Straight Shots and Mic Drops — Here’s What Hit Home
From mic-drop moments to “wait, I needed that” gems, this year’s leadership insights sparked big ideas, brave conversations, and a few awkward laughs. Whether you were wrangling conflict, boosting collaboration, or just trying to keep your Zoom face neutral — you showed up. So here’s your 2025 year in review: the blogs, podcasts, and videos you bookmarked, binge-listened to, and sent to your team (or maybe your boss).
Thanks for being part of the Let’s Grow Leaders community —keep growing, keep leading, and let’s keep tossing the diaper genie out of every workplace conversation.
2025 Year in Review: Most-Read Let’s Grow Leaders Blog Articles
Let’s start with the blog– your top three picks all had one thing in common– practical tools you can use right away.
1. How to Handle Accountability Conversations: 6 Tough Questions Answered (Includes Video)
What do you do when someone cries, gets defensive, or says, “But I’m doing my best”? This all-in-one guide covers the most common (and awkward) questions leaders ask about accountability conversations—and provides clear, confidence-building answers. This is our most popular article of the year includes a video of our I.N.S.P.I.R.E. method for accountability conversations.
NOTE: The I.N.S.P.I.R.E. method is one of the most popular tools in our Human-Centered Leadership Certificate Programs and in our Can We Talk for Real Keynote. Note: We’ve also done several customized leadership and team accountability programs– including train-the-trainer programs.
2. The Collaboration Checklist for Leaders: Five Questions to Guide Better Decisions
Before your next decision or cross-functional huddle, pause. This article gives leaders five essential questions to ask — helping teams slow down just enough to avoid misalignment and build stronger buy-in.
NOTE: We created this collaboration checklist to help a global, matrixed executive team who told us it’s made all the difference in keeping the right people in the loop about the right things.
3. How to Build a Team Agreement and Get Your Team on Track
If your team’s expectations aren’t clear, or people aren’t meeting them consistently, you don’t just have a frustration problem—you have a clarity problem. One of the best ways to fix this is by creating a Team Agreement—or, as we like to call it light-heartedly, a Couth Code. In this article, we give you a step-by-step process and examples for aligning your team around shared commitments.
NOTE: This is another tool we frequently use when working with executive teams or in a SynergySprint Team Retreat to build shared expectations to cascade throughout the organization– another adaptation is to bui
Most Popular Interactive Keynotes
In a world focused on AI, we found an increased appetite for human interaction and courageous conversations. Our clients tell us they value our deeply customized approach, meaningful interactions, and practical takeaways.
Our three most popular interactive keynotes were:
- Courageous Cultures: How to Help Your Team Bring You More Remarkable Ideas
- Collaborate! Be the Teammate Everyone Wants to Work With
- Can We Talk For Real: Practical Tools and Techniques For Courageous Conversations
🎙️ Most-Downloaded Leadership Without Losing Your Soul Podcast Episodes
1. 7 Poor Communication Skills That Destroy Trust and Teamwork
From not following up to using vague feedback, this episode explores the most damaging (but common) communication habits — and shows how to replace them with habits that build clarity, trust, and results.
2. One Common Leadership Communication Mistake to Avoid for More Influence, Better Teamwork, and Better Conflict Resolution
Based on insights from Powerful Phrases for Dealing With Workplace Conflict, this episode is a practical roadmap for navigating tension — with phrases, body language tips, and conversation openers that keep emotions in check and results on track.
🎥 Most Popular Asking For a Friend Video Shorts
Our 2025 year-in-review continues with Asking For a Friend.
Asking For a Friend: “Speak Your Truth Without Burning Bridges”
You know that moment — something feels off, but no one says anything. This short video featuring Chad, our curiosity G.O.A.T., reminds leaders that silence doesn’t preserve peace; it just delays the fallout. Use disarmingly honest phrases like:
“I’m concerned about ___ because…”
to foster trust and collaboration before things go sideways. Watch here »
🎈 Asking For a Friend: “Looking for a Quick and Easy Icebreaker? Bring the Balloons”
Employee appreciation doesn’t have to be expensive. This video shares a playful, high-impact idea using color-coded balloons (or emojis!) to spark connection and celebration in team meetings.
Watch this video to see this employee appreciation teambuilder in action
What These Trends Tell Us
Looking across the most-viewed content, one thing is clear: Leaders want real talk and practical tools.
These pieces stood out because they:
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Helped leaders say the hard things (with care)
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Fostered deeper collaboration across teams
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Celebrated people without a big budget
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Delivered actionable, tested ideas that work in high-stakes moments
In a year filled with uncertainty, your engagement reminded us that courage, clarity, and connection are timeless leadership traits.
👀 What’s Next for Content in 2026?
We’ll keep asking the real questions, tackling sticky conversations, and sharing practical strategies you can use—from the front lines to the boardroom. If you haven’t yet:
- Subscribe to our Let’s Grow Leaders Newsletter (and get a FREE Practical Ways to Be More Daring E-Book)
- Listen to More Episodes of David’s Leadership Without Losing Your Soul Podcast
- Download FREE chapters of Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict
- Join us on YouTube for Practical Tools and Techniques
Have a topic you’d like to see covered? Leave a comment or drop us a note at info@letsgrowleaders.com
Here’s to more clarity, more courage, and more connection in the year ahead.
– Karin & David
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