Above The Business

In this episode, Bradley talks with Michael King about leadership, developing strong teams, review processes, and more. Michael has close to twenty years of hands-on experience, leading teams, and organizations. In the past five years, he worked with a wide range of clients, from solo entrepreneurs to top company executives. Michael shared his philosophy that “The best stories are the best teams.”  By this, he means that the organization that can articulate the best story will also have the best team.  He believes that healthy leadership requires identifying and correcting self-destructive behaviors.  He also shared that the 360 review process is not the best way to develop your team.  In fact, incentivized 360 reviews can lead to incorrect data and wrong decisions.  However, feedback is highly valuable using the right mechanisms.Michael has developed the TEAMS methodology for leaders.  This acronym stands for Target. Engagement, Action, Momentum, and Synergy.Michael King, founder and CEO of TEAMS.COACH, LLC is a highly sought-after Executive and Business Leadership Coach. He helps business leaders clarify and execute at high levels through his proprietary T.E.A.M.S. Methodology to develop measurable business growth and company-wide collaboration. Visit his website to learn more: http://www.teams.coach/

Bradley sits down with Ned Hallowell to discuss the impact of neurodiversity, specifically ADHD, on business owners.  Dr. Hallowell is a New York Times bestselling author and has written 20 books on multiple psychological topics. The groundbreaking Distraction series, which began with Driven to Distraction, co-authored with Dr. John Ratey in 1994, sparked a revolution in understanding of ADHD.In this episode, they discuss unexplained underperformance, constant “if only” thoughts, and inability to stay focused on work you find too simple.  Ned recommends pursuing a medical diagnosis if these things sound all too familiar.Ned and Bradley also discussed a “state of flow.” This term is used to describe those moments and hours when you’re highly productive.  Being unable to get into “flow,” and feeling unable to achieve your goals, is something that many adults with ADHD experience.The good news is that ADHD, and other neuro-diversities, don't need to hinder your goals!  Ned seeks to educate and celebrate these differences, and the strengths they can provide.  In doing so, he hopes to break down barriers of stigma and misunderstanding and show how all of us benefit from the differences between us.Learn more about Dr. Hallowell and his work at https://drhallowell.com/

Today on the Leadership Podcast, Bradley and David discuss how to turn fans into customers AND customers into fans.  The simple method? Share what you’re passionate about! David Meerman Scott spotted the real-time marketing revolution in its infancy and has written 12 books about it including The New Rules of Marketing and PR, with more than 500,000 copies sold in English and available in 29 languages from Albanian to Vietnamese. Now David says the pendulum has swung too far in the direction of superficial online communications. Tech-weary and bot-wary people are hungry for true human connection. Organizations have learned to win by developing what David calls a “Fanocracy” -- tapping into the mindset that relationships with customers are more important than the products they sell to them. Ready to create fans AND customers? Listen now!Learn more about David when you visit https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/.

Today on the Leadership Podcast, Bradley interviews Mike Malatesta.  Mike is the host of his own podcast, “How’d It Happen,” author of “Owner Shift: How Getting Selfish Got Me Unstuck,” and coach to entrepreneurs.They discussed the importance of business and personal goals as well as how to get “unstuck” on the way to those goals.  Mike shared that when you’re in the valley of uncertainty, you need self awareness of where you are. Because courage is intermittent when you’re in that “valley,” the environment you put yourself in is important.He also shared how investing in professional development & surrounding yourself with people who have different expertises is important to your progress.Learn more about Mike and get his book at https://mikemalatesta.com/.

Today on the Leadership Podcast, Bradley sits down with Colonel Jeff McCausland, PhD and Colonel Tom Vossler.  They are bringing strategies used to win famous military battles to business owners.They share: “There is little doubt that our nation is in crisis. Given the ongoing pandemic, political/social divisions, and enormous economic challenges, I know you’ll agree with two concerns—one, that emphasis on leading during a crisis is definitely needed, and two, we need great leaders now more than ever!”In their latest book, Battle Tested! Gettysburg Leadership Lessons for 21st Century Leaders you’ll find captivating and thought-provoking stories. It directly addresses both previously mentioned concerns by bringing the historic leadership lessons of the Gettysburg Battlefield to life through vivid storytelling and discussions of leadership lessons—both won and lost.They share enduring leadership lessons that are as appropriate today as they were in the 19th century. The book tells the story of Union and Confederate soldiers, generals, and politicians during this iconic struggle when the fate of our nation hung in the balance. It analyzes their decisions as they relate to leadership principles and provides insights for 21st century leaders.Colonel Tom Vossler has thirty years of active military service, including command of a platoon in Vietnam. He is a distinguished historian and certified Gettysburg expert. Dr. Jeff McCausland is the founder and CEO of Diamond6 Leadership & Strategy. He is a retired Colonel, West Point graduate, and commanded a battalion during the Gulf War. Tom and Jeff are seasoned combat veterans with decades of leadership experience. They pay respect to the sacrifice and heroics of the leaders at Gettysburg by using their stories to develop leaders for today.Jeff also serves as the National Security Consultant for CBS Radio and Television. He has been interviewed thousands of times for radio and television news during his near 20 years with CBS. Since the publication of Battle Tested! he has also been interviewed about it on dozens of radio stations and podcasts across the United States.Get your copy of Battle Tested! on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Tested-Gettysburg-Leadership-Lessons/dp/1642934534

Waking up in a cold sweat at 3AM in the spring of 2019, Jeff knew he was done with corporate life.The startup he moved his family cross-country for was broken beyond repair. Great concept, handful of happy clients, but zero marketing presence to get to that next level.After advocating for a strategic marketing approach that the President liked and the COO didn’t, things stagnated. Rather than do nothing, Jeff handed in his resignation.Today, what they rejected is what Jeff helps his clients with. Bradley and Jeff discussed the difference between strategies and tactics. Because many struggling businesses have to diagnose the problem, it’s important to understand that strategy is high level while tactic is specific. In order to really pinpoint your issues and increase profits, you have to know how to measure. Jeff shares more about measuring correctly in this episode.Jeff is a dynamic, energetic and knowledgeable speaker with actionable advice on what you can do RIGHT NOW to get your business back on track. You’ll love Jeff and his approach to comprehensive change without spending an extra cent!

Today on the Leadership Podcast, Bradley sits down with Erik Qualman to discuss problem solving, work-life harmony, and his new book The Focus Project.A 5x Bestselling Author and Keynote Speaker, Erik has performed in over 55 countries and reached 50 million people. He was voted the 2nd Most Likeable Author in the World behind Harry Potter's J.K. Rowling. He is the host of the popular Super U Podcast and his work has been used by the National Guard to NBCUniversal to NASA. Erik’s “Three Piece” for success is Purpose - Process - Progress (not perfection).  He often asks, “What’s the one thing I could do to make everything easier or unnecessary?”  Ultimately, working to solve problems in your business means focusing on what’s most important.The Focus Project is a guide to pursuing less in order to achieve more—both personally and professionally. We will realize that leading an overly busy life is a choice, but it’s not a wise one. Being over-scheduled isn’t something to be proud of, it’s something to avoid at all costs. Instead, we should choose to focus on what matters most.Learn more about Erik and get The Focus Project when you visit www.equalman.comIf you’re ready to implement this principle in your business, listen to this episode!

This week on the Leadership Podcast, Bradley sits down with Jay Steinfeld.  Jay is the founder and former CEO of Blinds.com, the world’s largest online window coverings retailer, acquired by The Home Depot in 2014.    A firm believer that one should not retire but “rewire,” Jay now lectures and serves as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, serves on the Advisory Council at The University of Texas’s Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center, and is the author of Lead from the Core: The Four Principles for Profit and Prosperity.  Core values reduce turnover and attract good hires in every industry.Jay’s Four Core values are…Evolve ContinuouslyExpress YourselfExperiment Without FearEnjoy The RideGet the first chapter of Jay’s book free when you visit his website, https://www.jaysteinfeld.com/thebook.

Theresa’s passion is helping great leaders build high performing teams.  She has learned that the greatest challenge all business owners and team leaders face is the “people stuff”;  she has dedicated her work to helping her clients take the mystery out of their people problems and put new strategies in place to become better leaders. Her #1 goal is to help her clients achieve their goals with more ease and create more joy in their career.Theresa Callahan is an Executive Leadership & Career Coach who leads small business owners and team leaders within organizations through her Managing For Performance Leadership Development program.  Her background includes 15 years of service to State Farm, as a Team Member, Agent and Agency Field Consultant, and 18 years serving Agents and Sales Leaders throughout the country through her customized leadership programs. In addition to her private client work with State Farm, Theresa serves leadership teams within organizations such as Microsoft, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and clients within the Korn Ferry Global Consulting portfolio.Her “Stepping Into Leadership” Workshop offers insights and powerful lessons learned working with successful business owners throughout the country, and focuses on 6 Critical Building Blocks for attracting, onboarding and retaining a High Performing Team.  Twice a year Theresa also hosts a retreat program that is based in Tuscany, immersing small groups into a small medieval village in Southern Tuscany for those seeking adventure and travel through individual and group coaching experiences.    Visit Managingforperformance.com to get her book, Managing For Performance.

On this week’s episode, Bradley sits down with Liz Kislik to discuss developing stronger leaders in your business.  If you want to transform the way you do business, Liz —Harvard Business Review and Forbes contributor, management consultant, executive coach—can help whether you’re part of a family-run business, national non-profit, or Fortune 500 company.They first discussed change initiatives and organizations.  This includes the importance of pre-mortum and after action review.  Liz defines a Pre-Mortum as thinking through what could go wrong, aka “secondhand consequences.”  Once you’ve done this, you can build a safety net around what could go wrong.  Then you can better allocate resources in order to make the changes.After this, they discussed developing other leaders.  Liz suggested that you stop trying to train your team in your areas of weakness.  We try to delegate things we don’t love or aren’t good at, but you have to hire someone to do this. That means you’re training your new employee in something you’re not good at.  Instead, you’re better off to find someone else, maybe a course or a coach, to develop that person.  This will give them an opportunity to succeed in that role.Finally, they chatted about aligning your goals, mission, and values.  It’s important to strategically connect the day to day business of your organization to these guiding principles.Ready to develop stronger leaders?