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Intentional Leader with Cal Walters

Intentional Leader with Cal Walters

By: Cal Walters
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 Let's be honest. The hardest person you will ever have to lead is the person you look at in the mirror everyday. Self-leadership is the most important thing we do as leaders, but it's hard. And it hasn't gotten any easier in a world of smart phone addiction, social media comparison, global pandemics, and information overload (just to name a few obstacles). That's why Intentional Leader exists. We help leaders take the guesswork out of self-leadership, fight a reactionary lifestyle, accelerate their personal growth, and achieve their God-given potential at home, at work, and in their communities. This is why we get out of bed each morning. We love helping leaders on their personal growth journey! Because we know when the leader gets better everyone benefits. Organizations, communities, and families all thrive when the leader is thriving. We are a team of ordinary people with an extraordinary passion for personal growth and helping leaders thrive. Join this community to pursue personal growth and leadership excellence, to inspire others, and make a lasting impact on the world. Life is short, so let's make it count by living an intentional life. On this podcast, Cal Walters — a follower of Jesus, a husband, father, West Point graduate, former Infantry Officer, Army Ranger, combat veteran, lawyer, and Army JAG — passionately explores ways to live intentionally, make each day count, and lead with greater influence and impact. Cal firmly believes leadership matters, and this podcast will help you lead yourself and inspire others. Cal believes we each have a unique contribution to make to the world, and he wants to help you make yours! For show notes, visit https://www.calwalters.me/ Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are those of the author and guests and do not reflect the official policy, position, or endorsement of the US Army JAG Corps, US Army, DoD, or the US Government. Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • 131: Dr. Liz Werly — What an Army Psychologist for Special Ops Teaches About High Performance and Emotional Intelligence

    131: Dr. Liz Werly — What an Army Psychologist for Special Ops Teaches About High Performance and Emotional Intelligence
    Nov 7 2025
    How do the best military leaders go from operating at an already elite level… to an even higher level under pressure? In this episode, Army psychologist Dr. Liz Werly (who works directly with some of the U.S. military's most elite units) breaks down the exact framework she uses to help high performers: build accurate self-awareness using gold-standard assessments, "engineer" their personality to fit the context (calm under fire and present at home), develop emotional intelligence as the differentiator once IQ and talent are in place, and translate values into visible daily behaviors that protect what matters most. We also dig into groundedness and intentionality as core high-performance habits, the basics that leaders ignore at their own risk (sleep, rhythm, connection), and how generational shifts and resiliency trends are reshaping today's force and workplaces. In this episode, you'll learn: How Dr. Werly assesses elite leaders (IQ, Big Five, emotional measures) and turns data into a growth plan Why emotional intelligence becomes more important than raw intellect at higher levels of leadership A simple values → beliefs → behaviors framework (including the "20-minute Lego" example) How to recognize when your strengths (e.g., robotic under pressure) become liabilities at home or with your team Practical tools for grounding, bandwidth management, and emotional "dialing" What leaders need to understand about younger generations, resiliency, and expectations If you're already a high performer and want to become a more grounded, self-aware, and sustainable leader, this conversation is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Connect with Dr. Liz Werly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-h-werly-psy-d-b843b817/ Join the waitlist for the next Intentional Leader Lab cohort: intentionalleaderlab.com The views expressed in this episode are those of the participants and do not represent the official position of the U.S. Government or the U.S. Army. Chapters: 00:00 Intro – How elite leaders go from high to higher 00:33 Disclaimer + what this episode will cover 01:06 Welcome to The Intentional Leader Podcast + IL Lab mention 01:36 Meet Dr. Liz Werly & her work with elite military units 03:35 "If I walked into your office…" – her framework for high performers 05:19 Patterns, personality, and "engineering" your strengths 07:42 Robotic under pressure, distant at home – dialing traits up/down 09:20 Big Five, gold-standard assessments & why cheap tests fall short 11:24 Why tests need interpretation, not labels 13:18 How leaders react when they see their data 16:50 Values-based goals & Acceptance and Commitment mindset 18:58 IQ vs personality vs EQ – what you can actually change 21:00 The four pillars of emotional intelligence (Liz's breakdown) 24:25 Why EQ is the edge once IQ is "good enough" 24:50 Groundedness & intentionality as #1 performance levers 26:44 Designing your "ideal day" for this season of life 29:04 Sleep, basics, and whole-person performance 29:50 Values → beliefs → behaviors (the 20-minute Lego example) 32:36 When values collide (deployments, travel, guilt & shame) 34:44 Emotions as information vs letting emotions drive decisions 36:30 Generational friction & why it's an emotional intelligence issue 39:25 Tech, expectations, and how younger leaders are different 41:06 Resiliency, safety culture, and maturity gaps 43:18 Recruiting, mental health, and opportunity in today's force 45:00 Where to connect with Liz + her final advice to leaders 46:24 Outro – 5 practical challenges: grounding, values, bandwidth, dialing, feedback
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    49 mins
  • 130: Dr. Zach Mercurio — The Hidden Engine of High-Performing Teams: Mattering, Trust, and Purpose-Driven Leadership

    130: Dr. Zach Mercurio — The Hidden Engine of High-Performing Teams: Mattering, Trust, and Purpose-Driven Leadership
    Oct 24 2025

    Apply to work with me 1-1: https://courses.calwalters.me/coaching

    Join the Intentional Leader Lab waitlist: https://courses.calwalters.me/intentional-leader-lab

    Learn more about Zach: https://www.zachmercurio.com/

    In this conversation, Dr. Zach Mercurio discusses the importance of creating a sense of purpose and mattering within teams. He emphasizes that feeling valued is a basic human instinct and that leaders play a crucial role in fostering an environment where everyone feels significant. The discussion covers the psychological impacts of not feeling like one matters, the barriers leaders face in demonstrating care, and practical strategies for enhancing team dynamics through small, intentional interactions. The conversation ultimately highlights the shift from traditional command-and-control leadership to a more trust-based approach that prioritizes relationships and emotional intelligence.

    00:00 Creating a Sense of Purpose in Teams

    02:10 Understanding the Cost of Not Mattering

    04:28 The Role of Leaders in Mattering

    07:56 The Importance of Mattering in Work and Life

    11:41 Barriers to Caring in Leadership

    16:10 The Shift from Command and Control to Trust-Based Leadership

    19:35 Leading Indicators vs. Lagging Indicators

    23:28 The Power of Small Interactions

    28:59 Practical Actions for Leaders to Show Mattering

    44:26 Noticing, Affirming, and Needing in Leadership
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    55 mins
  • 129: Dr. Ryan Gottfredson — The Groundbreaking Science of Personal Transformation, Mindsets, Emotional Intelligence, and Becoming Better

    129: Dr. Ryan Gottfredson — The Groundbreaking Science of Personal Transformation, Mindsets, Emotional Intelligence, and Becoming Better
    Sep 10 2025

    Update: Now only 6 spots left in the Intentional Leader Lab!

    ➡️ Learn about the Intentional Leader Lab: https://intentionalleaderlab.com

    Book a call: https://tally.so/r/w8X6dz

    Apply today: https://tally.so/r/nr40XM

    Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/

    In this episode, Dr. Ryan Gottfredson returns to discuss the concepts of trauma, vertical development, and the distinction between 'being' and 'doing' in leadership. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and healing one's internal operating system to achieve true personal transformation. The conversation explores how mindsets shape our experiences and the role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership. Ryan shares his personal journey of transformation and the impact of trauma on leadership effectiveness, providing insights into how leaders can grow both personally and professionally.

    00:00 Introduction to the Intentional Leader Lab

    01:12 Deep Dive with Dr. Ryan Gottfredson

    02:35 Exploring Mindsets and Personal Transformation

    04:49 The Importance of Vertical Development

    11:13 Understanding Self-Protective Fears

    16:12 The Doing Side vs. The Being Side

    22:42 The Impact of Trauma on Leadership

    29:58 Emotional Intelligence and Its Connection to Being

    38:47 The Neuroscience of Emotional Intelligence

    44:23 Ryan's Personal Journey of Transformation

    50:40 Final Thoughts on Becoming Better

    Takeaways

    - The Intentional Leader Lab offers a six-month leadership experience

    - Dr. Ryan Gottfredson emphasizes the importance of vertical development

    - Mindsets are crucial for personal transformation

    - Self-protective fears can hinder leadership growth

    - The distinction between doing and being is vital for leaders

    - Emotional intelligence is primarily a being side ability

    - Trauma can significantly impact leadership effectiveness

    - Awareness is the first step towards transformation

    - Expanding your window of tolerance is essential for growth

    - Healing one's internal operating system is key to becoming better

    #leadership #leader #leadershipdevelopment #emotionalintelligence #podcast #personalgrowth #growth #growthmindset #growthjourney #trauma #traumahealing #selfimprovement #selfcare #selflove #selfgrowth #intentionalliving #fear #fearless #team #teamwork #neuroscience #science
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    57 mins
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