John Spence

05/13/2026

I recently coached a CEO whose executive team had misread him for months. When he looked away during discussions, they assumed he was disengaged. When he delayed decisions, they called it indecisiveness. When he floated ideas, they treated them as instructions.

None of their interpretations were correct. In this week's blog, I share what was actually happening and a simple document I use with coaching clients that most leaders have never considered.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-most-leaders-never-think-explain-john-spence-ucece/

If you need help improving the effectiveness of your leadership team, send me a note. [email protected]

I was coaching a CEO who was having difficulty communicating with his executive team. I sat in several meetings and watched the dynamic unfold.

05/12/2026

Trade pressures, rising costs, and shifting demand are putting increasing pressure on organizations already navigating difficult conditions.

I am joining our strategic partners at Pivot & Pace: New Zealand's Leading Strategic Advisory Company for a 45-minute webinar on building business resilience during periods of uncertainty and change. The session will be practical, fast-paced, and focused on a framework leaders can apply immediately. Although the discussion will focus on the New Zealand economy, the principles are relevant to organizations in every industry around the world.

If you are joining from New Zealand: June 18 at 9:30am | NZ$89
If you are joining from the US: June 17 at 5:30pm EST | US$53.02

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/webinar-building-business-resilience-in-a-constantly-changing-world-tickets-1988602800508

05/11/2026

You can be successful by every external measure and still feel like you are moving in the wrong direction.

That tension is what Joshua Wilson and I dig into on Notes for an Awesome Life. Habits, mindset shifts, and ideas you can put to use for getting better in personal and professional life without overcomplicating the process.

🎧 Listen here: https://pod.link/1845676457

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05/08/2026

Honored to be included in this month’s Leadership Development Digest, hosted by Julie Winkle Giulioni.

The Digest brings together 25 contributors exploring topics such as leading with heart, compassion, courage, and the deeper aim of leadership.

Grateful to be part of a community that values thoughtful leadership and generous idea-sharing. You can read the full issue here: https://www.juliewinklegiulioni.com/blog/leadership-matters/may-2026-leadership-development-digest/

Leadership has never mattered more. Discover expert perspectives on AI shifts, burnout, resilience, trust, and innovation in this curated digest.

05/07/2026

Most founders are exceptionally good at building something from nothing. That same instinct, moving fast, trusting your gut, staying in control, is often what stalls growth once the business reaches a certain size.

I sat down with Adam Strong on The Business Strategist podcast to talk about why the transition from founder to CEO is harder than most people expect and what it actually takes to scale without becoming the thing that holds it back.

If you are leading a business that no longer feels as straightforward as it once did, this conversation is worth your time.

🎧 Listen here:
YouTube → https://youtu.be/KtsEk5UsI3o
Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/episode/5uatJvkWfZ0ILLdEFxQb6v
Apple → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-strategist-with-adam-strong/id1518654325?i=1000763187524

05/06/2026

A few weeks ago, I asked a room full of professionals how many of them get nervous speaking in front of a group. Almost every hand went up, including mine.

After more than 30 years as a professional speaker, I still get nervous. In this week's blog, I share two ideas that have helped me, and explain why the people in the room are not there to watch you fail.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-i-tell-people-who-get-nervous-speaking-public-john-spence-c0ace/

If you found this useful, share it with your network and let's connect.

Two weeks ago I was delivering a leadership workshop. As part of that program I ask audience members to stand up and present on behalf of the people at their table.

05/05/2026

In this Business in a Minute video, I share one of the most valuable lessons my first mentor, Charlie Owen, taught me: knowledge only matters when it changes how you work.

If you find this useful, share it with your network and let's connect.

05/04/2026

The voice of the customer should be at the center of your strategy. Strong customer relationships are among the only real competitive advantages many businesses have, and most companies are not as good at this as they think.

The most common failure is assuming you already know what customers need without consistently checking. The five strategies in the infographic below address that gap directly.

If building stronger customer relationships is a priority this year, let's talk. [email protected]

05/01/2026

A great culture shows up when leaders make conscious choices about what they will and won't allow.

Few things erode a culture faster than a leader who ignores the standards they expect everyone else to follow. Every moment a problem goes unaddressed sends a signal about what is actually acceptable here.

The companies I've seen build cultures that last, Netflix and WD-40 among them, didn't get there through grand initiatives. They got there because their leaders were deliberate about what they rewarded and what they let slide.

Culture by accident is still a choice, it's just one you didn't make consciously.

If your organization is ready to be more intentional about culture, I'd love to talk about how you envision that looking in practice. [email protected]

04/30/2026

During a class I was teaching, a senior VP asked me how she could oversee her teams, travel constantly, still make it home for dinner, get to her kids' soccer games, and stay active in her faith. In this Business in a Minute video, I share what I told her.

If you find this useful, share it with your network and let's connect.

04/29/2026

One of the CEOs presenting at America's Credit Unions Management and Leadership Institute last week was Darin Woinarowicz of Arrowhead Credit Union. Early in his tenure, he let go of some of his top-producing salespeople. They were hitting their numbers, but their behavior was pulling the organization in the wrong direction.

In this week's blog, I share what drives that decision and what actually separates strong organizations from the rest when competitors can match your products, pricing, and technology.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/one-thing-your-competitors-cannot-copy-john-spence-ezuge/

If your organization is navigating that tension between performance and culture, send me a note. [email protected]

I just finished three days serving as the lead instructor for America’s Credit Unions Management and Leadership Institute, one of the premier leadership programs in the credit union industry. As part of the program, several outstanding CEOs were invited to share how they think about leadership, cu...