Most leaders are aware of the importance of mindset, that our thoughts turn into our actions, which turn into our results. At the same time, self-defeating, repetitive thoughts—which New York Times best-selling author Jon Acuff calls “Soundtracks”—can undermine our efforts to develop and maintain a positive and effective mindset. In this talk at GLS22, Jon helped leaders and teams learn how to start developing a winning mindset by retiring the broken soundtracks that have been holding them back and replacing them with new ones that propel them forward.

Introduction

• – I am a goal nerd. One year I read 100 books, ran 1,000 miles. I once hired a man to help me to get better at ping pong.
• – A goal is the fastest path between where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow.
• – Starting is fun but the future belongs to finishers.
• – There is a 92% chance that New Year’s resolutions will fail.
• Overthinking
• – Overthinking wrecks more leaders than anything else. Example: overthinking a text message.
• – Have you ever re-read an email you have already sent?
• – Have you ever edited an idea before you even wrote it down? You know how many ideas we have lost to overthinking.
• – Overthinking is the most expensive thing that companies invest in every year without realizing.
• – Overthinking steals time, creativity, and productivity
• – Overthinking – When what you think gets in the way of what you want.
• – Mike Peasley – Research of 10,000 people if they struggle with overthinking – More than 99.5% of people said, “yes.” We did the study in 2019 before the pandemic.
• – Everything is a “thing.”
• – It’s impossible to turn off your brain. Why would you do that? Just think good thoughts that move you forward.
• – Neuroplasticity – Change the composition of your brain by changing your thoughts
• – If you can worry, you can wonder. If you can doubt, you can dominate.

– Imagine if we were to renew our minds (wink, wink).

Soundtrack

• – A soundtrack is a repetitive thought.
• – Soundtrack changes everything. And you have a soundtrack for every part of your life: every job, every relationship. The more you listen to thoughts, they become the soundtrack to your life.
• – Culture is a collection of soundtracks playing consistently at a company.
• – NYU – 2 groups of college students. Make sentences out of a word bank. In one group, they gave words about aging. Then they had them walk down the hall. The students who had read about being old walked slower.
• – Great thoughts lead to great actions. Great actions lead to great results.

Great leaders retire broken soundtracks.

They replace them with new soundtracks.

They repeat until automatic.

Retire broken soundtracks.

• – That’s not how we do things around here.
• – There’s never been a day that turned out the way it was scheduled, so why do we talk about the schedule?
• – We never reach our goals, so why do we set them? It’s the soundtrack of apathy.
• – Write a goal and then listen to your first thoughts. Every reaction is an education.
• – Fear argues both sides of a coin. “You’re too young.” and “You’re too old. You’ve missed your shot.”
• – Ask the loudest soundtracks three questions:
• – Is it true? One of the greatest mistakes you can make as a leader is assuming all your thoughts are true.
• – Is it helpful? When I say this again and again, does it push us forward or does it pull us back?
• – Is it kind? You’re high performing. Low-performing people don’t attend The Global Leadership Summit. You’re voluntarily taking notes, plugging in, working with your team.
• – Google wondered, “What do our most successful teams have in common?” They launched Project Aristotle. Spent millions of dollars. Measured 180 teams. Used 35 models. What did they find?
• – They had psychological safety. You can ask questions. You can suggest new ideas. You can admit you are wrong without being treated unkindly by the team.
• – You only get to fix mistakes that you can admit are wrong.
• – Leaders who cannot be questioned end up doing questionable things.

Replace them with new soundtracks.

• – We tend to think thoughts are outside our control.
• – Thoughts come by choice or chance.
• – Great leaders pick thoughts ahead of time and they choose thoughts that are actionable.
• – Where do I want to win this week?
• – You have a soundtrack for every person in your life.
• – Empathy – Understanding what someone needs and acting on it.
• – If you want to enrage those you lead, let them know you know what they need and don’t do anything about it.
• – Care about what the people you care about, care about.
• – What do the people you care about, care about?
• – Crisis magnifies kindness. The kind things you do are worth so much more than they used to be.
• – Read less minds. Ask more questions.
• – It is much better to meet a need than to invent a need.
• – Bose Band Camp – got in the trenches and listened to the need.
• – Bose had a huge lead on headphones, but they didn’t listen to people and forgot about Dre.
• – When you ask someone what they need, they become visible and valuable.
• – Do you see me? Do I matter?
• – Once you discover the power of soundtracks, you’re going to hear them everywhere.
• – Individuals have soundtracks. Couples have soundtracks. Families have soundtracks.
• – “Your New Playlist”
• – The best leaders turn overthinking from a super problem into a superpower.
• – My new soundtrack is: I am a leader.