In today’s leadership spark, Navi Radjou, Best-Selling Author and Inspirational Keynote Speaker, talks about leadership principles from his book. We delve into the importance of acting authentically and the struggle leaders often face in balancing their work and personal personas. We also explore the integration of emotions, logic, and intuition in decision-making and the need for emotional connection alongside rationality. 

Moreover, we also tackle the principle of leading from any position, highlighting the shift from traditional hierarchical leadership models to more adaptable and inclusive approaches. Navi explains the concept of flexible fortitude, knowing when to persist and when to adapt, and the value of enlightened self-interest. These principles collectively shape the evolving role of effective leadership.

Navi Radjou is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now⁠.

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In today’s leadership spark, Navi Radjou, Best-Selling Author and Inspirational Keynote Speaker, delves into the concept of flexible leadership and its relevance in today's dynamic world. Navi discusses the principles of innovation and how they can be applied to leadership. 

He emphasizes the importance of thinking and acting flexibly, particularly in the face of challenges. The conversation also covers the significance of simplicity in product design, the need to include marginalized communities in business strategies, and the role of intuition in decision-making.

Navi Radjou is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now⁠.

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In today’s leadership spark, I chat with Navi Radjou, Best-Selling Author and Inspirational Keynote Speaker. We talk about the value of innovation, and being resourceful and creative in business. He points out that young folks are keen to work for companies that care about the planet and society.

Navi also introduces the idea of "Jugaad Innovation", which is all about making the most of what you have. But he says there's a balance: challenge your team, but don't overload them. Navi also explains how balanced constraints can drive innovation.

Navi Radjou is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.

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Today’s episode is with Thibaut Meurisse. Known for his best-selling book "Master Your Emotions: A Practical Guide to Overcome Negativity and Better Manage Your Feelings," Meurisse has made a significant impact on many lives. With nearly 10,000 reviews on Amazon, his book has resonated with a vast audience, demonstrating the universal need for emotional intelligence and management.

In our discussion, we discuss the realm of emotions and their impact on our daily lives. We explore Thibaut's journey as a writer and entrepreneur, his struggles with managing emotions, and his strategies for maintaining positivity and optimism.

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In today’s leadership spark, John Bacon, bestselling author of "Let Them Lead," discusses leadership principles and insights from John's book "Let Them Lead." Recounting his experience as a coach for the River Rats, John emphasizes the importance of finding the right roles for team members based on their behaviors and strengths. He highlights how crucial setting meaningful goals collaboratively with the team is, allowing them to take ownership. 

John also emphasizes the importance of genuine human connection as a leader, stating that caring about team members is the key, rather than using fear or faking connection. He shares examples from his coaching experience and stresses that leaders should care enough to guide their team members toward achieving their goals while maintaining high standards.

John Bacon is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.

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In this leadership spark, John Bacon, bestselling author of "Let Them Lead," shares his coaching experience with the struggling high school hockey team called the River Rats. He talks about the team's challenges like low morale and commitment issues due to constant losses and lack of training. John stresses the importance of maintaining high standards and the tough love approach to leadership, encouraging positive attitudes and strong work ethics among the players.

While acknowledging the diversity in individual performance levels, John believes that uniform behavioral expectations must be upheld for everyone. He also highlights building trust and fostering leadership within the team. He mentions how individuals can shine in different roles. The interview wraps up by noting that like coaches, leaders should be open, growing, and guiding their teams toward success.

John Bacon is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠

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In today’s leadership spark, I chat with John Bacon, bestselling author of "Let Them Lead". John shares his experience coaching America's worst high school hockey team, the River Rats and how he turned around the team's fortunes through a tough love approach, emphasizing a strong mission and raising the bar for performance. 

John reflects on the significance of making the mission challenging to make it special, drawing comparisons to the Navy SEALs and Peace Corps, where challenging missions attract the right people. The conversation touches on the importance of not compromising the mission by lowering expectations and the surprising positive results he achieved with the team's transformation.

John Bacon is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠

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Today's episode is with Scott Jeffrey Miller, an accomplished executive with Franklin Covey, a seven-time bestselling author, and the host of the 'On Leadership' podcast. We discuss the world of mentorship, and the 13 roles a mentor can play as outlined in Scott's recent book, "The Ultimate Guide to Great Mentorship."

Scott shares his insights on the differences between leadership and mentorship, emphasizing that not all great leaders make great mentors.

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Today's episode is with Paul Markovich, the president and CEO of Blue Shield of California. We explored the theme of vulnerability in leadership, discussing its importance and challenges. Paul shared his personal experiences, including the intense workload during the pandemic, which led to burnout and emotional stress. He opened up about the difficulty of maintaining a balance between personal life and professional responsibilities, and how that affected his interactions with his team.

We also discuss the loneliness of leadership, particularly when faced with the painful task of letting go of a friend within the organization. Paul emphasized the importance of vulnerability in building deep connections, making leaders more relatable, and fostering trust within the team. He also highlighted the balance that must be struck, as sharing too much or too little can have negative impacts.

Today's conversation underscored the human aspect of leadership and the complex dynamics that come with being at the helm of an organization.

Paul Markovich is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now⁠.

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In today’s leadership spark, Liz Wiseman, Bestselling Author of "Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter”, and I explore the shifting landscape of leadership challenges over the past decade. We discuss about how the role of a leader has transformed from leading to a predetermined better place to leading through uncertainty.

We also delve into the crucial skills of thinking like a futurist and being open to various scenarios and possibilities. Liz emphasizes that anyone, not just those in positions of authority, can embrace the multiplier mindset. She offers practical insights for remote team leadership, such as providing clarity through the "three what's" – what good looks like, what done looks like, and what's in scope.

Liz Wiseman is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠

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In today’s leadership spark, Liz Wiseman, Bestselling Author of "Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter”, and I dive deeper into a leadership discussion. Liz introduces her book on leadership and explores the characteristics and differences between "diminishers" and "multipliers" – two types of leaders. Diminishers unintentionally stifle creativity and productivity, while multipliers amplify the capabilities of their team members.

Moreover, Liz discusses how accidental diminisher tendencies can arise and she provides strategies to avoid them. Multipliers focus on leveraging others' talents, giving space for independent thinking, asking questions instead of telling, and involving junior team members in decision-making.

Liz Wiseman is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠

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In today’s leadership spark, I chat with Liz Wiseman, Bestselling Author of "Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter”. Our conversation touches on the themes of leadership and optimism, and the two types of leaders, which are "diminishers" and "multipliers." 

Moreover, we explore the concept of the multiplier effect, where leaders unlock the full potential of their team's intelligence, resulting in a culture of growth and high performance. In order to identify whether an employee is under a diminishing leader or a multiplier, Liz also mentions the research methodology she used, where professionals were asked to describe situations where they thrived under a leader and situations where they held back.

Liz Wiseman is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠

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In today's episode, we dive into the fast-paced world of drag racing with none other than John Force, an American NHRA drag racer. He is a 16-time NHRA and 1 time AHRA Funny Car champion driver and a 22-time champion car owner, and owner of John Force Racing. From humble beginnings in logging camps and trailer parks, John's journey to the pinnacle of his sport is a testament to hard work, resilience, and an unwavering never-give-up attitude. We discuss the intricacies of drag racing, exploring everything from team dynamics to the technological aspects that go into making a car race-ready.

John's passion for racing is palpable as he shares the thrill of the sport, the camaraderie of his team, and his constant pursuit of innovation and improvement. Even at the age of 74, John's dedication to his sport remains unwavering, with no plans of retiring and a continued commitment to competing professionally.

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Today's episode is with Roel Vestjens, Former CEO of Belden. We explored a wide range of topics, focusing on leadership, vulnerability, and personal growth. Roel shared his experiences and insights into the company's global operations and his time in Asia, where he learned valuable lessons about cultural sensitivity. We discussed the importance of vulnerability in leadership, with Roel emphasizing humility, openness, and the balance between vulnerability and strength.

We also discuss Roel's personal journey, including his early aspirations to become a CEO and how he navigated his career to achieve this goal. Throughout our conversation, Roel's emphasis on being human, approachable, and willing to learn from others resonated with me. His insights into embracing vulnerability and the qualities that have shaped him as a leader provided a compelling perspective on leadership and success at Belden. It was an enlightening conversation that offered valuable lessons for leaders at all levels.

Roel Vestjens is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠

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In today’s leadership spark, Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney discusses vulnerability and its role within high-functioning teams, such as fighter pilots and special operators. He emphasizes the importance of trust and openness, where vulnerability is embraced to improve performance and learn from mistakes. 

Dan shares personal experiences, including a near-fatal mistake during a flight and the financial struggles he faced while building a golf course. He highlights the significance of overcoming challenges and finding intentionality in daily actions, even during difficult times. The advice he gives to leaders is to create environments where failure is accepted and to focus on working hard and being nice as a simple yet effective leadership approach.

Dan Rooney is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠

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In today’s leadership spark, Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney, a fighter pilot and Founder of Folds of Honor Foundation, discusses the dangers of complacency in leadership and life. He shares a personal story from a combat mission, highlighting the empowering feeling of being solely responsible for others' lives. 

Dan emphasizes the importance of discipline over motivation and outlines his daily code, "Kaboo," which helps him stay focused and intentional. While acknowledging that failure happens during missions, he stresses the significance of learning from mistakes to continually improve performance and achieve excellence.

Dan Rooney is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠

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In today’s leadership spark, I chat with Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney, Founder of Folds of Honor Foundation. Dan shares remarkable life lessons learned from being a fighter pilot and how he applies it to his leadership and personal growth. 

Dan shares three transformative lessons he learned during his training: starting every day with gratitude, staying ready so you don't have to get ready, and going before you're ready. Dan also shares a personal story about overcoming complacency and the dangers of tying identity solely to achievements. He highlights the power of vulnerability and humility in leadership, acknowledging that struggles and setbacks are part of the human experience.

Dan Rooney is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.

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In this episode, I speak with Caryl Stern, a remarkable leader and philanthropist. Caryl's background includes serving as the Executive Director of the Walton Family Foundation, being on the Board of Directors at The Container Store, and leading UNICEF USA. She shares the importance of doing good, influenced by her immigrant mentality and the serendipity of life. Caryl emphasizes being open to new opportunities and embracing roles that scare us. We discuss her pivotal moment in choosing philanthropy and the profound experiences she's encountered. Caryl highlights how helping others releases feel-good chemicals and the significance of humility.

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In today's episode, I speak with Stephen Smith, CEO of Amsted Industries. Stephen shares his belief that vulnerability is about acknowledging that you can be wrong and being willing to expose yourself as a human being. He emphasized that showing vulnerability helps to level the playing field and eliminates defensiveness, which can hinder effective decision-making.

Stephen recounted instances where he openly admitted his ignorance during meetings, which he believes fosters a culture of learning and growth. He also highlighted the importance of sharing personal experiences, such as his joy of becoming a grandparent, to help others see him as a human being with similar joys and emotions.

We discussed the importance of balancing vulnerability with strength, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephen believes that being vulnerable can convey strength and security, and it's crucial to communicate both effectively. He also shared that he's been vulnerable in his personal life, such as taking piano lessons at 65 and performing in a recital alongside a five-year-old prodigy.

Stephen believes that living a life where you're not always the powerful person but sometimes the vulnerable one is important, especially as a leader.

Stephen Smith is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠

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In this leadership spark, Bill George, former Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, discusses the essence of authentic leadership. He stresses the importance of finding one's True North – understanding personal beliefs, passions, motivations, and sources of fulfillment – by reflecting on past experiences and crucibles. 

Bill emphasizes staying aligned with your True North and resisting compromising values for short-term gains or external validation. He advocates for emotional intelligence and vulnerability, encouraging leaders to seek feedback, learn from experiences, and make principled decisions. Ultimately, he inspires aspiring leaders to lead authentically, empowering others and making a positive difference.

Bill George is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.

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In today’s leadership spark, Bill George, former Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, dives deep into the most critical aspect of any company: its people. He highlights the importance of frontline employees and their role in driving the success of the organization. 

Bill mentions the importance of creating an environment where innovation can thrive. He encourages leaders to have a high tolerance for failure and to learn from setbacks. Bill also finds personal development crucial as a leader and emphasizes the importance of self-awareness. He suggests regularly seeking 360-degree feedback for growth and reflecting and taking time to evaluate one's actions and impact on others.

Bill George is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.

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In today’s leadership spark, I chat with Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic and Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, about his leadership journey and experiences. Bill shares how his father's advice, to be the leader he never became, shaped his career. He also discusses his early struggles with leadership, and he emphasizes the importance of caring about people and building deep connections as a leader. 

Bill recalls his early leadership role at Litton Industries and how a crisis there taught him invaluable lessons in leading through tough times. He also talks about his time at Medtronic, the growth of the company, and the significance of innovation and developing inspired leaders. Overall, the discussion revolves around the evolution of leadership, the impact of relationships, and the changing expectations of leaders in modern times.

Bill George is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.

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