Leading with Love | Jacob Crockett

Leading with Love | Jacob Crockett

Author: Bill January 2, 2026 Duration: 45:38
In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, host Bill Lennan sits down with Jacob Crockett for a thoughtful conversation on leadership in the modern tech world—and beyond. Together, they explore what truly makes an effective leader, why titles don’t always equal influence, and how emotional intelligence plays a critical role in building strong teams and healthy company culture.
Jacob shares lessons from his early leadership experiences, highlighting how discomfort, vulnerability, and genuine care for people often lead to the greatest growth. The discussion dives into systems thinking, the impact of poor leadership, and why happiness at work isn’t just a “nice to have,” but a key driver of productivity and long-term success.
This episode is packed with practical insights for leaders, managers, and anyone looking to grow personally and professionally—by focusing on relationships, purpose, and leading with authenticity.

Key themes include:
Leadership in tech and fast-growing organizations Emotional intelligence and human-centered management
Building meaningful relationships at work
Systems thinking as a leadership tool Why genuine care fuels performance and happiness

Sound bites from the episode:
“Wisdom might be very generous.”
“Be the leader.”
“Happiness leads to productivity.” 

🎙️ Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting your journey, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership, growth, and what it really means to be 40% better. I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team

Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/

Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/

Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership
#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

Hosted by Bill, 40% Better-Engineering Leadership is a conversation for those who build and guide technical teams. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical dialogue focused on the tangible mechanics of morale, motivation, and output. Each episode features a single expert in employee engagement, and together we dissect the specific strategies that lead to measurable leaps in performance. You'll hear detailed explorations into what actually moves the needle for engineers and their managers, translating research and experience into actionable leadership techniques. The goal is straightforward: to provide the insights that can help your team operate at a significantly higher level of effectiveness and satisfaction. Tune in for a focused, deep-dive podcast that cuts through the noise of generic management advice, offering concrete ideas you can apply directly to the unique challenges of engineering leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 109

40% Better - Engineering Leadership
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