Intentional Leader with Cal Walters

General Stan McChrystal, a retired four-star general known for commanding U.S. forces in Afghanistan, shares his insights on leadership and character. He reflects on how personal experiences, like his resignation and marriage, shape values. The discussion includes tackling fear in leadership, emphasizing moral courage and discipline. McChrystal advocates for clear communication to counter groupthink. He highlights writing as a tool for refining thoughts and fostering societal dialogue on integrity, urging leaders to embrace their core values.

➡️ Get my Newsletter (Intentional Letter): https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Discover Your Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course Get Will's book: https://noelevatortoeverest.com/ Learn about Corner to Corner: https://cornertocorner.org/ In this conversation, Will Acuff shares his journey of finding joy amidst life's challenges, particularly through his experiences with his family and the transformative 'trauma camp' that helped him shift his perspective. He discusses the importance of self-compassion, the struggles of parenting a child with disabilities, and the pressures of maintaining a facade of having it all together. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of recognizing small sparks of joy and the power of community and support in navigating difficult times. In this conversation, the speakers explore the themes of love, mercy, and personal responsibility within relationships. They discuss the drama triangle concept, emphasizing the importance of shifting from a hero mentality to one of ownership and self-compassion. The dialogue also touches on thriving in tough circumstances, the significance of self-awareness, and practical practices for cultivating joy in daily life. 00:00 Finding Joy in Hardship 02:53 The Journey to Trauma Camp 11:42 Transformative Experiences at Trauma Camp 22:02 The Power of Joy in Difficult Times 24:35 The Context of Love and Mercy 25:08 Understanding the Drama Triangle 29:04 Shifting from Hero to Ownership 30:44 The Impact of Codependency 32:07 Self-Compassion and Ownership 35:31 Thriving in Tough Circumstances 36:40 Exploring Joy and Self-Awareness 42:22 Practical Practices for Daily Joy Please visit my website to get more information: https://calwalters.me/ 🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@intentionalleader_calwalters/?sub_confirmation=1

Sign up for The Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Discover Your Core Values Course: https://courses.calwalters.me/offers/DmXNju9f/checkout The Work-Life Balance Toolbox: https://www.stephenrgraves.com/balance Steve's book, Flourishing (for free!): https://www.stephenrgraves.com/flourish Cornerstone+ Membership: https://www.cornerstoneco.com/ In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal speaks with CEO coach Steve Graves about the intricacies of leadership, coaching, and achieving a balanced life. They explore the importance of holistic coaching, the courage required to make meaningful life choices, and the challenges of work-life balance. Steve shares insights from his experiences coaching top leaders and discusses frameworks for personal development, including the significance of understanding one's capacity threshold and the art of saying no. The conversation emphasizes the need for intentional living and aligning one's life with core values to lead effectively at work and home. 00:00 Leading Well at Work and Home 02:38 The Role of a Coach 07:15 Work-Life Balance Toolbox 08:30 A Tale of Two Funerals 13:16 The Importance of Courage 1 9:33 The Cost of Saying Yes 24:44 Understanding Capacity Threshold 36:51 The Art of Saying No

In this engaging discussion, storytelling expert Katie Quesada, who has coached Fortune 500 companies, shares her insights on the powerful role of storytelling in leadership and personal connections. She explains how stories create emotional bonds and why they resonate with us. Katie outlines the essential components of effective storytelling: context, conflict, and conclusion, while urging leaders to embrace vulnerability. She also explores strategies for engaging storytelling, including frameworks to connect with audiences of all ages and transform narratives into relatable experiences.

Get weekly insights from me: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Take the Attributes Assessment (make sure you use coupon code INTENTIONALLEADER15 to get 15% off at check out): https://theattributes.com/assessment-tool Get Rich's new book, Masters of Uncertainty: https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Uncertainty-Navy-Stress-Success/dp/B0DMGYW5YH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E4HOYQ84M5H7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ya84ZhsafB6rPwbEySGGDg.98hhrIiRMlraDT4SDOw9Dih-3Y1Z1b772CBQOmMDIBw&dib_tag=se&keywords=masters+of+uncertainty+rich+diviney&qid=1732210579&sprefix=masters+of+uncertainty+rich+diviney%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1 In this conversation, retired Navy SEAL Commander Rich Diviney shares insights on leadership, stress management, and the importance of attributes in high-performance environments. He discusses the significance of humility, the distinction between being a leader and being in charge, and the challenges faced during BUD/S training. Rich emphasizes the critical role of compartmentalization and attributes in determining success, particularly in high-stress situations like those encountered in military training and operations. In this conversation, the speaker delves into the importance of understanding personal attributes and skills, emphasizing the role of self-awareness in effective leadership. They discuss how stress and fear can be harnessed for positive action, the significance of focusing on controllable factors, and the science behind motivation through dopamine. The conversation also explores the impact of identity on behavior, particularly in uncertain situations, and how recognizing and prioritizing identities can shape our responses and actions. 00:00 Navigating Stress as a Leader 03:04 The Essence of Humility in Leadership 06:06 Understanding Leadership Beyond Hierarchy 09:01 The BUD/S Experience and Its Challenges 11:56 Compartmentalization: The Key to Endurance 15:04 Skills vs. Attributes in Leadership 18:03 Insights from SEAL Team 6 Selection 20:47 The Importance of Attributes in Performance 29:10 Understanding Attributes and Skills 35:01 The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership 38:07 Harnessing Stress and Fear for Action 43:45 Focus on What You Can Control 49:22 The Science of Dopamine and Motivation 52:30 The Power of Identity in Uncertainty

In this engaging discussion, Alison Wood Brooks, an O’Brien Associate Professor at Harvard Business School and an expert on conversation, reveals the secrets to effective communication. She shares personal insights from her life as an identical twin and how it shapes her understanding of interactions. Listeners explore techniques for mastering conversation dynamics, the critical role of preparation, and the importance of specific encouragement in enhancing connections. Her unique 'conversational compass' helps navigate relationships, emphasizing the blend of vulnerability and enjoyment in meaningful dialogue.

In this insightful discussion, Charles Feltman shares his expertise as a consultant and author with over 25 years of experience in fostering trust. He introduces a four-part framework focusing on sincerity, reliability, competence, and care, essential for leaders aiming to build a trusting environment. Feltman emphasizes the importance of clear communication and addressing tough truths to maintain team trust. He also discusses strategies for navigating trust breaches and the necessity of acknowledging personal limits to prevent burnout.

Sign up to receive The Intentional Letter: https://courses.calwalters.me/signup Follow Intentional Leader: https://calwalters.me Take Mark Miller's Quicksand Assessment by texting BeSmart (no spaces) to 66866 Get in touch with Mark Miller: 678-612-8441 mark@leadeveryday.com https://leadeveryday.com Mark Miller, former vice president of high performance leadership at Chick-fil-A, discusses the key factors that contribute to the company's exceptional customer experience. He emphasizes the importance of leadership, particularly at the local restaurant level, as the competitive advantage of Chick-fil-A. Miller also highlights the role of the corporate staff in serving the operators and creating a powerful combination. He explains the rigorous selection process for restaurant operators and the focus on character, competence, chemistry, and an internal locus of control. Miller acknowledges the challenges in defining leadership and distinguishes it from management, emphasizing the importance of vision, engagement and development of others, continuous reinvention, and valuing both results and relationships. In this conversation, Mark Miller discusses the importance of embodying a leader's heart and the role it plays in leadership effectiveness. He emphasizes that a leader's heart is a big deal and can multiply the effect of their skills. Mark also talks about the need for both leadership and management in an organization, highlighting that leaders should compensate for their bias towards either results or relationships. He provides practical strategies for valuing both results and relationships, such as setting goals for expressing appreciation and gratitude. Mark concludes by sharing his excitement about continuing to serve leaders in his second half.

Discover Your Unique Core Values: https://calwalters.me/course Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_ZF6AG_9ZylHul1O5wHhg Connect with Juliet Funt: https://www.julietfunt.com/military/ Get Juliet's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Minute-Think-Reclaim-Creativity-Busyness/dp/0062970259 00:00 Introduction to Task Saturation and Overload 02:06 Juliette's Experience with the Military 07:01 Communication Challenges in the Military 20:15 Understanding Task Saturation vs. Overload 28:10 Leadership and Time Management Strategies 29:36 Leadership Transitions and Onboarding Challenges 32:49 Prioritization vs. Reduction in Task Management 35:32 Navigating Task Saturation and Honest Feedback 39:43 The Importance of Preparation and Rehearsal 42:51 Technology and Task Management in the Military 49:29 Maximizing Time Away and Digital Disconnection Featured in top media outlets such as Forbes, CNBC, and Fast Company, Juliet Funt is a globally renowned keynote speaker, tough-love advisor to the Fortune 500, founder and CEO of the efficiency training firm, Juliet Funt Group. Juliet is the author of A Minute to Think, nominated for the Next Big Idea Club curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Susan Cain and Adam Grant. She is an evangelist for freeing the potential of companies by unburdening their talent from busywork, and she has brought her powerful concepts to Spotify, National Geographic, Anthem, Vans, Abbott, Costco, Pepsi, Nike, Wells Fargo, Sephora, Sysco, and ESPN.

Gain clarity with my Core Values course: https://calwalters.me/course Watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Vn6ZwWWcFZw Learn more about West Point, the world's preeminent leader development institution: https://www.westpoint.edu/ In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal speaks with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, the Dean of West Point, about the challenges of preparing leaders for an uncertain future. They discuss the importance of innovation, character development, and critical thinking in military education, as well as the unique qualities of the next generation of leaders. General Reeves shares insights from his experiences, the role of technology in warfare, and the need for adaptability in leadership. The conversation emphasizes the significance of intellect and the ability to navigate complex challenges in today's rapidly changing world. Brigadier General Shane Reeves serves as the 15th Dean of the Academic Board. He holds a Master of Laws in Military Law from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, a Juris Doctor degree from the College of William and Mary, and a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy. He is admitted to practice law before the Virginia State Bar, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the United States Supreme Court. Brigadier General Reeves commissioned in 1996 from the United States Military Academy and served seven years as an Armor Officer in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Irwin, California. After attending law school in 2003, he transitioned into the Judge Advocate General's Corps. As a Judge Advocate, he served in several legal positions, including as the Chief of Legal Assistance for Ft. Riley, Kansas; Brigade Judge Advocate in the 1st Armored Division in Taji, Iraq; Senior Trial Counsel for the 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kansas; Professor of International and Operational Law at the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia; and as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate of Joint Special Operations Command at Ft. Liberty, North Carolina. Brigadier General Reeves taught for ten years in United States Military Academy's Law Department, most recently serving as the Head. He has taught and spoken on International Law and the Law of Armed Conflict. His recent speaking engagements include presenting at the 9th Quadrennial Federal Judges Association in Washington D.C., lecturing at Columbia Law School and the University of California-Berkeley Law School, and speaking in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel as part of the Academic Exchange Program. He is also a founding member and Director of the Lieber Institute for Law and Land Warfare located at West Point. Brigadier General Reeves has written on the Law of Armed Conflict and national security issues. His articles have appeared in various publications, including Foreign Policy, Lawfare, Just Security, and Articles of War. He has written over 30 articles and book chapters in academic publications, including the Harvard International Review, the Harvard National Security Journal, Texas Law Review, Marquette Law Review, Cardozo Law Review, University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, and Berkeley Journal of International Law. Additionally, he served as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the blog Articles of War, the editor and contributing author to U.S. Military Operations: Law, Policy, and Practice, and Managing Editor of the Lieber Studies Series published by Oxford University Press.