The Ron Kitchens' Always Forward Leadership Podcast

Character matters more than anything else. —Ron Kitchens

On Today’s Episode:

* My biggest lessons learned in 2020

* Why it’s so important to digest lessons and use those as fuel to launch

* What’s in store for 2021

* How you can recharge over the holidays so you can accelerate in 2021

2020. It is a year for the history books. And the lessons it has brought along for every one… I do not have adequate words to describe the heaviness and pain that I have witnessed over the last 12 months. For me, learning lessons is particularly hard because of the weight that comes with acknowledging that it is impossible for me to know everything and protect everyone from bad things that are happening (and will continue to happen). Tune in today to listen to Carla and my conversation revolving around how I digest and apply these difficult lessons so that I am ready to launch into 2021.

If you have any questions, comments regarding this podcast or ideas for a future episode, feel free to drop me a line, email me directly via [email protected] or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: What is the biggest lesson you learned this year? How will you apply that knowledge to prepare for 2021 and beyond?

Don’t try and do everything yourself because you can’t. —Anthea Turner

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I dive into the importance of delegation

* Three big reasons people have a hard time delegating

* The best advice I ever got around A players and delegation

* How I set up, in writing, a system for delegating

I always thought of delegation as dumping responsibilities. But as I have grown in my career and leadership, I have learned that delegation is part of the art of leading and a key ingredient in a recipe for success. And, to boot, it empowers your team by giving them an opportunity to explore new areas, building trust between delegator and delegatee, and increasing efficiency of the team by playing to everyone’s strengths. Tune in now to hear more about how delegation has transformed Carla and my leadership!

If you have any questions, comments regarding this podcast or ideas for a future episode, feel free to drop me a line, email me directly via [email protected] or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: What are some responsibilities that you should delegate to others? Why haven’t you?

You cannot serve from an empty vessel. —Eleanor Brown

On Today’s Episode:

* It is Catalyst University week!

* Carla and I walk through the amazing line up of speakers

* How going virtual allowed us to create even more impact

I have attended a lot of conferences throughout my life, and I am convinced that the lineup of speakers we have for Catalyst University this year is the most impactful lineup any conference has ever seen! If you do not have a  ticket yet, there is still time to join us; register here! We would love to have you be part of this once-in-a-lifetime event. After the ups and downs of this past year, allow us to pour inspiration, motivation, leadership, joy, hopes, and dreams into your cup.

Tune into today’s episode for all the details and pay close attention to the giveaway mentioned toward the end. We hope to see you virtually this week! Catalyst University is Wednesday, December 2, Thursday, December 3 and Friday, December 4 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm ET each day.

If you have any questions, comments regarding this podcast or ideas for a future episode, feel free to drop me a line, email me directly via [email protected] or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: Who are you most excited to hear from at Catalyst University this week? Why? 

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. —William Arthur Ward

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I share a conversation about the importance of gratitude

* Gratitude is being pleased about where you are and excited for the opportunities tomorrow brings

* How being grateful yet acknowledging a need for change can coexist together

* The most impactful thank you note I’ve ever received

* Which thank you note felt like the most important one I wrote this year

To say that this year has been tough is an understatement. And that is the exact reason why it is so important to dig deep and let the people who impacted you this year know that they did. A small gesture of gratitude goes a long way in making someone’s day. You have the power to motivate yourself and those around you, and all it takes is a few words of love. Tune in now to hear all about our take on gratitude practices in 2020!

If you have any questions, comments regarding this podcast or ideas for a future episode, feel free to drop me a line, email me directly via [email protected] or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: What is the most touching thank you note that you ever received? 

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. —Jack Welch

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I talk about challenging your team to reach their potential

* It’s a leader’s job to help their team recognize their strengths

* The Pygmalion Effect: the theory that people will rise and fall based on authority figures’ expectations of them

* We can lead people to the ocean but they have to decide what they do once they’re there

When you become a leader, you have to shift the way you think about work to be less self-centric. Instead, you have to start thinking more about how to simultaneously challenge and support your team in order to get the best out of each person. As individuals, our success is judged by our own outputs and results, but as a leader that is compounded with the productivity and performance of your team. So how can you bring out the best in each of your team members? Tune in now to hear from Carla and me!

If you have any questions, comments regarding this podcast or ideas for a future episode, feel free to drop me a line, email me directly via [email protected] or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: What is the most challenging part of helping your team dig deep and bring out their best? Do you have a tried-and-proven leadership technique that helps you achieve this?

Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. —Brené Brown

On Today’s Episode:

* I talk with Carla about leading with vulnerability

* How a trusting team is built on professional vulnerability

* The difference between the “old leadership” way of thinking and today’s leadership trends

* Why admitting mistakes and areas of weakness is important

I have talked to so many leaders who think that admitting a mistake will make their team or board distrust them. Carla and I dive into a conversation today that reveals why that train of thought is not only untrue but why it can be harmful to your career. It is okay to be vulnerable and honest about areas you may struggle professionally. Tune in now to learn more!

If you have any questions, comments regarding this podcast or ideas for a future episode, feel free to drop me a line, email me directly via [email protected] or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: How are you able to show up authentically with your team? What’s the hardest part of being vulnerable in a professional setting?

If everyone is moving forward together, success takes care of itself. —Henry Ford

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I dive into the ins and outs of motivating your team

* This year has accelerated us into a future that was already coming for us

* Why you should create a scoreboard

* The importance of encouraging your team to participate in creating the future

* The role overcommunication plays

If there is anything leaders have learned this year, it’s that change is the only constant. Organizations have been responding vigilantly to all of the changes occurring on what seems like a daily basis. That is why it is so important that you overcommunicate with your team how decisions are being made; they have to know adaptations are being made based on the latest information, meaning future strategies will morph along accordingly. Click play to listen to the whole conversation!

If you have any questions, comments regarding this podcast or ideas for a future episode, feel free to drop me a line, email me directly via [email protected] or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: Why is it so important that your team is on board with the strategy? How do you ensure that alignment?

Civility costs nothing and buys everything. —Mary Wortley Montagu

On Today’s Episode:

* I talk with Carla about what civility really means

* The importance of leaders who set the right example

* How cancel-culture is poisoning civil public discourse

* Sharing to help versus sharing as a weapon

* The four key components that make up civility.

We are just one week away from the 2020 presidential election, and emotions are running high. Between the prominence of social media (and the echo chambers it creates) and the desperation and unease that 2020 has sown in people, right now is a very charged time in our history. Carla and my conversation dives deep on the importance of empathy, why we need strong leaders to be role models, and how we can make it through this time. Tune in now to hear more.

If you have any questions, comments or ideas regarding this podcast, feel free to drop me a line, email me directly via [email protected] or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: What are you doing to ensure civility reigns in your organization? What hurdles are you encountering?

Crisis management is not micromanagement. —Ron Kitchens

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I talk about micromanagers and accountability partners

* The effects massive changes have on management styles

* Why crisis management requires a higher level of involvement (and when to back off)

* How to spot the difference between micromanagement and accountability updates

Here is the thing: 2020 has been insane. It has been rife with huge changes, pivots and overhauls. And what happens in a crisis? You guessed it, crisis management. But a lot of people are mistaking the higher involvement of their direct supervisors as an increase in micromanagement. How can you tell the difference? Tune into today’s podcast to hear Carla and I talk through our experiences.

If you have any questions, comments or ideas regarding this podcast, feel free to drop me a line, email me directly via [email protected] or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: Has your organization had to jump into crisis management mode? How has that affected the team?

Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you. —Katie Reed

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I talk about self-care in a season (or year) when it may feel selfish

* People are the number one asset in high-performing teams

* Change is the only constant, which can feel threatening

* Why working mothers are particularly susceptible to neglecting self-care

* Five ways to set yourself up to choose self-care without feeling selfish

This past Saturday was World Mental Health Day, so there is no better time to talk about self-care again. Honestly, it is one of our most asked about topics and each year I feel compelled to revisit the topic because it is such an important part of a well-balanced life. And yet, this practice can feel out-of-reach for people who are not comfortable or familiar with meditation, yoga or mindfulness styles. Rest assured that self-care can take any shape that resonates with you, whether it be walking, fishing, swimming, strength-training, reading a book, journaling, cooking, gardening, or anything else that sparks your passion and recharges your batteries. Tune in now to hear the 5 ways to choose self-care without feeling guilty about it!

If you have any questions, comments or ideas regarding this podcast, feel free to drop me a line, email me directly via [email protected] or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: Why can it feel so selfish to choose to take care of ourselves? How do you prioritize “me time” to ensure you are recharging?