If there’s one consistent thread in the debate over remote work, it’s how leaders who want their employees to return to the office argue that collaboration can’t occur unless people are working in the same space. But in each of these cases, there’s a glaring oversight on the part of these leaders. Namely, what are these leaders committing to doing or creating in order to facilitate a collaborative work environment?In this latest Leadership Espresso Shot, I make the case that leaders can’t just assume that because their employees are working in person that they are working collaboratively. Indeed, most of us are familiar with the problems of organizational silos, which is often driven by ‘office politics’, not to mention internal competition for limited resources or the attention of those in decision-making roles.To that end, I share 3 simple, but critical steps every leader should implement to ensure that their leadership inspires collaboration, and not conflict, within their organization. From the on-going protests to measures being put in place to stem the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic, to the recent revelations from internal Facebook documents of how that platform promoted divisive content for monetary gain, you don’t have to look far to see division and examples of an us vs. them mentality.That’s why I hope you’ll take a few minutes to listen to this latest installment of my Leadership Espresso Shot series to know how you can use your leadership to counter this wave of negativity to drive organizational growth and success for many years to come.And if you enjoyed this episode, I’d like to encourage you to share it with your network, and to also rate and review my podcast on your favourite podcast platform to help support my show.https://open.spotify.com/episode/5V8A9jDjB9ljbChyhhJT8n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re a leader who leads from the so-called messy middle, I'm sure there are times where you feel how the challenges you face are uniquely different from those other leaders have to face. As it turns out, those leading from the middle do face both unique challenges - as well as opportunities other leaders don’t have access to - as a result of their having to lead down, up and at times, across the organization.Thankfully, in this episode of my podcast, “Leadership Biz Cafe”, I’ll be speaking with a seasoned executive who’s first hand experience and research has lead to a powerful and insightful playbook to help those who lead from the middle.Scott Mautz is not only a former Procter & Gamble senior executive, but he wrote a popular leadership column on Inc.com, serves as faculty at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business for Executive Education, and the CEO/founder of Profound Performance, a keynote, leadership training, and coaching company.Scott is also a good friend of mine who’s written three books, his latest being the brilliant “Leading From The Middle - A Playbook For Mangers To Influence Up, Down, and Across The Organization."Over the course of this episode, Scott and I talk about his latest book “Leading From The Middle” where we look at:The 5 unique challenges those who lead in the middle face and how they can be transformed into opportunities for growth.The limitation that comes from a servant leadership mindset and what leaders in the middle need to adopt instead.The 7 skills those who lead in the middle need to adopt if they are to succeed as leaders.How those who lead in the middle can address the growing issue of employee burnout.A powerful model that will help leaders in the middle to gain more influence with their bosses.As I mentioned at the end of this episode, this year marks the 10th year of my leadership podcast, and it’s been truly gratifying to have so many insightful guests on my show for such a milestone. And I’m sure it won’t be surprising to hear this episode is one of my favourite conversations of this year because I not only got to talk about leadership with an insightful thought leader, but I got to talk to a good friend as well.So I hope you’ll check this episode out and if you enjoy it, please leave a comment here or subscribe, rate, and write a review where you prefer listening to your favourite podcasts.https://open.spotify.com/episode/5eZk6LHdqygmyDWbFZ2W6dNoteworthy links:To get your FREE 30-page companion book to “Leading From The Middle”, visit - scottmautz.com/freetools.Buy Scott’s book “Leading From The Middle” on Amazon.*Learn more about Scott’s work - scottmautz.com.*sponsored link that helps to support this podcast. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re in the leadership space, it’s hard not to notice the ongoing debate over remote working versus getting everyone to return to the office. While every industry and organization has to decide for themselves what’s the best approach to take for everyone involved, there’s been a number of key points that are glaringly missing from these discussions.In this latest edition of my Leadership Espresso Shot series, I wanted to address one of these, namely what kind of workplace environment are you nurturing through your leadership? Is it one that’s driving future success or is it one moored in pushing mediocrity?In a recent interview on CNBC, Dell Technologies Chairman & CEO Michael Dell made the following statement:“Through this last 18 months, we all sort of learned work is something we do, it’s not a place.”Right now, unfortunately, a lot of the discussion around remote work is focusing on work being about where and when, instead of what and why. I hope you’ll check out this episode to discover why this approach will lead to mediocrity instead of the long-term success we all hope to achieve through our efforts as leaders.https://open.spotify.com/episode/6LVf4VwSCdBlkELys9PI5z Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you enjoy reading interviews of CEOs sharing what shapes their understanding and approach to leadership, chances are you’ve probably read one of the over 500 interviews Adam Bryant wrote for his popular New York Times column, “Corner Office”.I’ve been an avid reader of Adam’s column for many, many years so I was delighted when his publicist reached out to me to say Adam was interested in appearing on my podcast, “Leadership Biz Cafe”.For those who might not be familiar with Adam’s work, in addition to writing the “Corner Office” column, Adam wrote the New York Times bestseller “The Corner Office: Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons from CEOs on How To Lead and Succeed” as well as “Quick and Nimble - Lessons From Leading CEOs on How To Create a Culture of Innovation”. On this episode of my leadership podcast, Adam and I sit down to talk about his latest book, “The CEO Test - Master The Challenges That Make or Break All Leaders”*, which he he co-wrote with former Amgen CEO Kevin Sharer.Over the course of my conversation with Adam, some of the topics we discuss include:How leaders can create a simple plan that keeps their focus on their “big idea” despite the numerous distractions and demands for their time and attention.How to ensure your organization’s culture and its stated values reflect the everyday reality in your workplace, as opposed to an aspirational concept.4 simple, but powerful questions that lead to more effective team building and collaboration.How to truly listen to others so people are willing to freely share their insights on what’s going right and what’s really going wrong.https://open.spotify.com/episode/21iswjhjWPsz37R31nsguRAs I mentioned at the end of this episode, if you enjoy this or past episodes of my podcast, I’d appreciate it if you could subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on the app you use to listen to my podcast.Notable links:Learn more about Adam's current work at The ExCo Group.Buy Adam's book "The CEO Test" on Amazon**sponsored link that helps to support this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It seems like every day there’s a new article tackling the issue of work from home (WFH), either focusing on leaders and their organizations who are embracing this new approach to work, or those who insist the only way forward is for all employees to return back to the office. But as these debates continue over WFH, it seems like many have forgotten the real purpose of leadership, which is why I decided to address it in this edition of my Leadership Espresso Shot series on my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast.Part of what served as inspiration for this episode has been numerous conversations I’ve had over the past several months with VPs and other senior leaders in various industries as part of a series of leadership roundtable discussions I moderated. Over the course of these discussions, we examined a wide range of issues – from the impact of AI and other emergent technologies on how employees will work and collaborate, to the issue of hybrid work environments.I won’t give away what I share in this episode, but I can tell you that by the end of this episode, it’s my goal that you’ll not only be reminded about what’s the real purpose of leadership, but you’ll have a new sense of motivation and enthusiasm for how to approach your role in these challenging and uncertain times.https://open.spotify.com/episode/3V8o1zelYv9D6fGBiovNLhIf you enjoy this or previous episodes of my leadership podcast, I'd like to ask you if you could subscribe, rate, and review my podcast on your preferred platform to help support my show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it comes to conversations around curiosity in today’s workplace, the focus tends to be on how it helps to drive innovation. But as my guest Dr. Shannon Minifie points out in this episode of my leadership podcast, when leaders unleash the full power of curiosity in their organization, they can also empower learning and development, as well as strengthening organizational resilience.Shannon is the CEO of Box of Crayons, a Canadian consultancy firm that works with organizations to help them create a curiosity-led organizational culture. Recently, she published the white paper “From Trouble Maker to Change Maker - How To Harness Curiosity To Build Resilience and Innovation”, which provides a framework for how leaders can unleash curiosity in their organization.Over the course of this episode, Shannon and I discuss:Why we need to rethink our understanding of curiosity if we are to successfully tap into it to drive innovation and growth.How embracing a curious mindset can encourage a sustainable learning environment in your workplace.Using curiosity to become more introspective to help us become more empathetic so that our employees feel heard and understood.How to use curiosity to become more resilient and adaptive to unforeseen changes.If you enjoyed this or other episodes of my podcast, I’d like to ask you to rate and review my show on your preferred podcast platform.https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gp6WmFgSU2EYbKjoRysh0Noteworthy links:Download a copy of Shannon’s white paper - “From Trouble Maker to Change Maker - How To Harness Curiosity To Build Resilience and Innovation”.Listen to - How To Make Learning More Effective | Leadership Espresso Shot #6. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the interesting, but not surprising findings to come out of this current global pandemic is how much people have appreciated being able to have breaks in their work day to just take a break, unwind, and maybe spend some time with their family. In fact, a big reason why we’re seeing an unrelenting demand from employees everywhere to have a hybrid work environment is because we’ve all seen how creating flexibility in the way we work benefits us - both professionally and personally.In this episode of my Leadership Espresso Shot series, I share 4 key benefits leaders gain by creating space in their workday not just for their mental well-being, but also to help improve the way they lead.Now it’s understandable that so many organizations are struggling with how to create a hybrid work environment in their workplace, in large part because it reflects that internal struggle we’ve all been dealing with for years. Where on the one hand, we feel this need to keep pushing forward, to just get things done, and on the other, this need to just stop a take a moment so we can take stock of things and what we really should be working on, if not simply to catch our breath.It’s my hope that in listening to this episode you’ll appreciate why creating space within your workday is key to ensuring you’re not just moving forward, but moving forward with a true sense of direction and purpose.https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cXO4aDnrdDUWZEfJJfFNV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If there’s one thing we’ve all learned over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic it’s the importance of being adaptive to unexpected and disruptive change. Of course, COVID-19 is not the only external force driving systems-wide change. AI and other emergent technologies are poised to be as if not more disruptive to not only the way we work, but even what kind of work we’ll do going forward.So how can we become more adaptive - and resilient - to whatever change we’ll be required to make in the months and years ahead? To examine this question, I’ll be speaking with innovation, learning, and mindset expert Professor Edward Hess in this episode of my podcast, "Leadership Biz Cafe".Ed is the professor emeritus of Business Administration and Batten Executive-in-Residence at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. Ed has authored over 100 articles and over 60 cases looking at growth, innovation, and learning cultures. His work has appeared in the Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Fast Company, Forbes, Inc and several other publications. Ed is also author of 13 books, including the award winning Smart Growth, Learn or Die, and Humility is the New Smart.In this episode, Ed and I talk about his latest book “Hyper Learning: How to Adapt to the Speed of Change”, where we discuss:What is hyper-learning and why it’s becoming more and more critical to our professional and our organization’s long-term success?How every single one of us is a sub-optimal learner and what we can do to change our understanding about learning.The 4 elements that are critical to our ability to transform the way we learn.The real key to successful collaboration - something very few teams and their leaders know how to do.As I mentioned at the end of this episode, if you enjoy this episode or if you’ve been enjoying my podcast, I’d be grateful if you could take a few minutes to write a review of your favourite podcast listening platform. And my thanks again to everyone who’s already done that.https://open.spotify.com/episode/4laRSFJ4sKVZ5FmQUK5bpkNoteworthy links:Learn more about Ed’s work - and download for free the first chapter of “Hyper-Learning”: EdHess.orgBuy Ed’s book “Hyper Learning: How to Adapt to the Speed of Change” on Amazon**sponsored link that helps to support this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it comes to leadership, there are certain topics that inevitably come up regardless of what industry you operate in. Over the past month, one of the topics I’ve been addressing with leaders is the importance of empathy in leadership, which is why it’s the focus of this edition of my Leadership Espresso Shot series. Specifically, something emotionally intelligent leaders recognize as being critical to building relationships with their employees in order to drive success and growth in their organization.A few weeks ago, I gave a two day workshop on the empathy in leadership and this was followed by several conversations with executives from a wide range of industries where the topic of empathy in leadership arose in conversations around how to effectively create a hybrid work environment in their organization. After conducting this workshop and speaking with these VPs, I realized I hadn’t addressed the greater role empathy needs to play in this evolution to how we’ll work going forward post-pandemic.But rather than address some of the ideas I discuss in my workshop or which came up in my conversations with these seasoned leaders, I wanted to instead share an important finding from the neuroscience studies as I think it’s not only important for helping us to understand how we can better connect and relate to those in our team, but how it can help us also understand why we’re seeing so much divisiveness and what role we as leaders can play to help create these spaces for people to listen so others can feel heard.I expect this will be the first of several episodes where I’ll delve into the importance of empathy in leadership. So I hope this first foray into this increasing important topic with regards to how we can succeed at leadership as our workplaces and the way we work continue to evolve and change.https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Umz2Ra9JQekQWflLACN6sNoteworthy links:Learn more about my leadership workshop on the power of empathy in leadership.Read my piece: Empathy in Leadership – 10 Reasons Why It Matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next month marks the 10th year that I’ve been doing my podcast “Leadership Biz Cafe”, something that I started as an excuse to talk with some fascinating people about leadership and which has since become one of the most popular leadership podcasts out there.Although I didn’t make any plans to celebrate this milestone, I’m delighted that I’ve been able to welcome such incredible guests as Tom Peters and now with this episode, another one of my leadership heroes, Jim Kouzes.Jim is the Dean’s Executive Fellow of Leadership at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University. But what I’m sure many of you probably know him for is the 30-plus books he’s co-written on leadership, including the international bestseller “The Leadership Challenge”.For this episode, I’ve invited Jim to join me to talk about his latest book, “Everyday People, Extraordinary Leadership: How To Make A Difference Regardless of Your Title, Role, or Authority”.Over the course of this episode, some of the topics Jim and I discuss include:How leaders can avoid losing credibility by claiming they stand for one value, but then do something that goes against that stated value.What behaviours leaders need to tap into to get their employees to buy-in to their vision for their organization, and encourage them to take an active role in.How to take the lessons of the pandemic to encourage more experimentation and taking risks in order to evolve and grow.How leaders without any formal title can help empower their colleagues to bring their best efforts.Why it’s vital for leaders to instill a sense of community and belonging if they are to attract and retain employees.It’s truly an honour to be able to speak with such an esteemed thought leader in the leadership space about something we both care deeply about. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.https://open.spotify.com/episode/30y3ScfQ9YRORBuDGWLqXlNoteworthy links:Buy “Everyday People, Extraordinary Leadership” on Amazon.*Learn more about Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner’s work - www.leadershipchallenge.com*Sponsored link used to support podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.