Tomorrow's Leader

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Today host John Laurito talks with the Founder and President of Sorensen Consulting, Inc., Dr. Ben Sorensen, about feedback and its importance in communication. They talk about the right and wrong ways of giving feedback and what a leader should take into consideration so they can give the most effective feedback possible.

Dr. Ben Sorensen provides leadership training, sales training, and executive coaching to corporate and non-profit organizations around the world and across a wide spectrum of industries. Ben trains thousands of senior executives every year. During the past 20 years, Ben has become best known for his rich mix of corporate experience, non-profit work, and teaching ability. Ben focuses on teaching practical, proven skills while customizing all material to each client's specific needs.

Ben is the Founder, and President of Sorensen Consulting, Inc. Ben co-authored Customer Tells: Delivering World-Class Customer Service by Reading Your Customer's Signs and Signals (Kaplan Publishing, 2007), which focuses on how to communicate effectively and deliver exceptional customer service. Prior to his 20 years in leadership training and executive coaching, Ben excelled in pharmaceutical sales and financial services. He worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Pfizer, where he was one of the top-producing health care representatives.

Ben proudly serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander specializing in intelligence. He has earned multiple awards, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Ben served at the Pentagon for 5 years and currently serves at the United States Southern Command. Ben is also a Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner.

Connect with Dr. Ben at:
Website: https://www.bensorensenconsulting.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ben-sorensen-bb930390/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenSorensen
Email: [email protected]


Show notes:
[2:22] The concept of feedback
[9:41] The right or wrong way of giving feedback
[13:41] On giving sandwiched feedback
[16:30] Recipe for success for giving feedback
[18:45] Factoring in social styles when giving feedback
[20:46] Giving feedback to a superior
[22:50] What are the keys to having the right mental outlook to influence and control?
[25:28] How to adjust your self-talk?
[28:44] The importance of humility
[30:49] Learn more about Ben
[31:39] Outro

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Text LEADER to 617-393-5383 to receive The Top 10 Things That The Best Leaders Are Doing Right Now

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Tough times breed great leaders. They are often tested during bad times because they are given two options: to face trials head-on or to throw out the towel. Today host John Laurito talks about how going through bad times in your organization helps you become a better leader. Times like these are defining moments in a leader’s career because they either result in greatness or mediocrity. 


Show notes:
[0:44] Storytime!
[2:51] Are you challenging yourself and your people enough?
[4:52] Am I thinking of a change in what I am doing?
[6:21] Sometimes, you just need to wait it out
[10:30] The things you do during bad times are the things that make a lasting impact on your life
[11:35] Outro

Get a copy of Tomorrow's Leader on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/huseae9h

Text LEADER to 617-393-5383 to receive The Top 10 Things That The Best Leaders Are Doing Right Now

For questions, suggestions, or speaker inquiries, contact me at [email protected]

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High-performing teams are rare. Getting together a group of clever, talented, experienced people who know their stuff isn’t enough, though too many believe it is. Today host John Laurito shares how you can set your team up for success and what you can do so that you, as a leader, and your team has mutual trust.


Show notes:
[0:39] Storytime!
[3:29] A leader’s job
[4:47] You have to remove any obstacle
[7:22] Give authority to other people
[8:05] Simplify it for people
[11:26] Outro

Get a copy of Tomorrow's Leader on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/huseae9h

Text LEADER to 617-393-5383 to receive The Top 10 Things That The Best Leaders Are Doing Right Now

For questions, suggestions, or speaker inquiries, contact me at [email protected]

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In today’s episode, host John Laurito talks with his good friend, Podcast Host, Author, Coach, Speaker, and Referral Expert, Bill Cates about the keys to building a successful referral-based business. Bill also shares how he got started on his business, how he stayed relevant through decades in his passion, and how people can meet the right connections to make the right referrals.

Bill Cates is a high-energy speaker who motivates by sharing proven ideas and strategies that work. Bill has helped over 20,000 small business owners, and salespeople build thriving referral-based businesses – where the phone is ringing with referred customers/clients. And Bill has helped large companies increase sales and cut hundreds of thousands of dollars in marketing expenses at the same time!

Bill Cates is the author of three popular books on referrals: Get More Referrals Now!, Don’t Keep Me a Secret!, and Beyond Referrals: How to Use the Perpetual Revenue System to Turn Referrals into High-Value Clients. Bill is the president of Referral Coach International and the founder of The Referral Coach Academy.

Bill’s seminars are high energy and high content. Bill is the kind of speaker who prefers to talk with his audience instead of talking to them. Therefore, you can expect a highly interactive session. You can also expect to receive powerful and practical strategies that will have an immediate impact on your business.

Connect with Bill at:
Websites: http://www.referralcoach.com/
                        http://www.thecatesacademy.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billcates/


Show notes:
[3:01] How did Bill get started on his business?
[5:03] His passion for referrals
[7:25] How does he stay relevant over the years?
[12:24] What are the things that leaders should look at to find the right problems?
[15:43] On getting feedback from clients to make your business relevant
[22:46] What allows someone to build a referral-based business?
[32:18] The Wimp Junction
[36:52] Double down on how people want to meet you
[39:40] What can leaders do to drive their company to become referral-focused?
[44:02] The referral script
[49:41] Where to find Bill
[51:18] Outro

Get a copy of Tomorrow's Leader on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/huseae9h

Text LEADER to 617-393-5383 to receive The Top 10 Things That The Best Leaders Are Doing Right Now

For questions, suggestions, or speaker inquiries, contact me at [email protected]

Send a text

In this episode, host John Laurito talks about distributed authority, what it is, and why it can be the biggest bottleneck in an organization. There should be mutual trust in any relationship, whether at work or in personal life. For an organization to do well, leaders should be able to put their faith in their teams’ judgment and provide means to empower individuals. By distributing authority, leaders put power in the hands of those best positioned to find the right solution which can benefit the company.


Show notes:
[0:54] Going viral
[2:20] What is distributed authority?
[7:20] Here’s what happens…
[9:07] A challenge to leaders
[11:07] Outro

Get a copy of Tomorrow's Leader on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/huseae9h

Text LEADER to 617-393-5383 to receive The Top 10 Things That The Best Leaders Are Doing Right Now

For questions, suggestions, or speaker inquiries, contact me at [email protected]

Send a text

We all have an inner critic. At times this little voice can be helpful and keep us motivated toward goals, but this voice can often be more harmful than helpful, particularly when it gets into excessive negativity. Today, host John Laurito talks about interrupting that pattern of negative self-talk. There are many ways you can do so; figure out a way that works for you. The key is to stop negative thoughts in their tracks before it snowballs into a self-fulfilling prophecy.


Show notes:
[1:27] Here’s an idea…
[3:48] Our brains run wild
[5:59] Don’t let a negative thought stay in your mind
[11:52] Here’s what you do
[13:27] Outro

Get a copy of Tomorrow's Leader on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/huseae9h

Text LEADER to 617-393-5383 to receive The Top 10 Things That The Best Leaders Are Doing Right Now

For questions, suggestions, or speaker inquiries, contact me at [email protected]

Send a text

In this episode, host John Laurito talks with the CEO of Blumira, Jim Simpson, all about success and taking advantage of the opportunities they have in their life. Jim shares how he stepped outside his comfort zone, figuring out who he was and what shaped him to become the leader he is today.

Jim Simpson joined Blumira in January as vice president of products. Over the past year, Simpson was responsible for guiding the company’s strategic product roadmap to deliver the fastest time to security, with a focus on accessible, easy-to-use detection and response technology. With over two decades of experience growing successful security startups, Simpson previously led product management for the access security provider Duo Security, acquired by Cisco in 2018 for $2.35 billion. Before joining Duo, he led engineering and UX at the network security company Arbor Networks, acquired by NETSCOUT in 2015.

Simpson’s user-centric approach to solving customer problems is unique in an industry long known for overly complex, legacy solutions that often fail to protect organizations.

Jim likes to look for the mystery in the world, and that comes in many forms: traveling, both locally on a bicycle and by planes, trains, and automobiles; creating, appreciating, and supporting art; and finally, sharing what he’s learned via mentorship and coaching.

Connect with Jim at:
Website: https://www.blumira.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gngrwsbi/


Show notes:
[1:59] Looking back on his life, what shaped who Jim is as a leader?
[5:31] On stepping out of his comfort zone
[11:45] Did he get to a point where he figured out who he really is as a leader?
[16:28] Learning from his mistakes
[19:24] Is there a time when a leader should display anger in an organization?
[24:43] Good communication within the organization
[29:14] What they do in Blumira
[31:22] Where to find Jim
[32:13] Outro

Get a copy of Tomorrow's Leader on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/huseae9h

Text LEADER to 617-393-5383 to receive The Top 10 Things That The Best Leaders Are Doing Right Now

For questions, suggestions, or speaker inquiries, contact me at [email protected]

Send a text

Today host John Laurito is joined by the CEO of MassMutual Great Lakes, the Founder and Managing Partner at The Podium Group, and the Podcast Host of At The Podium with Manuel Amezcua himself, Manny Amezcua. They talk about Manny’s journey in leadership and how he developed his confidence over time. They also talk about the concept of servant leadership and why it's important to continue serving the people to become the best leader you can be.

Manuel Amezcua is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and executive in the wealth management and insurance industry. He currently serves as CEO for MassMutual Great Lakes, one of the leading brands in creating financial security, stability, and success on behalf of those it serves in the United States. Manuel is also the founder of Podium Risk Management, which focuses on serving professional athletes, business owners, and CEOs. Within Manuel’s four-year span leading MassMutual Great Lakes, the firm has sponsored and supported over 60 nonprofit organizations and been recognized on Metro Detroit’s Best & Brightest Companies to Work For list annually since 2018, as well as Crain’s Detroit Business ‘Cool Places to Work in Michigan’ list in 2019 and 2021.
 
Manuel has been recognized each year since 2019 as one of Detroit’s 500 ‘Most Powerful Business Leaders in Metro Detroit’ by DBusiness Magazine, received the 2019 Huebner Service Award from the Society of Financial Services Professionals Detroit Chapter, and MassMutual’s national Community Service Award in 2015 and 2019. During his professional career, he has spoken at more than 50 conferences and companies across the country. His conversations focus on developing a clear brand and value proposition, working intentionally from a written plan, and having relentless hustle. He believes some of the greatest professional skill sets are the ones we learned as children: be polite, remember and use a person’s name, ask for permission, and give compliments because being kind is cool.

Connect with Manny at:
Website: http://www.massmutual.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannyamezcua/

Listen to his podcast: https://linktr.ee/podium_podcast


Show notes:
[2:48] How did Manny start in leadership?
[7:56] How drew Manny to Joe?
[12:27] How does someone develop confidence?
[15:08] On auditing your circle
[19:21] What is servant leadership?
[25:25] What are Manny’s Aha moments through the years?
[32:38] How can someone become the best leader they can be?
[37:21] Learn more about Manny
[39:46] Outro

Get a copy of Tomorrow's Leader on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/huseae9h

Text LEADER to 617-393-5383 to receive The Top 10 Things That The Best Leaders Are Doing Right Now

For questions, suggestions, or speaker inquiries, contact me at [email protected]

Send a text

Today host John Laurito talks about the importance of asking questions, especially the right ones. Subordinates don’t often open up to leaders, especially when their personal lives affect their work. One overlooked skill of leaders today is asking questions. By asking questions as a leader, you also communicate that questioning is important. You'll inspire people to identify new opportunities and ask for help when needed.


Show notes:
[0:46] For today’s riddle…
[1:23] The scenario
[4:50] Keep probing and ask questions
[8:40] Outro

Send your answers to today’s riddle to 860-573-7230 or to [email protected]

Get a copy of Tomorrow's Leader on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/huseae9h

Text LEADER to 617-393-5383 to receive The Top 10 Things That The Best Leaders Are Doing Right Now

For questions, suggestions, or speaker inquiries, contact me at [email protected]

Send a text

Do you often find your workday spiraling out of control? You start each day with a plan to be as productive as possible but soon find yourself distracted, focusing on low-priority tasks, and simply procrastinating. In this episode, host John Laurito shares how you can make the most of your workday for maximum productivity at work.


Show notes:
[1:00] A riddle and more
[3:54] The time value pyramid
[4:49] Do the most valuable task
[5:34] Take things off from the bottom
[6:17] Figure out what you should do with it
[8:05] Outro

Send your answers to today’s riddle to 860-573-7230 or to [email protected]

Get a copy of Tomorrow's Leader on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/huseae9h

Text LEADER to 617-393-5383 to receive The Top 10 Things That The Best Leaders Are Doing Right Now

For questions, suggestions, or speaker inquiries, contact me at [email protected]