The Michael Kouly podcast: Recent Episodes
Michael Kouly: Author, Speaker, and Educator
The Michael Kouly podcast offers a different approach to the practice of leadership to help leaders, groups and societies move forward.
Connection in any relationship can be the key to life. One of the most effective ways of connecting is through communication, which we humans have transformed and elevated throughout our lifetime. Communication is still evolving to this day with the use of various technologies, we are able to connect with people around the world.
Leadership is absolutely necessary, especially in challenging and difficult times. When groups of people are losing hope, this is the time where they need leaders that could lead the people in the right direction, towards a better reality.
When times become tough, the main challenge is to adapt to a new environment. One way of developing adaptation within an organization is to empower the right people to give them more purpose and responsibility.
As leaders, you have to find new approaches to solving current challenges, in order to do that you need to understand your current reality and act accordingly. Make sure your team is prepared to move forward with you, and have all the necessary tools to adapt to move forward.
A good relationship needs trust to continue. Relying on a partnership that is dependable, good, and most of all honest is a relationship worth trusting.
Surviving is our most primal instinct but surviving and thriving is what makes the difference between a happy life and a struggling life. While you are trying to do your best just trying to make ends meet and find an opportunity to do better for yourself, then grasp that chance and don’t let go.
You need to first understand the situation and the changing environment to know how you could help your people. Each situation requires a different solution and approach. In knowing how you could help; you can show your support to them by communicating and proceeding to work as a team to solve your problems.
Being realistic about an ongoing changing environment can be a significant deed in a time of difficulty. Because then you’d know the capabilities of the team and how to improve and become more efficient instead of being troublesome and unrealistic.
Successful organizations are those capable of adapting to changes, enhancing their knowledge, and always looking towards the future. But for any transformational activity to be effective a paradigm shift must take place. An organizational paradigm is the wide set of norms, values, and practices in place that guide behavior and decision-making. Undertaking a paradigm shift means understanding why you need to take a truly revolutionary leap forward, and formulating the right plan to do so. In this video, I outline the steps to creating the shift in mindsets that your organization will need to transform.
Being appointed to a new position can be a tough transitional period, which is why it is imperative to be prepared for the role that you will be responsible for. The first 100 days are the most significant days, they will determine whether you would be able to take on this new responsibility or not. The most crucial moment is the time in between the transition because that is the time to prepare yourself, using all your resources, expert support, and advice you could get. Once you begin with the new position and you are absolutely ready for what’s ahead, your objective from then on would be to lead on the correct path and do your best to carry out the new tasks that you have been given. Beyond Leadership
A politically intelligent business man or woman should have a network of relationships that are fruitful, thus giving him/ her more access to resources and support. Understanding people's cultures and connecting with them at their level by being empathetic and being outstanding listeners to their wants and needs. A leader must be a team player that would work with others to develop and establish connections and relationships. Being able to execute the proper steps in creating the right connections will give you a better chance to be successful.
Being able to connect with people through their hearts and minds makes you emotionally, socially, and politically intelligent. Presenting a solid argument that speaks to the people's wants and needs could be a great step towards your success as a leader.
Establishing meaningful connections with people will increase your chances of being able to mobilize them in the right direction. Having a good relationship with people and paying focused attention to finding solutions takes a lot of effort and hard work, but when done correctly and with political intelligence, then you would be getting much closer to achieving your goals as a leader.
Understanding a society at its foundations and its complexity will allow you to decipher how to maneuver around it to get to where you need to be. You need to be a team player with a 360⁰ perspective in order to get the best out of all the right people around you. Helping others to help you is one of the best ways to stay politically and socially intelligent as a leader.
If you are ambitious enough to become a pioneer, you have to revolutionize your whole organization. In order to transform, the team has to become the best in what they do and become the golden standard of innovation with cutting edge technology. It’s not only about having the best technology but also having the right skill, mindset, and teamwork for becoming pioneers of world-class organizations.
There are three main strategic scenarios for leading an organization. Fine-tuning and adaptation, comprehensive transformation, or the creating of a world-class pioneering entity that sets the future course for the rest to follow. Which scenario applies to your situation?
There comes a time in life where everything we knew or loved changes because of terrible incidents that we were not prepared for. When that happens, and you are surrounded by chaos, would you surrender, or keep trying to survive? Surrendering is not an option, especially when you have people you love and care about depending on you. You have to stay strong in the face of adversity and show the people you care about that you are strong so that they too are inspired to be strong. People need strength in moments of fear and despair.
Starting a business can be a very challenging undertaking, with the competition getting tougher to be able to stand out and succeed. Being prepared and having the question; as to why start a business in the first place? Could give you that inspiration that you need to continue. The fundamental idea is to find the true purpose of begging this journey.
The environment that is surrounding you will dictate to a large extent the nature and quality of your life. Decide what you want from life, the kind of weather, culture, political system, social norms, and economic standards that you want to be part of. Then, plan your future if possible, so you end up living the life you want to live. There is another option and that is you exercise leadership and mobilize people so that the place you are living at becomes the place that suits your standards. Life is short, don’t compromise on the quality of your limited years.
You reach a dead end when there is no way out. If you had the option to change your direction before you hit a dead end, wouldn’t you take it? There are times at work or in your life where you reach a point that no longer allows you the space to grow. You should always seek a way to improve and become the best you could be.
Fame is sought-after by many people especially, with the rise of social media. Bringing fame to improve or distribute the knowledge of your business can work in your favor. Although, when fame is seen as infamy your reputation and business can be affected in a major way.
There are times where failure can be almost unavoidable, because the fact is, humans are not meant to be perfect at everything. Understanding what failure can teach you in order to become aware of your mistakes is something we all must learn. Learning from your mistakes and becoming better because of them, is what makes you human.
Commitment can be a very important step to take towards knowing what is important to you and what is not. Learning how much devotion you can divide into certain activities or objectives can mean the difference between success and failure. To put your whole being into action towards a passionate goal is crucial yet, it has its consequences. Sometimes in life, you have to choose what is more important to you and sacrifice things that don’t really have added value.
A leader’s success is reflected through the people he/she is leading. People who strive for success and are able to work together to achieve that, make leadership a significant asset. Leadership is not about your own personal goals but rather, it is the goals of all who accompany those who lead.
Sometimes in life along the way, you decide to slow down and settle for an average job that pays just fine and you are satisfied enough. But is it really enough? If you feel like there is so much more you could do, and there is room to grow, then it is your duty to yourself to pursue that opportunity. Why be average, when you could be great?
When your whole life, all your plans, and dreams are suddenly put to a halt. War, famine, and utter chaos broke loose and your business had to close down because of these abrupt situations. You have no choice but to stop and try to salvage what you have to keep moving forward. Stopping does not necessarily have to be a negative outcome it could be a short temporary pause, so you could be able to gather your strength and your thoughts to come back even better. Sometimes you would even have to try to move to trying something new or relocating but, all this is just how we survive and keep moving forward no matter what.
Never Give Up!
Planning for what’s to come is no easy task especially when there are so many unforeseen obstacles that might arise. Nevertheless, this does not mean a person can’t look to the future. On the contrary, one must always look ahead because when a plan does succeed, it is the most gratifying feeling a person can get. So plan daily objectives till you plan for longer terms and it becomes a habit of success.
Benefitting and maintaining passive income could really change a person’s life. Having the opportunity to create some wealth without the real hard work that it takes with other jobs is priceless. Though it takes a lot of wisdom and luck to sustain such a valuable resource. That’s why a person can’t spend everything they have on one project or enterprise. It is essential to spread your investments to multiple places that have more potential for being successful. Thus, bringing in different sources of revenue in case one fails. Passive income can also give you a chance to do what you love or allow you to focus on your active jobs while drawing in profit.
Competition is one of the most necessary and natural occurrences of life. It is the rule of natural selection, where the strong survive and the weak perish. Yet, humankind has developed ways where completion is healthy for the growth and can lead to friendly rivalry instead of seeing one another as enemies. Creating ways where competition can lead to collaboration reaching a greater goal.
In this recorded webinar with Qatar, the subject of self-leadership is covered from the human condition to how self-leadership can change the outcome.
In this podcast, you would listen to a recorded webinar that was focused on leadership in the public sector and how it has changed throughout the past and recent times.
In this webinar, leadership in the public domain is discussed and covered with certain points to emphasize what type of leadership is needed in present times.
A paradigm shift or a shift in mindset is a transformative term that is used to describe how certain organizations, countries, companies, and even smaller groups go through a change to improve their wellbeing and their survival. Changes such as this are required to ensure future generations continue to prosper and adapt to their ever-changing environments. By cultivating new leaders and allowing new cultures and stronger bonds between the people to grow and transform. The leaders that guide and conduct such changes are directly and indirectly guaranteeing the world of tomorrow have the right leadership and the proper mindset to evolve and continue to move forward into brighter and better futures.
IQ and EQ (Emotional Intelligence) are not enough for leaders, to drive future growth, business leaders need ‘political intelligence’ (PQ). In this video, Michael talks about how Political Intelligence demands adaptability.
The Politically Intelligent person is someone who is adaptive and flexible, someone who is able to change course when necessary, he is someone who knows how to negotiate effectively and navigate the business landscape and other people's agendas. He is someone who is courageous and knows how to take smart risks. The Politically Intelligent executive is not afraid of change or failure in fact he knows that this is the nature of the game and prepares and masters the art of managing change.
IQ and EQ (Emotional Intelligence) are not enough for leaders, to drive future growth business leaders need ‘political intelligence’ (PQ). In this video, Michael talks about the type of mindset a politically intelligent leader needs to develop.
A politically intelligent executive is someone who has an analytical and strategic mindset. He is always mobilizing and working towards fulfilling a futuristic vision, grand purpose he is trying to fulfill.
A politically intelligent leader knows how to read future trends while staying in touch with reality, he understands the importance of paying attention to details. He takes a holistic approach to understand the different elements of the system he is operating; he has practical intelligence and knows how to offer solutions that work. He knows how to maneuver complex political business landscapes.
IQ and EQ (Emotional Intelligence) are not enough for leaders, to drive future growth business leaders need ‘political intelligence’ (PQ). In this video, Michael talks about what character traits a politically Intelligent Leader Needs to develop.
Character fundamentally shapes how we engage the world around us and thus is a central, important element of leadership and political intelligence that should not and cannot be ignored. A politically intelligent person needs to be sincere and has credibility which is fundamental for establishing trust amongst his peers and constituents. He needs to be self-aware, knowing his strengths and weaknesses, and to be able to self-regulate and manage his emotions.
Politically intelligent leaders know how to promote their reputation and brand they have strong, unshakeable values and uphold high ethical standards, they always strive to keep their commitments to others and to their purpose. They know how to inject energy and enthusiasm into everything they do
IQ and EQ (Emotional Intelligence) are not enough for leaders, to drive future growth, business leaders need ‘political intelligence’ (PQ). In this video, Michael talks about how Politically Intelligent executives must have a complete understanding of power dynamics.
Political intelligence demands a full understanding of the way power plays in various situations. It is about being able to read the road map of power, how power is distributed, and knowing how to connect to that power.
Politically intelligent leaders know how to deal with authority and people with power, they know how to form alliances and combat adversaries, enemies, or saboteurs. They make sure to know their stakeholders well. They understanding the risks and consequences of each action they take especially when in a position of power.
No one can do it alone! Therefore, politically intelligent people know the importance of partners and they surround themselves with wise, trustful, and loyal partners.
IQ and EQ (Emotional Intelligence) are not enough for leaders, to drive future growth business leaders need ‘political intelligence’ (PQ). In this video, Michael talks about how politically Intelligent Leaders form meaningful and beneficial connections.
A politically intelligent executive understands the importance of developing and establishing the proper connections and networks and breaking barriers. They study people’s culture, norms, traditions, and folklores, they develop their communication skills and avoid making communication that can lead to conflict. They know how to present their ideas and future vision in a rich way.
Politically intelligent leaders learn how to be outstanding listeners. They don’t lose focus in times of stress and difficult times, they develop their sense of empathy and pay close attention and make sure to correctly read situations, to either seek out opportunities or predict problems before they happen.
Politically intelligent people know how to Be team players and are socially intelligent, they know how to make and maintain relationships. They try to Understand Other people’s emotions and know how to deal with their wants, needs, and aspirations.
We will all suffer loss, failure, tragedies, deception, trauma, abuse or other forms of misfortunes and pains. That’s the nature of life. In this audio I share with you tips on how to pick up your broken pieces and heal so that you can resume your journey of life.
People have levels of strength and react to stress, trauma, and difficulties in different ways. Not everyone may be as strong, calm or composed as you might be when tragedy strikes. Leadership demands that you help such people, be it family, friends, colleagues or constituents. In this “Leadership Esspresso” I share some insights on the most effective ways of helping people who are struggling. It will happen, people will need you, and you have to be there for them…because this is what leadership is also about.
A lot of people dislike discipline and equate it to being boring, But, when you take a closer look, you will find that discipline doesn’t hinder your way of living. It enables it. In this video, I discuss the importance of having discipline to achieve growth and progress in life.
When corruption takes over to the point where all aspects of your life is effected and has become absolute mess of trouble and suffering. If people don’t stand up against what’s wrong in the world, then all hope of living better lives is removed as a viable option. We must be able to fight against corruption to make this world a better place to live in.
Living in the world of today, being unaware of certain things as an intellectual being would make you Naïve. When someone does not have the necessary skills or experience will make them innocent to a fault. One cannot afford to be innocent or naïve, especially while practicing self-leadership. It is your responsibility to be well informed and prepared for any obstacle he/she may face.
Thinking is a process that is constantly happening, though the way you think can really differ. Being able to really focus your thoughts into something important can result in new ideas and solutions. There are certain steps that one must take or practice in order to think the correct way to reach a specific outcome.
Strength and courage to face danger, challenges, and obstacles in life is what can truly make a difference in one’s life. There are so many ways to be encouraged to gain the strength you need to continue through life. The most powerful drives are love, meaning, and purpose. If you truly believe in the people and things we love, our entire being is tested to stay alive and most of all to stay strong and thrive for what and who we love.
Being overwhelmed is a terrible state to be in, all your problems and troubles pilling up and becoming unbearable. You need to be able to take a breath and think about how to solve the issues one by one. You need to try your best at resolving your problems in order to free yourself from any unwanted burdens and pressure. There different ways to act when overwhelmed that I’ve shared. All in the hopes of pulling you through this tough time.
With all that has been going on in the world, being able to save up and preserve your finances is vital. Prioritizing what is “needed” more than what is “wanted” would be a good practice in difficult times. Knowing the value of what you already possess is very important to realize, and making the best of it will benefit you in the long run.
The world wouldn’t have changed if it weren’t for leaders that stood up against tyranny and corruption. People who do not act will stay oppressed under the injustices of evil systematic control. The masses need a leader who can lead them towards the righteous path.
In this Podcast Michael discusses all the major elements that could not only improve leadership in the public and private domain, but rather how to transform these domains to be at their best.
Taking important decisions in life is crucial, in order to make way for your current and future state. That’s why being in an unstable emotional state during major decision making can result in faults that could become catastrophic. Take your time to calm down and think about the best possible choices that could benefit your life on the long term. Calmness and thorough thinking will make the difference between regrets and peace of mind.
To become a world class organization, the whole team and culture must go through rigorous and complex transformations. Michael shares certain steps that organizations must undergo before becoming the highest standard in the industry. The interview consists of major key elements from begging to end on how and why an organization should transform.
In this interview Michael will be discussing key steps on the process of transformation. Whether you are leading a company or a nation, the transformation to a better the reality for your people is one of the most important and hardest tasks of leadership.
Trust is an essential aspect of effective leadership. In this video, Michael discusses instances where authority figures lose their people’s trust and confidence.
Matters within a small business are quite different from matters in a large one, and this begs the question: Is leadership also different? In this video, Michael answers this question and discusses the unchanging fundamentals of leadership.
Leaders can do a lot of good, but they can also cause a lot of harm when they abuse their power. In this video, Michael discusses the power trap and how leaders can lose their way. He talks about how society can protect itself from abusive, corrupt, and tyrannical “leaders”.
In this interview, Michael talks about the Kinds of people he trusts and those he doesn’t. He also discusses the relationship between trustworthiness and leadership/self-leadership.
In this interview, Michael reflects on his personal purpose in life and his journey to find fulfillment. He elaborates on what it means to lead a fulfilled life, how to achieve it, and what to do when life stands in the way of fulfillment.
Leadership has always been linked to change and transformation, in this interview Michael talks about the relationship between those two terms. The challenges that leadership has to overcome for transformation to happen, and when is the right time to make change happen.
In this interview, Michael talks about how leadership is an everyday act, not confined to political landscapes or the ivory towers of the business world. Michael will also highlight how the streets can be the perfect teacher of basic leadership skills.
In this interview, Michael talks about leadership as a discipline that transcends generations and cultures. And how he thinks that Leadership, at its core, does not change with the times, and remains relevant as long as humanity exists.
In this Interview I answer the following questions:
What are the three pillars of Leadership?
What are the three pillars of Leadership?
What drives me, love care or values?
In This Podcast I Answer the Following Questions:
What are the three pillars of Leadership?
What are the three pillars of Leadership?
What drives me, love care or values?
In this Podcast Michael shares some of the leadership lessons and decisions he had to make in his personal life and answers the following questions:
In years of exercising leadership what made you proud?
Are you proud of where you are in life?
What's the one decision you wish you didn't make?
What’s the biggest risk you ever took?
In this Podcast Michael talks about the tools that leaders can use to motivate their teams despite conflicts and obstacles, as well as the role that empathy and compassion play in connecting the leader to his people.
In this PODCAST I discuss the differences between our identity and the roles we play in life, and how understanding the difference and embarking on a journey of self-knowledge is key to any transformation or positive change that we want to introduce to our lives.
Sometimes, entrepreneurship and leadership are used interchangeably. They are related, but at the core, these two terms have different meanings.
In this interview, I discuss questions including:
- How leadership and entrepreneurship are related
- The differences and nuances between these two disciplines
- What traits a leader must have, and which ones are shared by entrepreneurs
- And more!
At its core, leadership is about people. It is vital for leaders to build and maintain the loyalty of their people. In this podcast, I share with you how to build trust, loyalty, and motivation in your people.
COVID-19 has quickly emerged as the number one risk to global and regional economy. In this turbulent time many businesses are fighting for survival. In this interactive talk I discuss with a group of executives how leadership and business need to rethink offerings, markets, business processes, and organizational structure—and to improve them to survive and possibly even grow. Please subscribe to the channel and leave a comment below
The global pandemic crisis is on everyone’s mind today, as the world again faces a dramatic threat, what is obviously clear is the absence of “Global Leadership”, can we change that and how?
To become an effective leader, first you must be able to lead yourself, being grounded in your purpose and values, and especially in times of stress and hardship. This talk discusses how you practice better self-Leadership in the current Covid-19 global crisis.
Leadership and leadership skills are never more needed than in times of crisis. In this episode I discuss how leaders can successfully navigate turbulent times.
Responsibility is one of those words you have probably heard so many times that you've developed a bit of a distaste for it. Still, taking responsibility for yourself, your actions, and your life is one of the most important things to grow and thrive. Without it as a foundation you can forget about leadership.
The tragedy of our lives is that most people go through life not taking the time to sit down and think about what it is that they really want for themselves. Everybody has a calling, a purpose, discover yours and don’t settle for a life that really doesn’t fulfill you.
Rethinking Leadership: There are countless definitions of leadership. Unfortunately, the art and science of leadership has been so commercialized that the term leadership has lost its core meaning. Rethinking leadership is about going back to the drawing table and reconstructing this important term to bring back to life its core meaning.
How to think about Growth: Growth is our ultimate goal. Leadership is about mobilizing people and organizations so that they grow to their maximum potential. There are many times of growth including the physical, financial, commercial, intellectual, emotional, spiritual... In this episode, we explore how Leadership is about driving growth in all its formats for the well-being of people, organizations and societies.
Leadership is about the transformation that changes the hearts and minds of the people that you wish to mobilize and lead. Leading with love makes you connect with peoples hearts so that you inspire their minds and help them change their lives.
What does rethinking leadership mean? There has been so much noise about the important concept of leadership. There are virtually a unlimited number of definitions of leadership. As a result of all this noise, the meaning of leadership lost it’s soul and the term became over commercialized. This talks aims to rethink leadership by going to the core of this word and examining the true role of leadership in life.
Whatever our definition or understanding of leadership, ultimately, it should end up in creating more happiness, success, fulfillment, and prosperity in the lives of people, teams, organizations and society. Or it should reduce unnecessary pain while removing obstacles in the journey of progress and action. If what ultimately what people want is to live in happiness and dignity then the core purpose of leadership is to just that.
Everybody is invited to exercise leadership. Companies or organizations spend billions of dollars on teaching their employees on leadership to encourage to them to lead, but how do we know when to lead and when not to lead? The answer is going to the basics, the fundamentals and that is the common purpose of survival and growth. Every time we feel that that the survival and growth of ourselves or of our families, our organizations, or societies is at risk, than that constitutes our invitation to lead. This highlights the need for leadership as in essence, leadership is about helping people in organizations or in our lives to overcome obstacles and challenges so that they can survive and grow in a volatile world.
To survive and grow, and to lead, we need to understand the five fundamental pillars that will determine the quality of our survival and growth and the success chances of our act of leadership. These pillars are:
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Know yourself
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Know others
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Know systems
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Know authorities
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Know leadership technologies (Skills).
This episode will explore each of these pillars and how to utilize them.
A New way of Understanding Leadership Let's look at leadership with a fresh perspective and see what makes leadership so important. It is time to clear the noise and go to the roots and see how leadership fits into making the best of life and living.