The Leadership Podcast

In an extraordinary conversation about a world that has moved from complicated to complex, Dr. Margaret Heffernan discusses her latest book - Uncharted - How to Map the Future Together. Margaret produced programmes for the BBC for 13 years. She then moved to the US where she spearheaded multimedia productions for Intuit, The Learning Company and Standard&Poors. She was Chief Executive of InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation and then iCast Corporation, was named one of the "Top 25" by Streaming Media magazine and one of the "Top 100 Media Executives" by The Hollywood Reporter. The author of six books, Margaret's third book, Willful Blindness : Why We Ignore the Obvious at our Peril was named one of the most important business books of the decade by the Financial Times. In 2015, she was awarded the Transmission Prize for A Bigger Prize: Why Competition isn't Everything and How We Do Better, described as "meticulously researched... engagingly written... universally relevant and hard to fault." Her TED talks have been seen by over twelve million people and in 2015 TED published Beyond Measure: The Big Impact of Small Changes. Her most recent book, Uncharted: How to map the future was published in 2020. She is a Professor of Practice at the University of Bath, Lead Faculty for the Forward Institute's Responsible Leadership Programme and, through Merryck & Co., mentors CEOs and senior executives of major global organizations. She holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath and continues to write for the Financial Times and the Huffington Post. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [3:15] With Margaret's diverse career, the one common theme that connects it all together is her passion for creativity. [5:10] You can't measure a lot of things, and in the business world, what can't be measured gets "thrown out." However, critical skills like creativity are essential and not easily measurable. [7:35] There's such a pride in efficiency in business. It's been this way since the industrial revolution. [12:35] Margaret agrees with Jim and Jan that the leaders she's seen are naturally curious people. [15:10] Margaret shares some of the "soft" characteristics needed to get a team stronger and better than before. [18:00] Successful teams need to invest a lot of time getting to know one another. [21:20] People are more afraid of losing power/control than accountability in a team. [22:35] The more frightened an employee is, the worse they'll perform, and they certainly won't be creative. Organizations are still using these outdated fear tactics. [25:55] Margaret wished someone had told her in her younger days, "to not take it personally," especially at the beginning of her career. [26:55] Something might be personal, but if you respond to it like it isn't, then you're in a much better position. [29:25] Reality TV really skews reality. It's geared to show us the worst ways to team up. [31:50] When you act like a superstar, you end up alienating everyone who could have made you a superstar. [34:25] If you're the person who speaks all the time in meetings. Just keep quiet during one of them and observe what happens. [38:00] Most organizations sit inside a vast ecosystem that you do not have any influence over. That doesn't mean you're absolutely helpless in your career, though. [42:10] We are currently sitting in an inequality crisis and an unemployment crisis. We have to think long-term or else we won't survive. [44:55] You can think about impact and likelihood, but you can't actually put physical numbers or "data" against it because it won't mean anything when the final result comes. [48:35] Listener challenge: Contribute greater than you consume. Quotable Quotes "It's like we can't believe anything unless we've measured it." "Many of the things we need the most are fundamentally immeasurable." "Creativity is immeasurable." "What can you tell me that I don't know?" "We're so keen to control things that we reduce them in our own heads." "I think we have to recognize in a team, part of what you owe to the team is bring something that no one else in the team has. That's how the team gets stronger." "At the beginning of one's career, and when one is young, everything is personal. When you don't take it personally, you're in a position to respond so much better." "Hyper-competitive people generally do very poorly in life. They do poorly because they don't make friends, they don't have allies, and they generally don't fit into networks." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Website & Margaret's recent book, Uncharted: Mheffernan.com & @M_H

Joel Goldberg has worked as part of the Royals' broadcast team for FOX Sports Kansas City since 2008, and serves as the television play-by-play voice for the ECHL Kansas City Mavericks. Joel has spent nearly 25 years in television, developing and maintaining relationships with professional athletes, coaches, and team management. He has become a powerful public speaker and presenter, talking with groups about the networking principles he's learned from his experiences of interviewing successful icons. With Joel's new book, Small Ball, Big Results, he shares incredible sports history, and timeless leadership principles that every leader can benefit from. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [2:30] Joel was a terrible athlete, but he knew how to talk. [3:50] Despite being in sports broadcasting and covering baseball throughout his career, Joel sees himself more as a storyteller than a sports guy. [4:35] The best baseball players are used to dealing with failure 70% of the time. [6:15] Baseball Hall of Famer, George Brett's favorite expression was: Try easier. [7:55] More than any other sport, baseball roots itself in tradition. [12:25] There is no "one thing" that defines all in leadership. It's little things every single day. [13:30] Joel shares his definition of what leadership looked like. [16:25] It's not just good enough to have good leaders. You need a purpose, you need an identity. [19:00] You build a successful culture by passing it on from generation to generation. [21:15] Joel shares why baseball captains are critical to a team's success. [27:40] Joel didn't know what networking was in the beginning. It's so vague and no one gets taught this key life skill. [31:30] You don't go out on a first date with a girl and ask her to marry her right away. Yet we do the equivalent all the time in networking. [32:10] Joel shares why Albert Pujols was his biggest relationship failure. [36:55] Chicago Cubs' Joe Maddon knows a thing or two about trust. Joel shares what he learned from him. [40:00] Small ball actions are not "check the box" kind of things. They are consistent actions over time. [42:00] The world changes rapidly. The world moves on. We've got to be open-minded about the new world ahead. [43:00] Good leaders are listening and they adapt to the times. [45:35] Joel shares some perspectives he's learned over the years about putting too much pressure on himself to succeed and dealing with imposter syndrome. [53:40] You never know who is watching. Always show your best, even when you don't feel like it. Quotable Quotes Sports is a grind every day. "If you're successful as a hitter 30% of the time, you're considered one of the best. This means you have to have the ability to deal with failure 70% of the time." "Small ball to me is the little things that add up to the big things." "Leadership is measured in a lot of ways, not in the numbers." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Website & Joel's Book: Joelgoldbergmedia.com & @GoldbergKC on Twitter *** Correction *** The person that introduced Joel and Jim was the super awesome, always kind and generous Dan Horwich of CampIT Conferences.

Steve Smith is the CEO at Association Management Center, where he supports national healthcare association volunteers and staff leaders. He helps them leverage their natural strengths to continue the mission of the non-profit organization. Steve shares a bit of history behind the need for nonprofit medical services, and also provides insight on how healthcare has changed over the years to better support the people and their personalized needs. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [3:20] Steve shares why he is passionate about non-profit work. [6:40] There's a misconception that non-profit work means no money, but it's run like a business. [7:40] Non-profits do run on thinner margins, which makes this space and the important work people do a lot more challenging. [9:45] The way people want healthcare support has changed over the years. The non-profit space needs to be able to adapt quickly or else it becomes difficult to course-correct later on. [14:35] Steve shares the best ways to work with board members and provide helpful governance training and resources. [17:50] Steve has spent a long time in the healthcare industry and shares some interesting insights about this space. [19:35] Seventy percent of Medicare costs are incurred during the last six to 12 months of life. Steve explains why it's so expensive. [25:15] Steve explains the origins of hospice care and how this is now translating into the nonprofit space. [27:40] A new thread is emerging: The nonprofit space is an excellent way to test out the next big business idea. [32:00] When you're trying to make an impact within your community, you make a bigger contribution when you are a part of an organization than just an individual trying to bootstrap it. People can get burned out easily in the nonprofit space. [34:15] In 2020, a lot of leaders, especially in healthcare, had to adapt their leadership style to better accommodate unknown challenges ahead. We've all grown from this, but there's still a lot to learn. [36:45] Steve always enjoyed being the person behind the curtain, but sometimes you need to trust your skills and make that leap of faith to push yourself and step into a leadership role. [41:35] Nonprofit work does pay less. Steve addresses this as a man who also has a family and bills to pay. [44:25] Listener challenge: Focus on restoration work. Take care of others, ourselves, and our communities. Quotable Quotes "Passion is really powerful. It can really drive us, but it can also blind us." "If organizations don't evolve... they can decline very quickly." "If you're serving on a board, be open to learning; it's a different place to be a leader." "We are a death-denying culture… and we like to not plan for things that are inevitable." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Websites: Connect2amc.com & LinkedIn

James Schrager studies the use of strategy by executives and venture investors. Drawn to this research by a fascination with extreme success, and a desire to better understand how it happens. James discusses how to evaluate new ventures and growth opportunities. James doesn't just teach the power of strategy, he also cultivates his executives to look within themselves and conduct a frequent analysis. James shares some of his insights on what expert strategists think about and how to prepare leaders for the future. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [4:00] James shares how he's adapting his teaching style now that he is teaching remotely. [9:30] Experts look at the same puzzle completely differently than novices. It's important to include all types of expertise levels in the learning process. [10:55] James makes the connection between the importance of expertise and how this can be applied in leadership. [16:15] Expert chess players ask important questions to make sure their core pieces are safe. A business leader needs to do the same. Instead of always playing on offense or defense, look at the bigger picture. [19:15] When solving a puzzle for the first time, James's students have a hard time "getting it," but once they understand the process, they can't believe the solution wasn't obvious to them from the very start. Everyone has to start somewhere. [21:10] Conducting frequent analysis on what went wrong and what went right is critical to improving and getting better than where you were before. [22:50] It can be hard to look at your mistakes, but it can also be empowering because it means you don't have to do it again. [30:35] James shares ways an organization can better develop its unconsciously competent workforce. [36:00] You get through your emotional bias by having other members of your team vet the idea or person. [40:00] Strategists plan and live in the future. They think about the possibilities and disrupt the old way of doing things. [44:45] We have so much data to process in today's world; James discusses how you best sort this extra information to get to the real facts. [47:50] Great leaders all have one thing in common: Profound curiosity. [48:30] Listener challenge: Look at logic puzzles and use them to discover deeper questions within you. Quotable Quotes "In business, we always want to think if we're on offense or defense, and the great problem is we're neither." "There's a secret the (chess) masters have and that secret is insight." "Take a very close look at everything." "Strategists live in the future." "The future is a very scary place to be." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Websites: James Schrager & Wikipedia

Donald Robertson is is a Scottish psychotherapist and author, working mainly in the areas of Stoic philosophy, clinical hypnosis, emotional resilience and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH). Donald specializes in teaching evidence-based psychological skills, and is as an expert on the relationship between modern psychotherapy (CBT) and classical Greek and Roman philosophy. He is one of the Founding Members of The Modern Stoicism, a non-profit that aims to research and publish information on the application of Stoic philosophy. He is also the author of six books, including his latest book, How to Think Like a Roman Emperor. In this episode, Donald discusses Stoicism vs. stoicism, mental health, and the effect of cognitive behavior on leadership. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [3:20] In addition to being interested in Stoicism, Donald is a huge heavy metal fan. [4:55] Donald became interested in this field and Marcus Aurelius through his father, who was a Freemason. [11:20] When Donald's father passed, he really wanted to find someone he could look up to and give him guidance on life. [13:10] Donald shares the difference between Stoicism and being stoic. [16:00] When it comes to Stoicism and mental health, it's quite fascinating how these ideas have become lost over time. [17:20] We tend to believe that cognitive reason and emotion are two separate things, but actually, they're intertwined. [21:50] Donald breaks down practical ways you can use Stoicism in your life and how you can implement it as a leader, especially if you're someone who might be carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. [27:00] When people are overwhelmed by anger and anxiety, their attention tends to narrow and they engage in threat monitoring. [33:55] Plato used his philosophy like being a soldier. It requires the same courage and the same self-discipline to execute. Life is like a battlefield and your philosophy is your weapon against it. [36:20] If you lack self-discipline, you can be a prey to greed. [42:35] Donald shares why he's currently in Athens and an exciting project he's currently working on. [45:15] Philosophy was invented by a guitarist. [49:10] It's important to slow down and think. Be intentional with your actions. Quotable Quotes Life is like a battlefield and your philosophy is your weapon against it. "Researchers are interested in lower-case stoicism because they've generally found it to be quite toxic, particularly over the longer term." "Repressing or concealing unpleasant emotions might be useful as a short-term strategy in a high-stress situation, but longer-term it tends to backfire." "Emotions, reason, and passions are intertwined." "If I'm anxious, it's typically because I believe something dangerous or threatening is about to happen and I'll be unable to cope with it." "We need strength of character if we are going to live in a cloud of wisdom." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Websites: Donaldrobertson.name & Donald on Patreon & Twitter @DonJRobertson Donald's book: How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius Plato — Apology of Socrates

Kara Goldin is the Founder and CEO of Hint, Inc. and the Author of Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts & Doubters. Her book was written to inspire people to move past their fears and defy the doubters. She has been named one of InStyle's Badass 50, Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business, Fortune's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs and EY's Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Northern California. Kara is also the host of the podcast Unstoppable, where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs, and other disruptors across various industries. In this episode, Kara shares how to not let anyone crush your dreams! Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [9:50] Kara's first real job was when she was 14. It was a great learning experience because she was able to learn about margins, shipping costs, and more. [13:40] Kara has always been entrepreneurial. She would often test out services and prices to figure out what the market wanted and was willing to pay for. [19:35] As a busy person, Kara is ruthless when it comes to her time management. [25:40] Kara was forced with a tough decision when it came to her business: To Continue or To Quit. [27:00] When Kara got some tough feedback about why her product wouldn't sell, she didn't go on the offensive, instead, she leaned in and asked questions. [30:35] Really watch out for people who believe, "This is just the way it is." Chances are they're not curious. They are stuck in a cycle. [35:20] You really aren't alone in this journey. However, so many Millennials are feeling alone right now. [38:15] Kara shares her definition of what success looks like. [41:15] Kara's dad gave her the best advice: Do not retire. Find something you're passionate about and go do it. [47:15] Kara shares an important moment in her life that made her learn she could trust herself and her abilities. [49:10] When you're alone with your thoughts, it provides a lot of clarity on what it is you truly want vs. what the people in your life want for you. Quotable Quotes "Stay curious." You are always a student looking for answers. "I have to be alone to really understand what's next." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Websites: Karagoldin.com & Kara on LinkedIn Kara's book: Undaunted

Deborah Lee James served as the 23rd Secretary of the United States Air Force with responsibility for 660,000 military and civilian personnel and a budget of $139 billion. She was the second woman to ever lead a military service in the United States. Deborah is also the author of "Aim High: Chart Your Course and Find Success." Her impressive resume and deep expertise in strategic planning, risk management, public policy, logistics, and innovation, lead to a fascinating conversation with Jim and Jan on the topic of leading during difficult times. Can any of us survive and thrive against such a backdrop of unsettledness and anxiety? Deborah Lee James wants to help us try. "Lead several hundred thousand people, manage a budget over $100 billion, and secure the nuclear enterprise. That's what Secretary James did as the second woman ever to run the U.S. Air Force, and this book feels like having a personal conversation with her. She takes you behind the scenes with rich case studies to share valuable leadership lessons for your career and your life." -- Adam Grant, Professor, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, LinkedIn Top Voices 2017, New York Times bestselling author of ORIGINALS, GIVE AND TAKE, and OPTION B Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [4:55] Debbie explains why she thinks she became the Secretary of the Air Force... by accident. [7:55] Keep your network always active. You never know when you might need it! [9:15] Debbie was uniquely qualified for this position because of all of her past experiences on Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, and the private sector. [11:05] Debbie offers a tip on how to make your presentations engaging. [14:35] In order to be competent and move from the junior to mid-career ranks, you need to know your competency. [16:45] How you get leadership done is important, especially when working in a male-dominated field. [17:35] When you want to lead and inspire a team effectively, you have got to give them the why and you have to listen to their needs. [18:15] People hate to be micromanaged, they want to be coached. [22:35] There was a lot happening under Debbie's watch, she shares the strategies she used to manage it and lead everyone towards a common goal. [30:15] Your team's opinions are important but don't just stop there. Dive deeper. [31:05] Debbie would take to the most senior people in the room all the time, but she would also make a point to talk to more junior airmen. [32:40] No matter what you're doing, keep asking why. [39:35] The adaptability of a high-level leader is more of a requirement than ever before. A lot changes in a three-year span. [41:50] Debbie offers tips on how to lead in a field you might not have 100% understanding in. [44:25] Listener challenge: Part of having a fulfilling career is to have a fulfilling home life, too. Quotable Quotes "Get things done. Ultimately you're not going to be a leader for long; your company or your organizations are going to fire you if you don't create a body of accomplishment." "To go to the next level, you've got to lift yourself out of the details, and now you have to lead a team and make sure you're not doing the team's work." "What makes you successful at one level won't necessarily take you to that next level." "In order to lead and aspire a team effectively, you can't tell people what to do. You've got to give them the why." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Websites: Deborahleejames.com & Deborah on LinkedIn Debbie's book: Aim High No Time for Spectators: The Lessons that Mattered Most from West Point to the West Wing, by General Martin Dempsey

Joe Kenner is the President and CEO for Greyston Bakery. For 38 years, Greyston has opened its doors to those who face rejection elsewhere. When people say they want to work, Greyston gives them a chance through Open Hiring® — no resumes, no background checks, no interviews needed. Understanding that a job is just the first step toward self-sufficiency, Greyston offers workforce development and community wellness services to help their neighbors pave paths to professional and personal success. By replacing scrutiny with trust, Greyston is transforming lives and communities, and breaking the cycle of poverty in the process. On this episode, Joe shares why he moved from rales at Lehman Brothers and Pepsico to Greysto, and how that has shaped his perspective on how any organization can have a positive social impact and achieve financial goals as well. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [4:05] In life, you don't have bad experiences, you have learning experiences. [6:10] Greyston Bakery is solving social problems. [11:45] So many people end up being excluded in the job market because of past mistakes (addiction, crime, and social stigma). [15:00] Joe explains how open their "open hiring" process really is. You put your name on a list, and when a job opens up, you get hired. No questions asked. [21:15] Joe shares a unique perspective on retention and how many of their open hire employees stay in the job. [22:00] You must look at the social impact, not just at retention. [23:50] Greyston is NY's first Benefit Corporation. That's a lot of responsibility on Joe's plate to make sure the company operates within that vision. [27:15] Nearly a third of Joe's open hires are female. [28:40] In a lot of ways, it is not HR's responsibility to deal with housing issues, recovery, or child support, but these are issues that are important to Greyston's staff, and therefore it's important to the company. [33:00] Everyone needs personalized coaching and training, not just those who are coming from the open hiring policy. This is embedded in the culture. [35:25] Joe really takes it hard when he has to let someone go from the open hiring program. [38:45] Joe shares advice on how other CEOs and leaders can incorporate a social impact piece into their companies. [40:15] There are a lot of smart people out there who are just down on their luck. They're grateful for opportunities and are willing to work hard to show their worth. [42:35] Listener challenge: Do something, anything, about addressing the inequities our community faces every day. Quotable Quotes "It's about people coming to us looking for hope, looking for an opportunity, they're looking for somebody that will trust them to do a good job." "We want to invest in your future success and not judge you." "When it comes to retention. It's not so much whether people stay or leave, it's what would happen if we weren't here?" "We firmly believe if we can help you address your personal issues, that helps us as a business." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Websites: Greystonbakery.com, Greyston on Facebook & Joe on LinkedIn Additional resources: Hiring Processes & Hire Workers Deemed Unemployable

Carlos Valdes Dapena is the author of "Virtual Teams: Holding the Center When You Can't Meet Face-to-Face, " and "Lessons from Mars: How One Global Company Cracked the Code on High Performance Collaboration and Teamwork." Both his books are based on original research into collaboration he conducted during his 17 years as an internal consultant at Mars where he worked with teams responsible for iconic global brands like M&Ms, Snickers, Wrigley's Gum, and Iams. In this episode, you'll hear Carlos' ideas on how to make the workplace more engaging, more human, and more productive.. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [2:05] In addition to being an author, Carlos also spent 15 years teaching yoga. [6:25] Carlos was familiar with the literature on how to build better team collaboration, but nothing seemed to really be moving the needle and having an impact. [7:15] Carlos went back to the drawing board and conducted his own research on what really makes a high-performing team click. [9:25] What most leaders miss is understanding each individual's core motivational needs and fueling that to collaborate with others. [11:55] Carlos shares where he and fellow author Patrick Lencioni differ when it comes to building trust within teams. [13:25] We can no longer do typical "trust-building" exercises in this digital world. Leaders aren't sure how to build trust now. [16:25] Leaders believe we can enhance collaboration and trust by doing more meetings, but people are fatigued out. [17:25] Collaborate better by collaborating less on what matters the most. Carlos shares what he means by this. [19:25] Leaders need to get good at recognizing when tasks require collaboration, and what tasks can be done solo. [22:10] Carlos shares his definition of what a good meeting is, and when to use a meeting effectively. [23:45] Organizations waste a lot of money on team-building exercises. [28:55] We think when people don't like one another on a team, we think of it as an interpersonal problem. Actually, it's a problem of personal responsibility. [32:05] We're such an action-orientation culture that we focus solely on what you do, and not on what we did. [35:35] Kings, leaders, and more, throughout time have always had a "right-hand man" who complemented the leaders' strengths and weaknesses. We seem to have lost it in today's modern age. [39:55] Carlos shares the three criteria needed for an individual to find meaningful work. [42:35] The best salespeople Carlos knows are lone wolves. It's very difficult to get a good salesman to collaborate with the team. [45:05] Listener challenge: If you want a good relationship, assume 100% responsibility for that relationship. Quotable Quotes "The paradoxical key to successful collaboration is individual motivation." "We learn to trust by learning how to rely on each other. Trust cannot artificially be created." "Not all work is teamwork.." "Meetings must be engaging for everyone who is participating. Do not use meetings for straight-up information sharing." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Websites: Carlosvdapena.com, Corporatecollaboration.com & Carlos on LinkedIn Carlos's books: Lessons from Mars: How One Global Company Cracked the Code on High Performance Collaboration and Teamwork & Resilience: Virtual Teams: Holding the Center When You Can't Meet Face-to-Face Forming Storming Norming Performing: Successful Communication in Groups and Teams, by Donald B. Egolf The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni Project Aristotle Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates Teamwork is an Individual Skill: Getting Your Work Done When Sharing Responsibility, by Christopher Avery, Erin O'Toole Murphy, and Meri Aaron Walker

Jim Hemerling is a leader in Boston Consulting Group's People & Organization and Transformation practices. He has co-authored numerous publications on transformation, organization effectiveness, and culture including, TRANSFORMATION: Delivering and Sustaining Breakthrough Performance, and Globality: Competing with Everyone from Everywhere for Everything. Jim is also a coauthor of BCG's book, "Beyond Great," which describes how the world has been transformed due to social tension, economic nationalism, and technological revolution. Business leaders are encouraged to go beyond great and "adopt a radical new playbook—one that helps their companies become resilient in the face of even the most volatile situations." On this episode, Jim discusses 9 Strategies for Thriving in an Era of Social Tension, Economic Nationalism, and Technological Revolution. Sponsored by... Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Get The Importance of Journaling We help YOU enjoy the success we've already enjoyed. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. Key Takeaways [2:55] Leaders are well-intentioned, but these intentions can get squeezed out by metrics, the need for profit, and more. [5:40] With a lot of disruption happening in our lives, people need purpose; people need to feel like they're working towards a fulfilling future. [8:05] It's true that during hard times, there have to be layoffs, which sounds contradictory when you "put people first." Jim explains how people-focused companies think about letting people go. [12:15] There are three forces that are disrupting the world. The force of social tension. Economic nationalism. Technological revolution. [17:20] Great is no longer good enough. [19:25] Investors are going to demand more than just returns from the companies they invest in. [23:25] Consumers want to put their money where their mouth is and support companies that are environmentally conscious. [27:45] Capitalism is still a force for good, but it has to be directed properly. [30:35] Companies are going beyond just the "superficial purpose." They're walking the walk, and proving it. [34:15] It's a tough balance for a leader to stretch people's talents without breaking them. Jim shares what leaders need to be thinking about when managing this fine balance. [40:45] Leaders need to commit to really understanding the day-to-day lived experiences of their employees. [42:40] Transformation is no longer an one-off event. In today's world, it's "always on." [44:45] Listener challenge: Celebrate your wins today and then think about action steps on how you can go beyond great. Quotable Quotes "If you think about putting people first, you're going to think about not just that employee showing up at work, but what does their full life look like and how do we help them cope with the full-life experience." "The very fundamental thing that businesses thrive on is the basis of capitalism, but what we're seeing over the last few years are major forces against that." "The term 'globalist' now in many circles is actually viewed as a negative term." "Employees are increasingly saying, 'It's not enough. I'm not going to work for a company that isn't delivering on a real, tangible purpose.'" "We used to think of transformation as a one-off event. Those days are gone. Companies need to embrace 'always-on' transformation." Resources Mentioned Sponsored by: Pass-life.com. Coupon Code: Duty. Websites: Bcg.com & Jim on LinkedIn Jim's TED Talk Jim's book: Beyond Great: Nine Strategies for Thriving in an Era of Social Tension, Economic Nationalism, and Technological Revolution, by Arindam Bhattacharya, Nikolaus Lang, and Jim Hemerling