70 - The Future of Competitive Advantage with Doug Stephens
Release Date: 07/10/2026
70 - The Future of Competitive Advantage with Doug Stephens
Leadership Kung Fu
Plan for the future, episode 70 of Leadership Kung Fu is here! Today Jen and Sandi welcome Doug Stephens to the show to talk about his latest book and how to navigate a leadership role in an uncertain business world. Join them in their dive into the texts and discuss: Doug's accolades as an author and futurist How workplaces are changing as political and economical climates change How silence is no longer considered "neutral" An example of Patagonia and Bear's Ears Monument as an act of defending a value core to the brand Doug's 3 main ideas in his newest novel What collective prosperity...
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69 - Leadership and All This Uncertainty: Do Better
Leadership Kung Fu
Welcome to episode 69 of Leadership Kung Fu! When times feel uncertain and people are dealing with so much both in and outside of the workplace, where does that put leadership? Jen and Sandi say "Do better!" Join them on this episode as they tackle: The role of the passing of time Why it's a non-HR issue What influences decision-making and the impact it can have Value vs. price increase The corporate spin What goes first in tough times or when you're ill-prepared Fairness vs. sameness Measuring capacity and cognitive load External and internal pressures What optimism can truly do when...
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68 - Disagree and Commit: Real Dissent, Psychological Safety and Accountability in Action
Leadership Kung Fu
Let's create space, it's episode 68 of Leadership Kung Fu! How do you like our new art and look? Many workplaces feel like disagreeing is stopping progress, when in reality, it can be the beginning of it! Jen and Sandi sit down in episode 68 to encourage you to make room for dissent by discussing: Why creating space is currently not happening in workforces The role of Psychological Safety in creating space Identifying where the insecurity lives within the workforce Setting up a space with intention The "meeting after the meeting" actions How prep work might be your most important work The...
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67 - Expectation Drift: How Vague Leadership Breaks Execution
Leadership Kung Fu
Welcome to episode 67 of Leadership Kung Fu! If you've ever come up empty-handed when searching for answers from a leader, or your team is divided on what they thought the project completion standard was, you might have experienced Expectation Drift! Sandi and Jen jump in to tackle this topic to help teams and leaders identify and get ahead of a potential problem. Listen along as they discuss: What IS Expectation Drift and how it happens Employee engagement rates and other statistics around misalignment What happens when leaders don't know what expectations are Leaders as learners The role of...
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66 - Stop Outsourcing Thinking: Rebuilding Your Team's Problem-Solving Muscles
Leadership Kung Fu
It's critical that you know that Episode 66 of Leadership Kung Fu is here! Welcome to February's topic of what outsourcing thinking actually does to your team and how your practices can keep the problem-solving muscles healthy. Sandi and Jen dive right into: How the cost of time with critical thinking is a lie Low accountability and leaderned helplessness The role of psychological safety System 1 and System 2 thinking The importances of exploring your problem-solving tools Critical Thinking and A.I. Leadership self-reflection and the role it plays Managing discomfort How many places you...
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65 - Strategy is Not a Slide Deck
Leadership Kung Fu
Starting off 2026 strong, it's episode 65 of Leadership Kung Fu! Join Sandi and Jen in this new year as they revisit the topic of strategy in the workplace and how to get it unstuck from your meeting slide deck and out in action in your workforce. Listen along as they discuss: Strategy to action How strategies from Q4 are looking in Q1 Personal anecdotes The importance of your "No" list Facing the fears of "what if" Real risk vs. risks we THINK are real What strategy is and is not Operationalizing How alignment is an ongoing conversation What happens when everything is deemed important What...
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64 - Your New Leader Isn't Ready (Yet!)
Leadership Kung Fu
Start making plans, episode 64 of Leadership Kung Fu is here! Jen and Sandi are thinking about the future on today's episode and discussing workplace succession plans! What happens when your CEO has a medical event? Can someone easily take over if your manager has a family emergency? Who steps in when retirements are announced? Join Sandi and Jen as they cover how you and your team can think ahead as well as: Where you should start planning and who can do what in the planning process How strategy is involved The role bias plays Where training comes in and types The benefits of assessments...
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63 - Strategic Momentum: The Discipline of Aligned Action
Leadership Kung Fu
Our actions have aligned to bring you Episode 63 of Leadership Kung Fu! Join Sandi and Jen as they excitedly tackle the topic of aligned action and how your teams' strategies can hinge upon it. Dive in with them as they cover: What gets in the way of aligned action Fragmented ownership Working in silos vs. moving forward collectively Decisions vs. feedback Where incentives knock you out of alignment Dashboards Fighting stagnant policies/standards The curse of unwillingness Leadership drift Giving strategy a chance to breathe Buy-in vs. agreement Movement based on workplace agility Chance of...
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62 - First Moves Matter: Helping a New Leader
Leadership Kung Fu
New to the group, it's episode 62 of Leadership Kung Fu! Sandi and Jen are enthusiastic about today's topic of new leaders and how you and your organization can set them up for success and if you're a new leader, how to tackle that transition with flying colors. Listen in as they discuss: common new leader hurdles and transition difficulties how values shift in a new role the art of letting go what your leadership will look like as you make the shift technical skills and relationship skills how relationships evolve when new leadership occurs where Imposter Syndrome can affect the new role and...
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61 - From Talking to Doing: Why Leadership Teams Stall
Leadership Kung Fu
Welcome to episode 61 of Leadership Kung Fu! Jen and Sandi are talking the talk and walking the walk to bring you today's topic: why leadership teams can stall! Settle in as they chat about: Words are nice, but action is important Stalling due to fear of conflict Feeling safe in the workplace How multiple priorities can actually be a hindrance Corporate whiplash and fatigue Alignment vs. accountability The Knowing-Doing gap How to stop "The Stall" The One Hard Question What parts you actually play Where your bias lives Timeboxing Meeting habits and much more! Thank you so much for...
info_outlinePlan for the future, episode 70 of Leadership Kung Fu is here!
Today Jen and Sandi welcome Doug Stephens to the show to talk about his latest book The Future of Competitive Advantage: A Business Plan to Save Your Customers, Your Company, and Democracy and how to navigate a leadership role in an uncertain business world. Join them in their dive into the texts and discuss:
- Doug's accolades as an author and futurist
- How workplaces are changing as political and economical climates change
- How silence is no longer considered "neutral"
- An example of Patagonia and Bear's Ears Monument as an act of defending a value core to the brand
- Doug's 3 main ideas in his newest novel
- What collective prosperity looks like
- What "stoking white male anxiety" has done to workforces over the decades of different workforces
- DEI and the role in male anxiety
- Where the workforce has trended due to these factors
- Bryce Hoffman's American Icon
- The difference between fairness and equality
and much more!
Thank you so much for joining us on Leadership Kung Fu, Doug!
You can connect with Doug on LinkedIn, check out his blog, and his business website!
As a business owner or leader, are not alone in your fears for our society and the future. Knowing that there are other business leaders and executives out there who are just as concerned as you, who are seeking to learn more about how they and their organizations can become part of the solution to saving democracy.
Doug recommends establishing or joining a community of like- minded business leaders. Here are few places he suggests you might start:
https://leadershipnowproject.org/
Leadership Now Project (U.S.): A membership organization of
business leaders who believe democracy is the foundation for a thriving economy and a politically engaged citizenry. LNP invests in leaders, influences policy, responds to risks, and partners to drive solutions. LNP’s membership is national, with members in more than 25 states and chapters in 8, drawing on extensive business and alumni networks to drive local and national impact.
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (U.K.): WFD is a public body dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world. Through its programs, expertise, and international partnerships, WFD helps solve problems of democracy so that democracies can address challenges, from climate change to corruption.
Business for America (U.S.): Business for America is a nonpartisan nonprofit business organization that focuses solely on improving America’s civic health by increasing civic participation and voter turnout, restoring trust in elections and democratic institutions, reducing gridlock and polarization, and setting a positive example for business engagement in the political sector.
https://www.civicalliance.com/
Civic Alliance (U.S.): The Civic Alliance is a nonpartisan coalition of businesses united by a commitment to democracy. The Civic Alliance supports its member companies as they inspire their employees and consumers to engage in civic life and their communities.
Institute for Strategic Dialogue (U.S. and Europe): This group is dedicated to safeguarding democracy and human rights by reversing the rising global tide of polarization, extremism, and authoritarianism.
https://defenddemocracy.eu/about/mission/
Defend Democracy: Defend Democracy is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit civil society organization with the mission of strengthening and defending democracy against foreign, domestic, and technological threats. Defend Democracy is registered as a non-profit foundation in The Hague, the international city of peace, justice, and security, and while most of its day- to- day work is done in Brussels, it engages both European and transatlantic allies.
Samara Centre for Democracy (Canada): This nonpartisan charity produces research and holds events that advance a vibrant culture of civic engagement across Canada. The Samara Centre works to support a resilient democracy with responsive institutions, shaped by an engaged public.
Thank you so much for listening! If you like what you hear, leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform, and make sure to check out the video over on the Leadership Kung Fu Youtube Channel!
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn and visit her website Own Up!®
Connect with Sandi on LinkedIn and visit her website Satori Consulting, Inc!
Have a comment, question, or topic for Sandi and Jen? Email us at podcast@dramafreeworkforce.com or leave us a comment on LinkedIn.