Podcasts

Using over 1.5 million assessments from leaders worldwide, renowned psychometrician Dr. Joseph Folkman and leadership legend Dr. Jack Zenger are here to settle the debates and let the data speak for itself. Each week they analyze different leadership traits, trends, and what it really takes to get to the 90th percentile. These short episodes feature compelling stories, research, and actions that leaders can take to improve.

Episode 170: AI, Speed, and the Future of Thoughtful Work

The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast

Published: July, 2025

Details

In today’s episode of The 90th Percentile, we challenge one of the most persistent myths in modern work: that you must choose between speed and excellence. As AI accelerates productivity at lightning pace, many leaders are wondering—can humans keep up without compromising quality?

Dr. Jack Zenger joins us to share groundbreaking research from over 50,000 leaders and 700,000 multi-rater feedback surveys to prove that top leaders don’t choose—they master both. We explore:

What separates fast-and-effective leaders from the rest
The five key behaviors that enable dual performance
Why AI can increase volume but not value
How interruptions silently erode quality
And how high-performing organizations protect time for deep work

Whether you’re leading a team or navigating your own workday, this episode offers practical advice for thriving in a world that demands both urgency and rigor.

Key Points

Speed and quality are not trade-offs—they’re traits of top performers.
95% of top leaders in the Zenger Folkman study were rated both fast and effective.
The best leaders master five behaviors that drive dual performance:
Trusted decision-making, clear vision, personal courage, access to expertise, and setting stretch goals.
AI accelerates volume—but can’t replace human judgment.
Use AI to expand capacity, not to substitute nuance, ethics, or originality.
Interruptions kill quality.
Cognitive residue from task-switching reduces performance—even when extra time is given. Deep work requires protected time.
Great leaders switch intentionally between responsiveness and reflection.
The ability to balance quick action with strategic thought is a defining trait of effective leadership.

Webinar

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.