The Innovative Leader

This week moving to the end of November 2020, there are more states in the USA that have announced “shut down” and “closure” of gyms, restaurants, etc. It is difficult because most have not experiences a “relief” since COVID started and if they were “going out” might have just started to feel a little comfortable. With Thanksgiving next week and Christmas décor going up, here in the USA, people want to be in joyful and festive spirits but struggle when “restrictions” limit what they can do and enjoy. It is challenging AND as leaders, we have to be aware of these dynamics going on. To ask people how they are, give them a chance to acknowledge and name it and support them to find new solutions. We have to find new solutions. When we try to keep doing things the way we always have, but have new limitations, it is natural to feel discouraged. Encouragement is seeing what is possible. As leaders, we have the opportunity to help people find new possibilities personally and professionally. Be a light. It really matters.

In today’s episode we will look at how you can plan for yourself and spread that positivity to others.

·  Body -  physical ways to prepare and stay healthy

1. indoor workout – aps, jazzercise, yoga


2. water, supplements, sleep


3. energy, things that make you laugh


4. finances & budget, gifts (elving)

·  Mind - internal mental mindset and perspective to stay creative and curios

1. re-create traditions (grieve for ones you can’t do; shift to what you can do)


2. learn a new skills – goal, hobby, courses


3. create a virtual community to share and encourage


4. focus on others.... (what can you do to spread joy)

·  Spirit – heart emotion and energy

1. how to lift spirits – focus on creating HOPE


2. find ways to be with people - lift spirits ...


3. ask how people are doing & label and name (its ok to feel bummed... giving space to talk about it helps)

What are your ideas?!? SHARE and SPREAD your ideas to inspire others!

Thanks for tuning in! Like and follow the podcast, share a comment or review.

During industry 2.0 we relied on information, data and analytics in order to make decisions. However, as we move into this new era, we realize that while there is huge value in analytics, our intuition is imperative. Coming into the industry 4.0 leaders need their intuition more than ever. Your intuition is a 4.0 skill set that helps you navigate in the unknown, which there is more and more of every day. What are the things that block your intuition? Can you trust your gut? Find all that and more in today’s episode!

In today’s episode, we cover:

• Why was information so important in industry 2.0


• Things that block our intuition:


• ○  Lack of business experience


• ○  Biases


• ○  Leading with our head


• Things that help us access our intuition:


• ○  Variety of business experience


• ○  Exposure and interaction with different people/cultures


• ○  Leading with our heart


• The importance of emotional intelligence


• Advice on how we can “train” our intuition

Resources and links mentioned during this episode

●  https://www.reboot.io/book/

●  https://innovativeleader.co/

●  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qoeyPcIFWowUa0G9zrCfw

Welcome Leaders! Thank you for joining the Innovative Leader Podcast.

Each week we share thoughts for leaders to equip, inspire and transform how we lead in life and work.

Today we are looking at to topic of Dynamic Decision Making!

In the evolving world of Industry 4.0 complexity is increasing. Leaders have to continue to upgrade their skills.

While decisions making has always been a key skill for leadership, the new opportunity is to do it in a more dynamic way.

In today’s podcast, David and Christy, explore the skills of DYNAMIC Decision Making.

1. What it is

2. Why it's different than decision-making in the past

3. Ways to develop it.

Let us know your thoughts and strategies to become more dynamic as you lead!

Your hosts, Christy Geiger, Executive Leadership Coach, here with David Phillip, Leadership Consultant

Today David and I jump into a topic to provide some context of where the term Leadership 4.0 comes from. I am not familiar with anyone else really using that term, but we are using it to match the current status and changes that are happening and influencing leadership today. We are currently in what is known as Industry 4.0 and Web 4.0. These terms speak to the current evolution we are in regarding the Industrial Era and the Web. Our leadership is great affected by what is happening around us. If you think back to when factories and manufactures were growing, the demand for “managers” and “management training” grew. Now, we are in a very different season. Listen in to get some context on what has brought us to today and how that starts to affect HOW WE LEAD.

2020 has been a really interesting year with a lot of ups and downs and challenges and leaders are really being called to lead to their highest potential. So today we're talking about four things that are really critical and important for leaders to continue to grow and demonstrate strength as a leader.

1. The ability for rigorous self assessment and growth


2. The ability to have healthy accountability


3. The ability to have tough conversations.


4. The ability to be a compassionate listener while maintaining a clear direction

How do you leverage the next 90? In the Innovative Leader Podcast today, we are focusing on three keys to get and stay in action.

1)  Have Challenging Goals: The Good to Great concept of the BHAG

1. What goal will challenge us?


2. What activates you to drive or push forward?


3. What is so big you will not give up?


4. Why does this goal matter?


5. Where does it take us?


6. Why is it meaningful or significant?


7. How it activate my passion to get up and make it happen (internally motivating)?


8. Are you willing to fight for it? Does it scare you or make you nervous?

2) A Grit Mentality: mindset

1. Face your fears


2. Be disciplined to make it happen ..


3. Resilience (get up and do it again tomorrow = grind)


4. Consistency over time, regardless of feelings – emotional resilience


5. Resource: Angela Duckworth à Book: GRIT

3)  Consistent grind: activity

1. Commitment to execute the goal (focus)


2. The activity to work your plan


3. Have designed habits and rhythms that offer daily self-accountability


4. Block your time

 4)  Say no to distractions or interruptions

Having clear goals that get you excited to achieve them will take you closer to your vision. Ensure a daily mindset of GRIT and a plan so that your activity each day is GRIND that matters and moves the needle.   

Let us know what ideas you have and you do to help get traction on your goals!

After an unpredictable and ever changing year (2020), many leaders and business have found themselves adapting for the majority of the year. With the unknown of COVID and other challenges around us today, it can be tempting to wait until things settle down before really getting traction on goals. If anything is “normal” right now, it is CHANGE. Therefore, leaders need to embrace moving forward, while there is change and uncertainty. We are about to move into Q4 of 2020. It is a great time to dig in and get traction. Three months, twelve weeks or ninety days is a great amount of time to get traction for a key area.  It might be an area of business, an area for personal or professional growth or one from each! The mindset to take key steps now will help to set you up for a great 2021! It is not about waiting or preparing for 2021, it is about taking action in Q4 so that you are positioned and ready for 2021. Maybe it is taking time to build culture after a challenging culture year, maybe it is finishing some projects, maybe it is learning a skill, getting a certification, etc. Take this next 90 days and strategically move yourself forward. Today, in the podcast, we will talk about how to figure out what to focus on, how to get traction and who can provide accountability.

Often when we have challenges with a underperforming team member, we can quickly feel frustrated at the gap.

When team members are struggling in their role it can drain time and energy from the team. It limits productivity, progress and results. It takes organizational resources trying to get a team member up to speed.

We can feel exhausted considering how to get them to produce the results that we need from them.  (Note: Does that feel a little 2.0? Meaning, 2.0 leadership that looks at people as result producers or there are done?)

To have a high performing organization we need high performers, but try to trace that back to leadership and how leaders grow high performing organizations.

In today’s podcast, David Phillips and Christy Geiger are going to talk about three key steps in hiring great people who do a great job and created great organizations. Really, as leaders it is our job to cast clear direction and to set people up for success. When we are doing that well, we close performance gaps and set everyone up for greater success.

VUCA is an acronym that was developed out of the  leadership theories  by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus in 1987.  The acronym is used to help describe and reflect on the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity of general conditions and situations in the world “today”. While aspects of the VUCA world have been around for over 40 years, COVID brings a new level for leaders across the globe.

Times like these can cause a leader to feel like they need to wait or hang on for the ride, but really they are times when leaders need to upgrade their skills and navigate through. There are four skills we talk about today to support leaders to do this with greater ease and mastery. While the work is in developing the skills, the starting place is understanding a few places to start. Developing these skills will aid leaders to move through this season with greater calm and confidence. Not only does that matter for your health as a leader, but also the health of your followers.

The 4 skills:

1.  Comfort with VUCA vs. being uncomfortable (Getting frustrated or reacting shows a lack of comfort. Planning for Chaos and accepting uncertainty is a place to start. It builds grit.  A level head helps humans to adapt, stay cool and responsive under pressure. The skills you have been practicing in mindfulness will help here!

2.  Curiosity (The art of asking questions to size up what is different, new options and opportunities. It isn’t just about solutions, rather sizing up the situation.  Fear can cause shut down, but as we push through fear, we can see signs, patterns and gifts. Develop a spirit of wonder and humility.  Book referenced is: Humble Leadership.

3.  Clarity (As a leader, we must share the vision, opportunities and the goal. This is about pointing in the direction and instilling faith for followers to understand where “we” are going and “why” it is worth it.)

4.  Collaboration (It is not our job to tell them “how”. Brainstorms solutions for complex variables and innovative new ideas and ways to solve challenges. The collective wisdom of the group has greater answers then what any one leader could share. Movie referenced: Jumanji.

How does stress show up? Why is it a problem?

• Ineffective leadership


• Overwhelm/overloaded


• Can’t make decisions


• confusion


• Leaders do the right things (walk, foods, water, fitness....)


• Sleep


• Body

·  #1 - TAKE CARE OF SELF:

• SLEEP: Tylenol, melatonin, (sleep tracker)


• PHYSICAL: get outside


• DIET:off caffeine (coke, coffee), off sugar


• EMOTIONAL: understand what’s contributing


• RECHARGE:give yourself time to do nothing and recharge


• Build margin:say no to something....

·  MARGIN by Richard Swenson

·  Procrastinating on Purpose by Rory Vaden

·  #2 – Have compassion for others vs increasing  demands

• Realize everyone is under stress (same “environmental” stressors happening for others too)


• Encourage to do the same self-care you are doing


• Permission


• Give margin at the end of the week – send them home and let the go


• See humans: team, venders, family


• Grace... understanding...

·  #3 - how to recalibrate vs get sucked into reaction

• Don’t get sucked into reaction – it will not solve itself


• Tools to get out of reaction


• Time off (weekend)


• Spend time planning


• Make a checklist and prioritize


• Block time for priorities


• Reset habits (AM: prayer, meditation, etc.) (fitness, healthy foods, etc.)


• Increase certainty to focus on what I can do


• Boundaries – options (I can’t do this...)(I would love to help...I am doing xyz... I head you need xyz... which is best?)