Aug 22, 2018
This week, Jan returns fresh
from a trip to Ireland, where he traveled and worked with his MBA
students through his course at University of Colorado Denver. He
and Jim discuss the parallels and running themes between the young
professionals, and guests from recent podcast episodes. They
discuss how leaders can foster an environment of vulnerability and
purpose for young professionals. Finally, Jim and Jan share their
ideas on how leaders and executives can create and engineer
networked feedback loops in the business world.
Key Takeaways
[2:13] Jan recently took 12 of
his MBA students to study in the Republic of Ireland and United
Kingdom. Traveling between two locations provided a good comparison
and contrast of business in the countries, and gave students a
global perspective on startup companies, and what it really takes
to study and then become a leader. It was not all fun and drinking
Guinness however - many work days were very long, fast paced and in
an environment that called for punctuality and professionalism from
start to finish.
[5:26] Much like executives
going through transition and transformation, Jan found the students
are also looking for a place to be purposeful and have their
contributions acknowledged.
[6:02] Leaders must frame and
set expectations from the beginning, and hold the team accountable
from day one until the even after the mission.
[7:31] In Ep 101, General
Stanley McChrystal notes we should hold ourselves up to certain
standards, rather against one another. In Ep 65, Maestro of the
Colorado Symphony, Brett Mitchell, views success in his orchestra
when they play with each other, AND for each other!
[9:54] The four ground rules of
individual leadership:
- Take
personal responsibility
- Be On
Time
- Be
Curious
- Have
a Great Attitude, and Be a Team Player
[9:55] A strong leader with a
broad vision sets expectations from the beginning, creates an
environment where people can step up at different times, and
creates post action reviews and feedback loops. When this is place,
most of the people will do the right thing at the right time with
minimal supervision.
[12:04] It is now becoming more
common for executives to journal. Sharing written accounts of our
feelings shows how we and others are processing events, and where
we may be struggling. Fostering a culture where vulnerability is
welcomed helps people feel safe to learn from their mistakes. It
also supports two of the biggest challenges in today’s workforce:
talent acquisition and retention.
[18:40] Leaders must figure out
an efficient way to engineer feedback loops. One way may be the
structured moving of employees to different geographical
locations.
[21:05] For innovation, you need
time to reflect. The environment has to be safe to make decisions
and collaborate.
[22:05] Successful leaders and
teams recognize their mistakes but act quickly and strategically to
turn it around.
Quotable Quotes
- “It’s
not about measuring yourself against your peers.”
- “Getting a group to hold themselves accountable
is a fine art.”
- “Executives should continually ask themselves
whether they are creating the right environment.”
- “We
all learn when vulnerable.”
- “If
you don’t ask for help, you’re never going to learn and
grow.”
- “It’s
what you do after you make a mistake that matters.”
University of Colorado
Denver
Class Act
Ep 068: Everybody Lies: Data Tells
Us Who We Really Are
Ep 101: General Stanley McChrystal
on What Connects Us
Ep 065: A Maestro’s Secret for a
High Performing Team
Positive Coaching Alliance
Instagram: @WeStudyLeaders
Facebook: @westudyleaders
Twitter: @westudyleaders
info@theleadershippodcast.com