Will AI Make Mid-Level Managers Extinct?

Will AI Make Mid-Level Managers Extinct?

Author: Russ Hill April 14, 2026 Duration: 30:21
Mid-level management is getting squeezed, and pretending it isn’t happening is the fastest way to become optional. In this episode Lone Rock Leadership co-founder Russ Hill digs into real-world signals, including high-profile moves and bold claims about replacing the traditional management hierarchy. He share why he doesn't buy the idea of “zero managers,” but does believe org charts will get flatter, with fewer layers and fewer mid-level roles. The winners are not the people with the...

Russ Hill brings his frontline experience coaching top-tier corporate executives directly into your headphones with the Lead In 30 Podcast. Each episode is built on a simple, powerful premise: meaningful leadership development doesn't require hours of theory. Instead, you'll get focused, actionable insights designed to strengthen your real-world influence, all delivered in concise segments under thirty minutes. This isn't abstract advice; it's distilled wisdom from someone who helps steer the senior teams of major global organizations daily. As a co-founder of the world's fastest-growing leadership training company, Hill translates high-stakes boardroom strategies into practical steps anyone in a position of responsibility can use. The podcast releases two episodes weekly, offering a consistent stream of perspectives on communication, decision-making, and team dynamics. Whether you're an established manager or aspiring to lead more effectively, this series provides a efficient, direct channel to refine your skills without adding clutter to a busy schedule. It’s a resource for those who believe leadership is a craft honed through deliberate, accessible learning.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Lead In 30 Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Upgrade your leadership team! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#324: What's your plan for developing leaders around you? I want to share with you an option that hasn't been available until now that I think is an amazing opportunity to train yourself or the leaders around you. We jus…
Is It a Gain or Maintain Type of Day? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#323: Thoughts at the gym... this time I'm thinking about two different categories of workouts, two categories of days, two categories of leaders. Which type of day are you having today? Which type of workout are you hav…
The 3 Principles of Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#322: Success comes when you acknowledge and lean into three core principles. What are they? How did I discover them? I share all that in this episode. This is one I want you to share with someone who needs to hear it! G…
The Choice That Generates Power [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:09
#321: You make this decision dozens of times a day. You do it constantly in meetings, conversations, on projects, and in your relationships. The choice determines whether or not you gain or lose power - or influence - wi…
5 Leaders & Their Disastrous Mistakes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:57
#320: Their mistakes led to the Nazis invading Poland, the rise of employee unions, the firing of Steve Jobs, the bankruptcy of WeWork, and the Soviet empire collapsing. As we're researching our next book we're uncoverin…
Ryan Holiday: Ego Is the Enemy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
#319: Ryan Holiday shares how ego can destroy us in three phases of our lives. Ryan is the best-selling author of Ego Is the Enemy and other books like Stillness Is The Key. If you haven't read Ego Is The Enemy you've go…
Are you The Pleaser, The General, or The Creator? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:33
#318: What kind of leader are you? In this episode I describe what we call The 1st Leader, The 2nd Leader, and The 3rd Leader in Lead In 30. Which one of these leader types most accurately describes you and where do you…
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Duration: 32:52
#317: I've been digging into the science of opinions. So many of the challenges we see in the companies we work with come from conflicting opinions. I've started wondering why does everyone think they're right and strugg…
Overcoming the Holiday Hangover As You Return to Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:57
#316: It's time to get back to the grind - back to your routine - after the holidays! Do you experience that funk like you wish you could just not ever work again and just hang out with family and friends? Yeah, I feel t…
Leaders Who Think Small [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:07
#315: Nothing spurs growth more than thinking small. In this episode I share a few conversations I've had lately with people who've left large corporations because of their desire to return to thinking small. Connect wit…