The Courageous Leadership Podcast

The challenge of execution is not a new problem.  In fact it is probably one of the most documented and enduring problems that organizations face. For decades Leaders & Managers have lamented that one of their most frustrating issue is the inability to successfully execute their most important initiatives. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list & receive my free Common Sense Leadership Guide! When we don't reach our goals we usually attribute the failure to a lack of detailed planning.  As leaders we get "suckered" into thinking that if we created more detailed plans our vision would be clearly communicated.  To get the results we want, we erroneously exert more detail & control believing this is the only answer for not meeting our objectives. What we miss, however, is that specifying too much detail actually shakes confidence and creates uncertainty if things do't go as anticipated (which the most assuredly will).  The more detailed the instructions or plan, the less likely it will fit into a real situation.  And when this happens you actually create more friction. So what we end doing is exerting even more control; more planning; more detail and begin taking charge of things at lower levels.  We begin taking over tasks that other people are supposed to be doing, more or less dispensing them of their efforts.  In return we multiply our own tasks to the point we can no longer carry them out.  It becomes a vicious cycle. It is critical for us as leaders that we retain a clear big picture of what it is we want to accomplish; not if some particular thing is done this way or that. In this podcast I talk about how to obtain & maintain a strategic mindset; a mindset that isn't focused on developing a strategic detailed plan but instead is focused on developing a strategic "intent". HIghlights of this podcast: Detail is not the same as Clarity...in fact it is the enemy. The higher up the leadership chain we are, the more general our instructions should be. A leaders guidance should be completely focused on what we want to accomplish & why. Once we communicate what we want to achieve & why, we can introduce accountability into the mix by delegating the how to our subordinates. Instead of focusing on creating detailed plans, we focus on clarity & alignment. The more alignment you create, the more autonomy you can grant. Instead of trying to manage chaos by controlling the "how" you instead exploit chaos by commanding the what & why. The end result is an organization that isn't dependent upon being led by a leadership genius; instead the entire organization becomes and "intelligent organization" with no dependency on exceptional individuals. [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

For years my focus on leadership development & growth was centered around the idea of attracting & influencing followers.  I think most leaders believe the pinnacle of successful leadership is having a dedicated and devoted team of followers who look to you for guidance. But focusing your leadership ambitions on creating loyal followers is short-sighted; you can certainly grow and be an effective leader by leading followers.  But if you really want to maximize your leadership and catapult your life & organization to a completely different level, you need to dedicate your time & energy to developing other leaders. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list & receive my free Common Sense Leadership Guide! There is no other way to experience explosive growth. In this podcast episode I talk about how becoming a leader who develops other leaders requires a completely different mindset and focus. I highlight the differences between leaders who attract followers & leaders who develop leaders as stated in John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Leaders Who Attract Followers...Need to Be Needed ; Leaders Who Develop Leaders...Want to Be Succeed Leaders Who Attract Followers....Develop the Bottom 20 Percent ; Leaders Who Develop Leaders Develop the Top 20 Percent Leaders Who Attract Followers....Focus on Weakness ; Leaders Who Develop Leaders Focus on Strengths Leaders Who Attract Followers....Treat Everyone the Same ; Leaders Who Develop Leaders Treat Individuals Differently Leaders Who Attract Followers....Spend Time with Others ; Leaders Who Develop Leaders Invest Time in Others Leaders Who Attract Followers....Grow by Addition; Leaders Who Develop Leaders Grow by Multiplication It sounds so simple to focus on developing leaders instead of followers, but the reality is it is difficult.  It's difficult because leaders are: Hard to find. Hard to gather. Hard to keep. It's worth the effort because leaders who develop leaders experience an incredible multiplication effect that cannot be replicated any other way. [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

Leadership demands an inquisitive mindset; we must be curious if we are going to be leaders.  Leadership growth is stimulated by asking "Why?". Many people will never ask why enough in their lifetime; they feel that it is not their place or obligation.  I believe that we are all born to be naturally curious, but somewhere along the way we are taught not ask too many questions. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list & receive my free Common Sense Leadership Guide! This is a shame because asking why is often the catalyst to transformational growth and change. I also believe that all of us can "learn" to become curious again; as leaders we are required to pursue & cultivate our curiosity.  So how do we do it? In this podcast episode I talk about: Believing that we can be curious; curiosity comes from a desire to learn - so desire to learn! Having a beginner's mindset; this stokes the fire in your heart for leadership growth. Making WHY your favorite word; "why" gets to the core reason, intent, & purpose Surrounding yourself with other curious people; this will stimulate your own curiosity. Having the discipline to learn something new everyday. Partaking in the fruit of failure; failed experiences allow us to "learn" not "lose". Stop looking for THE right answer; leaders don't assume there is ONLY one right direction. Getting over ourselves; trying new things may mean we will look foolish. Curiosity is the key to leadership growth.  While we can be happy with answers, accomplishments, & milestones, we must never stop asking questions.  Curiosity can make up for so many natural weaknesses in our own lives. We owe it to ourselves as leaders to put no limits on our own curiosity. [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

Time management is a true oxymoron; none of us can truly manage time.  Time continues whether we attempt to manage it or not. Time comes at us in the same exact increments no matter how fast you think, act, or plan. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list & receive my free Common Sense Leadership Guide! But as Henry David Thoreau said: "It is not enough to be busy.  The question is, 'What are we busy about?'" Being busy does NOT mean you're achieving; instead we need to ask ourselves the question: "What are we accomplishing?"   It's not about what we are doing. Instead of a "To-Do" list we need to shift our focus to setting priorities.  Prioritizing requires that leaders continually look ahead and see how everything relates to the overall vision. True prioritization forces us to do things that are the least comfortable for us; sometimes they are quite painful. But that is the power of prioritization; it puts life in it's proper perspective. It shifts our mindset away from being busy with "To-Do" tasks and away from attempting to manage time.  Setting life priorities allow us to begin the productive process of managing your life. [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

The best way to crush mediocrity in our personal & professional lives is having the ability & courage to make sound and timely decisions. To make sound decisions you certainly know your mission, what you're capable of doing to accomplish it, & what possible traps or obstacles that could get in your way. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list & receive my free Common Sense Leadership Guide! I would argue that timeliness, however, is more important that soundness.  It is much more beneficial to make a timely, less than perfect, decision than it is to make a theoretically correct/perfect decision that is too late. In this podcast I talk about the importance and benefits of increasing your intuitive ability & tactical judgment so that you are capable of making rapid decisions under stressful circumstances. There is great power in our intuitive abilities yet we often ignore this natural instinct in favor of a more formal & analytical approach.  Though seemingly legitimate, analytical decision making is often time-consuming & cumbersome; a luxury we don't often have in modern day leadership positions. By improving your intuitive decision making abilities you will gain confidence to make more rapid decisions with partial information.  A good rule of thumb is using the 75% test for all of your decision making; once you have obtained 75% of all of the information necessary to make a decision, use your intuition, experience, & expertise to fill in the remaining 25%. The result is positive energy & forward momentum that is desperately needed to break the mediocre cycle plaguing our personal & professional lives. [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

In 1920 there was a major change of attitude in the officer Corps with the U.S. Marines. General John Lejeune, the Commandant of the Marine Corps at the time, wrote the following on the heels of World War I: The World War wrought a great change in the relations between officers & enlisted men in the military services.  A spirit of comradeship & brotherhood in arms came into being in the training camps and on the battlefields.  This spirit is too fine a thing to be allowed to die.  It must be fostered & kept alive and made the move force in all Marine Corps organizations.  (Fleet Marine Force Manual 1-0) I love how General Lejeune recognized that there was great power & potential in the enlisted ranks of the time.  This leadership philosophy was institutionalized within the Marine Corps and has been a direct contributor to the massive success the Marine Corps has experienced. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list & receive my free Common Sense Leadership Guide! In this podcast episode I talk about how, as leaders, we need to adopt this "Teacher-Scholar" relationship with our subordinates.  Some of the highlights are: The leadership responsibility has to be spread throughout all levels. The mission demands that anyone should be able to carry-on if the leaders is taken out of the "fight". Teach your people to take your job; this creates depth & sustainability. Take the ambitions & dreams of your people seriously. It is in the Leader's best interest to become a teacher. If you don't teach your personnel, somebody else will, for better or worse. [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

Pain & loss are inevitable facts of life; how you choose to deal with them is what can turn your failures into your greatest successes. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list & receive my free Common Sense Leadership Guide! The encouraging reality of dealing with pain & loss is that good management of bad experiences leads to great growth. I love the quote from John McDonnell where he said, "Every problem introduces a person to himself."  Pain can stop us dead in our tracks; or it can cause us to make decisions towards transformation and growth.  Pain prompts us to face who we are and where we are.  What we do with our painful experiences defines who we become. In the Podcast episode I discuss the "Truths About Bad Experiences": Everyone has them Bad experiences are not unique to anyone. No one likes them. Few Make Bad Experiences Positive Experiences. and & "How to Turn Pain Into Gain": We can choose how to respond to every experience. Do you start with an expectation that you can people are good, or that experiences can be dealt with? With a positive life stance, good will become better and bad will not be as bad. A positive life stance WILL find positive lessons in every experience. It may seem hard, maybe even cruel or callous, but no matter what happens, our attitude toward a negative experience (Positive and hopeful, or negative and defeated) will put us on a CHOSEN path. Here is a solid truth about being accountable and responsible for one’s life: “Very few are.” [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

Setting the Example is such a basic leadership fundamental; I usually lead off with this tenant in all of my leadership talks. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list & receive my free Common Sense Leadership Guide! It's one of those basic, common sense, leadership principles that when we hear it we say to ourselves, "of course, I understand that".  But successful leaders realize that you have to be intentional about setting the example.  It's easy to get complacent and forget that we are always on a stage; that one of the prices of leadership is personal freedom and being under a constant spotlight. In this latest Courageous Leadership podcast episode I discuss the following concepts as it relates to "Setting the Example": You are a role model: Whether you like it or not, or realize it or not, you must realize that leadership positions demand that you accept the responsibility as a role model.  I find it amusing that certain celebrities, politicians, & athletes claim that they have a right to be something different out of the spotlight.  Hogwash; one of the realities we have to deal with when we accept a leadership role is constant scrutiny and visibility to those we are accountable for. Therefore you must be the same person "on & off stage" and hold yourself to a higher standard.  Perception is reality: And sense we are constantly "on stage" we have to be "maniacal" about how we are perceived.  One of the unfortunate realities of life is that many times the facts don't simply matter.  If you are perceived to be a thief, liar, untrustworthy, etc that is the "truth" in someone else's eyes.  Therefore you must be diligent in your behavior and constantly ask yourself how you are being perceived.  Facts are important, facts are your friends, but never forget the power of perception and optics. Attention to detail:  Because perception is reality, paying strict attention to the smallest of details will often set you apart from the pack.  People will notice how you are dressed, if you are chewing gum, if you swear, if you leave early from work, etc.  Be "maniacal" about the small stuff and you will be noticed for your efforts. Avoid "appearing" managerial:  Being a leader is about position or title; it's about action.  I've seen many a leader think that their position relies on delegating and relying on their positional authority to get things done.  In reality their will be times where you actively need to show your people how you want things done.  I'm all for setting the intent and leaving the "how" up to your folks; I hate micro-management.  But, if you don't like how something is being done, roll up your sleeves and get down in the trenches and show them how you expect it to be done.  If you don't like how the toilets are getting cleaned, there should be nothing stopping you to show them exactly how you want it to be done.  Your position doesn't put you above anything you are asking your folks to do. At the end of the day, Setting the Example is simply doing the right thing, even when no-one is looking. [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

One requirement of leadership is to "know yourself & seek self-improvement".  To understand your true potential you must get comfortable and be honest with the person you see in the mirror. Click here to subscribe to my mailing list & receive my free Common Sense Leadership Guide! It's astonishing to realize how many of us deal with low self-image and low self-esteem.  Self esteem is the one of the most important key's to a person's behavior.  Having low self esteem puts a ceiling on our potential.  The value we place on ourselves is usually the value others will place on us. In this podcast episode I talk about the steps John Maxwell suggest we take to begin developing yourself and creating a positive self image.  The steps include: Guarding your self-talk Stop Comparing Yourself to Others Crush Self-Limiting Beliefs Add Value to Others Do the Right Thing Even If It's the Hard Thing Practice Daily Small Discipline Celebrate Small Victories Take Responsibility for Your Life [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

I absolutely hate mediocrity; I cannot stand the idea of settling and not stretching to our full potential.  I think as leaders we are obligated to shoot for better than average or mediocre. Creating an environment of initiative, assertiveness, and aggressive enthusiasm is a leadership requirement. As a leader if you have ever settled for the status quo and then wondered why our organizations or lives aren't going where we want, then we have to be willing to recognize that the only way to reach our real potential is to get out of our comfort zone and create a environment that crushes mediocrity. In this podcast episode I talk about how to promote this environment of initiative & assertiveness by: Pushing decision making down to the absolute lowest level; Decentralized decision making is imperative. Reward your folks for asking for "forgiveness" instead of "permission". Rejecting “Zero Defects” mentality. Promoting the 75% solution. Introduces speed / adaptability within the chaos. Focus on the “Intent” Tell them “what” you want Leave the “how” up to them [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

When I look back and replay the tape on some of my leadership failures, the failures often stemmed from me taking my eye off of the simple and obvious.  The times I have failed as a leader were those times I was focused on myself. As leaders we have to realize the basic essential hunger that rests in all of us; the desire to be appreciated, approved, valued, and accepted. It’s so basic and ripe with “common sense”, but if we as leaders could learn to focus all of our energy on serving others, we could overcome many of the problems that are plaguing our businesses, schools, homes, and personal lives. If you want to be appreciated, then you must show & give appreciation. You want to be approved and valued, then you must generously dish out approval and value.  You want to be accepted, then you must learn to accept others and love them where they’re at. As the famous saying goes about recognition: grown men die for it and babies cry for it. Some of the best leaders I have worked for were those that were generous in their appreciation and validation.  Receiving a simple thank you note, e-mail, or verbal praise at a meeting meant more to me than any fancy award or formal recognition.  The key was that their appreciation was genuine and sincere. The beautiful thing about appreciation is that it’s one of those gifts that the more you give away, the more you’ll get in return.  Don’t be stingy with this valuable gift. Remember, at the root of all successful leadership is a servant heart.  Despite what you are feeling inside, be deliberate in choosing to focus your energy on others. It’s never about you; it’s always about them. [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

Personal Growth is not a natural process in most people’s lives. In this podcast I discuss how being intentional is the first step in your personal & leadership growth; and I highlight John Maxwell's "Growth Gap Traps": The Assumption Gap – “I assume that I will automatically grow.” The Knowledge Gap – “I don’t know how to grow” The Timing Gap – “It’s not the right time to begin.” The Mistake Gap – “I am afraid of making mistakes” The Perfection Gap – “I have to find the best way before I start” The inspiration Gap – “I don’t feel like doing it.” The Comparison Gap – “Others are better than I am” The Expectation Gap – “I thought it would be easier than this.” [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

Confidence is a cornerstone of authentic leadership; it's also at the "core" of a natural charismatic leadership style. Intuitively we all know that we need to be confident to be leaders; we naturally follow and are drawn to confident leaders. So the question becomes how do we gain confidence? It certainly comes with knowledge and experience.  But the unfortunate reality is that we are often thrust into positions and situations which we have little knowledge or experience in; yet the requirement for confidence is still there. In this podcast episode I discuss how great leaders are confident in themselves, their vision, & their people. I also go into detail in what I think are the great "Confidence Killers": Low Self Image: "I don't think I can" rises from a deeper "I don't think I AM." Fear: True confidence doesn't come from always being RIGHT; rather it comes from not fearing to be WRONG. Other People's Opinion of You: If you worry about what people think about you, it's because you have more confidence in their opinion of you that you have of your own. [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

One of the greatest leadership challenges is the actual act of leading ourselves. Some things to consider/some brutal facts to face when we deal with self-leadership: Activity does not necessarily equal accomplishment. Leaders who aren’t focused aren’t as effective as they could be. Human nature seems to endow us with the ability to size up everybody in the world except ourselves. In this podcast episode I discuss the Keys to Leading Yourself Learn follower-ship. What does it truly mean to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes? Develop Self-Discipline. Especially in the areas of: Time usage Money management Thinking positive and character building thoughts Developing your own purpose Leading your life or being lead through life Practice Patience.  The point of leading is not to cross the finish line first.  It’s to take people across the finish line with you. Seek Accountability.  Personal and professional accountability are imperative because we all have a human nature that will lead us astray. We must earn the right to lead anyone beyond ourselves. [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]

When I think of the concept of courage I’m often drawn towards those larger than life, uncommon examples of valor that are held in reverence and awe. For example, Medal of Honor recipient Sgt John Basilone on Guadalcanal repelling 3,000 Japanese for three days and nights without sleep, rest, or food; or Neil Armstrong taking control away from the computer and manually flying the Lunar Module to a safer landing spot on the moon with only 40 seconds of fuel to spare. It’s easy to understand courage in this context; these “life and death” type scenarios.  But what about courage in the “everyday” that we are required to exhibit? I think most of us equate courage as fearless acts of valor that are reserved for larger-than-life scenarios.  It’s easy to look at these type of fearless acts and wonder if we have what it takes to exhibit courage; and therefore be a leader. It’s important to note, however, that exhibiting courage does not mean that one acts without fear. In fact fear is actually a requirement of courage.  Courage is the act of being scared to death and doing what’s required anyway.  One of my favorite quotes comes from World War I Ace Eddie Rickenbacker where he said, “Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do.  There can be no courage unless you’re scared.” In this context, every day we are faced with courageous choices and acts.  Every time you act upon your gut instincts; every time you listen and follow your heart; every time you choose to do the right thing; you’re exhibiting courage. It takes everyday acts of courage to deal with your life situations, love, family and work. [saf feature="itunes" cta="Subscribe & Follow in iTunes"]