How to Lead with Clay Scroggins and Adam Tarnow

This year, as you think about your goals - trying using numbers rather than words. Thank you to Pete Blank for this idea!

We have a treat on the podcast this week! Clay had a chance to sit down and talk with the former president and COO of The Ritz Carlton, Horst Schulze, about life and leadership. Enjoy!

Start 2023 off on the right foot by defining what would make this year a success (for you). If you don't pick a destination, you'll likely drive around in circles all year.

You might not know this, but you have a brand . "But I don't own a business; how can this be?" You know how we you see a logo or an advertisement you instinctively have a gut feeling about the company? In your eyes, that gut feeling is the company's brand. What we do for companies, people also do for us. When people see your name, they have a gut feeling.  That gut feeling is your brand. Toda...

Who knows what will happen with the economy over the next 12-18 months, but if you feel a tad insecure about the stability of your job, it's understandable. Today, Adam and Clay will give you a few simple ways to evaluate your relationship with your boss.

Today we are excited to introduce you to a new friend: Eva Daniel . Eva is a public speaking coach and the founder & owner of The Speak Shop. She will share why public speaking is still an essential skill for career-minded professionals and how you can begin to improve those skills even when you don't have any "gigs." Give her a follow on LinkedIn - her content on public speaking is world-clas...

Do you like everyone you work with? If so, then feel free to skip this episode. For everyone else, Clay and Adam suggest a few practical ways to deal with those people at work who do a great job of pushing your buttons. Enjoy! 

Today all How to Lead listeners are receiving a free gift! The first chapter from the audio version of Adam Tarnow and David Morrison's new book, The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In. In this chapter, you'll learn "why" it's so important to find your "why" and you'll also hear three simple ways to try and discover your "why." If you enjoy this chapter and want to hear more, head on...

Not sure if anyone has told you this, but you have two job titles . This second job title doesn't show up on your business cards. It doesn't show up at the bottom of your email. It's not in your LinkedIn profile. Many of you might not even know you have this second job title. Today, Clay & Adam want to fix that. If you are going to crush this second job, you first need to understand what it is...

Last week's episode was four minutes longer than usual. This week, Adam and Clay give you that time back with an episode four minutes shorter than usual. You're welcome.  No, it's okay.  It's not that big of a deal. Today you'll hear the following: Something that is probably in short supply in your workplace right now. How this "short supply" gives you a great opportunity. Hot sports opi...

"Are you even listening to a word I'm saying?" Today we start in Clay's kitchen and end in your office. Many people think the keys to influence are charisma and charm. Those will certainly help, but they aren't the keys. If you really want to improve the influence you have on your team, then seek to improve your listening skills . In this episode, Adam and Clay share five ways to improve your list...

Every leader will face a moment when they need to be creative. Sometimes you need to come up with a creative solution to a problem. Sometimes you need to devise a creative way to communicate an idea. Sometimes you need a creative way to have fun with your team. You cannot escape the need to be creative if you are a leader. The challenge, for many leaders, is not recognizing the need for a creative...

There are a few things just about every team leader loves: No surprises Three letter acronyms Positive energy Why positive energy? Because, at times, leadership can feel lonely. Strange huh? How can this be when team leaders seem to be surrounded by people all day? They can feel like they are the only one on the team who cares about the following: Growth Improvement What's next Pursuing excellence...

Sometimes a young leader needs establish boundaries with their boss. There are moments when you need to tell your boss "no, I can't do that." The challenge, however, is doing this without coming across sounding selfish, bratty, or entitled. Boundaries are healthy. Entitlement is not. Today, Clay and Adam give listners a few simple ways to establish boundaries with your boss, without coming across...

Ahh, the internet. Isn't it grand? It's given us so much. Online banking. Online shopping. YouTube. Boaty McBoatface . Just when we thought the internet couldn't give us any more, it surprises us with a term that is so clever and so relevant to all of our lives: QUIET QUITTING . It started with a few innocent TikTok videos, and now we've got a full-on cultural phenomenon.  So, what should you...

What a great time to be an emerging leader!  If you are in the first ten years of your career (I.e., an "emerging leader"), then today's employment market couldn't be better. Employee engagement stats are low. The Great Resignation is still rolling on. Many of your peers are now "quiet quitting." What a great time to be alive! Despite what the headlines and hashtags say, we believe millions o...

If a leader improves their relationship with their mobile device, will it improve their ability to lead? Chalk that up as a question you've probably never asked, right? Well, today that ends. Joey Odom joins Adam on the podcast to share his perspective on this question. One thing you need to know about Joey: he LOVES his phone and has no plans to ever stop using it. However, Joey would also say th...

Here's a sobering truth for emerging leaders: most of the decisions about how your career will progress are made in rooms where you are NOT present. Yes, that's right, people will be talking behind your back. The results of these conversations will often impact: Raises Bonuses Promotions What can you do to make sure these conversations go well? Find a mentor (or two!) inside your organization. Giv...

US: Does professional life ever leave you feeling overwhelmed? YOU: Uh yeah, I call that "Tuesday." US: Are you responsible to achieve a goal that feels unreasonable? YOU: It's ridiculous. Don't get me started. US: Did you just get some sobering feedback from your team? YOU: It's like they don't even know me. US: Are you facing some circumstances that feel unfair? YOU: See all my answers above. If...

Accountability gets a bad rap. Some people love it, but most do not. Why is that?  Why do we have such a troubled relationship with this concept? That is exactly what Adam and Clay unpack in this week's episode of How to Lead. In less than 17 minutes you'll hear three simple ways to use this powerful, but misunderstood concept with your team.

You've started the meeting well and run the meeting even better. Now, the most important part: the ending 🏁. If you don't stick the landing, all that time and energy could be wasted. You don't want that and your team doesn't want today. Today in fifteen minutes, Adam & Clay will give you 2️⃣ productive ways to end your meetings.

You've started your meeting off on the right foot. ✅ You've Provided Inspiration  ✅ You've Checked-In Relationally ✅ You've Defined the Problem You're Solving Now what? In less than twenty minutes, Adam and Clay provide a few simple ways to ensure you run your meeting with excellence.

The pandemic might have killed off the acceptability of coughing in public, but it sure didn't kill off meetings. Love 'em or hate 'em, meetings are a part of organizational life. They are not going anywhere. The key to a great meeting is a strong start . In this first of three episodes on the topic of meetings, Adam and Clay give you a few simple & easy ways to ensure you start your meetings...

Sometimes, you don't find motivation from looking ahead to the future .  Sometimes, you find it by looking back to the past . Clay recently spent time with some leaders and challenged them with one simple question. A question that, when reflected upon, will help reorient your priorities and give you the energy you need to keep moving forward. This is How to Lead!

The tool a leader uses most often is communication. This is bad news and good news. Bad, because this tool can become dull and in need of sharpening. Good, because sharpening this tool is not difficult. In this episode, you'll learn one quick and easy way to sharpen your communication skills. You'll also learn one of Clay's least favorite words and the oddest gift Adam ever received from his mothe...