Game Over

In this episode of the Straight-Line Podcast, Johan and Mandy van der Put discuss how leaders can effectively deal with frustrations and bureaucracy within a corporate environment. When you start complaining about others, you give up your own power and make yourself a victim of the situation. It is crucial to take responsibility and not fall into a culture of complaining, especially as a leader. Executives may have to deal with the slowness and bureaucracy of other departments. It’s important to handle these dynamics strategically without casting yourself in the role of a victim. This episode highlights how you can invite others to collaborate and show them what the mutual benefit could be.

Other episodes

You're putting it off. You just call it something else. | Straight-Line Podcast Highlights

Procrastination is rarely called “procrastination.” We call it waiting for the right moment. We call it “I’m worried.” We call it “I need to understand it first.” In this episode of the Straight-Line Podcast, Kristof and Johan peel back four of those masks and show that “now” isn’t a spot on the calendar, but a mindset.

From wanting to doing: Kristof and Johan’s best insights in 2026

This is a special compilation of the Straight-Line Podcast featuring the most memorable moments of 2026, organized around a single central theme:the gap between knowing and doing.

You get what you put up with

Every time you let something slide, you lower the bar. In this episode, discover how to set standards that foster growth and trust.

Episode 3: The Network of Commitments and Results (The Language of Results)

It’s all about commitments: strong, weak, or criminal. In this episode, discover how commitments can make or break your results.

Episode 2: The Network of Conversations (The Language of Results)

Conversations shape your results: both what’s said and what’s left unsaid. In this episode, discover how you, as a leader, can influence what’s actually said.

The Hard Lessons Behind a New Business | The Story of Inner Stance

Find out what valuable lessons Johan, Mandy, and Kristof learned leading up to the launch of Inner Stance.

Episode 6: Core Actions vs. Superficial Actions (The Geometry of Success)

In this sixth episode of The Geometry of Success, we distinguish between core actions and superficial actions.

Episode 4: Agreements vs. Expectations (The Geometry of Success)

In this episode, discover one of the most powerful and fundamental distinctions when it comes to effective leadership: Agreements vs. Expectations.

Business Partner: Partner or Parasite?

Is your business partner an asset or a liability? Find out right away with these clear-cut distinctions.

Working from Home: Stay in Control as a Business Leader

Working from home has become an integral part of our lives, but what does it mean for leadership and communication?

Dealing with Conflict in Business

Listen to the episode and discover how you can effectively handle conflicts so you don’t end up in a wait-and-see mode.

Create your own success in business

Our leadership coaches reveal three powerful tools to help you rise above your circumstances and shape your own future.

Communication and Leadership in Times of Crisis

In this episode, learn how to stay on course as an entrepreneur during a crisis through strong leadership and effective communication.

Strengthen your leadership by making unreasonable requests

Discover why seemingly unreasonable requests are the secret behind breakthroughs in entrepreneurship and leadership.

How to Show Leadership in Your Relationship

In this Valentine's Day special, you'll learn how to strengthen your romantic relationship through leadership and communication.

Chapter 39 | What I Contribute vs. What I Earn

Strong leadership is about giving, not about taking. Focus on what you give, not on what you deserve, and avoid the weakness of playing the victim.

Real Love – with Mandy and Johan van der Put

True love requires radical acceptance: seeing people as they are, not as you want them to be. This creates authentic, powerful connections.

Bulletin | The Big Problem

Believing something strongly doesn't make it true. Beliefs feel comfortable, but true truth requires observation and letting go of assumptions.

What do you really do for others?

Are you truly there for someone, or are you just present? Love requires action, not passivity. Confront, challenge, and consciously make a difference in your relationships.

Relationship Mastery – with Mandy and Johan van der Put

Watch out for “warning signs” in relationships. Ignoring early signs leads to bigger problems. Be proactive and build strong, lasting connections.

Discover other series

Each episode delves deeper into an important theme—precisely at the moment when leadership begins to falter, stagnate, or stall. Choose your focus. Discover your new direction.
The 52 awards
In this podcast series, Managing Partners and Straight-Line coaches Johan and Kristof discuss Chapter 50 of the book *Straight-Line Leadership*. In each episode, they explore one of the 52 distinctions and how it plays out in practice.
The Geometry of Success
In this six-part podcast series, Mandy, Johan, and Kristof provide you with the tools you need to become a more powerful and effective leader.
The Language of Results
In our new three-part podcast series, you’ll learn how to exert influence as a leader, so that every conversation and every promise brings you closer to success
Effective Leadership
Learn how to turn your vision into action and create an environment where your team can thrive.
Ownership
Discover how to strengthen your mindset to turn obstacles into opportunities.
Focus & Purpose
Learn how to eliminate distractions and create clarity.
Effective Communication & Relationships
Discover how to increase your influence and build stronger connections with people.
procrastination
Personal Development & Growth
Consciously challenge yourself and develop the skills that will take your business to the next level.