The Leadership Podcast

General Martin E. Dempsey served as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the senior officer in the Armed Forces and the military advisor to the Secretary of Defense and to the President. General Dempsey is the co-author of "Radical Inclusion: What the Post-9/11 World Should Have Taught Us About Leadership." "No Time For Spectators: The Lessons That Mattered Most From West Point To The West Wing" is Dempsey's latest book, and he examines the limits of loyalty, the necessity of sensible skepticism, and the value of responsible rebelliousness, and explains why we actually should sweat the small stuff. The conversation with General Dempsey takes listeners behind the closed doors of the Situation Room, onto the battlefields of Iraq, and to the East German border at the height of the Cold War. The conversation also answers: Why are the best leaders the ones who are most adept at following? What should we expect of those who have the privilege of leading? Key Takeaways The relationships between leaders and followers—employers and employees, politicians and constituents, coaches and athletes, teachers and students—are most productive when based on certain key mutual expectations. [3:05] General Dempsey spent some time as a youth really getting to know his origins and understanding his Irish background. [6:50] Chapter 5: Don't Hurry. If you try to spend up the process, you are bound to miss a few steps along the way. For example, it takes time to build critical relationships from within the organization. Trust takes time. [14:25] People are wondering when they can get back to normal. The question really is, was normal even that good? Can we build a better 'normal'? [16:15] We all have our own lens or level of expertise but it's our character that really brings these levels to light. Character is the final filter for making tough decisions based on the limited information you might have. [22:15] Innovation happens with a bit of rebelliousness. The question becomes whether you can define the limits of rebelliousness so that it can still be responsible and valuable to the organization. [28:35] General Dempsey really enjoys the 'art' of Twitter and how he creatively has to convey his message within a limited amount of characters. There is real power towards being able to share your message concisely. [34:10] This is our first global crisis in the social media age. You see people being very helpful and also manipulative. General Dempsey wrote a chapter in his book about sensible skepticism. In the world we live in today, you can't take anything without applying your own common sense to it. [35:10] General Dempsey believes you can get people to come together through influence and collaboration. Do not rely on your authority as a leader to get empowerment/trust done. [42:15] Sometimes not everybody can have a say or voice in the decision-making process, but if you try to make it as inclusive as possible when you can, people are not going to think less of you during the times where you can't include them. [49:35] It was tough for General Dempsey to see fallen soldiers, but it was even tougher trying to comfort the men who still had to fight after losing someone they cared about. He could see in their eyes the mix of emotions between fear and guilt. [54:00] General Dempsey's challenge: What has this pandemic done to you/for you? Quotable Quotes Make it matter. "You have to get off the sidelines if you want to have positive, productive relationships." "I hope we don't go back to normal, but rather to a new normal." "Character exists in the privacy of our own individual consciousness, and it's a willingness mostly invisible to others to allow our aspirational self to confront our actual self." "Almost every decision made at the presidential level is of such importance that character is the final filter, or it should be the final filter. " "Innovation normally occurs with a little bit of rebelliousness." "There are 330 million people in this country and the vast majority of them want more knowledge, want more honesty, want more clarity, and want it more concisely." "I don't think, in the world we live in today, you can take anything without applying your own common sense to it." Resources and Books Mentioned Generaldempsey.com General Dempsey on LinkedIn General Dempsey on Twitter: @Martin_Dempsey No Time for Spectators: The Lessons that Mattered Most from West Point to the West Wing, by General Martin Dempsey General Martin Dempsey retirement ceremony, "Parting Glass" The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by: Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today's workforce. Get your free copy HERE. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more.

Wayne Baker is a professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, and author of All You Have to Do Is Ask, his sixth book. He directs the Center for Positive Organizations and also co-founded Give and Take Inc., an Ann Arbor-based technology firm. Through Wayne's research, he has discovered that leaders are often happy to help others, but are unwilling to ask for help themselves. The good news is that you can create healthy environments in your organization where asking for help is encouraged and rewarded. Key Takeaways [2:40] As an avid sailor, Wayne had to learn to not panic when everything went awry. [5:35] Some people ask for what they want and others take what's given. [7:50] Wayne has observed that there are some mentors that want you to be mini versions of them, but he recalls a great mentor of his who was always trying to push Wayne to be a better version of himself. [11:20] People want to be generous, but don't always know how to help unless you ask them to. [12:15] There are four steps to making a thoughtful request.1. What is the goal of your request?2. What are the resources you need? Come up with a SMART request. And then find 'who' you need to ask. [16:50] Most people will help you if you ask! [19:25] It's hard for leaders to be vulnerable and to ask for help. You can break this mold by creating a 15-minute staff meeting addressing what you need help with. When it's expected that everyone is supposed to ask for help, it makes it easier for leaders to get the support they need. [25:00] When asking for feedback, it's important to know what are both your strengths and weaknesses, but you want to get these two pieces of information at different times so that you can better process it. [26:35] Don't feel comfortable asking for help? Go out and help others first, and then you'll feel more confident asking for help in return. [30:00] Nobody associates Bill Gates with having a partner or a team, but throughout his career, Bill has relied heavily on the partnerships of others. [32:15] Men have a harder time asking for help compared to women. Wayne believes it has something to do with the way boys and men were raised and socialized. [35:20] It's a powerful leadership moment when you ask someone for help and together you co-create a solution. [36:20] We are living in a time where we get to reinvent work. [37:00] People support what they help create, so it's critical to ask for feedback, input, and help. [39:30] Asking for help now is more important than ever. As more people work from home and feel isolated, reach out to your network, do work lunches together, and be proactive in being connected to your social network. Quotable Quotes "The greatest hazard to a mariner is your calendar when you feel you've got to be someplace at some time." "What I discovered over time: asking is the key to generosity." "One of the barriers to making your request is we might assume that people are unwilling or unable to help us." "When you know everyone's going to make a request, it's a lot easier for you to make a request." "By helping other people, you earn the privilege of asking for help." "Unless the leader is willing to ask, they're going to get limited success in getting other people to do it as well." "It's a leadership moment if you ask someone for help and together you co-create a solution." Resources and Books Mentioned Waynebaker.org All You Have to Do Is Ask: How to Master the Most Important Skill for Success, by Wayne Baker "Feed Forward: Leadership Excellence," essay by Marshall Goldsmith "Self-Reliance," essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by: Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today's workforce. Get your free copy HERE. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They're bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more? You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast. Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.

NOTE: This episode was accelerated and is being promoted out of order because of the timely discussion on pandemics that Jim and Jan recently had with Lisa Monaco, an expert in this area. We will return to our normal schedule (episode 195 next week). Lisa Monaco served as the Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor to President Barack Obama from 2013-2017. In this role, she coordinated the federal government's crisis management and response to cyberattacks, pandemics, and terrorist threats. She also spent 15 years at the Department of Justice, serving as a career federal prosecutor, and in senior management positions including at the FBI. It was there where she was Chief of Staff to the Director, and helped lead the FBI's post-9/11 transformation. Lisa discusses how to lead during a crisis, and ways to create a readiness plan for potential threats; pandemic or otherwise. Key Takeaways [3:35] The role of 'duty' in business: A true test of a leader is whether they can put the organization's role ahead of their own personal views, interests, and what's safe. [5:25] Leaders can know when they're on the right track by checking their inner compass and understanding their gut intuition. [8:55] Lisa spent every day in the situation room when she was the Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor to the President. She found that the best decisions that came out of that room were when they had an inclusive process and having multiple different voices in the room to express their facts and opinions. [10:55] The best leaders have built their credibility and trust long before they've needed to use it. [11:45] Lisa puts the complex Taliban/Afghanistan peace treaty into perspective. This is only the beginning of the process to end the war. [19:40] What keeps Lisa up at night? Pandemic diseases. As businesses are facing repercussions from the coronavirus, Lisa reminds us that we have to think about resilience and to always have a readiness plan for potential threats. [22:55] Communication and preparation are the two main ingredients to survive unforeseeable events. [24:55] A leader needs to shift through the opinion pieces and be the person that delivers reliable information that the team can trust. [29:25] CEOs are so focused on being busy that they're not looking to the future. Instead of planning for March or April 2020, you should be planning for March 2025. [30:10] The tone and pace of an organization come from the top. [31:40] When Lisa worked for the President, every day there was a crisis happening. She was able to manage the stress by having an amazing team and having a repeatable process to gather information and assess the importance of it. [37:25] Throughout Lisa's career, she has been surrounded by amazing leaders. [37:55] A moment that stood out was during the tragedy that happened at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. It cost the lives of nine people. Lisa personally saw how President Barack Obama demonstrated a whole range of leadership skills in just one day. [42:30] Try to live every day as a custodian of the institution that you're leading. Do not focus as much on the individual needs and desires of the daily decision. Quotable Quotes "One of the things that make for an effective president is they realize their job is not about being busy, it's about slowing things down." "Panic ensues when people don't have information or don't believe they're getting enough clear information." "The best leaders have really built up and honed their ability to be effective in that moment well before the moment arrives." "If the leader has built credibility as somebody who doesn't shade, who doesn't put spin on the ball, then they're going to be able to deliver that uncomfortable, or perhaps, unwelcomed, but truthful message in that moment." "We should not lose sight of the fact that those servicemen's and women's sacrifices are ongoing every day as we go about our daily lives." "We have to think about resilience across all these types of threats, whether it's terrorism, cyber-attacks, or pandemic disease." "Are you being clear? Are you being candid about what you know and what you don't know, and are you being regular in that communication?" "Leaders are best when they really listen to their inner compass." Resources and Books Mentioned Lisa on Wikipedia What Only the CEO Can Do — Harvard Business Review President Obama delivers Eulogy in Charleston, South Carolina The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by: Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today's workforce. Get your free copy HERE. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They're bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more? You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast. Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.

Simon Sinek is best known for popularizing the concept of 'WHY' in his 2009 TED Talk, making it the most-watched TED talk of all time. Simon talks leadership, and shares why having a finite perspective in business puts you on the losing end of an otherwise infinite game. Key Takeaways [3:15] There are two types of games: Finite games, which have known players, fixed rules, and a winner and a loser. Infinite games have known and unknown players. The rules are changeable and there's no finish line. [4:15] When we play to win in a game that has no finish line, there is a decline in trust, cooperation, and innovation. [4:35] There are five ways to adjust your business to the game we're in. Your business has to work to advance a just cause. Build trusting teams. Study worthy rivals. Have a capacity for existential flexibility. The courage to lead. [7:00] When we hit the goal, it's very exciting, but just like working out; it doesn't stop. We have to keep doing it for the rest of our lives. [8:40] In our society, we tend to gamify our goals, but it goes against our longer-term goals. [10:10] There is a decline of loyalty in companies. Companies are not loyal to people, and therefore people aren't loyal to them. [12:05] It is the leader's responsibility to create an environment where trust can exist. [15:00] The difference between being stressed at work and passionate about work is whether or not we believe in what we're doing and that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. [16:35] We become obsessed with our competitors and try to beat them because we are obsessed with the finite game. The way we define what's 'number one' is arbitrary. [22:15] During the pandemic, we're forced to change and re-invent ourselves as people and as the business. [27:50] The internet put a lot of companies out of business and that took decades. The pandemic is doing the same but over days/weeks. [29:40] Instead of thinking in one- or two-year terms, or even 10-year terms, think in 1,000-year terms. This would be at least our fourth pandemic, by now. [33:25] The younger generation has seen first-hand the failings of the way we run businesses now. This pandemic will affect them the way the war affected our grandparents. [36:15] You can't achieve success in five steps or in seven steps, yet business magazines are writing to grab our short attention spans. [39:15] Remember, in business, it's the journey. It is the journey. It's not the destination — that's what motivates us. [42:30] Let yourself grieve during these traumatic times. You are experiencing trauma and it's okay to ask for help. Quotable Quotes "Working hard for something we don't care about is stress. Working for something we love is called passion." The language of so many leaders today is about being number one or being the best, but based on what? "There is no such thing as winning in a game that has no finish line." "We actually have to adjust the way we think about our businesses to play for the game we're actually in." Most of our goals are arbitrary numbers with arbitrary dates. "The only true competitor in business is ourselves." "Gone are the days when someone works to get a gold watch. There's an entire generation of employees that have no idea what I'm talking about." "We have no choice but to change. We have to throw out the old business model." People don't fear change. They fear sudden change. Resources and Books Mentioned Simonsinek.com Simon on LinkedIn Follow Simon on Twitter @Simonsinek Simon's latest book: The Infinite Game The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by: Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today's workforce. Get your free copy HERE. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They're bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more? You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast. Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.

Tom Rath is an author and researcher who has spent the past two decades studying how work can improve human health and well-being. Tom served 13 years at Gallup, where Tom led the organization's strengths, employee engagement, and leadership consulting worldwide. He is the author of 10 books and has sold more than 10 million copies. Tom's first book, How Full Is Your Bucket?, co-written with his grandfather during his last year of life, was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and it is used in classrooms around the world. He is also the author of StrengthsFinder 2.0. Tom has two books out in 2020, Life's Great Question and It's Not About You. Key Takeaways [3:50] Tom shares the evolution of his literary work. [8:40] At Gallup, Tom asked people all over the world what a good life looked like for them. Relationships, what you're doing in your community, and your health came back to be the top most important things. [9:25] Tom shares what he believes a great life is... [12:10] Your life is better off and other people's lives are better off because of the work that you're doing. [15:00] In Tom's books, he encourages people to take a survey or a quiz at the end. He has learned that if you give people something to do after they've read your work, they're more likely to incorporate your lessons or principals into their lives. [18:40] What people really want from leaders is trust, compassion, stability, and hope. [20:25] Leaders need to push their efforts outward and think deeply about what the world needs. [22:55] It's in everybody's best interest to bring humanity back into the work. Human connection leads to better quality work. [28:45] We should challenge ourselves to be better strength-finders for other people. [31:20] Tom has noticed executive teams are woefully deficient in the area of building strong relationships. He believes there are not enough women on leadership teams. [33:10] It's human nature to surround yourself with people who act and think the same way. Tom believes it's important to get people to think about how they can uniquely contribute to making a difference in the business from day one. [39:15] When it comes to the future of work, Tom hopes we can develop ways where humans can find their work passions and meanings a lot faster. [41:40] Tom would like to be remembered as a very caring dad and husband, first. Second, he would like to leave a legacy that lives on for years to come. [42:15] Tom's challenge: What's one thing you can do today that will continue to grow in your absence? Quotable Quotes "What's one thing you can do today that will continue to grow in your absence?" The key to leadership is trust, compassion, stability, and hope. "So many times we're looking for answers in the wrong places and it seems counterintuitive to say look for happiness outside of you." "My hunch is that over the next 10–25 years, just standalone narrative books, especially in non-fiction, are going to be harder and harder for people to read through and apply that knowledge." "The part where we've fallen short in helping leaders is to turn a majority of their efforts outward and to think, not only about who they are, but what the world needs." "The more leaders can draw direct connections with the way their employee's daily work serves specific constituencies and needs, the more meaningful it makes the work and the better people feel about it, and the more likely they'll stick with it." "Life's most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Resources and Books Mentioned Tomrath.org Tom on LinkedIn Follow Tom on Twitter @Tomcrath Tom's Latest book: It's Not About You: A Brief Guide to a Meaningful Life How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath & Donald Clifton Life's Great Question: Discover How You Contribute to the World, by Tom Rath Strengths Based Leadership, by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie Strengths Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath Creating the Good Life: Applying Aristotle's Wisdom to Find Meaning and Happiness, by James O'Toole Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by: Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today's workforce. Get your free copy HERE. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They're bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more? You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast. Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.

Bobby Herrera is the author of The Gift of Struggle. As the co-founder and CEO of Populus Group, Bobby never imagined the challenges of building a $500 million organization that serves tens of thousands of people. Throughout his life, he experienced the divergence between the intentional leader he wanted to be, and the less engaged version of him that showed up at the office every day. One day at a company meeting, he decided to share a story about one of his first struggles as a young adult. That story, a pivotal experience that transformed Bobby's life, inspired his employees with its radical transparency, humility and the idealism of his dream for the company. Key Takeaways Bobby shares some of his stories from his leadership journey. Each story shows the broader lesson any leader can apply. Every leader has stories about the challenges they have faced and struggles they have overcome. In the moment, those situations require strength, patience, perseverance and courage. With time, those struggles provide lessons for how to be better leaders. Bobby Herrera learned to see those struggles as gifts. Quotable Quotes "The struggles continue; that's part of the learning process." "Oftentimes, we share the story, but we don't invite them to be part of the story." "Everything you say yes to, you say no to something else." Resources and Books Mentioned Populusgroup.com Bobby-herrera.com Bobby on LinkedIn Follow Bobby on Twitter @BobbyHerreraPG The Gift of Struggle: Life-Changing Lessons About Leading, by Bobby Herrera The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by: Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today's workforce. Get your free copy HERE. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They're bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more? You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast. Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.

Esther Wojcicki is a celebrated educator, a pioneer in instructional technology, Founder of the renowned Media Arts Program at Palo Alto High School, and the author of the bestselling book, How to Raise Successful People. Esther was named Teacher of the Year in California in 2002 and received the Charles O'Malley Award for outstanding teaching in journalism in 2011. Esther is also the Founder of the Journalistic Learning Initiative at the University of Oregon, and is the Founder and CEO of GlobalMoonshots.org. Esther raised three daughters: Susan (CEO of YouTube), Anne (CEO of 23andMe), and Janet (professor, UC San Francisco). Key Takeaways [3:25] Talk to your teenagers. Their creative minds are impressive. [5:35] Helicopter parents have the same problem as bad managers, they micromanage! [7:50] Helicopter parenting might be due to having access to more information than before and it's making parents fearful for their children. [8:55] Esther believes we'd be happier people if we had access to less information, but that's simply not possible with our world today. What we need to do is learn how to cope. [11:15] Esther believes teaching media literacy is a critical skill to have as we live in an information-overload environment. People need to know how to read between the lines and figure out if something is truthful or not. [13:10] 18-24-year-olds are completely different from the millennials. Millennials are even having trouble working with 20-year-olds! [15:00] Children today grew up with information overload. [16:15] Children of CEOs are afraid they'll never live up to their parents' expectations. [17:25] There are a lot of kids in the Midwest or the South where the American Dream doesn't seem achievable or realistic for them. [21:55] Esther emphasizes the importance of teaching children how to learn because this is a skill for life. [22:15] Why memorize a test when students will forget 95% of it a year later? We have a re-skilling problem in the United States. [24:55] For people to take chances, they have to feel safe. [28:35] We all have deadlines. It's important to make people feel comfortable to take risks, in spite of them. [31:55] With so much democracy, we have communication chaos. We don't know which source to believe. [38:05] If children aren't learning about trust and risk at home, how can they learn these skills? Esther believes it starts at school. [44:10] The power to change the schools lies with the parents. Quotable Quotes For people to take chances, they have to feel safe. "We are all fearful. Everybody is afraid non-stop. I'm afraid for the world." "Every generation is different because they're growing up in a different world." "Children today tend to be much more risk-averse because somebody was always there helping them." "Here we have a lot of kids whose parents are CEOs and their number one fear is they'll never live up to the standards set by their parents." "What does it take these days for people to achieve the American dream?" "I'm teaching kids how to learn because this is a skill for life. I am not teaching them to memorize." "Believe in the student and they believe in themselves. They rise to levels that are completely unexpected." "When you're really upset and worried, you tend to be less productive than when you feel good about yourself and when you feel supported." "You want kids to feel at home at school. You want them to feel a sense of community. Today, many schools don't do that." Resources and Books Mentioned Raisesuccessfulpeople.com Globalmoonshots.org Esther on LinkedIn Follow Esther on Twitter @EstherWojcicki Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell, by Alan Eagle, Eric Schmidt, and Jonathan Rosenberg The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by: Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today's workforce. Get your free copy HERE. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They're bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more? You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast. Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.

Jim and Jan watched Tom Hanks in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, which portrayed a real-life friendship between Mr. Fred Rogers and journalist Lloyd Vogel. The leadership, moral and philosophical lessons were many, and Jim & Jan recount their favorites. Listen in to hear what Jim & Jan saw as the most important lesson in the movie for leaders - now more than ever. Key Takeaways [3:25] Mr. Rogers had the ability to intently listen and demonstrate true caring for the other person. [4:25] Leadership is the ability to move people emotionally. [5:55] Jim is not a big fan of active listening. It involves repeating answers back to people. When it comes to listening, he prefers curiosity and asking great questions. [6:50] Mr. Rogers had a genuine curiosity and took the time to observe people. [9:55] It's a gift to be able to share someone's burden just by listening to them. [12:10] William Deresiewicz said, "Introspection means talking to yourself, and one of the best ways of talking to yourself is by talking to another person." [13:30] If you forgive a jerk at work, they're just going to keep doing the same thing again. Jan shares why past guest Dr. Tom Morris believes forgiveness is the highest form or moral leadership. [15:05] The real test of a leader's effectiveness is when it does not come from a place of legitimate authority. [17:25] Mr. Rogers was able to break through to the jaded reporter, Lloyd Vogel, by being incredibly giving, tenacious, and present. [20:20] Many of the bad behaviors we see in the workplace are due to levels of insecurity. [24:25] If you want to be great, you have to go to the next level of being really caring and understanding for others. [28:10] Find the good in others. It's that simple... and that hard. [28:35] During this crisis, you might find that you do not like who you are. The good news is, you can manage your responses. [34:00] Humans are wired to come together in crisis, or else we wouldn't have survived this long. [35:35] Jim and Jan are excited to hear from you! Reach out and let them know what your ideas are for future shows! Quotable Quotes "One of the greatest gifts we can give is our attention." "Good listening is curiosity." "Through your actions, you will change that other person. You're not going to change them by having a conversation with them." "Forgiveness is as much for you as it is for the other person." "Being good takes work." "Anything mentionable is manageable." Resources and Books Mentioned A Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood (Movie 2019) Mr. Rogers "Solitude and Leadership," by William Deresiewicz Plato's Lemonade Stand: Stirring Change into Something Great, by Tom Morris "Pandemics Kill Compassion, Too," by David Brooks, The New York Times The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by: Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today's workforce. Get your free copy HERE. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They're bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more? You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast. Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.

This is the final episode with Dan Pink, and the discussion was far-reaching. Leaders are most effective when asking great questions, and listening intently to truly understand other perspectives and points of view. Dan also discusses the moral obligation to help others get ahead, and to develop people with intention. As we face future challenges - technological and others - it's important to think across different disciplines with unbridled curiosity and an openness to other points of view. Key Takeaways [1:10] When should a leader fall on their sword? People have fewer regrets about doing the right thing than they have about making accommodations against doing the right thing. [4:35] Dan shares some of his favorite questions that he's received/asked over the years. [7:25] When you ask 'what' questions vs. 'how' questions, people tend to give you more forward-facing answers. [9:00] A good question to ask is, "What problems do people bring you to solve?" [11:35] Dan believes to be successful you need to have a mix of effort, good taste, luck, and social advantage. [16:10] As a successful person and leader, you have a moral obligation to help those behind you. [19:30] Do we get the incentives wrong when it comes to encouraging good behavior? Dan's answer is that it depends on the organization and its structure. [23:20] When it comes to the educational piece, Dan believes it's important to teach people to think across different disciplines. [24:45] Can someone be both a good man and a great man? Dan thinks in order to be great you have to be good. Quotable Quotes "A leader who has their team's back establishes psychological safety." "People have fewer regrets about doing the right thing than they have about making accommodations against doing the right thing." People need two very basic things: Freedom to think, and freedom to learn. Where to follow Dan Pink Twitter: @DanielPink Facebook: @DanielHPink Website: DanPink.com Resources and Books Mentioned When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, by Daniel H. Pink A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, by Daniel H. Pink Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others, by Daniel H. Pink Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself, by Daniel H. Pink Leaders: Myth and Reality, by Jason Mangone, Jeff Eggers, and Stanley A. McChrystal Team Of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by General Stanley A. McChrystal My Share of the Task: A Memoir, by General Stanley A. McChrystal Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value, by Bill George Courage: The Backbone of Leadership, by Gus Lee with Diane Elliott-Lee Dr. Vivek Murthy Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are, by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives, by Daniel Levitin "The Lesson to Unlearn," by Paul Graham Salesbrain.com How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth, by Amy Edmondson Good Boss, Bad Boss: How to Be the Best... and Learn from the Worst, by Robert I. Sutton, Ph.D. The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by: Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today's workforce. Get your free copy HERE. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They're bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more? You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast. Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.

In Part II of three episodes, Dan Pink answers questions from listeners. Each insight could be a discussion unto itself. Listen in on how organizations can navigate remote work challenges, better leverage older workers, the pros and cons of fear as a motivator, selling insights, the bane of busyness, how technology can hinder and help, and the power of kindness. Key Takeaways [1:35] Q: What is the hardest thing to sell? Selling something that goes against the person's existing identity and moral beliefs. [6:25] A lot of the issues people tend to have are typically due to time constraints, not lack of desire. The key is being able to focus 100% in the moment when you're doing a task. [8:20] Q: Your thoughts on remote work and how can companies maximize this? Face-to-face social connection is hugely important towards maximizing human connection and productivity. [10:25] Q: Where does fear serve us and where does it hinder us? Fear shouldn't be used as a leadership motivator, but that doesn't mean leaders should abandon it entirely. [14:05] Q: Advice for older workers? Spend time with people who are younger than you and you are an undervalued asset. [18:20] Q: Thoughts on 'always being busy'? Being busy is a performance and when you're busy you don't have to face the 'harder' life questions. [22:10] Q: In this technological environment, is bureaucracy decreasing or increasing in our organization? The answer is 'yes.' [23:55] Q: What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self? Dan's 20-year-old self wouldn't listen to him. Quotable Quotes "What we do is make visceral emotional decisions and then use reason to justify that emotional belief." "People shouldn't be remote working all the time. You have to bring people together face-to-face." "Fear is very short term. Fear allows you to see up close, but fear doesn't allow you to see out into the future." "These middle-aged workers are much more valuable than companies are realizing. They are an undervalued asset." "My 20-year-old self was so incredibly sure of himself and so not open to other interpretation, and so lacking in humility." "Don't go based on your assumptions about how the world works. Ask questions and try to find stuff out." "Be kinder. Act with more kindness. The older I get, the more I value kindness and understand the influence of kindness in the world." Where to follow Dan Pink Twitter: @DanielPink Facebook: @DanielHPink Website: DanPink.com Resources and Books Mentioned When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, by Daniel H. Pink A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, by Daniel H. Pink Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others, by Daniel H. Pink Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself, by Daniel H. Pink Leaders: Myth and Reality, by Jason Mangone, Jeff Eggers, and Stanley A. McChrystal Team Of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by General Stanley A. McChrystal My Share of the Task: A Memoir, by General Stanley A. McChrystal Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value, by Bill George Courage: The Backbone of Leadership, by Gus Lee with Diane Elliott-Lee Dr. Vivek Murthy Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are, by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives, by Daniel Levitin "The Lesson to Unlearn," by Paul Graham Salesbrain.com How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by: Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today's workforce. Get your free copy HERE. Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more. ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They're bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more? You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast. Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.