Dusty Holcomb breaks down three of the most common leadership blind spots he sees every week in coaching sessions with high-performing teams, seasoned executives, and fast-scaling founders. With clarity and conviction, he unpacks how these often-unseen patterns quietly derail execution, dilute energy, and create frustration. Drawing from real-world experience, Dusty explores the cost of vague expectations, the gap between agreement and true commitment, and the consequences of a weak accountability culture. Through practical examples and sharp insight, he shares a framework for leading with intention—clarifying the "what by when," confirming alignment, and following through with consistency. This episode is a candid reminder that leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being clear, committed, and courageous enough to say the important things until they echo.

Key Takeaways:

• Alignment isn’t just about agreement; it’s about commitment to deliver and take ownership of the result.

• Accountability cultures thrive when people hold themselves responsible—but leaders must reinforce it through consistent follow-up.

• All three blind spots—lack of clarity, misaligned commitment, and weak accountability—are fixable, but only if leaders are willing to see and address them directly.

Key Timestamps:

(00:00) – Leadership Blind Spots

(01:03) – Blind Spot #1: Lack of Clarity

(05:59) – Blind Spot #2: Misalignment

(07:53) – Blind Spot #3: Weak Accountability Culture

(12:53) – Bonus Insight: The Power of Repetition

(14:36) – Practical Tips

Key Topics Discussed:

Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Self-Leadership, Leadership Coaching, Leadership Clarity, Organizational Leadership

More of Leadership Unlocked:

Check out our leadership development resources at https://arcqusgroup.com/

Contact me at dusty@arcqusgroup.com

Today on Leadership Unlocked, Gene Boehm, President and CEO of AAA, joins Dusty and shares the experiences, values, and lessons that shape his leadership philosophy, emphasizing clarity, empowerment, and authenticity. From childhood stories and career setbacks to learning resilience during the Enron scandal and embracing feedback, Boehm highlights the transformative power of self-awareness, mentorship, and organizational culture. He champions vision over micromanagement, exemplified by initiatives like the “I Love My Job” campaign, which fostered pride and engagement across AAA. Passionate about safety and reducing roadside fatalities, he calls for greater advocacy and coalition-building. Boehm underscores the importance of emotional connection, storytelling, and gratitude in leadership, drawing on personal rituals like daily running and annual marathons to stay grounded. With insights ranging from literary inspiration to practical frameworks for growth, he encourages aspiring leaders to lead with heart, intention, and humility—always beginning and ending with thank you.

Key Takeaways:

• Worry is wasted energy. Gene learned early on—from a Mellencamp lyric and a childhood story—that letting go of guilt and fear is crucial to leading effectively.

• Metrics aren't everything. While important, Gene believes vision and emotional connection ultimately drive success more than numbers.

• Symbols can spark culture. The “I Love My Job” t-shirt started as a morale booster and evolved into a movement of pride and positivity.

Key Timestamps:

(00:00) – Gene's Leadership Principles

(05:44) – Gene's Journey to Becoming CEO of AAA

(08:13) – Defining Moments and Lessons in Leadership

(21:12) – The 'I Love My Job' T-Shirt Story

(26:26) – A Memorable First Day at Walgreens

(32:41) – Rapid Fire Leadership Insights

(39:17) – Building Relationships and Career Advancement

(44:27) – Saving Lives and Reducing Traffic Fatalities

Key Topics Discussed:

Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Self-Leadership, Leadership Coaching, Leadership Clarity, Organizational Leadership

Mentions:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gene-boehm-1581532/

More of Leadership Unlocked:

Check out our leadership development resources at https://arcqusgroup.com/

Contact me at dusty@arcqusgroup.com

In this episode of Leadership Unlocked, we explore the powerful concept of the “BS flag” — a simple, symbolic tool used to build a culture of candor, clarity, and accountability on leadership teams. Drawing inspiration from football, where a penalty flag stops play and signals a rule violation, the BS flag empowers team members to safely and respectfully call out issues in real time, including those caused by the leader. Dusty shares how this tool transformed his own leadership meetings, eliminated the "HiPPO problem" (highest paid person's opinion), and created a space where truth could be spoken without fear. He breaks down the four essential qualities of a BS-free culture — safety, expectation, equality, and consistency — and offers actionable ways to introduce this concept into your team. If you're ready to make the invisible visible and foster a culture where anyone can stop the play to do the right thing, this episode is for you.

Key Timestamps:

(00:00) - The BS Flag

(05:09) - Powerful Teams Surface Problems, Not Hide Them

(06:42) - The Four Pillars of BS Free Workplaces

(09:53) - Practical Steps to Introduce the BS Flag

Key Topics Discussed:

Leadership Unlocked, Leadership Insights, Dusty Holcomb, Servant Leadership Principles, Self-Leadership Strategies, Growth Mindset in Leadership, Integrity and Leadership, Leadership Development Resources, Effective Leadership Habits, Empowering Leadership Techniques, Senior Executive Insights, Leadership Quotes and Reflections, Leadership Podcast, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, CEO Podcast, Business Leadership, Leadership Growth, Leadership Journey, Stories From Leaders, Leadership Tools, High-Performing Teams, Leadership Mindset, Decision Making, Personal Growth, Self-Leadership, Leadership Coaching, Leadership Clarity, Organizational Leadership

More of Leadership Unlocked:

Check out our leadership development resources at https://arcqusgroup.com/

Contact me at dusty@arcqusgroup.com