Lori Tompos is on a mission to transform how leaders show up, communicate, and bring out the best in their teams. As founder of Avail Consulting and a Horizon Award winner, she draws on experience from West Point, Desert Storm, and the corporate world to challenge one of the most ingrained habits in business: managing people instead of leading them.

In this episode, Russ and Lori explore why so many organizations still struggle with ineffective leadership despite decades of books and training. Lori explains how most professionals are never truly taught how to lead, and how that gap leads to micromanagement, low trust, and high turnover.

They dive into Lori’s core philosophy, lead people, manage projects, and what that actually looks like in practice. From building trust and psychological safety to asking better questions and tailoring leadership to individuals, Lori shares a fundamentally different approach rooted in empathy, accountability, and real human connection.

Along the way, she reflects on her experience as one of the first women in combat during Desert Storm, how preparation and confidence shaped her leadership style, and what today’s leaders can learn from high stakes environments where trust and clarity are non negotiable. Lori also breaks down why people leave managers, not jobs, how AI is reshaping the workplace, and why high human skills like empathy, critical thinking, and communication matter more than ever.

Topics Covered:

[00:01] Welcome and intro, Lori Tompos and Horizon Award recognition

[00:46] Lori’s background from West Point to corporate leadership

[02:15] Why leadership training is still missing in most organizations

[02:55] The universal truth: no one likes to be micromanaged

[03:32] “Lead people, manage projects” explained

[05:52] Leadership lessons from Desert Storm and real world stakes

[09:01] Building confidence through preparation and expertise

[10:40] Transitioning into corporate and leadership gaps

[12:50] Lessons for navigating uncertainty and AI disruption

[14:51] Why companies default to managing instead of leading

[15:40] Psychological safety and why people leave managers

[18:08] The mindset shift required for real leadership

[20:45] Recognizing and investing in people

[23:42] Growth mindset and learning from failure

[24:25] Leadership in a post COVID and AI driven world

[25:59] Crucial conversations and giving effective feedback

[27:26] Why leaders think they are approachable when they are not

[29:37] Reading culture and leadership signals in organizations

[31:50] Progress and perspective on women in leadership

[33:17] What younger generations understand about leadership

[34:39] Advice for building leadership skills in the future