Latest news with #MikePeterson
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Leadership Mistake That's Quietly Killing Trust Inside Your Company
The Leadership Mistake That's Quietly Killing Trust Inside Your Company getty In a world of constant disruption, it's not strategies or software that make the difference, it's trust. Trust in the mission. Trust in your coworkers. Trust in leadership. But building trust isn't about being nice. It's about being real. That theme sits at the heart of Leading in the Age of Digital Disruption , the new book by Mike Peterson. We recently sat down for a conversation about the hidden ways leaders sabotage trust, how to make accountability constructive, and why vulnerability is leadership's most underused asset. What sets Peterson's work apart is his use of narrative. Rather than offering abstract principles, he brings them to life through the journey of Ethan, a fictional CEO tasked with rebuilding a company from the inside out. But while the story is fictional, the insights are all too real. One of the first things Peterson told me was this: 'Leaders often mistake being approachable or friendly for building trust. But trust is built through consistent, transparent action.' When we look at why employee engagement remains low in so many organizations, one major factor is a lack of clarity and courage at the top. Too many leaders want to be liked more than they want to lead. They permit low engagement, avoid tough conversations, and fail to explain the 'why' behind decisions. And as the saying goes, 'what we permit, we promote.' In the book, Ethan inherits a culture where those very behaviors have corroded morale. He doesn't fix it with rah-rah speeches. He fixes it by naming what others won't. By explaining the purpose behind each tough call. And by making sure accountability is practiced, not just preached. Some leaders still believe that showing vulnerability will make them appear weak. But as Peterson explains, 'Vulnerability isn't weakness, it's leadership in its most human form.' In one of the most pivotal scenes in the book, Ethan admits to his team that he doesn't have all the answers and he asks for help. Far from undermining his authority, this moment earns him respect. Because when a leader is willing to be honest, it opens the door for everyone else to do the same. Psychological safety, after all, isn't a memo or a mission statement. It's what happens when people feel safe to speak, even when what they're saying is uncomfortable. And it begins at the top. Research from Leadership IQ has shown that when employees feel their leaders welcome suggestions, they're 12 times more likely to recommend their company as a great place to work. But if leaders don't model that behavior — if they dominate every conversation, dodge feedback, or deliver performative nods without follow-through — people stop talking. And that silence is deadly. Accountability Without Trust Is Just Blame One of the most refreshing aspects of Peterson's work is how he redefines accountability. Instead of a tool for punishment, it's framed as a function of clarity and trust. As he told me, 'Leaders get it wrong when they only invoke accountability after something goes wrong — by then, it's too late.' A Leadership IQ study found that only 29% of employees say they 'always' know whether their performance is where it should be. In other words, the majority are operating in a fog. That's not a people problem, it's a leadership failure. Worse, in 42% of organizations, high performers are less engaged than low performers. Why? Because those who give their all are often rewarded with extra work but little recognition. Meanwhile, low performers coast without consequences. The result? Burnout at the top, disengagement at the bottom, and silence in between. In the book, Ethan confronts this dynamic head-on. He introduces a new framework where expectations are clearly set, feedback is frequent, and performance is no longer measured by ambiguity or favoritism. He reminds his team that 'trust, communication, and accountability must go hand in hand.' And that's the only way it works. Set Expectations Out Loud, Not in Your Head Another theme Peterson explores is the danger of unspoken expectations. Far too many managers operate with a 'dual deadline' system — stating one date out loud while secretly hoping for another. And then penalizing employees for not reading their mind. This kind of silent standard doesn't challenge people, it sabotages them. Instead, we need to be clear, consistent, and explicit. In the book, Ethan starts every planning session by answering three questions: What does success look like? Why does it matter? And how will we know when we've achieved it? And as Peterson makes clear, when leaders are transparent about the 'why,' people don't just perform, they invest. Culture Is Created One Conversation at a Time Perhaps the most resonant idea in Leading in the Age of Digital Disruption is this: Culture isn't built in all-hands meetings. It's built in one-on-one conversations. In how leaders respond to failure. In how they show up during change. And in whether they treat employees as contributors or problems to be managed. In one especially powerful scene, Ethan walks into an executive meeting and calls out the fear in the room; not to shame anyone, but to free them. By naming the discomfort, he removes its power. And by speaking last, he makes space for others to speak first. That's how change happens: not by mandate, but by modeling. Leadership Is Human Work If there's one takeaway from my conversation with Peterson, it's that the future of leadership isn't about knowing more. It's about being more clear, more consistent, and more human. In an age obsessed with speed and scale, the leaders who will win are those who make their people feel seen, trusted, and challenged. Not coddled. Not ignored. And certainly not managed through silence.
USA Today
11-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Orange and Blue Game rosters released for Florida football's spring scrimmage in the Swamp
Orange and Blue Game rosters released for Florida football's spring scrimmage in the Swamp The Florida Gators football program released the player and staff rosters for the upcoming Orange and Blue game, which will be held inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, April 12. The listings were posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday evening. The Orange team will be led by running backs coach Jabbar Juluke at head coach, with edge coach Mike Peterson serving as his assistant. The Blue team has defensive line coach Gerald Chatman at the helm, with assistant offensive line coach John Decoster at his side. The quarterbacks listed for the Orange team are Harrison Bailey, Trammell Jones, Aaron Williams and Lawrence Wright IV. The Blue team has DJ Lagway — who is currently dealing with some injury issues — along with Paul Kessler, Clay Millen and Aidan Warner. The rest of the rosters can be viewed below. About the Orange and Blue Game The 2025 edition of Florida's final intrasquad scrimmage of the spring will take place inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, April 12, with the kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET. The game will not be televised but will be open to the public. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. ET and all non-reserved parking on campus, including Lots 114 and the Stephen C. O'Connell Center garage, will be available for general parking on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission for the game is free. The university will honor the 2024-25 national champion men's basketball team during an extended 30-minute halftime event at approximately 2 p.m. ET. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kansas ‘Move Over' law heads to governor's desk
TOPEKA (KSNT) – On Monday, the Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill that would add and increase penalties on drivers for certain infractions. The bill now goes to Governor Laura Kelly's desk. On Monday, the Kansas House of Representatives passed SB 8, a bill that adds requirements for drivers when approaching stopped, standing or parked vehicles that display hazard lights. The bill includes a $75 fine for violations. Under the bill, drivers will need to approach stationary vehicles with hazard lights with caution, on multi-lane highways drivers must change lanes away from the stationary vehicle and on single-lane roads if one lane is unsafe drivers must slow down and proceed with caution. Under the bill, drivers who are convicted of a traffic infraction will have their fines doubled. Drivers will also face increased fines for committing a second violation within two years of a prior conviction. Cats with bird flu reported in Manhattan In a fiscal note on the bill, the Office of Judicial Administration said the bill could increase the number of cases filed in the district court and result in more processing time for court employees and judges. The Office of Judicial Administration said the financial impact of the bill can't be estimated. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) said the agency's Traffic Record Enhancement Fund currently receives 2.23% of all district court fines, penalties, and forfeitures, while the agency's Seat Belt Safety Fund receives 2.20 %. KDOT said it was unable to estimate the fiscal impact of the bill. Crash causes highway traffic jam in north Topeka AAA Kansas commended the bill's passing in the House. AAA Kansas said 994 empty vehicles were struck on the side of the road from 2018 to 2023 in Kansas. The crashes resulted in 8 deaths and 25 suspected serious injuries. In that same time period, 82 crashes happened while someone was inside the vehicle on the side of the road. 'AAA Kansas thanks Senate Transportation Committee chair Sen. Mike Peterson, House Transportation Committee chair Rep. Shannon Francis, members of both committees, and ultimately the full Senate and House membership for passing this important road safety bill on to the final step toward it becoming law. Adding motorists dealing with disabled vehicles to Kansas' 'Move Over' law will provide drivers, as well as emergency personnel, who may be aiding them with additional protections when they are on the side of the road.' Shawn Steward, Public and Government Affairs Manager for AAA Kansas For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
