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Simplifying the Complexities of Your Leadership Journey
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Episode 63: Building Your Winning Team
Point 1: Assembling the Right Mix of Talent
It's not about finding the best individuals; it's about finding the right individuals to work effectively together to achieve a common goal.
QUESTION: Where are you called to be a leader?
Leaders need to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their team members and align them with these roles.
BOOK: Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath
- Once you know your top five strengths, you can start to lead from those strengths.
- Know the strengths of your team.
Point 2: Fostering Collaboration and Synergy
A winning team isn't just a group of talented individuals; it's a group of talented individuals who work seamlessly together.
- Create opportunities for team members to get to know each other on a personal level
- put team in scenarios where they work together
If they can work together on the small things, they will support one another and achieve objectives
Leaders should encourage open communication and provide a safe space for team members to express their concerns.
- Mediate conflicts early and effectively.
- Don’t make it too easy for your team.
- Butterfly/Cocoon - the struggle that makes it able to live.
- Learn to love the process.
- Facilitate good interactions and communication.
Point 3: Empowering and Developing Your Team
A winning team not only achieves its current goals but also grows and evolves over time.
Trust them to make decisions and take ownership of their work.
Leaders have to develop their people into a team they can trust by delegating responsibilities and providing autonomy.
- offer guidance and support when needed
- provide opportunities to develop the necessary skills and knowledge
When your team members feel valued and supported, they're more likely to give their best.
Delegation
- You need to know what to give away and what to keep
MO’s Final Thoughts:
Take time to build your team. Give yourself the grace. Don't worry about setbacks. Embrace the struggle. Try new things. You’ll be better for it.
Amazon Book Link:
Strengthsfinder 2.0, Tom Rath - https://amzn.to/3Sn7uNm
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Monday Sep 11, 2023
Monday Sep 11, 2023
Episode 62: Nurturing Innovative Leaders
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Leaders Empower Creative Mindsets
QUESTION: Are you helping your people take calculated risks to be creative?
- The best leaders promote innovation by creating an environment of psychological safety.
How to foster growth mindsets:
- Create learning opportunities (books, seminars, etc.)
- Continuous skill development
- Support personal projects
When you focus on empowering creative thinking in your people, it will ultimately lead to increased engagement and a sense of ownership among employees.
-
Leaders Focus on Collective Success
QUESTION: What does success look like for your team? What are the deliverables?
BOOK: “Dare to Serve”, Cheryl Bachelder
- By fostering cross-departmental interactions and encouraging participation in problem-solving, leaders allow individuals with diverse skills and perspectives to unite towards a common goal.
Two Techniques:
- Diverse Problem-Solving Approaches: Encourage teams to approach problems from different angles. Asking, “What’s the angle you would take?”
- Transparent Resource Allocation: Ensure resources are allocated fairly across departments.
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Leaders Cultivate Purposeful Empathy
Leaders who value empathy inspire their team members, leading to a sense of belonging and commitment to the organization's innovation journey.
BOOK: “Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time”, by Howard Schultz
Once you get people on your side, believing in the same goal, you are going to create an unstoppable team.
QUESTION: How do you treat your people?
- Value your employees not by what they can produce, but by how you know their strengths connect with the rest of the people on your team.
- Be empathetic and learn about your people. Get to know them as more than just people on your team.
MO’s FINAL THOUGHT:
Share your own experiences, challenges, and success stories related to nurturing innovative leaders. Do this with the men and women that you trust. Connect with someone today and ask them how you are doing when it comes to nurturing innovation.
Amazon Book Link:
“Dare to Serve”, by Cheryl Bachelder - https://a.co/d/5cMSsDp
“Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time”, by Howard Schultz - https://a.co/d/2zIAwoC
“Good to Great”, by Jim Collins - https://a.co/d/8xrV4KA
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Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Episode 61: Leaders Sacrifice More
- Personal Time and Energy Investment
QUESTION: What kind of time and energy do you give to your team?
- Sacrificing personal time for work-related tasks is a hallmark of effective leadership.
QUESTION: Are you the one who gets it done? Are you willing to go the extra mile?
- When everybody else goes home, leaders stay to pick up the pieces and make things happen.
- Decision-Making and Accountability
- Leaders demonstrate accountability by taking ownership of both successes and failures.
- Accountability requires leaders to sacrifice their ego for the benefit of the team's growth.
- True leaders understand that responsibility is a core of what they do in their role. They recognize they can't simply pass the buck to someone else. Instead, they step up and take ownership of their decisions, whether they're big or small.
- True leaders say, “I want the buck to stop with me”.
- The best leaders don’t whine and don’t complain—they get things done.
- Development of Team Members
- This investment drives individual growth and contributes to the overall success of the team.
- Find the right people first.
QUESTION: Is your company finding the right people?
- If you take the time to find the right person, you will actually be doing less work than if you were to just fill the spot.
- Burnout shouldn’t happen. Make a change!
- Talk to the decision makers.
- You have to have trust in your leaders because those who you lead need to have trust in you.
- Get under a leader who knows how to pick the right people.
- Actively promote the career advancement of the people on your team.
MO’s Final Thoughts:
Leadership is a journey that demands continuous commitment and sacrifice. The higher you go, the more you have to sacrifice. As leaders, we set the tone for the entire team. Our willingness to sacrifice paves the way for others to be a stronger, more cohesive, and successful group.
Amazon Book Links:
“Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink - https://amzn.to/3ke0tSA
“Good to Great” by Jim Collins - https://amzn.to/3lXHuvQ
Special thanks to:
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Work it out by LiQWYD https://soundcloud.com/liqwyd
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
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Monday Jul 31, 2023
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Episode 60 - Thriving in Leadership in the Workplace
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Build trust within your team.
Trust starts by getting to know each team member on an individual level.
- Take the time to understand their strengths, challenges, and personal aspirations.
- Show genuine interest in their lives outside of work.
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Open and Transparent Communication:
- Be accessible and approachable to your team members.
- Encourage them to share without fear of judgment.
- Actively listen to their perspectives
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Emphasize Personal Connections:
- Take the time to understand their strengths, challenges, and aspirations.
- Show genuine interest in their lives
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Create new opportunities for team members.
- It's essential to encourage professional growth and development within your team.
- Identify their unique skills and passions, and then find ways to align those with their roles or responsibilities.
BOOK: “Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future” by Dorie Clark
- You need to build your brand.
- You need to help your people build their brands.
This will build trust because they know that you want the very best for them.
ACTION POINTS:
- Ask each of your team members what they want from their time at the company, and what they want from you as a leader.
- If another opportunity comes along for one of the team members, you need to be the first one to tell them that they need to go for it.
The best leaders are trying to work their people out of the job.
When team members feel that their growth is supported, they become more engaged and motivated to contribute their best work.
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Help others use personal strengths for team success.
- It is crucial to create a culture where knowledge-sharing and collaboration are encouraged.
BOOK: “They Call Me Coach” by John Wooden.
- "The star of the team is the team. 'We' supercedes 'me'.”
Your job is to do your very best and help your team do the same.
MO’s Final Thoughts:
I'd like to leave our listeners with one final thought: leadership is not about a title; it's about how you inspire and empower those around you.
Amazon Book Links:
“Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future” by Dorie Clark- https://amzn.to/3OfWkIr
“They Call Me Coach” by John Wooden. -https://amzn.to/3OyDUmL
Special thanks to:
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Monday Jul 17, 2023
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Episode 59: Leaders Know Their Weaknesses
Point 1: Self-Awareness and Growth
Leaders who possess self-awareness:
- have a deep understanding of their strengths and weaknesses
- play to their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses
QUESTION: Are you aware of the stuff that you don't know?
BOOK: 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell
- “You don't know what you don't know.”
If you don't ask people what you are doing wrong, then you might start believing your own press.
Surround yourself with people you can ask, “What is it that I don't know that I don't know about myself?”
BOOK: Emotional Intelligence 2.0, Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves
- Learn how to be self-aware
- Become socially aware
Point 2: Building Strong Teams
A leader who understands their own limitations:
- can assemble a team with diverse skill sets that complement their weaknesses
- promotes collaboration, innovation, and better decision-making within the team
When we figure out what we're good at and then know our weaknesses, then we can humbly ask others to collaborate with us & unlock a new level of leadership.
Point 3: Adaptability and Learning
By acknowledging their weaknesses, leaders create opportunities for growth, enabling them to adapt to changing circumstances.
How can leaders start to identify their weaknesses?
- Seeking feedback from peers, mentors, and team members
- Self-reflection
- Assessments
- Regular performance evaluations
- Open communication and constructive criticism
FINAL THOUGHTS
Embrace your weaknesses as opportunities for growth. By recognizing and addressing them, leaders can unlock their full potential and create impactful change in their organizations and communities.
Amazon Book Links:
“21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”, John Maxwell - https://amzn.to/3xIAHsA
“Emotional Intelligence 2.0”, Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves - https://amzn.to/43sWHFd
Special thanks to:
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Work it out by LiQWYD https://soundcloud.com/liqwyd
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/l_work-it-out
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/erSmdVocHO0
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Monday Jul 03, 2023
Monday Jul 03, 2023
Episode 58: Leaders Always Ask Questions
Being in relationships with people is all about having great conversations.
- Asking Good Questions Fosters a Culture of Learning and Collaboration
- Collective efforts are greater than any individual's contribution.
- Creates a profound sense of camaraderie, trust, and unity among the team members.
- Actively listening to others' perspectives, valuing their contributions, and working together can foster a culture of respect and collaboration
QUESTION: Does your team ask good questions?
Too many leaders do not ask the right questions and fail to get others involved.
Great leaders encourage their team members to:
- Think critically
- Explore new ideas
- Share their perspectives
By asking good questions, leaders empower their team members, build trust, and create a collaborative atmosphere that drives growth and success.
- Asking Good Questions Fosters a Deeper Understanding of Challenges and Opportunities
All great success stories have a team of people that get the job done.
QUESTION 1: What are the core values that define your company, and how do you live up to them? What is the one thing that matters?
QUESTION 2: What are our customers' needs, and how can we surpass expectations?
Asking good questions:
- allows leaders to better understand the challenges and opportunities they face
- uncovers hidden issues, identifies potential risks, and discovers untapped opportunities
It’s not just important to know what you do, you also need to know what you don’t do.
Leaders gather relevant information to:
- challenge assumptions
- explore alternative viewpoints
- enable more informed decisions
- develop comprehensive strategies
- navigate complex situations
Ultimately, by asking good questions, leaders enhance their ability to anticipate and address challenges effectively while capitalizing on emerging opportunities.
Pick up the rock and ask:
- What am I doing right?
- What am I not doing right?
- Asking Good Questions Fosters Team Development and Empowerment
Asking and Listening:
- Creates an environment where employees feel valued, empowered, and motivated
- Taps into the collective potential of the workforce and drives positive change
- Helps team members develop critical thinking skills, increase their self-awareness, and identify areas for improvement
- Allows leaders to offer constructive feedback and guidance and nurture professional development
MO’S FINAL THOUGHTS
By actively listening, we demonstrate respect for diverse perspectives and ideas, fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. Listening allows us to tap into the collective wisdom of our team, unlocking innovative solutions and enhancing decision-making. We cultivate trust, boost engagement, and empower. Embrace the power of listening.
Special thanks to:
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Monday Jun 19, 2023
Monday Jun 19, 2023
Episode 57: Effective Listening for Leaders
Listening Builds Communication
- As a leader, the way that you communicate with your team is as important.
- A leader needs to be able to communicate effectively.
- Listening well is a crucial aspect of effective communication for a leader.
By actively listening:
- A leader can understand their perspectives, concerns, and ideas.
- Allows the leader to respond appropriately and make informed decisions.
- Teams are more likely to trust and engage with their leader, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
QUESTION 1: Are you listening to those perspectives, concerns, and ideas?
Active listening - write stuff down
- Personal Journal
- Leadership Journal
Listening Builds Relationships
BOOK: How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnagie
When you take a genuine interest in people, and listen to them, you will not only endear yourself to them, you will also learn a whole heck of a lot about them.
Listening well helps a leader build strong relationships with their team members.
When leaders genuinely listen
- It demonstrates respect, empathy, and support.
- It creates a sense of psychological safety, encouraging open dialogue and collaboration.
- Fosters a sense of belonging and loyalty among team members, which in turn boosts morale, productivity, and retention.
Listening Builds Insight
Apollo 13 Movie - a great story about leadership, and what it means to work together.
- He found the right people
- Put them in the right places
- Made sure that everybody communicated and listened to one another.
- Deferred to others in that situation, all while maintaining strong leadership
A leader who listens well can tap into their team's collective intelligence.
By actively listening, a leader can harness this diversity and gain valuable insights that may lead to innovative solutions and better decision-making.
MO’s FINAL THOUGHTS
Learning how to listen well allows a leader to enhance their communication skills, build strong relationships with their team, and tap into the diverse insights of their employees. These benefits ultimately contribute to better decision-making, improved team dynamics, and increased overall effectiveness as a leader.
Amazon Book Links:
- “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, Dale Carnegie - https://amzn.to/3Eub5n7
Special thanks to:
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Work it out by LiQWYD https://soundcloud.com/liqwyd
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/l_work-it-out
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Monday Jun 05, 2023
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Episode 56: Accountability in Leadership
BOOK: “Getting things done”, David Allen
Leadership accountability is crucial for the success and growth of a business.
Three reasons why accountability is important:
- Organizational Alignment
Everybody is accountable for what happens within the company, no matter what level you are at. Leadership accountability ensures that everyone in the organization is aligned with the company's goals and objectives.
Alignment promotes:
- collaboration,
- coordination,
- efficient decision-making,
- improves overall performance and success
- Trust and Credibility
BOOK: “Five Dysfunction of a Team”, Patrick Lencioni
Accountability builds trust and credibility among team members, peers, and superiors.
Trust is the foundation of effective teamwork and collaboration, and it fosters a supportive environment where individuals are more likely to take risks, be innovative, and contribute their best efforts.
- Performance Improvement
Leaders who embrace accountability drive performance improvement within their teams and the organization as a whole.
Despite the importance of leadership accountability, many leaders struggle to maintain it due to several reasons:
- Fear of Failure and Blame
- Lack of Clarity and Communication
BOOK: “Leading Up”, Michael Useem.
- Inadequate Systems and Processes
- If you are somebody in a program-driven sector, these systems and processes keep you on track and ensure that everybody has the same goals and vision in mind.
Final Thoughts
Leaders should focus on fostering a culture of accountability by setting clear expectations, providing ongoing feedback, promoting open communication, and investing in systems and processes that facilitate tracking and evaluation. By embracing accountability, leaders can create a positive and high-performing work environment that drives success.
Amazon Book Links:
- “Getting things done”, David Allen - https://amzn.to/42ifq61
- “Five Dysfunction of a Team”, Patrick Lencioni - https://amzn.to/3Zfr54s
- “Leading Up”, Michael Useem - https://amzn.to/3IqCXJN
Special thanks to:
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Work it out by LiQWYD https://soundcloud.com/liqwyd
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Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/l_work-it-out
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/erSmdVocHO0
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Monday May 15, 2023
Monday May 15, 2023
Episode 55: Developing a Change Mindset
Identify common obstacles to change.
“Everything changes and nothing remains still, and you cannot step twice into the same stream.” - Heraclitus
- Recognize the common obstacles individuals and organizations face when making changes.
- Fear of failure
- Resistance to change
Rusty Nail Story: A lot of people are experiencing the comfort of the status quo:
Even if the current situation is not ideal, people may feel comfortable with it
because it is familiar..
QUESTION: What’s the rusty nail in your life?
- Adapting to new situations.
Social challenges:
Emotional challenges:
Increase your learning agility.
Learning Agility is crucial for successful leaders.
Learning agility can help leaders grow and adapt in three ways:
- Increase problem-solving skills
- Improve the ability to collaborate
- Navigate complex and uncertain situations.
Implement a change mindset.
- Concrete strategies and techniques to try in order to become more comfortable with change and develop a growth mindset.
- Practicing mindfulness
Take a few deep breaths before responding to a situation.
- Help you to respond more calmly and thoughtfully to difficult situations at work
- Help you to feel more grounded and centered throughout the day.
- Seeking out new learning opportunities
- Start by setting goals for yourself and seeking out opportunities to learn and grow.
- Asking for feedback from others.
- Provides valuable insights that can help you improve your skills, knowledge, and performance.
- Helps you understand how others perceive your work, what your strengths are, and where you can improve.
- You can identify areas where you may be falling short and make adjustments to improve your performance.
- Help you build stronger relationships with your colleagues and supervisors by demonstrating a willingness to learn and grow.
MO’s Final Thoughts
Never go it alone. Surround yourself with like-minded colleagues who share your commitment to develop and Change Mindset. Seek out opportunities to collaborate with others, share knowledge and ideas, and support each other in your professional development.
By adopting a change mindset and focusing on learning and development, you can create a culture of growth at work and inspire others to embrace new ideas and approaches. This can lead to increased creativity, innovation, and productivity, and help you and your colleagues achieve your goals and succeed in your careers.
None of this stuff is easy, but that’s why it’s so important. Give it a shot. Make the change in your mindset, and watch those around you get better as well. And that’s what leadership is about!
Amazon Book Links:
The Courage to Live Your Dream, Les Brown - https://amzn.to/42VZKpD
Special thanks to:
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Work it out by LiQWYD https://soundcloud.com/liqwyd
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Monday Apr 24, 2023
Monday Apr 24, 2023
Episode 54: Practical Tips for Developing Leadership
Here are a couple of practical ways to develop strong leadership skills to lead your team.
- Set clear goals.
You stop your leadership right in its tracks if you don't have your goals set before you. You have to establish clear and measurable goals and then make sure that they align with the organization's mission and vision.
If you can't set clear goals, your people are going to get frustrated.
- Define your vision and values. Start by identifying what matters most to you in your work and personal life. Taking time to reflect on these questions will help you set meaningful and motivating goals that align with your values and aspirations.
QUESTION: What is it that is life-giving for you?
If you write down your values and keep them in front of you and see them every day, I promise you that you will start moving towards those values.
QUESTION: What is in front of you right now? That is going to be the influence on your values.
- Develop a plan of action. Break your goals down into smaller, actionable steps that you can work on consistently over time. Consider what resources and support you'll need to achieve your goals, and create a timeline to track your progress.
“Blessed are the flexible, they shall not be broken”
BOOK: Goals!: How to Get Everything You Want –Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible, Brian Tracy.
ARTICLE: Four P’s of Goal Setting.
Step 1: Write down your goals
"A dream written down with a date becomes a GOAL”, Greg Reid
QUESTION: Have you written down your goals?
Step 2: Get moving on your goals
Make a promise to yourself to get a little closer each day.
Once you know what is important to you, you can start to take steps that get you closer to your goals.
If you know where you are going then you can move in the right direction.
- Develop your own critical thinking skills.
- Learn by doing.
Don't just let life happen to you.
One of the best ways to improve your skills is to practice them.
- Focus on building a strong team.
You are only as good as the people that are working alongside you.
“You don’t go to war with the army that you want, you go to war with the army that
you’ve got.”
The best leaders will work themselves out of a job.
MO’s Final Thoughts
Always lead with empathy. The best leaders will understand the needs and concerns of those who work under them and help them to make decisions that make them better people. If people are experiencing burnout underneath your leadership, you are doing something wrong. Leading with empathy means learning and understanding and walking through life with them, not just at the job, but outside of the workplace. That takes a long time to develop, but it's your job as a leader.
Amazon Book Links:
Goals!: How to Get Everything You Want –Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible, Brian Tracy - https://amzn.to/3oBqayc
Special thanks to:
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Work it out by LiQWYD https://soundcloud.com/liqwyd
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/l_work-it-out
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