Southern Methodist University

Instructor, Cox School of Business Executive Education

Winding River Consulting

Leadership Management Consultant

S & J Allen, LLC

Principal

Practical Wisdom for Leaders Podcast

Practical Wisdom for Leaders is your fast-paced, forward-thinking guide to leadership. Join host Scott J. Allen as he engages with remarkable guests—from former world leaders and nonprofit innovators to renowned professors, CEOs, and authors. Each episode offers timely insights and actionable tips designed to help you lead with impact, grow personally and professionally, and make a meaningful difference in your corner of the world.

Founder and Host

John Carroll University

Professor of Management

Associate Professor of Management

Assistant Professor of Management

Visiting Assistant Professor of Management

Collegiate Leadership Competition

Collegiate Leadership Competition (CLC), a nonprofit founded in 2015, creates a digital practice field where students can actively apply what they learn via CLC’s global virtual competition. CLC makes leadership a tangible, high-impact learning experience for future leaders. It's leadership development... for the digital age.

Co-Founder and Board Chairman

Captovation

Captovation builds your confidence and skills as an online presenter. We use our AI-powered technology to help you improve your abilities, adding a human touch via live coaching. We’ll help you craft a crisp message, design an engaging deck, and deliver with confidence. We are building a global hub of digital resources including our new book—Captovation: Online Presentations by Design—and our library of podcasts, online tutorials, and everything you need to improve and deliver your most successful presentation yet.

Co-Founder

Case Western Reserve University

SAGES

King's Daughters Medical Center

Leadership Development Educator

Beta Theta Pi

🔥 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 🔥 

🎓 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫.
For 18 years, I’ve explored what makes leadership work in classrooms, boardrooms, and communities. As a long-time Professor of Management at John Carroll University and Instructor at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business Executive Education, I bring academic rigor to the practical realities leaders face e͟v͟e͟r͟y͟ ͟d͟a͟y͟. I’ve taught thousands of students and professionals, helping them turn insight into influence.

📚 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫. 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫.
I’ve co-authored five books and published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles on leadership. I also host Practical Wisdom for Leaders, a podcast ranked in the top 2.5% globally, and write a weekly newsletter for professionals looking to quickly elevate their knowledge.

🏢 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫. 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of energizing teams across Fortune 500 and global organizations, including NASA, Toyota North America, Cleveland Clinic, Nestlé, Progressive, Nordson, KeyBank, Creston, Whiting-Turner, Sam’s Club, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Whether on stage or in a strategy session, my work focuses on helping leaders and teams enhance their communication, culture, and impact.

💬 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫. 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫.
LinkedIn has become an extension of the classroom. It's a space for ongoing conversations about leadership and human behavior. I post daily and love to engage with people around the globe.

🤝 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬. 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
I’m passionate about building communities that advance leadership education and practice. I co-founded the Collegiate Leadership Competition (CLC) and served as its Board Chair, creating an international platform for students to develop real-world leadership skills. I have also served on the boards of the International Leadership Association, Association of Leadership Educators, and the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society. In 2021, I was named an ILA Fellow for contributions to the global leadership community.

💡 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲.
Leadership isn’t a title. It's a series of behaviors. It’s about presence, courage, and the daily practice of helping others do their best.

If any of this speaks to you, I'd love to connect!

Leadership isn’t neutral.
Some drain; a few transform.

Servant leaders elevate others. That's the foundation. The starting point.

Meta-analytic research shows that servant leadership correlates with higher trust, job satisfaction, and helping behavior. 

Sounds like a win/win/win to me.

We all know what it feels like to work for someone who genuinely cares about us as individuals. 

For me, it was Bob. I dedicated my first book to him. I was young, lacked maturity, emotional intelligence, and experience. He coached, nudged, challenged, and motivated...always from a place of care.

Be that person for others and watch them transform.

Who was that coach, teacher, or supervisor for you? Send them a note today.

Source: A meta-analytic review of the consequences of servant leadership: The moderating roles of cultural factors

***
♻️ Re-post or share so others can lead more effectively
🔔 Turn on notifications for daily posts
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

Scott J. Allen

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D., is the Robert M. Ginn Institute Professor for Leadership & Social Responsibility at John Carroll University. Allen is an associate professor and teaches courses in leadership, the future of work, and executive communication. He's an award-winning professor passionate about working with people of all ages.

Scott served as a Mulwick Scholar in the Boler College of Business, and his primary stream of research focuses on leadership development. Scott has published more than 50 book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles. He is the co-author of The Little Book of Leadership Development: 50 Ways to Bring Out the Leader in Every Employee, Emotionally Intelligent Leadership: A Guide for College Students, and the textbook Discovering Leadership: Designing Your Success (2019). Scott’s most recent publication is Captovation: Online Presentations by Design. He is also the host of two podcasts: The Captovation Podcast and Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders.

In addition to writing and teaching, Scott consults, facilitates workshops, and leads retreats across industries. Recent engagements include Lubrizol, Key Bank, EY, Siegfried Group, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Sherwin Williams, Progressive, NASA-Glenn, FedEx Custom Critical, Thompson Hine LLP, Cleveland Clinic, Leadership Cleveland, and Cleveland Bridge Builders. Scott co-founded Captovation, a services firm dedicated to “Presentation Coaching for the Digital Age.” He is also the co-founder and Board Chair of the Collegiate Leadership Competition. He has served on the board of the International Leadership Association, Association of Leadership Educators, and Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society. Allen was named an ILA Fellow by the International Leadership Association in 2021.

He resides in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, with his wife, Jessica, and three children - Will, Kate & Emily.

Professor, Author, Speaker, Podcaster, Expert in Leadership

Brand Strategist | Visual Storyteller

Mohamed E.

Some only see the gaps, and others exist in the progress. 


It's Thanksgiving in the United States this week. 
A time of gratitude.

Gratitude is a matter of perspective, as Bela beautifully illustrates in this image.

Those who see the progress experience the benefits of gratitude.

✔️ Enhanced Well-Being & Optimism
✔️ Increased Satisfaction & Commitment
✔️ Strengthened Team Cooperation & Inclusivity
✔️ Reduced Stress & Healthier Coping

So this week. See the good. See the progress. Reflect on how far you have come. Better yet, reflect with another - a friend or family member.

Gratitude is a matter of perspective. What do you see?

Sources: DM me for sources.

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.

That difficult employee of yours?
They are challenging you to get better...

Gallup reports that 70 percent of the variance in team engagement is driven by one thing. The manager. That means you have a critical role in either enabling the problem or coaching the person behind the pattern.

After hundreds of coaching conversations, I am confident that the best managers do not label and move on. They get curious. They model kindness by having the conversation. They create the conditions for people to grow. They coach up, or coach out.

By no means is this easy work. It's super challenging, and I have mad respect for anyone in "The Arena," as Teddy Roosevelt would say.

In the end, developing others develops you.

Source: Gallup, How Influential Is a Good Manager?

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

It's an important question.
And it's 100% true.

All eyes are on you, and it's critical to model the way.

Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, authors of The Leadership Challenge, emphasize that leaders must "Do What You Say You Will Do." As they say, "If people don’t believe in the messenger, they won’t believe the message.” 

Your behaviors tell the story. 

And they always tell the truth.

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic
📷 Photo by Brian Knox

No leader gets to skip the hard conversations.
They are part of the job.

Yet one study found something striking.

60% of employees never received basic conflict management training. Of those who did, 95% said it helped them navigate conflict positively and seek better outcomes. That is a huge gap. And a huge opportunity.

From what I have seen working with hundreds of leaders, success starts before the conversation even begins.

Timing. Purpose. Setting. 
Checking your own emotional state.

Small choices that shape big outcomes.

This one-pager contains nine considerations I encourage leaders to get clear on ahead of time.

What would you add to the 9? 
What is essential preparation for you?

Source: CPP, Workplace Conflict and How Business Can Harness It to Thrive 

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

These are the things no one tells you when you first step into management.
But they quietly shape your success or failure.

There’s obviously more than 11, but this is a strong place to start.

There’s also a great starting point for new managers. The First 90 Days. I just sent a few copies to friends.

I learned this lesson the hard way. In my first manager role, I tried to do everything myself. That’s why this line from Michael Watkins always sticks with me:

“Leadership ultimately is about influence and leverage. You are, after all, only one person. To be successful, you need to mobilize the energy of many others in your organization.” - Michael Watkins

If that book and these lessons are on your radar, you will hit the ground running.

The truth? No one has it all figured out. And you don’t need to. If these are your anchors, you’ll build trust, momentum, and a team that genuinely wants to follow.

That’s real leadership.

What would you add? There’s always one insight new managers wish they had sooner.👇

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

Stop going back to back to back to back to back to back!
Research suggests it's harming you and your teams.

A quick hack? Default to shorter meetings.

📅 60-minute meeting? Make it 45 or 50.
📅 30-minute meeting? Make it 20 or 25.

Give yourself some breathing room in between - a little time to catch your breath, answer a voicemail, center for the next conversation, or fire off a couple of urgent messages.

It's a subtle shift, but over the course of a day, it could save you an hour (or two). 

That's significant. 👊 

Source: Research Proves Your Brain Needs Breaks, Microsoft 

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

Adelaine Orpin

In my experience, it's one of the toughest transitions.


From peer to manager. 
If you know, you know. It's a tricky one.

In my experience, there's very little support for these new managers, and those who go in with a plan are better prepared for success.

This quick infographic offers some options.

Bottom line: 

✔️ The best new managers have a well-vetted plan.
✔️ The best new managers are skilled at building authentic relationships.
✔️ The best new managers start by listening and learning.
✔️  The best new managers secure some initial wins.

Like me, many of you have made this transition. And I am sure some of you have read Michael Watkins' wonderful book, The First 90 Days. It's gold.

So, what's missing? What would you add?

Note: I am traveling with family, so my commenting may be a little slower this week. For those in the U.S., Happy Thanksgiving!

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

Could the questions you ask transform the way you lead?


Some leaders talk about empowerment. The best leaders practice it.
The simplest place to start is with the questions you ask.

This image captures eight servant-leader statements that change the dynamic in a room. They tell your team:

🟢 I am here for you.
🟢 Your voice matters.
🟢 We're in this together.

Robert Greenleaf’s early writing on servant leadership was clear. The real test of a leader is whether others grow. 

These questions help you do exactly that.

Combine them with presence, consistency, and follow-through, and you will see trust deepen and performance rise.

Leadership is not a title, it's a set of behaviors.

It's just that simple.

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

I keep coming back to this transformational story.
It's fundamentally shifted how I view life.
And it will shift yours. Take 30 seconds and swipe through...

Thanks to Dr. Kathy Allen for introducing me to a timeless story.

***
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

The Wolf You Feed

Jim Vaselopulos

"Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast."
A mantra of the Navy SEALs. I love it.

Rushing feels productive, but it often creates rework, confusion, and stress.  Lord knows I am guilty of it.

The SEALs know that when the stakes are highest, success comes from calm focus and precision.

The same is true at work.

Slow down to set clear expectations. Slow down to think. Slow down and take a physiological sigh. Be present. Be mindful. Be intentional.

Because when we slow down, speed follows...

Image: I recorded a podcast episode with retired Navy SEAL commander Jon Macaskill, and I am so excited for you to listen in a few weeks.  It's just an awesome conversation with a wonderful human being.

***
♻️ Re-post, save, or share so others can lead more effectively
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership

We spend most of our workday sitting.
But some of the best conversations don’t happen in chairs.

There’s research to back it up.

Studies from Stanford and Harvard suggest that walking boosts creativity, reduces defensiveness, and strengthens connection. When people walk side by side, hierarchy softens and the dialogue opens up. The tone shifts from positional to personal.

In my work with leaders, I’ve seen a simple shift. Swapping the conference room for a quick walk can change the entire feel of a conversation. 

Movement changes mindset.

Next time you need to check in, coach, or brainstorm, skip the office.

Take a walk.

Mantra: “Better conversations on the move.”

Sources: Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition & Get the Full Benefits of Walking Meeting, HBR

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

Trick or Treat?
No. Thoughtfulness.

Pass it on...

***
♻️ Re-post, save, or share so others can lead more effectively
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership

It’s wild how easy it is to forget the people who carried us.


We lose sight, get caught up, and let our attention wander elsewhere.

I hope this post centers you square on some of the individuals that helped you along the way. They've pushed, inspired, invested, and shaped the person you are today.

I'm thankful for an amazing wife and kids, professors, coaches, mentors, my wonderful colleagues at SMU, a thriving business, my health, lifelong friends, and the opportunity to do what I love - exploring the topic of leadership.

And I am thankful for LinkedIn. That may sound odd to some, but in the last year, I have met some wonderful people, clarified my own perspective, and had the opportunity to practice a different kind of writing. It's an outlet for creativity, and it's been a blast.

So, wherever you are in the world today, be thankful and see the good.

Note: I am with family, so my commenting may be a little slower this week. For those in the U.S., Happy Thanksgiving!

***
📢 I am booking 2026 keynotes and workshops. DM me to learn more.
🗞️ Subscribe to my leadership newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ezsh4nZw
🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership
📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic

taplio

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.'s Linkedin Analytics

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.

Performance ScoreScott J. Allen, Ph.D.'s LinkedIn Performance

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.'s Best Posts (last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

.css-6ytdur{background-image:linear-gradient(284deg, rgba(39, 43, 72, 1) 0%, rgba(33, 47, 183, 1) 100%);color:transparent;-webkit-background-clip:text;background-clip:text;}Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.'s Linkedin Analytics

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.'s LinkedIn Performance

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.'s Best Posts .css-1emoo84{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:400;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);}(last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.'s Linkedin Analytics

Performance ScoreScott J. Allen, Ph.D.'s LinkedIn Performance

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.'s Best Posts (last 30 days)