Mastering Leadership in a Changing Business Landscape with Brad Eisenthuth, #244

In a world where career paths are often linear and predictable, one man's journey took an unexpected twist. From the rough and tumble world of rugby league to the intricate world of business operations, Brad Eisenthuth's path was anything but conventional. But it was this winding road that led him to discover his true passion: leadership and culture. Now, he uses his unique experiences and broad knowledge to help organizations navigate the complexities of leadership in a rapidly changing business environment. Curious to know how this unexpected twist shaped his perspective and ultimately led him to where he is today? Stay tuned for the surprising revelations ahead.

If you're feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by the constant changes in the business landscape, and finding it difficult to navigate the complexities of leading in such a rapidly changing environment, then you are not alone! Many business leaders like yourself are struggling to achieve the desired results despite their best efforts. They may be relying on outdated strategies and approaches that no longer work, and as a result, they are unable to effectively lead their teams and drive organizational success in this new era.

My special guest is Brad Eisenthuth.

Welcoming the dynamic Brad Eisenthuth, a business leader with a rich and varied professional repertoire. Tracing his journey from a professional rugby player to the realm of executive search and now, entrepreneurship, Brad brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. As the Founder and CEO of The Outperformer, he develops and deploys strategies for global organizations and SMEs, optimizing corporate culture and operational effectiveness. Brad's approach to leadership is distinguished by his focus on maintaining resourceful thinking amid constant change – a testament to his ability to navigate and lead in an ever-evolving business environment.

Deliberate progress requires creating an environment that fosters engagement, where individuals are motivated to lean into the big questions that drive us forward into the unknown. - Brad Eisenthuth

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Explore leadership dynamics in a constantly evolving business landscape.

• Identify the signs of leadership challenges that hinder the achievement of efficient progress.

• Grasp the impacts of unaddressed biases in leadership roles.

• Discover how to shape a culture centered on innovation and analytical thinking.

• Gain insight into motivating initiative and problem-solving among team members.

Explore Leadership Dynamics Understanding the dynamics of effective leadership is crucial in a rapidly evolving business environment. Leaders have the responsibility to inspire and motivate their teams towards a shared vision. They need to recognize their strengths, biases, and cultural backgrounds to effectively guide their teams, all while adapting their style to match the organization's goals and culture.

Discern Leadership Difficulties Navigating the complexities of leadership presents various challenges, regardless of the size of the organization. Leaders consistently face the task of making judgments and decisions, emphasizing the need for constant reflection and adaptability. The successful execution of leadership principles differs based on the size of the team, necessitating unique engagement and communication tactics.

Grasp Impacts of Unaddressed Biases Recognizing and addressing personal biases is paramount for effective leadership. Biases, left unexamined, can hinder growth and negatively impact both the leader and their team's performance. Committing to self-awareness, embracing curiosity to overcome blind spots, and fostering open communication can effectively mitigate these biases, leading to improved decision-making and ultimately driving the organization's success.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Visit the website of Vengreso.com to learn more about FlyMSG.io, the free personal writing assistant and text expander application.

• Check out The Outperformer's website to explore their management consulting services, including corporate culture and business advisory practices.

• Connect with Brad Eisenthuth on LinkedIn to stay updated on his insights and leadership expertise.

• Consider reading Brad's book on the development of the CFO to gain insights into the finance function in organizations.

• Follow The Outperformer on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for valuable leadership and strategy content.

• Sign up for The Outperformer's newsletter to receive regular updates and resources on leadership, strategy, and culture.

• Explore the resources section on The Outperformer's website to access valuable tools and templates for effective leadership and management.

• Schedule a consultation with The Outperformer to discuss how they can support your organization in achieving its goals and improving performance.

• Subscribe to the Modern Selling Podcast to listen to more episodes featuring sales leaders, practitioners, and influencers sharing insights on growing sales numbers at scale.

Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:08 - Introduction Mario Martinez Jr. introduces the podcast and the guest, Brad Eisenthuth, founder and CEO of The Outperformer. They discuss leadership, culture, and strategy. 00:01:38 - About The Outperformer Brad explains that The Outperformer is a management consulting business with two arms: one focused on corporate culture and the other on business advisory. They work with organizations to improve performance, strategy, and culture. 00:02:50 - Brad's Background Brad shares his background, including his experience playing rugby league and his transition into executive search and consulting. He emphasizes his passion for helping people and businesses excel. 00:05:45 - Juicy Fact Mario asks Brad to share something juicy that people may not know about him. Brad reveals that he does not post pictures of his food on social media, despite the trend of food posts. 00:08:06 - Effective Leadership in a Changing Environment Brad discusses the challenges of effective leadership in a rapidly changing business environment. He emphasizes the importance of motivation, inspiration, and execution in leading teams through change. 00:12:07 - Symptoms of Struggling Leadership Brad identifies two key symptoms of struggling leadership: lack of results and siloed behavior within departments. He highlights the importance of addressing these issues to promote productivity and collaboration. 00:15:18 - The Importance of Engagement and Environment The discussion focuses on the significance of engagement and creating a positive work environment. Recognizing signs of defeat and dissatisfaction in employees is essential to assess if they are in the right environment or if changes need to be made to support their engagement. 00:17:49 - Understanding Leadership Culture The conversation delves into the understanding of leadership culture and how it is defined within different businesses. Business managers and leaders need to have a clear understanding of their leadership style and its impact on their team. The importance of effective communication and creating a supportive environment is emphasized. 00:18:19 - Creating Your Own Leadership Mantra The discussion explores the possibility of creating a personal leadership mantra within the framework of a defined leadership culture. Each leader's unique background and strengths contribute to their leadership style, and they must use this authenticity to motivate and inspire their team. 00:22:09 - Leadership in Small and Large Organizations The conversation addresses the differences in leadership between small organizations and large organizations. While the principles of leadership remain the same, the practical implementation and methods may differ. Scaling leadership in larger organizations requires different mechanisms to ensure effective communication and alignment. 00:24:33 - Making Effective Judgments as a Leader, The importance of making effective judgments as a leader is discussed. Leaders need to reflect on their decision-making processes and assess if their judgments are deliberate and move the team forward. Constant self-reflection and improvement are key to effective leadership. 00:31:08 - Strengths and Weaknesses It's important to acknowledge our strengths and weaknesses as human beings, and sometimes our strengths can also be weaknesses. We all have biases that shape the way we function, and it's crucial to recognize them in order to be effective leaders and create successful businesses. 00:32:24 - The Effectiveness of Bias Our bias not only affects our personal lives but also impacts the effectiveness of our businesses. As leaders, we need to understand that our biases and decisions shape our organizations, and it's important to assess whether our biases are still effective or if they need to be addressed. 00:34:41 - Embracing Blind Spots The blind spots that hold us back are the ones we need to focus on the most. By being curious about our biases and blind spots, we can learn and grow as individuals, which ultimately leads to growth in our teams and businesses. Having a playbook and seeking third-party perspectives can help challenge our blind spots. 00:38:11 - Attracting Different Types of People As a leader, it's important to attract and empower people who have different styles and perspectives. Some may be more docile and action-oriented, while others may push back and provide valuable feedback. Encouraging open communication and ensuring that team members feel heard and have a voice is essential for success. 00:41:30 - Leadership Style and Ownership, A good leader knows when to swoop in and swoop out, providing guidance to their team. 00:45:19 - The Importance of Encouraging Great Ideas Brad discusses the importance of leaders creating an environment where others feel comfortable sharing their ideas and thinking for themselves. He acknowledges that early in his career, he wanted to be the smartest person in the room, but realized that this stifled others' ability to think independently. 00:46:53 - Identifying the Problem Brad explains that if leaders find themselves as the only ones thinking through processes and considering different possibilities, it could be due to hiring the wrong people, having a personality that stifles growth, or other factors. He emphasizes the need to identify and address the underlying issue. 00:47:51 - Facilitating Ownership and Alignment Brad discusses the importance of creating a sense of ownership and alignment within teams. He encourages leaders to facilitate open discussions where people can pressure test ideas and offer their thoughts on the process. This fosters intrinsic ownership and leads to more engaged and motivated employees. 00:48:44 - Moving from Blame to Responsibility Brad highlights the importance of shifting from a blame mindset to one of responsibility and accountability. He emphasizes the need for individuals to take ownership of their work and actively contribute to problem-solving. This mindset, combined with a supportive and empowering leadership style, creates a motivated and inspired team. 00:49:20 - Connecting with Brad Brad shares that the best way to connect with him is through LinkedIn. He encourages listeners to reach out and connect with him if they have any further questions.