Leadership Biz Cafe with Tanveer Naseer

There are certain tasks a leader is expected to do well if they are to help their organization succeed, and developing strategies for how their team will achieve their goals is one of them. And yet, you can walk into any organization and find numerous well-thought out and developed strategies or initiatives that have either stalled or been tossed aside to deal with competing priorities. As my guest, Jim Huling, points out in this episode of my podcast “Leadership Biz Cafe”, the problem is not with the strategy itself, but with how leaders go about executing it.For the past 40 years, Jim has served in various corporate leadership roles, from Fortune 500 organizations to privately held companies. He was also the CEO of a company that was recognized four times for being one of the best companies to work for in the US. Jim is also the co-author of the book “The 4 Disciplines of Execution - Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals”, which has been released as a revised and updated 2nd edition.Over the course of this episode, Jim and I discussed this updated edition of his book, including:Why so many leaders struggle with achieving their strategies and goals.Why leaders need to pivot from having 3-5 key goals to a single wildly important one, and how to balance focusing on that one strategic goal while making time for other competing priorities.What leaders are getting wrong about what they track, and what are the real measures they should be focusing on to succeed.A simple, but powerful tool leaders can use to better engage employees to be invested in these long term goals.How to reframe accountability so that it inspires and motivates employees to bring their best efforts to work every day.It’s a thoughtful and revealing conversation I have with Jim, so I hope you’ll make time to listen to it. And if you enjoy this episode, please do me a favour and rate and review my podcast where ever you listen to podcasts.https://open.spotify.com/episode/1f6RCUScdKGuJTOaxmWUvONoteworthy links:Buy “The 4 Disciplines of Execution” on Amazon.*Learn more about Jim’s work at jimhuling.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.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been giving keynotes to a wide range of leaders in different industries. In some cases, the leaders in attendance were front-line managers, while in others, my audience consisted of senior level executives from the C-suite. But while the subject of these various keynotes was different, there was a common thread I addressed in most of them. And that was the need to rethink how they understood leadership, and with it, why they needed to have the courage to change.Granted, I think we can all appreciate that we’ve been living in a state of perpetual change, no doubt a large reason why so many organizations and their leaders are adamant about ‘getting back to work’, where they do away with any notion of a hybrid work environment that eschews the old Monday to Friday, 9-to-5 office work model.But as I point out in this latest edition in my Leadership Espresso Shot series on my podcast, “Leadership Biz Cafe”, if leaders are to not only help their organizations become more agile and resilient, but attract and retain the people they need to succeed and grow, then they need to have the courage to change. Not just when external forces presses it upon them, but in terms of how to help bring out the best in those they lead.I invite you to give this latest episode a listen for a thought-provoking look at what we need to change about ourselves, and with it, how we approach our leadership today and in the months ahead.https://open.spotify.com/episode/40NZczEOaYE8eYNlaeCSEr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s two things I love about hosting my podcast, “Leadership Biz Cafe”. First, I get to fulfill my purpose of helping leaders improve their leadership and become the kind of leader their employees need to succeed. And second, I get to talk with some amazing people about how we can go about achieving this. And sometimes I’m lucky enough to get to speak to them a second time.And that’s certainly the case in this latest episode where I welcome back Stephen MR Covey to talk about his brand new book, “Trust and Inspire - How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others”, which is coming out this week. Stephen graciously sent me an advance copy of his book (as well as a signed copy of the final hardcover copy), and as I share with Stephen in this episode, this book is definitely addressing a major need for many leaders and their organizations.Over the course of our conversation (and what a fantastic one it was!), some of the ideas Stephen and I talk about include:How research has shown the command and control style of leadership is still very much in use in many organizations, it’s just wearing a different look.Why the challenges of today require a new approach to leadership that not only starts with fostering a trusting work environment, but one where every leader acts to inspire the best from those they lead.The fundamental beliefs of a trust and inspire leader that any leader can make part of their leadership DNA.Why we need to change our understanding of influence in order to attract and retain employees.A powerful insight that exposes the difference between being a trustworthy leader and a trusting leader.How any leader - whether in a formal or informal position - can inspire greatness in those around them.This was not only such an illuminating conversation, but I can honestly say both Stephen and I had a lot of fun talking about the insights on leadership he shares in this book. And if there’s one book on leadership you should read this year, I can tell you with all sincerity this is the one you want to read. And if you listen to this episode, you’ll understand why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In prolonged periods of uncertainty like the one we’re in right now, it’s natural that we take a more cautious approach to things. But what if that fear of the unknown also leads us to avoid failure and the powerful lessons we stand to gain that can help us achieve real success? In this latest edition in my Leadership Espresso Shot series on my podcast "Leadership Biz Cafe", I share 4 steps leaders can use to overcome their risk avoidance by transforming failure into success.As with my leadership keynotes and corporate training sessions, these 4 steps are revealed through a story I share in this episode that reveals a common approach we all take - and how that approach can actually limit our potential to not only find the best path forward, but to discovering new opportunities for growth and success.I’m not going to give away what the story is about, other than to say it’s a personal one that came to mind recently because of a personal milestone for my family. But I can tell you the lessons shared here are very timely, especially as debates continue to rage on over the future of work, when the truth is, the answer has already been spelled out. It’s just that some leaders are just refusing to see it.So do yourself a favour and take a few minutes to listen to this episode. Who knows - it may help you address some of the challenges you’re grappling with, and give you the steps you need to take to transform those setbacks into your next success.https://open.spotify.com/episode/2SEBwBkFyGuxfi8JIz1sCt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With everything we’ve all experienced over the last two years, it can feel more challenging than ever to ask employees to stay the course and trust things will work out. So how do leaders inspire people to deliver their best despite their understandable concerns about the future? That’s what I’ll be exploring with my guest in this episode of my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast, Kim Cameron.Kim is the Professor Emeritus of Management and Organizations in the Ross School of Business and Professor of Higher Education in the School of Education at the University of Michigan. For the past 20 years, he’s been researching the role virtuousness plays in improving employee performance and organizational success. His work has become so popular that he’s been recognized as one of the top ten organizational scholars in the world whose work has been most frequently downloaded on Google.He’s also the author of the book “Positively Energizing Leadership - Virtuous Actions and Relationships That Create High Performance”, which serves as the focus of my conversation with Kim in this episode.Over the course of this episode, some of the points Kim and I discuss include:The science behind positive energy and how it differs from other forms of energy (physical, mental, emotional, psychological).What research has shown the impact positive energy has on employee performance and retention.What attributes do leaders who are positive energizers possess - and how every leader can be like them.How leaders can be positive energizers for every member in their team.A powerful 4-step strategy to deal with employees who are “black holes” that drain energy from the team.Far from being a “nice-to-have” idea, my conversation with Kim here will help you understand why this is a necessity if your organization is to not achieve its objectives, but for your employees to flourish under your leadership.https://open.spotify.com/episode/0BkGrmWgsd9tVtOMq8ea72Noteworthy links:Buy Kim’s book “Positively Energizing Leadership” on Amazon*Learn more about Kim’s work at University of Michigan*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.

Over the past two years, we’ve all had to learn how to get better at communicating within a virtual setting. While most of us have become comfortable using platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams in our daily work lives, a common challenge that persists is being able to connect at an emotional level through these digital channels.That’s why in this latest edition in my Leadership Espresso Shot series, I share 5 simple steps that will improve your ability to foster emotional connections in any virtual setting. You’ll also learn about one executive’s strategy he calls “Hump Day Hangouts” that can serve as a bit of inspiration for what you can do to build emotional connections with those you lead and those you serve.I hope you’ll take a few minutes out of your day to give this a listen as you’ll be surprised at how easily you can start applying these 5 steps in your workday.https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GY311eCWRVUAA58OOdFmJ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the past few years, there’s been a growing focus and demand that organizations address diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Although there’s been numerous studies that have demonstrated how a diverse workforce leads to improved financial performance, productivity, innovation, and overall growth, the numbers of visible minority groups and women in decision-making or leadership roles remains extremely low.So if there’s a clear business case to be made for increasing diversity both in the workplace and in leadership circles, why is there still so little traction to address this, especially when so many organizations are struggling to find talent to help their organization achieve their goals. That’s what I’ll be examining with my guest, Dr. Marlette Jackson, in this episode of my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast.Marlette is a researcher, educator, and cross-functional leader with over 8 years’ experience building and scaling DEI initiatives. She’s also the Global Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Virgin Pulse, where her work involves building processes, policies and programs to attract, develop, and retain the best talent from all backgrounds for Virgin Pulse globally.Over the course of this episode, Marlette and I discuss:What leaders and their organizations need to do to make their diversity and inclusion be more than a feel-good measure.How to change the narrative that supporting more visible minorities and women to move into leadership roles means asking others to give up their opportunities.Why we need to reassess how we understand power in the context of diversity and inclusion.What leaders need to do to encourage visible minorities to access their own power for the mutual benefit of the organization and employees.How diversity and inclusion initiatives help to address the growing mental health crisis at work.How we can overcome our blindspots and biases to recognize the role we all need to play to make our workplaces more welcoming and inclusive for everyone.How leaders can start this discussion in their organization and the 4 phases to successful implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives.This is such an important conversation on a topic that every leader needs to get familiar and comfortable with. So I hope you’ll make time to check this episode out to hopefully get some powerful food for thought on how you can address this issue in your organization.https://open.spotify.com/episode/24YptFbBhT1sOxSv7h3UteNoteworthy links:Dr. Marlette Jackson’s articles from Harvard Business Review:Woke-Washing” Your Company Won’t Cut ItDoes Your Definition of Leadership Exclude Women of Color?Former Goldman Sachs executive Edith Cooper’s New York Times piece: I Was Told I Have Career Advantages ‘as a Black Woman.’ Here’s How I RepliedDr. Marlette Jackson's website - marlettejackson.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In some of my leadership keynotes and workshops, I point out how one way to foster a sense of cohesion and community among your employees is to make time to celebrate milestones. What’s important here is not to just have a party where people can feel a sense of completion, but that we also use this moment to highlight the journey we’ve been on and what we’ve accomplished on this journey.It’s in that spirit that I wanted to do something special to celebrate the release of the 100th episode of my podcast “Leadership Biz Cafe”. And in keeping with what I share with leaders on how to best utilize the attainment of key milestones, I wanted to use this episode as an opportunity to look back at the past 99 episodes and first select my 10 favourite guests I’ve spoken with (to date).And then the trickier part - picking one key insight that’s not only worth a second listen, but which is both powerful and timely for helping leaders address the challenges they face today.Now I have to be honest that I had to omit two guests who’d otherwise make my shortlist as I just featured them in the recent episode “My Favourite Guest Moments and Insights From 2021” and as such, I thought it’d be better to feature other guests in their place.Over the course of this 100th episode retrospective, you’ll hear:Guy Kawasaki on why leaders should focus on enchanting employees instead of influencing them.Doug Conant on why leaders need to foster a sense of community and purpose.Liz Wiseman on why some leaders bring out the best in others while other leaders drain the motivation out from their team.Matthew E. May on why “intelligent” constraints are needed to fuel creativity.Dr. Heidi Grant Halvorson on how leaders can make sure employees really understand what they want from them.Whitney Johnson on why constraints are beneficial when facing disruption.Tim Sanders on why our attention is getting narrower and what leaders need to do to overcome it to rally their employees around a common vision or goal.Dr. Timothy Clark on why many organizations struggle with creating inclusive workplaces and how to overcome it.Sally Helgesen on what needs to be done to get more women into leadership development pipelines.Stephen MR Covey on why addressing intent is critical to fostering trust in your leadership.Not to mention getting to hear the story behind why I started my popular leadership podcast ... and the key role Guy Kawasaki played in bringing this show to life.Going back to listen to the past conversations was such a delight and so informative about what leaders need to do to succeed. And without question, this retrospective episode provides powerful and timely insights that will help you succeed in your leadership by empowering your employees to do their best work.This is definitely one episode you’re going to want to make time to listen to - and be prepared to take some notes as these guests really provide a lot of food for thought. My thanks to them and to all my guests I’ve had on my show over the past 99 episodes. Here’s looking ahead to the future and that next big milestone of reaching 200 episodes.https://open.spotify.com/episode/3VmC7Zwp1po89nl12q8l0mNoteworthy links:Here are links to listen to the full episodes of the guests I featured in this retrospective episode:How The Power Of Enchantment Can Help Us Succeed | Guy KawasakiHow Successful Leaders Maintain Focus In A Distracted World | Doug ConantHow Leaders Grow Employee Intelligence To Drive Success | Liz WisemanHow Leaders Can Encourage Creativity And Innovation | Matthew E. MayWhy Your Employees Don't Understand You | Heidi Grant HalvorsonUsing Disruptive Innovation To Drive Growth | Whitney JohnsonWhy Bizlove Is Critical For Today's Leadership | Tim SandersHow Psychological Safety Fuels Growth & Innovation | Dr Timothy ClarkHow Women Hold Back Their Leadership Success | Sally HelgesenThe Power of Trust in Leadership | Stephen M.R. Covey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a leader, you’re responsible for accomplishing many tasks, most critical among them is setting and articulating the strategic goals of your team and organization. Of course, creating goals is not the same thing as achieving them. And most of us have certainly set out goals for ourselves and our employees which we failed to accomplish.As such, in this edition of my Leadership Espresso Shot series from my “Leadership Biz Cafe” podcast, I share 3 strategies that leaders can employ to ensure their employees succeed at achieving the strategic goals assigned to them. Whether you’re in the process of setting these goals or whether you’re deep in the process of reaching those goals, the three strategies I share in this episode will ensure you not only have a strong start setting out to reach these goals, but that you and your employees succeed at attaining them.This is 13 minutes that I promise will be time well spent in terms of helping you achieve your goals for the year.https://open.spotify.com/episode/0L0oWRoPVJYBF4vMwwWzfv Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As I mentioned in some of my episodes for my podcast “Leadership Biz Cafe”, 2021 marks the 10th year that I’ve been hosting this podcast. Although this is without question a major milestone to reach for any podcast, I never got around to making plans to celebrate this achievement on my podcast.Thankfully, as luck would have it, I had a number of very special guests who joined me on my show this year who helped to create an impromptu celebration of this major milestone.So both in keeping with a tradition I started last year, but also to show my appreciation for these fantastic guests, for my last episode of 2021, I wanted to look back at my favourite conversations from 2021 that are worth a second listen. To be clear, this isn’t a Top 10 list, but a year-end retrospective where I share my favourite guest moments from five past episodes of 2021.So who were these guests and what were their timeless and timely insights that I’m sure leaders everywhere will benefit from as they plan for 2022? Well, to learn that you’ll just have to listen to this episode. Trust me when I say it’s not only worth the listen, but I expect this year-end retrospective episode will motivate you to take the time to listen to the rest of these 5 episodes - and hopefully to check out the other episodes we released over the past 12 months.As I said at the end of this episode, my thanks to all my guests who came on my show. And I’m looking forward to sharing with you the fantastic conversations and guests we have lined up to appear on the "Leadership Biz Cafe" podcast in 2022.https://open.spotify.com/episode/1da7d9yRbHuwF6DsC8PAfW Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.