Many leaders cut costs to protect the present but forget that these same cuts can quietly weaken the future.

Cost discipline is smart and responsible. However, when it becomes a fundamental part of the culture and every decision is based on “what’s cheapest” instead of “what creates value,” the organization doesn’t become leaner; it becomes smaller.

Innovation slows down. Risk tolerance collapses. Builders leave. Suddenly, the company is no longer prioritizing the mission; it’s focused on protecting the margins.

In this week’s episode of Insights, we explore how well-intentioned cost-cutting can lead to cultural drift, why great talent often senses it first, and how strong leaders can stabilize today without sacrificing tomorrow.

Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:

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⁠Barnes & Noble⁠

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Silence isn’t awkward; it’s powerful.

In negotiations, we often rush to speak, defend, or fill space. But research from MIT Sloan shows that even a three-second pause can transform outcomes. It creates space to think, listen, and discover value that neither side saw before.

In this Insights episode, I explore how deliberate silence can change the tone, tempo, and results of your most important conversations.

Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:

⁠Amazon⁠

⁠Barnes & Noble⁠

Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠.

In business and in teams, conflict is inevitable. The question is: will it divide you or drive you?

In the film Air, Nike’s basketball division was falling apart. Opinions clashed, egos collided, and no one agreed on a path forward. Then one person reframed the fight, turning tension into focus and skepticism into belief. That clarity led to one of the greatest partnerships in business history: Michael Jordan and Nike.

In this Insights episode, I explore how leaders can do the same, reducing unhealthy conflict before it starts.

Question: How do you turn tension into teamwork on your team?

Read Emil’s book Leading With Trust:

⁠Amazon⁠

⁠Barnes & Noble⁠

Sign up for the Insights email: ⁠ThinkNewAmsterdam.com⁠.