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Simplifying the Complexities of Your Leadership Journey
Episodes
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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Monday Apr 10, 2023
Monday Apr 10, 2023
Episode 53: Three Goals of an Aspiring Leader
1. Develop Strong Communication Skills.
Leaders must understand that effective communication is a crucial skill, no matter their industry.
Communication helps:
Convey their ideas & vision
Build trust
Resolve conflict
Inspire others
QUESTION: Are you practicing active listening skills?
Active listening means you are engaged completely in what somebody is saying, not formulating your response.
QUESTION: Ask yourself, “Do I really hear my people when they are talking?
Learn how to speak clearly and confidently.
Be good, be brief, be gone!
Use simple language
Maintain eye contact
Emails & Text Messages - Do you know how people receive it?
Seek feedback. Don’t assume that everything you say is received the way that you intended it. Ask!
Ask those you communicate with what they heard you saying.
Ask those who observe you, how you come across.
Ask those above you and below you what they need from you communication-wise.
Communicating effectively is your responsibility.
2. Create a Positive and Inclusive Work Environment
Encourage teamwork
BOOK: Team of Rivals by Doris Goodwin
Fostering collaboration between the people that work underneath you will help them support one another.
Make sure that you recognize and appreciate each person on your team for their contributions.
If you do not recognize them for the things that they do, they are either going to start working not as hard or, even worse, they are going to leave your team and go work hard for somebody else who appreciates them.
Lead by example. It's your behavior that matters the most.
3. Develop Strong Leadership Skills.
Leadership skills are essential for running teams, setting goals, and achieving the company's desired outcomes.
Practical Tips:
Read Books. A LOT of books!
Surround yourself with good leaders to learn from and receive correction from.
MO’s Final Thoughts:
My encouragement is that you take a look at these goals, see which one you need to do the most work in, then reach out to a couple of the people on your team that you trust to give you some constructive criticism. Always be talking to our mentors—those in our lives who give us the council that we need to hear even when we don't want to hear it. Especially when we don't want to hear it!
Amazon Book Links:
Team of Rivals, Doris Goodwin - https://amzn.to/3lTFLrr
Special thanks to:
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Work it out by LiQWYD https://soundcloud.com/liqwyd
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Monday Dec 13, 2021
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Visit Our Website: https://www.rtclc.com
Episode 52: Leaders Inspire Greatness
1. Define Greatness
- If there is no culture defined, that’s where you have to start.
- QUESTION: What is that culture? What are the things that you like and what are the things that you wish that you could change?
- If you wanted to change culture to the core, you would have to strategically do so.
- QUESTION: What does it take for your team to succeed? What is success? What does that look like?
- There’s no shame in bringing people along to help answer the questions that you don’t know. .
- I need to bring people alongside me to hit the goals that I want to hit.
- QUESTION: What are the goals that you are trying to hit at your company?
- Companies themselves are only the sum of its people.
- “Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.” - Victor Kiam
- Make the choice today to move forward at all costs. Your team is counting on it.
2. Offer Greatness
- When you are the leader, it is not your job to be the one in the spotlight.
- Never think that you have to be the hero in the story.
- The greatest assets in your company are the people.
- Your people are on the team for a reason.
- “You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.” - Donald Rumsfeld
- QUESTION: Who is the Army that you have? Are you offering them a chance to shine in the spotlight and do what they do best?
- If you feel like you are tired and are doing too much, my challenge would be that you figure out what you are doing that you shouldn’t be doing.
3. Pass on Greatness
- If you cannot pass on greatness you will never be much more than a good performer.
- “Leader’s lasting value is measured by succession.”- John Maxwell
- QUESTION: Ask yourself, “if I left tomorrow, how good would my team really be?”
- Every time you do something at your place of work, you need to be thinking, “is this adding to the ultimate succession?”
- You’re not going to be your company forever. Somebody will eventually succeed you and your leadership.
- “All the perks, all the benefits and advantages you may get for the rank or position you hold, they aren’t meant for you. They are meant for the role you fill. And when you leave your role, which eventually you will, they will give the ceramic cup to the person who replaces you. Because you only ever deserved a Styrofoam cup.” Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek
- All great leaders pass on greatness.
MO’s Final Thoughts:
I hope that you are always looking to make your team great. You have the team that you need right in front of you. Everybody has greatness inside of them. It’s our job as leaders do for that greatness out.
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Monday Dec 06, 2021
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Visit Our Website: https://www.rtclc.com
Episode 51: Leaders Make it Count
1) Leaders Live in the Future
Leaders are the ones that think big and are willing to take chances.
QUESTION: Are you living out your purpose with passion and reaching for new heights?
Leaders look into the future and see something that almost seems unattainable. They thrive on that and know they can get it done. It’s a mindset. It’s who they are. Do you have that?
QUESTION: Are you willing to enter the process of growth and development?
If you want your team to be able to see into the future, you have to be willing to come to grips with the fact that you don’t know everything.
You have to be able to see the big picture and then bring other people along to realize that vision with you.
Failure is necessary if you want to reach the bigger goals in life.
“The future depends on what we do in the present.” - Gandhi
QUESTION: What are you doing right now that is going to affect the future?
You need to get people who are futuristic around you.
2) Leaders Live in the Opportunities
The status quo is not where leaders live.
Adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it.
You really can’t hide your leadership ability, whether good or bad or somewhere in between, during something like the pandemic.
The more you can look for those opportunities, the better you will be equipped to handle them.
QUESTION: What are the opportunities that are in front of you right now? What is something that you know to be an opportunity to grow you and your team, but you have decided not to act on that opportunity?
3) Leaders Live in the Effort
It really comes down to one thing and one thing only. The effort that you put into the process.
“Hard work wins.”
QUESTION: Are you willing to put in the effort to put yourself in a position to be successful?
Success - Nobody can guarantee it. You can only work hard enough to deserve it.
If you are willing to outwork the people on your team, and do it for them and for the success of the team, they will rally behind you.
You can only give 100% out whatever you are doing at the moment.
You are the one that controls your effort. You don’t control the outcome.
MO’s Final Thoughts:
Leaders, it is up to you to make everything that you do count. If you can do this, people will follow you. They won’t follow you because they think that they are going to win no matter what, but they will follow you if they know that you are dedicated to excellence. If you want your team to be great, and be successful, you have to decide right now if you’re going to make it count. Leaders make it count. Always.
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Monday Nov 22, 2021
Monday Nov 22, 2021
Visit Our Website: https://www.rtclc.com
Episode 50: Leaders Find A Role
“The star of the team is the team.” - John Wooden
If you want to be a good leader, you have to know both your role, and the role of each person on your team.
1. Know Your Role
If you don’t know your role, then it is going to muddy the waters for everybody else on your team.
QUESTION: What is it that you can do that nobody else can do that only you can do?
You are a unique individual and bring specific leadership abilities and qualities to the table.
2. Know Their Roles
I would have to say that one of the most frustrating circumstances for anybody to be in is when they lack clarity.
Once you know your role, it’s time to get people around you with the gifts and skill sets that complete whatever you’re doing.
What if you are not a vision person? What if you are really good at leading in the practical everyday stuff? Get people on your team who have a high vision quotient.
You have to be secure enough in your own leadership abilities to realize that not only are you going to have people on your team who do stuff better than you, but that you need those people.
QUESTION: What kind of people do you need to have around you to make you better? What people do you need on your team to do stuff that you are not able to do?
3. Know the Success Path
You have the ability to simplify whatever situation you are in with your people.
When people know the success path, and what they need to do to be successful, it really opens them up to flourish and get things done.
QUESTIONS: What is it that you need to focus on in your role, and the roles of your people, to increase the success factor at your place of work? What is the missing ingredient?
All of us need guidance. All of us have blind spots.
“It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. ... If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” Jimmy Doogan (Tom Hanks), A League of Their Own
If it were easy, everybody would do it. But, if you want to be the kind of person that creates a success path for your people, you have to focus on the stuff that others will not.
MO’s Final Thoughts:
Leaders are always frustrated, because, leaders are never really satisfied with where things are. We want to go to other places and be better. But, it’s always important for you to know your role, know the roles of everyone on your team, and get that team on the right path. When you begin to do this, people will rally behind you and run towards whatever goals are in front of them.
Special thanks to:
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