Start taking yourself to the next level so you can take your success to the next level. It only happens in that order. —Hal Elrod

 

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I talk about next level leadership

* The trap of entitlement

* Executive presence: what does it mean?

* There is no end-point, leadership means always going to the next level

* Staying authentic while leveling up

At the beginning of the podcast, Carla shares insight from a powerful book she recently read: The Sixth Man by Andre Iguodala. Listen in to hear the story. What Andre shares translates to a perfect metaphor for next level leadership: you always have to level up. You always have to work harder to be better.

Do you have any insights, questions or ideas for future guests or topics? Drop me a line or tweet me @ronkitchens, I’d love to hear from you!

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: What is keeping you in a leadership cul-de-sac? How can you get out of it?

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.  —Coretta Scott King

 

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I dive into the importance community involvement

* Create a sticky community for talent to thrive

* The Millennial desire to serve and be part of a mission

* How to create greater impact by extending your network

It’s more important than ever to curate a community which is sticky. We want to create a place where college graduates want to stay and grow roots, and there are so many great ways to get involved. Aside from the ideas mentioned in the podcast, you can also attend local farmer’s markets, participate in spring clean up events, or attend city council meetings. The possibilities are endless.

I love to hear from the listening audience! Please drop me a line or tweet me @ronkitchens. Make it a great week!

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: What is your favorite community event? Why? 

The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic.  —Peter Drucker

 

On Today’s Episode:

* I talk with Carla about leading through transitions.

* Whether transitioning seasons or transitions within a team, it’s key to prepare your team and yourself.

* The importance of fostering a feeling of security for the team’s roles.

* The need to communicate through the race and celebrate the finish.

* Ensuring you involve your spouse in your journey.

Transitions are inevitable. Whether we are talking about changing from a calm to a busy season, or having team members transition off your team onto new opportunities, there is never a greater need for communication. Humans crave structure and security; it is incredibly important that you reassure your team that their roles are safe.

If you have any questions or additional thoughts about todays topic, please drop me a line or tweet me @ronkitchens. Have a great week!

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: How have you observed your team reacting to times of transition and change? What have you learned from that?

Building an organization for “good success” means creating a culture that will live on through succeeding generations.  —Tony Dungy

 

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I dive into culture and why it’s important to be intentional

* Workplace culture needs to be a clear, well-communicated path

* Cultures-by-default cause lack of empathy, toxicity and disengagement

* On-purpose cultures promote high engagement and performance

* Gallup: 34% of US workers are engaged

Culture may be seen as a buzzword, but there is a lot of research out there that has found it’s one of the biggest indicators of turnover, engagement and performance for your company. When exploring how to create a good culture, make sure you stay authentic to your organization; what works for some may not work for others. Have a group of people weigh in on culture ideas to ensure you’re a good stewart of the whole organization.

I also love feed back and I would love to hear from you! You can drop me a line or tweet me @ronkitchens with any ideas, questions or comments. Have a great week!

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: How do you ensure your workplace culture is by design and not by default?

To succeed in life in today’s world, you must have the will and tenacity to finish the job.  —Chin-Ning Chu

 

On Today’s Episode:

* I talk with Carla about finishing strong

* The importance of seeing things through until the end

* Keep an attitude of celebration

* How to plan for transition

* Finishing strong when changing jobs

One of the most important parts of finishing strong is setting your successor up for success. Especially if you are transitioning within your organization, make sure you plan and hand off your baton properly. Don’t fall into the trap of dropping the proverbial box of previous responsibilities and thinking “that’s no longer my problem.” Instead, make sure your replacement is running at the same speed as you before you exit your role.

I would love to hear from you! You can drop me a line or tweet me @ronkitchens. Have a great week!

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: How have you ensured that your successor is prepared for your transition when you left previous roles? Do you have any additional tips?

To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others. —Tony Robbins

 

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla talks with Sarah Mansberger, managing partner at Southwest Michigan First, about how to give meaningful feedback

* How to keep the frame fluid instead of frozen when assessing situations

* Be the water, not the gasoline

* Examples of how to keep the conversation open

Giving feedback is hard, not just for the one hearing it but for the one giving it, too. It is one of the single most important skills leaders should possess; giving meaningful feedback will increase the likelihood that we can continue to curate conversations that move the needle on performance while also cultivating trust.

If you have any feedback for me, I would love to hear it. Drop me a line or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: What is your advice for giving meaningful feedback? What is the hardest part for you?

I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. —Nehemiah 6:3

 

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I talk about staying the course for your dreams

* How I almost ended up in the dental insurance business

* Setting dream goals to work towards

* If a goal is easily attainable, it’s not big enough

* Do not be side-tracked by things that do not matter

I hope today’s episode inspired you to continue to climb towards your dream goals. As always, I would love to hear from you; comments, questions and suggestions. Drop me a line or tweet me @ronkitchens. Have a great week!

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: Have you been tempted to get side tracked away from your true goals? How did you get back on track?

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. —T. S. Eliot

 

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I talk about taking creative risks

* Creativity is essential in growing business

* Risk is an unavoidable part of creativity

* In order to stay ahead of the dreaded status quo, risk is necessary

* How Netflix and Pelaton fit into the conversation

I firmly believe that the future does not belong to the timid. Taking creative risk is necessary in order to stay ahead of my archnemesis, the status quo. It’s also important to keep in mind that failure comes along with risk taking. Fail fast, but don’t let failur define you! 

I love to hear from the listening audience. Drop me a line or tweet me @ronkitchens if you have an idea, thought or comment. Have a great week!

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: Would you describe yourself as a creative risk taker? Why or why not?

Being a constant learner is the only way to keep growing. —Carla Sones

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I dive into the power of observation

* The “leadership door” exercise

* Observing yourself: you must lead yourself first

* How pork chops and wedding announcements taught me powerful lessons

* Keeping a learner’s mindset 

I hope today’s episode sparked conversation for you. I am always open to ideas for podcasts or guests you think should be interviews. Feel free to drop me a line or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: What would the leadership door exercise say about your leadership style? 

Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit. —Conrad Hilton

On Today’s Episode:

* Carla and I talk about how to keep going after a big win

* Coming down without burning out

* Why it’s so important to not make any rash decisions

* Using the momentum to propel you forward

Every year after Catalyst University, the Southwest Michigan First team has to deal with the challenge that sparked the idea for today’s podcast. I like to think we have gotten really good at keeping the momentum going, but only because we are very intentional about the process. Relishing the win and enjoying the feeling of accomplishment are two really important parts of that process. 

If you enjoyed today’s conversation or if you have ideas for a podcast or think someone is a great fit as a guest, I would love to hear from you: drop me a line or tweet me @ronkitchens.

Always Forward.

—Ron

Question: When your team has a big win, what is your method of keeping everyone focused while still enjoying the accomplishment?