Leadership Unfiltered Convo

Episode 29 - Finger Pointing: The Blame Game That’s Killing Your Culture

When things go wrong, weak leaders point fingers. Strong leaders take responsibility.
In this episode, we get real about the toxic habit of finger pointing in leadership—and how it slowly destroys trust, morale, and accountability across teams and organizations.
We unpack:✅ Why finger pointing feels easy—but always costs more in the long run✅ How blame creates fear while ownership builds confidence and creativity✅ The difference between accountability and scapegoating✅ How to shift your culture from “Who’s at fault?” to “What can we learn?”
If your team is caught in a cycle of blame—or if you’ve ever worked for a leader who never owns their part—this episode will hit home.
🎥 Watch Episode 29 now → [Insert YouTube Link]📲 Subscribe to @LeadershipUnfilteredPodcast👍 Like the episode, 💬 share how you’ve seen finger pointing affect a team, and 🔁 tag a leader who models accountability over blame📝 Leave a review—your insight helps more leaders grow through these real, unfiltered conversations
👉 Listen to Episode 24 now → Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HLRv5D...iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/280780403Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3671388Boomplay: https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcast...Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/le...
Great leaders don’t point fingers—they build mirrors.
#LeadershipUnfiltered #Accountability #OwnershipCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipPodcast

Episode 28 - Navigating Transitions: How Leaders Evolve, Adapt, and Thrive Through Change

Every leader faces transitions—new roles, shifting teams, changing priorities, or even personal reinvention. But the truth is, most leaders don’t struggle because of change itself… they struggle because they don’t know how to transition through it effectively.
In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to lead yourself and others through seasons of transition—with clarity, courage, and composure.
We explore:✅ Why transitions test a leader’s identity and confidence✅ The difference between managing change and leading through transition✅ Practical tools to stay grounded when everything around you is shifting✅ How to help your team navigate uncertainty while you’re still figuring things out yourself
If you’re stepping into something new—or stepping away from what’s familiar—this conversation will help you move forward with intention and strength.
🎥 Watch Episode 28 now →    • Episode 28: Navigating Transitions – How L...  📲 Subscribe to @LeadershipUnfilteredPodcast👍 Like the episode, 💬 share what transition you’re navigating right now, and 🔁 tag a leader who’s walking through change with courage📝 Leave a review—your feedback helps more leaders grow through what they go through
👉 Listen to Episode 24 now → Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HLRv5D...iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/280780403Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3671388Boomplay: https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcast...Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/le...
Great leaders don’t just survive transitions—they’re shaped by them.

Episode 27 - The High Cost of Perfection as a Leader

Perfection sounds like a strength—until it starts holding you, your team, and your culture back.
In this episode, we take an unfiltered look at the hidden price leaders pay when perfection becomes the goal instead of progress. Because behind every “perfect” standard is often fear—fear of failure, judgment, or losing control.
We unpack:✅ How perfectionism kills innovation and trust within teams✅ The ways perfection-driven leaders unknowingly create anxiety and stagnation✅ Why “excellent” leadership and “perfect” leadership are not the same thing✅ How to shift from perfection to progress—and still maintain high standards
If you’ve ever struggled to let go, micromanaged out of fear, or felt like “good enough” wasn’t good enough—this episode is for you.
🎥 Watch Episode 27 now →    • Episode 27: The High Cost of Perfection as...  📲 Subscribe to @LeadershipUnfilteredPodcast👍 Like the episode, 💬 share how perfection has shown up in your leadership, and 🔁 tag a leader who’s learning to lead with progress over pressure📝 Leave us a review—your feedback helps others find these real, unfiltered conversations
👉 Listen to Episode 24 now → Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HLRv5D...iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/280780403Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3671388Boomplay: https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcast...Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/le...
Perfection looks impressive. Progress creates impact.

Episode 26 - Driven by Ambition: When Drive Becomes Your Differentiator

Ambition is the fuel that propels leaders forward. But let’s be clear—ambition can be a double-edged sword. It can inspire growth, innovation, and resilience… or it can lead to burnout, blind spots, and broken relationships.
In this episode, we unpack the raw truth about ambition in leadership: how to harness it, balance it, and ensure it lifts you—and those you lead—instead of draining you.
We explore:✅ Why ambition is both a gift and a test for leaders✅ How to balance personal drive with organizational purpose✅ The risks of unchecked ambition—and how to avoid them✅ Practical ways to channel ambition into sustainable success
If you’ve ever been called “driven” or wondered whether your ambition is helping or hurting your leadership, this conversation is for you.
🎥 Watch Episode 26 now →    • Episode 26: Driven by Ambition – When Driv...  📲 Subscribe to @LeadershipUnfilteredPodcast👍 Like the episode, 💬 share how ambition has shaped your leadership journey, and 🔁 tag someone who inspires you with their drive📝 Leave us a review—your feedback helps grow this movement
👉 Listen to Episode 24 now → Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HLRv5D...iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/280780403Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3671388Boomplay: https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcast...Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/le...
Ambition alone doesn’t make you a leader. But how you channel it can define your legacy.

Episode 25 - Handling Accusations & Harassment at Work: Leading with Transparency and Truth

Few things test a leader’s character more than how they respond to accusations—whether those accusations are directed at them or happening around them in the workplace.
In this episode, Phillip Smith and I have a raw and honest conversation about one of the hardest realities of leadership: navigating accusations and harassment in the workplace.
We unpack:✅ What leaders should do immediately when faced with an accusation—whether personal or within the team✅ How transparency and truth protect credibility during high-pressure situations✅ Why silence, avoidance, or defensiveness only deepens mistrust✅ Practical steps to handle these issues with integrity, empathy, and fairness
This isn’t about theory—it’s about equipping leaders to act decisively and responsibly in moments that could define their legacy.
🎥 Watch Episode 25 now →    • Episode 25: Handling Accusations & Harassm...  📲 Subscribe to @LeadershipUnfilteredPodcast👍 Like the episode, 💬 share what you believe is the most important quality in a leader under fire, and 🔁 tag someone who needs this conversation📝 Leave a review—your feedback fuels the mission
👉 Listen to Episode 24 now → Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HLRv5D...iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/280780403Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3671388Boomplay: https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcast...Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/le...
Leadership under fire isn’t about perfection—it’s about courage, clarity, and character.

Episode 24 - Toxic Bosses: Surviving and Thriving Under Poor Leadership

We’ve all seen it—or lived it: the boss who drains energy, stifles growth, and creates a toxic environment. The truth is, toxic bosses don’t just hurt individuals… they poison teams and stall organizations.
In this episode, we get real about:✅ The red flags of toxic leadership—and why people often miss them✅ How toxic bosses damage culture, performance, and well-being✅ Practical strategies to protect yourself and your team if you’re stuck under one✅ Lessons on how not to lead if you’re committed to building trust and impact
This one’s raw, unfiltered, and packed with strategies to help you rise above toxicity and keep leading strong—even in the toughest environments.
🎥 Watch Episode 24 now →    • Episode 24: Toxic Bosses – Surviving and T...  📲 Subscribe to @LeadershipUnfilteredPodcast👍 Like the episode, 💬 share your story about working under (or overcoming) toxic leadership, and 🔁 tag someone who needs to hear this message📝 Leave a review—your feedback helps amplify this movement
👉 Listen to Episode 24 now → Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HLRv5D...iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/280780403Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3671388Boomplay: https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcast...Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/le...
Toxic bosses break trust. Great leaders build it.

Episode 23 - Relationships Over Transactions: Networking as a Leader

Let’s be real—networking often gets a bad rap. Too many people treat it like a numbers game. But the best leaders know networking isn’t about collecting contacts—it’s about building meaningful relationships that create opportunities, ideas, and growth.
In this episode, we break down what networking really looks like when done with authenticity and purpose.
We explore:✅ The mindset shift from “What can I get?” to “What can I give?”✅ Why strong leaders build networks that outlast titles and roles✅ How to grow influence by adding value first✅ Practical strategies for building authentic connections that actually last
If you’ve ever dreaded networking—or felt like you’re doing it wrong—this episode will give you a new perspective and the tools to do it better.
🎥 Watch Episode 23 now →    • Episode 23: Relationships Over Transaction...  📲 Subscribe to @LeadershipUnfilteredPodcast👍 Like the episode, 💬 share your best networking win, and 🔁 tag someone in your circle you’re grateful to know📝 Leave a review—your voice helps grow our leadership community
👉 Listen to Episode 22 now → Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HLRv5D...iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/280780403Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3671388Boomplay: https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcast...Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/le...
Networking isn’t about handing out business cards—it’s about building trust, one conversation at a time.

Episode 22 - The Power of Influence: Leading Minds, Moving People, Shaping Culture

Influence is the currency of leadership. Titles may give you authority, but it’s influence that earns trust, sparks change, and drives lasting results.
In this episode, we dig into what it really means to lead with influence instead of control. Because the truth is—leaders who master influence don’t just get compliance… they inspire commitment.
We explore:✅ The difference between influence and authority (and why it matters)✅ How leaders earn influence through credibility, consistency, and connection✅ Practical strategies to expand your influence at any level of leadership✅ Why influence, not power, is the ultimate leadership advantage
If you want to lead people who believe in you, not just follow your instructions, this episode is for you.
🎥 Watch Episode 22 now →    • Episode 22: The Power of Influence – Leadi...  📲 Subscribe to @LeadershipUnfilteredPodcast👍 Like the episode, 💬 share how a great leader influenced you, and 🔁 tag someone who leads with impact📝 Leave a review—your voice helps amplify ours
👉 Listen to Episode 22 now → Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HLRv5D...iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/280780403Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3671388Boomplay: https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcast...Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/le...
Authority can move people’s hands. Influence moves their hearts and minds.
You can find more information about our hosts at:Dr. Dayan Dousewww.linkedin.com/in/dayandousephdwww.drdayandouse.com
Phillip Smith www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-smith-39941b2www.phillipsmith.com

Episode 21 - (Part 2) Leading with Clarity, Calm, and Care

In Episode 20, we laid the foundation—exploring why mindful leadership and mental well-being are essential in today’s high-pressure world.
Now in Part 2, we’re going deeper—into the how.
We unpack practical strategies leaders can use to integrate mindfulness into daily leadership so they can protect their own mental well-being and create healthier, more resilient teams.
We explore:✅ Daily practices that keep leaders grounded and present✅ How to create space for clarity when the pressure is high✅ Ways to model mental well-being so your team feels permission to prioritize it too✅ Why resilience is less about toughness and more about recovery
This isn’t theory—it’s leadership in practice, giving you tools you can use right now.
🎥 Watch Episode 21 now →    • Episode 21: (Part 2) Leading with Clarity,...  📲 Subscribe to @LeadershipUnfilteredPodcast👍 Like the episode, 💬 share one mindfulness or well-being habit that works for you, and 🔁 tag a leader who needs this conversation📝 Leave a review—your voice helps fuel our leadership community
Strong leaders don’t just manage results—they model resilience.

Episode 20 - Leading with Clarity, Calm, and Care

n the fast-paced world of leadership, the pressure to deliver can be relentless. But here’s the truth: you can’t lead at your best if you’re running on empty.
In this episode, we explore the intersection of mindful leadership and mental well-being—and why the best leaders prioritize both for themselves and their teams.
We discuss:✅ How mindfulness strengthens decision-making, focus, and empathy✅ Practical ways leaders can protect their mental well-being in high-pressure environments✅ The ripple effect of a leader’s mental health on team performance and culture✅ How to normalize well-being practices in leadership without losing credibility
If you want to lead with more clarity, presence, and resilience—this conversation will give you the tools and permission to do just that.
🎥 Watch Episode 20 now →    • Leading with Clarity, Calm, and Care  📲 Subscribe to @LeadershipUnfilteredPodcast👍 Like the episode, 💬 share your favorite mental well-being practice, and 🔁 tag a leader who models mindfulness📝 Leave a review—your feedback keeps our leadership community thriving