The Leadership Podcast  By  cover art

The Leadership Podcast

By: Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos experts on leadership development
  • Summary

  • We interview great leaders, review the books they read, and speak with highly influential authors who study them.
    Copyright © 2016-2023 Rafti Advisors, LLC & Self Reliant Leadership, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
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Episodes
  • TLP406: Dream, Think, Do With Mitch Matthews
    Apr 24 2024
    Mitch Matthews, a top success coach and host of the Dream, Think, Do Podcast, introduces his approach focused on ambitious dreaming, strategic thinking, and taking action. He underscores the importance of giving clients room to dream, followed by thoughtful planning and actionable steps. Mitch questions the prevailing hustle culture, promoting a balance between ambition and contentment, anchored in joy that aligns with core values. He advocates for valuing experiences over achievements, setting goals that foster feelings like joy, and rejects the notion of focusing on just "one thing," encouraging experimentation and learning instead. Additionally, he highlights the responsibility of true leaders in understanding and supporting team members through their personal struggles. https://bit.ly/TLP-406 Key Takeaways: [05:32] Mitch shares about his program helping people dream big, think better, and take action. Despite initial hesitancy around the word "dream," the guest emphasizes its significance in the process. He highlights the importance of creating space for clients to dream, followed by thinking and doing. The focus is on experimentation and learning from experiences to help individuals discover their purpose. [8:51] He shares a story of someone who didn't achieve their dream outcome initially but found fulfillment by incorporating more of what they enjoyed. The example of Shawn Askinosie, a trial attorney turned chocolate maker, illustrates the importance of experimenting and taking small steps toward one's passions. Shawn's intentional exploration led to the launch of a successful small batch chocolate company, showcasing the power of experimentation and gradual steps in discovering one's true calling. [13:24] Mitch reflects on the contrast between the hustle culture's emphasis on constant activity and the idea of contentment. Challenging the notion that contentment is incompatible with ambition, he touches on the pursuit of consistent joy, which, unlike happiness, is rooted in core values and identity, transcending external circumstances. Mitch also emphasizes the importance of experiencing joy as a key aspect of personal fulfillment and success. [15:07] He discusses the concept of "reset week" and introduces a strategy called the GET Method to chart a course for the year. Mitch emphasizes starting with gratitude, as it induces a positive state change. Instead of focusing solely on achievements, the approach involves considering what experiences one wants to have in the coming year. He also notes that many goals are driven by the desire for specific experiences, such as joy and satisfaction. By prioritizing these experiences alongside goals, individuals can enjoy the journey without solely fixating on checking items off a to-do list. [18:21] Mitch reflects on the notion of waiting for the "one thing" and advises against this mindset. He shares his experience as a recovering perfectionist, highlighting that perfectionism is often misinterpreted as procrastination. Perfectionists may struggle with completing tasks until they find the perfect way, leading to delays. He also emphasizes the need to overcome perfectionism by acknowledging that there isn't just one perfect way, but rather multiple experiments and trials that can help individuals figure things out through momentum and learning along the way. [21:54] He expresses a positive view of therapy, emphasizing its benefits and likening it to a necessary cleansing process. Mitch advocates for seeking a good therapist, comparing the therapeutic journey to dating and highlighting its value even in different seasons of life. Therapy often looks back to address past hurts, while coaching primarily focuses on looking forward, helping clients identify and achieve their desired future. [25:33] Mitch stresses the importance of true leaders understanding their team members and assisting them in addressing personal challenges. He advocates for transparency and openness about seeking therapy or counseling, highlighting that discussing mental well-being is now more widely accepted and celebrated, especially among successful individuals. [27:24] He emphasizes that being an introvert doesn't mean disliking people or being bad with them. In fact, introverts can make excellent coaches, as they often redirect the spotlight onto others by asking questions and focusing on their needs. The key is to understand how you restore and recharge after a challenging day. [29:49] Mitch explains that he personally dedicates at least an hour each morning to spend time in nature, regardless of the weather. He highlights the importance of understanding how each person restores and recharges, emphasizing that not everyone needs to follow the same routine. For him, nature and spending time with his big dog play a crucial role in restoration. He advises individuals to identify how they restore and incorporate those activities into their daily lives. ...
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    43 mins
  • TLP405: Stress Inoculation With Eric Kapitulik
    Apr 17 2024
    Eric Kapitulik, founder and CEO of the Program Leadership, highlights the dual roles of being an effective team member and leader across various teams. Stressing the importance of excelling in both, he notes that while organizational values differ, establishing clear values is crucial. He points out that effective communication and developing a culture of accountability are key to success. Eric emphasizes that maintaining long-term success, regardless of external factors, requires a steadfast commitment to promoting a culture of accountability individually and within teams. As the conclusion of the podcast, Eric relays a moving and powerful story from his experience as a young leader. https://bit.ly/TLP-405 Key Takeaways: [03:13] Eric reflects on the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and shares the varying levels of resilience observed in people and organizations. He acknowledges the importance of teaching resilience, but emphasizes the deficiency in its practical development. Eric stresses the need for intentional stress inoculation, pushing oneself beyond the comfort zone, both physically and mentally. [5:51] He shares his own distinction between labeling experiences as "challenging" instead of using the word "hard." Eric also shares that the only truly "hard" experience in his life is someone’s death, but with other challenges, viewing them as opportunities for growth and improvement rather than genuine hardship. He acknowledges the universal nature of facing challenges and highlights the importance of embracing them as chances to grow and get better. [8:10] Eric mentions that, while he is the program's founder, he attributes its success to the collaborative efforts of the team. He recognizes that with effective communication and leadership skills, the program evolved and now collaborates with 160 athletic teams annually. [12:14] He acknowledges the challenges of creating stable plans, as circumstances tend to change every six months, in discussing long-term planning. Despite having financial goals for the program, he emphasizes the importance of standards over goals. While goals focus on performance, standards revolve around behavior. The uniqueness of the program lies in the need to embody their advice authentically. Rather than solely concentrating on goals, he explains the significance of daily behavior in achieving success; when standards are consistently upheld, desired outcomes naturally follow. [14:48] Eric explains the systemic nature of goal-setting within organizations, driven by the benefits of achievement and consequences of failure. Leaders are encouraged to identify and communicate their organizational values, which become the foundation of the company's culture. Daily standards, aligned with these values, are considered crucial for reinforcing the desired culture. He then highlights the challenge of claiming a culture, such as discipline, without consistent daily adherence to established standards. Eric gives focus on the significance of organizations being true to their stated values, implementing standards that support them, and fostering a culture of accountability for sustained success. [17:44] He mentions the importance of reinforcing positive behavior in addition to holding individuals accountable for not meeting standards. Eric advocates for fostering courage in everyday situations, such as addressing bullying or having children take responsibility for their actions. He also shares the need for consistent debriefs within organizations to assess what's going well, what needs improvement, and promote a continuous improvement mindset. [24:30] Eric emphasizes the importance of both individual and team roles in achieving success. He explains the dual responsibilities of being a great teammate and leader on various teams, and there is a need to excel in both roles. However, he acknowledges that values may differ across organizations but also stresses the importance of having clear values. He shares the key factors for success, which are effective communication and fostering a culture of accountability. Long-term success, regardless of external factors, requires a non-negotiable commitment to a culture of accountability at both the personal and team levels. [27:44] As he reflects on his past mistakes, Eric acknowledges the profound impact of a specific realization—being the man one would want their daughter to marry. This shift in perspective becomes a pivotal point for Eric, and addresses the need to overcome the impulse to prove oneself right, and there must be value of open discussions and being receptive to improvement. Although the journey towards improvement must be embraced, he still encourages a mindset of continuous growth and learning. [35:21] Eric reflects on one of his experiences in his military days, he reinforces the importance of demonstrating courage in the face of fear. Eric urges leaders to embrace moments that make ...
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    38 mins
  • TLP404: You’re the Leader. Now What? With Dr. Richard Winters
    Apr 10 2024
    Dr. Richard Winters, Mayo Clinic's Leadership Development Program Director and author of “You're the Leader. Now What?: Leadership Lessons from Mayo Clinic,” discusses the dynamic challenges of healthcare leadership. He highlights issues like global healthcare professional shortages and emphasizes the need for teamwork amidst constant change. Dr. Richard advocates for understanding and leading diverse teams, focusing on tackling challenges such as resource scarcity and disagreements. In his book, he outlines actionable steps for leaders, promoting forward-thinking within constraints and encouraging openness to exploring varied life paths and personal fulfillment. https://bit.ly/TLP-404 Key Takeaways: [01:38] Dr. Richard is an emergency physician at Mayo Clinic who also engages in leadership programs. Despite an unconventional journey into medicine as a former punk rock skateboarder, he values the dynamic schedule of emergency medicine over standard clinic hours. Acknowledging the challenges, he emphasizes the importance of community and collaboration in providing effective emergency care. Grateful for the efforts of first responders, Dr. Richard recognizes the crucial role they play in critical situations. [05:30] He addresses challenges in hospital practice, emphasizing global shortages of healthcare professionals. In his leadership insights, he highlights the dynamic nature of healthcare, with constant changes and teamwork requirements. Reflecting on his career, Dr. Richard notes the shift from individual care to collaborative leadership, stressing the importance of understanding and leading diverse teams in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. [09:42] Dr. Richard shares his book’s focus which is on the challenges in healthcare leadership—scarce resources, disagreements, and the need for solutions. He advocates a forward-looking approach, urging leaders to think what they like to do given limitations. He also refers to the Cynefin framework by David Snowden for decision-making in uncertain situations, particularly highlighting the importance of transitioning from crisis to complex environments in healthcare leadership. [11:36] He explains the dual challenge of dealing with both well-known best practices and unknown, dynamic situations in leadership. Leaders must navigate between conventional approaches and the need to address new pressures. Dr. Richard shares the dynamic nature of leadership, especially for physician-scientist leaders, focusing the shift from trusting data to effectively conveying narratives. He highlights that leadership involves not just external adaptation, but also internal growth and the challenge of balancing authenticity with the demands of the role. [14:40] Dr. Richard explores the liminal space in leadership, navigating dichotomies within departments, organizations, and professions. He emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between individual and collective stories, acknowledging the ever-evolving narrative in leadership. Connecting values like respect and integrity to specific behaviors, he also stresses the significance of leaders embodying organizational values in their actions. Dr. Richard explains the significance of healthcare leaders translating values into tangible behaviors to cultivate a positive organizational culture. [21:39] He shares the challenge of aligning business and healthcare interests and emphasizes the importance of individual well-being. He critiques traditional wellness programs and advocates for a focus on psychological well-being components like purpose alignment, autonomy, personal growth, and positive relations. Dr. Richard also emphasizes the need for organizational commitment to measuring well-being as a vital sign and promoting a culture that values collective decision-making, autonomy, and purpose alignment. [29:04] Dr. Richard stresses the importance of being willing to explore different paths in life, while encouraging leaders and individuals to consider alternative options. He also focuses on the need for open conversations about personal fulfillment, even if it means exploring unconventional paths like opening a surf shop in a cold climate. Dr. Richard uses the metaphor of a garden to illustrate that humans are not confined to one place and can find fulfillment in different areas. [31:51] He reflects on the commonalities of change across various industries, acknowledging the profound transformations driven by technology and AI. He emphasizes the ongoing inflection point in different sectors, marked by consolidations, evolving job roles, and the integration of data. Dr. Richard also expresses excitement about the potential opportunities in healthcare due to increased data sharing and innovative leadership approaches. He gives focus on the importance of leaders challenging tradition, being bold, and skillfully guiding organizations through change. [34:15] Dr. Richard also reflects on ...
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    37 mins

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