Leadership Tips

Welcome back to our podcast! This is the second episode in our four-part series on change management, influence, and personal transformation. In our last episode, we explored the Rider, Elephant, and Path framework from Dan and Chip Heath's insightful book "Switch." Today, we're diving deeper into the Rider—our analytical and rational side. The Rider is the part of us that thrives on logic and pro...

In this episode, we kick off a four-part series on change management and influence, inspired by Chip and Dan Heath's book "Switch." We'll explore the relationship between influence and effective change, both in professional settings and personal life. Introducing the key framework of the Rider, the Elephant, and the Path, we'll discuss how these elements—our rational side, emotional side, and envi...

I’m going to replay Episode 65 on Influence for this episode. I’ve mentioned the importance of influence and the applications of influence many times over the course of this podcast. In the next episode I hope to take a look at pragmatic applications of Influence. Before I do that, however, I want to replay this episode for you and encourage you to let the thoughts of influence and leadership mull...

Last week I listened to an episode of the Greg Groeschel Leadership Podcast. Greg was interviewing Jamie Kern Lima. She was a TV news anchor but wasn’t able to find the right products to solve her beauty concerns, so in 2008 she founded IT Cosmetics. Within eight years she sold her company to L’Oreal for $1.2 billion in cash. The interview was about the upcoming release of her book Worthy. In the...

This is a replay of Episode 8 - Things aren't always as they appear to be.

The concept of confronting the brutal truth, as described by Jim Collins in his book "Good to Great," is a powerful lesson in leadership that resonates deeply. It's about facing reality head-on, even when it's uncomfortable or challenging. In a world where optimism often reigns supreme, the ability—and willingness—to acknowledge harsh realities is a defining trait of great leaders. https://toolsto...

Our Default mode is the intricate web of reactions and behaviors ingrained in your very being. It's akin to an autopilot setting, a fusion of your distinctive personality, the DNA that defines you, and the influences that molded you during your formative years. This intricate interplay raises essential questions: "Do you truly understand your Default Mode of response?" and, perhaps more profoundly...

Self-Pity Let's delve into the timeless story of Elijah, a character from the Bible, and unravel the threads of self-pity that wove through his part of his story. Elijah's saga, as recounted in 1 Kings 19:9-18, serves as an example of the all too human struggle with feeling like a victim, and the consequences of succumbing to self-pity. This episode will share a two step process for dealing with s...

Finding the right balance between grace, mercy and accountability is tough, I get it. We want to give people chances to make things right. But sometimes with no consequences, problems drag on. I've wrestled with straddling this line as a leader. Sometimes I’ve found the right path and other times I’ve made a mess of things. Through trial and error, I’ve learned a few things. Hopefully, I can share...

Episode 100 Wow! I can't believe I've finally reached 100 episodes. I don't know if you have found any of these Leadership Tips helpful in your life but it would be an encouragement to me if you would let me know. rupchurch@toolstolead.com Picture this: you're steering your ship through uncharted waters. You task is to make sure the ship gets into safe harbor without damage to the ship, crew, or c...

Sustainability. I know this can have different meanings in different contexts. In this episode I will look at what it means to find a solution that will work . . . and continue to work!

The final skill/behavior of Executive Presence is resilience . Setbacks and challenges are inevitable. Resilience enables us to confront these hurdles with a sense of grace and poise. It means maintaining composure, remaining composed, and handling difficulties without displaying frustration or agitation. Effective leaders face problems head-on, yet react calmly and thoughtfully. https://toolstole...

In this episode I talk about part 7 of the 8 skills/behaviors of Executive presence: Thinking Strategically. Thinking strategically is a cornerstone of executive presence because it serves as a tangible demonstration of a leader’s competence and reliability. It showcases a leader’s ability to not only perceive the intricacies of complex situations but also to formulate effective action plans to ad...

There are numerous memes and stories emphasizing that judging someone by their appearance is unwise, at the very least. That being said, it is human nature to form impressions quickly, usually within the first few seconds of meeting someone for the first time. While there are several factors that make up that first impression, such as facial expression, body language, voice quality, and some of th...

The fifth skill/behavior of executive presence is Emotional Intelligence. Emotional intelligence, the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions and intuit the emotions of others, is a crucial component of executive presence. Like Goldilocks testing the temperature of porridge, a "just right" level of emotional intelligence contributes to strong leadership. Check out Emotional Intelligenc...

In this episode I am recaping the first four parts of Executive Presence that I've discussed in previous episodes. I've chosen to do this as part of a conversation with Dr. Aaron Metzcar, a good friend and someone well acquainted with leadership. I hope you enjoy the conversation. https://toolstolead.com

Executive presence; what is it and how can one acquire it? Unfortunately you won’t find it on the shelf of even the most expensive stores. Rather, it can be seen in individuals who have found the sweet spot of eight different skills/behaviors; a confluence which is rare but attainable by anyone willing to put in the effort. In this episode the skill/behavior that will be covered is Gravitas. Check...

In this episode I will be discussing the 3rd skill/behavior of executive presence: Authenticity. Authenticity is a crucial element of executive presence, as it helps to establish trust and credibility. When leaders are genuine and true to themselves, they are more approachable, relatable, and trustworthy. This, in turn, allows them to connect with their team members and stakeholders on a deeper le...

Executive presence; what is it and how can one acquire it? Unfortunately you won’t find it on the shelf of even the most expensive stores. Rather, it can be seen in individuals who have found the sweet spot of eight different skills/behaviors; a confluence which is rare but attainable by anyone willing to put in the effort. In part one of this series, I set the stage for understanding the importan...

Executive Presence is that elusive quality which identifies one person as a leader over another, regardless of the title. In these episodes I will describe the eight core skills/behaviors of executive presence and how to acquire them.

Adversity always seems to come at an unexpected time, from an unexpected source, or both. When it does come the effect is disruptive. It has the power to throw us off balance even if we have an inkling of its impending arrival. You can prepare for adversity, at least to some extent and in this episode I'll share my personal experience. https://toolstolead.com

In the last episode I spoke about the necessity of urgency for achieving success. Let me recap the main point: If you can create a sense of urgency for your organization or yourself, and sustain the sense of urgency, you can achieve success. If you cannot generate a sense of urgency, then all the strategic planning in the world will not help you achieve your goals. Without a sense of urgency focus...

Urgency is all about achieving success, no matter the area of life. Being urgent about the right things can generate and sustain change; it can facilitate strategic accomplishment. Being urgent about the wrong things generates busy people who accomplish next to nothing. Check out John Kotter's book: A Sense of Urgency Also, my website: https://upchurch-consulting.com/ Upchurch Consulting Group

In 1980, Bob Dylan, a singer and musician, won his first Grammy Award for his song: You’re Gonna Serve Somebody, released in 1979. Part of the lyrics of the song say “you’re gonna serve somebody, it maybe the Lord, it maybe the Devil, but you’re gonna serve somebody.” Dylan was right on target: you’re gonna serve somebody whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, whether you agree or...