The Art of Leadership Without Power | With Donald Kossmann - Episode 57

The Art of Leadership Without Power | With Donald Kossmann - Episode 57

Author: Bill August 22, 2025 Duration: 1:04:06
40% Better - Engineering Leadership
BusinessManagement
In this conversation, Donald shares the unexpected journey into leadership at Microsoft, discussing the unique environment of Microsoft Research, the transition from a bottom-up approach to a more focused research strategy, and the importance of leadership over management. We emphasize the role of communication in driving change, the interplay of luck and preparation in achieving success, and the necessity of making bets in a challenging environment. Donald also reflects on the essence of leadership in the tech industry and the importance of creating value through leadership. In this conversation, we delve into the importance of making calculated bets in both personal and professional contexts. We discuss how innovation and risk-taking are essential in the technology sector, emphasizing that a risk-averse mindset can be detrimental. We also discuss Donald's career journey, highlighting the significance of seizing opportunities and the role of leadership principles learned at Microsoft, and how to foster a culture of experimentation and clarity in leadership. 

We 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 Donald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-kossmann-8915b1/
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:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40-better-engineering-leadership/id1709546347 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

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: 100

Official website RSS
instagramyoutubelinkedinspotifymedium
40% Better - Engineering Leadership
Podcast Episodes
ExecutiveBlindSpots - Episode 42 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:54
Executives are talking but the rank and file are not responding. This is not a language barrier problem - it's a blind spot problem. Execs think their audience understands them - but they don't. What to do?
Ernesto Gomez - it's all about the people - Episode 41 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:04
Ernesto is a lifelong learner.He studied social communications and has completed executive programs at leading institutions, including Stanford GSB, MIT Sloan School of Management, Wharton Business School, Kellogg School…
Why Leadership Training Fails - Episode 40 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:25
Applying critical thinking to the obvious problem: with all the leadership books and training out - why aren't we seeing better engagement and performance?
WorkPositive with Dr. Joey - Episode 39 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:34
Dr. Joey Faucette transforms companies from a negative “Kevin Culture” to a positive work culture that increases productivity and profits.He is the culture architect of the Work Positive framework, certified Executive Co…
BarbedWire - Episode 38 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:23
Eighteen months ago barbed wire terrified me.Last weekend, I ran another 100+ feet.What happened in the last year??
HR, Leadership, and Avoiding Traps - Episode 37 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:31
Lisa-Maree Blumenfeld, has 20+ years of HR experience.We had a wide ranging conversation around HR, people at work, and avoiding pitfalls. Prior to starting Retain, Lisa was the VP of People at Expa, where she led a cent…
Devil is in the Details - Episode 36 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:18
Effective leadership isn't a philosophy - it's a stack of behaviors driven by tiny details. Overlooking these details is why we have so many disengaged and low performing employees. Details matter when you want a high pe…
Pillars of Team Leadership - Emotional Resilience - Episode 35 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:41
When people ask me "how do you do that?", the answer is often "by overcoming emotional friction". At the core, that's what Emotional Resilience is - overcoming emotional friction. Often team leads are stopped from doing…
Business Leverage - Episode 34 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:26
Leverage - using somethign to the maximum advantage One of my early mentors taught me the importance of Individual Contributors for company revenue, product development, and client happiness.And how team leads had the mo…
Asking Better Questions - Episode 33 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:39
Ask more questions. Ask different questions. You can learn a lot from and about your team by asking questions - and getting them what they want.

«1...345678910»