In today’s fast-changing world, surface-level leadership won’t cut it anymore. In this solo episode, LaTonya Wilkins (award-winning executive coach and bestselling author of Leading Below the Surface) walks you through 10 concrete ways organizations benefit when they embrace Below the Surface Leadership.

Episode Summary

From stronger leadership alignment and inclusive decision-making to navigating bias, building real belonging, and creating a shared language for change—even in the age of AI—you’ll hear practical ways to shift culture and performance.

LaTonya also shares an update on the Second Edition of Leading Below the Surface (out this fall!) and how you can bring these practices into your teams and organizations.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • 10 tangible benefits of Below the Surface Leadership
  • Practical ways to apply P2B (Person-to-Belonging) listening
  • Why authenticity and psychological safety are more than trends
  • How to build a shared language for change in uncertain times

10 Benefits of Below the Surface Leadership:

  1. Stronger leadership alignment — deeper communication, shared clarity, and purpose.
  2. Practical, easy-to-use framework — REAL leadership (Relatable, Equitable, Aware, Loyal).
  3. More inclusive decision-making — P2B listening to invite and build on all voices.
  4. Psychological safety becomes the norm — embedded in culture, not a passing trend.
  5. Better team dynamics — empathy + safety + REAL leadership = undefeated.
  6. Bias awareness — recognizing and addressing affinity, confirmation, and group bias.
  7. Authentic leadership — navigating a surface (or broken) world without losing yourself.
  8. Tools to navigate surface culture — practical ways to resist superficiality.
  9. Clarity on belonging — distinguishing real belonging from performative inclusion.
  10. Shared language for change — human-centered leadership in an AI-driven era.

Resources & Links

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Connect with us:

Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

Learn more about Change Coaches⁠

Follow LaTonya on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Follow Change Coaches on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

For More on the Book Leading Below the Surface

Podcast Summary Transcript: 

Note: These are approximate, based on transcript — not pulled directly from the audio)

  • 00:00 — Welcome & intro
  • 01:30 — Book update: Second Edition coming September
  • 03:30 — Why this episode: origin of Below the Surface Leadership
  • 06:00 — #1 Stronger leadership alignment
  • 08:00 — #2 REAL framework as daily practice
  • 10:00 — #3 Inclusive decision-making & P2B listening
  • 12:30 — #4 Psychological safety as a norm
  • 15:00 — #5 Better team dynamics
  • 16:30 — #6 Bias awareness & the “terrible three”
  • 19:00 — #7 Authentic leadership in a surface world
  • 21:30 — #8 Navigating surface culture
  • 22:30 — #9 Real belonging
  • 24:00 — #10 Shared language for change (AI & uncertainty)
  • 27:00 — Recap + call to action