Life as Leadership: Where Leaders Gather to Grow Together

Josh, Cody, and Michelle talk about Monday's interview with David Komlos and David Benjamin, who recently wrote a new book, Cracking Complexity. Their discussion includes the difference between what is complex versus what is complicated (and which they tend to deal with more), whether they prefer things that are complicated or things that are complex, and some of the details related to getting enough people together (requisite variety) to solve complex problems. They also discuss the three iterations of the complexity formula and which they would be best at.

Key Takeaways:

- Value a variety of insight - look from what you can gain from others' perspectives, even if it's not expertise.

- Look internally before trying to get outside help.

- Variety destroys variety (the law of requisite variety) - it takes a good, capable team to handle complexity.

- When you're looking at a complex problem, form it as a question and then try to answer the question.

- Before trying to address a problem, determine if it is a complicated one or a complex, because each is handled differently.

- YOU have the ability to handle complexity. Make sure you get the right variety of information and people in your life to help you handle it rather than outsourcing the problem.

David Komlos and David Benjamin share how to solve complex issues in your organization and the difference between complex and complicated things.

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Josh, Bryce, Elijah talk about Monday's interview with Liza Looser. Their discussion includes what leaders they've known have done to form strong bonds, how we as leaders can build that trust, and the value of branding when it comes to who we choose to have in our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- If you want to keep something from being a commodity, it has to be build on trust.

- You have to understand what makes you or your organization truly unique, and then you have to go all-in on those things.

- Stay true in the way you present yourself.

- Figure out the values you want to be known by.

- Form bonds with those you're leading by gaining their trust, sharing your vision, and by taking the brunt of the difficulties that come your way.

- Include the question, "What if?" as you are thinking about the future in your own life and in your leadership roles.

Liza Looser is the founder and CEO of The Cirlot Agency, a global brand strategy, integrated communications, and business development firm specializing in public relations, creative development and media strategy. Over the past 35 years, the firm has grown to represent both private and public companies on a national and international basis. It has also become known as one of the top three aerospace defense communications agencies in the nation. Liza has degrees from Mississippi University for Women and Harvard Business School, and she is the Chairman of the Board of the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Mississippi.

LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS

- The majority of team members from The Cirlot Agency's early days are still with the firm. Part of the "secret" to this is to build trust, reward your team, and share your vision. These three things will help to bring long-term success.

- When it comes to personal and organizational branding, trust and personal commitment are vital. If you do not provide a personal touch, you will become a commodity.

- Be conscious of the branding you are putting forth to others (e.g. how you are positioning yourself).

- Every company is different - know your organization's DNA (what makes you unique), figure out how to develop your messaging, and make sure that messaging is consistent. Claim your space.

ABOUT The Cirlot Agency

- The Cirlot Agency focuses on three key areas: Global brand strategy, integrated communications, and business development.

- One of the top three aerospace defense communications agencies in the nation.

QUESTIONS TO INSPIRE US TO ACTION

- What is some lesson, saying, or experience that continues to influence your leadership to this day? 1. Having a few bad bosses (which led Liza to determine never to become one). 2. Having an early leader in Liza's career set a standard of staring the organization's day off in prayer.

- Use three descriptors to finish this sentence: “A leader is…” A servant, a guide, and a conductor (e.g. symphony).

- What is a question that leaders should be asking either themselves or others? Am I keeping the main thing the main thing?

- What book would you recommend to leaders? Good to Great, Jim Collins; Extreme Ownership, Jocko Willink; Blue Ocean Strategy, W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne; Anything by Malcolm Gladwell.

- If you could get every listener to start doing something THIS week to help them be a better leader, what would it be? Leave your insecurity and immaturity at the door.

- As a general life principle, is it better to ask “why?” or “why not?” "Why not?" But a question often asked at The Cirlot Agency is "What if?"

Website:

https://www.cirlot.com

Josh, Parker, and Michelle discuss Monday's interview with Melisa Celikel. The discussion includes their favorite time-saving tips and tools, how they've handled burnout, their experiences with leaders who are more or less organized, and which type of person they are. They also discuss the importance of remaining flexible and open to change in leadership and what their Zone of Genius is.

Key Takeaways:

- Find a group or individuals to challenge you and be honest with you.

- Clutter is clutter, not matter that type. Look for clutter in all areas of life that needs to be removed.

- Even if you're not naturally organized, work on that area of your life.

- You can say "no" to things that don't matter as much!

- Just because you have to leave something behind for a time does not mean you have to leave it behind forever.

- Be open to pivot and change, even if the change was not part of the original plan.

- Identify your Zone of Genius: that thing that no one else can do quite like you.

Melisa Celikel consulted in the employee relations space for five years at several Forbes 500 companies including Roche, Abbott, and GE. She has spent the last 2 years consulting for small businesses with her company called Let's Get You Organized. She is a master of productivity, time management, and process improvement, and she has a knack for digging deep with leadership teams to find their zone of genius, hone in on their mission and vision, set goals strategically, and discover the needle movers to increase their profitability. As a business owner herself, she understands the brain of a Founder and can speak directly to their pain points.

LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS

- As both an employee and employer, don't burn bridges when there is a parting of ways.

- Ride a wave that is helping your business for as long as you can!

- Use Calendly to let others schedule a time that also works within their schedule.

- Be flexible. Melisa's residential decluttering business morphed into online education, mentorship, consulting, and HR support.

- You can burn out on something that you love if you're not careful.

- Necessity is the mother of invention.

- Clutter is clutter, not matter which way you cut it.

- Figure out your "zone of genius": What nobody else can do you like you can.

- Focus on your people strategy. An organization is nothing without happy, motivated, and engaged people.

ABOUT Let's Get You Organized

- Streamlines processes and creates strategic systems for small businesses.

QUESTIONS TO INSPIRE US TO ACTION

– What is some lesson, saying, or experience that continues to influence your leadership to this day? Necessity is the mother of invention. Never be afraid to move forward in ways you had not expected.

– Use three descriptors to finish this sentence: “A leader is…” Honest, humble, and driven.

– What is a question that leaders should be asking either themselves or others? How am I serving others and bringing value to those I interact with?

– What book would you recommend to leaders? Traction by Gino Wickman

– If you could get every listener to start doing something THIS week to help them be a better leader, what would it be? Complete a SWOT analysis to hone in on the weaknesses and threats.

– As a general life principle, is it better to ask “why?” or “why not?” "Why?" If you come from a place of curiosity, it can open up some new doors for you.

Website:

https://www.letsgetyouorganized.biz

Contact:

Find Melisa on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetyouorganized/?hl=en (@letsgetyouorganized)

Music credits:DJ Quads | Cruise Around | Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads/cruise-aroundDJ Quads | Smile | https://soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads/smileDJ Quads | It Just Makes Me Happy | Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads/it-just-makes-me-happy

Josh, Jake, and Maria discuss Monday's interview with JJ Sutherland on the Scrum process. Their discussion includes where they naturally seem themselves in the three roles (Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Team Member), how conflict resolution would work within the system, how Scrum-like feedback loops naturally arise in our interactions, and the important of having - and finding - a single priority (as opposed to multiple "priorities"). They also discuss the dynamics of cooperation and competition on teams.

Key Takeaways:

- Welcome constant change. Be prepared and prepare your teams members for change.

- Have one priority, and keep it at the top.

- Keep a tight feedback loop.

- Seek constant evaluation of what you're doing to make sure you're doing it well.

- email [email protected] to enter to win JJ's book, The Scrum Fieldbook.

- Don't let problems fester. They will likely only get worse.

- Know your process and make sure your team is clear on that process as well.

JJ Sutherland is the CEO of Scrum Inc., a consulting and training firm that uses Scrum to rapidly deliver results in companies across the globe. He is the author of The Scrum Fieldbook: ​A Master Class on Accelerating Performance, Getting Results, and Defining the Future​ and coauthor of Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time, written with his father, Jeff Sutherland, the co-creator of Scrum. Previously, he was an award-winning Correspondent, Producer, and Baghdad Bureau Chief for NPR. He covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Arab Spring, and the aftermath of the 2011 tsunami in Japan. He has won Dupont, Peabody, Edward R. Murrow and Lowell Thomas awards for his work.

LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS

- Speed is really important.

- Respect for the people you work with is vital.

- Value everyone on the team. It's not about who gets credit but that the work gets done.

- You never know everything. When time is of the essence, a good (or even decent) decision now is infinitely better than a perfect decision in two weeks.

- There is no such thing as multiple priorities. Have only one priority.

- Handoffs from one team to another team can create major slowdowns. Eliminate this as much as possible.

- Have a system that will let you know as early as possible if something is on track to fail.

- Ruthlessly prioritize.

- If you are viewing this via a podcasting app and want to see a visual presentation of the 3-5-3 framework, go to https://lifeasleadership.com/032

ABOUT Scrum, Inc.

- A lightweight framework of organizing human effort.

- Based on decades of research for effective teamwork.

- Helps teams focus, get stuff done, adapt to change, and have tight feedback loops.

QUESTIONS TO INSPIRE US TO ACTION

– What is some lesson, saying, or experience that continues to influence your leadership to this day? Not firing someone quickly enough. Don't let problems fester.

– Use three descriptors to finish this sentence: “A leader is…” Visionary, empathetic, and inspiring.

– What is a question that leaders should be asking either themselves or others? Do you know what the strategies/priority are?

– What book would you recommend to leaders? Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society, Nicholas Christakis

- If you could get every listener to start doing something THIS week to help them be a better leader, what would it be? Prioritize.

– As a general life principle, is it better to ask “why?” or “why not?” "Why not?" Do new things!

Website:

https://www.scruminc.com

Find JJ Sutherland on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jjsutherland?lang=en (@jjsutherland)

Josh, Elijah, and Issac discuss Monday's interview with Dr. David Pittman, director of the Engineer Research and Development Center at the US Army Corps of Engineers. The talk about the differentiation between formal authority and moral authority, the relationship between leading and teaching, and how they approach preparation and opportunity-seeking in their own lives.

Key Takeaways:

- Moral authority is when people follow you because they trust you and believe in you. You can't fake it for long!

- Listen more to understand.

- Learn to ask different questions: The questions you asked yesterday may not be the questions you need to ask today.

- Expand your preparation, expand your opportunity, and where these two meet you will find success.

- Accept responsibility for your life.

- Even when you're given authority, earn it!

Dr. David Pittman is the Director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (more commonly known as ERDC). As Director, he manages one of the most diverse research organizations in the world – seven laboratories located in four states, with more than 2,100 employees, $1.2 billion in facilities, and a $1 billion annual program. The center’s research and development supports the Department of Defense and other agencies in military and civilian projects.

Dr. Pittman is also the Director of Research and Development and Chief Scientist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In that role, he is responsible for creating policy and performing strategic planning, direction and oversight of research and development for the Corps’ Military and Civil Works programs and for the Warfighter. He advises the Chief of Engineers on matters of science and technology and sets conditions for success in all science and technology conducted in the Corps.

LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS

- Don't be afraid to do something different than you imaged. Being willing to walk down the path and see what happens.

- Earn respect by showing respect others, caring about their future, and listen to them.

- Formal authority is given by your position.

- Moral authority is when people follow you because they want to, not because they feel like they have to.

- It's not about the leaders, it's about those who follow.

- Follow a progression of personal leadership development when possible.

- Success is where preparation meets opportunity.

- Preparation: Take advantage of new opportunities to learn.

- Opportunity: Don't limit yourself to considering only one or two possibilities or paths.

- On the path to success (i.e. where preparation meets opportunity), don't be a victim. Believe that you're in control.

- If something doesn't work out, keep looking for the next opportunity.

- Leadership is not about position; it's about what you do.

ABOUT ERDC

- Research and development laboratory for the Corps of Engineers.

- As part of the CoE, helps to build the nation.

- ERDC does the stuff that no one knows how to do yet.

- Helps to discover, develop, and deliver new ways to make the world safer and better every day.

- Like Disney World for engineers and scientists except at ERDC, "The magic is real!"

QUESTIONS TO INSPIRE US TO ACTION

- What is some lesson, saying, or experience that continues to influence your leadership to this day? The Man in the Arena quote by Theodore Roosevelt.

- Use three descriptors to finish this sentence: “A leader is…” Compassionate, courageous, and has character.

- What is a question that leaders should be asking either themselves or others? What am I doing to help others?

- What book would you recommend to leaders? First Break All the Rules, Mark Buckingham and Curt Coffman.

- If you could get every listener to start doing something THIS week to help them be a better leader, what would it be? Start listening more to understand the other person's perspective.

- As a general life principle, is it better to ask “why?” or “why not?” Early on in your career, ask "why?" out of curiosity. Later on, ask "why not?" because you can get stuck in a rut and need to try something different.

Music credits:DJ Quads | Cruise Around | Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads/cruise-aroundDJ Quads | Smile | https://soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads/smileDJ Quads | It Just Makes Me Happy | Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads/it-just-makes-me-happy