Future Ready Leadership With Jacob Morgan

You've heard of IBM, but did you know that it was once on the verge of bankruptcy? One man, a cookie salesman, was able to turn the company around and keep it from collapsing. In today's leadership spark, we'll explore the remarkable turnaround of IBM in the 1990s under the leadership of Lou Gerstner, Former CEO of IBM. Lou, an outsider with a background in consumer goods and financial services, took the helm and transformed the company. He restructured IBM, shifting its focus from hardware to services and software, and revitalized its corporate culture, steering it from near bankruptcy to becoming a global leader in technology services. This story is a powerful example of how visionary leadership and strategic decision-making can navigate a company through trying times and lead it to success.

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Whether you lead a team of thousands, a team of hundreds, or a team of five, you should have executive presence. While executive presence alone most likely won't get you promoted or keep you in your current role, it is something that will set you apart. It is also a huge part of motivating and inspiring your team.

So what is executive presence? That is exactly what we are talking about today. Tom Henschel is the host of The Look & Sound of Leadership, which has been airing since 2008. Tom is also a communications coach for executives at companies like Warner Bros, Toyota, Mattel, and Sony Pictures.

Tom is president of the executive development firm Essential Communications. He was also classically trained at The Juilliard School, Drama Division. Tom was a professional actor for more than 20 years and has appeared in over 100 plays, films and TV episodes.

In this episode of the podcast we explore:

• How Steve went from acting to coaching executives
• What is executive presence and why is it so important
• Do you need executive presence in order to be a leader?
• The aspect of executive presence that leaders struggle with
• How to have executive presence in a virtual world
• Action items leaders can implement today to create executive presence

Do you feel like people don't want to work anymore? In today's episode Jason and I have a friendly spar on what's going on with today's workforce and if the our work ethic is in collective decline. We also explore how social media trends are shaping the workforce, the importance of focusing on career growth, and four phases of change that we all go through: panic, adaptation, accepting a new normal, and a reluctance to go back to the status quo. Jason is the Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine and author of "Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career."

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I'm very excited to share this week's episode of The Future of Work podcast. I interview Rita McGrath, Professor at Columbia Business School, author, speaker and consultant. Rita has been featured in many business publications and is quoted frequently by the press. Her most recent book is "The End of Competitive Advantage – How to Keep Your Strategy Moving as Fast as Your Business." I believe this podcast will prove to be a very good overview for people that are interested in management and innovation, and how they are evolving and changing. Rita is on the front line of these events because she not only teaches on this, but she works with a lot of organizations. We talk about venture capital and funding in the Bay Area and what is going on with what I like to call "Pinocchio's Island," and how innovation is changing. We look at the competitive advantage, which is particularly fascinating because it is something that has been and is still taught in many of our schools. And, it comes up time and again in conversations around management and leadership. Rita has a completely counter-intuitive approach, which is that competitive advantage is actually… dead. She introduces several new concepts and methods for organizations to sustain their strategy, and to scale and sustain innovation. Different aspects of the future of work also are explored including the freelancer economy and more. We wrap up with Rita sharing her advice to organizations— and individuals as well — who are looking to adapt to the changes that we are seeing. Tune in and don't miss this Future of Work podcast.

(Music by Ronald Jenkees)

Have you ever wondered why good employees leave, even when they're well-paid? It's a puzzle many leaders face. In today's leadership spark, we'll dive into the three key factors that drive employees away, beyond salary: lack of growth opportunities, poor relationships with their leaders, and inadequate work-life integration. It's important to address these issues within our organizations, and leaders should provide clear paths for growth, foster positive relationships with their teams, and establish guidelines for work-life balance. At the same time, it's also the employees' responsibility to seek growth opportunities and set boundaries for work-life integration.

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What's the secret behind the communication strategies of successful leaders? Unlocking your ability to recognize different conversation styles, will leave you best equipped to face challenges ahead. Today I am joined by Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and bestselling author of "The Power of Habit" and "Smarter Faster Better," who dives into the intricate world of effective communication through his latest work, "Super Communicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection." In this episode, Charles will reveal how leaders can become super communicators through understanding the different types of conversations—practical, emotional, and social—and the dynamic interplay between them. You will learn to navigate these conversational types with agility, enabling you to foster deeper connections, enhance your decision-making, and cultivate a culture of empathy and understanding within your teams.

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Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Are you struggling to build trust within your team? Trust is crucial for effective teamwork. In today's leadership spark, I explore four key strategies to enhance trust, drawing insights from expert CEOs, researchers, and psychologists. I'll explore the power of vulnerability in trust, sharing your own challenges, acknowledging emotions, and the importance of demonstrating competence.

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Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Why did Blockbuster really go bankrupt and what did Google have to do with it? Today I'm joined by James Keyes who is the visionary CEO behind three mega successful companies: 7-Eleven, Blockbuster, and Wild Oats. He's also the author of "Education Is Freedom: The Future Is In Your Hands."

Today we're exploring how Jim increased the shareholder value at 7-Eleven by 10x, the challenges of navigating Blockbuster through the 2008 financial crisis and the rise of streaming platforms, and why Jim's philosophy of "Change Equals Opportunity" has yielded so much success.

Discover the critical role of effective communication, how to genuinely engage with your team, and the secrets to cultivating a culture of relentless positivity and innovation. James Keyes lays bare the foundational pillars of leadership that not only build empires but also foster the growth of those who make them.

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Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Do you ever question your own abilities and feel like a fraud, despite your achievements? You're in the company of many, including top executives, who grapple with imposter syndrome. In today's leadership spark, we delve into four effective strategies to conquer this challenge: bolster your confidence by supporting actions with data and stories, use the syndrome as a motivator to enhance interpersonal skills, leverage the Dunning-Kruger effect to acknowledge your true capabilities, and engage in positive self-talk and self-compassion to reshape your internal dialogue. These techniques are pivotal in recognizing your worth and transforming impostor syndrome into a powerful tool for personal growth and empowerment.

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Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Is your leadership journey marked by ongoing growth and self-improvement? Embracing continuous learning signifies your path towards becoming an even more impactful leader than you were the day before. Today I am joined by Guy Kawasaki, the Chief Evangelist at Canva and former evangelist at Apple where he worked with Steve Jobs to market the Macintosh. He's also the author of "Think Remarkable" where he reveals the three foundational pillars of successful leadership: Growth, Grit, and Grace. Discover how these concepts can revolutionize your leadership style, helping you to face challenges with resilience, pursue continuous self-improvement, and extend your success to elevate those around you. Leaders will gain practical strategies for anyone looking to make a lasting impact in their field.

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Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/