The Impact of Leadership

It’s easy to look at successful people that pop up as an overnight success as just getting a lucky break. In reality, it was a long journey to get there with hard work, trials and failure. Get a behind the scenes picture of what rising to the top looks like for a country music star.

If leadership transition is handled intentionally and thoroughly, positive changes can occur in organizations regardless of unexpected challenges. CEO of Racine Family YMCA Jeffrey Collen and soon to be CEO Ahmad Qawi share their methods for making this a successful move even amidst the coronavirus and how new leaders can build upon what has already been established.

The strongest teams and highest performing organizations actually have a high degree of conflict – healthy conflict. Darcy Luoma helps us understand why conflict shouldn’t be avoided and how to handle it thoughtfully so it doesn’t take a volatile turn.

Before COVID-19 suddenly changed our daily lives, people were already reframing, reinventing and rebuilding the way we work and interact with others. This pandemic has accelerated that reimagination and those who are able to look at this problem as an opportunity may find this year to be their best yet.

Authority is not a prerequisite for leadership. Clay Scroggins explains how you can cultivate influence in your current responsibilities by creating an "oasis of excellence." Learn how to lead right where you are.

Healthy organizations and teams should include a diverse group of skill sets and personalities. Those differences can feed success but can also cause misunderstandings and conflict. Find out how personality assessments like DiSC can have a powerful influence on company culture.

Are you waiting for inspiration to strike before taking action in your work or home life? If so, you’re not going to get anywhere. In this episode, Steve shares how to find ways to take action when you don’t feel motivated – it is possible.

As the labor force shrinks, Terry explains the need for leaders to be both self-aware and socially aware of generational differences. He shares practical business scenarios to help us understand what that looks like and how it can have an impact on an organization’s ability to attract and retain good talent.

From the Silent Generation to Gen Z – never before have five generations been a part of the workforce – each with their own beliefs, norms and behaviors. In this episode, Dr. Terry McGovern will help us understand why and how each generation developed their belief system, and most importantly, how leaders can use that knowledge to overcome stereotypes affecting their working relationships.

What does it take to stand out among peers? It’s not about being the loudest or most competitive. Steve shares nine humble ways to differentiate yourself from others.

COVID-19 is bringing extreme disruption, confusion, and concern to every aspect of life. Even seasoned leaders can find the decision making overwhelming. Patrick shares the tactics CCB is using to help employees succeed while maintaining company culture.

At the heart of every healthy team lies a foundation of trust. Steve explores two key attributes of trust: honesty and humility, and deep-dives into how they can cause relationships to either falter or flourish. 

Do employees know what your mission is? Do you have a foundation of trust needed for them to commit to the mission? Mission is a critical aspect for leading your team through crisis and change.

In a fascinating comparison to Lewis and Clark's expedition, Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains, depicts leadership as an unpredictable journey that takes you off the map into uncharted territories. As a leader, you have the choice to fail fast, adapt to a new path, or give up. 

Humor and laughter are proven to be therapeutic and morale-boosting, especially at work. Steve shares examples and tips for embracing humor in your leadership and using it to connect with people to find common ground.

Do you consider yourself an optimistic person? In this episode, Jess Ekstrom reshapes our understanding of optimism in a way that fuels us to persevere through obstacles to get to the bright side.

Resistance takes many shapes to deceive you and keep you from reaching your goals. Steve shares an excerpt from War of Art by Steven Pressfield that exposes the tactics of resistance and encourages you to keep going.

While there can be generational misunderstandings and expectations among those he leads, the president of Carthage College chooses to be a non-anxious presence, which leads to a healthier, more trusting community. Find out how.

If we’re not intentional about growing as leaders, the busyness of life will consume all of our time. The resources and lessons Steve shares in this episode will help you set your vision for this year both professionally and personally.

What needs to be true for you to accomplish your goals in the new year? This episode will help you get on track for success in 2020.

This four-month-old nonprofit is not doing anything monumental – but they are impacting lives in a profound way. Founder Jessica Greb shares how she challenged herself as a leader to do more to make a difference and how to orchestrate good in your own community and in the lives of those around you. 

How do you know if you had a successful year if you didn’t set a vision for it? Steve shares a simple way to establish your focus for the next 365 days – and it starts with just one word.

After 15 years of television reporting, Kimberly Kane did something she never expected to do – she started her own communications business. Kane Communications is redefining the role of an employee by giving them the freedom, tools, and support to take their career to the next level. 

TV personalities are larger than life characters playing a role to entertain, right? Not so with FOX6 Anchor Carl Deffenbaugh. He found his spot on the WakeUp show by being himself and having fun along the way.

What leadership characteristics are the most important in your life? What’s significant to you personally and what do you look for in others? I share my top five with you to get you thinking about yours.