This podcast is a compelling guide for leaders who want to transform their leadership style by prioritizing character. It begins with a thought-provoking question: Are you ready to become the leader everyone wants to follow? and introduces a powerful story from the Coach-Ability book, illustrating how character-driven leadership can turn a struggling leader into an admired and trusted one.

The post presents The Tricycle Effect, a leadership framework designed to help individuals develop character, competence, and courage—the essential components of lasting leadership success. Readers will discover how leading with integrity, authenticity, and trust attracts success, fosters loyalty, and creates high-performing teams.

Throughout this podcast, engaging concepts: Character, Leadership, and the Tricycle Framework, make it easy to grasp and apply. Actionable steps are provided, including a Return on Character (ROC) assessment, access to The Tricycle Effect resources, and participation in coaching and peer support sessions.

This podcast concludes with a strong call to action, encouraging readers to take the first step toward their leadership transformation by enrolling in LMDC Academy. It’s an invitation to build a leadership legacy through character-first habits, backed by expert guidance and community support.

To get your Free 90-Day Character-driven Leadership Blueprint today!

Trike On!

Dane Deutsch Interviews James R. Elliot on the Power and Importance of Authenticity in Leadership.

James R. Elliot is a globally acclaimed best-selling author, speaker, and trainer with over 20 years of experience. He leads several programs at Unleash Your Power, including:

He is also a keynote speaker. James is described as an accomplished leader and trainer in the fields of leadership, communication, confidence, influence, rapport and persuasion. He offers personalized 1-on-1 support and uses exclusive coaching tools.

His programs aim to help people achieve personal and professional growth, become strategic business leaders, and transform corporate environments

His website is: https://unleashyourpower.com/

In this insightful episode, host Dane dives into John Maxwell’s principles on developing the character of a winner. Tailored for C-Level executives, the podcast explores how values-driven leadership can transform your life and organization. From Truett Cathy’s “better before bigger” philosophy to redefining success on your own terms, this episode is packed with logical insights, emotional depth, and a primal call for meaning. Listen in to discover how to build a legacy of character and resilience.

This podcast was developed using some of the Character-driven Leadership principles, values, and character skills from Developing the Character of a Winner (Maxwell Leadership Podcast).

In addition, Dane adds even more value to you, by weaving in the need for Character to be our Foundation of Leadership by referring to The Tricycle Effect in his book, Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect:  Coaching Character as the Foundation of Leadership.

Original John Maxwell Podcast with Mark Cole and Traci Morrow: YouTube

Thanks for tuning in! This is Dane, reminding you to lead with character first.

Trike On!

In today's podcats, Coach Dane, shares stories of companies  of two companies (Harkins Theaters and Kwik Trip Stores) that lead with character first and how they are doing that to be successful, but more importantly, significant for their teams and for their customers.  Dane explains how these two companies are leading with character and thereby transforming their business environments which drives their influence in their company cultures for their customers. Highlighting values like kindness and empathy—front spokes of leadership—elevates team performance and customer interactions. Like businesses embedding these traits visibly, executives can foster trust, respect, and loyalty. Prioritize character-driven leadership to inspire excellence and amplify your impact. Lead with character first and Trike On!

Discover the power of character-driven leadership in this podcast featuring Dane Deutch, author of "Coachability: The Tricycle Effect." Learn how to balance technical and people skills with a strong character foundation using his unique Tricycle Effect concept. Gain insights on how to cultivate trustworthiness, respect, and empathy, while developing your ability to coach yourself and others. Hear Dane's stories from his Air Force service in Turkey, and his experience coaching gymnastics for over 45 years, highlighting the power of visualization, and how to act instead of react. Learn how to move from success to significance, adding value to others for a more fulfilling life and business.

Want to learn more?  Download the Foreword and Chapter 1 to Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect or FREE here:  https://coach.lmdc.us/coachability-book

In this podcast, Coach Dane talks about today’s world of curated perfection, versus true leadership which emerges from a Character as the Foundation of Leadership with authenticity and resilience. This podcast challenges executives to expose vulnerabilities, embrace challenges as growth opportunities, and build authentic connections with their teams. Elevate your leadership by focusing on character, not comparisons. Start leading with impact—fail forward and transform challenges into triumphs.

Discover the difference between teachability and coachability and why both are essential for growth and leadership success. Learn how being coachable and open to learning and feedback can transform your character and unlock your leadership potential. Start building your coach-ability leadership today! 🚴‍♂️

Blog Post: Busting 3 Myths About Coaching Character as a Skill

When it comes to leadership, *character* is often thought of as something you either have or you don’t. But what if I told you that character can be coached just like any other skill? This may sound surprising, but it’s true! In my book *Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect*, I focus on how developing strong character skills is the foundation of effective leadership. However, there are many myths that prevent people from understanding that character is not just inherent—it can be learned, developed, and refined. In this blog post, we’ll tackle three of the most common myths about coaching character as a skill.

Myth #1: "Character is something you’re born with, not something you can develop."

One of the biggest myths about character is that it’s something fixed at birth—either you have it, or you don’t. While it’s true that certain character traits might come more naturally to some than others, *character* itself is shaped by our experiences, choices, and the effort we put into growth. Just like learning a new language or mastering a musical instrument, character can be developed through intentional practice and feedback. In fact, the core message of *The Tricycle Effect* framework is that character is the front wheel that guides you and drives your success in leadership. Just like you can train to improve your communication or technical skills, you can work on becoming more trustworthy, responsible, and empathetic.

Myth #2: "Character development is too vague and hard to measure."

Some people believe that character is a "fuzzy" concept that’s too subjective to be measured or coached. But just because character isn't measured by numbers like sales or performance stats doesn’t mean it’s not measurable. In *Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect*, I break character down into practical skills like integrity, empathy, courage, and accountability—these are clear, definable traits that can be improved through feedback, coaching, and practice. By focusing on specific character skills and setting tangible goals, you can track progress and see real growth. For example, setting a goal to actively listen to your team’s concerns for a set number of times each week is a measurable way to practice empathy. Just like other skills, the more you practice, the better you become!

Myth #3: "Character development is just about personal growth, not professional success."

Some people think that character only affects your personal life, but it is actually one of the biggest drivers of professional success as well. Building character skills like trustworthiness, fairness, and responsibility directly impacts your ability to lead others effectively. In fact, character is often the “X-factor” that separates good leaders from great leaders. When leaders demonstrate character by making ethical decisions, taking accountability, and showing empathy, they earn trust and loyalty from their team, which leads to a positive work culture and better results. In short, character development is not just a personal endeavor—it’s a professional investment that pays off by building a stronger, more successful team.

Take Action: Build Your Character Skills

Now that we’ve busted these myths, I challenge you to take action! Remember, character isn’t something you’re stuck with—it’s something you can develop and grow, just like any other skill. Start by identifying one character skill you want to improve, and then create a plan to practice it daily. If you’re ready to take your leadership to the next level, I invite you to explore *Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect*, where I dive deeper into the steps you can take to build character as the foundation of your leadership.

Ready to start building your character skills?

Stay connected for more insights and tips on developing character-first leadership!

Get the Book:  https://coach.lmdc.us/coachable_book

Get the Course:  https://www.lmdc.academy/pages/the-tricycle-effect-course

Leadership Coach and Trainer, Dane Deutsch, Launches Best Selling Book!

Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect – written by Dane Deutsch,

With compelling real-life stories and actionable insights, Coach Deutsch equips leaders at every stage to grow from mere success to meaningful significance through character-based leadership.

Strengthen key character skills like humility, empathy, and trust. Master the three dimensions of coach-ability: self-coaching, coaching others, and being coached by others. Balance technical skills with people skills, even in tough ethical dilemmas.

Build a lasting legacy of leadership that influences others right now. Ready to lead with character first? This book is your road map to not only achieve success but to build a legacy of significance that adds true value to the lives of others.

For more information about Dane as well as the book Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect  go to https://www.thetricycleeffect.com.

In this podcast episode, the two hosts explore the question of whether character can be coached and dive into the insights from the book Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect. They discuss testimonials from readers who found the book valuable not only for professional coaching but also for personal growth and leadership in different areas of life. The central theme is that character is not a fixed trait but a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time. The metaphor of the tricycle is introduced, where the front wheel represents character skills like integrity and empathy, which guide everything else. The discussion also highlights how these skills can be practiced and improved through daily choices, much like learning a language or an instrument. The podcast emphasizes that character is the foundation to leadership, and working on character skills can have a significant impact on personal, professional, and team dynamics.  Trike On!

Note:  This episode was generated with AI Assistance, and the content was not AI created.  All content was derived from authentic and genuine sources that included the Coach-Ability and The Tricycle Effect book, The Ararat Connection Blog, and/or text that was created by the Author, Dane Deutsch.