Dr. David Burkus
@davidburkus.bsky.social
Helping Teams Do Their Best Work Ever | Bestselling Author | Keynote Speaker | Organizational Psychologist
Helping someone grow beyond your team isn’t a loss.
It’s leadership.
When people know you’re fighting for their future, not just for your headcount…
They’ll give you everything they’ve got while they’re here.
It’s leadership.
When people know you’re fighting for their future, not just for your headcount…
They’ll give you everything they’ve got while they’re here.
November 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Helping someone grow beyond your team isn’t a loss.
It’s leadership.
When people know you’re fighting for their future, not just for your headcount…
They’ll give you everything they’ve got while they’re here.
It’s leadership.
When people know you’re fighting for their future, not just for your headcount…
They’ll give you everything they’ve got while they’re here.
Want to retain top talent?
Ask yourself:
1. Am I giving them clarity?
2. Do they have autonomy?
3. Is their work meaningful?
High performers don’t need micromanaging.
They need leaders who remove friction.
Ask yourself:
1. Am I giving them clarity?
2. Do they have autonomy?
3. Is their work meaningful?
High performers don’t need micromanaging.
They need leaders who remove friction.
November 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Want to retain top talent?
Ask yourself:
1. Am I giving them clarity?
2. Do they have autonomy?
3. Is their work meaningful?
High performers don’t need micromanaging.
They need leaders who remove friction.
Ask yourself:
1. Am I giving them clarity?
2. Do they have autonomy?
3. Is their work meaningful?
High performers don’t need micromanaging.
They need leaders who remove friction.
Great teams play chess, not checkers.
November 24, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Great teams play chess, not checkers.
Different skills are wasted if nobody knows who does what. Leaders must align two questions: What’s the goal? Who owns each step?
November 19, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Different skills are wasted if nobody knows who does what. Leaders must align two questions: What’s the goal? Who owns each step?
Big wins matter. But small wins, celebrated authentically, build the culture that produces the big ones.
November 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Big wins matter. But small wins, celebrated authentically, build the culture that produces the big ones.
Mission statements don’t inspire people.
Stories do.
Stories do.
November 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Mission statements don’t inspire people.
Stories do.
Stories do.
Disagreement isn’t a threat. It’s a chance to uncover hidden assumptions. That’s how teams turn conflict into clarity.
November 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Disagreement isn’t a threat. It’s a chance to uncover hidden assumptions. That’s how teams turn conflict into clarity.
Stop obsessing over your “why.”
Simon Sinek was mostly right.
But the most meaningful question isn’t “why.” It’s “who.”
Who benefits from what you do?
Because purpose doesn’t start with introspection.
It starts with impact.
Simon Sinek was mostly right.
But the most meaningful question isn’t “why.” It’s “who.”
Who benefits from what you do?
Because purpose doesn’t start with introspection.
It starts with impact.
November 10, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Stop obsessing over your “why.”
Simon Sinek was mostly right.
But the most meaningful question isn’t “why.” It’s “who.”
Who benefits from what you do?
Because purpose doesn’t start with introspection.
It starts with impact.
Simon Sinek was mostly right.
But the most meaningful question isn’t “why.” It’s “who.”
Who benefits from what you do?
Because purpose doesn’t start with introspection.
It starts with impact.
Want to keep your team accountable? Phase the work: 30 days → 90 days → 6 months → 1 year. Review, pivot, celebrate. Repeat.
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Want to keep your team accountable? Phase the work: 30 days → 90 days → 6 months → 1 year. Review, pivot, celebrate. Repeat.
Delegation: “Who’s best now?”
Development: “Who could be best with a chance?”
Great leaders balance both.
Development: “Who could be best with a chance?”
Great leaders balance both.
November 5, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Delegation: “Who’s best now?”
Development: “Who could be best with a chance?”
Great leaders balance both.
Development: “Who could be best with a chance?”
Great leaders balance both.
Telling people “Don’t come to me with problems—come with solutions” doesn’t make you a better leader.
It makes you an unapproachable one.
It makes you an unapproachable one.
November 3, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Telling people “Don’t come to me with problems—come with solutions” doesn’t make you a better leader.
It makes you an unapproachable one.
It makes you an unapproachable one.
“Trust is earned.” Well, not on high-performing teams.
On great teams, trust is reciprocated.
You show up vulnerable, honest, accountable—
And others do the same.
Trust flows when someone chooses to go first.
On great teams, trust is reciprocated.
You show up vulnerable, honest, accountable—
And others do the same.
Trust flows when someone chooses to go first.
October 31, 2025 at 1:05 PM
“Trust is earned.” Well, not on high-performing teams.
On great teams, trust is reciprocated.
You show up vulnerable, honest, accountable—
And others do the same.
Trust flows when someone chooses to go first.
On great teams, trust is reciprocated.
You show up vulnerable, honest, accountable—
And others do the same.
Trust flows when someone chooses to go first.
New manager? Stop oversharing with your old crew.
What used to be bonding now looks like favoritism.
✅ Be friendly
❌ Don’t gossip
✅ Support everyone equally
Leadership isn’t a popularity contest. It’s a responsibility.
What used to be bonding now looks like favoritism.
✅ Be friendly
❌ Don’t gossip
✅ Support everyone equally
Leadership isn’t a popularity contest. It’s a responsibility.
October 30, 2025 at 1:05 PM
New manager? Stop oversharing with your old crew.
What used to be bonding now looks like favoritism.
✅ Be friendly
❌ Don’t gossip
✅ Support everyone equally
Leadership isn’t a popularity contest. It’s a responsibility.
What used to be bonding now looks like favoritism.
✅ Be friendly
❌ Don’t gossip
✅ Support everyone equally
Leadership isn’t a popularity contest. It’s a responsibility.
Venting to your team about senior leadership?
Feels good—for a moment.
But it lights a fire you can’t put out.
Negativity spreads fast.
And it burns your credibility with it.
Feels good—for a moment.
But it lights a fire you can’t put out.
Negativity spreads fast.
And it burns your credibility with it.
October 29, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Venting to your team about senior leadership?
Feels good—for a moment.
But it lights a fire you can’t put out.
Negativity spreads fast.
And it burns your credibility with it.
Feels good—for a moment.
But it lights a fire you can’t put out.
Negativity spreads fast.
And it burns your credibility with it.
AI isn’t a tool. It’s not a faster Google or fancier Word doc. It’s your next teammate. And if you treat it like one, your team will outperform the ones who don’t.
October 27, 2025 at 1:04 PM
AI isn’t a tool. It’s not a faster Google or fancier Word doc. It’s your next teammate. And if you treat it like one, your team will outperform the ones who don’t.