Jacob Morgan's Linkedin Analytics

Leaders love trust when everything’s going right. But what happens when someone makes the wrong call? Trust isn’t proven when people win. It’s proven when they miss, and you still back them. If your people don’t believe that, they’ll never play offense. Chris Nicholas, CEO of Sam's Club, doesn’t just delegate, he creates a culture where people know they’re trusted. Because when someone on the front line makes a call on behalf of the customer, they’re not risking their job, they’re growing your business. 🎥 Watch how trust creates leaders at every level → https://lnkd.in/g3Qgecde This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. Make sure to check them out here: https://lnkd.in/gvuaym3t

We’re taught to wait until we’ve “checked every box” before going after big opportunities. Until now, many high-potential leaders still have that mantra. But most leadership moments don’t wait around for perfect resumes. Penny Pennington, Managing Partner of Edward Jones Investments, almost passed up a leadership role because she didn’t meet every qualification. It wasn’t until someone challenged her to speak up that she realized: competence grows from commitment. Great leaders say yes before they’re ready, and figure it out along the way. Stop waiting to feel fully qualified.  Start showing that you’re ready to lead with courage, curiosity, and the willingness to grow.

CHROs are really the CEOs of people! They oversee the most valuable asset in your organization—your people. They navigate the most complex, human-centered challenges—from AI disruption and shifting employee expectations to building an inclusive, purpose-driven culture. They shape the future of your business, not just HR policies. If your CHRO isn’t sitting next to you at the boardroom table—helping you make decisions on business strategy, growth, innovation, and risk—you’re already behind. Too many companies still see HR as a function that manages policies, compliance, and benefits. That’s a recipe for mediocrity. The world has changed, and so must our expectations of HR: Talent is now the ultimate competitive advantage. Culture is the operating system of every business. Employee experience is a brand differentiator. AI is transforming how we work, but it can’t replace leadership that understands people. The CHRO of the future is: A strategist who shapes the talent pipeline to meet future business needs. A technologist who integrates AI without losing the human touch. A culture architect who builds belonging and resilience in times of uncertainty. A storyteller who connects people to purpose and vision. And most importantly, a trusted partner who helps the CEO and leadership team make decisions that impact the entire business. So here’s my challenge to every CEO reading this: 👉 Are you treating your CHRO like a true strategic partner—or just someone who runs the HR department? If it’s the latter, you’re leaving growth, innovation, and culture on the table. It’s time we stop calling them the head of HR. It’s time we start calling them what they really are: 👉 The CEO of People.

Companies used to operate on the assumption that people needed to work for them. That’s no longer true. Today, people can build their own businesses, freelance globally, drive Uber, sell on Etsy, or work for a fast-growing startup. They have options. So when leaders still build workplaces rooted in control, fear, or obligation, they lose. Fast. You’re no longer competing with other companies.  You’re competing with freedom. If you want to attract and keep great people, your workplace needs to be a place where they want to be. Start there. Or risk being left behind.

A few days ago Future Of Work Leaders held our monthly virtual meeting and we had Jeffrey B. Kindler the former CEO of Pfizer join us to talk about the CHRO/CEO relationship. It was an AMAZING and candid Q&A session where we explored: -The evolving role of the CHRO in today’s business environment  -What CEOs really want from their CHROs (and what they don’t)  -How to build trust and credibility as a business advisor, not just an HR leader  -Balancing risk-taking and compliance in today’s complex world  -The critical (and often mishandled) process of CEO succession  -How to effectively influence boards and navigate their priorities  -The unique challenges of the CEO role—and how CHROs can be indispensable partners  -The importance of time management, focus, and strategic prioritization for CHROs  -and much more Thank you Jeffrey B. Kindler for your time, wisdom, and insights! We now have 44 CHROs from some of the world's top companies who are moving beyond traditional HR to shape the future of work and employee experience. If you're interested in learning more and requesting an invite there's a link in the comments.

Imagine opening your Sunday paper to discover a summer reading list packed with must-reads—except 10 out of 15 books don’t actually exist. That’s exactly what happened at the Chicago Sun-Times. AI-generated content slipped past editorial checks, attributing fake books to real authors. This isn’t just a glitch—it’s a wake-up call. ✅ Trust is your most valuable asset. AI without human oversight erodes it—fast. ✅ AI needs guardrails. Technology amplifies human potential, but it also magnifies mistakes. ✅ Accountability can’t be outsourced. You can’t delegate responsibility for your brand’s credibility to an algorithm—or a freelancer using one. ✅ Leaders must lead the AI conversation. Ask the hard questions: How are we using AI? Who’s reviewing outputs? What’s the risk of error? The future of work isn’t about replacing humans with machines—it’s about amplifying human discernment with smart tools. This story is a wake-up call for every leader: In the age of AI, judgment is your competitive advantage—and it can’t be automated. https://lnkd.in/gWQuFegH

If you asked your exec team to define leadership, would their answers match? I asked 140 global CEOs that exact question, and got 140 different responses. Some said leadership is about results. Others said it’s about meaning.  A few paused and had never been asked that before. And yet, each definition shaped their culture, priorities, and employee experience. Your leadership philosophy isn't just personal.  It drives everything from who gets promoted to how people feel at work. If your definition is unconscious, your culture will be too. If you want to build a better organization, start by defining what leadership really means to you. Clarity at the top creates alignment at every level.

Vulnerability at work isn’t about dumping your feelings. If you’re a leader, you must do it with intention. Otherwise, it will surely backfire. If done right, it’s a great way to build trust, spark real connections, and drive innovation. All it takes is for you to stop avoiding the discomfort, and start climbing the vulnerability mountain. Identify your base camp (small shares) and your peak (scary shares), and take one step at a time. But never forget the key: intention. Know why you’re opening up, or you risk turning vulnerability into noise. This episode breaks down practical ways to lead with vulnerability without losing your authority. Tune in now: https://lnkd.in/gXZzguwf This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. Make sure to check them out here: https://lnkd.in/g6s8bNJt

AI is everywhere and so is the confusion about how to manage it safely. Most leaders are implementing AI tools without fully understanding the risks. AI doesn’t just generate text or automate tasks anymore. It can act! Agentic AI can make decisions, move money, and impersonate people. That means it's easier than ever for attackers to slip through the cracks. But that's still now the biggest threat. What is? It's us, the humans who trust what we shouldn’t, click what we shouldn't, and assume AI gets it right every time. Steve Schmidt, Amazon’s Chief Security Officer, highlights that AI is powerful, but not a magic bullet. You still need human oversight, strong security culture, and smarter systems for validation and authentication. Curious how Amazon's doing it? They’re cutting security review times by up to 80% without sacrificing safety. Tap into Steve’s full breakdown of AI risks and what smart leadership looks like in this new era. Full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gfv8wNnE This episode is sponsored by Workhuman. Make sure to check them out here: https://lnkd.in/guYNhQGt

Most leaders were trained for a world that no longer exists. The pace of change, the complexity of work, and the expectations of people have all outgrown the traditional playbook. The strategies that got us here won’t take us where we need to go. And yet, many leaders are still clinging to certainty in a time that demands adaptability. What we need now is a new kind of thinking and a new kind of leadership. Here are 7 bold strategies to help you lead in a world that’s evolving faster than ever.