Here’s our interview with Todd Dewett, Author, Coach, Keynote Speaker, and Best-selling Educator at LinkedIn Learning, on his rules for success.

Todd Dewett is a globally recognized leadership educator, speaker, and author focused on helping professionals become more authentic, effective, and human at work. He began his career in consulting with Ernst & Young and Andersen, where he developed an early understanding of business systems, performance, and organizational dynamics. But he quickly realized something deeper. He wasn’t built to stay inside the machine. He was built to study it.

That decision led him to pursue a PhD, where he focused on leadership, relationships, and workplace behavior. He went on to become a tenured professor, publishing academic research and teaching future leaders how people actually function inside organizations. Then, his life shifted. Companies wanted him to speak. Platforms wanted his courses. Professionals wanted practical leadership guidance, not theory. That demand pulled him out of academia and into a global platform.

Background of Todd Dewett

Today, Todd has:

• Delivered over 1,000 keynote speeches worldwide
• Spoken at 5 TEDx events
• Created dozens of online courses used by millions
• Worked with companies like Microsoft, IBM, Boeing, and ExxonMobil
• Built a strong following through LinkedIn

At the core of his work is one idea. Stop acting like a professional. Start showing up like a human.

In this episode of Rules for Success, Todd shares his insights with Joseph Varghese about leadership, authenticity, and the power of human connection in the workplace. He talks about his journey from the corporate world into leadership education, and why vulnerability, relatability, and strong communication matter more than ever.

Todd Dewett Questions and Discussions

Here’s a bullet-point summary of the questions and discussions from our interview with Todd Dewett:

1. Todd Dewett’s Journey from Consulting to Leadership Educator

• Started career in consulting at Ernst & Young and Andersen
• Realized he was more interested in people and relationships than corporate roles
• Left to pursue a PhD and study leadership and workplace behavior
• Became a professor, then transitioned into speaking, writing, and teaching globally
• Built a platform through courses, books, and large-scale corporate work

2. Authenticity as a Leadership Advantage

• Most professionals “act” at work instead of being real
• Over-polishing behavior reduces trust and connection
• Authenticity is not being unfiltered. It’s being slightly more real than usual
• Small shifts toward honesty create stronger relationships
• Leaders leave massive value on the table by hiding behind professionalism

3. Why Authenticity Matters More in the AI Era

• Todd Dewett shares that as AI grows, human skills become more valuable, not less
• Emotional intelligence and real connection become competitive advantages
• Leaders must embrace imperfection instead of hiding it
• Vulnerability builds credibility when used correctly
• People trust leaders who admit mistakes and show humanity

4. Leadership is Not Taught Properly

• Most leaders are promoted based on technical skill, not leadership ability
• Organizations rarely train leaders effectively
• Leadership requires a completely different skill set than execution
• Throwing people into leadership without preparation creates dysfunction
• Great leadership must be intentionally developed

5. The Biggest Mistake High Performers Make

• They assume others think like them
• They expect others to share their motivation, logic, and standards
• This creates frustration and poor leadership decisions
• The reality is people are different. Leadership must adapt to individuals
• Todd Dewett teaches that one-size-fits-all leadership fails

6. Sales, Influence, and Relatability

• Selling is not just logic. It’s human connection
• Vulnerability builds trust faster than authority
• Sharing struggles can be more powerful than sharing wins
• Relatability validates the other person’s experience
• Human connection increases influence

7. The Power of Vulnerability and Humility

• Admitting mistakes builds respect, not weakness
• Leaders who hide flaws lose credibility
• Vulnerability must be real, not strategic or fake
• Self-awareness and humility are core leadership traits
• Confidence + humanity = real leadership

8. Dancing with Monsters Framework

• “Monsters” represent fear, pressure, conflict, and difficult people
• Avoiding problems weakens leadership
• Facing challenges requires reframing perspective
• Mindset determines performance more than tools
• Leaders must confront, not avoid, their “monsters”

9. Culture. Balancing Kindness and Candor

• Todd Dewett explains that too much harshness creates toxic environments
• However, too much positivity creates weak, dishonest cultures
• Best cultures balance kindness with honest feedback
• Kindness builds trust
• Candor drives growth

10. Daily Discipline and Mindset of Todd Dewett

• Starts each day with a mantra: purpose, perspective, gratitude
• Uses intentional thinking to shape mindset
• When stuck, steps away instead of forcing productivity
• Focuses on continuous learning
• Believes growth comes from facing what you’ve been avoiding

Todd Dewett teaches authenticity, humility, emotional intelligence, and practical leadership behaviors that actually work in the real world. His latest book, Dancing with Monsters, explores how leaders deal with fear, pressure, difficult people, and internal struggles. He is also launching a comic strip called Creswall, blending humor and workplace insight in a “Dilbert meets The Office” style. Todd’s mission is simple: Help people lead better by being more real.

To connect with Todd Dewett and learn more about his work, visit drdewett.com.

💬 Notable Quotes

“We overdo professionalism and underdo being human.”
“You don’t know nearly as much as you think you do.”
“Leadership is not one-size-fits-all.”
“Stop acting like a professional. Be a person.”
“Confidence and competence are not enough.”
“Kindness without candor fails. Candor without kindness fails.”
“If you’re stuck, stop. Walk away. Come back later.”
“Mentality is everything when facing challenges.”

🙌 Connect with Todd Dewett

• 🌐 Website: drdewett.com

• 🌐 Book: Dancing with Monsters

• 🌐 Upcoming: Creswall comic strip (Dilbert meets The Office with modern relevance)

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