EP159: Great Leaders Make Sure Monday Morning Doesn't Suck with Eric Harkins
DO YOU HAVE “GOOD” LEADERS?
Ask your employees on a Monday morning to find out!
Enjoy!
Listen Here:
(The notes below are only a brief bullet point summary of what is discussed in the podcast. Be sure to listen to get all of the goodness! If you would like a full transcription of the episode, please send an email request to: angie@angie-robinson.com. We’d be happy to provide that!)
Mondays don’t have to suck—and that’s exactly the message Eric Harkins brings to the table in Episode 159 of the podcast. Eric, the author of Great Leaders Make Sure Monday Morning Doesn’t Suck: How to Get, Keep, and Grow Talent, is on a mission to help organizations create cultures where high performers thrive and employees actually look forward to starting the week.
In our conversation, Eric shares his career journey, from corporate HR roles to founding his consulting firm, GKG Search & Consulting. He also walks us through the framework and lessons in his book that have helped countless leaders and organizations rethink how they lead and engage their teams.
Here are some key insights from our conversation:
1. Leadership Is About How You Show Up
Eric believes that being a great leader isn’t about your title—it’s about your behavior and the culture you create. His LEAD framework (Leadership Expectations and Development) challenges leaders to ask themselves eight essential yes-or-no questions, such as:
Does this leader create a culture high performers want to be a part of?
Do they bring energy and enthusiasm to work every day?
Do they build relationships at all levels of the organization?
If leaders can’t answer “yes” to these questions—or aren’t willing to address areas where they fall short—they risk disengaging their team and driving away high performers.
2. The Three Rules of Great Leadership
Eric distills his leadership philosophy into three straightforward rules:
It’s okay to have fun at work.
Poor performers don’t quit voluntarily.
Assholes are assholes, and they don’t change.
While bold in language, these rules are deeply rooted in creating a culture of accountability, authenticity, and engagement. As Eric puts it, “If your high performers are stuck working next to underperformers, they’ll eventually leave.”
3. Clear Communication Builds Trust
One recurring theme in our conversation was the importance of clear and courageous communication. Eric emphasized how critical it is for leaders to provide honest feedback, address underperformance, and ensure their expectations are clear.
He also shared that difficult conversations, like terminating a poor leader, often come with relief—not just for the organization but for the team. As one leader told him after addressing a long-standing issue, “I should have done this four months ago.”
4. Great Leaders Take the Time to Know Their People
Eric believes that understanding your team on an individual level is a non-negotiable part of leadership. He highlighted the importance of knowing what excites and motivates each team member and creating opportunities that align with their strengths.
“You cannot figure out what’s going to get somebody excited about work unless you get to know them,” Eric said, emphasizing the need for genuine relationships at all levels.
Why This Conversation Matters
Eric’s approach to leadership isn’t about reinventing the wheel; it’s about simplifying the essentials and showing up with courage and authenticity. Whether you’re addressing underperformance, celebrating high performers, or just trying to make work a better place for your team, his lessons are practical, actionable, and impactful.
Please listen to the episode - Eric has so much to share!
A big thank you to Eric for joining me!
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