The Enlightened Executive

By now, you can't get help being bombarded with news of how AI is going to change everything. But what does that really mean for YOU? The power of AI in augmenting human capabilities and optimizing operations has launched businesses into a new era of efficiency and competitiveness. Joining me on The Enlightened Executive podcast is Mike Koenigs, speaker, serial entrepreneur with five successful ex...

Digital innovation is most impactful when paired with a very human skill: empathy. Digital leadership involves integrating human-centered principles with a commitment to technological progress. The most successful leaders actively search out new tools that allow their business to empathetically connect with teams, customers, clients, and partners. Erik Qualman is the #1 best-selling author of five...

Leaders have the power to either expand or inadvertently inhibit the growth of those around them. Essentially, consider that you are either acting as a multiplier or diminisher of team performance. Multipliers operate under the belief that their team is intelligent and capable, fostering an environment where others can thrive. In contrast, diminishers assume that their team can't succeed without t...

Adverse experiences and childhood wounds filter into our careers and leadership, influencing our potential.   Traumatic experiences may impose limitations on our personal and professional life. These limitations are often challenging to identify, and even more difficult to overcome. Intentionally dealing with the experiences of our past enables us to chart a different path forward so we can thrive...

Generational differences impact workplace connection.   Nothing exposes this truth like the generational divide we see between Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Zers in the workplace. Gen Zers roll their eyes in frustration with their older colleagues and Millennials and Gen Xers disappointedly shake their heads at the emerging workforce.   Challenging as it might be, leaders who cultivate genuine co...

Music has the power to enhance our team and personal effectiveness.  Wondering how?   Certain songs have the ability to trigger powerful emotions and memories within us. By harnessing this power, we can intentionally use music to subconsciously boost our moods, productivity and motivation.   Joining me on The Enlightened Executive podcast is Jonathan Elias, one of the most influential composers in...

If you're a leader who is only focused on profitability and productivity, consider that you might be doing just the bare minimum. The enlightened, modern leader is intentional about using their position to contribute to a more equitable organization.   Joining me today on  The Enlightened Executive podcast, Spring Walsham is a well-known meditation teacher, author, and visionary leader based in Oa...

High achievers are primed to buy into common misconceptions around happiness and fulfillment.   Traditional external markers of success – money, status, fame – cause leaders to focus on "more" and "when," which actively robs them of actual fulfillment and happiness. True fulfillment is a deep sense of contentment and well-being that comes from living in alignment with one's values and purpose. By...

Do you have a leadership investment strategy? Are you investing in your people and yourself with the same level of care that you put into your financial investments?   Successful leaders have more than a financial plan. They invest in themselves and their business with the same intentionality and consistency as they devote to their building a retirement nestegg.   Executives who take a holistic ap...

Unfortunately, many people are just not very good at listening, leading to missed opportunities and strained relationships.   As CEOs, executives, and leaders, we get impatient with listening, and all too often dominate conversations that shut others down. Listening is not just hearing words; it is an active and engaged process that involves seeking to understand and attuning to others emotions.  ...

If you're not prioritizing capacity building on your team, you're stunting its potential.   Leaders who are serious about building high performing teams achieve sustainable growth through capacity building. And yet what you may not know is effective capacity building should extend beyond professional development and into a much more holistic approach.   Bob Glazer, a renowned serial entrepreneur,...

Rapid evolution is the only constant.    The pace of change in today's world is exponentially growing, as is its increasing complexity.    Driving factors such as artificial intelligence, the remote and hybrid workforce, and global sustainable business practices make it imperative for leaders to adapt quickly in order to stay relevant. The most successful leaders operating in this ever-changing bu...

Successful leaders master the skill of management… that is, self-management before managing others.   The ability to identify, understand and manage your own triggers is an essential leadership skill. Making sound decisions, pursuing long-term goals and adopting an authentic leadership posture is all dependent on self-regulation in the face of internal and external obstacles.   Today's guest on Th...

Could your voice be keeping you from having the leadership impact you desire?   The way leaders convey their message influences how it is received. Our voice is not only a conduit for our words but also a vehicle for conveying authenticity and influence. Vocal awareness and mastery can support executives striving to become influential leaders and communicators. Your voice is central to your identi...

Music is more than a form of entertainment or artistic expression. It's a powerful leadership tool and a resource for well-being.   As I share in my own book, leaders who use music strategically boost their mental health and revolutionize their leadership skills. And it's why I was absolutely thrilled to recently get connected to Barry Goldstein, who joined me today on The Enlightened Executive po...

Could striving to become a perfect leader keep you from becoming an effective leader?   Authenticity is a buzzword commonly cited in leadership circles, but the journey to actually becoming an authentic leader requires more introspection than discussion.    This week, on The Enlightened Executive podcast, our guest Melissa Bernstein discusses self-acceptance and authentic leadership.    Melissa Be...

Everyone knows trust is key to business success. But actually building trust? That can feel intangible and impossible.    Creating common ground, fostering collaboration, and establishing alignment build trust and lead to high performance.    This week, on The Enlightened Executive podcast, Sue Dyer joins us to discuss the barriers to trust and how we can practically build trust in our teams. Sue...

Organizations crush their employees with emails, meetings, decks, reports and paperwork all day long while expecting vitality and meaningful contribution.   White space, or the time in between tasks where you can think, reflect, recuperate, and question, has been crowded out. It is this unscheduled time that allows talent to tap into their creativity, productivity, and ultimately their full potent...

Talent retention is not just a strategy, it's a mindset. It's a mindset because it requires a shift in the way that organizations approach the management of their employees.   Mike Harbour is a former military veteran turned successful business owner, whose mission is to deliver excellence in leadership and personal development solutions. In this episode of the Enlightened Executive podcast, he sh...

We're connected worldwide. At the same time, we're more disconnected than ever. COVID-19 showed us it's possible to work and live in a borderless society.   But in a hybrid or remote work environment, how can we reconnect with our teams and colleagues in a meaningful way?   Joining me today on The Enlightened Executive podcast is Deb Crowe, a heart-centered leader who thrives on helping people bec...

When you listen to a song, the way you connect to it, the emotions it evokes in you, and the way that you interpret the meaning of the song, is an experience that is uniquely yours. One person may listen to a song and find it empowering and motivating. Another person may listen to that same song, and feel like it triggers negative emotions in them or brings them down.   So, have you ever thought a...

The relationship between a CEO and a COO is akin to that of yin and yang. Each leader uses their unique abilities and interests to help the company grow, all while staying in their own lane.   The key is to find a truly compatible counterpart, build a foundation of trust and honesty, and have confidence in the other person's ability to get the job done without having to constantly check-in with ea...

Did you know that only about 10% of your happiness comes from outside conditions and circumstances? Which means that 90% of your happiness is within your control, generated internally.   Backed by 1000s of research studies spanning several decades, these percentages make up the happiness formula . This week, on The Enlightened Executive podcast, Robert Mack joins as a guest to discuss the drivers...

Most every business wants to be a beacon of diversity and inclusion. Yet, with the incoming workforce being more diverse than ever, why does this goal seem increasingly hard to achieve?   It appears that with embedded biases, and hesitancies toward being viewed as too direct when asking minorities to speak up, encouraging and amplifying diversity down through the ranks of an organization has becom...

There comes a time when every leader realizes that they have a "bellyful." A moment where you see, with absolute clarity, that your current course of action no longer works for you, and you're ready for drastic and intentional change.   So, when that moment comes, how will you turn things around and discover your path forward?   In the latest episode of The Enlightened Executive podcast, coach, mo...