Leadership often focuses on managing time.
But what if the real opportunity isn’t to manage time… but to design it?
In this insightful and thought-provoking episode of The Kind Leader Podcast, host Gino Degregori sits down with John K. Coyle, Olympic silver medalist, Emmy Award-winning producer, innovation expert, and creator of the concept of time expansion.
John brings a unique perspective shaped by elite performance, design thinking, and leadership experience to challenge one of the most common assumptions in modern work: that time is something to control, optimize, and compress.
Instead, he introduces a powerful idea, that the most meaningful moments in life and leadership are not measured by duration, but by impact.
Through stories from the Olympics, business leadership, and personal life, John shares how small moments can reshape entire trajectories, why focusing only on efficiency can shrink our experience of life, and how leaders can intentionally create moments that expand time for themselves and others.
Together, Gino and John explore what it means to lead with empathy, empower teams by asking instead of telling, and rethink performance by focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses.
They also dive into the concept of Kairos vs. Chronos time, and why the moments that matter most are often the ones we don’t plan for, but can learn to design.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why managing time is less powerful than designing meaningful moments
- The difference between Chronos (clock time) and Kairos (human time)
- How small moments can change the trajectory of a career or a life
- Why focusing on strengths creates higher-performing teams
- How to create experiences that feel richer, more memorable, and more meaningful
Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or simply trying to live more intentionally, this episode will challenge the way you think about time, leadership, and what truly matters.
Time isn’t just something you spend. It’s something you design.
🎧 Listen now to explore how to create more meaningful moments, stronger teams, and a life that feels expansive, not rushed.
5 Key Takeaways
1. Time Is Designed, Not ManagedMost leaders try to manage time more efficiently. But the real shift happens when you start designing time intentionally. The most meaningful moments aren’t about duration, they’re about impact.
2. Small Moments Shape Big Outcomes Life-changing decisions and turning points rarely come from long processes. They happen in seconds. A conversation, a question, or a choice in a single moment can completely change a trajectory.
3. Empowerment Is a Form of Kindness Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating space for others to think, decide, and grow. Asking “What do you think?” can be more powerful than giving directions.
4. Play to Strengths, Don’t Fix Weaknesses High-performing teams are not built by correcting weaknesses. They are built by identifying strengths and designing roles around them. When people operate in their natural strengths, performance and engagement increase.
5. Meaningful Experiences Expand Time Time feels slower and more fulfilling when we step outside routine. New experiences, emotional intensity, and even challenges create richer memories, making life feel more expansive rather than rushed.
Resources & Additional Information
Connect with John CoyleLearn more about John Coyle’s work on time expansion, leadership, and designing meaningful experiences. Website: http://www.johnkcoyle.com LinkedIn: John K. Coyle
Books by John CoyleDesign for Strengths: Applying Design Thinking to Individual and Team Strengths In this insightful and practical book, John Coyle combines design thinking with strengths-based development to help individuals and teams unlock their full potential. Drawing from his experience as an Olympic athlete and innovation expert, he challenges the traditional focus on fixing weaknesses and instead offers a powerful framework for designing performance around what people naturally do best.
Book RecommendedWind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry A beautifully written reflection on adventure, humanity, and the meaning of life through the lens of early aviation. Blending philosophy and storytelling, this book invites readers to see life not through efficiency, but through depth, courage, and human connection.
Chapters
00:00 From the Olympics to Finding Joy in the Journey 05:06 From “Knower” to “Learner”: A Leadership Shift 10:16 Why Great Leaders Design for Strengths, Not Weaknesses 15:37 Designing Kairos Moments: When Time Expands 22:06 The Moments That Shape Us (and Why We Remember Them) 30:18 How to Design Experiences People Never Forget 35:52 Choose the Better Story, Not the Safer Path