A Student of Leadership - Real Leaders. Real Growth. One Table.
Robert Adams
Show overview
A Student of Leadership - Real Leaders. Real Growth. One Table. launched in 2025 and has put out 65 episodes in the time since. That works out to roughly 9 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run under ten minutes — most land between 7 min and 9 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Business show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 5 days ago, with 19 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 46 episodes published. Published by Robert Adams.
From the publisher
Welcome to A Student of Leadership, the podcast for leaders who believe growth is never finished.I'm Robert Adams. Behavioral leadership coach.Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coach.Thirty years in food distribution, multi-unit operations, and leadership development. Ranked #16 in the United States for Management and Leadership on LinkedIn by Favikon.Each episode delivers one idea, one story, and one question worth sitting with. Built for leaders who are actually in the work. Not theorizing about it.The food industry is where leadership gets tested every single day.On the floor. In the kitchen. At the table. In the boardroom.Fast-paced environments, tight margins, diverse teams, constant pressure. Labor shortages, turnover, supply chain disruptions.These are not buzzwords.They are our daily reality.This podcast is built for that reality.The foundation of everything here is the Place Setting Framework, seven dimensions of leadership using a formal table setting as metaphor.The Plate.The Knife.The Fork.The Spoon.The Glass.The Napkin.The Table.Each week maps to one element.Each episode connects to The Leadership Table newsletter on Substack, arriving every Monday at 6:00 AM.Leadership excellence is not built on charisma or natural talent.It is built on intentional behaviors that anyone can learn, practice, and master. Small shifts in how we communicate, recognize effort, handle conflict, build accountability, and show up for our teams create lasting impact. Practical. Proven. Implementable immediately.I am not here pretending to have all the answers. I am here as a fellow student. Someone who believes the moment we stop learning is the moment we stop leading effectively.New episodes every Tuesday at 6:00 AM EST.Listen and subscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-student-of-leadership-real-leaders-real-growth-one-table/id1788679511Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KdlbKAVbF118b2KhfcpqyWebsite: https://astudentofleadership.riverside.com/The Leadership Table on Substack: https://robertadamsleader.substack.com/Real Leaders. Real Growth. One Table.
Latest Episodes
View all 65 episodesEpisode 64: The Feedback That Actually Changes Behavior
Episode 63: Developing People in a Time-Starved Environment
Episode 62 - The Daily Act Is the Leadership Act
Episode 61 - Why Great Leaders Step Toward Conflict
Episode 60 - The leader who broke down so you don't have to
Ep 59Episode 59 - The manager who saved her team by actually listening
The podcast discusses the critical role of empathy in leadership, highlighting the three essential parts of empathy, the cost of an empathy recession, the practical application of empathy at Chick-fil-A, the intersection of AI and empathy, and the importance of practicing empathy in leadership.TakeawaysEmpathy is a crucial aspect of effective leadershipPracticing cognitive, effective, and behavioral empathy is essential for creating a supportive workplace culture.Chapters00:00 The Importance of Empathy in Leadership06:06 Empathy in Action: Chick-fil-A Example
Ep 58Episode 58 - The 3-minute coaching conversation that changed everything
The episode discusses coaching under pressure and the impact of coaching on real-time development. It also highlights the role of technology in coaching and provides an invitation for the week to practice coaching in high-pressure moments.TakeawaysCoaching under pressureReal-time developmentChapters00:00 Coaching Under Pressure05:50 The Role of Technology
Ep 57Episode 57 - Decisions under pressure
In this episode, Robert Adams discusses the challenges of making decisions under pressure and the impact of stress on leadership. He emphasizes the importance of reflection over reaction and provides practical questions and experiments to improve decision-making under pressure.TakeawaysLeaders default to habits under stressGood decisions come from examining how you decideChapters00:00 Leading with Discipline
Ep 56Episode 56 - When leaders run empty
The episode discusses the concept of burnout in leaders, emphasizing the importance of recovery and impact measurement. It provides insights into the signs of burnout and the need for intentional reflection to restore leadership capacity.TakeawaysResilience means recovering intentionallyLeaders who recover measure impact, not effortChapters00:00 Recognizing Burnout in Leaders
Ep 55Episode 55 - The moment before impact
The episode explores the concept of the 'moment before impact' in leadership, highlighting the behavioral nature of impact and the importance of awareness in leadership growth. It delves into the impact of unquestioned habits under pressure, the autopilot gap, and the significance of closing the intention-impact gap to improve leadership effectiveness.TakeawaysImpact is behavioralLeadership growth starts with awarenessChapters00:00 Closing the Intention-Impact Gap
Ep 54Episode 54 - Letting go to level up
In this episode, Robert Adams discusses the concept of letting go to level up and the challenges associated with it. He explores the idea of identity lock and its impact on leadership, providing reflective questions and an experiment for the listeners. The episode concludes with a preview of the next episode and ways to stay connected throughout the week.TakeawaysLetting go to level upIdentity lockChapters00:00 Staying Connected and Next Episode Preview
Ep 53Episode 53 - The Invisible ceiling
The episode explores the concept of invisible ceilings that limit leaders and the importance of asking better questions to break through these limitations. It also discusses the After Action Review, the experience trap, the difference between leading and managing, and the power of asking questions to crack ceilings. The episode concludes with a segment on staying connected and a preview of the next topic.TakeawaysInvisible ceilings limit leadersLeaders who break ceilings ask better questionsChapters00:00 The Invisible Ceiling05:26 Staying Connected
Ep 52Episode 52 - The Leadership gap
In this episode, Robert Adams discusses the concept of the leadership gap, focusing on the difference between leaders' intentions and the actual impact of their behavior. He explores the Google Project Aristotle and the myth of good intent, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and the impact of behaviors on trust. The episode concludes with a weekly challenge to build self-awareness and stay connected with the leadership community.TakeawaysIntent vs. ImpactBuilding TrustChapters00:00 Weekly Challenge
Ep 51Episode 51 - When success habits stop working
The conversation explores the evolution of leadership behavior, the impact of leadership habits on growth, and the concept of the leadership table as a gathering place for leaders to connect and grow. It emphasizes the idea that leadership habits are tools, not identities, and highlights the importance of recognizing that what got you here won't get you there.TakeawaysLeadership habits are tools, not identitiesWhat got you here won't get you thereChapters00:00 The Evolution of Leadership Behavior05:19 The Leadership Table
Ep 50Episode 50 - When people feel seen
In this episode, Robert Adams discusses the concept of micro recognition in leadership, emphasizing its importance in fostering a positive work environment. He shares insights on how small, specific acknowledgments can significantly impact team morale and performance. By focusing on recognizing effort rather than just outcomes, leaders can create conditions for growth and motivation within their teams. The episode encourages listeners to practice micro recognition in their daily interactions to strengthen relationships and enhance leadership effectiveness.TakeawaysMicro recognition is about small, powerful moments.Recognition doesn't have to be formal to matter.Specific acknowledgment reinforces behavior.Dopamine is released when people feel recognized.Recognition should focus on effort, not just outcomes.Use specific language to acknowledge contributions.Silence can send a negative message about recognition.Practicing micro recognition can strengthen teams.Leaders who notice more become more present.Leadership grows fastest when shared.TitlesUnlocking Leadership Potential Through Micro RecognitionThe Subtle Art of Acknowledgment in LeadershipSound bites"It's called micro recognition.""Think of recognition like sunlight.""Get specific every time."Chapters00:00 The Power of Micro Recognition03:19 The Impact of Specific Acknowledgment
Ep 49Episode 49 - Accountability without Blame
The conversation explores the impact of accountability on leadership, emphasizing the importance of safety, curiosity, and behavior-based leadership. It delves into the shift from blame to process-oriented accountability and encourages the spread of healthier leadership practices.TakeawaysAccountability and leadershipBehavior-based leadershipChapters00:00 The Impact of Accountability
Ep 48Episode 48 - Humble Leadership
This micro podcast episode explores the concept of humble leadership and its significance in real-life scenarios. It emphasizes the importance of humility in leadership and provides actionable insights for leaders to implement.TakeawaysHumble leadership involves speaking up without ego and serving the moment, not oneself.Humility in leadership is about making the room smarter because you are in it.Chapters00:00 The Strength of Humble Leadership
Ep 47Episode 47 - Psychological Safety
In this episode, Robert Adams discusses the concept of psychological safety in leadership and its impact on team dynamics. He shares insights on creating an environment where honesty and transparency are valued, and how leaders can foster psychological safety within their teams. The episode concludes with a reminder of the upcoming topics and resources for further leadership development.TakeawaysPsychological safety is essential for team growth and creativityLeaders can foster psychological safety by valuing honesty and responding with curiosityChapters00:00 Introduction to Psychological Safety05:59 Conclusion and Next Steps
Ep 46Episode 46 - Energy Management
In this episode, Robert Adams discusses the importance of energy over time in leadership. He emphasizes the need to manage emotional energy and provides a leadership challenge to replenish energy through consistent habits. Additionally, he shares ways to practice leadership throughout the week.TakeawaysEnergy over timeManaging emotional energyChapters00:00 The Energy Game
Ep 45Episode 45 - Leading Through Complexity
In this episode, Robert Adams discusses the concept of leading through complexity and the importance of absorbing pressure as a leader. He shares a real-life story of calm leadership in a high-stakes situation and emphasizes the role of leaders in absorbing pressure and choosing clarity over emotion. The episode concludes with an invitation to stay connected beyond the podcast and a preview of the upcoming topic on energy management.TakeawaysLeading through complexityAbsorbing pressure as a leaderChapters00:00 Leading Through Complexity05:59 Upcoming Topic: Energy Management