The Ryan Leak Podcast

There are moments when you won't get inspiration, direction, or vision from your leader. This is why you need to have some go-to questions you can have in your back pocket to help you lead yourself when you need to the most. The first question you can ask yourself is: Why Am I Doing This? The second question you can ask yourself is: What Credit Can I Give Away? The third question you can ask yourself is: What Mistakes Can I Own? When things are going well, everyone volunteers to get their piece of the success pie. When things are going south, everyone scatters because most people don't want own their piece of why things aren't working.  Two of the most powerful words that can help you lead yourself well are: I'm sorry.  What will make you more attractive to high-level leaders is when take ownership for your area. We should be generous with credit and hogs with the blame.  What colleague could you call, message, or email today to apologize for something you've done in the past 6 months? What do you need to own that maybe you've been ignoring? For more show notes and episodes, go to ryanleak.com/followership. 

There are moments when you won't get inspiration, direction, or vision from your leader. This is why you need to have some go-to questions you can have in your back pocket to help you lead yourself when you need to the most. The first question you can ask yourself is: Why Am I Doing This? The second question you can ask yourself is: What Credit Can I Give Away? Don’t you love it when you give an idea in a meeting and nobody likes it... And then someone else gives your same idea 3 months later and people think they’re a genius? We're tempted to grab as much credit as we possible can because we’ve all been on the end of not getting credit we deserved. So here’s why this question is so important… So you can be the opposite of what you’ve experienced in the past. Reply all emails are the perfect opportunity to give credit to other people when we're tempted to make ourselves look better.  We have an infatuation with being self-made, but in all reality, every "self-made" person had help along the way. They read a book. They had a friend. They listened to a podcast. They watched a Ted Talk. Would it hurt to give them some credit? Not getting credit is the best thing for our pride. Giving credit is good for our relationships. How much credit do you think you deserve for your department’s success? It's often over-inflated. It's always better to err on the side of giving more credit to others than taking more credit than you actually deserve.  For more show notes and episodes, go to ryanleak.com/followership.

There are moments when you won't get inspiration, direction, or vision from your leader. This is why you need to have some go-to questions you can have in your back pocket to help you lead yourself when you need to the most.  The first question you can ask yourself is: Why Am I Doing This?  What’s your why? Is it money? Is it status? Is it position? Is it proving it to somebody who didn’t think you’d ever amount to anything? Beware of having a why that doesn’t line up with who you actually want to be. Proving somebody wrong might actually help you win, but once you’ve proved them wrong, then what?  There's a lot of people still trying to prove something to their parents or people they were in middle school with. They’ve been trying to keep up with Joneses they went to school with and the only problem is… the Joneses don’t live in their neighborhood anymore.  Your why is for you, not them. Your why needs to be strong enough to get you out of bed in the morning whether your leader has inspired you or not.  For more show notes and episodes, go to ryanleak.com/followership.

Brooks Bollinger is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. He also was a member of the Florida Tuskers in the United Football League. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin. He's now the VP of Bell Bank.  Highlights from this Episode: Focus less on the hypotheticals and the next "step or destination" and focus more on the moment you are in now and how you can be your best now.    The key to finding work-life balance is riding the waves of the ups and downs and realizing whatever season you are in. You have control of the external things that you prioritize and can align them in an order that works for you. When asked to do something I don't want to do, I tell myself, " it's not about the task. It's about how I execute the task and the standard I set for myself and that everything I do is for a bigger vision and much bigger purpose.    It's essential to take pride in the little things. Happiness won't arrive at a milestone or destination. True happiness will arrive when you stop and enjoy what's right in front of you. Your life will feel full and rewarding. For more episodes and show notes, check out ryanleak.com/followership.

Catherine Berardi is the CEO of Prime Chief of Staff, an organization that places, onboards, develops, and coaches high-performing Chiefs of Staff for high-performing companies. Highlights from this Episode: "As a follower, it's essential to help your leader carry the load."    "It's so important to listen and observe to be a good follower."    "You must be able to anticipate your leader's needs."    "Knowing someone and how they approach things helps you be able to anticipate their needs." "You don't blindly follow. You've got to understand who your following and why you're following them."  "It's important to understand the context or the why behind something that is asked of you. So you may determine what your leader truly needs." "Followers must maintain their own point of view."    "Active followers have their own emotions, thoughts, and feelings and know when to appropriately communicate them." For show notes and more episodes, check out ryanleak.com/followership.

Chad Veach is the Pastor of Zoe Church LA. He also has an incredible podcast called Leadership Lean In with Chad Veach.  Highlights from today's episode: "We have to be afraid of the leader that has a million-dollar dream and a hundred dollar work ethic." "I think greatness has that obsessive gene."  "All of us are born with such remarkable giftings, but work and work ethic is also a gift."   "You reap what you sow. The type of follower you sow is the type of follower you'll grow."  "If Jesus, who is perfect, was submitted to God's authority and was not above submission, we must take a look at ourselves and not think we are above submission to our leaders."  "If you're out of balance right now, you need three consecutive days to get your life back on track."  "Don't give the best part of your day to people. Give the best part of your day to yourself. The greatest investment you can ever make is an investment in yourself." "Your no is greater than your yes."   "Leadership starts with becoming likable. People do not want to follow someone they do not like."    "Rather than being forceful in rooms, be adaptable."  Show notes are available at ryanleak.com/followership.

Connie James is the CFO at Scientific Games and has a lot of lessons learned from navigating COVID in 2020. Highlights from this episode: "To be able to pivot well during change, communication is critical."  "If you are frustrated with your team right now, take some time actually to get to know your colleagues."  "Talk about nonwork-related things.- Connie James  "I'm a big believer that you have to focus on things you can control." "A lot of people become focused on what is that next step. My counsel to them is to have a little patience but be absolutely excellent at what you do."-                             "Even in the darkest of moments, there is often opportunities to turn those into a positive." Check out ryanleak.com/followership for more episode show notes.

Brandon Barkley is the Player Relations Manager for the Dallas Mavericks. He has some unique insights as to what it takes to be a great follower. Highlights from this episode: "When having to pivot or adjust plans on the fly, it is best to go into the situation having had already visualized all possible solutions or scenarios, so you are prepared." "When speaking with your boss or manager, you have to exude confidence."   "When you exude the confidence that you are taking control of your job and everything you handle is taken care of, there is  less micromanagement and lack of confidence from management."   "Carrying your organization or company's culture well is the most crucial thing a follower can do."

Nick Nilson is the Associate Pastor at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. He's had a unique and interesting journey following one of the most influential voices of our time, Joel Osteen.  Highlights from this episode: "Ask great questions, be prepared, and be concise."   "Earning your leader's trust allows you to gain authentic favor with them."   "If you do your job really well and you do your job really well for a good period of time. I think it gains the attention of not just your manager, boss, the president of the organization, but also your peers. It just earns you great respect in your organization."   " Big leaders want to be around fun people who lift the room."    "People admire perfection, but they can't relate to it." Take-Aways: Knowing what questions to ask helps you understand your leader.    Consistency and faithfulness are characteristics in followers that stand out to leaders.    To be successful, it is essential to kill pride, be vulnerable, listen more, and slow down.   Be a follower who comes with solutions, not problems.   You can be doing things for God, and God does not want you to be doing them.  We must discern the difference between a good opportunity for the kingdom and a God-ordained opportunity. Show notes can be found at ryanleak.com/followership.

Brad Lomenick is a leadership consultant, speaker, founder of BLINC, a strategic advising company, and author of The Catalyst Leader and H3 Leadership. He writes about leadership, the next generation, creativity, innovation, social media, teamwork, and personal growth. Highlights from Episode 6: "The healthier cultures/ leaders honor each other and have the ability to have nicknames. There is a true sense of friendship, allowing leaders to have freedom to do their best."   "When you have a culture of honor, authenticity, self-awareness, and congruency, it makes working for that person fun."   "High-level followers  are curious. They have a true sense deep down within them that they are great question-askers." "Great leaders are good thinkers, which pushes them towards asking great questions."   "When you become a great leader, you ask more questions than you give answers. Your posture is more of curiosity."   "Some leaders value being intimidating. At some point, they had an intimidating  leader they are trying to outdo, model, or emulate."   "We always lead like we've been led. Unless someone breaks the cycle."   "99% of leaders who are intimidating would like you to treat them like you would anyone else who is a peer." "Rather if it was an intern or rather it was someone who had been on the team for a long time. If they had appropriately approached me with feedback that was helpful, I was incredibly open to it."   "You may not have any of the authority, no title, or position that allows you to sit at the table but, you have to have a mindset of an owner at every level."   "If your feedback is more about helping you, people see through it."   "Leaders want their teams to see what they see."   "Focus on being faithful and a good steward of your current assignment."   "Figure out how to make a bad leader a partner in your journey and how to make them better." "Don't look at your leader as someone who is against you."   "Figure out how to add value to a bad  leader."