The Enlightened Executive

Leaders usually like to be in control. Every action you take is toward a goal. Every step along the way is often thoughtfully planned. When you cannot see the way forward, you tend to step back and reassess where you veered off the path.   But you may tend to focus too quickly on "the how." What would happen if you ask "why" instead? What if the core reason behind your goals, is just as important...

It's often thought that the pillar of a good leader is someone with the ability to put the needs of the team before their own. But neglecting your needs does nothing but hold your team back and limits your effectiveness. By denying the primal needs of your mind, body, and soul, you won't have the mental, physical, or emotional strength to fulfill the duties you've taken on.   You strengthen your s...

The only true power you have isn't changing others; it's shifting how you show up as a leader.   That shift starts with music… and updating your soon-to-be old playlist.   Jason Jaggard, founder and CEO of Novus Global, joins me today for the last episode of our special seven-episode series on The Leader's Playlist . Tune in as we uncover hidden playlists and learn how your trauma can become your...

Your energy and the emotional frequency you bring to your role as a leader impacts your work and your team every day. Music also has a frequency, and it has the power to shift our energetic state.   And so, music has the power to make you a better leader, and it starts by creating a new playlist.   Joining me for episode six of our special seven-episode series on The Leader's Playlist book, is the...

There is no denying that music has the power to transform us. We often listen to music that matches our emotional state, but can we also leverage music to alter our state to the level of happiness we seek?   For episode five of our seven-episode series on The Leader's Playlist, I am thrilled to welcome John Ruhlin, founder of the Ruhlin Group and author of Giftology, to talk about how and why musi...

Regardless of how major or minor your wounds and experiences from childhood were, we all went through something that helped shape us into who we are today.   Those experiences shaped neural pathways in your brain that are the reason you act and react the way you do today. Music can help redefine those pathways and train your brain to react in healthier, more thoughtful ways.   Today in our seven-e...

What if I told you that the impact you have as a leader is limited by an internal story that replays itself over and over in the background of your life.   That story is a repeating record imprinted with a playlist of songs that you can't hear, but it influences everything you do.   In our seven-episode series on The Leader's Playlist , I am excited to have Justin Donald, Host and Author of The Li...

Is your team overwhelmed by the pace of change?   Are you feeling a sense of burn out?   Or maybe you feel that you can't delegate or trust your team to deliver. Or perhaps you are having trouble retaining or engaging your people…   The impact of your current playlist shows up in insidious ways. But there is a way to change that.   In the second episode of our Leader's Playlist book series, I invi...

How do you accelerate change?   We all have this playlist running in the background of our lives that—whether we know it or not—acts as a ceiling on our leadership effectiveness. And the good news, as I write about in my new book The Leader's Playlist (River Grove Books, October 18, 2022), is you can change it.   The process uses the power of music in two ways. First, it allows you to clearly see...

Leadership looks pretty nice for the Tim Cook and Warren Buffet's of the world. They're widely recognized for their contributions, and by every account, they've attained success.   But what about the leaders who aren't making headlines? What about the leaders climbing the leadership ladder and making a conscious impact, albeit away from the public eye?   These are the leaders Dorie Clark thinks sh...

As you rise through the ranks of leadership, experiencing setbacks and failure is inevitable. But as many successful leaders will share, what we often judge as failures are merely opportunities to grow and learn.   How you respond to the tests you face will make the difference in your ability to lead successfully. Instead of looking to place blame, you have to look for your opportunity to gain ins...

What does it mean to be a leader? By shifting the mindset that you alone have the answers, you can create a space for employees to find their own solutions and take pride in enriching the company.   As a result, you can become a leader that does more than lead but also scales the capacity and capability of others.   In this week's episode of The Enlightened Executive , we spoke with Dr. ​​Louise v...

The benefits of hiring remote workers are many—lower overhead, higher morale, better productivity, and efficiency. Thus, we see more and more organizations are shifting to, and growing, their remote workforce.   As the leader of a remote team, you may feel like you're still adapting, and learning how best to manage your remote team members.   So, what do you need to do differently to effectively l...

The metaverse and web 3.0 are here — are you and your business ready? What can we as leaders do to prepare ourselves for how business will change?   Software is becoming more human-like than some humans; cities have digitals twins; even people have digital twins. You may find yourself scratching your head wondering "what just happened?"   Leaders, what change in your own state of mind will you nee...

When you reflect on how you want your career to progress, what career goals do you have? How will you achieve those goals? And who will be in your corner to support your journey?   There's a very effective method to advocate for your own career development: sponsorship.   Sponsorship is when a person of influence promotes the achievements, capabilities, and potential of another.   Is a career spon...

Is there a difference between management training and leadership development? And does your team need both?   Yes, they are different, and are both incredibly important to a leader's success. Management training is logistical; leadership development is psychological.   A typical management training program might include topics like communication, conflict resolution, time management, ethics, polic...

Should leaders work on improving their weaknesses, or should they focus on leveraging their strengths?   It's natural for leaders to want to strive for excellence. If something is broken, you want to fix it. If you realize you need to grow in an area, you seek professional development to improve your skills.   And while self-awareness can be an uncomfortable process, it's necessary to grow as a le...

Are you uncomfortable talking to your team about diversity? An important part of being a great leader is being brave enough to have the conversations that matter most.   And while study after study demonstrates diversity drives major business benefits, most people would still rather not talk about the issues that force us to have diversity strategies in the first place.   Asking our colleagues and...

The next thirty years will bring advancements we can't imagine. From augmented reality and the metaverse to enhancements in technology and automation, the sky isn't the limit anymore.   Whether we like it or not, the world continues to change. So how can you prepare yourself to stay ahead in this ever-changing digital world?   Ben Lytle is a successful CEO, serial entrepreneur and author. He has l...

Having trouble sourcing new talent? Here's a surprising solution for expanding your talent pool.   Consider offering an apprenticeship at your company. But, what about training and experience?   Most executives and entrepreneurs look to hire employees who have a college degree, or that already have a certain amount of experience. Instead, challenge the notion that talent must complete a bachelor's...

When it comes to sales, most executives and entrepreneurs want instant gratification. You don't want the needle to move five or ten years from now, you want that ROI today.   But what if slow progress leads to more growth in the long run? What if being selfless, not ruthless, is the key to long-term success?    If you want to build trust with clients and create a community of advocates for your bu...

Are entrepreneurs the main drivers of innovation?    Conventionally, the most groundbreaking ideas are thought to come from entrepreneurs and executives. But innovative ideas can come from passionate and driven employees as well, if you know how to unleash the power of their creativity.    Without psychological safety, employees won't feel comfortable brainstorming or sharing their ideas out loud...

For most executives and entrepreneurs, the four-day workweek feels like a pipe dream. When you're working 50-60 hours a week, it's hard to picture eliminating an entire workday.    There's not enough time in the day to get everything done as it is. What about revenue? Employee productivity?   With less time at work, how will your company stay competitive?    Yet, more and more companies are shifti...

What if finding joy outside of work is one secret to finding joy at work? Think of the last time you felt true joy. Maybe it was going for a walk at the beach. Painting. Playing tennis. What lights you up?    So often, your career, family, and responsibilities prevent you from feeling connected to your dreams for your life.  But dreams aren't meant to be forgotten.    What if you could reignite yo...

How often do you find yourself interrupting someone? Wishing they'd get to the point? Willing them to just stop talking!   The reasons why people ramble are many: they're nervous; they haven't structured their thoughts in advance; they're thinking things through "out loud;" they're lost in the detail and can't see the big picture, etc.   Sometimes it's hard not to finish people's sentences to move...