How can simple phrase can change your perspective on you as a person and as a leader?

“Don’t focus on how to DO, but rather on how to BE.”

In this episode, I explore this meaningful and powerful quote and the impact it has had on me. It reaffirmed what I know to be true about the essence of leadership and making impact personally and professionally.

And it highlights what we often get wrong in our approach to leading organizational cultural transformation and how we try to get results. We focus more on the DOING than the BEING.

In this episode of Chain of Learning you will learn:

The story behind this quote on my Japan Leadership Experience
How to significantly shift your – your team’s – productivity and happiness by “being” rather than just “doing”.
How completing an initiative and applying the technical side of problem-solving isn’t always the desired outcome
Why it is so hard for us to focus on being rather than doing
Three tips I have for you to stay more focused on BEING and still get results

Tune in now to this episode of Chain of Learning podcast. It’ll help you identify your priorities and find new ways to lead your team from a renewed perspective. Learn how to be and the results will follow.

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Important Links:

My Book: Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: https://kbjanderson.com/learning-to-lead/
Japan Leadership Experience learning tour: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/
Visit the full episode shownotes to see my purpose drawing: http://chainoflearning.com/4
Work with me – KBJAnderson.com
Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson/

In this episode, you can expect to learn:

01:10: Discussion on 'how to be' versus 'how to do'
04:28: Key takeaway "Don't focus on how to do but rather on how to be."
07:05: Case study - Operational Excellence Practitioners
10:16: Learnings from Toyota Leader Isao Yoshino
12:13: Being vs Doing in Leadership
16:12: Achieving Balance between Being and Doing
17:03: Drawing Exercise for Self-introspection
22:42: Taking an Intention Pause
24:31: Importance of Intentional Pauses
26:38: Relation of Being with Organizational Learning
28:04: Invitation to Leadership Learning Experience in Japan

Enter to win a copy of "The Problem Solver's Toolkit" by Tracy O'Rourke and Elisabeth Swan by September 12.

Apply today for the Japan Leadership Experience — last chance to join the November 2025 cohort. Applications also open for May 2026.

Rellen in Nederland - Aflevering 70