Step Into Your Story: Embracing Discomfort and the ‘Hell Yes’ Principle (with Erik Qualman, Author)
Jul 27, 2023
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Author Erik Qualman discusses how to change your perspective as a leader, the difference between multitasking and switch tasking, the impact of AI on leadership, the art of saying no, and the unique life experiences that have shaped him. They also explore the importance of building relationships with team members, the benefits of walking meetings and staying focused, prioritizing your day, and the importance of regular check-ins with your team.
Embracing discomfort and stepping into your own story can lead to personal growth and unexpected impact.
Single tasking is advocated as a solution to decreased productivity caused by switch tasking.
Deep dives
The Importance of Stepping into Your Story
One of the key insights from the podcast episode is the significance of stepping into your own story, despite the discomfort it may initially bring. The speaker emphasizes that in the long-term, embracing this discomfort is the most comfortable place to live, as it opens up possibilities and opportunities that may have seemed unimaginable. Several examples were mentioned, such as students wearing green glasses to promote kindness, and creating a business around producing and selling these glasses. The main idea is to encourage listeners to fully embrace their own story and not resist it, as it can lead to personal growth and impact others in unexpected ways.
The Power of Single Tasking Over Multitasking
The podcast highlights the negative effects of multitasking and the benefits of single tasking. It is explained that even though many people believe they can effectively multitask, it is actually switch tasking, which leads to decreased productivity and negative health consequences. Single tasking is advocated as the solution to this problem, where individuals focus on one task at a time, free from distractions. The speaker provides practical advice, such as writing down the most important task the night before and tackling it first thing in the morning. The emphasis is on being intentional and proactive about prioritizing tasks and avoiding the lure of multitasking.
The Need to Prioritize and Say 'No'
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of prioritizing and learning to say 'no.' It is mentioned that many individuals struggle with overwhelming workloads because they fail to prioritize the most important tasks. The speaker encourages listeners to determine the one thing that makes other tasks easier or unnecessary and focus on that. Additionally, the strategy of using quick and concise 'no' responses is suggested to avoid getting overwhelmed by commitments that distract from the core priorities. The episode underscores the idea that intentional prioritization and effective time management are essential for maintaining focus and achieving long-term success.
The Early Promise and Future Impact of AI
The podcast delves into the topic of AI and its transformative potential. While acknowledging that AI is already being used in various areas, such as Google Maps and voice assistants like Alexa, it is noted that we are still in the early stages of its development. The speaker discusses the slow-to-fast nature of technological advancement and predicts significant advancements in the medical field in the coming years, such as AI-assisted diagnosis and real-time health support. The importance of continuous exploration and experimentation with AI tools is highlighted, as organizations can identify repetitive processes that can be automated or improved using AI technology.
Do you feel like everything in your life is happening to you or for you?
It’s easy to feel like you have no control over how things at work happen - especially as a leader. All the moving parts involved in each day make it difficult to distinguish what you have a say over and whether or not you get to do what’s a “hell yes” for you.
In episode #159, Erik explains how to change your perspective as a leader for the best, the difference between multitasking and switch tasking (plus the difference between them) and the impact AI will have on leadership.
We also explore the art of saying no and chat about the unique life experiences that have brought him to where he is today.
Erik Qualman is a bestselling author with 5 #1 Bestselling books on Innovation and Digital Transformation in 8 languages. He’s also a renowned motivational speaker and has spoken in over 55 different countries worldwide, reaching over 50 million people. He is currently a professor of Digital Leadership at Northwestern University, and his materials are used in over 500 universities.
Tune in to hear all about Erik’s leadership journey and the lessons learned along the way!
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TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:
[03:50] Early mistakes in leadership at Yahoo
[10:17] Things happening to you vs for you
[20:18] The difference between multitasking and switch tasking