134: Leading with Heart in a Metrics-Obsessed World with Adam Weber

Adam Weber has helped grow organizations, lead people-first teams, and navigate the tension between humanity and performance. In this episode of Lead The People, Adam Weber and Matt Poepsel talks about why real leadership starts with presence. They unpack the dangers of over-indexing on metrics, how burnout is often hidden in high-performers, and why leading with vulnerability isn’t a weakness — it’s the work. From building connected cultures to redefining success beyond KPIs, Adam shares what it means to create space for both results and rest. If you’ve ever felt torn between driving outcomes and staying human, this conversation is the permission slip you didn’t know you needed. Key Takeaways: Real leadership starts with being present, not just being productive. Burnout often hides in your top performers — don’t mistake output for wellbeing. Vulnerability is a strength that builds trust and psychological safety. Culture is created in the daily interactions, not just the big moments. The best leaders balance being people-first and performance-driven. From Our Sponsor: The Predictive Index (PI) is an award-winning talent optimization platform that aligns business strategy with people strategy for optimal business results. More than 60 years of proven science, software, and a curriculum of insightful management workshops make PI the solution for any company looking to design great teams and culture, make objective hiring decisions, foster engagement, and inspire greatness in their people anywhere in the world. More than 10,000 clients and 480+ partners use PI—including Nissan, Citizens Bank, Subway, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Omni Hotels—across 90+ countries. Learn more at predictiveindex.com. Additional Resources: Adam Weber Executive Coach & Author of Lead Like a Human: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetadam Follow Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpoepsel Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/posts/?feedView=all Learn more about PeopleForward Network: http://www.peopleforwardnetwork.com