If your number one responsibility as a manager is to produce results... how do you actually do this?

Well, the answer is to strike a balance between driving those results and taking care of your people... but how do you actually do that?

In this episode, I explain how to provide shoulder-to-shoulder leadership and how managing from the front-lines and working side by side with your employees allows you to more effectively communicate and build quality relationships at the same time!

The Main Thing: Gain clarity on what's expected and strike a balance between driving results and caring for people by working shoulder-to-shoulder, which allows you to communicate what's expected, reinforce positive behavior, correct wrong behavior, and work in a space that allows you to be a more human leader! One that isn't afraid to make mistakes and one whose vulnerability and authenticity leads to quality relationships… relationships that lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and go figure… results.

Show Notes: http://yourbestmanager.com/52-effective-managers-shoulder-shoulder-leaders

PART 2 Highlighting the Top 10 moments from the first 50 episodes of the Your Best manager Podcast, including Andrew Sherman, Howard Behar, Terry Starbucker St. Marie, Tanveer Naseer and Dov Baron

Show Notes: http://yourbestmanager.com/051-the-best-leadership-moments-of-the-your-best-manager-podcast-part-2

Welcome back and welcome to Part 2 of this EPIC countdown show where I've been highlighting the top 10 moments of the Your Best Manager podcast and celebrating 50 episodes of the show.

Now, I have to admit, when I decided to put this type of a recap show together I thought it might come across as maybe a cop-out or content-filler on the podcast... something easy so that I wouldn't have to work as hard as I normally do to put these shows together.

Well, I'm happy that I didn't listen to that negative voice in my head because not only has it been such a pleasure to go back through the... I don't know, 25 hours of content from the last 4 months, and listen again to some of the great advice and inspiring stories that have been shared here, but it's also been a ton of work.

This was not a week off. Not by a long shot. If it weren't for the timestamp show notes that I put together each time I publish a new interview, well, you certainly wouldn't be listening to this right now, that's for sure.

So, I hope that you enjoyed Episode 50, and if you didn't catch episode 50... you should do that. This is a countdown and if you missed the first part, well, it's like walking in on a conversation without the context! Plus, last week I also counted down the top 10 most downloaded episodes to date, which was cool.

And we are in the middle of the Top 10 Best Leadership Moments right now, and I did 10 through 6 last time... and... yeah, make sure you listen to episode 50... if you haven't.

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It's Episode 50!

Can you believe it! It has been just 114 days since the Your Best Manager podcast launched but those 114 days have been jam-packed with so much good stuff… and I've got to say, I am so grateful, every day, for the opportunity I have (and have had) to connect with so many amazing people. 

That includes the great guests who lend their expertise to this show but also you, the listener who joins me for each episode as we learn together and grow into more effective leaders (and hopefully better people).

Show Notes: http://yourbestmanager.com/50

I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect a bit on the past 50 shows, celebrate some of the best moments from this podcast and really just get super pumped up for what's going to be coming up on the next 50 shows!

So what I've done is put together is an EPIC highlight reel /Recap / Top 10-style presentation... thing! 

PLUS, at the end of the show, I've got a really cool opportunity I want to give you. It's something free, something exclusive, something you are going to want to take advantage of…. BUT… there is a problem here. 

I couldn't get all the content I wanted to share down to 30 minutes… so… you'll have to wait for the super cool free offer/opportunity thing until Friday (Episode 51) because I've split up this EPIC show into two episodes!

Maybe that's breaking the rules and maybe that's me being a bit of a jerk by telling you something really cool is coming and then saying that you have to wait and find out, but, too bad - you'll get over it.

And on that note, let's kick this thing off!

We are going to start by celebrating the top 10 Most Downloaded Episodes of the Your Best Manager Podcast

Here we go!

Number 10 – Leadership is a Choice You Make to Serve Others, with Peter Docker

Number 9 – Welcome to the Employee Disengagement Party, with Andrew Sherman

Number 8 – "There's Spinach In Your Teeth" – Kind Leadership with Cassie Whitlock

Number 7 – Servant Leadership is NOT Soft, with Mark Deterding

Number 6 – Uncover Your Leadership Potential in 5 Days, Lesson One

Number 5 – Give Feedback, Grow Your Career, and Be Awesome with Pete Mockaitis

Number 4 – Teach People How to Help You, with Dave Stachowiak

Number 3 – Wait a minute, people at Google are really smart, with Mike Figliuolo

Number 2 – Become a Better Leader by Becoming a Better Person, with Victor Prince

Number 1 – Grow Your People and Help Them Get to The Next Level, with Nicole Thomsen

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While it sounds really nice to say that your people are your number one responsibility... it's actually not true. Now, before you shoot me, I do believe that your people are extremely important! In fact, without taking good care of your people, it's going to be very difficult to build a successful career or business. But they are not your number one responsibility. In fact, if you cannot fulfill your number one responsibility than you can't take care of your people.

In today's show, I'll explain what your REAL number one responsibility is. I'll also share with you why I don't fully agree with Simon Sinek, and I'll tell you why I believe it's advantageous to be an entrepreneur... or at least act like one.

Show Notes: http://yourbestmanager.com/49-managers-people-not-number-one-responsibility

Cassie Whitlock is the Director of Human Resources at BambooHR, which is the No. 1 online HR software for small and medium-sized businesses. She has a Master's degree in Human Resources and a BS in Business Management with an Accounting emphasis. Having worked with accounting and HR teams, she understands the importance of aligning HR priorities with business objectives. She is passionate about developing individual talent and creating productive teams. Cassie loves to spend time with her family and is a proud mother of two children and one great son-in-law.

Show Notes: http://yourbestmanager.com/cassiewhitlock

Jason Kveton has been in the restaurant business for about 25 years and is currently the Owner and Director of Success for 3 Culver's Restaurants. He, of course, recognizes that in order to have a successful restaurant, you need to provide good food, but Jason believes that it's really all about the people - his team members and his customers. Jason is passionate about leadership and people development and has recently started an online business called "Culture Cards" which are small handwritten thank you notes based on five "Serve" core values that help the team building process: Serve, Enthusiasm, Respect, Vision, and Excellence.

Show Notes: http://yourbestmanager.com/jasonkveton

At first, I was tempted to title today's episode "Monday Morning Motivation" but I thought that might be a little too cliche and to be honest, I associate that phrase with temporary talk about "believing in yourself" which feels good for a couple of days and then wears off.

On today's show:

• I introduce a new podcast series that's kicking off next week
• I tell some listeners to get lost (maybe I shouldn't have said that)
• I explain how to answer three important questions

Show Notes: http://yourbestmanager.com/46-three-questions-must-answer-want-lead-others

You know, one thing I've discovered recently is that it doesn't matter what time I set my alarm for, I don't enjoy getting out of bed each morning.

5 AM, 7 AM, 10:30 AM...

If my alarm is what's waking me up, I'm not happy.

Maybe this means that I need to get one of those fancy alarm clocks that slowly brighten your room while birds chirp to signal that it's time to seize the day.

Regardless, I know a few things that are true.

My bed is warmer than the air outside of my sheets, my sleep has been interrupted, and I get up every day, no matter what (eventually).

And really, there are only two reasons why I get out of bed... and they are the same reasons why you get out of bed.

FEAR or REWARD.

It's that simple.

You and I get up each morning because we are either afraid of what will happen if we don't... or we understand what good things are in store if we do.

But of course this begs the question, why do you get out of bed each morning? Is it because of fear or reward?

I'd like to challenge you this week to think about that question, and hopefully encourage you to take the offense versus defense. You see, fear produces defensive actions and reward produces offensive actions.

As leaders, if we want to have the greatest impact on the people we serve each day, we need to be on the offense. We need to be intentional, strategic, seeking, learning, growing, producing... not defending, reacting, deflecting, or simply just dealing with our circumstances.

And yes, every winning team needs both offense and defense in order to succeed, but a successful defense is prepared, practiced, and intentional... pursuing reward versus responding to fear.

Your Monday Morning Management Tip:

Answer these three questions and then attack your Monday and lead your team with purpose!

1. What do you want?

2. What's in your way?

3. What are you going to do about it?

Born and bred in Calgary, Alberta, Shawn Freeman is the founder of TWT Group. After completing a degree in Computer Science at the University of Calgary and a Masters degree in Management Science, Shawn worked in IT for several big companies before leaping off the corporate ladder in 2011 to start his own shop.

He founded TWT Group with the goal of making IT easy instead of infuriating. He generously lends his IT skills to several Calgary non-profit organizations, including Youth Central in the Kahanoff Conference Centre.

Shawn is also a thought leader and has contributed about technology and entrepreneurship to major global publications including The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Inc., Notable, and Forbes.

Show Notes: http://yourbestmanager.com/shawnfreeman

Mark Deterding is the President & CEO of Triune Leadership Services and has built a reputation as a trusted expert in Servant Leadership. He has successfully led many companies and teams through culture change as the leader of the organization. Mark now has a successful practice that develops cultures of Servant Leadership within organizations and provides coaching to executives and emerging leaders. He is also the author of Leading Jesus' Way: Become The Servant Leader God Created You To Be. Mark brings an effective blend of actionable process, proven tools and expertise in guiding leaders to implement a culture of Servant Leadership.

Show Notes: http://yourbestmanager.com/markdeterding

Do you ever wish you could just start over? Clean the slate or turn back time and just, do things differently?

There are times where I feel that way, usually right after learning something new.

All of a sudden I realize that I've been doing things wrong or that I've been missing things that are now clear and obvious.

It's discouraging for sure, but this type of thinking can also be damaging.

Damaging, unless you do two things (read more)

Show Notes: http://yourbestmanager.com/43-fireside-chat-better-manager-clean-slate