Growth Think Tank

Gene Hammett is a Speaker, Executive Coach, Inc Columnist, and Host of "Gr
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Develop leadership skills and understand leadership development from expert interviews with transformational leaders. Leaders in the Trenches gives raw discussions that dive deep into new strategies to accelerate your company growth and your leadership abilities. Get interviews from Fortune 100 leaders to experts in various domains of marketing, sales, and leadership that allows you to explode your growth. Learn from their failures and discover the finer elements of significance that will impact your company. Guests include Daymond John, Les Brown, Michael Gerber, Jonah Berger, Bob Berg, Greg McKeown, and with the host Gene Hammett.

  1. 2d ago

    3 Ways to Get Promoted as a Manager (Your CEO Will Notice) with Gene Hammett, Founder Coach

    Want to get promoted as a manager? Doing your job well is no longer enough. In this episode of Growth Think Tank, Gene Hammett speaks directly to managers who want to move up, and to the CEOs who want them to. Too many managers say they take ownership, then blame people, process, or circumstances when things go wrong. Promotion goes to the manager who owns outcomes and makes the leader above them more effective. Gene breaks down three moves that get you noticed: take work off your leader's plate, solve a valuable problem outside your own team, and develop your replacement so you are free to move up. You will hear how one new manager turned a weekly meeting agenda into earned trust in just three weeks. This is managing up done right, and it is how leadership potential becomes a promotion. CEOs, share this episode with your managers. Then visit Core Elevation to learn how to build a business that runs without you. Episode Highlights & Timestamps 0:04 How Managers Get Promoted 3:24 Go Beyond Doing Your Job 4:13 Take Work Off Your Leader's Plate 7:15 Solve Problems Beyond Your Team 9:07 Build Your Replacement 11:11 Turn Initiative Into Promotion What You'll Learn ✅How taking work off your leader's plate can demonstrate ownership and initiative. ✅Why solving problems outside your immediate team can increase your visibility. ✅How proactively creating solutions can signal that you're ready for greater responsibility. ✅Why developing your replacement is essential to moving into your next leadership role. ✅How consistently performing at the next level can create a natural path to promotion. Key Takeaways ✅Don't just do your job—look for ways to add value beyond it. ✅Take ownership of responsibilities that reduce your leader's workload and stress. ✅Look beyond your team for problems you can meaningfully solve. ✅Develop your people instead of becoming the person everyone depends on. ✅Build someone who can eventually step into your role. ✅The best candidates for promotion are already demonstrating the behaviors and ✅responsibilities of the next level. Pasted text(3) Resources & Next Steps 📘 Founder Freedom Download the book for free and learn more about breaking through founder dependency: GetFounderFreedom.com 🎙️ Founder Freedom Strategy Call If you're a founder who has built something significant but still feels too deeply involved in the day-to-day, Gene offers a free 30-minute strategy call to explore what's keeping you stuck. Schedulewithgene.com 🌐 Explore More: training.coreelevation.com 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

  2. Oct 19

    The Dirty Little Secrets of Scaling to a Billion with Ben Hobson at JobNimbus

    In this episode, Ben Hodson shares how AI is helping the engineering team deliver customer-facing work four times faster than six months ago. Ranked No. 1,884 on the 2026 Inc. 5000, JobNimbus continues to accelerate growth through technology, leadership, and innovation. He also discusses evolving company processes, strengthening cross-department communication, and building clearer documentation as the organization scales.  Hodson reflects on his leadership journey from personally solving problems to empowering employees to take ownership, learn from mistakes, and embrace accountability. He also shares how JobNimbus's annual leadership training program helps develop stronger leaders and a more accountable culture. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 1:08 The Journey to a Billion 4:19 JobNimbus and Its Rapid Growth 6:04 Adopting AI at Scale 10:10 When Growth Breaks What Works 13:01 Fixing Communication Between Teams 16:35 Escaping the Founder Hero Complex 19:29 Developing More MVPs 21:52 Leading Through Accountability 26:21 Closing Reflections on Leadership What You'll Learn ✅Why business systems that work at one stage of growth eventually stop working. ✅How AI can accelerate productivity, improve customer value, and support business growth. ✅Why communication breakdowns between departments become more common as companies scale. ✅How founders can overcome the hero complex and develop independent, capable leaders. ✅Why accountability and employee empowerment are essential for sustainable growth. Key Takeaways ✅Build systems for your current stage: Continuously evaluate and improve processes as the business grows. ✅Fix problems before they become bottlenecks: Watch for early signs of declining efficiency and performance. ✅Strengthen departmental handoffs: Clearly define expectations, responsibilities, and deliverables between teams. ✅Stop being the company's problem-solver: Shift from providing answers to helping employees develop their own solutions. ✅Use AI to increase value: Focus on measurable productivity gains and better customer outcomes, not simply reducing headcount. ✅Create leaders, not dependents: Build a culture where employees take ownership and hold themselves accountable. Connect With Today's Guest Ben Hodson is the founder of JobNimbus, a software company that helps roofing and home-exterior contractors manage their businesses more efficiently. Under his leadership, JobNimbus has grown significantly, scaling its team, improving its systems, and embracing new technologies like AI. Ben shares valuable insights on business growth, leadership, team development, and the challenges founders face as their companies expand. His experience highlights the importance of building strong teams, empowering employees, and creating a business that can thrive without depending on the founder for every decision. How to Connect With Ben To learn more about Ben and his work at JobNimbus, visit the company's website and connect through its official channels. Website: https://www.jobnimbus.com/ LinkedIn: Search for Ben and JobNimbus on https://www.linkedin.com/in/benlanehodson/ to find his professional profile and connect with him. Follow Ben's journey to learn more about scaling a business, developing effective leaders, and building systems that support sustainable growth. Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at training.coreelevation.com to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: training.coreelevation.com 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

  3. Oct 12

    Accountability vs Ownership: The Shift That Frees CEOs

    Accountability vs. Ownership is the difference between a team you have to chase and a team that runs without you. Most founders say, "My team isn't accountable," then add more check-ins, more dashboards, and more follow-up. It feels like leadership. It is actually founder dependency in disguise. Every time you chase a deadline, you become the accountability engine, and the company stays wired through you. In this solo episode, Gene Hammett breaks down why accountability is pushed from the outside and ownership is pulled from the inside. You will learn the signs your leadership team is complying instead of owning, the mistake founders make when they hold employees accountable, and the leadership shift that builds an ownership culture. Gene shares how CEOs move from managing tasks to giving real decision rights, so leaders own outcomes before you ask. If you want a business that runs without you, start here. Learn how at coreelevation.com. In This Episode, You'll Learn - The difference between accountability and ownership - Why accountability often creates more work for the CEO - How ownership creates initiative and pride - Why founders become bottlenecks in growing companies - Why employees need decision-making authority to take ownership - How to transfer responsibility without creating dependency - How to build a culture that encourages ownership - Why ownership matters when scaling a company - How team ownership can contribute to greater business value - What founders can do to move from managing tasks to leading people Key Takeaway ✔️Accountability means people do what they have to do. ✔️Ownership means people do what they believe needs to be done. ✔️The goal isn't to build a company where the CEO constantly checks whether work is getting done. ✔️The goal is to build a company where capable people take responsibility for the outcome and have the authority to make it happen. ✔️That's the shift from accountability to ownership, and it's one of the most important shifts a growing company can make. About Gene Hammett Gene Hammett works with growth-minded companies and leaders to help them scale from $5 million to $20 million and beyond. His work focuses on leadership, founder freedom, team performance, and building companies that can grow beyond the founder.     Resources & Next Steps 📘 Founder Freedom Download the book for free and learn more about breaking through founder dependency: https://book.coreelevation.com/ 🎙️ Founder Freedom Strategy Call If you're a founder who has built something significant but still feels too deeply involved in the day-to-day, Gene offers a free 30-minute strategy call to explore what's keeping you stuck. https://links.myleadpro.io/widget/bookings/founder-freedom-call

  4. Oct 5

    Leading Change in the Age of AI with Mike Thompson at SVI

    In this episode, we sit down with Mike Thompson, founder of SVI, ranked No. 3,013 (2025) on Inc, and Learner Mobile, to explore how AI is transforming how frontline workers access critical information when they need it most. Mike shares why frontline employees are essential to business success, how SVI is breaking down barriers to learning and information, and how technology can help people work smarter, faster, and safer. We also discuss SVI's evolution from a services-based company to a services-and-software model, along with the importance of culture, agility, continuous improvement, and thoughtful leadership. Discover how combining innovation with care can empower people and drive lasting business growth. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 4:55 Frontline AI in Action 7:02 Culture Through Change 11:13 Services and SaaS Balance 13:18 Loving People at Work 18:21 Hiring for Agility 20:40 Authentic Leadership Today In This Episode, You'll Learn: ✅How AI is changing the way frontline workers access information ✅Why a strong mission makes organizational change easier ✅How to build a culture of agility and continuous improvement ✅Lessons from SVI's transformation from services to SaaS and AI ✅Why overdependence on a major customer can become a serious business risk ✅How to balance love, trust, recognition, and accountability ✅What to look for when hiring people who can thrive through change ✅Why grit and the ability to move quickly matter in today's business environment ✅How authentic leadership can help organizations navigate complexity ✅Why successful AI transformation ultimately starts with people Connect With Today's Guest Mike Thompson is the founder of SVI, whose flagship product, Learner Mobile, is an AI-powered knowledge ecosystem designed to help frontline workers access critical information in the moment of need. SVI works with organizations ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies, helping frontline teams access the knowledge and resources they need to perform at their best. How to Connect with Mike Thompson LinkedIn: Mike Thompson (LinkedIn) Company Website: www.sviworld.com– to learn more about his work and platform Get In Touch with Mike at learnermobile.com

  5. Sep 28

    Avoid this Big Leadership Mistake for More Company Growth with Gene Hammett, Founder Coach

    In this episode, we explore the challenges founders face when their businesses become too dependent on them, creating bottlenecks in decision-making, execution, and growth. As companies scale, internal leadership must evolve alongside external priorities like hiring, sales, and new product development. We discuss how a founder's leadership style can shape company culture and how reactive or misaligned behavior can create friction and push talented people away. We also highlight the value of having honest conversations with trusted advisors, mentors, or peers. Ultimately, we examine how shifting leadership, mindset, and decision-making can unlock stronger teams, healthier growth, and greater business effectiveness. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 0:19 Founder Growth Starts Within 1:25 The Founder Freedom Book 1:47 External Plans, Internal Blind Spots 3:37 Rethinking Leadership First 4:50 The Founder Is the Solution What You'll Learn in This Episode By listening to this episode, you'll discover: ✔️Why successful businesses can become founder-dependent ✔️How founder dependency creates bottlenecks in decision-making and execution ✔️Why hiring more people may not solve an underlying leadership problem ✔️How a founder's behavior can influence employee engagement and retention ✔️Why external growth strategies need to be supported by internal leadership growth ✔️How to recognize potential leadership blind spots ✔️Why your leadership style needs to evolve as your company scales ✔️How trusted advisors and coaches can help founders see what they can't see themselves ✔️Why becoming more self-aware can make your growth investments more effective ✔️How founders can create greater freedom by changing the way they lead Resources Mentioned 📘 Founder Freedom Download the book for free and learn more about breaking through founder dependency: https://getfounderfreedom.com/ 🎙️ Founder Freedom Strategy Call If you're a founder who has built something significant but still feels too deeply involved in the day-to-day, Gene offers a free 30-minute strategy call to explore what's keeping you stuck. https://schedulewithgene.com/

  6. Sep 21

    Leading During A Crisis with Henry J. Evans at Dynamic Results

    In this episode, we explore what it takes to lead effectively through crisis and why disruption is becoming faster, more complex, and more intense. We discuss why past experience alone isn't enough when leaders face unfamiliar challenges, and why a practical crisis management system matters. We explore Henry J. Evans's background in C-suite coaching and his business failure after 9/11, which shaped his approach to crisis leadership. Henry shares his framework for managing crisis, beginning with self-management and simple techniques like box breathing to help leaders stay calm and make better decisions under pressure. We also discuss the three phases of crisis, why decision-making should move to the lowest intelligent level within an organization, and why crisis plans should focus on the most critical actions. Finally, we explore simulations, scenario planning, pre-mortems, and the value of including pessimists to identify risks before they become problems. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 0:09 Crisis Leadership in a Faster World 1:08 What Counts as a Real Crisis 4:40 Henry's Counterterrorism Background 7:09 Why Old Successes Stop Working 10:09 Lead Yourself First 15:04 Three Phases of Crisis 20:27 Decision-Making in Crisis 24:57 Building Trust Before Crisis 27:52 Stress-Test Your Team 29:42 Pre-Mortem Planning Works 31:04 Final Thoughts on Crisis Prep Key Takeaways ✅Past crisis experience is valuable, but it isn't enough by itself. ✅Leaders need a repeatable system for managing disruption. ✅Self-management is the starting point of effective crisis leadership. ✅Learning to respond rather than react can improve decision-making under pressure. ✅Crises can be viewed through three phases: incubating, emerging, and acute. ✅Decision-making should move toward the people with the most relevant expertise. ✅Crisis teams should focus on the few actions that matter most. ✅Leadership teams should practice crisis scenarios before a real crisis occurs. ✅Pre-mortems can help organizations identify vulnerabilities before they become problems. ✅Pessimistic perspectives can be valuable for identifying risks and blind spots. Connect With Today's Guest Henry J. Evans is a C-suite coach, strategic planning facilitator, and author with extensive experience in crisis leadership and national security. He has accumulated more than 16,000 hours of C-suite coaching and approximately 6,000 hours facilitating strategic planning sessions for multinational organizations. He also spent 22 years working with national security threats, primarily in counterterrorism. Henry's perspective on crisis leadership is also shaped by personal experience. After building a successful company, his business experienced a significant decline in revenue following 9/11 and ultimately went through Chapter 11 bankruptcy. That experience led to a new chapter in his career involving national security and counterterrorism work. He is the author of Bombs, Bacon, and Bankruptcy: The Art of Crisis Leadership, a book focused on the principles and systems leaders can use to navigate crisis more effectively. How to Connect with Henry J. Evans LinkedIn: Henry J. Evans  (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/henryevansdynamicresults/ Company Website: dynamicresults.com– to learn more about his work and platform Get In Touch with Henry: henryjevans.com Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at training.coreelevation.com to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: training.coreelevation.com 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

  7. Sep 14

    The Journey of Self-aware Leadership with Gene Hammett, Founder Coach

    In this episode, we discuss self-awareness in leadership and why it becomes important when old ways of leading no longer work. We talk about how founders can get stuck doing too much themselves and how that can affect alignment, focus, and team performance. We also look at the question of "Who am I being?" as a way to notice reactive or unfocused behaviors that may hold a leader back. We share a personal example from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to show how recognizing unhelpful traits can lead to more consistency, discipline, and intention, and we close by encouraging listeners to think about the kind of leader they need to become. Episode Highlights & Timestamps 0:11 Self-Awareness in Leadership 2:18 The Hero Complex Trap 4:07 Who Are You Being? 5:47 Lessons From Jiu Jitsu 7:58 Becoming a Better Leader What You'll Learn ✅Why self-awareness is essential for effective leadership and business growth. ✅How the habits that helped you succeed can eventually hold you back. ✅How the "hero complex" can keep founders too involved in the day-to-day. ✅The importance of asking, "Who am I being that is getting in the way of what I want?" ✅How to identify the qualities you need to develop to become the leader your company needs. Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at training.coreelevation.com and getfounderfreedom.com to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: training.coreelevation.com 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

  8. Sep 7

    Stop Blaming Your Team Members and Lead More Powerfully with Gene Hammett

    What does powerful leadership look like when a business is growing and challenges arise? In this episode, we explore how founders, CEOs, and business leaders can take ownership instead of blaming employees. We discuss practical leadership strategies, including clear communication, active listening, empathy, feedback, accountability, and setting expectations. We also examine the people and culture challenges that come with growth, including employee performance, organizational chaos, and difficult conversations. Finally, we address when coaching and support aren't enough and how leaders can recognize when it's time to part ways. A practical conversation about leadership, company culture, accountability, and building high-performing teams. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 0:10 Leading Without Blame 1:49 Lead Powerfully, Not Reactively 3:48 The Four Phases of Tough Talks 5:41 Knowing When to Let Go What You'll Learn ✅Why blaming employees rarely creates meaningful change ✅How powerful leadership begins with personal ownership ✅When to listen, show empathy, communicate directly, or give tough feedback ✅How unclear expectations can contribute to employee performance issues ✅Why different situations require different leadership approaches ✅How to have difficult conversations that actually create movement ✅When coaching and accountability aren't enough ✅How to recognize when it may be time to part ways with an employee Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at training.coreelevation.com and getfounderfreedom.com to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance. 🌐 Explore More: training.coreelevation.com 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

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About

Develop leadership skills and understand leadership development from expert interviews with transformational leaders. Leaders in the Trenches gives raw discussions that dive deep into new strategies to accelerate your company growth and your leadership abilities. Get interviews from Fortune 100 leaders to experts in various domains of marketing, sales, and leadership that allows you to explode your growth. Learn from their failures and discover the finer elements of significance that will impact your company. Guests include Daymond John, Les Brown, Michael Gerber, Jonah Berger, Bob Berg, Greg McKeown, and with the host Gene Hammett.

Information

  • Creator
    Gene Hammett is a Speaker, Executive Coach, Inc Columnist, and Host of "Gr
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.3K
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2014-2021
  • Show Website
    Growth Think Tank

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