Dr. Alexander Lyon || Positive Communication for Leaders (LST #81)

Learn Speak Teach Episode #81 with Dr. Alexander Lyon. 

Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/C9UhGRDjaPQ

Positive communication for leaders is the cornerstone of effective and influential leadership. Leaders who prioritize positive communication inspire their teams, drive productivity, and enhance overall team morale, ultimately leading to organizational success.

In this episode, Ben Albert sits down with Dr. Alex Lyon, a tenured Professor of Communication at SUNY Brockport, co-author of ‘Positive Communication for Leaders’, and the creator of the Communication Coach- Alexander Lyon’ YouTube channel.

Dr. Alex shares the inspiring journey that led him to become a professor and the fascinating origin story of the renowned ‘Communication Coach- Alexander Lyon’ YouTube channel, boasting an impressive 516k subscribers and nearly 30 million views. He also explores why some people struggle to find success on the YouTube platform, offering valuable insights for aspiring content creators.

We gain insights into the inspiration behind his collaborative work in co-authoring ‘Positive Communication for Leaders’ with Julien Mirivel. Moreover, we delve into the key insights and principles discussed in this book.

Creating and maintaining positive relationships is a crucial aspect of leadership in any profession. So tune in as we unravel the keys to exceptional leadership and communication with Dr. Alex Lyon.

During this episode, you will learn about:

[01:52] Know our guest; Dr. Alex Lyon 

[06:23] What Dr. Alex Lyon learns from his interactions with students

[07:43] What inspired Dr. Alex to become a Professor?

[09:30] How he started and grew his YouTube Channel, ‘Communication Coach Alexander Lyon.’

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alexanderlyon

[13:45] Why some people struggle to attain success with their YouTube channels

[16:51] What prompted him to co-author ‘Positive Communication for Leaders’ with Julien Mirivel?

[18:20] “What ultimately matters in leadership is not what you think or feel; it’s what you do.” ~Alex Lyon 

[23:39] How to properly greet people: Insights from chapter #1 of his book

[29:02] How do you navigate your different personalities as a leader and effectively treat your team members like superheroes?

[31:38] Asking open-ended questions after a good greeting: Insights from the chapter #3

[36:00] How to listen well as a leader: Highlights from Chapter #7

[45:57] Alex Lyon’s take on Twitter rebranding to X

[53:07] Rapid Fire Round

[55:44] Get a copy of the book: https://www.positivecommunicationforleaders.com/

[56:29] Connect and learn more from Dr. Alex Lyon

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alexanderlyon

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

[57:42] Integration assignment

Key Takeaways:  

• Finding good advice and applying it effectively is a superpower. [12:23]

• Entrepreneurs focus on identifying the problems they can help society solve. [14:47]

• “What ultimately matters in leadership is not what you think or feel; it’s what you do.” ~Alex Lyon [18:25]

• “Mindset drives behavior.” ~Dr. Alex Lyon [18:50]

• When a relationship, be it professional or personal, encounters challenges, one of the initial things we tend to withhold is greetings. [22:42]

• “Asking questions is a leadership behavior.” ~Dr. Alex Lyon [34:09]

• If you learn good greetings and how to ask questions, you will be among society’s top 10% conversationalists and connectors. [34:42]

• Listening well builds the relationship and helps create a bond with the other person. [36:09]

• “The more you practice listening, the better you will get.” ~Dr. Alex Lyon [40:31]

People Mentioned and Other Resources:

1. Gary Vee

2. Elon Musk

3. Bill Gates

4. Positive Communication for Leaders: https://www.positivecommunicationforleaders.com/

Keep In Touch with Dr. Alex Lyon:

Website: https://www.alexanderlyon.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alexanderlyon

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