Leading the People Side of Business

You observe, you intercept, you provide feedback, you follow up, but how do you know if your coaching is actually working. Todd Averett and Todd Chandler explore ways to clarify coaching objectives, evaluate receptivity, and measure improvement.

Does it matter if we make a difference? Does it matter if we know we’re making a difference? Todd Averett and Todd Chandler explore the deep aspects of how to purposefully have a positive impact on others. When we stumble, when we fail, those are some of the best lessons. Good leaders see these as opportunities to make a long-lasting difference. The key is when you leave, will there be a difference in the organization? When others leave, will they be different by knowing or working with you?

It’s easy to find advice and tips on how to give feedback, but much more difficult on how to collect feedback observations. What should you observe, what do you look for, and what benchmarks should you use? Join Todd Averett and Todd Chandler as they wrestle with these questions. Resource articles: * How to Observe Employee Performance by Tom Ryan http://smallbusiness.chron.com/observe-employee-performance-19393.html * Observation - A Critical Leadership Skill by Andrew Cox http://ezinearticles.com/?Observation---A-Critical-Leadership-Skill&id=743048 * Becoming a Great Observer by Joe Navarro https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/spycatcher/201201/becoming-great-observer

When we label groups with broad generalizations, we engage in stereotyping and risk missing key individual needs and differences. Todd Averett and Todd Chandler explore examples of less helpful brackets and discuss more effective ways to address groups of people. Reference articles: * Why Using Generational Labels Doesn’t Serve HR by Kathryn Mitchell https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/1216/Pages/Why-Using-Generational-Labels-Doesn%27t-Serve-HR.aspx * Against Generations by Rebecca Onion https://aeon.co/essays/generational-labels-are-lazy-useless-and-just-plain-wrong * Ditch the Generational Labels! by Nicole Wininger https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ditch-generational-labels-nicole-wininger-acc-cpc-eli-mp

Going from an individual contributor to a managing role requires different mindsets. Todd Averett and Todd Chandler explore four specific mindsets that successful managers embrace: * It’s not just about me * Not everyone is like me * My job as a leader is to offer feedback * Not everyone will like what I say or do as a leader--and that’s okay

In order to have influence, you have to be in the room where it happens. Todd Averett and Todd Chandler discuss how to get invited to important meetings, add value during and after the meetings, and ensure your ideas get heard. Reference articles: How to respond when you're left out of important meetings https://hbr.org/2016/11/how-to-respond-when-youre-left-out-of-important-meetings 5 ways to get a seat at the table http://www.brandonhall.com/blogs/5-ways-to-get-a-seat-at-the-table-or-at-least-improve-your-chances/

Leaders can make a big impact when they take the time to clarify the “why” for their organizations, their teams, and for themselves. Todd Averett and Todd Chandler explore the need for leaders to understand and share the underlying whys for their teams, how to spread the message, and how to develop their own internal why. Reference resources: * Ted Talk by Simon Sinek: https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action * Article in NY Times about asking good questions: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/03/jobs/the-power-of-why-and-what-if.html?_r=0 * The importance of having a “why” for entrepreneurs:  https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/254687

When, why and how would you want to deliver above and beyond expectations? You can add extra value by completing it faster than expected, provide an extra deliverable, produce higher quality, or come in under budget. Todd Averett and Todd Chandler explore ways to add value to all your projects. Reference articles: * 4 Ways to Go Above and Beyond at Your Job by Katie Douthwaite Wolf https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-ways-to-go-above-and-beyond-at-your-job * 16 Ways to go Above and Beyond to Prove Your Worth in the Workplace by Shawn Mitchell http://elitedaily.com/life/motivation/16-ways-better-work/851959/

What does it mean to lead with your heart? Todd Averett and Todd Chandler dive into the benefits and pitfalls of leading with your heart and share practical ways to use both the head and the heart. Reference articles: “7 Keys to Leading With Your Heart” by Peter Economy http://www.inc.com/peter-economy/7-keys-to-heart-centered-leadership.html “Leading From the Heart” by Suzanne Degges-White https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/lifetime-connections/201502/leading-the-heart “How Leading From the Heart Will Change Your Organization” by Skip Prichard http://www.skipprichard.com/how-leading-from-the-heart-will-change-your-organization/

Are your peers excited when you walk into a meeting or do they roll their eyes? Do they read your emails first or skip right over them? Do they suggest you for projects or new roles? Todd Averett and Todd Chandler discuss how to measure your personal brand and improve it by focusing on four principles: 1. Character - do you do what you say you’re going to do consistently 2. Competence - what skills do you offer, do you know your stuff 3. How you “show up" - do you present yourself professionally 4. Relationships - how strong are your connections with others Discover your unique value and keep refining your talents to keep increasing your organizational worth.

Reflecting back on their own career paths, Todd Averett and Todd Chandler generated separate lists of their top three leadership lessons, then shared them with each other live. What’s on your list of top leadership lessons?

Is it simply a feeling or actual authority granted to someone? How do you empower others? How do increase your own empowerment? You could figure it out on your own, or you could empower Todd Averett and Todd Chandler to discuss the issue for you and provide practical tips to improve how you develop decision makers.

Nobody thinks they lack initiative. Yet it usually seems to be in short supply. Todd Averett and Todd Chandler wrestle with how to define and measure initiative and explore tactics for leaders to create more initiative on their teams.

Is it better to focus on strengths or weaknesses when creating personal development strategies? Todd Averett and Todd Chandler wrestle with this question in a mini-debate and by taking analogies to extreme depths.

What do you do when you start to feel bored or un-challenged in your job? Todd Averett and Todd Chandler discuss three thought-provoking questions you can answer to re-think your job to stay engaged and continue to grow.

Organizations are inherently political. Too often we frame up the game of politics to be about power and advantage. Todd Averett and Todd Chandler suggest that focusing on the controllable elements of relationships, conversations, and perceptions will help you expand your true political skills and influence more decisions. Vote for success!

When building your skill set, is it more appropriate to generalize or specialize? Todd Averett and Todd Chandler explore questions and criteria to help you determine when to broaden your responsibilities or deepen your knowledge base in key areas. What do you want to be known as, a generalist or specialist?

Does age affect drive and ambition? How do you lead a team remotely? Is shot gun communication more effective because of speed and brevity? Two old guys (for the sake of this interview, anyone over 27), Todd Averett and Todd Chandler, interview chief marketing sumo Alex Berman on how he tests for "hustle," communicates with fellow millennials, and manages from undisclosed locations.

Todd Averett and Todd Chandler explore three assumptions to avoid (as suggested from Seth Godin): 1) People are rational 2) People are eager for change 3) That once someone knows things the way you know them, they will choose what you choose.

Which is the better metaphor for leadership? Todd Averett and Todd Chandler duke it out in their first podcast debate. A compass provides direction while a GPS tells you next steps to take. Which provides a better framework to think about leadership? What lessons can you learn from over thinking these metaphors and taking them to their extremes?