Episodes

  • Vulnerability and competence: Lessons for effectiveness

    Vulnerability and competence: Lessons for effectiveness
    Jan 27 2026
    In this episode, you will learn how vulnerability strengthens leadership effectiveness. Rather than treating vulnerability as oversharing or weakness, this lesson clarifies it as a leadership competency grounded in judgment, boundaries, and self-awareness. We translate vulnerability into observable behaviors leaders can practice immediately, outlining what it can look like in day-to-day leadership. You will leave with concrete behaviors you can apply immediately, along with strategies for managing the emotional cost of leading openly without burning out. Download the one-page resource: Leading with Vulnerability without Burning Out Key takeaways Vulnerability is a leadership competency that requires choice and intention Withholding vulnerability increases silence, self-protection, and disengagement on teams Leaders can show vulnerability by owning mistakes, admitting limits, and sharing context Thoughtful vulnerability strengthens credibility rather than undermining competence Boundaries, judgment, and timing are essential to practicing vulnerability well Leaders can demonstrate humanity without emotional dumping or loss of authority Vulnerability carries a cost and requires attention to energy and burnout Debriefing, decompression, and reflection help leaders sustain vulnerable leadership Timestamps [0:00:00] - Introduction: Vulnerability as Daily Leadership Practice [0:01:30] - Vulnerability Cultivates Team Trust & Collaboration [0:02:35] - Review of Previous Episodes & Need for Observable Behaviors [0:03:30] - Listing Human Characteristics Leaders Face [0:05:00] - Examples: Owning Emotions and Managing Illness [0:06:40] - Tenderness Toward Teams During Difficult Times [0:08:00] - Concrete Ways to Model Vulnerability (Mistakes, Ignorance) [0:09:30] - Accepting Feedback and Building Diverse Teams [0:11:52] - Managing Costs: Debriefing, Decompression, Reflection [0:14:56] - Final Takeaways & Next Topic Preview (Empathy) Keywords vulnerability and leadership leadership effectiveness leadership competence psychological safety trust at work human leadership leadership behaviors self-aware leadership workplace culture emotional intelligence
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    17 mins
  • Vulnerability Is a Leadership Choice

    Vulnerability Is a Leadership Choice
    Jan 20 2026
    In this episode, Kate Johnson and Peggy Mark explore vulnerability as an intentional leadership choice rather than a personality trait. Listeners will learn how openness, self-awareness, and authenticity create trust, strengthen human connection, and support healthier workplace cultures. Through personal stories and practical reflection, the conversation reframes vulnerability as bravery and a critical skill for leaders who want to lead well. Key takeaways: Why vulnerability is a conscious leadership decision How openness builds trust and credibility The role of self-awareness in effective leadership Why vulnerability is not the same as weakness How admitting mistakes strengthens leadership presence The impact of authenticity on workplace culture Navigating conflict without losing compassion Balancing strength and softness as a leader How vulnerability supports learning and growth What brave leadership looks like in practice Timestamps: [0:00:05] Introduction to Podcast & Guest [0:01:16] Defining Vulnerability in Leadership [0:03:12] Self-Awareness and Leadership Starting Point [0:05:44] Peggy’s Personal Journey to Vulnerability [0:09:41] Affirmation of Positive Leadership Impact [0:09:53] Story: Vulnerability During Emotional Crisis [0:12:07] Creating Safe Spaces & Two-Way Vulnerability [0:20:18] Balancing Vulnerability vs. Over-Sharing [0:29:06] Fear, Boundaries, and Unpredictable Outcomes [0:35:21] Leadership Success Story from Emergency Department Keywords: vulnerability in leadership, leadership authenticity, leadership trust, human-centered leadership, self-awareness at work, brave leadership, workplace culture, psychological safety, leadership growth, effective leadership
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    42 mins
  • Vulnerability Builds Trust at Work

    Vulnerability Builds Trust at Work
    Jan 13 2026
    In this episode, leaders will learn why vulnerability is not a weakness but a critical leadership skill. The conversation explores how openness, honesty, and the willingness to share both successes and failures directly influence trust, psychological safety, and team performance. Listeners will gain practical insight into how vulnerable leadership improves communication, strengthens relationships, and creates environments where people feel safe to contribute fully. Special thanks to Kim Rohrer for sharing her time and insights this week. Kim is a storyteller and connector who has dedicated her career to creating values-driven corporate cultures and innovative approaches to HR. Founder of Patchwork Portfolio, she blends her expertise and creativity to help leaders communicate with employees, customers, and communities. She shares her insights and experiences at icaretoomuch.substack.com You can connect with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimrohrer/ And explore her business website here: https://www.patchworkportfolio.com/ Key Takeaways:• Why leaders often resist vulnerability and how that resistance affects teams• Why employees are more engaged when leaders are open and honest• What Gallup research reveals about engagement and communication• How vulnerability supports innovation and creativity• The role of vulnerability in authentic leadership Timestamps: [0:00:03] - Podcast Introduction & Theme Overview [0:00:50] - Explanation of 'Other Voices' Segment [0:01:46] - Gallup Research on Leadership & Vulnerability [0:02:20] - Importance of Humanity in Leadership [0:03:26] - Kim Rohr’s Introduction [0:04:00] - Reluctance of Leaders to Show Vulnerability [0:05:20] - Impact of Hiding Failures/Challenges at Work [0:06:41] - Summary of Kim’s Perspective: Vulnerability’s Role in Team Dynamics [0:06:48] - Four Inspirational Quotes on Vulnerability [0:09:01] - Podcast Closing and Next Episode Preview Keywords: vulnerability in leadership, leadership trust, psychological safety, employee engagement, authentic leadership, workplace trust, leadership communication, Gallup research, innovation at work, human-centered leadership
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    10 mins
  • It’s Nice to Know You’re Human

    It’s Nice to Know You’re Human
    Jan 6 2026
    This episode explains why vulnerability is a foundational leadership skill and how leading well begins with self-leadership, self-awareness, and the courage to be human. You’ll learn what vulnerability actually means in a leadership context, why it strengthens trust rather than weakening authority, and how leaders can practice vulnerability in practical, appropriate ways that support their teams and work. Key takeaways Why leadership does not require perfection How vulnerability builds trust and credibility at work The difference between vulnerability and oversharing in leadership Why self-leadership and self-awareness come first How owning mistakes strengthens leadership effectiveness Timestamps 0:00:00 Leadership Paradox: Humanity vs. Perfection 0:01:05 Essential Leadership Mindsets Introduced 0:02:14 Self-Leadership and Vulnerability Defined 0:03:50 Story: Leadership Mistake and Vulnerability 0:07:08 Examples: Vulnerability in Practice 0:08:52 Vulnerability Enables Caring Leadership 0:09:35 Navy SEAL Story: Trust Through Vulnerability 0:11:20 Vulnerability as Bravery, Not Weakness 0:12:38 Closing: Podcast Support and Future Topics Keywords vulnerability in leadership human-centered leadership self-leadership leadership trust leadership mistakes emotional intelligence at work caring leadership leadership authenticity leadership development workplace trust
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    14 mins
  • End-of-year update from the comfy chairs

    End-of-year update from the comfy chairs
    Dec 30 2025
    Looking ahead: The comfy chairs becomes The Well-Led Podcast In this final episode of the year, Kate returns with a clear, simple update about the show’s evolution. On January 6th, the comfy chairs will officially relaunch as The Well-Led Podcast, beginning a year-long journey focused on the four essential domains of leadership: Demonstrating Care, Providing Support, Leading with Grace, and Staying Focused on Action. Kate revisits what’s changing, what remains steady, and why this new structure matters. Listeners will hear about the monthly theme model, the “Notes on Leading Well” format, and the practical tools that will anchor each week. She also previews January’s theme—vulnerability—and how it sets the tone for leading well in the months ahead. This episode closes the chapter on one season of the podcast and gently opens the door to what’s next. It’s a moment of gratitude, clarity, and optimism for leaders who want to step into the new year with intention.
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    5 mins
  • Culture Keepers

    Culture Keepers
    Dec 23 2025
    Culture Keepers: A conversation about managing versus leading. In this conversation, Kate sits down with Layci Nelson, founder of the Transcend Leadership Collective, to explore a deceptively simple question with big implications: What’s the real difference between managing and leading? Together, they unpack why effective leadership isn’t about choosing one or the other—it’s about integrating both. Layci emphasizes that leaders need fluency in two domains: the operational competence that keeps work moving and the visionary clarity that keeps people aligned and inspired. They dig into the value of understanding project management basics, paying attention to the details that shape team experience, and staying close enough to the work to remove friction meaningfully. Layci also shares a compelling story of a CEO who transformed his leadership approach by reconnecting with his employees—ultimately improving alignment, engagement, and satisfaction across the organization. The conversation also returns to core values: how they anchor decision-making, guide behavior, and keep leaders steady when things speed up, slow down, or veer unexpectedly. Connect with Layci on LinkedIn Learn more about her business Listen to the Confessions of a Terrible Leader podcast www.one23ltd.com https://www.instagram.com/one23ltd/ Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Revisit & enjoy: Early and well-structured

    Revisit & enjoy: Early and well-structured
    Dec 16 2025
    Revisit & enjoy: Early, direct, and well-structured conversations As we near the end of the year, we’re resurfacing one of the most practical and personal conversations we’ve shared on the comfy chairs. In this rerun, Kate sits down with her dad, Charlie—a leader with decades of experience in higher education, the military, and church governance—to talk about why early, direct, and kind confrontation is one of the most underrated leadership skills. This episode explores: Why confrontation isn’t the same as conflict—and why waiting almost always makes things worse How leaders can prevent conflict by addressing issues early and with clarity The role of feedback, decision-making, and lifelong learning in building healthy teams Why love—phileo, connection, shared purpose—is at the heart of great leadership If you’re avoiding a hard conversation (or carrying one into the new year), this episode is a steady reminder that clarity and kindness aren’t opposites—they’re partners. Additional resources mentioned during our conversation: The Fearless Organization, by Amy Edmondson The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni The Sum of All Fears, by Tom Clancy www.one23ltd.com https://www.instagram.com/one23ltd/ Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Revisit & enjoy: Big Idea Words

    Revisit & enjoy: Big Idea Words
    Dec 9 2025
    Revisit & enjoy: Making sense of leadership, management, and the feedback we’d rather avoid As we wind down the year, we’re resurfacing one of the most downloaded comfyHQ episodes—a listener favorite about three things leaders wrestle with all the time: feedback, the leadership/management divide, and the workplace words we toss around without checking for shared meaning. In this rerun, we explore: How to respond to feedback you don’t agree with (and why “thank you” is still the best first move) Why separating “leadership” from “management” can limit our growth, and what changes when we see them as two sides of the same role Six Big Idea words—mission, vision, culture, and more—that shape how we work, but often mean different things to different people If you’re navigating end-of-year reviews or gearing up for planning season, this episode offers a practical reset: clearer language, steadier leadership, and a healthier way to think about feedback. Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay
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    15 mins