Why Caring is the Key to Unleashing Agency: Fred Miller on the LevelUp Leadership Podcast
Recently, Fred Miller, CEO of The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group, joined the LevelUp Leadership podcast hosted by Lee Whitmore to share insights from over five decades of work in organizational development. LevelUp Leadership explores the challenges and practices that help leaders build high-performing, engaged teams.
In the episode, "Why Caring is the Key to Unleashing Agency," Fred discusses how leaders can create environments where people don't just show up—they take initiative, speak honestly, and do their best work. The conversation centers on three interconnected leadership fundamentals that sound simple but prove difficult to get right in practice.
In this conversation, you'll hear:
Why professional candor is non-negotiable Fred shares a formative story from his early work with Apple, where staying silent in the face of a bad decision taught him that speaking up isn't optional, it's a professional responsibility. When teams know you're challenging ideas to help everyone succeed, honest dialogue becomes constructive rather than confrontational.
The difference between empowerment and agency Fred reframes a common leadership concept: people don't need to be empowered, they already arrive with agency. The problem is that organizations suppress it with unclear processes, approval layers, and risk-averse cultures. The leader's real job is removing obstacles, not granting permission. He introduces the practical tool of "guardrails", clearly defining where teams have full autonomy and where consultation is needed.
Why visibility is the foundation of trust Fred observes that "leaders these days are sequestered in conference rooms" while their teams report "I never see them." You can't build trust from back-to-back meetings. Simple acts, like the factory leader who stood by the door every Friday to thank people, aren't soft extras. They're how trust gets built and maintained.
How these three elements form a system You can't unleash agency without trust. You can't build trust without visibility. And you can't have professional candor without relationships. Fred's five-decade perspective makes clear these aren't new trends—they're the fundamentals that never stop mattering.
Practical steps to start tomorrow Ask your team: "What's the biggest thing slowing you down?" and "Where do you need permission when you shouldn't?" Define clear boundaries for autonomous decision-making. Block time to be present—not to check work, but to listen and be seen. Acknowledge past change efforts before launching new ones.
If you're working to build cultures where people feel confident taking initiative, or supporting teams through organizational change, this episode offers grounded insight from someone who's seen what works across decades and industries.
Listen to the full conversation: LevelUp Leadership podcast • Available on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music