If leadership feels disconnected, the real issue might not be strategy. It might be your vibe.
That is the firestarter from Sean Fitzpatrick’s latest Voice Activated episode featuring Phillip B. Wilson, CEO of LRI Consulting and architect of Approachable Leadership.
Wilson doesn’t do feel-good fluff. Instead, he delivers pragmatic shifts that transform how leaders connect, listen, and lead.
What You’ll Actually Take Away
- Approachability > Authority: Safe spaces for feedback beat top-down control any day.
- Three Leadership Habits That Actually Work: Openness. Understanding. Support.
- Ditch the Stereotype, Embrace the Hero Assumption: Believe your team wants to win with zero cynicism allowed.
- Stop • Listen • Confirm: A listening tool so simple you’ll wonder why you didn’t know it already.
- The Signs You Might Be a Leadership Wallflower: Being unapproachable looks different than you think.
- Culture Hack: Approachability doesn’t just improve vibes. It stops conflicts before they start.
- Feedback = Leadership Fuel: Those brutally honest comments are pure gold.
The Core Takeaway
Approachability isn’t optional. It is foundational. When people feel safe bringing ideas, problems, or suggestions, everything changes. “Being approachable means teammates feel safe and comfortable,” Wilson says. That comfort creates massive upside.
This is not another leadership pep talk. It is a no-nonsense roadmap to close the power gap, boost trust, and actually get results. Wilson’s approach is not “just another checkbox.” It is how you build workplaces people want to stick around for.
Episode Timeline (so you can jump right to the juicy parts)
- 00:00 – Stop, Listen, Confirm: A Leadership Shortcut
- 02:40 – What Actually Makes a Leader Approachable
- 09:31 – The Three Habits You Can Start Today
- 12:36 – Try This for Actual Listening Wins
- 20:08 – The Hero Assumption: Trust Your Team to Want to Win
- 30:51 – Leadership That Stops Labor Drama Before It Starts
- 36:28 – You May Not Be as Approachable as You Think
- 39:14 – TL;DR: Making It Work for You
Listen to the Episode
