands 07:31 Reflection: Which Side of the Loop Are You Neglecting? 08:14 The Leadership Truth: No Finish Line, No Competition ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell, the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, is a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Thumbnail created using ThumbnailCreator  https://thumbnailcreator.com?atp=BXnO05 ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/)

  6. Jun 29

    When Done Doesn’t Mean Successful: The Leader’s Metric Problem

    Leadership isn’t just about what you produce — it’s about who you’re becoming in the process. Lead With More is a practical leadership development podcast for today’s emerging and established leaders who want to grow with clarity, character, and purpose. You’re hitting your goals. Your metrics look clean. Your team is checking boxes. So why does it feel like nothing is actually moving? In this episode, Tom DeBell tackles the box-checking trap — the gap between completing a task and satisfying its purpose. It’s a pattern that shows up in personal habits, team accountability structures, and especially in training and development. And it’s costing leaders more than they realize.   In this episode: Why high-performing, task-oriented leaders are most at risk for box-checking syndromeHow completion metrics fail your team — and why the team isn’t to blameWhy training without coaching leaves a gap that good intentions can’t closeA practical framework for purpose-first metric design you can apply this week  Done doesn’t mean successful. But with the right metrics, it can. Timestamps: 00:00 Why Your Metrics May Be Working Against You 01:02 The Box-Checking Trap: A Hidden Risk for High Performers 02:03 Where Box-Checking Shows Up: Habits, Teams, and Training 04:06 Why Smart Leaders Fall Into This Trap (It's a Design Problem) 05:05 Purpose-First Metric Design: How to Build Better Goals 06:49 Your One-Move Action Step for This Week ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell, the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, is a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic) Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images (https://pixabay.com/users/clker-free-vector-images-3736/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=304214) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/)

  7. Jun 22

    Leading Teams Through Disruption — A Framework That Actually Works

    The era of heroic leadership is over — and today's disruptive environment is why. In this episode of Lead With More, Tom DeBell sits down with international coach, speaker, and award-winning author Daria Rudnik to explore what it actually takes to build and lead teams that survive — and thrive — when everything around them is changing. Daria introduces her CLICK framework, a five-pillar approach to building high-performing teams grounded in both practical experience and scientific research. Together, Tom and Daria unpack why well-intentioned leaders become the bottleneck on their own teams, how AI is reshaping the way teams think — not just the way they work — and what cognitive offloading means for human judgment in an AI-driven workplace. Whether you lead a team of five or fifty, this conversation delivers a practical framework you can start applying immediately. Connect with Daria: https://dariarudnik.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariarudnik/ Timestamps: 00:00 Why Strong Teams Survive Disruption, and Weak Ones Disappear 03:02 The CLICK Framework: 5 Pillars for Building a Team That Works 06:44 Team Purpose vs. Company Purpose: Why Leaders Get This Wrong 08:30 The Leadership Bottleneck: How Good Leaders Accidentally Limit Their Teams 13:29 Replacing Heroic Leadership 16:13 How AI Is Changing the Way Teams Think, Not Just How They Work 18:59 Deciding What AI Should and Shouldn't Do 23:37 Cognitive Offloading: Why Letting AI Think for You Is a Leadership Risk 27:19 Leading Through AI Fear and FOMO: What Leaders Need to Tell Their Teams 30:22 Building an AI Governance Structure 36:02 Connect with Daria Rudnik and Key Takeaways 38:42 Wrapup ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell, the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, is a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Podcast guests managed through PodMatch. If you’re a podcast guest or host (or both!), I would encourage you to check it out: https://www.podmatch.com/member/tomdebell (affiliate link). #PodMatch ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/)

  8. Jun 15

    The 3 Ways Leaders Respond to Conflict

    Most leaders who freeze in conflict aren’t indifferent — they care deeply. That care is exactly what traps them. They’re waiting for a solution where nobody gets hurt, no relationship gets strained, and nobody walks away disappointed. That solution almost never exists. And the longer a leader waits for it, the more their care quietly converts into passivity — and if left long enough, into apathy.   In this episode of Lead With More, Tom DeBell breaks down the three responses every leader has available when facing conflict or a difficult situation: Activity, Passivity, and Apathy. You’ll learn why caring leaders freeze, what the drift from passivity to apathy actually looks like from the inside, and what it takes to move forward when no perfect option exists.   Tom closes with two diagnostic questions every leader needs to sit with: What are the things you say you care about — and what are the things you actually show you care about through your behavior? Where those two lists don’t match, your leadership is drifting.   If there’s a situation you’ve been sitting on, this episode will name it — and show you how to move.   Subscribe to Lead With More on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.  Timestamps: 00:00 Why Caring Leaders Stay Stuck in Conflict 00:47 How Leaders Lose Influence Without Knowing It 02:11 The 3 Ways Leaders Respond to Difficult Situations 03:28 1: Activity - The Leaders Best Response 04:05 2: The Trap of Getting Stuck in Passivity 04:47 3: When Passive Leadership Drifts Into Apathy 05:33 Why Leaders Freeze: The Search for a Perfect Solution 06:30 The Real Cost of Waiting Too Long to Lead 07:37 How to Move Forward When There's No Easy Answer 08:05 The Difference Between Compassion and Avoidance 09:07 Two Questions That Reveal How You Really Lead 10:21 The Mark of a Character-Driven Leader ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ Tom DeBell, the founder and president of Modern Leadership Solutions, is a Certified Maxwell Coach/Speaker/Trainer, a Full Focus Certified Pro, and a Certified Facilitator in the Six Types of Working Genius. https://www.modernleadershipsolutions.com ⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻MUSIC & MEDIA⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻⎻ With permission from: Music by HitsLab (https://www.youtube.com/@hitslabmusic) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/)

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Leadership isn't just about what you produce — it's about who you're becoming in the process. Lead With More is a practical leadership development podcast for today's emerging and established leaders who want to grow with clarity, character, and purpose. Each episode — whether a solo teaching or a conversation with a guest leader, coach, or expert — delivers honest insight and actionable steps you can apply immediately at work, with your team, and in life. Because the best leadership always starts from the inside out.

Information

  • Creator
    Tom DeBell
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Tom DeBell