Intrinsic First

Get ready for an insightful two-part podcast featuring Jimmy, Aaron, and Drea, joined by special guest David Hickey, CEO of Alirrium, a leading provider of robotic process automation (RPA) services to both Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial clients. In this first episode, we delve into David's journey with Alirrium and the groundbreaking SalesFed product. David shares the iterative pr...

Welcome back to the second installment of our captivating podcast series with special guest David Hickey, CEO of Alirrium! In this episode, we explore leadership in depth, sharing insightful stories and experiences about culture enhancements aimed at elevating client service and boosting employee morale. Join us as we explore practical strategies and innovative approaches to foster a culture of ex...

In episode 24 of the Intrinsic First Leadership podcast, we delve into the complex realm of organizational context and its implications for effective leadership. We explored the strategic nature of organizational context, highlighting its global and multi-dimensional aspects. From the challenges of coordinating diverse subunits within an organization to the intricacies of organizational culture, w...

In episode 25 of the Intrinsic First Leadership Podcast, we continue our discussion about the organizational context of leadership, focusing on how individuals perceive their work environment and how it influences culture. We explore the importance of measuring culture and understanding various aspects such as growth, meaningful work, and connection with colleagues.  Effective leadership entails n...

In episode 21 of the Intrinsic First Leadership Podcast, we delve into the dynamics of team leadership, contrasting it with one-on-one interactions. We explore the distinctions between teams and groups, emphasizing the importance of interdependence and common goals in teams. The discussion revolves around the behaviors required for effective team leadership, highlighting focusing behaviors (such a...

Podcast episode 22 delves into the intricacies of effective team leadership, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and collaborative decision-making. We discuss the significance of chartering, establishing norms, and defining objectives for high-performing teams. We explore various methods of decision-making within groups, ranging from leader-driven decisions to consensus-building appr...

In episode 23 of the Intrinsic First Leadership Podcast, we delve into the intricacies of team dynamics, exploring the phases of team performance and the complexities of leadership within teams. We discuss the challenges of navigating through forming, storming, norming, and performing stages, drawing parallels between our experiences and established models like Courvoisier's stages of team de...

Our first guest interview podcast episode features Riley Jensen, a mental performance coach, and author of the book " Pure Unadulterated Guts: Insights for Bravery, Courage, and Vulnerability." Riley shares his journey from a career in medical device sales to pursuing his passion in sports psychology, highlighting the pivotal role his wife played in encouraging him to follow his dreams....

In Episode 20 of the Intrinsic First Leadership Podcast, we continue our discussion about supportive leadership behaviors. We delve into the concept of discerning, a phase where individuals may no longer have the energy or motivation to continue with a task or role they once excelled in. We explore how leaders can recognize and address this phase to help their team members transition gracefully to...

In Episode 19, we continue our discussion about leadership in the one-to-one context. The focus of this episode is on how leaders can provide support and inspiration to individuals in the latter phase of development. We emphasize the importance of not only teaching skills but also supporting attitudes and motivation. We discuss the difference between motivation (wanting to do something) and confid...

In Episode 16 of the Intrinsic First Leadership Podcast, we dive into a thought-provoking discussion on the various forms of power in leadership. We explore the concept of power, emphasizing its control over limited resources that others desire. The episode covers different forms of power, including formal and personal power. We discuss the impact of these power dynamics on leadership and how they...

Episode 17 continues the discussion on the topic of power and its implications in leadership. We delve into various aspects of power, including formal and informal types of power, the importance of using power constructively, and the challenges of speaking the truth to power. Throughout the episode, we share anecdotes and insights related to the dynamics of power in organizations and society. We e...

In Episode 18, we discuss leadership in the 1-to-1 context. We emphasize that leadership is not a static thing but a set of behaviors. A key aspect of leadership is the development of an individual's skills and commitment to meet the company's needs or job requirements. We focus on leadership as a combination of directive and supportive behaviors, depending on the context and the direct...

In Episode 14 of "The Intrinsic First Leadership" podcast, we delve into the complex topic of motivation. We discuss various theories of motivation, including Freud's ideas on cell deprivation, Pavlov's classical conditioning, and Skinner's reinforcement theory. The conversation explores the historical development of motivation theories and their applications in organizati...

In episode 15 of the Intrinsic First Leadership Podcast, we continue our discussion on motivation and delve into its application in different situations. We emphasize the importance of creating an environment that encourages individuals to thrive and experience autonomy, growth, and a sense of connection. We share some practical examples such as coaching experiences in youth football, parenting yo...

In Episode 11, the podcast delves into the concept of persona as the third element of the prepare practice of leadership in context. Persona involves understanding the mask individuals put on, especially in response to societal expectations and pressures. The discussion covers the shadow self, which represents the aspects people may dislike about themselves and the masks they wear to fit societal...

Episode 12 of the Intrinsic First Leadership Podcast continues the exploration of the concept of persona in leadership. We discuss the importance of self-awareness, aligning personal values with leadership roles, and the challenges of external expectations. We also share anecdotes, including a story about a baseball player who realized he didn't want to play anymore after a leadership trainin...

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In this episode, we discuss the concept of disposition, which refers to preferred behaviors that are often exhibited without conscious thought. We explore various dispositional modes of response, including extroversion and introversion, fight-or-flight responses, risk-taking versus risk-assessing, and accepting versus controlling. We emphasize the importance of self-awareness regarding one's...

In Episode 7 of the Intrinsic First Leadership Podcast, we continue the discussion on leadership in context. We talk about leadership in various contexts including self and 1-to-1 context, highlighting the importance of understanding self-development and the challenges of changing oneself. We touch upon how people often resist change due to fear and a lack of models for personal growth. We also br...

In Episode 9, we delve into the second topic of prepare: values. We discuss the origins of intentions and what drives people based on instinct and disposition. The episode highlights that values play a crucial role in shaping one's behavior and decision-making, often driven by enduring beliefs. These beliefs can be personal, developed over time, or socially oriented. We also touch on the deve...

In this episode, we continue our discussion about values and how they impact decision-making and behavior. We explore the difference between acquired values and developed values, with an emphasis on the importance of the latter. Using the example of smoking, we delve into how individuals form their values and consider the impact on themselves and others. We also touch on the concept of justice, di...

In this episode of the Intrinsic First Leadership Podcast, we introduce a new framework for leadership. This episode provides an initial overview of the leadership-in-context framework that sets the stage for the upcoming series of podcasts, each delving into different aspects of leadership. We begin by discussing the complexity of leadership in various contexts, including self, 1-to-1, team, orga...

In this episode of the Intrinsic First Leadership Podcast, co-hosts Aaron Robbins, Dr. Drea Zigarmi, and Jimmy Karam discuss the essence of leadership. They emphasize that leadership is not a fixed trait but rather a set of actions that anyone can practice and develop. The hosts delve into various aspects of leadership, including the importance of defining it as a verb rather than a noun. The conv...

In this follow-on episode from Episode 4, the Intrinsic First Leadership Podcast continues the exploration of defining leadership. We delve into the essence of leadership, emphasizing the importance of values alignment, meaningful debate, and the impact of leadership on the welfare of all involved. We also touch on the challenges of our current polarized society and the need for leadership to guid...