Episode 246: Drew Robbins - When No One's Keeping Score

This is episode #246 of The Limitless Podcast with Nick Jonsson, featuring Drew Robbins, Engineering Leader at Microsoft. In this meaningful and thought-provoking conversation, Drew shares his perspective on what it truly means to thrive when no one’s keeping score—a mindset that challenges the traditional way many leaders measure performance, progress, and personal success.

Drew begins by unpacking the common corporate culture of constant comparison, competition, and external validation. He notes that in many workplaces, people become conditioned to equate their value with visible achievements, rankings, or recognition from others. While these metrics can be useful at times, Drew explains that relying on them too heavily often erodes motivation, reduces creativity, and creates environments where people feel pressured rather than inspired.

Drawing from his experiences at Microsoft, Drew shares powerful real-life examples of how leaders can cultivate intrinsic motivation—helping individuals stay committed not because someone is watching, but because they believe deeply in the work they’re doing. He also highlights how shifting away from score-keeping fosters trust, psychological safety, and stronger long-term relationships within teams.

Throughout the episode, Drew offers practical suggestions for leaders who want to build more authentic, resilient, and purpose-driven teams. He talks about why transparency matters, how to encourage courageous conversations, and the importance of recognizing progress even when it’s not publicly visible. He also emphasizes the value of leading with intention—encouraging leaders to reflect on their own motivations and to help others find meaning in their work beyond external rewards.

Another important theme Drew discusses is emotional sustainability. He explains that when people base their worth solely on praise, promotions, or measurable outcomes, they often burn out or become discouraged when these things fluctuate. But when leaders encourage internal measures of success—such as growth, contribution, collaboration, and impact—their teams become far more resilient and self-driven.

Whether you’re leading a small team, a large organization, or simply navigating your own personal development journey, this episode provides actionable lessons on focusing on what truly matters. It’s a reminder that real leadership is not about keeping score—it’s about lifting others, unlocking potential, and creating environments where people thrive even when the spotlight isn’t on them.

Tune in to learn how to build a culture of meaning, trust, and long-term motivation that goes far beyond traditional performance metrics.

Contact Drew here:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewby/

🎙️ Visit our website for more episodes: ⁠ https://www.nickjonsson.com/podcast