The Fog of Work, with Adam Tarnow
What if the hardest parts of leadership aren’t holding you back? What if they’re actually preparing you for what’s next?
In this episode of the Be Worth* Following podcast, we sit down with leadership expert and author Adam Tarnow to unpack the core ideas in his new book, The Fog of Work. We explore why middle management leadership can feel like living in a foggy valley between competing pressures, unrealistic expectations, and constant uncertainty. From there, we dig into how to create a path forward that is both productive and developmental.
While middle management leadership is the context of this discussion, Adam’s concepts have remarkably practical application for leaders at every level and in every context. Join us!
Show Notes
In this episode you’ll learn:
A fresh perspective on leadership challenges
A practical approach to navigating uncertainty
One simple idea that can change the way you lead
Additional Resources
Connect with Tim on LinkedIn
Learn more about The Aperio Connect with Adam on LinkedIn Learn more about Adam The Valley of Work Control Your Controllables Worksheet
Things to listen for:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
02:05 Why Adam Wrote This Book
04:57 The Valley Metaphor Explained
11:06 Understanding the Terrain and Weather
11:51 The Control Problem
15:07 Owning Your Blame Tendency
21:37 The Fog Clearing Statement
26:03 Finding Your Agency
30:23 The Courage to Act
35:10 The Valley Transforms You
39:25 Shifting Your Perspective
43:52 Hope for Middle Managers
46:41 Final Takeaways and Resources