Running a fully remote company while making sure you can deliver on short-term goals and long-term innovation is not an easy thing to do! In today’s discussion I sit down with Workleap Co-founder and CEO Simon De Baene who shares hard-earned lessons in leadership from 18 years of building a successful company. He dives into frameworks for maintaining innovation as the company grows, and the importance of delegating without losing control. Simon also offers a candid look at both his strengths and weaknesses as a leader. You will learn the value of authenticity and humility at the top, as well as how to improve at having difficult conversations around accountability.

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This episode is sponsored by Workleap

Workleap Officevibe is a set of simple engagement, recognition and performance management tools. A game-changing product that enable businesses to team up HR leaders with their managers to instantly act on engagement insights, fuel meaningful peer recognition, and even drive continuous performance management. Visit Workleap.com/Officevibe to know more.

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Have you ever felt like you don’t deserve to be where you are or that you aren’t good enough? Imposter syndrome is something that most people in the world will experience at some point in their lives and, believe it or not, many aspiring leaders often doubt their abilities and suitability for higher roles, especially when they come from backgrounds that don’t typically align with those positions. In today’s Leadership Spark, Chano Fernandez, Former Co-CEO at Workday, shares the importance of overcoming self-doubt and embracing opportunities, even when they seem out of reach. Chano also touches on leadership challenges, including the loneliness that can accompany senior executive roles, the significance of maintaining a positive attitude, and the value of connecting with employees through shared experiences. His story serves as a testament to overcoming self-doubt and reaching your maximum potential.

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Are you lucky or are you good? The smallest and seemingly most random decisions you make in your life can have a profound impact on your career success. Does this mean that we shouldn’t try to be the best at what we do? In today’s discussion I speak with Dr. Brian Klaas, a professor at the University of College London and best-selling author of “Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters.” In this episode, Klaas offers counterintuitive advice for embracing uncertainty and experimentation over excessive optimism and control. You’ll learn how chaos theory impacts your life, if you can create your own luck, if change is driven by trends or leaders, and how meritocracy battles with luck for making the greatest impact in what you do.

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Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Imagine if you could feel calm and in control even during your most stressful moments at work. What if small shifts in how you process emotions allowed you to make better decisions and strengthen important relationships? NYT Best selling author and Psychologist Rick Hanson reveals how understanding your feelings through vulnerability is the overlooked key to resilience. Discover the science behind stress and anxiety, and learn why emotional awareness enhances well-being and performance under pressure.

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Is AI going to take your job? Yes! But is that really a bad thing and what does it mean for the future of work?

Sweetgreen is an American fast-casual food chain with more than 220 locations and 6,000 employees.

They are actively implementing technology in their restaurants to make the food, but are they losing people as a result? Jonathan Neman is the Co-Founder & CEO of Sweetgreen and in today’s episode we’re talking about balancing humanity with technology and people with profits. After today’s episode, you’ll walk away with strategies for thoughtfully integrating new technologies, prioritizing employee well-being and finding “win-win” solutions that benefit all parties.

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Before Netflix, Facebook or Google even existed, a small group of entrepreneurs took a huge risk launching what would become the first major internet service.  In today’s Leadership Spark, Steve Case, Co-Founder of AOL and CEO of Revolution LLC, shares his journey of what it took to get America Online off the ground before people even heard of the Internet. While most people would think investing in internet companies in the 80’s was CRAZY RISKY, Steve had a vision that this new technology could change the world if they could just get it into people’s hands. In this interview, he shares never-before-told stories of the challenges they faced connecting users at dial-up speeds and convincing skeptical investors to back their idea. Steve also touches on how Revolution now does its part in funding and investing in companies of the future.

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Do you practice having gratitude everyday? Positivity can powerfully alter your ability to connect with your team and slingshot your leadership to new bounds of resilience and success. In this episode, we’re joined by Jon Gordon 15x best-selling author, most popularly known for “The Power of Positive Leadership” with over 1,700 reviews on Amazon. Learn how to unite your organization in the face of adversity, build a strong company culture, and develop a connected and committed team. Tune into today’s episode to better establish positivity in your leadership approach and learn to view every challenge as an opportunity to grow.

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There’s a difference between getting feedback vs getting CANDID feedback, and that’s what leaders need more of. Not only that, but leaders need to make sure that ALL employees are able to provide that feedback and to challenge their leaders. This creates a culture where every voice, from every background, is not just heard but valued. In today’s leadership spark, I talk with Peyman Kargar, the Global Chairman and CEO of INFINITI. He shares valuable insights on leadership that inspires and motivates employees. We explore his commitment to open communication, regularly seeking feedback from his team helps him make informed decisions and respect their expertise. He also stresses the importance of personal hobbies in maintaining work-life balance.

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Is working in the office dead? With the rise of remote work it appears that home offices becoming the new corporate hubs. But what does the data actually say? Dr. Nicholas Bloom from Stanford University has been studying the work from home trend from over 20 years and he has hard data that shows what has been going on and why. In today’s episode we are tackling the big questions around the rise of WFH: How does it affect productivity and innovation? What does it mean for the balance of power in organizations? Is in office work really dead? What does the future of working from home look like? What are the pros and cons of working from home? What are some of the top companies actually doing? Get ready for an in-depth discussion on the future of work. The bonus episode with Dr. Bloom will explore some practical tips and strategies for leading a hybrid workforce effectively.

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Are 360 reviews effective? If you’re skeptical, then you won’t want to miss this story from Frank Blake, the former CEO of The Home Depot. We’ll explore leadership lessons he learned, his approach to feedback, and his unconventional rise to CEO. Blake shared compelling tales, such as how he unexpectedly took the reins of one of the largest companies in the world after a last-minute call from the board. We also get his take on learning from the intense Jack Welch at GE early in his career. But it's Blake's strong opinions on 360 reviews that provide truly valuable insight. Frank Blake says they are complete waste of time, do you agree?

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Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/