Sheer Clarity

Feedback is a topic with which I have an ongoing love-hate relationship. It’s extremely common in business settings and for many people, it brings up painful memories of tedious annual performance reviews which never resulted in any progress. But done right, feedback is at the core of every successful team.

So, what do you need to do to set the tone for an effective system? What is positive and negative feedback? How do you give constructive criticism? Do you care about the evolution and development of your team? We’ve talked in the past about the importance of self-awareness and on your path to develop the right environment for feedback, that self-awareness is be an essential tool.

On this episode, Mathew and I examine the foundation you need to build to successfully provide and receive feedback. We also discuss Mathew’s experiences with feedback during his stint in corporate America, the shortcomings of the standard annual review process, why self-awareness is critical for leaders, what to ask yourself before giving feedback, and so much more!

Be sure to join us next week for the second half of the discussion on feedback. We’ll be exploring how to provide and receive it. In the meantime, we’d love to get some feedback from you. Send us your questions, comments, and experiences with feedback by email or using the form on our home page.

Key Topics:

• Why I talk about the philosophy behind feedback (0:53)
• The drawbacks of the standard annual review process (4:03)
• Mathew’s feedback experience while working with a great leader (4:50)
• The two main feedback problems Mathew experienced in corporate America (5:56)
• My opinion on the effectiveness of an annual performance review (6:42)
• The characteristics of Mathew’s former supervisor that made her a great communicator (8:40)
• The integral connection between trust and feedback (9:42)
• How the motive behind feedback affects the outcome (10:23)
• Why self-awareness is necessary to genuinely care about other people (11:16)
• “Hurting people hurt people” (12:30)
• The questions to ask yourself before giving feedback (14:44)
• The great feedback I got at my first serious job (17:52)
• Viewing the annual performance review as a confirmation (19:56)
• Giving and receiving feedback at the C-suite level (20:31)
• And much more!

See the show notes and a transcript at https://sheerclarity.com/podcasts/the-philosophy-of-feedback

Thanks for Listening!

Last week, in part one of this two-part series on the Halftime Model, we explored halftime as a concept, how it works, and the types of questions you’ll asking yourself as it approaches. Today we’re diving deeper to the next level of the halftime of life and if you’re approaching the halftime, we want to help you to develop the tools you’ll need to have a meaningful conversation with yourself about where you are today and where you want to be in the second half.

Life is perplexing and societal pressure leaves a lot of us with our heads down, chasing the dream of career success, marked by power and money. But I'm here to tell you: it will not be enough. Whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, 40s or 50s, there are certain questions you should ask yourself to cultivate the right mindset to live a full and significant life. These questions, combined with the principles shared by Bob Buford in Finishing Well, make up a framework that will help you navigate the halftime and avoid the territory of the midlife crisis.

On this episode, Matthew and I discuss the 20 questions you should ask yourself today, how self-reflection about the halftime can help you to become a better leader, the effects of a midlife crisis on leadership, why significance is more important than success, how you can benefit from the self-reflection of halftime even if you’re not yet at that age, and so much more!

How do you feel about halftime? Has this discussion made you think differently about your life as you approach or come through halftime? Have you had a new revelation as you hit the third or fourth quarter? Do you think we missed anything? We want to hear about the impact these conversations are having on you. So be sure to share your experiences with us.

Key Topics:

• A sample of the questions everyone should ask themselves around the halftime of their lives (1:54)
• Why you should start asking yourself these questions in your 20s and 30s (4:40)
• The competitive advantage for twentysomethings who are already asking themselves these questions (4:57)
• A quick sidebar about the demographics of the average podcast listener (6:16)
• Differentiating between a midlife crisis and halftime (7:21)
• An impromptu teachable moment about the importance of listening to being a good leader (9:14)
• The effects of a midlife crisis on leadership (11:23)
• How self-reflection about halftime will help you to be a better leader (12:07)
• Some of the important principles you should consider building your second half on (13:41)
• Why you should focus on achieving significance more than success (14:21)
• My thoughts on leaders who fill their office walls with their personal achievements (16:48)
• The lack of lasting fulfillment that comes from chasing power and money (18:37)
• A word of caution for the super-planners (20:45)
• The right time to say no (23:02)
• Why you need to think about harvest time (24:09)
• The important most seeds for you to plant (25:40)
• And much more!

Mentioned in this Episode:

• The 20 Questions for the Second Half of Life
• Bronnie Ware’s Book | The Top Five Regrets Of The Dying: A Life Transformed By The Dearly Departing
• Bob Buford’s Book | Finishing Well: The Adventure of Life Beyond Halftime
• Peter Drucker

See the show notes and a transcript at https://sheerclarity.com/podcasts/the-halftime-model-part-2-developing-your-humility-as-a-leader

For most leaders, at a certain age you’ll find yourself naturally leaning towards thoughts of self-reflection and questioning. That natural break point in your life is known as the halftime of life. It’s that time where you look back at the first half of your life, check the scoreboard and adjust the game plan for the second half.

Today’s conversation is part one of a two-part series and we’re exploring the halftime model as a concept. What is halftime and how does it work? When is the halftime of life? What questions will you ask yourself? In becoming the consummate leader by attraction, understanding the halftime model will help you improve the way you lead and will give you a framework for approaching your goals, aspirations, and ambitions.

On this episode, Mathew and I talk about how the halftime model was developed, where it fits in the timeline of life, the type of self-reflection that happens at halftime, why you should become your own cheerleader, the different approach to halftime for second and third generation leaders in family businesses, and so much more!

What do you think are you in the halftime of your life? If you’ve already passed the halftime, what advice would you want to pass on to the next person who hasn't quite approached it? We’d love to hear your experiences.

Be sure to join us next week when we’ll be doing part two on the halftime model where we’ll dive into what halftime means specifically for leaders at the midpoint in life and how to finish well.

Key Topics:

• Mathew shares a little about his story and where he is in relation to the halftime of life (2:44)

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Bob Buford, author of Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance

See the show notes and a transcript at https://sheerclarity.com/podcasts/the-halftime-model-part-1-what-is-it

How you show up in the world and your strength as a leader has a deep connection to the strength of your worldview. On your path to sheer clarity, with self-reflection and by asking the right questions, you’ll develop your personal theory of the world which helps to guide you on the journey to becoming the consummate leader by attraction.

Many people get caught up being busy making a name for themselves, building their career and paying their bills and overlook the value of being introspective. But having a strong conviction in your worldview is the bedrock for creating long-term success. So, what is a worldview and what questions should you be asking yourself to get clarity around it? And how does your worldview factor into the type of leader you are?

On this episode, Mathew and I explore why you need to get clear on your worldview, how to approach questions of mortality and the meaning of life from a non-religious perspective, the essential questions for you to ponder so you can determine what your worldview is, why belief in a higher power can be empowering, and so much more!

Have you started on the path to clarifying your worldview? If we’ve raised questions for you, reach out to us and tell us about your experiences. We’d love to hear from you.

Be sure to join us for next week’s episode where we’re looking at another important exercise for leaders at the midpoint in their life known as the Halftime Model.

Key Topics:

• What is a worldview? (2:24)
• The questions that are answered when you are clear on your worldview (4:04)
• Why it’s essential for leaders to seek clarity on their worldview (8:34)
• Breaking the misconception that questions of mortality and the meaning of life are intrinsically linked with religion (13:01)
• Differentiating between religion and an existential philosophical inquiry (14:08)
• My personal philosophical orientation (16:22)
• How the strength of your conviction in your worldview affects the way you show up as a person and as a leader (17:31)
• The importance of figuring out your motivations and why you do what you do (20:51)
• Why belief in a higher power, religious or otherwise, can be an empowering and important part of humility and your worldview (23:15)
• The question you need to ask yourself when examining your operating philosophy (24:07)
• And much more!

Mentioned in this Episode:

• The Worldview Exercise Worksheet

See the show notes and a transcript at https://sheerclarity.com/podcasts/the-power-of-your-worldview

Last week we broke down what humility is and if it was possible to have humility while being a big personality with a high-profile name. At first glance, it seems like a paradox, but we came away from that discussion realizing that it was possible through self-awareness. This week, we’re diving in even deeper to help you develop this virtue in yourself as you continue on the path to sheer clarity.

As we continue our discussion about humility, we want to understand not only whether it is something that can be learned, but also, if it is, the best way to do so. How does someone ruled by ego move to the opposite end of the spectrum, where they become the consummate leader by attraction by embracing their humility? Stick with me here: I strongly believe that transition doesn’t start without a belief in a higher power.

On this episode, Mathew and I explore what we mean by a “higher power” and the key areas you need to master to develop your humility as a leader. We talk about why pride and ego can’t live alongside humility, why you need to negate the negatives of your personality, how to handle a boss who lacks humility, how to leap from the limelight, and so much more!

Do you think humility can be learned? We’d love to hear your experiences with humility and leaders who you’ve seen in your career transition into being humble leaders by attraction. What were these leaders like before transitioning, and what behaviors did they exhibit afterward? We’re excited to hear your thoughts.

Key Topics:

• Mathew’s biggest takeaway about having humility while being a big personality (2:29)

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Everett L. Worthington Jr.’s Book | Humility: The Quiet Virtue

See the show notes and a transcript at https://sheerclarity.com/podcasts/developing-your-humility-as-a-leader

Humility is fundamentally an incredibly powerful leadership attribute. Despite that, from Jack Welch to Elon Musk, many celebrated leaders in recent history are not known for displaying humility. Beyond that, our selfie culture seems to promote values that are quite the opposite.

So, why should we as leaders be interested in the virtue of humility? Coming from our last episode about how you will measure your life, I want you to join me on another level of self-reflection and talk about the importance of humility for leaders.

A leader by attraction has a brand that’s associated with positivity and using their power for the good of others. It’s making the conscious choice to put others ahead of yourself. And it all starts with understanding what humility is and how it is applied in the real world in leadership settings. To help you on the path to sheer clarity, today we’re unpacking humility and the misconceptions that often surround it.

On this episode, Mathew and I talk about the connection between a company’s enduring value and its leaders, what humility in leadership looks like, why humility is so hard to define, breaking the misconception that humility is a weakness, how to assess your humility, and so much more!

Stay tuned for next week’s episode where we’ll look at how you can develop your humility as a leader. Until then, share your experiences with us about humility and the leaders you’ve had in your career or your own experiences with incorporating humility into your leadership style. We’d love to hear from you.

Key Topics:

• The link between a certain type of leadership and the creation of enduring value (1:54)

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Jim Collins’ Book | Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't

See the shownotes and transcript at https://sheerclarity.com/podcasts/why-humility-is-essential-for-great-leadership

How Will You Measure Your Life? I’ve found myself coming back to this article by Harvard Professor Clayton Christensen time and time again because it perfectly captures a message that I try to point out to all my clients: While we can be focused on all the things that the world wants us to focus on, that’s not what you're going to be remembered for.

Our society and culture are focused on money and power. From a young age, our educational system teaches us that achievements, awards, and an outstanding resume should be our number one priority, while little or no emphasis is placed on developing character. But while those things are important and oftentimes necessary, we almost universally agree that they are not the most important.

In becoming the consummate leader by attraction, you have to turn your attention to your character. So, how will you measure your life? How does this question impact your leadership? How does it tie in with finding your purpose? Are you proud of what you will be remembered for?

On this episode, Mathew and I look at the impact of society’s prioritization of power and money over relationships, the aspects of your life you should be focused on, what it takes to create a lasting legacy, why it’s easier to talk about our accomplishments than our character, how your decisions reflect your values, and so much more!

We’d also love to hear from you. Share with us how you were measuring your life prior to listening to this episode, and whether you’ve now made some adjustments after reading the articles, books or simply from hearing this discussion between Mathew and me.

Key Topics:

• Why I wanted to dedicate an episode to the topic “How Will You Measure Your Life?” (1:09)

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Clayton M. Christensen’s Harvard Business Review Article | How Will You Measure Your Life?

See the show notes and a transcript at https://sheerclarity.com/podcasts/how-will-you-measure-your-life

Not knowing something is not a weakness, it is an opportunity to get stronger. Despite the fact that creativity and innovation are intrinsically linked to exploring the unknown, embracing your own uncertainty can be terrifying. As we close the door on our series on appropriate vulnerability, we’re taking a deep dive into a very specific aspect of vulnerability: imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome affects people at every level and your experience with it might range from manageable fears that are quickly dealt with, to frequent anxiety and the feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. If you’ve been applying the self-reflection we spoke about in past episodes, odds are that you’ll encounter imposter syndrome on your journey to becoming the consummate leader by attraction.

As a leader, how do you deal with imposter syndrome? How can it get in the way? How do you manage it appropriately? And it’s not just about you. Once you become more aware, you'll be in a better position to help your team restore their confidence, unblock them, and enable new levels of productivity and efficiency.

On this episode, Mathew and I reflect on how we became aware of imposter syndrome and the fact that it is truly a universal issue. We explore the different ways it shows up in leaders, why being a second-generation leader often requires extra preparation, how to identify imposter syndrome, the importance of self-reflection and being conscious of your own insecurities and anxiety, my top two techniques you can use to manage imposter syndrome, and so much more!

Key Topics:

• Mathew’s experience with imposter syndrome (2:11)

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Dr. Pauline Rose Clance & Dr. Suzanne Imes’ Article | The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention

See the show notes and a transcript at

In the past couple episodes, we’ve talked about what appropriate vulnerability is, why you need it, how to be vulnerable and how to approach vulnerability as a leader. Now we’re looking at the final element: how to encourage appropriate vulnerability in others.

What does that environment look like? How do you pull it off? What are the benefits to you as a leader? Years of research has shown that the biggest factor that impacts employee engagement is their relationship with their boss. It’s up to you to set the tone in your workplace and show your humanity to your team. Your approach to vulnerability and your willingness to share appropriately with those around you can make or break strong connections. And those connections are crucial to achieving your business goals and becoming a successful leader by attraction.

On today’s episode, we’re exploring how to encourage people in the workplace to be vulnerable with you and key techniques you can use to encourage that vulnerability. Mathew and I share vulnerable moments we had in the past week, how collaborating and vulnerability are intrinsically linked, why you have to walk the talk, the types of questions you should be asking in your business meetings, and so much more!

You’re also going to want to look out for next week’s episode where we’ll be doing a wrap up of the three aspects of the sheer clarity model, trust, honesty, and appropriate vulnerability, and how they fit together to help you on your path to achieving sheer clarity.

Key Topics:

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Gallup | Employee Engagement

See the show notes and a transcript at https://sheerclarity.com/podcasts/appropriate-vulnerability-part-3-encoura

Vulnerability isn't about winning or losing. It’s about having the courage to show up and be seen.

As business leaders, we set audacious, future-oriented goals that inherently have an element of risk. The bigger the goals, the bigger the risk. In those moments where the outcome is uncertain, vulnerability is a key part of the equation. And being vulnerable enough to understand where you need help and when to ask for that help is a huge part of becoming a successful leader by attraction.

So as a leader, what do you do if you’re not sure about your vulnerabilities or how to approach them? Is it too late to change if you haven’t embraced vulnerability with your team in the past? More than that, does it really make a difference to your team and your business when you create that environment of vulnerability?

Today we’re talking about how to approach vulnerability as a leader and how to put yourself in a vulnerable position that’s appropriate. Mathew and I dive into how vulnerability can be your greatest strength, what appropriate vulnerability looks like for a business leader, how to change if you’ve been a closed-off leader in the past, how to start identifying your vulnerabilities, and so much more!

You’re also going to want to look out for next week’s episode where we’ll be finishing up appropriate vulnerability by looking at how to encourage it in others.

Key Topics:

• Mathew’s insights from our previous episode about appropriate vulnerability (2:31)

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Brené Brown

See the show notes and a transcript at https://sheerclarity.com/podcasts/appropriate-vulnerability-part-2-how-to-be-appropriately-vulnerable-as-a-leader