CEO on the Go

Growth-minded leaders take risks and continue to push past their limits. That’s what it takes to lead on the leading edge. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Leading-Edge-Leadership-How-to-Win-Your-Own-Race

Even the most devoted leaders reach a point when they know something needs to change. They can’t stay on the same path in the same way. It seems more risky to continue in their current role knowing that something different is calling. But they don’t know how to go about the process to find their new best growth path. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Taking-the-Risk-to-Find-Your...

AI is revolutionizing how work is being done, and clearly creating exponential change. So leaders who embrace AI sooner will position their organizations for greater success in the future.  Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Leveraging-AI---Your-Experimentation-Imperative

Studies show that work continues to be an obstacle to well-being. And leaders are under more pressure than ever to maintain higher levels of well-being in their workforce. But Gayle Lantz challenges the idea that “work” is necessarily to blame. She says, “Work is not the enemy. Work can actually be a healthy positive force in our lives. And we have more control (or can take more control) than we r...

Many leaders struggle to say “no” when they need to, so they end up feeling frustrated, resentful or simply exhausted. But there are ways to say “no” more easily when you understand what is really holding you back, and how to respond to undesirable requests or demands. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/How-to-Say-No-When-You-Need-to

As you grow in your leadership role, it becomes even more important to create boundaries that stick. Otherwise you risk spending time and energy in areas that don’t serve you or the business.  You may become angry or frustrated when boundaries are ignored. But you can avoid frustration by learning more about what boundaries truly are and how to use them to your advantage. Find the full show notes...

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all the decisions you have to make, that’s especially common among leaders.  Decision fatigue occurs when your mental energy is depleted after making many decisions. And it can happen to even the most decisive leaders. But there are approaches to combat decision fatigue that can help leaders minimize the downside and recover more quickly. Find the full sho...

Leaders get stuck in patterns that hold them back. And many don’t even know it. They continue doing the same thing in the same way which can create burnout, stagnation or frustration. But those who take time to reset, get clear and focused to achieve better results and more satisfaction in their work. Gayle Lantz offers advice and a useful resource to download to help leaders who want to do a midy...

81% of employees at companies ranked as “great” describe their work environment as fun. And fun contributes to employee happiness. So leaders who focus on fun stand a greater chance of creating a positive impact. Research suggests that fun at work is a good thing, impacting engagement, creativity and purpose. Fun at work can help increase employee retention and reduce turnover. Gayle Lantz argues...

When organizations face extreme challenges that threaten their business, it’s easy to blame market conditions, the environment, or the competition…especially if you’re the CEO. But it’s rare to find a CEO who realizes that they personally could be much of the problem. This episode captures the story of an exceptional CEO who has done the introspective work necessary to transform himself as a leade...

Creating leadership equity is a business and moral imperative. Many organizations aspire to create leadership equity and cultures of belonging. Some are making good progress, but others are falling short. Gayle Lantz speaks with Lenetra King, founder and CEO of Watch Me EXCEL ®, a leadership development firm that works in a pioneering way with organizations to deeply engage, promote, and retain ex...

With so much focus on organizational reinvention, it’s natural for leaders to be rethinking their own roles and what’s possible in the future. But many don’t know where to start. Gayle Lantz shares key ideas and questions for leaders who want to reinvent themselves. Now is the time given the speed of change, growing business demands and evolving needs of people in the workplace. Find the full show...

Studies show the many benefits of positive thinking and it’s not just a matter of viewing the world through rose colored glasses.  Maintaining a positive state of mind is especially important for leaders who are under a lot of stress. But developing a positive mindset can be difficult to put into practice. Gayle Lantz offers perspective on what leaders can do to create and maintain a more positive...

May is Mental Health Awareness month. This year’s theme is: “ Look Around, Look Within .”  Gayle Lantz shares important findings and insights on mental health as it relates to leaders. Managers are feeling significant pressure in their roles. Gayle offers ideas and actions to help you maintain your own mental health in your management role and promote mental health in your organization. Find the f...

Stress at work is common. 94%  of workers report feeling stress at work. 63%  of U.S. workers report they’re ready to quit their job to avoid work-related stress. Around  33%  of people report feeling extreme stress. (Source: American Institute of Stress) Gayle talks about different kinds of stress that individuals experience and offers a diagnostic tool for leaders who want to identify the greate...

At times you’re so close to reaching your goal that you can almost reach out and touch it, yet there’s something that prevents you from getting it. You probably think you know what’s getting in your way. But there are invisible barriers that could be keeping you from reaching your goal (or at least impeding your progress). They may be harder to detect. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatt...

CEOs, founders, entrepreneurs and leaders in general are under more pressure than ever to do more faster . As the pace of change accelerates, leaders must make quicker decisions to drive desired outcomes. Gayle Lantz speaks with Shegun Otulana, Founder and CEO of Harmony Venture Labs (HVL). With an impressive track record of building successful businesses, Shegun now helps other startups make sure...

A lot of leaders struggle to get their teams to take initiative and assume ownership. They feel like they have to light a fire under them. But there are better ways to help the team take charge that don’t require force. Gayle Lantz offers ideas on what leaders can do to help their team members be more proactive and take initiative in their work. As Gayle explains, you can’t just “tell them.” You n...

Psychological safety is a topic that has gained popularity over the past few years. More organizations aspire to create cultures that are psychologically safe. The topic is sensitive and complex.  A psychologically safe culture ultimately contributes to greater productivity and the bottom line. It helps employees open communication and build greater trust. Psychological safety impacts team perform...

Leaders can easily do a lot of firefighting on the job, responding to the crisis of the day or getting stuck in the weeds. In some cases, they feel like they have no choice. They are frustrated unable to do the work that really matters. They want to make a bigger impact. But they struggle to make it happen. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Asking-Smart-Questions-to-Expand-Your-...

Dealing with change is overwhelming, and leaders are under extreme pressure to help their teams “get through it.” But the best leaders are helping their teams thrive in chaos, not simply survive. They understand change is happening quickly. Disruption will continue. Uncertainty is the norm.  One out of three public companies will cease to exist in their current form over the next five years--a rat...

Leaders who want to achieve the extraordinary do things out of the ordinary. It requires taking risks and following your instincts. Gayle Lantz shares leadership lessons inspired by her son’s recent experience running the Rome Marathon. It was a completely new experience based on his impulse to explore somewhere amazing he had never been with people he had never met.  Find the full show notes at:...

The average CEO has 37 meetings per week (Source: Zippia). 72% of their time is spent in meetings. It can be overwhelming. CEOs are not alone. Employees at all levels feel overwhelmed by the number of meetings they attend. And many meetings are not effective…or even needed. Virtual meetings can be especially challenging when you don’t know how to engage people who may already feel Zoom fatigue. Fi...

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it gives life to you and your business. Studies show that people who are curious are more successful in their leadership roles and deal with stress more effectively. Inspired by her curious parents, Gayle Lantz shares why curiosity is important and offers ideas for leaders who want to cultivate curiosity in themselves and others.  Find the full show notes at:...

Leaders have a lot of serious concerns, and they don’t share them publicly. The issues vary widely, but their concerns typically have a common element: people. Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/Addressing-the-Secret-Concerns-of-a-Leader