Scott Jeffrey Miller, author of Management Mess to Leadership Success

Bill Ringle and Scott Jeffrey Miller discuss the importance of being clear and explicit with your intent in all communications for small business leaders because in the absence of details, people make up stories and those stories can become a(nother) mess.

>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com  for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.

Interview Insights

Top 3 Takeaways

Declare your intention on why you called this meeting or are taking this course of action. This provides clarity and lessens the probability of misinterpretations. Most importantly, remember to keep your actions aligned with your stated intentions. Manage expectations by setting boundaries on what you cannot do. It is better to say 'no' and let people down early on rather than make a commitment you wouldn't be able to fulfill. That will break trust, harm your relationship, and damage your reputation.Do not stretch your people more than their abilities or temporary limits. It is better to give your employees wins by setting attainable goals. Let your people know and feel that you care about them as people, not just their work roles.

Read the Show Notes from this Episode

Radio host Bruce Williams left a profound mark on Scott's astuteness in business and how the world really works. [01:12]Scott shared to whom his book Management Mess To Leadership Success is for. [04:15]Steve Jobs' behavior from 30 years ago is one of the most discussed examples when discussing leadership behavior. Scott openly talks about his humbling moment when what he thought was his best leadership moment turned out to be one of his weakest and how he bounced back from that terrible meeting with his team. [08:11]Scott zeros in on the significance of declaring our intent and the consequences if our actions do not align with it. [13:30]Blaine Lee wrote, "Nearly all if not all, conflict arises from mismatched or unfulfilled expectations." Scott elaborates on this problem with unfulfilled expectations and how to avoid them. [18:12]One story in Scott's book is when a consultant from Canada proved that you can still follow through with your commitment even after being released from it. This story is a showcase of dedication and true commitment. [20:45]The analogy of jockeys and their prized horses and leaders and their prized people. [24:04]Scott uses the fable of the goose and the golden egg to relay to the listeners why good leaders know not to force the capacity out of their employees. [26:44]The analogy of jockeys, their prized horses, leaders, and their prized people. [24:04]Scott uses the fable of the goose and the golden egg to relay to the listeners why good leaders know not to force the capacity out of their employees [29:30]Pete was an employee of Scott's who was afraid to ask because he could not read what Scott could give until Scott asked him to declare his intent. The result is clarity and a better understanding of each other. [29:30]Going back to setting boundaries, Scott explains how just because employees are free to declare their intent, those intentions should still be within what's reasonable. [33:33]My Quest for the Best Lightning round begins. [41:01]

Expert Bio

Recruited by Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s team, Scott built a 26-year career in the world’s most respected and influential leadership development firm, serving nearly every role imaginable. From a front-line salesperson to project manager, sales leader, general manager,