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The Best Boss Podcast

The Best Boss Podcast

By: Danny Ceballos
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 Do you struggle with being the best leader and people-manager possible? Are you overwhelmed, exhausted or just losing your manager mojo? Join executive coach, Danny Ceballos, as he interviews today's thought leaders, authors, and mentors to identify the strategies and insights to unleash your BEST BOSS super-powers! Each episode is packed with specific tools, recommendations, resources, and best practices that you can apply immediately to be the kick-ass boss everyone wants to work for.© 2022 - 2024 Danny Ceballos Economics Education Management Management & Leadership
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Episodes
  • Leading Through Grief: Managing Change with Compassion | Ep #50

    Leading Through Grief: Managing Change with Compassion | Ep #50
    Mar 10 2025

    In this powerful episode, host Danny Ceballos is joined by five expert leadership coaches (The Hive) to discuss a deeply relevant topic: organizational and individual grief. Change in the workplace often brings loss—whether it’s losing a team member, shifting leadership structures, or navigating major transitions. However, grief isn’t just about personal loss—it’s also about adjusting to change, uncertainty, and new realities. Leaders must understand how grief impacts both individuals and teams and find ways to navigate it with awareness, compassion, and action.


    Our panel of leadership experts breaks down how leaders can support themselves and their teams through the complex emotions that come with organizational shifts. From naming and normalizing grief to creating space for healing without sacrificing productivity, we explore practical strategies for fostering resilience in the workplace.


    Key Takeaways

    • The different forms of grief in organizations and why leaders must recognize them
    • How leaders can create space for emotions while maintaining team productivity
    • Why acknowledging grief can lead to higher employee retention and engagement
    • The role of rituals and collective processing in navigating workplace transitions
    • Three key leadership principles: Compassion, Confidence, and Competence
    • How unaddressed grief can lead to resistance, disengagement, and burnout
    • The connection between grief and change management failures (70% fail due to emotional resistance!)
    • How vulnerability and authenticity make leaders more effective in times of loss
    • Simple, actionable ways to help teams move forward without bypassing emotions


    Resources Mentioned in This Episode

    • Books: Healing Grief at Work by Dr. Alan Wolfelt
    • Positive Intelligence (PQ) - Learn more at PositiveIntelligence.com
    • Grok Conversation Cards - A tool for naming emotions in the workplace


    "The Hive" is ...

    • Cynthia Gene Maloney — https://cynthiagene.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-gene-maloney/
    • Doni Landefeld — https://themetamorphosiscoach.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/donilandefeldphdmetamorphosiscoaching/
    • Kathleen Fanning — https://www.kathleenfanningcoaching.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-fanning/
    • Mary Fineis — https://www.gamechangercoaching.life
    • Svetlana Parilova — https://www.linkedin.com/in/svetlana-parilova/
    • Taryn Laakso — https://tarynlaakso.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarynlaakso/


    If you love this show, please leave us a review. Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/bestboss and follow the simple instructions.


    © 2022 - 2025 Danny Ceballos
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    32 mins
  • The DEI Backlash – What’s Next for Inclusive Leadership? | Ep #49

    The DEI Backlash – What’s Next for Inclusive Leadership? | Ep #49
    Feb 17 2025
    In this episode of The Best Boss Podcast, we bring together a powerhouse panel of leadership coaches to tackle a pressing issue in today’s workplace: the backlash against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. As companies reconsider their DEI strategies, we explore the merits, challenges, and future of inclusive leadership. With perspectives from across industries and global experiences, we discuss how leaders can navigate this moment with wisdom, strategy, and a focus on innovation. Beyond the headlines and politics, "The Hive" examines why DEI matters—not just as a moral imperative but as a business advantage. From fostering innovation to increasing employee engagement and performance, inclusion is more than just a buzzword—it’s a critical leadership skill. Tune in as we explore practical ways to create a culture of belonging and continue this essential conversation in a productive, meaningful way. Key Takeaways: DEI is Not One Thing: Diversity, equity, and inclusion are distinct but interconnected. Diversity is about representation, equity is about access, and inclusion is about ensuring all voices are heard.The Business Case is Clear: Research shows that companies with diverse leadership teams see higher innovation revenue and financial performance. Inclusion directly impacts engagement, creativity, and profitability.Psychological Safety is Foundational: Employees perform best when they feel included, safe, and valued. Without inclusivity, organizations risk losing top talent and stifling innovation.The Backlash is Real, But the Conversation Must Continue: While some organizations are rolling back DEI efforts, the need for inclusion has not disappeared. Leaders must find ways to evolve and sustain meaningful inclusion efforts.This is Not a Zero-Sum Game: Inclusion doesn’t mean taking opportunities away from one group to give to another—it’s about expanding access and creating a more innovative, high-performing workplace.Tokenism is Not the Answer: True DEI efforts go beyond surface-level representation. Leaders must embed inclusion into the organization’s culture, values, and decision-making.Innovation Requires Diversity: The most successful organizations are those that bring in different perspectives. When diverse voices are welcomed, companies generate better solutions and drive long-term success.Leadership Starts with Reflection: Before making changes, leaders must clarify their values around DEI and align their actions accordingly. Effective inclusion strategies start with a clear vision and commitment.Coaching Can Help Leaders Navigate This Challenge: If you’re feeling uncertain about how to move forward with DEI in your organization, working with a coach can provide clarity and actionable strategies.Inclusion is a Leadership Skill, Not a Checkbox: The best leaders know that inclusion isn’t a one-time effort—it’s an ongoing practice that requires self-awareness, intentionality, and courage. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Book: The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety by Timothy R. ClarkReports & Studies: McKinsey’s Diversity Wins report: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-wins-how-inclusion-matters Deloitte’s DEI insights: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/searchresults.html?qr=DEI Harvard Business Review articles on DEI and workplace culture: https://hbr.org/topic/subject/diversity-and-inclusion "The Hive" is ... Cynthia Gene Maloney — https://cynthiagene.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-gene-maloney/Doni Landefeld — https://themetamorphosiscoach.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/donilandefeldphdmetamorphosiscoaching/Kathleen Fanning — https://www.kathleenfanningcoaching.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-fanning/Mary Fineis — https://www.gamechangercoaching.lifeSvetlana Parilova — https://www.linkedin.com/in/svetlana-parilova/Taryn Laakso — https://tarynlaakso.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarynlaakso/ If you love this show, please leave us a review. Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/bestboss and follow the simple instructions. © 2022 - 2025 Danny Ceballos
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    30 mins
  • Stress Happens: How to Turn Pressure into Productivity | Ep #48

    Stress Happens: How to Turn Pressure into Productivity | Ep #48
    Feb 3 2025
    In this special edition of The Best Boss Podcast, Danny Ceballos is joined by six incredible executive and leadership coaches (The Hive) to tackle one of today’s most pressing challenges: managing stress in the workplace. With burnout rates at an all-time high and the cost of turnover soaring, this episode dives deep into how leaders can identify, understand, and mitigate stress—for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. The Hive shares actionable insights, powerful metaphors, and practical advice to help leaders cultivate resilience, foster trust, and create healthier workplace cultures. The conversation highlights the importance of connection, trust, and balance, emphasizing that while stress is unavoidable, it can be managed effectively with the right strategies. Whether you're a CEO, a manager, or a leader at any level, this episode is packed with wisdom to help you lead with purpose and clarity. Key Takeaways: Stress is Unavoidable but Manageable: Recognize the difference between healthy pressure that motivates and destructive stress that drains energy and creativity.Burnout Is a Bottom-Line Issue: With 63% of high-performing employees citing burnout as a reason to seek new roles, addressing workplace stress is critical to retaining top talent.The Goldilocks Zone of Stress: Leaders must find the right balance of pressure—neither too loose nor too tight—to achieve peak performance and creativity.Connection Is the Antidote to Stress: Building meaningful relationships at work fosters trust, reduces stress, and enhances overall team performance.Leaders Set the Tone: By modeling vulnerability, balance, and self-awareness, leaders can influence their teams to adopt healthier stress management practices.Purpose Drives Resilience: Helping employees connect to the "why" behind their work increases engagement and helps them navigate challenging tasks.Positive Intelligence as a Framework: Practices like pausing and grounding help leaders and teams shift from reactivity to creativity, enabling better decision-making under stress.Customize, Don’t Cookie-Cut: A one-size-fits-all approach to stress management doesn’t work. Tailor strategies to individual and organizational needs for maximum impact.Workplace Wellbeing Is Non-Negotiable: Post-pandemic, employees are demanding workplaces that prioritize wellbeing—a key opportunity for leaders to innovate and retain talent.The Power of the Pause: Slowing down to reassess priorities, tune into needs, and recalibrate can lead to better outcomes for individuals and teams alike. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Positive Intelligence Website – Learn more about the PQ framework and tools for managing stress and enhancing performance. "The Hive" is ... Cynthia Gene Maloney — https://cynthiagene.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-gene-maloney/Doni Landefeld — https://themetamorphosiscoach.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/donilandefeldphdmetamorphosiscoaching/Kathleen Fanning — https://www.kathleenfanningcoaching.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-fanning/Mary Fineis — https://www.gamechangercoaching.lifeSvetlana Parilova — https://www.linkedin.com/in/svetlana-parilova/Taryn Laakso — https://tarynlaakso.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarynlaakso/ If you love this show, please leave us a review. Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/bestboss and follow the simple instructions. © 2022 - 2025 Danny Ceballos
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins

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