What if the root cause of persistent leadership problems isn’t incompetence — but polarization? This session introduces a fresh, practical approach that helps learning and development (L&D) teams recognize hidden tensions beneath toxic behaviors and equips “problem leaders” to become key partners in their own transformation.

During this talk, your speaker, Jared Oates, creator of the Leadership Progress Cycle, will introduce a simple, practical framework that helps leaders recognize everyday tensions and harness the energy of paradox to unlock breakthrough results.

This interactive session will provide easy-to-understand insights on:

• How leadership dysfunction often stems from overused strengths, not bad intent
• A quick self-assessment tool for spotting polarizing patterns in your own leadership
• A simple method for recognizing paradox in everyday leadership tension
• How to design small, affordable, fast experiments (SAFEs) that turn tension into progress

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Speaker

Jared Oates, Founder, The Leadership Progress Cycle Jared Oates is the creator of the Leadership Progress Cycle, a practical framework that helps leaders work with paradox to create lasting impact. A self-taught engineer with a background in English rhetoric, he’s spent over a decade designing learning experiences that go beyond surface-level training. As co-founder of Niche Academy, Jared has helped thousands of leaders in public and nonprofit sectors navigate real-world challenges. Known for blending practical tools with personal insight, he helps leaders see tension not as a threat — but as the energy source for innovation, trust and growth.