How to Be a People-First Leader When Your Company Isn't
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About this listen
You believe in people-first leadership, but you work in a results-only culture. Your peers manage by spreadsheet. Your boss treats people like resources. You're wondering: Can I actually lead differently without getting crushed?
Here's the truth: You can't change the entire company culture right now. But you CAN change your team culture. And that's more powerful than you think.
In this episode, leadership consultant Colby Morris shares how middle managers can pioneer people-first leadership in organizations that aren't there yet—and create lasting cultural change from within.
What You'll Learn:
- The two biggest mistakes leaders make in toxic work cultures (and how to avoid them)
- Why focusing on your team culture beats trying to fix company culture
- How to use one-on-ones to build trust and drive results simultaneously
- The "fly under the radar" strategy that protects you while proving your approach works
- Creating healthy contagion: How one team's culture spreads organization-wide
- Real case study: Leading 20 managers and 350 employees to cultural transformation
Perfect for middle managers, directors, and VPs who want to be people-first leaders but don't have authority to mandate company-wide change. Also valuable for executives exploring organization-wide culture transformation.
Referenced Episodes:
- One-on-One Leadership Series: June 14, 2024 & December 4, 2024
- June 4 & 9, 2025
Want the one-on-one templates and frameworks? Contact Colby for free resources.
Connect with Colby Morris
Website: nxtstepadvisors.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colbymorris
Services: Executive Coaching | Leadership Training | Keynote Speaking | Culture Transformation
Executives: Ready to discuss organization-wide people-first culture transformation? Let's talk.
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Remember: Keep focusing on your team first, not fixing the company. Keep showing up consistently in your one-on-ones. And keep proving that people-first leadership actually drives better results. Because those are the things that leaders do.
#PeopleFirstLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #OneOnOnes #MiddleManagement #CultureChange #ExecutiveCoaching #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipTips #ToxicWorkplace #TeamCulture
- Colby's LinkedIn Profile
- Things Leaders Do Instagram