Advertise on podcast: How to Lead with Clay Scroggins and Adam Tarnow

Every middle manager knows the feeling: things show up on your annual review that never appeared on your to-do list. You're expected to boil the ocean every day. You're held responsible for outcomes that depend on people, circumstances, and decisions that are never fully yours. It's not a personal failing — it's the defining tension of life in the middle. In this episode, we share what might be the single most useful idea in The Fog of Work — a simple, three-step framework for finding clarity and action in exactly those moments. We call it the fog-clearing sentence, and it's the punchline the whole book builds toward. Not a pep talk. Not a call to push harder. A repeatable system for extracting what you can do from situations that feel completely out of your control. If you've ever walked out of a meeting with your boss wondering how you were supposed to deliver something that was never really in your hands — this episode is for you. Download a free Control Your Controllables Worksheet here: https://adamtarnow.com/fogresources Purchase a copy of The Fog of Work Amazon: https://a.co/d/0e3k3WagBarnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fog-of-work-adam-tarnow/1148527628?ean=9781394368136

Middle managers are some of the most important — and most overlooked — leaders in any organization. In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack Adam's new book, The Fog of Work: what it is, why it hits hardest in the middle of an org chart, and how to find your footing when you can barely see what's in front of you. They talk through the valley that most leaders never see coming, the three ways people respond when the fog rolls in, and the practical tools Adam built to help leaders reclaim clarity and agency — no matter what's happening above or below them. If you're a leader who's ever felt stuck in the middle and wondered if something was wrong with you, this one's for you. The Fog of Work is available now — grab your copy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Every leader knows they should celebrate their team more. Almost none of them actually do it. In this episode, Clay Scroggins and Adam dig into why leaders chronically under-celebrate — and why that's costing them more than they realize. They unpack the research on what recognition actually does to a team's motivation, pull a surprising insight from the parable of the prodigal son, and give you four practical ways to build a culture of celebration that doesn't depend on you remembering to do it. If you've ever thought "I need to do a better job honoring my people" and then watched the moment pass, this one's for you. One thing to do before Monday: Think of someone on your team who did something worth celebrating in the last two weeks. Tell them tonight — specifically, with actual words. Start there.

Most leadership content focuses on skills—strategy, communication, vision, execution. And those things matter. But there's a question that doesn't get asked nearly enough: What kind of person are you while you lead? In this episode, Clay and Adam explore the idea that great leadership isn't just about mastering the steering wheel—where you're going, how fast you're moving, whether you're hitting goals. It's also about looking in the mirror. Because you can be highly skilled, consistently effective, and still be someone people don't actually want to follow. They break down what it really means to be a "good person" in leadership—not passive, not conflict-avoidant, but someone with genuine integrity, humility, and self-awareness—and why those qualities are the invisible engine behind trust, influence, and team health. Plus, three practical "mirrors" every leader should be looking into regularly, and a simple challenge to take into your week.

What's the best career advice you could give a sixteen-year-old? Clay shares three answers that stuck with him after career day at his daughter's school — and they turned out to be more useful than most advice aimed at seasoned professionals. In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack why the person you work for matters more than the job you do, why the simplest skills are often the rarest and most valuable, and why relational intelligence may be the most underrated career asset of all. Whether you're just starting out or years in, these three ideas are worth revisiting.

Nobody asks for resistance. But in this finale of our series on building unstoppable momentum, Clay and Adam make the case that resistance might be the most powerful growth tool available to a leader — if you're willing to embrace it. Over the past several weeks, we've walked through the 5 Rs: resources, repetition, rhythms, and relationships. Today we close with the one nobody wants but everyone needs. We talk about what resistance actually is, the three wrong ways leaders typically respond to it, and what it looks like to lean into a hard season instead of running from it. Growth doesn't happen by accident — and that includes the growth that comes through difficulty. This episode will help you reframe the friction in your life and walk away with a practical next step.

You can read every book and master every habit, but if you're the smartest person in your circle, your growth has a ceiling. In this episode, Clay and Adam tackle the often-overlooked reality that isolation is the enemy of excellence—and that staying lonely as a leader is a choice that stunts your potential. They introduce the concept of a "Relationship Portfolio": the four types of people every growing leader needs. The Mentor (someone 2–3 stages ahead), The Peer (iron sharpening iron), The Truth-Teller (the person with permission to call out your blind spots), and The Protégé (someone you're pouring into). You'll learn how to move from accidental relationships to engaged ones, how to make the "asymmetrical ask" when reaching out to a mentor, and why explicitly giving people permission to challenge you changes everything. The truth? We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. This episode will challenge you to audit your circle and ask: Are these relationships stretching you, or just comforting you? Key Question: Who is one person you need to invite into your growth journey this week—and what specific permission do you need to give them?

Most leaders have a growth goal, but very few have a growth rhythm. In this episode, we explore why motivation is a terrible strategy for development and why the best leaders don't rely on it. Instead, they build repeatable patterns—daily, weekly, and quarterly—that automate their growth even when they don't feel like showing up. Clay and Adam break down the difference between goals (which have finish lines) and rhythms (which run for life), and share practical techniques for designing habits that actually stick: the Anchor Technique, the Two-Minute Rule, and Environment Design. You'll also get a Leadership Rhythm Audit to evaluate whether your schedule is serving your growth or just your inbox. The truth? You don't rise to the level of your ambition—you fall to the level of your rhythms. Nobody drifts into greatness, but plenty of people drift into burnout. This episode will help you design rhythms that design you. Key Question: If I looked at your calendar for the last seven days, would I see a rhythm of growth, or just a rhythm of reaction?

Most professionals assume experience automatically leads to growth. It doesn’t. In this episode, Adam and Clay unpack the difference between doing something repeatedly and getting better at it. The truth? Repetition creates experience, but evaluated repetition creates growth. You’ll learn why so many capable leaders get stuck in cycles of being busy—but not better—and how avoiding feedback, reflection, and evaluation quietly stalls progress. Drawing on ideas from growth mindset research, emotional intelligence, and real-world leadership stories, this conversation introduces a simple, practical framework for turning everyday reps into meaningful improvement. Whether you’re leading meetings, coaching your team, selling, presenting, or managing people, this episode will help you stop reinforcing bad habits—and start learning from your work as you go. Bottom line: Don’t just repeat it. Review it. Reflection question for listeners: Where in your work do you need to stop and evaluate your repetitions instead of just powering through them?

Leadership doesn’t grow by accident. It grows by what you choose to feed it. In this episode, Adam and Clay tackle the overwhelm of leadership content and make the case for a more intentional approach to learning. Instead of chasing every new book, podcast, or framework, they show how the right resources—at the right time—can reshape how you think, decide, and lead. They unpack why resources matter, how they train your brain to think better, and why one book, podcast, or mentor can become a turning point in your leadership journey. You’ll learn four practical filters for choosing resources that actually solve real problems, stretch your thinking, and can be applied immediately. The conversation wraps with a simple system for building a sustainable learning rhythm—without burning out—and a challenge to move beyond consumption by sharing what you’re learning with others. If you want to grow as a leader without bruising yourself through trial and error, this episode will help you find the resources that move you forward faster—and with less stress.

Leadership growth doesn’t happen by accident. In this mini-series kickoff episode, Adam and Clay introduce the Growing Leader Framework and the five keys that drive real, sustained momentum. They explore why some leaders keep growing while others stall, break down the 5 R’s that shape leadership development, and challenge listeners to intentionally design their growth instead of drifting into it.

Ben Ortlip joins Adam to discuss how effective leaders learn to listen not just to words, but to the emotions behind them. Learn more about Ben: https://theculturemri.com/

Matt Brost joins Clay and Adam for a conversation about career twists, unexpected turns, and the one thing that’s mattered most along the way: relationships. As we head toward 2026, Matt reminds us that meaning at work often comes less from the job itself and more from the people we choose to build it with.

Clay and Adam reflect on key moments from 2025 and share a few trends they see shaping 2026.

When Clay first started speaking, he’d shut down his calendar and memorize his talk word for word. It was exhausting and it didn’t make him a better communicator. In this episode, Clay and Adam unpack why memorizing your message actually works against you, causing you to sound robotic, panic when you miss a line, and lose connection with your audience. They argue that great communicators don’t memorize; they understand. You’ll learn a simple framework to prepare your message so you can speak with confidence, flexibility, and authenticity. Whether you’re leading a meeting, giving a presentation, or standing on a stage. Big idea: Don’t memorize your message. Understand it, and serve the people in front of you.