Most leaders want change, but we often avoid the one place it has to start. Truth.

In this encore presentation of our conversation with David Johnson, we challenge the instinct to jump straight to vision and instead ground ourselves in reality. We explore why leaders struggle to be fully transparent, how avoiding hard truths slows everything down, and what it really takes to move people through resistance.

We walk through how to create momentum with early wins, how to focus on the people who are willing but waiting, and why transformation is not about tearing things down but building something stronger.

This is a conversation that shifts how we think about change. When we face where we are with clarity and lead with honesty, we create the conditions for real progress and lasting results.

Key Takeaways:

Reality First – We learn why honest assessment is the foundation of effective change.
Build Momentum – We see how early wins create energy and forward movement.
Transparency Wins – We understand how openness builds trust and engagement.
Focus the Middle – We learn how to influence the majority who are undecided.
Change Creates Value – We discover how transformation strengthens entire systems.

Resources Mentioned

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the Courage Assessment) - In less than 10 minutes, find out where you’re empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done. Get it here: https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

You don't need to have all the answers to lead well. Get your copy of the Clarity Kit for just $17 to learn the five practices to bring more clarity, confidence and courage into your leadership - https://courageofaleader.com/the-clarity-kit/

About the Guest:

David Johnson, founder and managing partner of Abraxas Group, has a 20-year track record of driving organizational change. David has served as interim executive or financial advisor to dozens of middle market companies in transition.

Throughout his career, David has demonstrated a commitment to thought leadership, with numerous speaking engagements and articles on the topics of change management, performance improvement, restructuring and turnaround to his credit.

David received his MBA from the University of Chicago and completed his undergraduate studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

About the Host:

Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays.

As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results.

Amy’s most popular keynote speeches are:

The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership Legacy
The Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System Collaboration
The Courage of a Leader: Accelerate Trust with Your Team, Customers and Community
The Courage of a Leader: How to Build a Happy and Successful Hybrid Team

Her new book is a #1 international best-seller and is entitled, The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results.

http://www.courageofaleader.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley

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Mentioned in this episode:

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness Assessment (The Courage Assessment)

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

How to Go From Visionary to Change Agent to Triumphant | David Johnson (Encore)

The Courage of a Leader