Les McKeown, Founder and CEO of Predictable Success, joins Kenny Lange to reveal the hidden patterns behind organizational growth. Drawing from his experience launching over 40 companies and advising global organizations, Les shares actionable insights on achieving sustainable success and leading teams through every stage of growth.

Whether you’re a business leader, nonprofit executive, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers practical wisdom to help you navigate change, build high-performing teams, and keep your organization on the growth track. Tune in for a candid, human conversation that will challenge and inspire your leadership journey.

Listen on Other Platforms

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KennyLange/podcasts

Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/

Les McKeown Resources

Website: https://PredictableSuccess.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3970027

Podcast: https://PredictableSuccess.com/podcast

Books Mentioned

Predictable Success: Getting Your Organization On the Growth Track – and Keeping It There - https://amzn.to/44sUtJV

The Synergist: How to Lead Your Team to Predictable Success - https://amzn.to/3TEUbt8

Chapters

00:00 - Welcome & intro

01:15 - Meet Les McKeown

03:10 - The Predictable Success framework

06:25 - Recognizing growth patterns

09:40 - Lessons from launching 40+ companies

12:55 - Building high-performing teams

16:20 - Navigating organizational change

19:35 - Common leadership pitfalls

22:50 - Nonprofit vs. business growth

26:05 - The Synergist mindset

29:30 - Advice for aspiring leaders

32:45 - Books and resources

35:00 - Final thoughts & takeaways

36:30 - Where to connect with Les

38:00 - Closing remarks

#HowLeadersThink #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship

On today's episode of "How Leaders Think", host Kenny Lange is joined by Scott Ritzheimer, CEO of Scale Architects, for a deep dive into optimizing leadership styles in nonprofit organizations. They discuss common challenges nonprofits face, such as chronic underfunding and the need to break out of early struggling phases. Scott emphasizes the importance of utilizing the unique strengths of visionaries, operators, processors, and synergists. Whether you're leading a nonprofit or a for-profit, this episode offers essential insights on structuring your team for maximum impact and sustainability.

Other places to find the “How Leaders Think” podcast:

* Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807

* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh

* Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=

* Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KennyLange/podcasts

* Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/

Scot Ritzheimer Resources:

Website: https://www.scalearchitects.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottritzheimer

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Scale_Architects

The Synergist by Les Mckeown: https://amzn.to/4dthAXi

#NonprofitSuccess #TeamSynergy #VisionaryLeaders #OperationalExcellence

Trust isn’t “soft”—it’s measurable, and it directly impacts revenue, reputation, and retention. In this episode, Kenny Lange sits down with Kim Bohr, President & COO at SparkEffect, to unpack why well-intended leaders unintentionally erode trust through small daily actions. Kim explains SparkEffect Trust Elasticity™, how psychological safety strengthens teams during disruption, and why alignment between words and actions matters more than most leaders realize. You’ll walk away with practical steps—including the 5 Cs of Trust—to build trust resilience in the next season of change.

Listen on Other Platforms

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KennyLange/podcasts

Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/

Kim Bohr Resources

Website: https://sparkeffect.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimbohr/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkeffect_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555355996682

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sparkeffect-us

Podcast: https://couragetoadvancepodcast.podbean.com/

Episode landing page (goes live near publish date): https://sparkeffect.com/hlt

Hashtags

#HowLeadersThink #Leadership #TrustInLeadership #PsychologicalSafety

What does it take to pivot when things are going well—but the world (and your work) is changing fast? In this episode of How Leaders Think, Kenny Lange talks with Dr. Sharon Spano, founder of Spano & Company, about strategic planning that actually gets implemented, leading through uncertainty, and building the ability to adapt without drifting. They unpack why long-range planning still matters, how leaders can cut through the noise, and what accountability looks like when execution is the real challenge. Sharon also shares how she’s used AI as a thought partner to gain clarity and make better decisions without outsourcing her discernment.

Listen on Other Platforms

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KennyLange/podcasts

Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/

Sharon Spano Resources

Website: https://sharonspano.com

Podcast Appearances: https://sharonspano.com/podcast-appearances/

Books Mentioned

The Pursuit of Time and Money (Dr. Sharon Spano): https://amzn.to/4tQXYnT

Chapters

00:00 - Cold open: AI as thought partner

00:55 - Welcome & Sharon Spano intro

01:30 - What’s on Sharon’s mind now

01:40 - Rebranding and pivoting a podcast

02:45 - When to pivot even if it’s working

03:10 - Big pivots: travel, market shifts, COVID

04:25 - Strategic planning changed after COVID

05:35 - Planning horizons: 3 years vs 10 years

08:10 - Vision, values, and getting to metrics

09:10 - Why most strategic plans fail

10:35 - Busy work vs real impact

12:20 - Too many meetings: redesigning cadence

13:05 - Accountability that drives execution

16:25 - Using AI for analysis and clarity

18:20 - Sharon’s new podcast and calling

21:05 - A first step to handle change better

44:25 - Where to find Sharon & closing

Hashtags

#HowLeadersThink #LeadershipDevelopment #StrategicPlanning #ChangeManagement

Are you a high achiever drifting toward burnout?

In this Looking Back episode of How Leaders Think, Kenny Lange and Julie K. Rhodes explore how Sabbath, humility, and God’s unconditional love create sustainable leadership. If you’re driven, responsible, and carrying significant pressure, this conversation may completely change how you think about success.

Chronic Grace: Prayers, Saints, and Thorns That Stay by Julie K. Rhodes

https://amzn.to/4azudiK

Julie shares how grief and chronic illness reshaped her definition of achievement—and why overachievers often drift into exhaustion when identity is tied to outcomes. This episode is about becoming the right person, not just getting the right results.

Listen on Other Platforms

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KennyLange/podcasts

Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/

Julie K. Rhodes Resources

Website: https://www.juliekrhodes.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliekrhodes/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-rhodes-ba4aab300/

Instagram: @juliekrhodes

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/juliekrhodes

Other Resources Mentioned

Chronic Grace: Prayers, Saints, and Thorns That Stay (Julie K. Rhodes): https://amzn.to/4azudiK

Practicing the Way (John Mark Comer): https://amzn.to/4djmoOC

So Much More Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3EV8RsLUlSeyfZvONYoRFc

Chapters

00:00 - Why this episode matters (Looking Back)

01:05 - A sacred pause after loss

04:02 - What “success” really looks like

06:52 - Legacy vs metrics and milestones

10:45 - The hidden motive behind striving

12:49 - Why high achievers burn out

14:29 - Unconditional love as a practice

20:42 - Finding a spiritual rhythm that fits

22:36 - Anxiety, control, and humility

27:35 - Pressure, responsibility, and payroll reality

30:40 - Trusting providence when plans shift

34:12 - Sabbath: a hard break from striving

37:13 - The drift back to performance

42:24 - The “next 24 hours” reset step

44:30 - Build a sustainable pattern

#HowLeadersThink #Leadership #Burnout #Sabbath #ChristianLeadership

What happens when leadership becomes performance instead of presence?

In this episode of How Leaders Think, Kenny Lange sits down with leadership strategist and author Kristina Holle to explore how survival patterns, identity, and burnout quietly shape the way leaders show up.

Kristina unpacks the shift from performative leadership to embodied authenticity—and why wholeness, self-regulation, and alignment are becoming essential in today’s fast-moving world.

This conversation is for leaders ready to stop surviving and start leading from who they truly are.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b

YouTube Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/@KennyLange/podcasts

Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/

Website: https://www.holleconsulting.com

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kristinaholle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinahollereal

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kristinamholle

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6tnlbYvYQrz86e2vX4VHJt

The Authentic You: Unleash Your Leadership Potential

https://www.amazon.ca/Authentic-You-Unleash-Leadership-Potential-ebook/dp/B091FX4W1C

#HowLeadersThink #AuthenticLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence

What if the biggest threat to your leadership isn’t your strategy — but your need for control? In this episode of How Leaders Think, Kenny Lange talks with Randy Griffin, Chair at C12 North Texas, about the two “operating systems” leaders live from: fear and faith. They unpack why high-achieving Christian leaders can get results while quietly losing margin, peace, and joy — and how Jesus invites us into partnership, surrender, and formation instead of performance. If you’ve been trying to “optimize” your way to peace, this conversation will reframe what healthy, kingdom-minded leadership actually looks like.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KennyLange/podcasts

Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/

Website: https://c12northtexas.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/texasfaith/

00:00 - The question you’re avoiding

00:45 - Welcome & Randy’s background

02:00 - Leaders are tired: no margin in soul

03:30 - “Optimize more” vs true rest

04:35 - Matthew 11: Jesus’ yoke & rest

07:30 - Two operating systems: fear vs faith

09:45 - Holy productivity vs burnout

12:00 - Loving work without losing your soul

14:15 - Moving from 1.0 to a new OS

17:25 - Recovery & control as addiction

20:10 - “Just enough” is the lie

22:00 - People are God’s highest value

27:15 - Leadership as formation

31:10 - Why success can block surrender

35:45 - 24-hour step: name it & share it

40:15 - How to connect with Randy

#HowLeadersThink #ChristianLeadership #FaithAtWork #LeadershipDevelopment