Love in Action

Marcel Schwantes
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May 30, 2025 • 48min

Deborah Coviello: A CEO’s Compass to Get Back on Track

Episode recap: Known as The Drop In CEO™, Deborah Coviello, a respected leadership consultant, joined Marcel to discuss her journey of self-discovery that led her to write her seminal book, The CEO’s Compass. She emphasized the importance of peace of mind, humility, and investing in mentoring and coaching programs to develop essential skills. Guest Bio: Known as The Drop In CEO™, Deb’s superpower is lowering the temperature and elevating conversations with empathy and patience. As a speaker, author, podcaster, and consultant, she teaches C-Suite leaders how to establish a “Lift, Light, Lead” environment and create calm amidst chaos or crisis. She is the author of “The CEO’s Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track” and “The NEW CEO Playbook: Stop Chasing Results and Start Pursuing Peace of Mind.”Her long-running podcast, The Drop-In CEO, ranks in the top1.5% globally among Apple Podcasts. Quotes: "If something doesn't feel right, it's probably not right. And if your heart is telling you to go in a certain direction, trust it." "People are not transactions. We are humans. And when we can listen, show that we heard them, understand them, and see them for who they are, that is a way of showing practical love in the workplace." "Slow down to speed up. Get to know the people and what made them great." Takeaways: Ask your team members how your company's purpose translates to their specific role and daily work. Schedule monthly one-on-one meetings focused on personal development, not just project updates. Reflect on your leadership style: Are you creating an environment where people feel seen, heard, and valued? Identify one external mentor or coach who can help you develop essential leadership skills. Timestamps: [00:11] How Deb Stepped into Leadership Her Way [03:22] The Wake-Up Call That Changed Deb’s Leadership Style [08:08] How Deb Defuses Conflict with Just Her Presence [10:52] Why The CEO’s Compass Starts with Peace of Mind [14:46] What Happens When Mentorship Is Missing at Work [16:42] Four Compass Points That Keep Teams on Track [32:13] Making Purpose Tangible for Everyone on the Team [35:35] How Humility and Curiosity Can Quiet Workplace Ego [36:17] Why Leaders Need Outside Eyes to Grow Their Teams [41:35] The Small Acts That Make a Leader Worth Following Conclusion: Good leadership begins with truly understanding the people you work with—not just their roles, but also their goals, strengths, and values. When leaders invest in mentoring, thoughtful coaching, and a supportive work place, they open the door for better ideas and stronger dedication. A calm, clear mind helps leaders listen more fully and respond with care. This kind of leadership builds trust and skill across the entire team. Over time, it creates a work culture where people feel motivated, capable, and proud of what they contribute. Links/Resources: Website: https://dropinceo.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahacoviello/ The CEO’s Compass–Your Guide to Get Back on Track on Amazon: https://bit.ly/OrderCEOCompass Send Marcel a text message!
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May 22, 2025 • 10min

Marcel Schwantes: A Look at the Science and Best Practices of Leading with Empathy

Episode recap: Marcel discusses the concept of kindness in leadership, focusing on empathetic interactions as one of two types of kindness that work well in the leadership trenches, backed by science. He explains that kindness can spread throughout an organization, creating a more civil work atmosphere. Marcel presents five practical ways to practice empathic leadership: active listening, showing genuine interest in team members, encouraging perspective-taking, maintaining open communication, and discussing empathy as a cultural value.  For bonus content of his book not available anywhere else, subscribe at Marcelschwantes.substack.com. Bio: Marcel Schwantes is a speaker, author, and acclaimed executive coach with a global following. Marcel delivers presentations, workshops, courses, and coaching programs about the human side of business and how cultures of care, connection, and belonging power companies to thrive and outperform the competition.  Quotes:  "Empathy is a competency that can be learned. When it's displayed among teams, it helps bring people together."  "When you interact with a colleague or a direct report, try to understand how the person is feeling, not how you would feel in the same situation."  Takeaways:  Practice active listening in your next three workplace conversations by focusing entirely on understanding the other person's feelings, not your own perspective.  Map out your team members' individual goals and interests, then intentionally match their upcoming work assignments to align with those personal objectives.  Conduct a quick self-audit: Ask your direct reports to rate your empathy on a scale of 1-10, and be prepared to hear honest feedback without becoming defensive.   Timestamps:  [00:09] How Kindness Actually Shapes Better Leadership  [02:35] What Gen Z Really Wants from Their Bosses  [04:54] Five Ways to Lead with Empathy That Stick  [07:40] Why Compassion Will Be the Next Big Topic    Conclusion:  Kindness in leadership isn’t just a personal trait—it’s a practical skill that shapes how teams work together. When leaders show empathy and take time to truly listen, they help build trust and stronger connections across the workplace. This approach not only improves morale but also supports long-term performance and retention, especially among younger employees. By making empathy part of everyday practice, organizations can become more adaptable, supportive, and effective.    Links/Resources:  The book: Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/  Twitter/X: https://x.com/MarcelSchwantes  YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1  Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/  Send Marcel a text message!
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May 16, 2025 • 46min

Jeff Wetzler: An Actionable Guide to Unlocking Learning and Personal Growth

Episode recap: This week Marcel sits down with Dr. Jeff Wetzler, author of Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life. In this enlightening conversation, Marcel and Jeff discussed the importance of asking the right questions and being curious in leadership and life. Jeff introduces a powerful scientific method called The Ask Approach™, a practical framework for learning from others. They explored the challenges that prevent people from sharing insights and emphasized the need for creating psychological safety, posing quality questions, active listening, and reflection to unlock human potential. The conversation covered various aspects of effective communication and learning, highlighting the significance of curiosity, empathy, and gratitude in both personal and professional settings. Bio: Dr. Jeff Wetzler is an expert on adult learning and leadership development. He is co-founder and a board member of Transcend, a leader in education innovation. Transcend works with hundreds of schools and districts in over thirty U.S. states and has a vibrant network of 10,000+ innovators. Jeff is also former Chief Learning Officer of Teach For America, and is a two-time author. Jeff’s career is dedicated to unlocking human potential by helping people learn more deeply and transform their mindsets to realize bold new possibilities for themselves, their organizations, and their communities. Jeff holds a Doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University. Quotes: "If you are not embarrassed by who you were last year, you're not learning fast enough." "There is something important to learn from every single person—even people we disagree with, even people who are our enemies, even people we think are dangerous."  Takeaways: Practice curiosity by asking "What might I be missing?" before jumping to conclusions about people or situations. Create psychological safety in conversations by meeting people where they're comfortable and showing you genuinely want to learn from them. Develop listening skills by paying attention to content, emotions, and actions during conversations, not just words. Timestamps: [00:08] Why We Struggle to Ask the Questions That Matter [02:44] Meet the Mind Behind the Ask Approach to Learning [05:01] What Drives Dr. Wetzler to Keep Learning [06:11] Why People Hold Back What They Really Think [11:51] Five Ways to Get Honest Insight from Others [21:38] How to Make People Feel Safe Enough to Share [25:17] Asking Better Questions That Actually Teach You [28:42] Listening That Builds Trust Instead of Tension [31:25] What to Do After Someone Opens Up to You [35:00] How to Make Good Conversations Feel Natural [37:42] Dr. Wetzler’s Biggest Hope for How We Grow Next Conclusion: The Ask approach shows that many communication problems come from fear, assumptions, and not taking time to understand others. When people feel safe to speak openly, real conversations can happen. Asking thoughtful questions and truly listening—not just to words, but to tone and body language—can lead to stronger trust and clarity. This kind of communication builds deeper connections and helps avoid misunderstandings. It's a simple but powerful shift in how we relate to one another. Links/Resources: Book website: https://www.askapproach.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-wetzler-9ba3824/  Send Marcel a text message!
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May 12, 2025 • 9min

Leading with Love: What Business Can Learn from Ancient Spiritual Traditions

Episode recap: Marcel discussed his new book, Humane Leadership and the spiritual/religious background of his principles of love and action, which he developed after experiencing poor management at a hospital. He emphasized the importance of leaders caring for their employees and shared research on how principles and practices from ancient religious traditions principles can be applied in leadership contexts. Marcel encouraged leaders to implement his five radical principles of love in action to maximize human potential and achieve business success. For bonus content of the book not available anywhere else, visit Marcel’s Substack platform and subscribe at Marcelschwantes.substack.com. Bio: Marcel Schwantes is a speaker, author, and acclaimed executive coach with a global following. Marcel delivers presentations, workshops, courses, and coaching programs about the human side of business and how cultures of care, connection, and belonging power companies to thrive and outperform the competition.  Quotes: "If engagement is high, you're going to have high performance, which is very good for business. Everything goes back to leading with love and care." "Leadership is patient, kind, humble, advocates for people, and is trustworthy." "Those at the top are the ones who care enough for people's well-being, mental health, and commitment to the job."   Takeaways: Listeners to get curious about leadership practices in their organizations if they notice low employee motivation, high turnover, or decreased engagement. Leaders and managers to assess how they are leading and caring for their people, especially if experiencing issues with retention or quiet quitting. Organizations to consider implementing the 5 radical principles of love in action (patience, kindness, humility, advocacy, and trustworthiness) to improve leadership and employee experience. Leaders to explore ways to create more actionable, practical love and care in their current situations to maximize human potential and improve business outcomes.   Timestamps: [00:03] Why Toxic Leadership Nearly Broke Me at Work [02:30] What Top-Down Workplaces Do to Your Body [04:00] Why Love and Care Actually Boost Performance [05:30] What Ancient Wisdom Teaches About Good Leaders [06:45] Five Traits Every Great Leader Has in Common [07:30] What Most Leaders Miss About Team Motivation [08:30] How to Help People Do Their Best Work Every Day   Conclusion: Leadership becomes more effective when it's rooted in care, respect, and a focus on people rather than control. Strong teams don't grow from rigid structures, but from spaces where people feel safe, heard, and trusted. When leaders prioritize connection and support, it encourages openness and better performance. The most productive workplaces are built on shared trust, not fear. It's through this kind of leadership that real progress happens.   Links/Resources: The book:  Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss  Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/ Send Marcel a text message!
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May 8, 2025 • 1h 6min

Siri Chilazi: Building a Fair Workplace for Everyone to Succeed

Episode recap: Today’s guest is Siri Chilazi, a leading gender expert, Harvard researcher, and co-author of Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results. Marcel and Siri discussed gender equity in the workplace, highlighting progress made and challenges that remain in achieving fairness for all employees. They explored strategies for implementing gender equity, including the use of data-driven approaches, revising hiring practices, and adapting leadership criteria to reflect changing work environments. The conversation also touched on the impact of remote work, the importance of work-life balance, and the need for empathy and compassion in leadership to create more equitable workplaces. Bio: Siri Chilazi is a senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School whose life’s work is to advance gender equality in the workplace. As a keynote speaker and strategic advisor, Siri collaborates with a wide range of organizations around the world. Her work regularly appears in leading media outlets. Siri has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard College. Quotes: "We should be all have the same chance to show what we can do and what we're made of." "Talent exists everywhere, and when we refuse to allow for the potential of talents based on things like ethnicity or extracurriculars that have nothing to do with the skills you bring to the table, we miss out on many really good people who could do excellent work in our organizations." Takeaways: Track gender representation in your team's work by spending just two minutes after each project to count participation percentages. Redesign your hiring process using structured interviews with pre-determined questions and horizontal grading to reduce unconscious bias. Rotate administrative tasks like note-taking and meeting scheduling to prevent one gender from consistently handling "office housework" Timestamps: [00:00] Why Fairness Still Matters More Than Ever at Work [02:53] How Siri Went from Lab Coat to Leadership [06:19] What Fair Work Really Looks Like in 2025 and Beyond [09:31] Surprising Ways Bias Still Shows Up in Hiring Today [16:11] Why Most DEI Programs Fail Inside the Day-to-Day [22:30] How Tracking the Right Data Closes Fairness Gaps [27:16] Changing Behavior Beats Changing Minds at Work [30:42] Fixing How We Hire and Promote Without Bias [39:45] What Remote Work Really Means for Women’s Growth [45:48] Making Parental Leave Equal Changes Everything [50:01] What CEOs Can Actually Do to Make Work More Fair [51:58] How Small Changes Build More Fair Workplaces Fast Conclusion: Workplaces still reflect deep-rooted inequalities, especially in how people are hired, promoted, and evaluated. These patterns often hold back women and other underrepresented groups. Instead of trying to shift personal beliefs, lasting change comes from fixing the systems themselves. Clear, consistent practices—like fair assessments, equal chances for growth, and shared responsibilities—can help build a more level playing field. When fairness is built into everyday processes, everyone benefits. Links/Resources: Website: https://sirichilazi.com/ Book: https://makeworkfair.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirichilazi/ Send Marcel a text message!
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Apr 24, 2025 • 12min

Humane Leadership - A Reading of the Introduction (Marcel’s New Book Release!)

Episode recap: Marcel discussed his new book, Humane Leadership, which emphasizes the importance of expressing actionable love in the workplace and the need for leaders to care for their employees. He also emphasized the importance of continuous learning and growth in leadership, as well as the necessity of developing people skills to achieve business success. Marcel also mentioned that he is offering bonus content, including chapters 3 and 4, on his Substack platform. Go to Marcelschwantes.substack.com and access the Humane Leadership tab for the bonus content. Bio: Marcel Schwantes is a speaker, author, and acclaimed executive coach with a global following. Marcel delivers presentations, workshops, courses, and coaching programs about the human side of business and how cultures of care, connection, and belonging power companies to thrive and outperform the competition.  Quotes: "People want to feel cared for, but I call it for what it really is. People want to feel loved." "Every employee is someone's daughter or son, spouse or partner, and each one depends on their leader for guidance, care, protection, and a sense of belonging within the community." "Deep down, effective leadership is love practically demonstrated to achieve business success and leave a legacy."  Key Takeaways: Reflect: Are you viewing your team as people—with hopes and fears—or simply as tools to hit business goals? Practice agape love: Show loyalty, commitment, and genuine care for your team’s growth, not just their performance. Build meaningful connections: Move from transactional interactions to real relationships built on trust and respect. Shift your leadership style: Embrace a people-centered mindset instead of a results-only approach. Take one small action today: Listen deeply, offer support, or recognize someone’s contribution—beyond the job title. Timestamps: [00:03] What Humane Leadership Really Looks Like [01:58] Why Love Isn’t “Soft” in the Workplace [03:19] Seeing People, Not Just Headcount [06:44] How Love Gets Misunderstood in Business [09:07] Agape Leadership in Real Life Conclusion: Great workplaces aren’t built on pressure—they’re built on people. When leaders act with kindness and put people first, they create environments where teams feel safe, motivated, and empowered. Leadership is not about control; it’s about helping others grow. When employees feel genuinely valued, the business thrives too. Resources 📘 Book: Humane Leadership ✍️ Substack: marcelschwantes.substack.com 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes 🐦 X/Twitter: @MarcelSchwantes 📺 YouTube: @MarcelSchwantes1 📸 Instagram: @marcel.schwantes Send Marcel a text message!
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Apr 17, 2025 • 8min

Marcel Schwantes: The Humane Leadership Framework (Marcel’s New Book Release!)

Pre-order Marcel’s new book: Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-ass Boss  Episode recap: Humane Leadership: 5 Key Principles Marcel discussed his new book, Humane Leadership, which explores the connection between agape and effective leadership. He shared excerpts from the book, focusing on the 5 principles of humane leadership: patience, kindness, humility, advocacy, and trustworthiness. Marcel emphasized that these principles, rooted in science and best practices, can lead to a more productive and profitable workplace. He also highlighted the importance of understanding human needs and mastering people skills for effective leadership. The book is available for purchase. Bio: Marcel Schwantes is a speaker, author, and acclaimed executive coach with a global following. Marcel delivers presentations, workshops, courses, and coaching programs about the human side of business and how cultures of care, connection, and belonging power companies to thrive and outperform the competition.  Key Quotes:  "Effective leadership is love practically demonstrated to achieve business success."  "Humans are biologically wired to connect relationally and to feel they matter."  "Leadership effectiveness comes from demonstrating love through action."    Takeaways:  Implement patience, kindness, humility, advocacy, and trustworthiness in your leadership style. Embrace the human side of leadership to foster better engagement and productivity. Leadership must evolve to meet the emotional and relational needs of today’s workforce.    Timestamps:  [00:00] Introduction to Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss  [01:15] Marcel’s journey in writing the book  [02:30] The five principles of humane leadership  [03:45] Applying these principles to modern leadership  [04:50] Embracing emotional connection in remote work  [06:00] Final thoughts on leading with love  Conclusion:  Humane leadership focuses on understanding and meeting human needs, which can drive better business outcomes. Marcel Schwantes’ insights help leaders create environments where employees feel valued, leading to higher engagement, loyalty, and success.  Links/Resources:  Substack: marcelschwantes.substack.com/    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/   Twitter/X: x.com/MarcelSchwantes  YouTube: youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1  Instagram: instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/  Send Marcel a text message!
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Apr 10, 2025 • 43min

David Bator: Research-Backed Strategies for Improving Workplace Conditions

Pre-order Marcel’s new book: Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-ass Boss Episode recap: Marcel and David Bator of Achievers Workforce Institute discussed the importance of humane leadership and creating a sustainable work culture, emphasizing the need for employee engagement and a sense of belonging in the workplace. They explored strategies for improving workplace conditions, including frequent recognition, effective management practices, and implementing regular feedback methods. David also highlights four key factors for manager effectiveness: frequent contact, recognition, coaching, and career development. He suggests that companies should move beyond annual surveys and implement more frequent feedback methods such as one-on-ones, pulse surveys, and recognition programs. David also introduced the concept of the "5 pillars of belonging," which include feeling welcomed, known, included, supported, and connected at work. He stressed that investing in these conditions not only makes employees feel good but also drives business outcomes. Bio: David Bator is the Managing Director at Achievers Workforce Institute. He thinks and writes about how work should work. His primary focus in leading the Achievers Workforce Institute is Research, Community, and Advisory, assisting global executives with practical approaches to transforming how the world works. David is passionate about people and has spent the last 20 years collaborating closely with leaders in HR, IT, and Communications to develop programs that empower individuals, teams, and companies to grow. Quotes: "What gets recognized gets repeated. 72% of employees will repeat an action if they are recognized for that action." "Employees with a strong sense of belonging are twice as engaged, twice as productive, twice more resilient, and twice more satisfied with their jobs." Takeaways: Evaluate your workplace across the five pillars of belonging: Are employees feeling welcomed, known, included, supported, and connected? Create specific strategies to improve each dimension. Start a consistent habit of recognizing team members for their big and small contributions. Aim to provide meaningful, specific appreciation at least once daily and track how it impacts team morale and engagement. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction to Marcel’s new book, Humane Leadership, and his guest, David Bator [03:05] David’s passion for helping people through his work [07:34] "The Great Resignation" and "The Great Detachment" and their implications for the current state of the workplace [12:14] The Importance of Belonging and Employee Experience [17:02] Strategies for Improving Employee Engagement [25:33] Non-Monetary Strategies for Driving Engagement [29:20] Leading with Humane Leadership [35:50] The Role of Recognition in Shaping Culture Conclusion: Creating a culture of belonging, appreciation, and recognition boosts employee engagement, productivity, and retention. Leaders who make employees feel welcomed, known, included, supported, and connected drive positive outcomes. Regular non-monetary recognition and meaningful one-on-ones help employees feel valued and motivated to bring their best selves to work.   Links/Resources: Achievers: https://www.achievers.com/ Ac Send Marcel a text message!
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Mar 28, 2025 • 1h 17min

Zach Mercurio: How to Create a Culture Where People Truly Matter

Pre-order Marcel’s new book, “Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-ass Boss” → https://www.amazon.com/Humane-Leadership-Lead-Radical-Kick-Ass-ebook/dp/B0CWG3PTL4  Episode recap: Zach Mercurio shared the importance of creating an atmosphere where people feel significant and can express their ideas openly instead of feeling ignored or underappreciated at work. The conversation also highlighted the significance of soft skills, and the concept of "mattering" in the context of job satisfaction and well-being. The conversation ended with discussions on strategies for better noticing and hearing people, the importance of psychological safety in the workplace, and the need to recognize the value of unsung heroes in an organization. Bio: Zach Mercurio is the author of The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance, published by Harvard Business Review Press. He is a researcher, author, and speaker who works with hundreds of organizations to forge purposeful leaders who enable mattering, motivation, well-being, and performance. He also serves as one of author Simon Sinek’s “Optimist Instructors.” Zach earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change from Colorado State University. Zach lives in Fort Collins, CO, with his wife, two sons, and two adopted dogs. Quotes: "Think about what this person needs right now to best alleviate their struggle. Compassion is empathy in action, and it doesn’t have to be big." "Anytime you evaluate somebody, they will be on the defensive and give you a self-protective answer. You won't get the full story." "It is almost impossible psychologically for anything to matter to a person who doesn't first believe that they matter."  Takeaways: Schedule a 3-minute personal check-in with each team member this week, asking about something specific they previously shared with you. Reflect on your last interaction: Did you make the person feel noticed, affirmed, or needed? Write down one concrete way you could improve. Pull engagement or performance data showing a team member's unique impact, then share it directly with them to demonstrate their significance. Create a team agreement that establishes psychological safety rules for meetings (like no interrupting, pausing before responding). Timestamps: [00:01] Why Work Quality Means Nothing Without People First   [01:59] The Science Behind Feeling Valued at Work   [04:42] Three Things That Make People Feel Like They Matter   [07:55] Signs Your Workplace Makes People Feel Invisible   [12:35] How Leaders Can Truly See and Hear Their Employees   [29:29] Why Affirmation at Work Needs to Be Specific   [34:28] The Secret to Making People Feel Truly Needed   [41:59] How to Measure Whether Employees Feel Valued   [44:59] Simple Daily Actions That Make People Feel They Matter   [46:30] The Leadership Shift That Starts in Your Next Interaction   Conclusion: A workplace thrives when employees know their contributions matter and feel genuinely appreciated. People are more engaged and motivated when they see that their work has purpose and their presence makes a difference. Building a culture where individuals feel recognized isn’t just good leadership—it’s the foundation of a strong, successful organization. When employees feel valued, they bring their best efforts, driving both personal and collective success.   Links/Resources: Website - http://www.zachmercurio.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmercurio/ Send Marcel a text message!
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Mar 24, 2025 • 59min

Adam Galinsky: The Inspiring Leadership Traits Every Boss Must Develop

Pre-order Marcel’s new book, “Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-ass Boss” → https://www.amazon.com/Humane-Leadership-Lead-Radical-Kick-Ass-ebook/dp/B0CWG3PTL4  Episode recap: In this episode, Adam Galinsky discusses strategies for improving organizational culture, motivating employees, and overcoming challenges, emphasizing empathy, empowerment, and values. Through his experience with FBI agents, he explores how inspiration is universally understood and how leaders exist on a continuum between inspiring and infuriating. He identifies three core dimensions of inspiring leadership: being visionary, serving as a role model, and mentoring others. Recognizing this continuum, he argues, helps leaders refine their strengths and become more inspiring. Bio: Adam Galinsky, a renowned social psychologist and a professor of leadership and ethics at Columbia Business School, has integrated his quarter-century of scientific research to reveal what truly separates inspiring leaders from.... infuriating ones. In his latest book, INSPIRE: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others, Adam establishes three universal characteristics of truly inspiring leaders. Adam’s research, which consists of over 1,000 studies published in over 200 scientific articles, has been cited more than 64,000 times. His TED Talk, “How to Speak Up For Yourself,” has been viewed more than 7.5 million times, and his previous book Friend and Foe was an audible and eBook bestseller.  Quotes: "Leaders change us inside—they inspire us or infuriate us, but neutrality is rarely an option." "The continuum always gives us a path backwards. If we recognize, 'I'm being anxious and cowardly here,' I know exactly what to do—calm myself down and take that courageous step forward."  Takeaways: Spend 5 minutes recalling a time when you were at your best, which research shows physiologically calms you and makes your presence more positively contagious. Replace abstract concepts with concrete images and repeat consistently (e.g., change "make customers satisfied" to "make customers smile"). Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction and the discovery of the inspiring-infuriating continuum [12:30] Personal stories of inspiring leadership and the three universal dimensions [17:20] The "leader amplification effect" and becoming an exemplary leader [27:40] Visionary leadership and mentorship: the three E's approach [37:00] Making better decisions and giving feedback that inspires growth [47:05] Overcoming insecurity and shame to become a more inspiring leader [52:55] Leading with love and spreading seeds of inspiration through small actions Conclusion: Inspiring leadership isn’t about perfection but continuous growth. Adam Galinsky’s continuum offers a framework for becoming visionary, exemplary, and mentoring. Overcoming insecurity through reflection and small acts of recognition spreads positivity, transforming leadership and fostering a culture of inspiration.  Links/Resources: Website: https://adamgalinsky.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-galinsky-05090a3/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Inspire-Universal-Leading-Yourself-Others-ebook/dp/B0D3CCHW45 Are you an inspiring leader? Take Adam Galinsky’s “Am I Inspiring” Tool: https://adamgalinsky.com Send Marcel a text message!

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