Like a Boss with Michael Cohen

Like a Boss with Michael Cohen

by Duane Morris
ManagementEducation
Season 1

Episode 59: The Proliferation of Mental Health-Related Leaves, the Dangers of Dr. SummerOff and our Obligations under the FMLA

As we continue through Mental Health Awareness Month (and always), leaders must support our employees' mental health journeys and continue to emphasize that their mental health matters! We also are approaching the beginning of summer.😎 Beach.🏖️ Mountains.🌄 Lakes.🌊 A lot of employees like to get away from the office or from work and enjoy as much of summer as they can. Some of those employees also want to take off more time than they have. And, be aware that they may seek the assistance of Dr. SummerOff - the health care provider who has no problem providing a note clearing employees from work, whether warranted or not. 🩻 💡It is crucial that leaders understand certain responsibilities related to an employee's disclosure of a potentially FMLA-qualifying condition.💡 Those obligations include: 1️⃣ Recognizing a request for FML A leave when neither the letters F, M, L or A nor the words "leave of absence" are used; 2️⃣ Knowing which absences can (and by implication, cannot) be documented; 3️⃣ Understanding an employee's reinstatement rights following leave and exceptions to that reinstatement requirement; 4️⃣ Appreciating the importance of neither discriminating nor retaliating against an employee for either taking or requesting leave; and 5️⃣ Realizing the absolute importance of communication with HR or the People Team about employees disclosures. As always, thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing.❤️🫶🙏 #leadership #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #FMLA Thanks so much for watching, commenting and sharing! Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram Youtube Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute
S1 · E60
May 11, 2026
13:32

Episode 58: Broken and Better: Why Mental Health Struggles Create Stronger Leaders

We don't talk about this enough. In this Mental Health Awareness Month, it's time.⏲️ Some of the most effective leaders I've seen aren't the ones who had it all figured out. They're the ones who've faced real struggles with their mental health — and came out the other side with something most leadership programs can't teach. This week's "Like A Boss" Podcast examines4️⃣ways that navigating mental health challenges can actually make someone a stronger💪, more impactful leader: 1. Empathy Becomes a Superpower🦹‍♀️ When you've sat in the darkness yourself, you recognize it in others. Leaders who have personally wrestled with anxiety, depression, or burnout don't just sympathize with struggling team members — they truly understand. That depth of empathy builds trust faster, strengthens team bonds, and creates a culture where people feel genuinely safe. And when people feel safe, they do their best work. 2. Resilience Is Forged, Not Found⚡⚡⚡ There is a particular kind of resilience that only comes from examining your own mind and choosing to keep going. Leaders who have navigated mental health challenges know what it means to push through when everything feels impossible. That hard-earned resilience doesn't just help them weather professional setbacks — it inspires their teams to persevere, too. They lead by example in a way that no motivational poster ever could. 3. Vulnerability Becomes a Leadership Tool🥹 The old playbook said leaders should never show weakness. The new reality is that vulnerability is one of the most powerful things a leader can offer. When a leader is open about their struggles, it gives everyone else permission to be human. It dismantles the toxic "always-on, always-fine" culture that burns people out. Vulnerability isn't weakness — it's courage, and it's contagious. 4. Self-Awareness Becomes a Hidden Asset💡 Managing mental health demands an extraordinary level of self-awareness. You learn your triggers. You learn your limits. You learn what you need to function at your best. That kind of introspection is rare in leadership, and it's invaluable. Self-aware leaders make better decisions, communicate more clearly, and know when to step back before they break down. They don't just lead others well — they lead themselves well first. The bottom line is this: your struggles don't disqualify you from leadership. They may be the very thing that qualifies you for it.🏆 If this resonates, share it with a leader who needs to hear it today. As always, thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing.❤️🫶🙏 Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram Youtube
S1 · E59
May 4, 2026
15:17

Episode 57: Please . . . Trust Me. It Matters . . . A Lot!

(Originally recorded Fall 2025) The fall is my busiest time of year. Starting the day after Labor Day and running through December, I typically am in a two to three cities each week. It's planes, trains and automobiles in the best way! ✈️ 🚂 🚗 And, while of course I miss being home💔and travel can get tiring🥱, I consider it to be such a unique privilege to meet so many great people who overwhelmingly seek to be good to each other and to do good for their organizations. And, while the subject matter of my programs are varied, harassment prevention conversations still comprise a meaningful percentage of the trainings I facilitate. During one of my programs last week, I was met with some real opposition as to the importance of harassment prevention education. This kind of questioning is not as rare as you might think. With that in mind, this week’s leadership video discusses five reasons it is absolutely critical, these days more than ever, to maintain a working environment free from harassment, discrimination, and retaliation: 1️⃣ Fairness to employees 🫂 2️⃣ Organizational costs 💲💲 3️⃣ Time considerations ⌚ 4️⃣ Impact on productivity 📉 5️⃣ Public relations 📰 As always friends, thank you so much for your kindness and for commenting and for sharing. 🫶❤️🙏 A quick reminder that my new podcast, Like A Boss, is now available on the following platforms. I'd be truly honored if you would follow! Thanks and have a great week! Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram Youtube Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute
S1 · E58
Apr 30, 2026
11:10

Episode 56: The Power of Relentless Incrementalism in Leadership

Great leadership is not built in a single defining moment. It is built in the thousands of small, deliberate steps taken every day — the consistent choices to push forward, learn, adapt, and improve. This is the essence of relentless incrementalism, and it is one of the most underappreciated forces in effective leadership today. We often celebrate🎉the breakthrough — the big product launch, the landmark deal, the dramatic turnaround.💪 But behind every one of those moments is a leader who committed to steady, compounding progress long before the spotlight🔦arrived. This week's "Like A Boss" podcast discusses 3️⃣ actions leaders can take to harness relentless incrementalism and to achieve wildly-positive results: ☑️ Create a learning culture ☑️ Redefine success ☑️ Build strategic partnerships and collaboration Leadership is a long game. The leaders who leave the greatest impact are rarely the loudest voices in the room. They are the ones who showed up every day, made things a little better than they found them, and never stopped moving forward. ⏩⏩⏩ That is the quiet power of relentless incrementalism. What small step are you taking today to move your team or your career forward? I would love to hear your thoughts. 👇 As always, friends, thank you for watching, for commenting and sharing. ❤️🫶🙏 --------------------------------------------------------------- A quick reminder that my new podcast, Like A Boss, is now available on the following platforms. I'd be truly honored if you would follow! Instagram https://lnkd.in/exSAbzVB Apple Podcasts https://lnkd.in/ewRXU2tD Spotify https://lnkd.in/eMHGBWg8 YouTube https://lnkd.in/eMiQZPWd Thanks and have a great week! Duane Morris LLP #Leadership #GrowthMindset #RelentlessIncrementalism #ProfessionalDevelopment #ContinuousImprovement
S1 · E57
Apr 27, 2026
9:33

Episode 5 Repost: The Super Bowl Champs Show How New Ways of Hiring Matters!

Today begins the 2026 National Football League Draft! Aside from it being one of my favorite sports days of the year (yes, I’m a huge dork), the Draft provides NFL organizations with a real opportunity to build. But, selecting the right talent requires not only a great deal of work, it mandates that decisionmakers eliminate outdated and anachronistic ways of thinking. In recognition of the Draft and of the importance of effectively assembling YOUR team, I have reposted my video from a year ago shortly after my Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl VICTORY! How did the Eagles reach the pinnacle of the NFL? Look no further than the hiring practices the team employed in assembling its roster. Who did the Eagles bring into the nest? Players with flaws? ✅ Players overlooked or looked past? ✅ Players cast off by other franchises? ✅ Players who rivals considered "not worth the money." ✅ The Eagles didn't do things the way they always had been done. The team refused constantly to rely on archaic norms and antiquated ways of thinking. And in so doing, the Eagles achieved the ultimate success. Far too many organizations refuse to adapt and refuse to adjust to the ever-changing landscape, to new ways of thinking, to the realities of the evolving applicant pool. Please give this a serious listen and please comment and share! And, let’s all say it together . . . E-A-G-L-E-S!
S1 · E56
Apr 23, 2026
6:04

Episode 55: Crushing Cancer and Inspiring Leadership

Last weekend, I had the privilege of volunteering💁‍♂️at the American Cancer Society's Philadelphia Coaches vs Cancer BasketBall🏀Gala. The BasketBall Gala is an annual event, this year attended by approximately 350 people and this year raising over $800,000 to support the cancer community. A more inspirational evening I simply cannot imagine.🤲 Throughout the course of the night, I witnessed true outpourings of love❤️, moving tributes💌and transformative acts of generosity and philanthropy💓. I also was reminded, through the conduct and thoughtfulness of those sponsoring and hosting and running the event, what meaningful leadership looks like. I saw, first hand and in real time, the importance of: ☑️ Engaging in sponsorship and using our influence to benefit others ☑️ Being selfless with our time (even when it’s hard) ☑️ Empowering those who report to us ☑️ Anticipating issues and owning mistakes when they happen ☑️ Showing appreciation for a job well done As always, friends, thank you for watching, for commenting and sharing. And, in the words of Coach Phil Martelli, let’s CRUSH CANCER! --------------------------------------------------------------- A quick reminder that my new podcast, Like A Boss, is now available on the following platforms. I'd be truly honored if you would follow! Thanks and have a great week! Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram Youtube Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute #leadership #ACS
S1 · E55
Apr 20, 2026
12:08

Episode 54: The ADA Interactive Process and Ten Deadly Sins That MUST be Avoided

Okay, maybe "sins" is aggressive and "deadly" 💀 hyperbolic, but these mistakes are very serious, far too common and simply cannot happen. 🙅‍♂️ After a brief ADA primer, this week's video examines what are, based on my experience in assisting clients confronting these issues, a sort of Top 🔟 list of ADA interactive process mistakes. These frequently-made errors apply to leaders and to HR pros alike, so it truly is relevant and important content for everyone. 💡 As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. And, thank you so much for your continuing to comment and to share! A quick reminder that my new podcast, Like A Boss, is now available on the following platforms. I'd be truly honored if you would follow! Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram Youtube Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute
S1 · E54
Apr 16, 2026
14:04

Episode 53: Leadership 101 - Team Above Self

The University of Michigan Men's Basketball🏀Team has won it all! They danced🕺with 67 other teams and were crowned👑champions of the NCAA Tournament. As is always the case in #MarchMadness, there were so many compelling stories and so many talented players. This year, however, one of the most impactful storylines was provided by hashtag #UniversityofMichigan forward, Will Tschetter. A 5th year senior, and emotional heartbeat💓of the Wolverines squad, Tschetter repeatedly provided to all of us invaluable leadership lessons.💡 In this week's "Like A Boss" episode, I discuss how Tschetter's passionate and unwavering commitment to team over self were critical to his team's achieving the ultimate success.🏆 The Michigan Captain's approach has broad application and demonstrates a model for us to embrace and to follow. As always, thank you for watching, for commenting and for sharing! ❤️🙏🫶 And . . . GO BLUE!!!! 💙💛💙💛💙 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A quick reminder that my new podcast, Like A Boss, is now available on the following platforms. I'd be truly honored if you would follow! Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram Youtube Thanks and have a great week! Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute #leadership #ncaabasketball
S1 · E53
Apr 13, 2026
13:25

Episode 52: Yes, Performance Appraisals DO Matter, Perhaps Now More Than Ever!

I hear it far too often: “Performance appraisals are a waste of time and only reward the top and punish the bottom." 🙉 ❌ Nope. ❌ Ain't true. ❌ Just not right at all. While I do agree that, when a manager does not give the requisite attention or take sufficient time, the poorly worded or largely-ignored appraisal can create more harm than good. But in my experience, these problems overwhelmingly are issues relating to drafting and implementation rather than with the process itself! As we say in Philly, "Trust the Process." But, do so recognizing that, until you educate your leaders about why appraisals matter, how appropriately and effectively to draft them and mistakes to avoid, your process simply will not improve. 🧑‍🏫 Please give a listen, please comment and please share! A quick reminder that my new podcast, Like A Boss, is now available on the following platforms. I'd be truly honored if you would follow! Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram Youtube #appraisals #performancereviews #hr #employmentlaw #leadership Duane Morris LLPDuane Morris Institute
S1 · E52
Apr 9, 2026
11:25

Episode 51: A Long Run, A Great Cause and a Leadership Lesson About Encouraging Employees 

Last week, Mia Cohen🏃‍♀️and I🏃‍♂️ran the Philly Love Run. Mia ran👟the half-marathon in support of the Glioblastoma Foundation and in honor of 2 people close to her who recently passed from that horrifying form of brain cancer. I ran the 1️⃣3️⃣.1️⃣ miles to support Mia. A more inspirational and meaningful experience I cannot imagine. When you run as slowly as I do, you have A LOT of time to live inside your own head🧠. And throughout the course, I kept coming back to the same thought - how crucial it is for leaders to emphasize to their people the importance of engaging in meaningful nonwork-related activities.💭 In this week's "Like A Boss" episode, I discuss 5️⃣ reasons we, as leaders, MUST encourage our employees to find impactful outlets outside of and unrelated to work. I hope you enjoy the conversation (and some pictures from last weekend's Love Run)! As always, thank you for watching, for commenting and for sharing! ❤️🙏🫶 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A quick reminder that my new podcast, Like A Boss, is now available on the following platforms. I'd be truly honored if you would follow! Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram Youtube Thanks and have a great week! Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute #leadership #running #mentalhealth #Loverun
S1 · E51
Apr 6, 2026
13:50
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