In this chat, Adam Steck, Chief Servant Officer at Southwest Steel Buildings, dives into the synergy of Toyota's lean principles and transformative leadership. He discusses the necessity of engaging directly with teams to solve challenges and the value of a resilient company culture for employee retention. Adam emphasizes hiring for cultural fit and illustrates how empowering employees can lead to success. He also shares insights on finding a meaningful purpose within business to guide decisions and foster an aligned work environment.

Danielle Fauteaux, founder of Momentum Marketing, specializes in business development for creative agencies. In this conversation, she discusses the precarious balance between creativity and client demands, shedding light on the hidden threats of creative burnout, especially in remote work. Danielle emphasizes the necessity of structured thinking time and small gestures of recognition to foster resilience. She also explores the advantages of a decentralized idea ecosystem to enhance creativity and sustainability within teams.

Susan Fennema, CEO of Beyond the Chaos, shares her expertise in helping small business owners streamline operations and foster growth. She emphasizes the art of effective delegation and the emotional journey of letting go for long-term success. Fennema compares managing a business to raising children, advocating for leaders to nurture independence. She discusses the crucial shift from founder to CEO mindset, encouraging listeners to evaluate their worth and focus on strategic tasks. Her insights offer valuable strategies for creating a supportive work environment.

Kevin Johnson, founder of Express Pros Training, dives into the critical role of self-awareness in leadership. He highlights how unresolved personal issues can affect professional efficacy and discusses the chilling effects of learned helplessness in organizations. Pain in leadership is dissected, promoting introspection for healthier work environments. The conversation also emphasizes the value of coaching and personality assessments, urging leaders to seek external perspectives for personal growth and team enhancement.

Dr. Alise Cortez, Chief Purpose Officer at Elise Cortez and Associates, is an inspirational speaker and social scientist passionate about fostering connection in the workplace. She discusses how the pandemic has reshaped work dynamics and emphasizes the need for empathy to combat burnout. Cortez highlights the importance of spiritual intelligence in driving creativity and innovation, while offering practical strategies for leaders to create more humane, collaborative environments that prioritize well-being and authentic connections.

Benj Miller is the CEO of System and Soul, dedicated to helping teams grow with purpose, while McKenzie Decker manages daily operations, unlocking team potential. In this discussion, they dive into the journey from renegade founder to effective leader, emphasizing the balance between visionaries and operators. They explore mindset shifts essential for business growth and navigating leadership identity. The duo also shares insights on embracing change, maintaining authenticity, and fostering collaborative workplace cultures.

In today's episode of "How Leaders Thing," your host Kenny Lange sits down with Amanda Fry from Talent Crowd @JoinTheCrowd to dive into the importance of genuine conversations, providing value to others, and creating meaningful relationships. They explore Amanda's experience with social media, the challenges of maintaining originality in content creation, and the impact of algorithms on engagement. They also discuss the role of data in understanding audience behavior and the need for leaders to align actions with their company's mission.For more inspiring and insightful content, don't forget to subscribe to the How Leaders Think Podcast.Other places to find the “How Leaders Think” podcast:* Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh* Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=* Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kennylange/podcasts* Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/Be sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss an episode!Resources:1. Amanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandafrye/2. Kind Transparency: Say what you mean (without being a jerk): https://amzn.to/48KZBt43. Talent Crowd Website: https://www.talentcrowd.com/4. Clarity Field Guide: https://amzn.to/3F8aRlE 5. S2 Roadmap: Kennylange.com/road-map6. https://databox.com/ Timeline:[00:00:00] Intro[00:01:27] Social media is becoming monotonous and exhausting.[00:05:19] Algorithmic manipulation causing issues in social media.[00:08:20] Leadership's influence necessitates thoughtful actions online.[00:12:34] Generic emails impact audience engagement, deliverability.[00:15:39] Data-driven marketing clashes with audience benefit.[00:16:39] Data tells a story, but goal matters.[00:23:26] Value proposition and uniqueness vital for success.[00:26:59] Reflect on brand, trust instincts, curate identity.[00:27:50] Explore talent crowd's website for fun engagement.[00:31:54] Clarity on ideas helps filter potential contributions.[00:36:13] Analyze data, set goals, make a plan.[00:39:46] Tech consulting platform with diverse talent pool.[00:40:40] Genuine transparency fosters trust and success.#socialmedia #authenticity #datadrivenmarketing #marketing

Logan Lyles, an evangelism and content marketing expert at Teamwork.com, shares insights on the evolving landscape of marketing. He discusses the shift to Nearbound marketing and the critical role of defining your Ideal Client Profile. Lyles emphasizes the importance of trust in the 'who economy' and building partnerships for effective strategies. He also covers the benefits of co-marketing and collaboration in B2B sales, highlighting how audience feedback and short-form video can enhance trust in consumer engagement.

In this episode of "How Leaders Think," host Kenny Lange is joined by guest Jakub Grajcar, currently at Zenpilot. They dive into the importance of emotional capacity and risk-taking in leadership. Jakub shares insights on how leaders can connect with their teams on a deeper level and understand their needs. They discuss the concept of measuring success by looking back and reflecting on personal accomplishments and growth. Furthermore, Jakub emphasizes the power of listening, provides practical tips for building emotional capacity, and recommends resources like "The Coaching Habit." This thought-provoking conversation offers valuable insights for leaders looking to enhance their leadership skills.For more inspiring and insightful content, don't forget to subscribe to the How Leaders Think Podcast.Other places to find the “How Leaders Think” podcast:* Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh* Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=* Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kennylange/podcasts* Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/Be sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss an episode!Resources:The Gap and The Gain: https://amzn.to/3LlRoRHVivid Vision Book: https://amzn.to/45QyhaDVivid Vision Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/cameron_herold_your_vision_statement_sucksThe Coaching Habit: https://amzn.to/3LlA0wHJakub’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakub-grajcar/ZenPilot Website: https://zenpilot.com Timeline:[00:00:49] Kuba is a content manager at Zen Pilot, known for coaching and metalhead persona.[00:04:29] While people often worry about the risks, it takes resolve to make big personal or professional changes. It's important to focus on the potential advantages and make the leap.[00:06:31] Focusing on risk and gain, thinking of past and future, seeking out supportive people.[00:13:11] Leaders should communicate their vision in detail when recruiting to attract the right people and filter out those who may not align long-term. A clear vision reduces risk and magnetizes ideal candidates.[00:14:24] Using magnetic vision to attract the right people and repel the wrong ones, having a story that includes everyone's role is crucial for successful leadership.[00:17:57] Pain and stress in being in a band, importance of one-on-one meetings for leaders.[00:23:43] Love takes courage to care about someone not just as a team member, but as a person. Building emotional capacity and empathy involves developing listening as a skill. Assigning oneself the role of an interviewer can promote curiosity and better conversations. The book "The Coaching Habit" offers helpful questions.[00:25:53] The text highlights the importance of asking questions and listening in coaching. It emphasizes the value of the question "What's on your mind?" to start conversations and encourages leaders to share their own thoughts and feelings. Building emotional skills is crucial for leaders transitioning from individual contributors.[00:30:21] Focus on listening and empathy in conversations to build connections and deeper understanding.[00:33:26] Zenpilot solves project management issues for organizations, providing accountability and visibility through a system in ClickUp or Teamwork. It creates peace and momentum for agencies, and has helped various organizations. Learn more at zenpilot.com and book a call.

In this episode of "How Leaders Think," host Kenny Lange is joined by guest Tom Richard, a former corporate worker turned founder and CEO. Tom shares their journey of transitioning from the corporate world to entrepreneurship and the challenges they faced along the way. They discuss the importance of being outcome-focused, building a strong foundation for success, and the value of doing good work. Tom also emphasizes the role of consistency, authenticity, and service in effective leadership. Listeners gain valuable insights into the mindset of a founder and the key elements that contribute to their success.For more inspiring and insightful content, don't forget to subscribe to the How Leaders Think Podcast.Other places to find the “How Leaders Think” podcast:* Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh* Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=* Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kennylange/podcasts* Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/Be sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss an episode!Resources:Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomrichard/Tom’s Website: https://unlimitedtechsolutions.comTimeline:[00:02:12] Too much focus on creative guruism. Do good work.[00:04:43] Authenticity and serving others lead to success.[00:07:49] Focus on customers, product, and team building.[00:10:57] Money is part of a stable, peaceful life. Build on a foundation of service.[00:15:52] Leadership is more than inspiration, it's service.[00:20:24] Entrepreneurship: challenging, rewarding, different from expectations.[00:24:09] Took responsibility, got help, no longer imprisoned.[00:26:26] Take ownership, think beyond yourself and company.[00:30:24] Book or hire? Cheaper to read.[00:33:03] Success is measured by results, not knowledge.[00:39:05] Why can't leaders focus on outcomes?[00:41:30] Reinventing oneself: cycle of creating, maintaining, destroying.[00:44:37] Agree with you, precious about my business.[00:49:23] Be curious about yourself, observe and grow.