The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast

Episode 184: Coaching is Connection First— Why Presence Outperforms Advice

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Episode Description In this episode of The 90th Percentile Podcast, BreAnne Okoren and Jack Zenger sit down with leadership expert Michelle Fabian to ...

Episode 183: The Gossip Trap— One Leadership Habit That Quietly Destroys Trust

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Episode Description Gossip may seem like a minor workplace habit, but the research tells a very different story. In this episode of The 90th Percentil...

Episode 182: Does Leadership Development Actually Pay Off? The ROI Leaders Can’t Ignore

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Episode Description In a time of tighter budgets and higher scrutiny, leadership development is often one of the first investments leaders feel pressu...

Episode 181: Highlights from The Leadership Skills Report 2026

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, BreAnne Okoren and Joe Folkman unpack Zenger Folkman’s new Leadership Skills 2026 Report and explor...

Episode 180: The Generational Trust Myth—Why Behavior Beats Age Every Time

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Details Trust in leadership is often framed as a generational issue—older leaders are assumed to be more credible because of experience, while young...

Episode 179: Strategic Expertise vs. Emotional Intelligence—Which Drives Leadership Success?

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Details Emotional intelligence has dominated leadership conversations for years—and for good reason. Leaders who listen, empathize, and build strong...

Episode 178: The Hidden Truth About Gender and Leadership Ratings

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details Are workplace evaluations truly objective—or do subtle perceptions still shape how we see male and female leaders differently? In this episo...

Episode 109: Transforming Leadership Development—Are We Missing The Main Thing?

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details What’s the main thing for leadership development? Is it excelling at selecting the right people? Is it a well-funded corporate learning cent...

Episode 177: Why Strengths-Based Development Outperforms Traditional Methods

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details Consider this episode your Strengths-Based Leadership 101. BreAnne and Joe revisit the foundation of Zenger Folkman’s entire leadership phil...

Episode 176 Jotun: A Case Study in Extraordinary Leadership

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this special episode of The 90th Percentile, we unpack how Jotun—the Norway-based, family-owned paints and coatings company operating in ...

Episode 175: 7 Key Leadership Behaviors of the Most Effective Decision Makers

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details What separates the best decision-makers from the rest? In this episode, Joe Folkman shares research on nearly 16,000 leaders to reveal seven k...

Episode 174: Making Development Popular with Desert Financial Credit Union

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we sit down with Kathleen Crenshaw and Christopher Bisgrove from Desert Financial Credit Union to expl...

Episode 173: The Surprising Way Leadership Behaviors Go Viral at Work

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details What if great leadership could go viral? In this episode of The 90th Percentile Podcast, Dr. Jack Zenger joins BreAnne Okoren to explore how p...

Episode 172: Why Psychological Safety Matters More Than Ever

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details Psychological safety is not a new term anymore, but it has matured into a foundational leadership capability, much like communication or tr...

Bonus Episode– Susan David, Emotional Agility

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details Dr. Susan David is a founder and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital of Harvard Medical School and an Instructor in Ps...

Episode 171: Memorable Leadership—10 Behaviors That Make Leaders Unforgettable

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In today’s episode, we’re unpacking the results of a massive leadership study — over 63,000 assessments — to answer one key question: ...

Episode 170: AI, Speed, and the Future of Thoughtful Work

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In today’s episode of The 90th Percentile, we challenge one of the most persistent myths in modern work: that you must choose between speed ...

Episode 169: 10 Leadership Behaviors That Set Great Teams Apart

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In today’s episode, we’re unpacking new research from Zenger Folkman that reveals what truly separates high-performing teams from the rest...

Episode 168: Well-Being Is a Business Strategy—Leadership Lessons from Druva

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we explore why wellbeing programs are more than just perks—they are a leadership imperative. Shanna ...

Episode 167: Flexible, Focused, and Future-Ready—L&D at Wright Service Corp.

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we sit down with Rose Christensen, Senior Learning & Development Leader at Wright Service Corp., to ex...

Episode 166: Can AI Be Your Coach? The Promise and Peril of AI in Leadership Development

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details With pressure mounting on managers to coach more often and more effectively, can AI offer real help—or does it risk making coaching feel rob...

Episode 165: Stop Training Leaders Alone—The Case for Team Development

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details What if the biggest barrier to performance isn’t an individual leader—but the team itself? In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we spea...

Episode 164: Control vs. Influence—What Today’s Leader’s Get Wrong

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we explore the enduring relevance of a decades-old leadership theory that feels more urgent than ever....

Episode 89: Employee Recognition– Improving the Substance and Delivery

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details There’s a need to greatly increase the frequency and the quality of the recognition they give to their colleagues. That means recognition fo...

Episode 163: Staying the Course—Why Core Leadership Skills Still Matter

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Bard Parnell, Senior Manager of Learning and De...

Episode 162: Building Resilient Leaders: Lessons from Core & Main

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this episode, we’re diving into resilience—a critical skill for today’s leaders—with Evelyn Swanson, Vice President of Learning and...

Episode 161: Then and Now—How the Pandemic Boosted Leadership Effectiveness

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details When the pandemic hit, many expected a decline in leadership effectiveness due to burnout, isolation, and crisis fatigue. However, surprising ...

Episode 160: Using Neuroscience to Make Feedback Work with David Rock

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details Research shows that both giving and receiving feedback triggers stress responses similar to physical threats—but understanding these brain m...

Episode 159: Is One Leadership Style Better Than Others?

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this episode, we’ll explore four distinct leadership styles—the Expert, the Connector, the Driver, and the Strategist—and reveal surp...

Episode 158: 5 Ways to Build a High-Performance Team

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details Building a high-performance team isn’t just about hiring the right people—it’s about leading them in the right way. In this episode of T...

Episode 157: Team Trust at BJ’s Wholesale Club with Scott Schmadeke

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details Trust is the foundation of any high-performing team, but in today’s fast-paced, uncertain business environment, building and maintaining tru...

Episode 7: The Enigma of Positive and Negative Feedback

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Would you rather hear positive feedback about your performance or suggestions for improvement? Does preferring positive feedback make you seem weak, a...

Episode 156: What To Do When The Boss Gives You Baseless Feedback

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details Receiving feedback at work can be tough—it’s natural to feel uncomfortable when you’re told you’re not doing something well. That does...

Episode 155: The 7 Minor Leadership Behaviors That Actually Determine Your Success

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In today’s fast-paced business environment, leaders often focus on grand strategies and bold initiatives, overlooking the foundational behav...

Episode 154: Is Learning and Development Being Demoted?

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we dive into the shifting landscape of Learning and Development (L&D) with Dani Johnson, co-founder an...

Episode 153: Finding Joy as a Leader (Even on the Hard Days)

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details When work and life are overwhelming, it can be difficult to reclaim a sense of joy at work. Research has shown the benefits of incorporating j...

Episode 152: How Much Does Passion Influence Performance?

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details As we step into a new year filled with possibilities, this episode of The 90th Percentile dives into the powerful connection between passion a...

Zenger Folkman Holiday Message 2024

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details This holiday, we encourage you to find stability and joy in the customs that have persisted for generations. Though the world may sometimes fe...

Episode 151: 3 Ways to Help Employees Love Their Jobs

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Do the people you manage love their jobs? Or do you sense that some are dissatisfied or disengaged? It’s no secret that employees who love t...

Episode 150: The Unexpected Strengths of Each Generation of Leaders

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Picture a modern workplace leadership meeting: A Baby Boomer executive types deliberately on her laptop while referencing printed handouts, a ...

Episode 149: Building Empathy and Drive at the Same Time

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details In a time where AI disrupts traditional workplace dynamics and remote work reshapes human connections, business leaders face a crucial questio...

Episode 148: The Real Key to Employee Engagement—Leadership Over Location

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Have you noticed a remarkable shift where major companies are mandating return to office policies. Amazon recently joined the ranks of Meta, G...

Episode 147: Listening—An Essential Tool for Building Trust

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details In a time with constant communication and information overload, the ability to truly listen stands out as a cornerstone for building trust wit...

Episode 146: Quality And Quantity Are Not Trade-offs—How Some Leaders Are Choosing Both

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details In today’s episode, we dive into a fascinating topic that many leaders grapple with—quality versus quantity. Are they truly competing obje...

Episode 145: What You Should Know About Coachability Through Career Decades

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Today we are looking at coachability and its intriguing role across different career decades. Each stage in our professional lives—whether i...

Episode 144: Connecting The Manager, Employee, and Customer Satisfaction Chain

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, hosts BreAnne Okoren  and Joe Folkman explore the powerful connection between leadership, employee en...

Episode 143: Are You Surviving or Thriving With AI?

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details We can all admit that we have felt a little threatened by AI. After all its whole purpose is improve and ultimately replace Human intelligence...

Episode 142: Trust and Resolving Conflict in the Workplace—Key Behaviors for Leaders

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Recently, a compelling question emerged: How do trust and conflict resolution impact a leader’s effectiveness? To explore this, we analyzed ...

Episode 76: Identifying and Managing Micro-stressors

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Stress comes to us all in tiny minor assaults throughout our day through relationships and interactions that are too numerous to shake off qui...

Episode 141: Can Honest Leaders Rebuild Integrity?

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Can individuals truly recover from being perceived as fundamentally flawed in honesty and integrity? We embarked on a research journey to unco...

Episode 140: The Three Key Ingredients for Sustainable Leadership Excellence

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this episode of “90th Percentile,” co-hosts Jack Zenger and BreAnne Okoren take a culinary approach to discussing effective leadership ...

Episode 67: The Skills Leaders Need at Every Level

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details  CEO, Vice President, Director, Supervisor, Manager, or Individual contributor each organizational position comes with its own set of demands...

Episode 51: 9 Habits That Lead to Terrible Decisions

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details We are all forced to make hundreds of little and big decisions every day. It can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Some people are so crippl...

Episode 139: 6 Components that Differentiate the Best 360-Degree Assessments

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details 360-degree assessments are a central component in many leadership-development programs. But not all assessments provide the same value to indi...

Episode 138: Taking Responsibility Is The Highest Mark Of Great Leaders

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Why does one person get selected for a promotion while others with equal skills, education and experience get passed over? While there may be ...

Episode 137: Building Trust—The Balance of Information and Involvement

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Join us in this enlightening episode of “The 90th Percentile” as hosts BreAnne Okoren and Joe Folkman delve into the crucial dynamics of t...

Episode 136: The Coachability Advantage—Transforming Leaders into Catalysts for Change

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Coachable leaders distinguish themselves by actively seeking and responding to feedback, a practice that not only enhances their personal grow...

Episode 135: Flipping Feedback Upside Down

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Feedback is a powerful tool that can make or break an individual’s growth and development. It can be a valuable gift that leads to success a...

Episode 134: Humble Leadership and the 7 Signs of Arrogance

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Why is humility important for leaders? This pivotal question underpins Zenger Folkman’s two decades of research into how leadership traits, ...

Episode 133: Connecting Through Coaching—Authenticity, AI, and Transformation

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this enlightening podcast episode, expert coaching master Kathleen Stinnett shares her invaluable insights on the evolution of leadership c...

Episode 132: Hybrid Work— Understanding The Leadership Advantages in Both Zones

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details After some initial uncertainty, most companies have now found their footing with respect to adopting office-based, remote, or hybrid working m...

Episode 131: Executive Presence Has New Rules

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Executive Presence. This term, often heard in boardrooms and leadership seminars, is not just about gravitas, articulate communication, and ma...

Episode 130: Thriving in Transition—The Keys to Adaptive Leadership

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details  In this episode, hosts BreAnne Okoren and Joe Folkman dive deep into the essential skill of adaptability, exploring its significance in the ...

Episode 129: Why Leadership Should Be Treated Like a Profession

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Details Just like lawyers, physicians, and CPAs constantly update their skills, effective leadership is vital across all industries. Join us as we dis...

2023 Holiday Message from Jack and Joe

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details In the spirit of reflection that accompanies this festive season and honoring whatever holiday you celebrate, this year’s  message revolves...

Episode 128: The Pinnacle Pillar of Trust—Building Relationships

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details In the awkward dance of professional interactions, the key to a flourishing work relationship lies not in quick fixes, but in the art of weavi...

Episode 127: The Constant Pillar of Trust— Consistency

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Consistency is a cornerstone of effective leadership, playing a pivotal role in building, maintaining, and restoring trust within an organizat...

Episode 126: The Hidden Pillar of Trust—Expertise

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details There is a leadership behavior that ignites a lot of conversation. It is trust. Many people have observational theories and experiences that i...

Episode 125: People Focus vs. Task Focus—Managing Remote Workers

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details The narrative surrounding the impact of remote work on productivity has taken unexpected twists and turns. Initially, the prevailing wisdom du...

Episode 124: How Modern Leaders Champion Change

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Every organization is experiencing change. Some of the changes come from the external environment, such as customer expectations, government r...

Episode 123: The Leadership Tent—Balancing Specialization and Generalism

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Leadership can be a little complicated so in this episode we wish to reduce that complexity to a model of leadership that is more easily under...

Episode 122: Why Middle Managers are So Unhappy

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Have you ever stopped to wonder who the unhappiest individuals within your organization are? Those weary souls who navigate the daily grind wi...

Episode 121: Unlocking Leadership Potential with Strength Builders

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details In this enlightening podcast interview, Joe Folkman and Breanne Okoren explore the revolutionary concept of “Strength Builders” in leaders...

Episode 120: The Mirrors of Leadership that Lead to Change

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details In today’s fast-paced, complex world, leaders need mirrors. The mirrors they need, however, go far beyond reflecting their physical appearan...

Episode 119: 10 Fatal Flaws That Derail Leaders

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Poor leadership in good times can be hidden, but poor leadership in bad times is a recipe for disaster. We have found the number one leadershi...

Episode 118: What Separates Great HR Leaders from the Rest

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details HR seems to have become every manager and employee’s favorite corporate punching bag, vying with IT for the dubious title of most-irritating...

Episode 117: Your Boss Should Care More About Your Relationship Building Skills

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Do personal relationships have the power to shape a leader’s perception of individual performance? The significance of fostering healthy wor...

Episode 116: The Meeting Manifesto: How to End Wasteful Meetings

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Meetings are a favorite target of complaints across all levels of an organization. Why is it so hard to have meetings that enthuse every parti...

Episode 115: Are We More Productive When We Have More Time Off?

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Vacation time—the sacred period where you can put your feet up, escape from spreadsheets, and unleash your inner happiness. It’s crucial f...

Episode 114: 7 Ways to Make Employees Feel Respected

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details There is one behavior that underlies all good leadership: treating everyone with respect. It’s the fundamental foundation of any relationshi...

Episode 113: Entering the Coachability Learning Zone

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details How hard is it to be coached? You show up, listen, and then great things happen, right? Well, according to Michael Bungay Stainer, we might be...

Episode 112: Why Coachability is the Leadership Superpower

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Kevin Wilde, author of Coachability: The Leadership Superpower, joins us to discuss the research on coachability. During his time as CLO at F...

Episode 111: Leadership Speed—How to Accelerate Successful Execution

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details If you have ever been lost while driving in a car, your natural reaction is to slow down. When we are uncertain about which direction to head,...

Episode 110: Watch Out For Your 5-Year Workiversary

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Most of us begin a new position with energy and a desire to impress. Our effort is high. Our passion is infectious. Our enthusiasm helps us to...

Episode 108: How Leaders Focus Externally to Improve the Customer Experience

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Have you ever been on the phone for an hour with customer service, and once you finally get to talk to a human to resolve your issue, they onl...

Episode 107: 10 Attitudes About Feedback From The Most Effective Leaders

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Occasionally, people read articles about the best approaches to giving and receiving feedback and may think, “That all sounds great, but wha...

Episode 106: Getting Along With Difficult People at Work

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Some of the most challenging relationships we have to learn to manage in this life are the ones we have with our co-workers. Because we spend ...

Episode 105: Behavioral Bridges—Increasing Employee Engagement While Driving For Results

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Is it possible to be a high-standards, results-driven leader while at the same time building an engaged, fun-to-work-with team? Many people wo...

Episode 5: What Great Listeners Actually Do

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Chances are you think you’re a great listener. People’s appraisal of their listening ability is much like their assessment of their drivi...

Episode 104: The Lost Art of Asking Good Questions

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Regardless of who you are in an organization — a great question can help you learn more about your task, unlock hidden opportunities, delive...

Episode 103: Skills, Skills, and More Skills— Finding What the Organization Values Most

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details What skills do you really need from your workforce? What skills are most valuable What are the critical issues? If the answers were clear, eve...

Episode 102: Leading with Kindness and Accountability

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Leaders are experiencing more demands for compassion at a time when there’s not a lot of room for compromise on what they have to deliver. D...

Episode 101: How to Push Your Team to Take Risks

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Most managers want their employees to be curious and experimental, to take the initiative and develop new products and solutions. But, as it t...

Episode 23: Are Women Better Leaders Than Men?

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details We’ve all heard the claims, the theories, and the speculation about the ways leadership styles vary between women and men. There are, of co...

Episode 100: The Unexpected Bad Habits of Leaders

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details No one expects ever to be described as an arrogant or complacent boss. Most leaders we know have the assumption that their career will be akin...

Episode 99: Ordinary Habits of Highly Effective Coaches

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Habits are things you automatically do every day. It’s your morning routine, how you make your favorite drink, or the fact that you always l...

Episode 98: Discover and Develop Hidden Talent Pools

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Details Executives in every company we work with express concerns about their ability to attract and retain managerial talent. The solutions for most ...

Audiobook Chapter 8: Trust and Speed

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Details The audiobook version of The Trifecta of Trust: The Proven Formula for Building and Restoring Trust is on sale at AUTHORS DIRECT. The audioboo...

Episode 97: Remote Work Leadership Report Card

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Details Due to the pandemic, the past few years have ushered in the past century’s most significant shifts in working environments.  According to d...

Episode 96: The Unseen Effects of Inspiring Leadership

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Details Download the new eBook, Inspiring in the New Era. A lot has been written about what inspiring leaders DO.  From their moving speeches to the...