The Influential Leader

What happens to a business when its owner is ready to leave, or has to step away unexpectedly? Succession planning advisor Jim Erben joins Michael Diettrich-Chastain to make the case for preparing long before a sale or retirement is imminent. Jim explains why owners need to define their goals, understand the value of the company alongside their personal needs, reduce dependence on themselves, and tell senior leaders what the future could look like. They also discuss passing values to the next generation, finding a purpose after an exit, hiring people who care and can learn, and answering employees’ questions about change and AI.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 Meet Jim Erben and why succession begins with trust
• 00:06:00 Why owners should plan before a sale offer arrives
• 00:12:00 Define the owner’s goals and communicate the plan
• 00:18:00 Succession by Design and the coming wave of exits
• 00:24:00 Owner dependence, business value, and potential buyers
• 00:29:00 Passing wealth, values, and expectations to family
• 00:35:00 What will give you purpose after the business?
• 00:41:00 Hire for trust, curiosity, and care
• 00:45:00 Build culture and prepare family successors to lead
• 00:49:00 Answer employees’ questions about AI and the future

Links and Resources:

• Erben Associates Website –https://erbenassociates.com/https://erbenassociates.com/
• Succession by Design Book by Jim Erben –https://successionbydesignbook.com/https://successionbydesignbook.com/
• Succession by Design Framework –https://erbenassociates.com/our-process/succession-by-design/https://erbenassociates.com/our-process/succession-by-design/
• Good to Great by Jim Collins –https://www.jimcollins.com/books.htmlhttps://www.jimcollins.com/books.html
• King Richard Movie –https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/king-richardhttps://www.warnerbros.com/movies/king-richard
• Forrest Gump Movie –https://www.paramountmovies.com/movies/forrest-gumphttps://www.paramountmovies.com/movies/forrest-gump
• Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.com/
• Strategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-call
• Podcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcast
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastain
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastain
• Arc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integrated

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

How do you help people grow when you cannot make them change? John Eades joins Michael Diettrich-Chastain to explore the influence leaders have through mentorship, clear standards, honest feedback, and optimism grounded in reality. John shares his “double bounce” metaphor for helping others reach higher, explains why leaders need to understand their own identity, vision, and skills, and offers a practical approach to behavior change: show people why it matters, then make the first step small enough to take. They also discuss protecting focus, giving praise people can learn from, and building an impact that lasts beyond a title.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 Meet John Eades and the value of seeking mentors
• 00:05:00 The “double bounce” and a leader’s wider impact
• 00:11:00 Why your impact can outlast your title
• 00:17:00 Developing leaders through identity, vision, and skills
• 00:22:00 Optimism that faces reality
• 00:29:00 Choosing people and setting clear team standards
• 00:35:00 Why specific, honest feedback matters
• 00:41:00 ADHD, attention, and protecting your focus
• 00:47:00 How to make behavior change easier to start
• 00:52:00 John’s books, newsletters, podcasts, and closing thoughts

Links and Resources:

• John Eades Website – https://www.johneades.com/
• LearnLoft – https://learnloft.com/
• The Sales Infrastructure – https://thesalesinfrastructure.com/
• Building the Best by John Eades – https://learnloft.com/building-the-best-book/
• The Optimistic Outlook Book – https://learnloft.com/the-optimistic-outlook/
• The Leadership Lens Newsletter – https://jeades.beehiiv.com/
• The Optimistic Outlook Newsletter – https://optimisticoutlook.beehiiv.com/
• The John Eades Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-eades-podcast/id1093687579
• The Optimistic Outlook Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-optimistic-outlook-with-john-eades/id1804989860
• Accelerate Leadership Program – https://learnloft.com/accelerate-leadership/
• Catalyst for Growth Program – https://learnloft.com/catalyst-organization/
• Lead the Room Presentation Skills Program – https://learnloft.com/lead-the-room/
• Good to Great by Jim Collins – https://jimcollins.com/books.html
• First Who, Then What by Jim Collins – https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/first-who-then-what.html
• Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware – https://bronnieware.com/blog/regrets-of-the-dying/
• Dr. Myles Munroe / Munroe Global – https://www.munroeglobal.com/about-us/
• Jon Gordon – https://jongordon.com/
• The Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz – https://app.ascensionpress.com/podcasts/bible
• Hoarders – https://www.aetv.com/shows/hoarders
• Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.com/
• Strategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-call
• Podcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcast
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastain
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastain
• Arc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integrated

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

Bill Treasurer was afraid of heights even while diving from more than 100 feet. In this conversation with Michael, he explains how practicing at gradually greater heights shaped his approach to courage at work. They explore how leaders can create safety before challenging people, receive difficult feedback without becoming defensive, ask more questions than they make statements, and address conflict before avoidance becomes costly. Bill also reflects on authenticity, family, succession, and a question from his mentor that still brings him back to his own motives. The episode closes with practical lessons from six of his books and a reminder to pause before reacting.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 Courage at Work and Bridging Differences
• 00:07:00 Bill’s Fear of Heights and High Diving
• 00:14:00 What Is Your Courage For?
• 00:21:00 Psychological Safety and Receiving Feedback
• 00:28:00 Authenticity, Family, and Work Identity
• 00:35:00 How to Build Leadership Training That Works
• 00:42:00 Ask More Questions and Address Conflict Debt
• 00:49:00 Succession Planning at Giant Leap Consulting
• 00:56:00 Finding Purpose Beyond Work and Asking Why
• 01:03:00 Practical Lessons From Bill’s Six Books
• 01:10:00 The Beautiful Beat and Starting the Day Well

Links and Resources:

• Giant Leap Consulting Website – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/
• Courage Building Website – https://couragebuilding.com/
• Right Risk – https://bkconnection.com/products/9781576758854_right-risk
• Courage Goes to Work – https://bkconnection.com/products/9781523098569_courage-goes-to-work
• Leaders Open Doors – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/leaders-open-doors/
• A Leadership Kick in the Ass – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/kickass/
• The Leadership Killer – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/killer/
• Leadership Two Words at a Time – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/2words/
• Bill Treasurer’s Coaching Q Cards – https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/digital-qcards/
• Margie Warrell – https://margiewarrell.com/
• StoryBrand by Donald Miller – https://storybrand.com/ https://storybrand.com/
• Radical Candor Framework – https://www.radicalcandor.com/our-approach
• The Good Fight by Liane Davey – https://lianedavey.com/books/goodfight/
• Conflict Debt by Liane Davey – https://lianedavey.com/conflict-debt/
• The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson – https://books.google.com/books?id=galpAAAAMAAJ
• Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.com/
• Strategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-call
• Podcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcast
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastain
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastain
• Arc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integrated

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

What helps a leader bring out the best in the people they lead? In this introductory episode of The Influential Leader, Michael Diettrich-Chastain shares how his work in psychology, mental health, and organizational leadership led him to that question. He explains why he started the podcast and introduces the idea he wants to explore with future guests: that influence may begin with the questions we ask ourselves and others. Michael also considers why asking thoughtful questions could matter even more as AI makes information easier to access.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 The Question Behind The Influential Leader
• 00:01:00 Michael’s Background in Behavior Change
• 00:02:00 From Organizational Work to Clinical Therapy
• 00:03:00 Returning to Leadership and Launching Arc Integrated
• 00:04:00 Changes: The Book and Question Cards
• 00:05:00 Leadership Challenges and One Core Question
• 00:07:00 Four Reasons for Starting the Podcast
• 00:08:00 Testing the Theory: Influence Through Inquiry
• 00:09:00 Asking Better Questions in the Age of AI

Links and Resources:

• Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.com/
• Strategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-call
• Podcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcast
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastain
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastain
• Arc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integrated

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

Why does a behavior keep showing up even after coaching, training, and clear expectations? Dr. Jade Teta joins Michael Dietrich-Chastain to explore the stories and identities that may sit beneath what leaders see at work. He shares a three part approach to difficult conversations that begins with recognizing someone’s humanity, showing empathy, and asking a question that helps them speak honestly. Jade also explains why he puts connection before correction, how to care deeply while holding someone accountable, and what it means to believe in a person without taking responsibility for their choices. Later, he describes using AI to challenge his ideas and spot his own patterns. The conversation gives leaders a way to look more closely at what is driving behavior before deciding what to do next.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Dr. Jade Teta on Identity, Leadership, and Essentia
• (00:10:37) - Unconscious Patterns and the Identity Beneath Behavior
• (00:21:25) - Three Rules for Difficult Employee Conversations
• (00:31:37) - Connection Through Service and Leading Through Struggle
• (00:42:33) - Extreme Ownership and Three Responses to Suffering
• (00:52:24) - Fulfillment, Purpose, and Movement Beyond Mission Statements
• (01:03:23) - Rewrite, Rewire, Retrain: Changing Identity and Behavior
• (01:09:08) - The Morpheus Effect and Confident Detachment
• (01:17:43) - How to Use AI to Think With You, Not for You
• (01:27:59) - The Story You Live and the Story Your Team Follows

Links and Resources:

• Johari Window – https://johari-window.com/about
• Internal Family Systems (IFS) – https://ifs-institute.com/
• The Charisma Myth – https://www.charismamyth.com/
• Rewrite, Rewire, Retrain – https://www.nextlevelhuman.com/blog/identity-based-change
• Pygmalion Effect – https://dictionary.apa.org/pygmalion-effect
• Golem Effect Research – https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01581/full
• Wispr Flow – https://wisprflow.ai/
• Next Level Human – https://www.nextlevelhuman.com/
• Dr. Jade Teta on Substack – https://substack.nextlevelhuman.com/
• Dr. Jade Teta – https://www.jadeteta.com/
• Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.com/
• Strategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-call
• Podcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcast
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastain
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastain
• Arc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integrated

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

If every decision still lands on your desk, how much room does your team really have to think for themselves? Chad Littlefield, cofounder of We and Me and coauthor of Ask Powerful Questions, joins Michael to explore how leaders can build trust and help people take greater ownership. Drawing on stories from his work and family life, Chad shares how to ask questions that get beyond predictable answers and give employees the freedom to figure things out. The conversation also gets into what meaningful mentorship requires and why your next good idea might need more thinking time before it becomes another project for your team. Throughout the episode, Chad makes a practical case for giving connection more attention, from noticing work that usually goes unseen to creating meetings people actually want to attend. For busy leaders looking to improve engagement, there is plenty here to bring into your next conversation.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Chad Littlefield on Leadership and Human Connection
• (00:06:50) - Personal Growth Through Challenge and Connection
• (00:13:35) - Asking Better Questions and Listening With Intention
• (00:20:20) - Employee Engagement and the Power of Slowing Down
• (00:27:19) - Employee Autonomy and Three Keys to Effective Mentorship
• (00:33:58) - Building Company Culture Through Transparency
• (00:40:58) - Leadership Confidence and Building Team Trust
• (00:47:30) - How to Influence People With Better Invitations
• (00:54:23) - AI and the Future of Human Connection
• (01:01:16) - Leading Through Uncertainty With an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Links and Resources:

• Ask Powerful Questions - https://shop.weand.me/products/ask-powerful-questions
• We! Connect Cards - https://shop.weand.me/products/we-connect-cards
• The Art of Learning - https://www.joshwaitzkin.com/the-art-of-learning
• Worthy Goal Framework - https://www.mbs.works/books/
• Chad Littlefield on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@chad.littlefield
• Connectors Summit - https://weand.me/connectors-summit/
• Liberating Structures - https://www.liberatingstructures.com/
• Liberating Structures Resources - https://www.liberatingstructures.com/resources-1
• Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.com/
• Strategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-call
• Podcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcast
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastain
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastain
• Arc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integrated

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

What happens to a team when its leader acts from insecurity? Victor Cho joins Michael Dietrich-Chastain to explore how self awareness, empathy, and transparency shape trust at work. Victor explains why he asks questions before advocating for a decision, and why employees at every level should be able to flag a problem when they see one. He also introduces his Fourth Stakeholder Framework, which asks leaders to consider how their companies affect society beyond their customers, employees, and shareholders. As the conversation turns to AI, Victor makes the case for planning how organizations will change and protecting trust in digital communication. It is a conversation about the questions leaders ask, the problems they choose to see, and the example they set for everyone around them.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Victor Cho on Leadership, Inquiry, and AI
• (00:05:02) - Defining Your Three Circles of Purpose and Impact
• (00:09:40) - How Insecurity, Empathy, and Transparency Shape Leadership
• (00:16:07) - Inquiry Versus Advocacy: How Leaders Influence Behavior
• (00:22:43) - CEO Frameworks and Emotional Intelligence
• (00:29:41) - The Fourth Stakeholder and Business Responsibility to Society
• (00:36:33) - Business Ripple Effects and the Employee Red Button
• (00:43:21) - AI Strategy and the Future Structure of Companies
• (00:50:11) - Deepfakes and Trust in Business Communication
• (00:54:03) - Why Leaders Must Address Their Own Insecurity

Links and Resources:

• Website - https://www.victorcho.com/
• 4 Stakeholder - https://www.victorcho.com/4th-stakeholder
• CEO Career Accelerator - https://www.victorcho.com/course
• Inquiry vs. Advocacy - https://www.victorcho.com/course-lesson-4
• Leadership Frameworks - https://www.victorcho.com/resources
• The Deming Institute - https://deming.org/
• What Should We Tell the Kids? Navigating Work, Learning, and Purpose in the Age of AI - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMnIJJ3_khA
• Arc Integrated Website: https://www.arcintegrated.com/
• Strategy Call Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/leadership-strategy-call
• Podcast Page: https://www.arcintegrated.com/podcast
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdiettrichchastain
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldiettrichchastain/
• Michael Diettrich-Chastain in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.diettrichchastain
• Arc Integrated in Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arc-integrated

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to The Influential Leader? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And leave us a review!

Even successful leaders wrestle with the same question: How do I influence the behavior of the people I lead? Michael introduces The Influential Leader and the idea at the heart of the show: influence begins with the questions we ask ourselves and others. Moments from guest conversations touch on setting clear expectations, understanding employees, and challenging our assumptions. For senior leaders who want to strengthen engagement and help their teams change, the trailer offers a glimpse of the conversations to come.