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The Conversation with Clinton M. Padgett

The Conversation with Clinton M. Padgett

By: Clinton M. Padgett
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Did you realize the key to business and team success finds its roots deep in conversation? Join Clint Padgett, who’s built his career helping Fortune 100 companies optimize their businesses, as he interviews leaders who encourage employees to learn, challenge, and grow. If you want to effectively manage people and optimize results, this is the podcast for you. The Conversation with Clinton M. Padgett from Forbes Books.Copyright Forbes Books Economics
Episodes
  • Meaningful Work Drives Meaningful Results: A Conversation with Wes Adams (Part One)

    Meaningful Work Drives Meaningful Results: A Conversation with Wes Adams (Part One)
    May 20 2026
    In this episode, Clint talks with Wes Adams – Founder & CEO of SV Consulting Group, researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center, and co-author of “Meaningful Work” – about what actually drives engagement, performance, and fulfillment at work.

    Wes explains why meaningful work is more than compensation, perks, or job titles, and why leaders who focus on community, contribution, and challenge create teams that are more innovative, resilient, and accountable. He also breaks down the difference between happiness and meaning at work, why meaningful work can exist in any role, and how small leadership behaviors can have a massive impact on team culture and performance.

    Throughout the conversation, Clint and Wes explore the growing importance of human-centered leadership in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world, and why creating meaningful work is quickly becoming one of the most important competitive advantages organizations can build.This is the first part of a two-part conversation.Topics Covered:
    • Why meaningful work is a major driver of performance
    • The “3 Cs” of meaningful work: community, contribution, and challenge
    • Why purpose alone isn’t enough to create engagement
    • The difference between meaningful work and happy work
    • How leaders create environments where people thrive
    • Why community at work matters more than ever
    • Building trust and psychological safety on teams
    • The impact of remote and hybrid work on connection and belonging
    • Why meaningful work can exist in any role or industry
    • The importance of aligning company values with leadership behavior
    • Why positive feedback is one of the most underused leadership skills
    • Helping employees grow through achievable challenge
    • How meaningful work drives accountability and collaboration
    • Why psychological safety improves innovation and adaptability
    • The growing importance of human skills in the age of AI
    Links:
    Wes’ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesadams1/
    Wes’ book, “Meaningful Work” - https://amzn.to/430EmSa
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    43 mins
  • Better Thinking, Better Leadership: A Conversation with M.J. Clark (Part Two)

    Better Thinking, Better Leadership: A Conversation with M.J. Clark (Part Two)
    May 13 2026
    In Part Two of Clint’s conversation with M.J. Clark – Vice President at Integrated Leadership Systems and author of “Leading Through Listening – M.J. dives into the internal side of leadership, explaining how mindset, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence shape the way leaders communicate, handle conflict, and build trust.

    She introduces the ABC model (Activating Event, Belief System, Consequences) as a practical framework for understanding and changing reactions, and explains how leaders can shift from emotional responses to more thoughtful, productive behaviors. M.J. also explores why cognitive dissonance and lack of self-awareness often lead to poor decisions, miscommunication, and even dishonesty in the workplace.

    The conversation also covers how leaders can navigate difficult conversations, de-escalate conflict, and create accountability, while reinforcing why face-to-face communication remains essential for building trust and strong team dynamics.This is the second part of a two-part conversation.

    Topics Covered:
    • The ABC model and how thoughts drive emotions and behavior
    • How to reframe negative thinking into practical, productive responses
    • What cognitive dissonance reveals about self-awareness and behavior
    • Why leaders struggle to accurately assess their own communication style
    • The role of emotional intelligence in handling feedback and conflict
    • How reactive behavior signals low leadership maturity
    • Techniques for de-escalating conflict through tone, pacing, and questions
    • Why asking questions helps shift emotional conversations to logical thinking
    • The importance of face-to-face communication for trust and accountability
    • How to create accountability without formal authority
    • Why starting with trust accelerates relationships and team performance
    • The difference between communication and true conversation
    • Practical ways to close the loop and ensure clarity in communication
    • How journaling and self-observation improve leadership effectiveness
    Links:
    M.J.’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjclark22/
    M.J.’s book, “Leading Through Listening” - https://amzn.to/4ugN22q
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    39 mins
  • The Power of Listening: A Conversation with M.J. Clark (Part One)

    The Power of Listening: A Conversation with M.J. Clark (Part One)
    May 6 2026
    In this episode, Clint talks with M.J. Clark – Vice President at Integrated Leadership Systems and author of “Leading Through Listening” – about why listening is one of the most overlooked yet powerful leadership skills, and how it directly impacts trust, communication, and team performance.

    Drawing from her experience as a leadership consultant and executive coach, M.J. shares how many leaders unintentionally undermine their teams by talking too much, steering conversations, or failing to create an environment where people feel heard. She explains what “quiet leadership” looks like in practice, how to use questions instead of answers to empower teams, and why psychological safety starts with how leaders listen.

    Through personal stories and real-world examples, M.J. highlights how better listening leads to stronger collaboration, more innovative thinking, and deeper respect across teams.This is the first part of a two-part conversation.

    Topics Covered:
    • The difference between talking to lead and listening to lead
    • How “quiet leadership” empowers teams to find their own answers
    • Why leaders who dominate conversations limit team performance
    • The role of psychological safety in open communication
    • How to recognize when a team doesn’t feel heard
    • The concept of conversational turn-taking and why it matters
    • How leaders can draw out quieter voices in meetings
    • The impact of listening on trust, respect, and team dynamics
    • Common communication habits that unintentionally shut people down
    • The connection between listening and better decision-making
    • Why diverse perspectives strengthen team outcomes
    • How self-awareness shapes effective communication
    Links:
    M.J.’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjclark22/
    M.J.’s book, “Leading Through Listening” - https://amzn.to/4ugN22q
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
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