#4 Mike O’Dell Chief Playmaker/Strategist at MiChris Ltd: A thriving team knows its purpose.

Introduction to the Guest

Clients that Mike works with are senior leaders in their company and often the CEO, but include executives heading to the top and high potentials. Mike focuses on one-to-one engagements with his clients to help them identify their personal growth needs so that they can achieve more and excel. He facilitates team workshops to enable business leaders to clarify goals, their personal contribution, and determine the level of personal commitment necessary to achieve them. Mike established himself as an HR leader and executive working at FTSE 100/250 companies prior to moving across to the rapidly evolving Fintech sector. For the past 10 years Mike has focussed on Executive Coaching and building high performance teams. He is skilled in stimulating personal growth and holds a Diploma in Executive Coaching from the AoEC, and the prestigious ICF and EMCC accreditations. He is also licensed to use psychometric, organimetric, and EQ profiling tools.

Summary

In this conversation, Mike shares his insights on building a thriving team culture, the evolution of leadership styles, and the importance of emotional intelligence in organizations. He discusses the disconnect often found in leadership, the role of individual psychology versus collective traits, and the significance of diversity in team dynamics. Mike also emphasizes the need for self-awareness and adaptability in leaders, while sharing tools for diagnosing team health and the potential pitfalls of leadership failures. He concludes with his coaching philosophy and future endeavors.

Takeaways

• A thriving team knows its purpose and individual contributions.

• Leadership should involve everyone in the decision-making process.

• Volunteerism in leadership can lead to powerful outcomes.

• Clarity in leadership is essential for team success.

• Short-term success can be achieved through coercion, but it's not sustainable.

• Self-awareness is crucial for effective leadership.

• Diversity in teams enhances problem-solving and creativity.

• Emotional intelligence is key to understanding team dynamics.

• Leaders should not believe their own hype and remain humble.

• Coaching can significantly enhance individual and team performance.