Lead with Curiosity, Not Judgment

A highlight from S2 E23 with Jim Huling

I used to think great leadership meant having the answers.

Now I believe great leadership is about creating an environment where other people can come up with even better ideas than I ever could.

In this clip, I share why I prefer the word “empower” over “delegate.” 

When people understand how their work impacts the bigger picture and feel like their voice matters, they take ownership. 

They’re more engaged, more committed, and more invested in the outcome.

Let me know what you think…

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela sits down with leadership expert, executive coach, and bestselling author Jim Huling, co-author of The 4 Disciplines of Execution, to explore what it really takes to build high-performing teams, execute what matters most, and create a legacy that outlasts your title.

Together, they challenge outdated leadership models built on compliance and control, and make the case for a more powerful approach rooted in curiosity, commitment, empowerment, and accountability. Jim shares lessons from coaching more than 20,000 leaders around the world, while Angela brings practical insights from scaling organizations, leading startups, and developing the next generation of leaders.

The conversation explores why top talent leaves organizations, how leaders accidentally create cultures of disengagement, and why sustainable performance requires more than motivational speeches and short-term wins. They also unpack the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose, and how that mindset shapes everything from decision-making to innovation.

Learn more about Jim Huling:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimhuling/ 
• Book: https://www.amazon.com/Disciplines-Execution-Achieving-Wildly-Important/dp/145162705X

Timestamps:

00:00 The Evolving Landscape of Leadership

07:36 From Success to Significance

11:47 Stages of Leadership Development

19:48 Curiosity as a Leadership Tool

25:37 Empowerment Over Compliance

30:59 The Cost of Talent Loss

37:15 Playing to Win vs. Playing Not to Lose

45:12 The Importance of Humility and Collaboration

48:00 The Impact of Toxic Culture on Organizations

51:25 Starting Anew: The Power of Leadership Example

56:01 The Role of Coaches in Leadership

01:00:00 Execution: From Strategy to Action

01:07:00 The Four Disciplines of Execution

01:27:20 Building Relationships for Success

01:28:44 Understanding Lagging and Leading Indicators

01:32:15 The Importance of Leading Measures

01:38:03 Engagement and Meaning in Leadership

01:48:01 The Power of Accountability

The discussion also tackles questions…

• Why do leaders struggle to execute their most important goals?
• What are the biggest mistakes leaders make when managing high performers?
• How do you create commitment instead of compliance?
• Why is curiosity one of the most important leadership skills today?
• How can leaders retain top talent in a competitive market?
• What’s the difference between empowering people and simply delegating work?
• How do you build a culture where people feel safe speaking up?
• Why are younger generations challenging traditional leadership models?
• How can leaders balance accountability with collaboration?
• What does it mean to move from achievement to scalability to legacy?
• How do you identify and focus on your wildly important goals?
• Why do so many teams achieve short-term wins but fail to sustain performance?
• What does “playing to win” look like in leadership and business?
• How can organizations create cultures that drive innovation, engagement, and long-term results?

Key takeaways:

1. Great leaders move from achievement to legacy.

2. Sustainable success requires more than short-term wins.

3. Commitment always outperforms compliance.

4. Curiosity is one of the most powerful leadership skills.

5. Top talent leaves when their voice does not matter.

6. Empowerment creates stronger teams than delegation.

7. The fastest way to improve execution is to focus on what matters most.

8. Leaders should play to win, not play not to lose.

9. Culture determines whether people speak up or stay silent.

10. Every new level of leadership requires a new version of you.

Similar episodes: 

• Scott Wozniak: https://youtu.be/YJ05Ewazics?si=kLjRjiyH-yWiYKFR 
• Allister Frost: https://youtu.be/mhe_CKZiR28?si=HHOsvLVP4gQJR2GG 
• Mark Williams: https://youtu.be/RVhQK9FT0hI?si=LamgObAHOcu_UqwB 

Production

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, read more here: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/be-our-guest/