Is ambition always about climbing the ladder or can it be about mastering where you are? In our most recent episode of the #LeadershipTraitsDecoded Podcast, Cynthia Kiriazis and Drea Martin unpack the often misunderstood trait of hunger / drive - the internal ambition to achieve, improve, and push beyond expectations with relentless energy and proactive ownership. The hosts explore: • Hunger/drive as a constant push for progress and self-fueled motivation • Why a 50th percentile score means “average,” not failing — and why that’s often enough • Vertical drive (pursuing advancement) vs. horizontal drive (mastering your current role) • How personal purpose shapes the way hunger/drive shows up in leaders • Why leaders should ask about their team’s passions to better understand motivation • Why drive should be evaluated against role needs, not arbitrary standards. Listen to the full episode - leadershiptraitsdecoded.buzz… Spotify - open.spotify.com/episode/3JC… Apple - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas… #LeadershipTraitsDecoded #HungerAndDrive #LeadershipDevelopment #Motivation #PurposeDrivenLeadership #PerformanceInsights #Leadership

Selling a business is one of the most complex journeys a founder or family business will ever face. In this week’s episode of the #BuyersFrenzy Podcast, host William Lindstrom sits down with Dionisio Roman III, co-founder of NextPhase Partners, to explore why time kills deals - and how sellers can prepare to avoid it. From organizing contracts and financials early to building a management team that can run the company during a sale or owner absence, to addressing the identity shift of life after business, this conversation offers practical guidance for anyone navigating an exit. Tune in: buyersfrenzy.buzzsprout.com/… Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0PU… Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas… #BuyersFrenzy #ExitPlanning #FamilyBusiness #Leadership #MergersAndAcquisitions

Listening only isn't leadership. Listening and taking action is! When organizations gather input, but leaders fail to respond, it creates performance drag, distrust & employee disengagement. Cynthia Kyriazis unpacks the cost of inaction - and why the employee feedback loop is every leader’s responsibility. Read more: plllab.com/post/when-nothing… #Leadership #EmployeeFeedback #CulturePerformance #PL3 #Accountability

What happens when your curiosity drives everyone else crazy? Have you ever been told you ask too many questions? You’re not alone. Curious leaders often slow down the room, but not because they’re indecisive. They’re trying to understand the why before rushing into the how. In this episode of the #LeadershipTraitsDecoded Podcast, Cynthia Kyriazis and Andrea Sedlacek Martin unpack the trait of intellectual curiosity — and the friction it can cause in fast-moving teams and high-performance cultures. This episode explores: • When curiosity is a strength vs a source of tension • Why some teams interpret probing questions as mistrust • How leaders can 'read the room' and adjust their inquiry style • What it looks like to lead with curiosity and clarity. If you've ever been caught between asking more and moving faster, this one’s for you. Listen here - leadershiptraitsdecoded.buzz… Spotify - open.spotify.com/episode/5Zb… Apple - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas… #LeadershipTraitsDecoded #CuriosityInLeadership #TeamCommunication #LeadershipTension #PerformanceUnderPressure #SelfAwareLeadership

If leaders ask for feedback - but don’t act on it - trust erodes. When staff speak up and nothing happens, it signals more than inaction - it signals leadership indifference. Cynthia Kyriazis outlines how leadership silence damages culture and what it takes to close the loop. Read more - plllab.com/post/when-leaders… #LeadershipAccountability #Culture #EmployeeEngagement #feedback #PL3 #Trust

Rollover equity and earn-outs are often positioned as win-win - but are they? It's usually where deals go wrong - not after close, but during negotiation. Our PL3 roundtable on Wed 08.20 1:30P CST is for company founders or anyone structuring a deal where a founder stays involved post-transaction. We’ll walk through the patterns that lead to breakdown - and how to avoid them early. Topics include: *Why vague performance targets derail relationships *How to align earn-out metrics with internal KPIs *Founder psychology - what shifts when control changes hands *What to build into the deal before close to protect both sides. Join us to learn how to structure smarter terms - ones that protect trust, performance, and alignment from day one. Register for the upcoming 08.20 session - us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi…

Is psychological safety just a buzzword or a business imperative? In her latest book review, Cynthia Kyriazis delves into Amy Edmondson's "The Fearless Organization"- a timely and practical read on how psychological safety fosters team effectiveness, informed decision-making, and enhanced performance. From avoidable failure to leadership inaction, Edmondson outlines what happens when employees don’t feel safe to speak up and how leaders can create the conditions for a fearless, high-performing workplace. Key takeaways: *What psychological safety is - and what it’s not *Why silence is more dangerous than disagreement *How leaders can turn feedback into forward momentum If you’re serious about culture, trust, and execution - this one is worth your shelf space or grab it at your local library. Read the review: plllab.com/post/the-fearless… #leadership #culture #psychologicalsafety #performance #teamdynamics #PL3 #thefearlessorganization

Is your company chasing growth at the expense of performance? David Mandel, Managing Partner at Emerging Ventures Capital, has seen it all - four exits, dozens of startup investments - a front-row seat to how fast growth can break good companies. In this episode of #LeadershipLevers, David joins William Gladhart to share battle-tested insights on: *Why “grow at all costs” is a trap *The true impact of culture on execution & profit *His biggest leadership regret - and how it shaped his investment approach *How founders can build smarter by prioritizing people over pace. His advice is blunt, clear, and rooted in reality - "Hire the best people, let them do their job, and get out of their way.” Listen now - leadershiplevers.buzzsprout.… Spotify - open.spotify.com/episode/1mr… Apple - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas… #LeadershipLevers #VentureCapital #StartupCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #GrowthStrategy #PL3

Earn-outs and rollover equity are prevalent in founder-led M&A transactions. They’re meant to align incentives and close valuation gaps. But when terms are vague, roles unclear or leadership dynamics unexamined, they can set the stage for misalignment - before the ink is even dry. On Aug 20 1:30P CST, at the PL3 Virtual Roundtable, we’ll explore how to design these structures the right way, before the deal is signed. What you’ll learn: *How to spot human risk in earn-out and rollover terms before close *Key red flags in founder role definitions and reporting lines *What belongs in a term sheet to preserve trust *How to build alignment without creating future power struggles. If you're advising, buying or selling in a founder-led deal, this session will help you protect value where it matters most - in the design. Register now - us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi…

Can your team trust what they see in you? In this podcast episode of #LeadershipTraitsDecoded, Cynthia Kyriazis & Andrea Sedlacek Martin dive into the trait of authenticity - and why it’s the foundation of trust, connection & sustainable leadership. From boardrooms to classrooms, today’s best leaders are not hiding behind a title or a script - they’re showing up as whole people - that is making all the difference. Topics include: *Why authenticity is a performance trait, not just a “soft” skill *How masking your true self erodes team trust *What 'healthy self-awareness' looks like in action *The difference between vulnerability and oversharing. If you're leading or building a team, aligning culture, or navigating high-stakes growth work, this conversation will resonate. Listen to the full episode: leadershiptraitsdecoded.buzz… Spotify - open.spotify.com/episode/0dp… Apple - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas… #LeadershipTraitsDecoded #AuthenticLeadership #TrustAndPerformance #CultureMatters #LeadershipDevelopment

How connected are your employees - REALLY? Disconnected teams don’t just struggle with morale - they stall out on execution, retention & strategic alignment. Cynthia Kyriazis explains how the Feelings Index reveals early signs of cultural friction - and how leaders can respond. Read more: plllab.com/post/how-the-feel… #Leadership #Retention #CultureAlignment #PL3 #FeelingsIndex

Most deals don’t fall apart because of the numbers - they fall apart because of the leader. In our latest PL3 Virtual Roundtable, experts from Transact Capital Securities, LLC, GF Data, and The Culture Think Tank unpacked how leadership gaps, founder dependence, and cultural misalignment are derailing value - well before due diligence begins. Key takeaways: *Why some sellers are choosing cultural fit over top dollar - “We’ve had sellers take a lower offer for a better cultural fit. That’s enlightened leadership.” Patrick Morin *Why founder dependence hurts valuations - “The most important thing…is proving the founder is no longer ‘the business.’” William Lindstrom *Why buyers are scrutinizing full leadership teams - “You’re buying the people who built the business - and will keep it growing.” Robert Dunn Watch the replay + read the recap - plllab.com/post/pl3-virtual-… #PL3VirtualRoundtable #LeadershipReadiness #ExitStrategy #MergersAndAcquisitions #PrivateEquity #FamilyOwnedBusiness

Processes don’t scale performance - people do. In this #LeadershipLevers episode, Adam Povlitz, CEO of Anago Cleaning Systems, breaks down the leadership moves that helped grow a $100M+ franchise network. From building trust to removing friction, Adam shares how he shifted from micromanagement to metrics - and why choosing the right "who is more important than the perfect how." It’s Not the How, It’s the Who - Performance Growth Lessons with Adam Povlitz -leadershiplevers.buzzsprout.… open.spotify.com/episode/3Vf… podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas… If you're scaling systems, teams, or culture - this episode is a masterclass in performance leadership.

Going live tomorrow - The Leadership Blind Spots That Derail Deals On July 31 at 1:30P CST, the PL3 - Performance Leadership Learning Lab Team is hosting a live 45-minute virtual roundtable on the metrics that matter for leadership exit readiness - from identifying succession risk to cultural misalignment. If you work in M&A, wealth management or exit planning - this session is for you. Register to join live or receive the recording after: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi…

What happens when locker-room leadership meets boardroom execution? On this episode of #LeadershipLevers, Chris Teahan, CRPC™ - 2022 Kansas Jayhawks National Champion and now Investment Advisor at Merrill Lynch - unpacks what it takes to build a winning team and culture. From shared standards and role clarity to the impact of real-time feedback, Chris highlights the leadership traits that drive performance - in business, sports, and beyond. If you’re leading a team through growth or evaluating leadership in high-stakes environments, this episode is worth a listen. Buzzsprout - leadershiplevers.buzzsprout.… Spotify - open.spotify.com/episode/3lw… Apple - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas… #LeadershipLevers #LeadershipDevelopment #CultureMatters #HighPerformance #FounderLeadership #PrivateEquity

Are HR Operating Partners Becoming the Secret Weapon in Private Equity? Talent strategy is no longer a back-office function - it's a value creation lever. In this article, Jim Tolbert, Managing Director at the PL3 - Performance Leadership Learning Lab explores how HR Operating Partners are helping funds go beyond financial engineering by: *Surfacing leadership gaps early *Accelerating value through culture alignment *Using performance signals to guide people decisions that impact EBITDA This role isn’t just strategic - it’s becoming essential for modern deal teams. Read the full article - plllab.com/post/the-strategi… If your fund is treating HR like a support function, you’re missing one of the clearest paths to monetization - follow PL3 for performance and exit insights linkedin.com/company/pl3-per…

The leadership metrics buyers now expect - are you tracking them? Join the PL3 - Performance Leadership Learning Lab Team for a Virtual Roundtable on July 31, 1P CST to explore how emerging performance theory is changing the way investors and advisors evaluate leadership exit readiness. We’ll break down: *The people risks that quietly kill valuation *Why succession planning is no longer a soft issue *What’s now measurable in culture, alignment, and leadership fit. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi… You’ll receive the replay even if you can’t attend live. If you'd like additional performance insights - join the free PL3 Community - community.plllab.co

Did you miss the PL3 Virtual Roundtable on AI and Exit Readiness last month? We published a full recap of the conversation - along with the video replay - for those who couldn’t join us live. The session explored how AI is reshaping how investors and advisors evaluate cultural fit, leadership risk, and post-sale performance - long before due diligence begins. If you advise founders, manage exits, or care about valuation drivers beyond the balance sheet, this recap is worth your time. Read the recap and watch the replay - plllab.com/post/pl3-virtual-…

Anxiety is one of the most overlooked signals of leadership impact. It doesn’t just affect morale - it slows execution, weakens trust, and drives turnover. In our latest post, Cynthia Kyriazis breaks down why unmanaged anxiety is a performance risk - and what leaders can do to address it. Read more: plllab.com/post/anxiety-the-… #Leadership #Culture #OrganizationalHealth #PL3 #PerformanceSignals #Anxiety