Episode 61: Simplifying Leadership Development
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Over time, leadership development has gotten complicated.
In this episode, Jess and Matt Gjertsen strip away the jargon and return to the fundamentals busy managers can actually use. They explore the Minimum Viable Manager mindset, three core skills every leader needs, and why iteration matters more than perfection. You’ll also hear how L&D can help employees navigate the career change into management, make feedback a daily habit, and combine high-impact in-person experiences with digital learning to create lasting behavior change.
Jess and Matt Discuss
Why leadership development has become unnecessarily complicated
How first principles thinking can simplify manager development
The Minimum Viable Manager mindset and the power of iteration
Three essential manager skills: building trust, setting expectations, and giving feedback
How a clear definition of done prevents the delegation doom loop
Why managers should ask for feedback before giving it
Why becoming a manager is a career change, not a promotion
How L&D can help employees decide whether management is right for them
Why in-person learning still matters for behavior change
How to reframe leadership development as a facilitated conversation
About Matt Gjertsen
Matt Gjertsen is the founder of BUILT, a leadership-development company focused on helping technical professionals become exceptional people leaders. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Matt spent nine years as an instructor pilot before leading training and development at SpaceX. With two decades of experience developing high-performing teams, he now helps organizations strengthen their managers, improve performance, and prepare leaders to solve complex challenges.
Find and Connect with Matt Gjertsen
Website: BUILT Leaders
Book: Minimum Viable Manager
