Leadership is a never-ending process if you do it right. There is always another level of growth for those that you lead. I talked to a client the other day about the quote that starts, "teaching a man to fish." Many believe that leadership is about serving your people. I agree. However, some don't understand that it is not about telling them what to do, but leadership is about leading them to figure it out. The Chinese proverb about giving a man a fish vs. teaching him to fish is a powerful way...
Nov 17, 2020•4 min•Ep. 640
Leadership is not just about results. Of course, you have to execute. You also have to put your heart in leadership to create a team that wants to join you on your mission. Putting your heart in leadership will allow you to build a connection and belonging across the team. My guest today is John Hightower, CEO of Arch and Tower. John shares what putting heart in leadership looks like in today's modern workplace. We talk about vulnerability and authenticity. When you have a heart in leadership, y...
Nov 16, 2020•26 min•Ep. 639
The work in defining your company values may seem like fluffy work. However, after talking with hundreds of leaders from the Inc 5000, I can assure you that defining your company values is a strategic move that pays off. We look in the trenches with a company that has grown incredibly fast by emphasizing company values. Today, my interview is with Sam Bobley, Co-founder, at Ocrolus. They offer a service for document-driven workflows in the digital space to help clients make faster, smarter decis...
Nov 12, 2020•23 min•Ep. 638
Imagine the power of visionary leadership that connects people and aligns the work to a robust culture. It is financial health, strong employee experience, and your own peace of mind. The vision of culture is not something we take time to consider, given the need for focus on today's issues. I invite you to think about your vision of culture as the company grows and evolves. This is an essential part of your success as a leader sees the future and aligns resources to what is most important. The ...
Nov 10, 2020•4 min•Ep. 637
One big issue in leadership is still the lack of representation of women in leadership. The surprising thing is that the strong women in my life are all strong leaders, so it makes sense that we would have more women leaders at work too. Today we look at how to improve the numbers of women in leadership. My guest is Heather Elrod, CEO at Amazing Lash Studio. Her company was ranked #260 on the 2018 Inc 5000 list. Amazing Lash Studio has made this list for three consecutive years. Heather shares h...
Nov 09, 2020•24 min•Ep. 636
Creating a fantastic experience for your employees and partners is done with intention. Some of the keys to this are transparent communication and an open environment. Today's guest is Bill Spohn, Co-founder of TruTech Tools. His company was ranked #4643 on the 2019 Inc 5000 list. We look at why they open up the financials. They also train their employees to understand the financials. Transparent communication is one of the key drivers that Bill says has impacted the company's continuous growth....
Nov 05, 2020•22 min•Ep. 635
When you decide to improve your leadership skills, you may think the best solution is to find the latest book on leadership. I have interviewed many authors in the world of leadership, and they are smart for sure, but they may also lead you down a different path. If you are the leader of an Inc 5000 company -- or want to be -- you might want to look to your peers on the Inc list. I study the founders and CEOs of fast-growth companies. In this video, you will find a few helpful insights to improv...
Nov 03, 2020•6 min•Ep. 634
This may sound scary to you, but you should encourage entrepreneurial thinking at all your company levels. When you have entrepreneurial thinking, you have a culture of ownership. Today's guest is Dr. Johnny Garcia, founder of SimIS. His company was ranked #3401 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. We look at the power of entrepreneurial thinking. This is something I have noticed in my research with other fast-growth companies. Join us today to look at entrepreneurial thinking as a way to improve autonomy...
Nov 02, 2020•25 min•Ep. 633
When you understand the underpinnings of culture, you will be a more decisive and effective leader. Alain Hunkins is a thought leader and expert in the area of culture. We talk about this book, "Cracking the Culture Code," that will unlock a new awareness in your leaders and impact your company. Alain Hunkins serves on the faculty of Duke Corporate Education. His clients include Wal-Mart, Pfizer, Citigroup, General Electric, State Farm Insurance, IBM, General Motors, and Microsoft. Today, Alain ...
Oct 29, 2020•27 min•Ep. 632
When you take time to attend meetings or even take time away from the office, do you feel a touch of anxiety about the amount of email that will clutter up your inbox? The "I get too much email" is a familiar feeling for anyone who is a business founder. Today, we look at some of the real issues that lead to "too much email." There is a bigger problem going on that you have to understand. Discover some new approaches to the despair of "too much email." Get the show notes for What to Do When You ...
Oct 27, 2020•6 min•Ep. 631
Decisions shape the stories of our lives. Better decision making requires you to use everything you have available to you. Today, we look at the five questions to better decision making with Andy Stanley. Andy is a pastor and founder of Atlanta-based North Point Ministries. Andy is also the author of Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets, and many more books too. His messages, leadership videos, and podcasts receive millions of views monthly across various websites and digital platforms. We talk about...
Oct 26, 2020•26 min•Ep. 630
In times like today, we have to move fast. We must be encouraging agility at all levels of the company. Encouraging agility is hiring the right people. It is about how you lead them too. Today's guest is Chris Ratterman, CEO of Shady Rays. His company was ranked #54 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. They sell fantastic sunglasses, reading glasses, and blue light glasses. I loved their ordering process, and the guarantee of their glasses is replacement even if you lost them. Chris and I discuss the reas...
Oct 22, 2020•25 min•Ep. 629
Getting your team to perform at a higher level is a big part of your job as a great leader. One essential element of growth has team alignment, that is a competitive advantage. But you have to build your ideals of team alignment on the right framework. In today’s short video behind the scenes, we look at “what does real team alignment look like?” Getting a higher level of team alignment will give you a loyal, focused team and the ability to adapt to the challenges ahead. Get the show notes for W...
Oct 20, 2020•7 min•Ep. 628
Nearly every fast-growth company knows the power of company core values. The real question is, how do you lead with core values? The core values become guardrails to success and provide support for decision making inside our companies at all levels. Our guest today is Joe Payne, CEO, and President at Code42. His company was ranked #3908 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Joe gives his approach to lead with core values. As the CEO of a fast-growth company, Joe has learned a few things about leadership an...
Oct 19, 2020•29 min•Ep. 627
The people in an organization are the life of every growing business. Investing in employees is a requirement if you want your team to grow, develop new skills, and retain talent. Every company is investing in employees at some level, but the critical question is, how do you support the right way? Today's guest is Darius Fisher, CEO of Status Labs. His company was ranked #3253 on the 2019 Inc 5000 list. Status Labs has developed an excellent reputation management solution, and its talented emplo...
Oct 15, 2020•23 min•Ep. 626
All growth requires you to go beyond your comfort level. Working requires muscle failure for growth. Leadership requires you to go beyond your comfort level. Let me share a quick story about how a leader learned the hard way about growth and comfort levels. To grow as a leader you want to find the edge where you grow and that edge is where you are uncomfortable. Get the show notes for Leadership Requires Going Beyond Your Comfort Level - Behind the Scenes Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing ...
Oct 13, 2020•7 min•Ep. 625
Fast-growth companies understand the power of transparency. Transparency happens when leaders dare to be open with their people. This openness provides a connection that endures all kinds of challenges. The power of transparency is clear to me after hundreds of founders and CEOs have told me how critical it has been to their growth. Today's guest is Matthew Nix, CEO of Nix Companies. His company was ranked #1242 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Nix Companies provides metal fabrication services, indust...
Oct 12, 2020•26 min•Ep. 624
One counterintuitive factor in many fast-growth businesses is the strategy of encouraging an entrepreneurial culture. An entrepreneurial culture is where every person embraces thinking like a business owner. When you have an entrepreneurial culture, you have a group of empowered employees that feel and act like owners. My guests today are the executives of Dynamic Blending. We have Gavin Collier, CEO, and Jordan Erskine, President. Dynamic Blending was ranked #17 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. We lo...
Oct 08, 2020•25 min•Ep. 623
When you are always behind, you will struggle to move forward. The feeling of being behind is negative energy that pulls you away from your highest level of thinking. As I share with you today, when you are always behind, you have to be intentional about how you make the next move. I was the CEO of a fast-growth company, and I give you two things that you can do that will help you lead your people even when you always feel behind. Get the show notes for What To Do When You Feel Like You Are Alwa...
Oct 06, 2020•5 min•Ep. 622
Google has been able to create one of the strongest brands over the last two decades. The amazing people at Google did an in-depth study on what makes high performing teams. They discovered that leaders must create psychological safety for teams to perform to their potential. Leaders often have a blind spot for creating psychological safety, so I keep creating content to help you understand it. Today's guest is Joel Clark, CEO of Kodiak Cakes. His company was ranked #671 on the 2018 Inc 5000 lis...
Oct 05, 2020•27 min•Ep. 621
Getting what you want is easy when you know how to ask for it. Today, we talk with the authors of Ask! Mark Victor Hansen and Crystal Dwyer Hansen share their wisdom on their new book. Mark Victor Hansen is the co-author of the "Chicksoup for the Soul" book empire. We explore their findings of asking the right way. We talk about it from the lens of a leader. Get the show notes for Mark Victor Hansen and Crystal Dwyer Hansen Share Wisdom on Their Book - Ask! Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazin...
Oct 01, 2020•28 min•Ep. 620
Taking time away from the office with your executive team is an essential part of team alignment. When you are conducting an executive retreat, you want to make the most of it by remembering to include the three details plus all the strategic initiatives. One big mistake I see with conducting an executive retreat is the total focus on the organization's work, projects, and goals. It is common to ignore the things discussed in the video. When conducting an executive retreat, you want to cover mor...
Sep 29, 2020•5 min•Ep. 619
One of the essential elements of company culture is the company's core values. After studying fast-growth companies for the last few years, I know that growth through core values is real. Today's guest is Aaron Grossman, CEO of The Talent Launch Network. His company was ranked eight consecutive times on the Inc 5000 list. We look at growth through core values and how organizations leverage these values every day. Aaron's take on core values will give you new ways to understand the importance of ...
Sep 28, 2020•24 min•Ep. 618
There are many levers to pull to create growth in your company. One essential strategy is using leadership development programs. When you develop influential leaders, you have more connections and drive within the culture. Using leadership development is one of the most profound ways to ensure growth. Today's guest is Lawrence Armstrong, Chairman of the Board at Ware Malcomb. This company was ranked #4442 on the 2019 Inc 5000 list. Ware Malcomb is a residential and commercial design company. Law...
Sep 24, 2020•24 min•Ep. 617
Listening is one of those skills that we take for granted. Yes, you listen to others. However, when I say, "Leaders are listeners," I want to say that you need to improve your listening skills, so your employees feel understood. I have seen over the years that great leaders know they must listen beyond the words. In this behind the scenes, we look at ways you can improve your listening capacity. Get the show notes for Leaders Are Listeners - Behind the Scenes Click to Tweet: Listening to an amaz...
Sep 22, 2020•4 min•Ep. 616
Leadership requires many skills. One essential aspect of leadership requires you to manage the team of people to a higher level. When you manage the team well, you lift their confidence and empower them to go beyond their current thinking. Today's guest is Bill Kerr, CEO of Avalon Healthcare Solutions. His company was ranked #4 on the 2020 Inc 5000 list. Bills shares how he leads his team through fast growth. The one thing I can say is that fast-growth leaders manage the team as often as they ma...
Sep 21, 2020•23 min•Ep. 615
The company mission is essential to bonding the people together. One perspective on the mission is to put the customer first. When you have a focus on customer success, you can understand them better. Today's guest is Guru Hariharan, CEO of CommerceIQ. His company was ranked #4158 on the 2019 Inc 5000 list. We look at the common misunderstanding of customer first. Guru shares why putting the customer first is so important. Get the show notes for The Mission is Customer First with Guru Hariharan ...
Sep 17, 2020•27 min•Ep. 614
When you put in an hour or two after dinner, you may feel productive. But working before bedtime could be hurting your company's growth. Working before bedtime is a sign that something is wrong in your culture. Take a look at what your second shift of work costs you in today's behind the scenes. You may rethink your habit of working before bedtime. Get the show notes for Is Working Before Bedtime Causing More Harm Than Good? - Behind the Scenes Click to Tweet: Listening to an amazing episode on ...
Sep 15, 2020•2 min•Ep. 613
How do you empower employees in today's crazy world of leadership? Start by knowing that the leaders that empower employees understand how to stop micromanaging. When you empower employees, you signal a deep trust in them. My guest today is Darpan Munjal, CEO of Squadhelp.com. His company was ranked #275 in the 2019 Inc 5000 list. Darpan knows the benefits when you empower employees. We look at the essential elements that create lasting growth in this interview. Get the show notes for Empower Em...
Sep 14, 2020•20 min•Ep. 612
The opposite of micromanagement is empowering your employees. When you have the skills of empowering your employees, they have a feeling of ownership that drives the business forward. My guest today is Greg Zalkin, CEO of Creative State Marketing. His company was ranked #384 in the 2019 Inc 5000 list. Greg shares his insights to empowering your employees. We look at what gets in the way of leading your people through empowerment. Discover distinct ways you add growth by empowering your employees...
Sep 10, 2020•22 min•Ep. 611
