1146: Jessica Kriegel - "Surrender to Lead"

What if the secret to 4x business growth wasn’t more control, but letting go?
Lou Diamond welcomes back workplace culture expert and bestselling author Jess Kriegel for a candid conversation that will challenge everything you thought you knew about leadership. Drawing from her new book, Surrender to Lead, Jess Kriegel unveils the surprising power of surrender—showing that true leadership isn’t about micromanaging outcomes, but inspiring belief and trust within your team.
Key Highlights:
The naptime epiphany that sparked Surrender to Lead (Jess Kriegel literally woke up with the idea for her bestseller!)
Why the word “surrender” gets a bad rap—and how elite Navy SEALs are actually masters of this misunderstood strategy.
The costly action trap: How relentlessly driving outcomes can backfire, and how surrendering correlates with 4x greater organizational growth (10:05)
A vulnerable story of transparent leadership:Jess Kriegel
shares how surrender transformed a daunting layoff into a win for everyone involved (13:03)
The surprising intersection of workplace pragmatism and personal spiritual journeys, plus the wisdom every leader needs in times of change.
Fun Street lightning round: From guilty pleasure TV (Love Island!) to sourdough toast and heartfelt wishes.
If you’re ready to ditch the myth of control and discover the real levers for inspiring teams and cultures, this episode is your wake-up call.
Timestamped Overview:
00:00: Introduction & why surrender matters in leadership
01:29: The nap-inspired origin of Surrender to Lead
03:15: Subtle control behaviors versus true leadership
06:06: Unpacking “surrender” (with Navy SEAL secrets!)
08:12: Personal and organizational assessment tools for surrendered leadership
10:05: Stanford research: Surrendering quadruples business growth
11:49: Surrender as the missing piece in leadership and life
13:03: Radical transparency during layoffs: a true case study
16:24: The gift of creating the book, and feedback from readers
18:18: Jess Kriegel: Where to find, her podcasts, and newsletter
19:00: Fun Street: TV picks, favorite foods, activities, and rapid-fire Q&A
23:15: Closing reflections and links
Tune in for stories, strategies, and practical steps to unleash your best leadership and get ready to Thrive Loud!