The Leader Formula

In this powerful follow-up conversation, Chris and Steve sit down with Jamie Winship to explore how identity—not performance—should guide the way we hire, develop, and even part ways with people on our teams. Jamie shares his unique and transformational perspective on leadership that shifts the focus from fear-based control to identity-based freedom. If you're a leader who wants to build a thriving culture and lead with clarity, this episode will challenge and equip you in profound ways.

🧭 What We Cover (with rough Timestamps):

1. Hiring based on identity vs. resume — [00:03:00] Why role fit should come after identity fit, and how traditional interviews often miss the mark.
2. Jamie’s personal story of identity discovery — [00:10:00] A pivotal moment that revealed how disconnected performance can be from true identity.
3. Interviewing through the lens of truth-telling — [00:22:00] How to transform the hiring process into a blessing by asking questions that access the real person.
4. Helping team members discover identity at work — [00:33:00] Why leadership means helping others become whole—and how work can actually be a place of healing.
5. Letting people go in a way that blesses them — [00:46:00] Jamie shares a redemptive approach to releasing someone that leaves them empowered, not bitter.

Originally recorded in January 2024 for The Overflowing Life, this conversation with Jamie Winship dives deep into the power of living from your true identity. Jamie shares how understanding who you truly are can transform your leadership, relationships, and response to conflict. His journey—from law enforcement to global peacebuilding—is filled with compelling stories and practical wisdom. This re-release sets the stage for a brand-new follow-up conversation with Jamie in our next episode.

What We Talk About:

• From Police Work to Peace-building Jamie shares how his law enforcement background led to work in conflict zones, and how curiosity around human behavior shaped his path.
• 15 min: Understanding Fear-Based Decision Making The roots of fear in leadership and decision-making—and how identity-based leadership offers a better way.
• 28 Min: Identity vs. Roles: The Core of Who You Are Jamie explains the difference between what you do and who you are, with real-life examples of transformation in high-pressure environments.
• 40 Min: Hearing the Voice of God and Leading from Truth Jamie walks through what it means to listen for truth in identity and leadership—and how that plays out in business and everyday life.
• 50 Min The Impact of Identity Work on Team Culture How uncovering identity leads to healthier teams, clarity in hiring, and greater alignment in organizations.

We all want success—but what happens when you hit your goals and still feel unfulfilled? In this episode, Chris and Steve explore the hidden cost of chasing the wrong definition of success. From personal stories of burnout and identity crisis to hard-won lessons about core values and fulfillment, this is a conversation every leader needs to hear.

Together, we unpack:

• Why achievement alone doesn’t lead to fulfillment
• The emotional toll of misaligned goals
• How to redefine success through the lens of identity and values
• The role of surrender and presence in a leader’s journey

If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right—but still feel empty—this one's for you.

📲 Join the conversation: Follow us on social media and share your definition of success and fulfillment. We’d love to hear what’s resonating with you.

What does it take to be the kind of leader people want to follow—not just today, but over the long haul?

In this episode of The Leader Formula, we sit down with Ken Eslick—Tony Robbins trainer, executive recruiter, and host of The Leaders Lab Podcast. With decades of experience building and leading teams, Ken shares powerful, hard-won insights on identity, emotional intelligence, and the deeper work of leadership.

Whether you're running a business, leading a team, or just trying to lead yourself more effectively, this episode is packed with truth, challenge, and encouragement.

🎙️ About Ken Eslick: Ken is the Founder of The Leaders Lab, a C-Suite recruiting firm and podcast. He’s placed over 500 executives, led teams of 1000+, and helps leaders build organizations that last. He’s also a Tony Robbins trainer and a passionate advocate for values-driven leadership.

🧭 In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why your identity determines your leadership impact
• The mindset shift that changed everything for Ken
• How to know when to let go of a team member—and how ego gets in the way
• The cost of mediocre employees and the danger of hovering in the middle
• Why ownership can’t be demanded—it must be earned
• Using values as a leadership filter and decision-making compass
• How to turn your team’s personal goals into leadership leverage
• What it means to lead with humility without losing confidence
• How leaders go first—especially in hard conversations and crises

If this episode speaks to you, please leave a rating or review—and share it with a leader who needs to hear it.

Your business may reflect who you are—but it should never define your worth.

In this episode, Chris and Steve explore the connection between identity and leadership, and how doing the deep work of knowing yourself leads to healthier business decisions, stronger team culture, and a more sustainable approach to growth. From personality assessments and time audits to core values and the infamous “bag of mail,” this episode is full of stories, laughs, and practical tools to help you build a business that flows from your strengths—not your stress.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Why your identity should inform your business, not be entangled with it
• How to clarify your strengths and build around them
• What to do with the parts of your business that drain you
• The value of time audits, personality frameworks, and value pyramids
• Real-life examples of how identity drives culture, hiring, and boundaries

Takeaways:

• Self-awareness isn’t optional for leaders—it’s foundational
• You can’t delegate identity, but you can design around your strengths
• Clarity on values and energy helps prevent burnout and poor hires

Summary: In this powerful opening episode, Chris and Steve tackle a question every leader eventually faces: Who am I—apart from what I do? Drawing from personal stories, spiritual insights, and practical tools like the Enneagram, they explore how identity—not title or performance—shapes your leadership, your relationships, and your business outcomes. You’ll hear about the dangers of leading from ego, the healing that comes with authenticity, and how to begin discovering your core identity as a leader.

If you’ve ever felt like your business is running you—or you’re stuck performing a version of yourself just to survive—this conversation is for you.

⏱️ Time-Stamped Highlights (Top 7)

• [01:20] – Chris shares his identity journey and how authenticity as an Enneagram 4 has shaped his leadership
• [04:55] – Why identity matters more than performance—and how ego distorts leadership
• [06:30] – The “hands behind your back” visual: What unconscious leadership looks like and why it’s dangerous
• [08:00] – Where to start: Discovering your core values and differentiating between ego and essence
• [12:00] – How your values evolve over time—and why self-awareness must go deeper than surface-level insight
• [18:40] – Reacting vs. responding: How unprocessed identity shows up in your leadership during conflict and disappointment
• [32:45] – Define your leadership identity in one sentence—and how to use it to align your decisions and direction

🙌 Call to Action

If this conversation stirred something in you, don’t just listen—act.

1. Take 10 minutes to write out your top 5–10 core values.
2. Ask a trusted friend or colleague, “What’s one thing you think is core to who I am?”
3. And if you’d like our free Leadership Identity Audit Tool, message us—we’ll send it over.

Podcast Release Notes: Leader Formula – Episode 1

Episode Title: Defining Leadership: Starting from Within Hosts: Chris LaGarde & Steve Ciprani

Episode Summary

In this very first episode of The Leader Formula, Chris and Steve dive into one of leadership’s most foundational questions: What is leadership really? They explore personal definitions, where leadership begins (hint: it’s within you), and how your own self-awareness, purpose, and emotional intelligence shape the way you lead others. Expect honest conversation around the old debate of "are leaders born or made?", the importance of clarity and vision, and why leading yourself well is the first step to leading others effectively.

If you're a business owner, team leader, entrepreneur—or just someone passionate about leading with authenticity—you’ll find plenty to reflect on and apply.

Key Conversation Shifts & Timecodes

• [00:00] – Are Leaders Born or Made? Chris and Steve open with the classic leadership debate, exploring the nature vs. nurture question around leadership traits.
• [03:09] – How We Define Leadership Chris and Steve share and compare their personal definitions of leadership, referencing John Maxwell, Gary Keller, and Stephen Covey.
• [06:00] – Becoming a Better Leader: Where to Start They discuss how true leadership development begins internally, starting with reflection, clarity of purpose, and leading yourself first.
• [09:00] – The Emotional Reality of Leadership Chris and Steve talk about the humility, challenges, and emotional courage leadership demands—and how self-awareness becomes the most powerful leadership tool.
• [11:47] – Wrap-Up and Listener Reflection Chris and Steve encourage listeners to reflect: How do you define leadership, and how is your current definition shaping how you show up?

Call to Action

If this conversation sparked new insights or challenged the way you think about leadership, we’d love to hear from you! 👉 Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow leader who would benefit. Next episode, Chris and Steve explore the role of identity in leadership—you won’t want to miss it!