EP197 - How 5 Minutes of Empathy Can Boost Team Performance, According to a Leadership Expert
In this episode of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show, host Tyler Dickerhoof sits down with Brian Kight—performance coach, leadership expert, and founder of Daily Discipline. Brian has spent years working with top athletes, business leaders, and high-performing teams to develop the habits, systems, and mindset that drive consistent results.
They explore how to build a life of discipline without burning out, why the most dangerous mindset is entitlement, and how to lead with clarity—starting with yourself. Brian also shares what he’s learned from working with elite performers, how to navigate chaos with confidence, and why personal responsibility is the cornerstone of real freedom.
Meet Brian Kight
Brian Kight is the founder of DIGNVS, LLC and the author of DailyDiscipline.com, a daily memo on personal discipline with over 64,536 subscribers. His mission is to help people build the discipline they need to achieve their goals as quickly and reliably as possible.
An entrepreneur, speaker, and advisor, Brian works with businesses, sports teams, and schools to raise leadership standards, create disciplined cultures, and align behavior to produce meaningful results.
With 20 years of experience, Brian is known for his ability to teach simple yet impactful skills with elite discipline, both personally and professionally. His training systems are practical and powerful, simplifying the complex so leaders, individuals, and teams can align their efforts and accelerate performance.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
00:00 Introduction
01:55 Brian’s story and how he learned empathy
08:54 The Definition of Empathy
16:40 How a Family Dinner Changed One’s Perspective
22:43 Empathy Can Save Weeks of Resistance
28:33 The Power of Choosing Empathy Over Feeling It
36:17 Empathy in Politics
38:18 Lack of Empathy Makes People Feel Invisible
44:25 The Power of Owning Your Choices in Leadership
48:05 Are You Getting Validation from Real Relationships or Your Phone?
54:34 The True Meaning of Vocation and Life’s Calling
1:05:02 Teaching Empathy and Discipline to Others
1:10:59 Understanding the Problem vs. Just Fixing the Symptoms
Resources, books, and links mentioned in this episode:
Follow Brian:
https://www.tbriankight.com/
https://www.dailydiscipline.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMctd-YoxlHTTjSU6-qkHJQ
http://instagram.com/tbriankight/
The Tyler Dickerhoof Show
https://www.youtube.com/@impactdrivenleader
https://www.instagram.com/thetylerdickerhoofshow/
Subscribe to the newsletter:
https://impactdrivenleader.beehiiv.com/
Tyler is on:
https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3
https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dickerhoof-1960351b
About the Tyler Dickerhoof Show Podcast
The Impact Driven Leader Podcast, hosted by Tyler Dickerhoof, is for Xillennial leaders who have felt alone and ill-equipped to lead in today's world. Through inspiring interviews with authors from around the world, Tyler uncovers how unique leadership strengths can empower others to achieve so much more, with real impact.
Rate, review and subscribe here on Apple Podcasts or subscribe on Stitcher and Spotify.
