Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast
Most leaders know goal setting matters, but most are doing it wrong.
I’ll break down the common mistakes leaders make when setting goals and how they unknowingly sabotage performance, trust, and motivation on their teams. I’ll show you how to distinguish between performance and learning goals, why your team needs both (but not at the same time), and how to clarify the purpose behind every metric. Because metrics aren’t meaning, but the right goals, set the right way, can turn a group of individuals into a high-performing team.
00:00 Goals Are Important, But Are You Using Them Right
00:45 Meet Dr. David Burkus
01:05 What Leaders Get Wrong About Goal Setting
01:15 Mistake #1 Setting Too Many Goals
01:46 Mistake #2 Confusing Stretch with Stress
02:19 Mistake #3 Mixing Up Learning and Performance Goals
03:09 How To Set Goals That Work
03:20 Solution #1 Choose a Focus
04:05 Solution #2 Set Goals that Clarify Purpose
05:13 Solution #3 Co-create and Take Feedback
06:22 Solution #4 Watch for Signs of Goal Fatigue
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast
Ever sit through a meeting where someone says, “Let’s circle back and align our KPIs”—and everyone just nods, while you're silently wondering what on earth that even means? Yeah. Corporate jargon is everywhere. And while some of it can help teams move faster, too often it just muddies the waters and slows everyone down.
We’re breaking down the real impact of workplace jargon, when it helps, when it hurts, and how it might be damaging your leadership credibility more than you think. Clarity isn’t just a communication tactic. It’s a leadership strategy. It builds trust. And trust fuels performance. When people understand each other clearly, they move faster, work smarter, and build something meaningful together.
Chapters:
00:00 Jargon...you know it when you hear it.
00:32 Meet Dr. David Burkus
00:55 “Let’s Holistically Evaluate the Pain Points Driving Our Misalignment”
03:10 Know Your Audience
04:53 Default to Clarity
06:18 Challenge Fake Complexity
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast
In today’s hybrid world, where the lines between work and life are blurrier than ever, leaders can’t afford to ignore how emotions shape performance for themselves and the people they manage. If you want a team that stays engaged, communicates well, and actually enjoys working together, you need to sharpen your emotional intelligence. This is a concept that's been around for decades, and yet, leaders still misunderstand it.
In this episode, I break down what emotional intelligence really means (hint: it’s not about group hugs), and walk through the four key competencies every manager needs to master: self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management. No fluff, just real-world, actionable insights to help you lead better, especially when tensions run high. Whether you’re leading in-person, remote, or somewhere in between, this video is your playbook for becoming the kind of leader your team actually wants to follow.
00:00 Emotional Intelligence is still misunderstood
01:01 Meet Dr. David Burkus
01:20 What Emotional Intelligence Is Not
03:03 Self-Awareness
04:43 Self-Regulation
05:47 Social Awareness
06:58 Relationship Management
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast
Every team needs A-Players. But spotting and supporting your high performers isn’t just nice to do, it’s essential leadership.
In this episode, I’ll show you how to find the real A-Players on your team (hint: they’re not always the loudest in the room), and more importantly, how to lead them so they stay motivated, energized, and on your team. Because if you don’t know how to manage A-Players, someone else will, and they’ll gladly recruit yours. This isn’t about micromanaging or piling on more work. It’s about creating clarity, challenge, and support.
Chapters:
00:00 The A-Players
00:44 Meet Dr. David Burkus
01:11 How to Actually Spot Your High Performers
04:07 How to Support Them and Keep Them from Leaving
04:25 Don't just pile on more work.
05:19 Do set clear, ambitious expectations.
06:09 Don’t micromanage.
06:54 Do help them find meaning.
07:30 Don't try to keep them to yourself.
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus
There's a stack of leadership books I continue to draw from all the time that not only shape how I think, but some that have really changed my mind in the past. They've influenced me in numerous way including when I wrote my book, "Best Team Ever."
Chapters:
00:32 The Opposable Mind by Roger Martin
01:33 The Culture Map by Erin Meyer
02:29 The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
03:34 What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
04:17 Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal
05:18 The No Asshole Rule by Robert Stutton
06:11 Radical Candor by Kim Scott
07:11 Good to Great by Jim Collins
08:19 Creativity Inc. by. Ed Catmull
09:18 The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle
10:13 Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute
11:03 The Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
12:24 Switch by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
13:23 Best Team Ever by David Burkus
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
You’ve just been asked to lead a team…but it’s not really your team. It’s a mix of folks from different departments. Marketing. Sales. Legal. Each bringing their own priorities, habits, and maybe even a hidden agenda or two...Welcome to the world of cross-functional teams.
They’re supposed to help organizations move faster and collaborate better. But the reality? Most are dysfunctional. In this video, I’ll break down why that happens, and more importantly, what you can do about it. I’ll walk you through how to align goals, create clarity around roles, and build the kind of communication norms that keep things moving and keep people from defaulting back to their silos.
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to a Cross-Functional Team!
00:42 Meet Dr. David Burkus
01:05 What’s the Real Problem Here?
02:41 Clarify Goals and Roles
03:44 Set Communication Norms
04:27 The Key Questions to Ask
05:10 Build Common Understanding and Practice Empathy
06:20 Build Psychological Safety
08:37 Set Checkpoints and Celebrate Wins
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast
Can you keep your work friends now that you're the new boss? Now that you’re leading the same people you used to grab happy hour with…it's awkward, right? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. That shift from friend to boss can get messy if you’re not careful. I'll help you break down what actually changes when your work buddies become your direct reports and how to handle it without tanking your credibility or your friendships.
Chapters:
00:00 Can you be the boss and a friend at the same time?
01:02 Meet Dr. David Burkus
01:24 Don’t Be That Friend, or That Boss...
02:15 Address the New Identity Directly and Soon
03:14 Accept Your New Role, and Act Like It
04:55 Be Consistent to Avoid Favoritism
06:07 Re-evaluate Your Social Media Habits
//ABOUT DAVIDOne of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTERWant to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
//SPEAKINGLike what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus + Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast
You poured time, energy, and passion into your new initiative…only to find it quietly fizzling out weeks later. Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
The truth is, getting your team excited about a new process is easy—getting that change to stick is the hard part. In this video, I break down why so many great ideas fail to take root and what the research says actually makes them stick (and not stick). We’ll dive into the “improvement paradox,” explore why initiative fatigue and the, "Curse of Knowledge," sabotage your best efforts, and learn how to design your change message for real impact on your team.
Want your change initiatives to succeed? It starts here.
00:00 You're message isn't landing...feel familiar?
00:49 Meet Dr. David Burkus
01:10 Why Things Don’t Stick
03:47 Sometimes Our Ideas Cloud Our Vision
06:24 Find the Core and Make it Compact
07:02 Explain in Human Actions and Sensory Information
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast
Leading a multicultural or global team isn’t just about managing projects—it’s about managing people who see the world differently.
Most leadership advice is built on Western ideals like autonomy and egalitarianism, but most of the world’s workforce comes from more collectivist, hierarchical cultures. This is where cultural intelligence can really be a game changer for managers.
I’ll break down what cultural intelligence (CQ) really means, why psychological safety looks different across cultures, and how to lead global teams more effectively. You’ll learn practical tips to build trust, reduce friction, and adapt your leadership style so every team member feels valued. Whether you’re managing a remote team, a hybrid team, or an international workforce, these strategies will help you unlock collaboration and drive high performance.
00:00 Teams spread out across the world need to work well.
01:08 Meet Dr. David Burkus
01:30 What is Cultural Intelligence?
02:03 David Livermore's Work on Cultural Intelligence
03:14 What Do People Get Wrong About Managing Across Cultures?
08:27 How Do I Break Through the Cultural Barriers?
09:57 The SPLIT Method
10:10 Tsedal Neeley's SPLIT Method
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast
This isn’t just another tech rollout. It’s a mindset shift.
I’ll show you how to move beyond seeing AI as a threat or just a productivity tool, and instead see it for what it really is: a teammate. From simplifying the mundane to enhancing your strategic decisions, the right mindset unlocks AI’s real value for your team. Whether you’re leading a small group or scaling across an enterprise, this shift is essential. Let’s get you and your team ready to work smarter, together with AI.
00:00 The Wrong AI Questions
02:02 Move From Slower to Simpler
04:08 Use this prompt to get started.
04:38 Move From Simpler to Smarter
05:27 My favorite work prompt to use.
07:08 Build Smarter Team Habits
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast
Don't let silence speak for you.
When a crisis hits, the instinct for most leaders is to project strength—to act like they’ve got it all figured out. But the truth is, certainty can cost you during a crisis. In this video, I unpack why adaptability is a far more powerful asset than rigid confidence. And I make the case for something that might surprise you: vulnerability. Not oversharing. Not self-doubt. But honest, intentional transparency. When leaders admit what they don’t know, and commit to learning out loud, it builds more trust, not less. Your team doesn’t need a hero. They need a leader they can follow through uncertainty.
00:00 Don't be fooled by the leadership cliches
01:21 I'm Dr. David Burkus
01:43 Embrace the Discomfort of Not Knowing
02:48 Rehearse for Change
04:30 Communicate Transparently and Promptly
06:12 Follow This Outline
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast
We need to talk about the B players on your team.
No, not the rockstar A players. I'm breaking down why B players matter more than you think, and how to lead them well. We’ll cover why not everyone wants to climb the corporate ladder, how to keep these essential team members engaged, and how to avoid the Peter Principle trap (a org-psych classic) that’s plagued promotions for decades.
00:00 The B Players
00:48 Meet Dr. David Burkus
01:09 The Difference Between A Players and B Players
02:49 The Peter Principle
04:53 The Different Types of B Players
07:08 B Players Often Need Permission
08:19 Have a Clear Path for the B Players
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/youtube
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
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So…you don’t trust your boss anymore. Maybe it’s the broken promises. Maybe it’s the constant micromanaging. Maybe it’s just the feeling you’re on different teams, even though you’re technically supposed to be on the same one. Whatever the reason—if trust is broken, your work, your well-being, your career is going to suffer.
In this video, I break down how to deal with bad bosses—and more importantly, how to manage up. Whether you’re dealing with a micromanager, a ghost who’s never around, or a volatile boss, I’ve got tactics to help you navigate the chaos and still do your best work ever.
00:00 So, you've had it.
00:34 Meet Dr. David Burkus
00:55 The Kind of Boss You’re Probably Dealing With
01:47 Have The Conversation You’re Avoiding
02:31 Try these key phrases in your next conversation
03:33 Different Methods for Different Bad Bosses
06:56 Build Relationships and Trust Laterally
08:52 When To Walk Away
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//NEWSLETTER
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//SPEAKING
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//CONNECT
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Someone on your team let you down—and now trust is broken. What happens next is critical.
In this video, I’ll walk you through how to respond when trust is violated at work, without turning a misstep into a meltdown. Whether it was a dropped deadline, a half-truth, or just too little transparency, not every betrayal is the same…and not every one deserves the same response. I’ll show you how to diagnose the damage—competency, integrity, or psychological safety—and choose a path forward that restores the trust loop or resets the rules. This is the tough but necessary work of leadership. Because while trust doesn’t break in a single moment, it does rebuild one decision at a time.
00:00 The trust has been broken...now what?
01:05 Meet David Burkus
01:21 Acknowledge the Emotion
02:02 Clarify the Violation
03:35 Decide If You’re Open to Repair
04:22 Communicate Boundaries and Expectations
05:26 Watch the Behavior, Not the Words
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
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If you're stepping into a new leadership role and wondering, "How do I build trust with a team I just inherited?"—you’re not alone. Most leaders know trust is essential, but few know how to truly create it with a team they didn’t choose themselves.
In this video, I break down exactly what new managers and leaders need to do to build sustainable trust with an inherited team. It’s not about cramming your calendar with one-on-ones or awkward team-building exercises. Trust isn’t just given—or even earned. Trust is reciprocated.
00:00 Do these people trust me?
00:56 Meet Dr. David Burkus
01:12 What Is The Trust Loop?
02:03 Signal Vulnerability
02:51 Share Privileged Intel
03:51 Prepare for the leaps and embrace them.
05:07 Practice Active Listening
06:06 Share Credit
06:17 Treat Disagreements as Collaboration
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
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Most leaders think a simple “I’m sorry” is enough to repair broken trust. But you know that's not really enough. Real trust isn’t rebuilt with words—it’s rebuilt with actions. In this video, I break down the strategy behind how leaders can truly restore trust after a misstep. Because when trust is broken, you don’t just reset the relationship—you break the trust loop that connects you to your team. And if you want to fix that loop, it starts with full accountability.
If you’ve ever said, “That wasn’t my intention,” or “I didn’t mean it that way,” this video is for you. Because intention doesn’t rebuild trust—action does.
Chapters:
00:00 You messed up, didn't you?
01:05 Meet Dr. David Burkus
01:26 Own the mistake fully/Apology Structure
02:43 Apologize and mean it. Your team will sense an empty gesture.
03:27 Allow open monitoring of your actions.
05:12 Follow through on your commitments.
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
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Most leaders know trust matters. But when it comes to actually building it on a team, too many well-intentioned leaders fall into the trap of personality tests, trust falls (yikes), and awkward icebreakers. Here's what they don't know: trust isn’t earned. It's reciprocated..
In this video, I break down the neuroscience of trust (yes, we’re talking oxytocin), how the “Trust Loop” actually works, and the three things every leader needs to do to spark trust first—vulnerability, celebration, and transparency. If you’ve ever felt like your team was holding back, not speaking up, or not quite bought in…you don’t have a communication problem. You’ve got a trust loop problem.
00:00 The truth about trust.
00:50 Meet David Burkus.
01:11 Trust begets trust.
01:20 Dr. Paul J. Zak
02:53 Trust Loop: Trust
04:37 Celebrate failures.
05:36 Share privileged intel.
06:46 Trust Loop: Leap
07:54 Make space for risks.
08:43 Trust Loop: Respect
08:48 Model active listening.
09:35 Treat conflict as collaboration.
11:00 Amplify unheard voices.
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
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Hiring for “culture fit” sounds great in theory. You want people who vibe with the team, align with the mission, and are just easy to work with. But in practice? It’s often a shortcut for hiring people who think, act, and look like the rest of the team. And that’s a problem—for innovation, for problem-solving, and for long-term success.
In this video, we’re unpacking the REAL meaning of culture fit—and why hiring for “culture contribution” is a much better approach. We’ll break down the research, show you what works (and what doesn’t), and give you actionable steps to build a high-performing, values-driven team. Spoiler: It’s less about “fit” and more about fostering shared values while embracing diverse perspectives.00:00 Intro
01:16 This is actually about values and adaptability.
03:52 Managers need to build bridges in their teams.
04:52 Prevent culture clash.
06:17 Hiring for culture fit is a long game. Be patient.
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//SPEAKINGLike what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
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Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast
Are generational clashes at work really as big of a deal as people make them out to be?
We’ve all heard the stereotypes—Millennials got participation trophies, Gen Z is lazy, Boomers are out of touch. And let’s be honest, Gen X…well, people just forget to mention Gen X. But what if I told you these so-called generational differences aren’t actually the problem? The real issue isn’t when someone was born—it’s where they are in life. Millennials are balancing careers and family, Boomers are thinking about legacy, and Gen Z is just starting out, trying to figure out where they fit. And yet, we talk about these differences like they’re unbridgeable gaps when, in reality, they’re just different life stages.
The truth is, the more we emphasize generational labels, the more we create unnecessary tension. It’s not age that divides teams—it’s the assumptions we make about each other. And as leaders, we have to stop managing based on stereotypes and start focusing on strengths.
00:00 Intro
00:49 Forget generations. It’s about life stages.
02:08 Talk to each other!
03:51 Focus on strengths instead of labels.
05:25 Make mentoring a two-way street.
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
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Work-life balance sounds great in theory—keep work over here, life over there, and somehow balance it all so that everything runs smoothly. But here’s the truth: it doesn’t work. Work and life aren’t two separate spheres. They’re intertwined. And trying to keep them perfectly separate? Research shows that just creates more stress, drains your energy, and makes managing teams even harder.
In this video, I'll show you helpful tactics for creating better flexibility in your life, that doesn't include making barriers between different parts of it. And no, I'm not asking you or your team to be available and working 24 hours a day. There's a better way, trust me. Watch and find out.
00:00 Drawing hard lines between work and life is not practical.
01:17 What does the research tell us?
03:17 Stop chasing balance. Embrace integration.
05:39 Develop transition strategies.
06:38 Change your mindset about the 9-5 workday.
//ABOUT DAVID
One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David Burkus’ forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are helping leaders and teams do their best work ever.
He is the best-selling author of four books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, USAToday, Fast Company, the Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS This Morning. Since 2017, Burkus has been ranked as one of the world’s top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. As a sought-after international speaker, his TED Talk has been viewed over 2 million times. He’s worked with leaders from organizations across all industries including Google, Stryker, Fidelity, Viacom, and even the US Naval Academy.
A former business school professor, Burkus holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University.
//SPEAKING
Like what you heard? Find more on David's speaking page (and find out about bringing him to your company or event) at https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/
//CONNECT
+ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/
+ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus
+ Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus