Articles New - ZENGER FOLKMAN

Your Needs
Leadership Challenges
Start with the problem you’re trying to solve.
Developing Leadership Skills

Coaching Skills for Managers

Executive Coaching for Leaders

Developing Individual Contributors into Leaders
Culture & Capability
Build the conditions great leadership needs.
Building Trust in the Workplace

Team Effectiveness

Strengthening the Leadership Pipeline

Leadership Competency Framework
Latest Study

Leadership Skills 2026 Report

Learn four leadership skills that set exceptional leaders apart.

Download Now →
Solutions
Leadership Development
Flagship programs for leaders at every level.
Extraordinary Leader

Leadership Trust

Extraordinary Coach

Coachability
View All Leadership Programs →
Employee Development
Grow individual contributors and emerging talent.
Extraordinary You

Extraordinary Performer

Coachability
View All Employee Programs →
Team Development
Turn working groups into high-performing teams.
Extraordinary Team

Team Trust

Team Assessment
View All Team Programs →
Assessments & Services
Data and support for every program.
360 Degree Feedback

Competency Model Consulting

Executive Coaching

Facilitation & Certification
View All Assessments →

View All Services →
Insights
Read
Research and writing from our practice.
Articles

Books

eBooks

Leadership Studies
Read More Insights →
Watch & Listen
Ideas in shorter form, on your schedule.
Videos

Podcasts

Webinars

Newsletter
View More Insights →
Latest Study

Leadership Skills 2026 Report

Learn four leadership skills that set exceptional leaders apart.

Download Now →
Events
Events
Engaging events that inspire better leadership.
Live Webinars

Public Workshops

Certifications
View All Events →
Webinar

The Human Side of AI: What Leaders Need to Get Right

October 28, 2026 •

11:00am MT

Drawing on new research, explore the human capabilities leaders need most as AI transforms the workplace.
Register Now →

Virtual · Certification

The Extraordinary Leader Facilitator Certification

November 2, 4, & 6, 2026

An intensive live online training process that provides skilled facilitators with the knowledge and tools to effectively deliver standard or customized versions of The Extraordinary Leader Workshop within their organizations.

1

Virtual Workshop

Coachability Essentials: The Core Skills for Becoming More Coachable

December 15, 2026

Give yourself the gift of development as you prepare to thrive in 2027. Join us for a special holiday edition of Coachability and discover how becoming more receptive to feedback can help you unlock your potential and get more out of every development opportunity.

Register Now →

Virtual Workshop

The Extraordinary Coach™

January 12 & 14, 2027

The Extraordinary Coach draws on research and practical experience to help leaders become more effective coaches. Develop stronger coaching skills through greater self-awareness, a flexible conversation framework, and practical application that empowers employees to discover their own solutions and take action.

Register Now →

Virtual Workshop

Elevating Feedback®

January 26 & 28, 2027

Elevating Feedback uses research and practical tools to help leaders make feedback more effective and impactful. Build a culture of continuous development by helping leaders deliver clear, actionable feedback and create the conditions for employees to actively seek, receive, and apply it.

Register Now →

Virtual Workshop

The Extraordinary Leader™

February 9 & 11, 2027

The Extraordinary Leader bridges the gap between leadership research and practical leadership development by leveraging research that identifies the differentiating behaviors of highly effective leaders. Elevate your leaders and your organization by combining personalized, powerful leader data with a distinct, data-driven, strengths-based development approach.

Register Now →

Virtual · Certification

The Extraordinary Leader 360 Assessment Certification

February 23 & 25, 2027

The Extraordinary Leader 360 Assessment Certification utilizes a proven process to prepare participants to have one-on-one coaching conversations by providing experienced coaches with the process, tools, and framework to leverage The Extraordinary Leader 360-degree Assessment and Development Guide with those they coach.

Register Now →

Virtual · Certification

The Extraordinary Leader Facilitator Certification

March 8, 10, & 12, 2027

An intensive live online training process that provides skilled facilitators with the knowledge and tools to effectively deliver standard or customized versions of The Extraordinary Leader Workshop within their organizations.

Register Now →
About Us
Who We Are
Four decades of evidence-based leadership development.
Our Story

Our Team
Our Reach
The clients and partners we work through.
Client Stories

Global Partners
Careers

Join Our Team

Zenger Folkman is always looking for talented, innovative people to join our team.

View Openings →

Articles

Featured Article

Want to Take More Initiative at Work? Research Reveals 6 Behaviors That Matter

October 1, 2026

Ask a manager what they want from their employees, and one answer comes up again and again: Take more initiative. But what does taking initiative at work actually look like? It is easy to define initiative as simply “doing something without being asked.” Our research suggests it is much broader

Businesswoman holding a laptop, looking up as chalk-drawn icons of ideas, growth, and a mountain summit appear.

Businessman in a suit and a white humanoid robot stand side by side, looking at a sunset cityscape from a high-rise window.

AI Leadership Failure: Why AI Transformation Depends on Leaders

September 17, 2026

Self-Awareness in Leadership

Self-Awareness in Leadership: Why Others See You More Clearly Than You See Yourself

September 2, 2026

Are Leaders Becoming More Coachable?

July 1, 2026

What Your Manager Sees That You Don’t

May 28, 2026

Standout Competencies of the Most Effective Health Care Leaders

May 14, 2026

The Ripple Effect: How Candor Transforms Leadership Effectiveness

May 13, 2026

Employee Engagement: Why Averages Mislead—and What to Do About It

May 7, 2026

The Hidden Cost of Leadership Gossip: How One Toxic Habit Destroys Your Effectiveness

March 19, 2026

Presence in Coaching: Building Rapport and Creating Forward Movement

February 27, 2026

Feedback techniques

Transforming Employees From Burnout To Highly Engaged

February 27, 2026

Low-angle view of a diverse business team joining hands in a circle, illustrating the high return on investment and value vs. cost of leadership development.

The Real Cost of Leadership Development? Zero.

February 9, 2026

build a high-performance team

Strategic Expertise vs. Emotional Intelligence: Which Drives Leadership Success?

December 15, 2025

Infographic: Leadership Development For Manufacturing

October 29, 2025

Our Research Reveals the 5 Leadership Traits Behind Memorable Presentations

October 2, 2025

Leadership Behaviors Go Viral

The Surprising Way Leadership Behaviors Go Viral at Work

September 17, 2025

Psychological Safety

Research: What Leaders Do to Create Psychological Safety

September 17, 2025

AI-Driven Quantity and Quality: What “Both” Looks Like in Everyday Work

August 26, 2025

Keeping Commitments

When Leaders Keep Their Word (And When They Don’t)

July 17, 2025

Leader giving inspiring team presentation – representing standout leadership behavior

10 Standout Leadership Behaviors That Drive Results

July 10, 2025

Why Team Development Outperforms Individual Growth

June 12, 2025

7 Actions That Will Keep You from Being Laid Off in Today’s Uncertain Economy

May 28, 2025

Are Older Leaders More or Less Effective? Understanding Age and Leadership Effectiveness

May 28, 2025

Discretionary Effort

Unleashing Discretionary Effort: The Seven Leadership Levers That Drive Exceptional Performance

April 22, 2025

Control and Influence: Why They Matter More Than Ever

April 19, 2025

Leadership’s Silver Lining: How the Pandemic Permanently Elevated Management Effectiveness

March 27, 2025

Is One Leadership Style Better Than the Others?

March 26, 2025

team effectiveness

10 Ways Team Effectiveness Reduces Employee Turnover

March 20, 2025

build a high-performance team

5 Ways to Build a High-Performance Team in Today’s Workplace

February 26, 2025

Team Trust Infographic

Team Trust Infographic: The Key to Stronger Teams

February 25, 2025

decoding boss feedback

Decoding Boss Feedback: How to Navigate Criticism and Thrive

February 12, 2025

Leadership Style Types: When Boldness Becomes a Virtue in 2025

January 31, 2025

The 7 ‘Minor’ Leadership Behaviors That Actually Determine Your Success

January 22, 2025

How Much Does Passion Influence Performance?

December 18, 2024

Here Are 3 Ways to Help Employees Love Their Jobs

December 11, 2024

How Leaders Reduce Turnover

8 High-Impact Actions Leaders Can Take to Reduce Turnover

December 7, 2024

trust breakers

Trust Breakers: 8 Leadership Mistakes That Destroy Team Confidence

November 28, 2024

Natural Passion

Different Approaches to Personal Change: Discipline versus Natural Passion

November 23, 2024

Empathy and Drive

Empathy and Drive: A Powerful Combination

November 11, 2024

improving employee engagement

The Single Most Important Factor in Improving Employee Engagement in Today’s Workplace

November 4, 2024

Woman holding a hand to her ear, representing the concept of leadership listening.

The Power of Leadership Listening: A Leader’s Secret Weapon for Building Trust

October 22, 2024

Quality vs. Quantity

Quality vs. Quantity: Unraveling the Leadership Dilemma

October 21, 2024

Coachability Career Decades

Stay Coachable: The Art of Coachability Through the Decades

October 8, 2024

What's Customer Satisfaction

What’s Customer Satisfaction? The Powerful Link Between Leadership, Employee Engagement, and Customer Happiness

October 2, 2024

Feeling Disrespected at Work

Feeling Disrespected at Work: What You Can Do for Affected Employees

September 25, 2024

How to Give Negative Feedback to Staff

How to Give Negative Feedback to Staff: The Assumptions that Make it Hard

September 20, 2024

Leadership and AI

Leadership and AI: Will You Barely Survive or Thrive?

September 16, 2024

How Others Decide If You Are an Honest Leader

September 11, 2024

You’re Growing Your Organization All Wrong

September 2, 2024

Three Hard Truths About Developing Your Strengths

August 2, 2024

Feedback Preferences

Leaders Should Reevaluate Their Feedback Preferences

August 2, 2024

Blueprint for Leadership

The Blueprint for Leadership Success: Clear Goals, Proven Methods, and Measurable Impact

July 30, 2024

honest leader handshake

Can Leaders Rebuild Integrity? Insights from a Study of 6,025 Leaders

July 16, 2024

The Proven Importance of Leadership Development: Lessons from Case Studies

July 9, 2024

Transform Your Organization with Simple, Proven Leadership Development Strategies

June 25, 2024

chalkboard showing leadership responsibility

How Leadership Responsibility Shapes Career Success

June 11, 2024

Building Trust: The Balance of Information and Involvement

May 31, 2024

What Are the Benefits of Coachability?

May 7, 2024

6 Fatal Flaws That Kill A Leader’s Effectiveness

May 3, 2024

Feedback techniques

Effective Feedback Techniques: Flipping Feedback Upside Down

April 25, 2024

The Unsung Heroes: How Individual Contributors Drive Success

April 15, 2024

The Magic of Asking for Feedback: How Simple Questions Lead to Great Improvements

March 26, 2024

6 Proven Ways To Increase Empowerment In Your Team

March 25, 2024

Remote Work Productivity: Does It Need To Be Fixed?

March 15, 2024

Adaptive Leadership: 6 Ways to Thrive in an Era of Change

March 8, 2024

Maximizing Productivity in Hybrid Work: Strategies for Managers

February 13, 2024

Understanding Good Leadership in 2024

January 2, 2024

Why Humility is Important: The 7 Signs of Arrogance

December 4, 2023

The Tent Leadership Model: How Effective Leaders Strike a Balance

October 25, 2023

Boosting Employee Happiness and How to Transform Their Experience

October 18, 2023

What are Strength Builders?

October 10, 2023

The Mirrors of Leadership That Lead to Change

September 26, 2023

The Stark Contrast: Uninspiring vs. Inspiring Leadership

September 19, 2023

What Separates Great HR Leaders from the Rest

September 12, 2023

The 16.6% Club: Leaders Who Excel in Grit and Coachability

September 11, 2023

Gender Disparities: How to Improve Coachability as a Leader

August 31, 2023

A diverse group of colleagues wearing professional business attire standing together with their hands stacked in the center, symbolizing relationship building, teamwork, collaboration, and unity.

Why Leaders Should Work on Their Relationship Building Skills

July 27, 2023

Coachability: Practicing an All-Star Response to Feedback

July 10, 2023

7 Ways to Make Employees Feel Respected, According to Research

July 3, 2023

Coachability: How to Find Your Truth-Teller

June 20, 2023

How Women in Leadership Demonstrate And Cultivate Confidence

June 13, 2023

People Who Think They’re Great Coaches Often Aren’t

June 7, 2023

What You Need to Know About LEADERSHIP SPEED

May 25, 2023

A New Approach to Skill Development

May 17, 2023

How Poor Leaders Become Good Leaders

May 11, 2023

Transforming Leadership Development: Are We Missing The Main Thing?

May 2, 2023

The 3 Elements of Leadership Trust

April 27, 2023

Is It Possible to Restore a Leader’s Integrity and Honesty?

April 20, 2023

How Leaders Influence the Customer Experience

April 13, 2023

Employee engagement and the effect of your boss

Improving Employee Engagement: Should Leaders Be Nice or Tough?

March 30, 2023

How To Be a More Likable Leader

March 16, 2023

Listening and Asking good questions

Leadership Development 101: Listening and Asking Questions

March 8, 2023

360 Reviews Zenger Folkman

We Need to Get 360 Reviews Right

March 8, 2023

Bad Bosses Actually Can Change—Here’s the Proof

March 1, 2023

How Leaders Can Successfully Take More Risks

February 15, 2023

How to Retain Employees in 2023

How To Retain Employees and Avoid Quiet Quitting in 2023

February 1, 2023

Building Trust in Teams accurate measurement

Building Trust in Teams—Where to Begin?

January 21, 2023

Four coworkers in a meeting high-fiving over documents on a table in a bright office.

Does Being an Enthusiastic Leader Hurt Your Credibility at Work?

January 3, 2023

Pairing Kindness With Accountability at Work

December 27, 2022

The Remote Work Leadership Report Card– Have We Improved?

December 12, 2022

Arrogance and complacent Bosses

The Antidotes For Arrogant and Complacent Bosses

November 29, 2022

Uncaring bad bosses

The Backlash from Uncaring Bad Bosses

November 29, 2022

How Leaders Generate Energy

October 18, 2022

A Leadership Tip That Just Works: Ask For Feedback

October 12, 2022

Management Coaching Cheat Sheets

3 Management Coaching Cheat Sheets to Help You Succeed

October 4, 2022

Challenges for STEMM Leaders Across the World

October 3, 2022

There’s a High Probability You May Not Be Trusted

September 23, 2022

Do You Tell Your Employees You Appreciate Them?

September 21, 2022

Quiet Quitting is About Bad Bosses, Not Bad Employees

September 6, 2022

6 Surprising Insights about Leaders and Feedback

August 26, 2022

Losing Your Drive? 4 Simple Steps Managers Can Take to Deliver Exceptional Results

August 19, 2022

Extraordinary Leaders Around the World

Extraordinary Leaders Around the World

August 18, 2022

How To Improve Your Ability To Effectively Execute

August 15, 2022

7 Ordinary Habits of Super Effective Coaches

August 4, 2022

Jack and Joe Summer Reads

Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman’s Summer 2022 Reading List

July 6, 2022

7 Steps to Becoming a Trusted Advisor in Your Organization

June 24, 2022

Building Trust In Teams and Organizations

June 10, 2022

To Get Results, The Best Leaders Push and Pull Their Teams

To Get Results, the Best Leaders Both Push and Pull Their Teams

May 27, 2022

Future of 360-degree Feedback talent management

Exploring the Future of 360-Degree Feedback: Could Personal Development and Talent Management Live Together?

May 26, 2022

Most Leaders Know Their Strengths—but Are Oblivious to Their Weaknesses

May 24, 2022

8 Unforeseen Rewards for Leaders Who Listen More

May 24, 2022

Are Your Co-Workers Your Friendly Peers Or The Competition?

May 17, 2022

5 Skills Required to Lead Change

5 Required Skills for Leading Change

April 7, 2022

Three Myths About Your Strengths

April 4, 2022

The Leadership Skills Needed at Every Level

March 28, 2022

Can Leadership Development Temper the “Big Quit”

March 21, 2022

Heroes, Zeros, and Guides: Looking at Types of Leaders

March 18, 2022

Why Does Changing Behavior Take So Long? 3 Solutions to Speed Up the Process

Why Does Changing Behavior Take So Long? 3 Solutions to Speed Up the Process

March 17, 2022

What It Takes to Be a Creative Superstar

March 10, 2022

Can You Work at Home? The Power of Signaling Productivity to Your Boss

March 9, 2022

Nine Behaviors That Drive Innovation

March 4, 2022

Feedback: The Leadership Practice That Needs Elevating for the Hybrid Workforce

February 10, 2022

The Vital Role of Positive Feedback as a Leadership Strength

February 3, 2022

Were Older Leaders More Valued In The Pandemic?

January 31, 2022

The Real Value of Consistency

January 31, 2022

The Virtues of Early and Powerful Leadership Development

January 28, 2022

Individual Leadership Development vs A Company’s Leadership Development

January 20, 2022

Extraordinary Performers: Why You Need Them and How To Keep Them

January 19, 2022

Expanding Access to Coaching

Expanding Access to Coaching

January 12, 2022

Are You Creating Disgruntled Employees?

January 7, 2022

Developing Personal Strengths: Is It “Playing The Hand You’re Dealt” Or “Making A Free Choice”

December 16, 2021

Behaviors That Are More Critical for Leaders of Remote Employees

December 14, 2021

Finding the Balance Between Coaching and Managing

December 2, 2021

9 Habits That Lead to Terrible Decisions

November 30, 2021

How to Improve at Work When You’re Not Getting Feedback

November 18, 2021

I’m the Boss! Why Should I Care If You Like Me?

November 16, 2021

What Younger Managers Should Know About How They’re Perceived

November 15, 2021

7 Podcasts to Enrich Your Working Relationships

7 Podcasts to Enrich Your Working Relationships

November 11, 2021

3 Keys to Relationship Building that Separate Mediocre Leaders From the Brightest and Best

November 9, 2021

Why Do So Many Managers Avoid Giving Praise?

October 28, 2021

4 Vital Keys to Developing Others

October 14, 2021

The Reason Why Ted Lasso Might Not Be a Great Leader

October 7, 2021

Maximizing Productivity with a Hybrid Work Schedule

September 23, 2021

What Is Your Fear of Feedback Costing You?

September 14, 2021

How Some Companies Are Aiming High In Leadership Development

September 10, 2021

Advice for Those Who Believe They Give Great Advice

September 2, 2021

Nice or Tough: Which Approach Engages Employees Most?

August 26, 2021

Do Women Make Bolder Leaders than Men?

August 5, 2021

The ‘8 Great’ Accountability Skills for Business Success

July 29, 2021

7 Ways To Make Your Manager Your Biggest Fan

July 22, 2021

Don’t Fake It till You Make It: Match Confidence to Competence

July 19, 2021

A Data-Driven Approach To Building Your Self-Confidence

July 1, 2021

Who’s The Boss? The Struggles and Benefits of Increased Independence

June 24, 2021

“We’re Fine?”– A Plea From The Overwhelmed, Overstressed, and Overworked

June 17, 2021

Companies Are Bad at Identifying High-Potential Employees

June 14, 2021

8 Consistent Behaviors Of Practically Perfect Problem Solvers

June 10, 2021

Why the Most Productive People Don’t Always Make the Best Managers

June 7, 2021

5 New Skills That Drove Up Employee Engagement This Year

June 2, 2021

7 Traits of Super-Productive People

May 28, 2021

How 360 Feedback Processes Support Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

May 18, 2021

How To Get Others To Accept Stretch Goals

May 17, 2021

Innovation – A Leadership Skill We Seem To Forget

May 10, 2021

How To Spot And Eliminate Poor Role Models In Your Organization

May 5, 2021

Are Your Problem-Solving Skills Lacking? Try This New Approach

April 22, 2021

How To Build Digital Expertise

April 6, 2021

The Extremely Curious Case Of Women’s Strategic Thinking

April 3, 2021

3 Ways To Cure The Disease Of Distractions

April 2, 2021

Research: 7 Ways to Become a More Resilient Leader

March 29, 2021

Are You Giving Your Colleagues The Silent Treatment?

March 29, 2021

How To Maximize Virtual Interactions

March 19, 2021

Is Inspiring Others Worth The Effort?

March 9, 2021

Building and Nurturing Natural Leadership

February 26, 2021

Individual Contributors Aren’t Leaders? The Impact of Ignoring Soft Skills

February 18, 2021

Do Leaders Improve With Age?

February 15, 2021

You Can Take It! How To Accept Negative Feedback With Ease

February 12, 2021

Developing Strategic Thinking Skills: The Pathway to the Top

February 8, 2021

Losing Trust: The Impact of One Team Member on Employee Engagement

February 3, 2021

Warmth or Competence: Which Leadership Quality is More Important?

February 1, 2021

The Confidence Gap In Men And Women: How To Overcome It

January 25, 2021

Five Ways To Impress Your Boss In 2021

January 20, 2021

Setting Stretch Goals: 3 Skills To Keep You On The Right Path

January 18, 2021

The Art To Becoming A Decisive Leader

January 8, 2021

Research: Women Are Better Leaders During a Crisis

January 7, 2021

Why Are You Still Working? How To Find Purpose In Your Career

January 7, 2021

What Makes a 360-Degree Review Successful?

January 4, 2021

The Science Behind What Inspiring Leaders Do

December 14, 2020

What Great Listeners Actually Do

December 7, 2020

The power of teams- Dogsled

The Power Of Teams: A Lesson In Leadership From A Siberian Husky

December 7, 2020

If Your Boss Thinks You’re Awesome, You Will Become More Awesome

November 30, 2020

People And Profits: A Leader’s Guide To Balancing Results And Individual Needs

November 23, 2020

Six Down-To-Earth Lessons Learned From The Most Effective Coaches

November 23, 2020