Discover why leaders tend to micromanage, learn effective strategies for addressing micromanagement, and explore the importance of self-awareness in team dynamics. Tips for fostering clear communication and setting boundaries to overcome micromanagement challenges are provided.

In this engaging discussion, Kathy Kolbe, a thought leader and founder of the Kolbe Index, dives into the essence of conative intelligence and its impact on leadership. She emphasizes the significance of emotional buy-in for teams, arguing that when individuals connect personal goals with team objectives, productivity soars. Kathy also shares her journey of self-discovery, advocating for the power of understanding unique abilities in fostering creativity and effective teamwork. Her insights reveal how genuine care can transform leadership and drive entrepreneurial success.

Are your team members growth oriented? How do you foster that mindset in your company? Today, Shannon Waller breaks down the January Strategic Coach® team meeting in which each of the 100+ team members thought through their personal growth and contributions for the upcoming year. How did it work, and how does that investment translate to the success of the business? Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: Motivated For Growth The ROI for investing in your team’s personal and professional goals is team members becoming self-managing and growth-oriented. For the kick-off meeting of the year, the 100+ team members at Strategic Coach spent three hours thinking about their values, their intentions for the year, and their areas of growth. The meeting began with asking everyone to share their intentions for the year based on their values and PRINT® motivations. Celebrating The Previous Year’s Achievements And Progress Next, the team walked through The Positive Focus® exercise to reflect on achievements and progress from the past year. Everyone was asked to write down three business achievements and two personal achievements from the previous year. For each achievement, they wrote its significance and why they viewed it as progress. Then, they considered what further progress they could make on those achievements and what their first action would be. In small breakout groups, they then shared one or two of their achievements, allowing for 20 minutes of celebration and connection. Connecting Past To Future Next, Strategic Coach founder and lead coach Dan Sullivan led the team through the Triple Play™ exercise, which involves reflecting on and finding connections between three past accomplishments or experiences. The insights Shannon gained through this exercise gave great clarity to her 2024 intentions, distilling the lessons of the past year into ideas for a bigger future. Creating A Bigger Future One of Strategic Coach’s favorite mantras is, “Always make your future bigger than your past.” Strategic Coach co-founder and CEO, Babs Smith, shared the 10-year vision and three-year vision for the company. This set the stage for an exercise called The Bigger Future™, which helps make ambitious long-term plans more concrete. This exercise has people envision their six-year ambitions, then work back to the three-year capabilities they’ll need to develop, and then the one-year challenges that will move them toward those. Expanding Capabilities Expands Positive Impact Expanding individual capabilities expands the positive impact of each team member’s Unique Ability®, which creates a growth path for a Unique Ability organization. Encourage team members to pursue self-directed growth rather than having growth paths dictated to them. Give them ownership over their development goals but provide them with the capabilities to achieve them. Look for job candidates who are self-motivated learners who bring their own drive and initiative. Benefits Of Investing In Team Member Growth By investing in team members’ personal and professional growth, leaders can gain their gratitude, develop more capable teams, and create loyalty within the organization. This can result in lower team member turnover and higher retention of high-performing individuals. Even if team members do leave after being supported, they may become raving fans who recommend the company. Resources: The Positive Focus The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy The Self-Managing Company by Dan Sullivan Unique Ability Unique Ability Teamwork Wanting What You Want by Dan Sullivan EOS®: Entrepreneurial Operating System PRINT: Team Success Podcast, episode 224, “Uncovering ‘The Why Of You,’ With Debra Levine” Deirdre Van Nest of Crazy Good Talks

Uncover the transformative power of celebrating successes over boasting. Discover how sharing wins fosters a positive workplace culture and supports individual growth. Learn practical tips to create a celebratory environment and leverage small victories for larger business goals. Explore how mutual recognition can enhance team dynamics and encourage a motivated atmosphere. Dive into methods that allow for strategic reflection on achievements, turning past successes into future opportunities.

Join team success expert Shannon Waller as she dives into the art of supporting your entrepreneur. Are you seeing through their lens, anticipating their needs, and proactively contributing to the owner’s vision? Learn the power of a simple four-word question that will have your entrepreneur celebrating you. And, find out entrepreneur and coach Dan Sullivan’s ultimate compliment to a team member. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: “Managing up” means: You’re looking out for your entrepreneur. Taking a leadership perspective, which is the wider view, not only focused on the tasks in front of them. Knowing your entrepreneur’s long-term vision for themselves, for your team, and for the company. Getting feedback and having strategic conversations. Having a helper mindset: “How can I help?” Communicating your needs—technology, training, resources—to be much faster, make things easier, and achieve a bigger result. Your entrepreneur can say, “I never think about you”—because you take ownership, and they never have to worry about you. Assuming positive intent and digging deeper to understand the logic of strategies you disagree with. Use The Strategy Circle® thinking tool to help see the goal and obstacles and suggest alternative strategies. Speaking up when you see potential train wrecks; yes, it is your place to say something when you see something others don’t. Resources: Your Life As A Strategy Circle by Dan Sullivan

Learn about the downsides of the\u201cproving game\u201d in business and how it hampers effective teamwork. Discover strategies to cultivate genuine success and authentic leadership within teams by challenging conventional thinking.

In previous episodes, Shannon has talked about the Teamwork Triad—are you curious to see how it plays out in real life? In this episode, Shannon interviews entrepreneur, author, and podcast host Chad Willardson about his Unique Ability® Dream Team. Learn how to find extraordinary executive assistants who not only support you, but sit in the Teamwork Triad seats that will help you achieve 10x growth. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: Chad Willardson is an entrepreneur, author, and podcaster from Southern California. He left Merrill Lynch in 2011 to start his own company, Pacific Capital, a wealth management firm serving entrepreneurs. Teamwork specialist Shannon Waller and Unique Ability specialist Julia Waller introduced the idea of a Unique Ability “Dream Team” to support Chad beyond his business. This team, called the Teamwork Triad, includes a Visionary, an Innovation Manager, and a Focus Manager. Chad found two extraordinary people he knew would be the right fit through LinkedIn. Maddie was hired to be Chad’s Strategic EA and handles business-related tasks. Chad calls her his left brain. Oriya was hired to be Chad’s Operational EA and focuses on personal tasks, marketing, travel planning, and calendar management. Because of her interests and skills in design, Chad calls her his right brain. What each member of the triad is responsible for can be summed up by “make it up” (Chad, the Visionary), “make it real” (Maddie, the Innovation Manager), and “make it recur” (Oriya, the Focus Manager). Chad’s main requirement was to find and hire high-caliber individuals who align with his vision and have the mental horsepower to handle complex tasks. The team uses tools like Asana, Microsoft Teams, and Google Docs for communication and task management. Regular communication and collaboration are keys to success for a team that works mainly remotely but meets bi-weekly in person. The team meets weekly and has in-person collaboration sessions every other week to align on goals and projects. The trust and empowerment Chad gives his team leads to his own increased freedom and success as an entrepreneur. Chad used assessments like Kolbe, CliftonStrengths®, PRINT®, and Working Genius to understand each of their strengths and how to best work together. Chad asked ChatGPT to assess potential clashes given everyone’s assessments, gave its response to Maddie and Oriya, and had them discuss how they would avoid territorial dangers. From the beginning, Maddie and Oriya forged their friendship and working relationship based on mutual respect for each other’s separate interests and areas of Unique Ability. Because of how Chad has empowered them, Maddie and Oriya find ways to help each other without having to get Chad involved, thereby keeping his capacity free for his own Unique Ability projects. Maddie and Oriya have been attending their own workshops with Strategic Coach® to learn how to use tools such as The Weekly Planner and The Impact Filter™, which further simplify communication and delegation for all three. Maddie and Oriya have collected their tips on how entrepreneurs can most effectively work with two executive assistants: “EA Collaboration Guide.” Freed up from daily business operations, Chad is leveraged to think about bigger opportunities beyond his business, such as Free Zone collaborations with other 10x entrepreneurs. Resources: Books: Stress-Free Money: Overcome These Seven Obstacles to Find Financial Freedom Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest Fit for Wealth: 7 Breakthrough Strategies for Elite Health and Abundant Wealth Podcasts: Smart Money Parenting Financial learning app for kids: GravyStack EA Collaboration Guide: Detailed version PDF QuickStart version PDF Pacific Capital website Personal assessments: CliftonStrengths website Kolbe PRINT: Team Success Podcast, episode 224, “Uncovering “The Why Of You,” With Debra Levine” Wonderlic Working Genius Productivity: Asana ChatGPT Microsoft Teams TripIt Other resources: EOS: Entrepreneurial Operating System Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization, by Dave Logan, John King, Halee Fischer-Wright Strategic Coach concepts, tools, and books: The Strategic Coach® Program Free Guide to The Entrepreneurial Time System® PDF download: “The Entrepreneur’s Guide To Time Management” Free Impact Filter worksheet PDF download The Team Success Handbook by Shannon Waller Unique Ability Teamwork article: “What Are Unique Ability Teams?” Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

In this thought-provoking episode, entrepreneur and team coach Shannon Waller delves into the crucial factors that drive action and engagement. Drawing from personal experiences and insights, Shannon highlights the importance of not only intellectual stimulation but also emotional connection and personal motivation when it comes to the creative process, and shares how ideas progress from the mind to the heart and gut, unlocking the willingness to take action. If you’ve ever wanted guidance on how to overcome the barriers that hinder progress and productivity, tune in now! Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: In order to take action on new ideas or information, make sure they resonate on an emotional level, not just an intellectual one. If an idea doesn’t resonate emotionally, seek out conversations and discussions with other people to gain a deeper understanding and emotional connection. If you’re not engaged on three levels—head, heart, and gut—you won’t take action. Look for personal excitement and a sense of achievement or “win” when engaging with new information. When working with teams, ensure that new ideas engage all three levels. They should make cognitive sense, excite people emotionally, and provide opportunities for personal contribution through action. Proper strategic planning when making major decisions, where you consider all aspects of the project before taking action, is also essential. Haphazard approaches don’t work. To avoid lack of engagement and poor or incomplete results, fully engage and commit to projects you’re interested in. Recognize how your environment influences your behaviour too. Motivation is the starting point in the creative process. Once you understand this, everything gets easier. Resources: The Kolbe A™ Index The Strategy Circle The Impact Filter™ Who Not How™

Shannon Waller, entrepreneur and team coach, chats with the brilliant Jill Young, EOS® Implementer and coach, about the tools leaders need to alleviate frustration and handle tough issues. They dive into proven EOS® and Strategic Coach® tools, including the Accountability Chart™, Rocks, and Quarterly Conversations, that help entrepreneurs resolve stuck situations. Jill provides tactical coaching wisdom on implementing these tools with care and concern to unlock team engagement and prevent problems. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: Effortless LMA: Lead, manage, hold accountable. The cost of not using tools. Tools as energy management. No defense budget: Spending time, money, and energy to set up the team and culture so that people don’t have to play defense. Accepting that mistakes happen. In corporate cultures, you have one opportunity, one pitch. Staying just below the line of recognition to keep changing, iterating, growing. When you don’t know who is accountable for what, fingers point everywhere and in other places, causing frustration and preventing movement forward. Five foundational EOS tools: Accountability Chart, Rocks, Scorecard, Level 10 Meeting™ (L10), and the Vision Traction Organizer™ (VTO). Strategic Coach foundational tools: The Positive Focus®, The Gap And The Gain™, The Impact Filter™, The Strategy Circle®, and The Experience Transformer®. Sixth bonus tool: The Weekly Planner to integrate time and activities according to The Entrepreneurial Time System®. How to decide what tool you need. Chris Voss’s tips for tactical empathy in negotiation: “It seems like … ,” “It sounds like … ,” and repeat the last three words. The Coaching Habit seven great questions, including: “What’s on your mind?” and “What else?” You need to build trust to speak with brutal honesty. Use with care and concern for the other person to avoid weaponizing tools and concepts. Tools don’t work if your team is not aligned, not allowed to collaborate, not given voice to have opinions heard. Your team’s Kolbe, CliftonStrengths®, and PRINT® profiles and individuality. The Fire Department Tool: Solve the immediate emergency quickly and efficiently. But investigate the cause after to solve the root problem. The Quarterly Conversation using the LMA (Lead, Manage, Hold Accountable) Tool to informally discuss what’s working, what’s not working, and improvements to make. Agenda for the conversation called 5-5-5, discussing the company’s five core values, the five Rocks (crucial results), and five roles from the Accountability Chart. Three outcomes from the Quarterly Conversation: one thing for leader to do, one thing for direct report to do, one thing that won’t change so everyone can stop talking about it. When you ask yourself, “What should I do?” instead ask, “What tool should I use?” Download free EOS tools at eosworldwide.com. Download the Fire Department or Do-Over tool at www.jillyoung.com. Download free Strategic Coach tools at yourteamsuccess.com and strategiccoach.com. Effortless collaboration. Resources: Jill Young: website with downloads; LinkedIn EOS: Entrepreneurial Operating System Impact Filter download Your Life As A Strategy Circle by Dan Sullivan Kolbe Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future Peter Thiel Certainty/Uncertainty tool: “A Tool For How To Handle Uncertainty In Leadership” The Experience Transformer tool The Accountability Chart tool The 21-Day Positive Focus The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss Chris Voss’s Master Class Kolbe: The Conative Connection: Uncovering the Link Between Who You Are and How You Perform by Kathy Kolbe ClliftonStrengths website PRINT: Team Success Podcast, episode 224, “Uncovering “The Why Of You,” With Debra Levine” Take the PRINT survey “Bob Newhart – ‘Stop It‘” How to Be a Great Boss by Gino Wickman, René Boer

Do you know what makes a good leader? As an entrepreneur, it’s your job to provide the vision and direction your team needs in order to thrive, but just because you’re supposed to do it doesn’t mean it comes naturally to you. Fortunately, great leadership is a skill that can be improved over time. In this episode of the Team Success podcast, Shannon Waller outlines a powerful leadership framework that’s not only easy to understand and implement but sure to deliver exponential results. She reveals the three essential elements that fuel effective leadership, shares tools and strategies for implementing them into your business, and explains exactly what can happen if you don’t. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to enhance your leadership skills and elevate your entrepreneurial journey! Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: The Transformational Leadership Framework consists of three key elements: know thyself, know the other person, and know the goal. “Know thyself” means understanding your own strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations, and it’s crucial for effective leadership—and makes you more trustworthy. When you don’t know what unique value you bring to the table, it can be challenging to understand and engage others in a way that taps into their mental, emotional, and motivational energy, which is your job as a leader. Understanding the people you work with—and how to work with them—is equally as important. If you assume everybody shares the same strengths and striving instincts as you do, effective teamwork can’t happen. Similarly, having a clear and shared purpose is essential for achieving the impact or project results you want. Assessments like Kolbe, CliftonStrengths®, and Working Genius can make a big difference in how well you understand yourself, show up in your role, and work with others. They also help everyone understand which stages of a project they’re good at and enjoy, providing valuable insight into where they fit in within a team or project. Recognizing and respecting others’ unique strengths, capabilities, and ways of thinking can improve meetings, work relationships, and overall results. Resources: The Kolbe A™ Index Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® CliftonStrengths PRINT® Why of You DISC®