the Learn-It-All™ podcast 115: Why Leaders Who Care Are Always One Step Ahead | Chris Gargano
From Sports Media to Leadership: How Caring Transforms Business Results
Are your team members giving their all, or just doing the minimum? The difference often comes down to one crucial factor: whether they feel genuinely cared for by their leader. In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, former sports media executive Chris Gargano shares powerful insights from his 33-year career working with elite athletes and sports organizations, revealing how authentic care and connection drive superior performance.
Drawing from his extensive experience with the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants, and New York Jets, as well as his current work teaching leadership at NYU and running leadership development programs, Gargano explores how continuous learning, curiosity, and genuine care for people create environments where teams excel. He breaks down specific techniques for better listening, more effective meetings, and building trust - while explaining why command-and-control leadership fails in today's workplace.
This Episode Covers:
- Why continuous learning sets legendary performers like Kobe Bryant, Joe Montana, and Tiger Woods apart - and how leaders can apply this mindset
- How leaders can demonstrate authentic care through intentional actions like active listening, note-taking, and asking meaningful follow-up questions
- The critical difference between having leadership skills and truly wanting to lead people
- Practical techniques for reading the room and adjusting your leadership approach in real-time
- Why vulnerability and admitting what you don't know builds rather than diminishes trust
- How to use storytelling effectively as a leadership tool to inspire and connect
- The measurable business impact of showing genuine care versus purely transactional leadership
Episode Highlights:
(00:00) Introduction to Chris Gargano – Damon introduces Chris, highlighting his career in sports and leadership development.
(01:30) Lessons from Elite Athletes – Chris discusses how continuous learning sets legends like Kobe Bryant and Joe Montana apart.
(05:00) Leadership and Curiosity – Chris shares how his journalism background taught him to ask better questions and connect with people.
(09:00) Are Leaders Born or Made? – Chris explores the balance between innate traits and learned leadership skills.
(12:33) The Importance of Self-Awareness – Chris explains why leaders must reflect on their impact and adapt their approach.
(17:00) Connecting with Teams – Chris provides practical tips for leaders on building trust and fostering an inclusive environment.
(21:30) Storytelling in Leadership – Chris discusses how to use stories to inspire and align teams with a shared vision.
(33:18) Navigating Generational Differences – Chris offers advice on engaging and communicating with diverse age groups in the workplace.
(45:00) Final Thoughts on Leadership – Damon and Chris wrap up with insights on how caring for your team leads to better business outcomes.
About Chris:
Chris Gargano brings over three decades of experience working alongside elite athletes and championship teams to his leadership development practice. As a senior executive, he led content departments for the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants, and New York Jets, where his teams earned 14 Emmy awards. During his tenure with the Giants' front office, the team won three World Series championships, giving him firsthand exposure to high-performance leadership in action. While serving as an executive, Gargano earned his master's degree in leadership studies from St. Mary's College of California and began teaching leadership at NYU. After developing a successful leadership workshop program for the Jets, he founded Gargano Leadership in 2023 to help organizations build stronger leaders. He currently teaches at NYU and Montclair State University while hosting "Keep the Line Moving," a podcast featuring conversations with prominent leaders across industries.
Resources Referenced:
Chris Gargano on LinkedIn
Gargano Leadership on LinkedIn
Eva Rose Daniel (public speaking expert mentioned)
Podcast Contact Information:
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: podcast@learnit.com
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