Lead on Purpose with James Laughlin The #1 Thing You Need to Stop Measuring to Start Achieving Results with Steven Gaffney
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Oct 26, 2025 In this engaging conversation, leadership consultant Steven Gaffney shares insights from his book, Unconditional Power. He emphasizes the often-overlooked impact of what isn't said in teams, advocating for emotional safety over psychological safety. Steven discusses the five traits of high-performing teams and introduces the 'Notice vs Imagine' tool to differentiate facts from interpretations. He also reflects on personal challenges, turning crises into opportunities, and encourages leaders to foster honesty and vulnerability to strengthen team dynamics.
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Achievement Over Effort
- Achievement differs from performance because achievement is about results while performance can be mere effort.
- Steven Gaffney urges teams to focus on results, not just hard work or visible effort.
The Cost Of Withholding
- The biggest problem on teams is withholding — what people don't say — not outright lying.
- Withholding erodes trust and prevents problems from being resolved.
Make Emotional Safety Non-Negotiable
- Create emotional safety as a leadership non-negotiable to stop withholding.
- Establish proactive honesty as a standard and address behaviors that undermine safety.
