The Leader To Leader Podcast with Mark Slemons: Recent Episodes
Mark Slemons
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Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” I know few people who embody that quote more than Bear Grylls. This is the fourth and final part of my key takeaways from the 2019 Global Leadership Summit. I hope you have enjoyed listening to these episodes as much as I have enjoyed […]
The post LTL 144: Global Leadership Summit Takeaways Part Four appeared first on Mark Slemons.
As you probably already know, this is Part Three of a series on my key takeaways from the 2019 Global Leadership Summit. I said that I would follow up with a summary of the leadership tips that I picked up during the August event and man, there was a lot to try to summarize for […]
The post LTL 143: Global Leadership Summit Takeaways Part Three appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Back in August, I attended the 2019 Global Leadership Summit and I said that I would follow up with a summary of the leadership tips that I picked up during the event. While there was so much great content, I’m only able to pick my key takeaways and share them with you in a handful […]
The post LTL 142: Global Leadership Summit Takeaways Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Back in August, I attended the 2019 Global Leadership Summit and I said that I would follow up with a summary of the leadership tips that I picked up during the event. While I’d love to share it all with you, I’m going to pick my key takeaways and share them in a handful of […]
The post LTL 141: Global Leadership Summit Takeaways Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I know this happens to you at times. You hear something, and then you hear it multiple times and all of a sudden, you recognize that you need to sit up and pay attention! That happened to me recently. It started with a simple reminder: consistency is foundational to our effectiveness. But it didn’t end […]
The post LTL 140: Consistency Revisisted And The Difficulty Of Things Worthwhile appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Isn’t it awesome when you run into validation for a perspective unexpectedly, especially when it’s from an authority that you respect? As you know, I’m a proponent of not allowing others to control my future due to unforgiveness. Episodes 136 and 137 were dedicated to the issue of resentment and the problems it causes us […]
The post LTL 139: A Controversy Regarding Forgiveness appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you ever blown it? I knew it…you are! I tell people all the time that those who listen to my podcast are perfect – they don’t need me because they don’t struggle with human things! Ha! If only that were true. It’s hard to talk about being humble because media often represents humility as […]
The post LTL 138: The Value Of Humility And Momentum appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I’m excited about today’s episode. Last week, in Episode 136, I talked about why leaders can’t afford the high cost of resentment. Well, today I’m going to show you how to move past resentment to take control of your future. Initially, you might be wondering why this matters. It’s a reasonable question. Furthermore, it would […]
The post LTL 137: Move Past Resentment To Take Control Of Your Future appeared first on Mark Slemons.
It’s usually not my intention to allow the introduction to direct the content for a podcast, but I felt like that needed to happen today. I want to share a couple of stories with you that are examples of why leaders can’t afford the high cost of resentment. And while this might be a little […]
The post LTL 136: Why Leaders Can’t Afford The High Cost Of Resentment appeared first on Mark Slemons.
In the previous episode, I was able to share some of the experiences that shape who I am. This isn’t Part Two of that discussion. Yet I recognize that I didn’t offer any explanation for how those unique aspects about me impact my approach to leadership. So, today is my opportunity to do that as […]
The post LTL 135: Four Solid Principles Supporting Team Growth appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I was listening to Ray Edwards recently where he was sharing on his podcast 10 Uncomfortable Truths About Me. As he, Sean, and Tiffany were getting ready to sign off, he said something that I loved. Some of the things he shared in that episode (#399 if you want to listen) were going to clearly […]
The post LTL 134: Distinctives And What Makes Us Different appeared first on Mark Slemons.
How many times have you said, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming!” or “That was completely unexpected!” Sometimes it’s good, but most often it’s not. Like you, I have my fair share of these surprise moments. But today, I want to offer some practical tips on how to respond when you are thrust into an […]
The post LTL 133: Responding When Thrust Into The Unexpected appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Welcome to Part Two of my conversation with Micah Rowland. Micah isn’t your everyday builder. As Chief Operating Officer of Fountain, he builds people, teams, and processes that have taken multiple companies from 50 to 300 people and beyond, and $5 million to $35 million in revenue. After starting his career as a software engineer, […]
The post LTL 132: Building People, Teams, and Processes with Micah Rowland Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Welcome to Part One of my conversation with Micah Rowland. Micah isn’t your everyday builder. As Chief Operating Officer of Fountain, he builds people, teams, and processes that have taken multiple companies from 50 to 300 people and beyond, and $5 million to $35 million in revenue. After starting his career as a software engineer, […]
The post LTL 131: Building People, Teams, and Processes with Micah Rowland Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
If you are in the U.S., you just celebrated the Labor Day weekend. Because I thought it was clever, I named this episode The Labor Inspector in honor of this most joyous occasion! But it got me thinking about how infrequently we stop to measure the results of our actions. I’m guilty! Most of us […]
The post LTL 130: The Labor Inspector appeared first on Mark Slemons.
After the snafu this past week of failing to release the previous episode, I got to thinking about other things I’ve done that were easier to hide. Some stuff is so embarrassing, it’s easy to understand why a human will hide it. Other things are so horrendous that we would be horrified if anyone ever […]
The post LTL 129: Your Past Makes You Human appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Do you have a green thumb? Maybe you are a master gardener. You can make anything grow! If this isn’t you, you can probably think of someone you know who has a masterful touch with all things potted or planted. Whether soil prep, positioning for appropriate sunshine, or knowing exactly how much water is required, […]
The post LTL 128: Creating A Thriving Environment For Growth appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I had the privilege of attending the Global Leadership Summit in August. I’ll be sharing some of my key learnings from that event in future episodes; however, attending the Summit reminded me of something I had seen back in May. It was so powerful that I want to share it with you today. Erwin McManus […]
The post LTL 127: Overcoming Your Pain To Step Into Your Greatness appeared first on Mark Slemons.
As you know, this is the third episode in a series on excellence. If you missed the previous episodes, here are the links to Episode 124 and Episode 125. This is a fun series for me and hopefully, you find key learnings along the way. I am always looking for what I didn’t know previously […]
The post LTL 126: Excellence: We Are What We Repeatedly Do appeared first on Mark Slemons.
If you missed last week’s episode, we talked about what excellence looks like in leadership. And in an effort to increase our clarity, I’m going to spend some time in this episode looking at four areas where you can focus your effort to increase the presence of excellence in your life and work. As a […]
The post LTL 125: Four Areas Of Focus To Increase Excellence appeared first on Mark Slemons.
We have a tendency to lack clarity with some of the words we choose. Semantically, some of the words we use don’t make sense or don’t accurately convey what we want to communicate. Excellence can be one of those words that require additional definition. What do you think of when I say “Excellence?” And what […]
The post LTL 124: What Does Excellence Look Like In Leadership appeared first on Mark Slemons.
In Episode 122, I told you about Kyler Murray’s long history of winning and I share some ways that you can prevent expectations from producing failure in your life. What I didn’t talk about then, but I want to talk about now, is why winning does not equal success. So often we seem to think […]
The post LTL 123: Why Winning Does Not Equal Success appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Forty-two wins. No losses. Three straight state championships. Three championship game MVPs. Gatorade Player of the Year. Possibly the best athlete ever produced by the state of Texas. Do you know who I’m talking about? If you said “Kyler Murray,” you are correct! Are there any higher expectations of an athlete? Maybe. But here’s a […]
The post LTL 122: Preventing Expectations From Producing Failure appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Welcome to Part Two of my conversation with Carey Jenkins. If you missed Part One, then you can listen to it here. Carey took an unconventional path to CEO of Substantial, a Seattle-based digital product studio. And while you may not know who Substantial is, their clients do. Clients that include such big names as […]
The post LTL 121: Taking An Unconventional Path To CEO With Carey Jenkins Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Welcome to Part One of my conversation with Carey Jenkins. Carey took an unconventional path to CEO of Substantial, a Seattle-based digital product studio. And while you may not know who Substantial is, their clients do. Clients that include such big names as Amazon, Mercedes Benz, and the Wall Street Journal. A theater major who […]
The post LTL 120: Taking An Unconventional Path To CEO With Carey Jenkins Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Admittedly, I have an obsession. I’m obsessed with you obtaining your leadership potential. I want the absolute, very best for you. There is nothing that would thrill me more than for you to have an opportunity to experience the kind of success that most people only dream about. This episode will help you come to […]
The post LTL 119: Obsession, Opportunity, and Superstition appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Welcome to Part Two of my interview with Lelani Craig. If you missed Part One, you can find it here. Lelani is the President of CommGap International Language Services. With more than 25 years of experience in the language industry, she is an accomplished conference interpreter as well as a certified court interpreter. As a […]
The post LTL 118: The Business Of Language – An Interview With Lelani Craig Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Welcome to Part One of my interview with Lelani Craig. Lelani is the President of CommGap International Language Services. With more than 25 years of experience in the language industry, she is an accomplished conference interpreter as well as a certified court interpreter. As a result, she is not just an authority on the language […]
The post LTL 117: The Business Of Language – An Interview With Lelani Craig Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Today’s episode is powerful. If the content doesn’t move you, then in all seriousness, I would ask you to take some time and reevaluate what’s important. The title is simple enough, Why Success Starts With Service; however, I’m certain the task of implementing these principles will require a lifetime to master. This episode releases on […]
The post LTL 116: Why Success Start With Service appeared first on Mark Slemons.
How many times have you heard that there’s this mystical, mythical, or magical key to unlock a hidden treasure? You know what I’m talking about: six steps to financial independence, three keys to obtaining influence, 1,084 things you must do to be a good parent. Right?! It can be a little annoying. I purposefully did […]
The post LTL 115: To Be A Great Leader You Must Have This appeared first on Mark Slemons.
If you caught last week’s episode, you know we are talking about how to create conversations that generate inspiration and engagement. I’m always looking for a good question. There are so many questions you could ask, but I’m talking about the kind of question that makes you stop and say “Now THAT’S a good question.” […]
The post LTL 114: Now That’s A Good Question appeared first on Mark Slemons.
If you’ve been listening to the Leader to Leader podcast for a while, you know how I value stimulating the right conversation. I use the word “right” intentionally. Anyone can fill the void (or silence) with meaningless words – I’m interested in the conversations that generate inspiration! How do you avoid the unintentional impact of […]
The post LTL 113: The Unintentional Impact Of Careless Conversations appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I hope that you have enjoyed the last couple episodes on liminal space. As I mentioned in Episode 110, I had not heard of the concept before it was shared by Thomas Winninger and I feel very fortunate to have been able to share with you some of the things that I learned as I […]
The post LTL 112: Some Final Thoughts On Liminal Space appeared first on Mark Slemons.
We started talking about the concept of liminal space in the last episode. If you missed it, you can go back to Episode 110: Getting Comfortable With Uncertainty and listen to it when it’s convenient for you. As I shared in that episode, Thomas Winninger defines liminal space as that space between two points of […]
The post LTL 111: The Best Actions To Take During Uncertainty appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Uncertainty is uncomfortable. Most of us are not okay with the unknown. For instance, sometimes simply saying the word makes us edgy. At other times, you find yourself literally having no idea what is next. Imagine driving in a blizzard – scary right?! Every landmark, whether it be the painted lines on the road, mile […]
The post LTL 110: Getting Comfortable With Uncertainty appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I did not intend to draw out this series. Yet, I also realize that this topic is resonating and there was some additional information that I want to give you. I know that I have not addressed an important point, so I thought it would be useful to run through an actual scenario for you […]
The post LTL 108: Leading While Leaving: My Story appeared first on Mark Slemons.
As I mentioned earlier, this is Part Two of a two-part series called Leading While Leaving and today, I’m talking about things you must never do. As you can imagine, this is actually a very long list, so I’m going to keep it manageable for you. I will focus on what I think are several […]
The post LTL 107: Leading While Leaving – Things You Must Never Do appeared first on Mark Slemons.
This is Part One of a two-part series called Leading While Leaving. Today, we are going to talk about things you must always do. Next week, I’ll talk about the things you should never do. Leaving an organization can be terribly difficult but it doesn’t have to be. There are so many good reasons why […]
The post LTL 106: Leading While Leaving – Things You Must Always Do appeared first on Mark Slemons.
If you are like me, you probably find yourself thinking about how cool it would be to know everything! Like having a superhero ability or power to know what was going to happen before it did or how a particular event was going to turn out. But what if there is a reason why it’s […]
The post LTL 105: Why It’s Good That You Don’t Know Everything appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you grown bored of the myriad of ways that gameification has occurred in business? Well, let me pile on with another overused analogy! I want you to level up your leadership and I’m going to offer some tips on how to do that today. But in order to level up, you first have to […]
The post LTL 104: Level Up Your Leadership appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Man, we are close to two years of Leader to Leader podcasts. Next episode is the two-year anniversary. If you knew the difficulty at different points during that two-year journey, you would be as amazed as I am that I never missed releasing an episode during this time. And, actually, that’s meaningless. It doesn’t make […]
The post LTL 103: Where Are You In The Five Levels Of Leadership appeared first on Mark Slemons.
This week, I touch on a sensitive topic. It’s one that could be uncomfortable based on your circumstances. How many times have you had the recognition that you need to set limits or establish boundaries, yet have NO idea where or how to start? I came across a blog post on the Crisis Prevention Institute […]
The post LTL 102: I Need To Set Limits But Where Do I Start appeared first on Mark Slemons.
This is Part Two of my interview with Manu Sood. So, if you missed part one, you can click here and go listen to it. As I said last week, all leadership can be challenging; however, I also believe there is an art to female leadership. Manu is an accomplished leader with almost 20 years […]
The post LTL 101: The Art of Female Leadership: An Interview With Manu Sood Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
You are going to be so happy that you listened in today. All leadership can be challenging; however, I also believe there is an art to female leadership. Today is part one of an important two-part interview. I’m joined on this 100th episode by a stellar leader. Her name is Manu Sood. She is an […]
The post LTL 100: The Art of Female Leadership: An Interview With Manu Sood Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
If you are a Fleetwood Mac fan, I probably just tossed you back about 40 years. Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow was actually on their album Rumours that released in 1977. This song certainly wasn’t about leadership. Actually, there was a pretty consistent flow of drama in that band and in the relationships between band […]
The post LTL 099: Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you ever heard someone ask a version of this question: Why do I frequently fail to connect? Why do I struggle to create a genuine, authentic, honest-to-goodness connection? It feels so elusive! You and I both know that 1,000 Facebook friends or 10,000 Twitter followers will not equate to a single, solitary, authentic connection. […]
The post LTL 098: Why You Fail To Connect appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Has this podcast taken a decided turn to fantasy? Instead of leading in business will we now begin discussing leading a group of treasure seeking dwarves into the dark hollows of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth? Will we investigate the types of drakes and worms guarding their hoards of gold? It’s entertaining for sure, […]
The post LTL 097: Stop Toying With Dragons And Get Intentional appeared first on Mark Slemons.
So what is your definition of success? I mentioned in Episode 95 one of the best definitions that I’ve ever heard. John Wooden said, “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of […]
The post LTL 096: The Definition Of Success appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Peter Drucker famously said that what gets measured gets improved. So the next logical question is whether we are measuring the right things. If you saw the movie Moneyball, then you will immediately understand the point. Babe Ruth is considered one of, and possibly the greatest, hitter of all time. But his batting average was […]
The post LTL 095: Are You Measuring The Right Things appeared first on Mark Slemons.
When I say stress, I have to believe that your immediate response is not one of “oh, yes, I think I’ll start my day with a little dose of it just to get it started right.” Is stress a friend to you or more likely, do you perceive it as a foe? Most of us […]
The post LTL 094: What You Don’t Know About Stress appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I’ve had way too many conversations recently with folks who have pressed the limits of their physical and mental abilities. What is it that causes us to press ourselves so hard? How do you determine if you are on the edge of burnout? Are there indicators that you have gone too far? Can you stop […]
The post LTL 093: On The Edge Of Burnout: The Indicators And How To Stop It appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I had the opportunity recently to meet with a dear friend who went careening past the border of burnout. This dude is one of the hardest workers I know. There are people who talk about working 80 hours a week and there are those who do it. This guy is one of them that did […]
The post LTL 092: A Burnout Tale appeared first on Mark Slemons.
In episode 90 of the Leader to Leader podcast, I shared about Scott Harrison’s big dream with charity:water. His mission is to bring clean drinking water to every person on earth. I don’t think you can even raise the topic of charity without raising resistance. I don’t know what it is, but as soon as […]
The post LTL 091: Reducing Resistance When Approached With Need appeared first on Mark Slemons.
If I ask you about your dreams, will you have any that you can talk about? Do you have a big dream? Have you put aside making an impact on the world so you can pay your rent? If this sounds like you, I want you to remember how you felt when considering the pursuit […]
The post LTL 090: What Is Your Big Dream appeared first on Mark Slemons.
In Part One of this series, I shared five steps you can take to restore trust when trust is broken. Today, I will share five steps to recovery. These are practical steps you can take that will propel you on the healing path when your trust has been violated. This two-part series has been challenging. […]
The post LTL 089: When Trust Is Broken (Part Two): Five Steps To Recovery appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I’ve had some powerful discussions with several people over the last few weeks. I find that these conversations often occur in spurts. It’s not that I KNOW it’s going to happen this way, and yet the saying that bad news travels in bunches seems to play out more often than I would like. I suspect […]
The post LTL 088: When Trust Is Broken (Part One): Five Steps To Restore Trust appeared first on Mark Slemons.
When I wrote the title for this episode, I had an epiphany. Have you ever had one of those moments when you are just certain that something is right even though you aren’t sure why? Today was like that for me. I knew that The 180 Degree Leader was my topic. The power of consistency […]
The post LTL 087: The 180-Degree Leader And The Power Of Consistency appeared first on Mark Slemons.
The title for this episode is a bit provocative. However, the content is some of the most important content I have ever produced. And I feel like that’s saying something as there are almost two years of episodes that have released on the Leader to Leader podcast. I’m going to share with you 3 reasons […]
The post LTL 086: 3 Reasons Why Marketing Matters In Leadership appeared first on Mark Slemons.
This episode will touch a nerve. No one likes to be lied to and even more so when the stakes are high in a critical negotiation. Some are experts at telling lies. People like Frank Abagnale, who Steven Spielberg brought to life on the big screen box-office hit, Catch Me If You Can. Frank conned […]
The post LTL 085: Catch Me If You Can: Detecting Lies When Negotiating appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Are you looking to grab a massive advantage in your next negotiation? It may surprise you to learn how much advantage you gain as you prepare. Carrie Fisher, maybe you know her as Princess Leia, once said “Everything is negotiable. Whether or not the negotiation is easy is another thing.” EVERYTHING is negotiable? It sounds […]
The post LTL 084: A Massive Advantage As You Prepare For Your Next Negotiation appeared first on Mark Slemons.
You might think from the title of today’s episode that I had a drowsy Uber driver. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I didn’t have to wake him up – his story is full of lessons for those of us asleep in our careers. This is a shout out to my new friend, Chris […]
The post LTL 083: Wake Up: Lessons From An Uber Driver appeared first on Mark Slemons.
A recent email from the General Manager at the operation where I worked reminded me of a key leadership challenge. When times are good, everyone is getting along, production is flowing, customer retention is strong, revenues are up and costs are down, and the team is all aligned and pulling in the same direction, you […]
The post LTL 082: Leading When Disaster Strikes appeared first on Mark Slemons.
In this episode, I want to birth a new desire, a new curiosity, as we discuss some great questions that you should be asking. I’ll share some insights about how these questions open you up to possibility of revolutionary change and could quite literally alter your destiny. It’s a big promise, and I can deliver […]
The post LTL 081: Great Questions: The Key To Growth Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you ever stopped and wondered “How many questions does a child ask in one day?” Well, as I was considering this episode, I felt like it was pretty ironic that we spend so much of the early years of our lives asking great questions (they were foundational to our development and a key to […]
The post LTL 080: Great Questions: The Key To Growth Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
This is part two of my interview with Brandon Bruce. Here’s the link so you can go listen to Part One if you missed it: LTL 078: Endurance, Entrepreneurship, And Patience: An Interview With Brandon Bruce Part One. Brandon grew up in a small California town of 800 people and had only one classmate in grade […]
The post LTL 079: Endurance, Entrepreneurship, And Patience: An Interview With Brandon Bruce Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
This is part one of my interview with Brandon Bruce. Brandon grew up in a small California town of 800 people and had only one classmate in grade school. Seven years ago, he co-founded Cirrus Insight and has helped grow the company to $12m in annual revenue, 58 employees, and #41 on the Inc. 500 […]
The post LTL 078: Endurance, Entrepreneurship, And Patience: An Interview With Brandon Bruce Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
The last two episodes have been on the topic of powering through discomfort to make authentic connections as the basis for EPIC conversations. If you missed those episodes, you can click the links in the show notes below. Hopefully, after listening in, you are convinced of your need to expand your connections, but not connection […]
The post LTL 077: The Question You Should Never Ask When Meeting Someone New appeared first on Mark Slemons.
If you missed the last episode of the Leader to Leader podcast, stop right now and go listen to episode 75. I don’t do a lot of episodes that require you to listen to one before the other. In this instance, I believe there is value in listing to Powering Through Discomfort To Authentic Connection […]
The post LTL 076: Authentic Relationships As The Basis For EPIC Conversations appeared first on Mark Slemons.
If you are like a majority of people, you probably feel a little apprehensive when you think about being in a room full of people you don’t know. What will you talk about? You might have spent lots of time debating whether you even want to go. The excuses pile up and there is something […]
The post LTL 075: Powering Through Discomfort To Authentic Connection appeared first on Mark Slemons.
As many of you know, life has been anything but normal or predictable for me and my wife, Ginger, over the last several months. At the end of 2017, I knew that massive changes were going to impact my department at work. I would have to face an important career decision: I had to choose […]
The post LTL 074: Adapting To Change appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you ever tried to do important work while you were in a bad mood? Have you ever tried to have a crucial conversation when you are feeling depressed or hopeless? Man, that’s a real struggle, isn’t it?! So much of life depends on us bringing our best – being positioned to rise above the […]
The post LTL 073: Acquiring A Positive Mindset appeared first on Mark Slemons.
How well are you tracking in your leadership journey? Ouch. That’s a tough question, isn’t it. Sometimes I just get slapped in the face as I contemplate my lack of progress in different areas. I have concluded that we have to assess and plan to avoid the pain of inaction. The Battle For Positivity It […]
The post LTL 072: Assess And Plan To Avoid the Pain Of Inaction appeared first on Mark Slemons.
There is a lot of pressure on a new manager to perform. Although it’s a different kind of pressure, an equal amount is applied to an old manager in a new position. It can feel like all eyes are on you – watching, critiquing, judging, and evaluating every single thing you do. It’s not all […]
The post LTL 071: Stop Acting Like The Smartest Person In The Room appeared first on Mark Slemons.
It’s summer here in the northern hemisphere and I wanted to share some interesting facts about dehydration. And for all my friends down under in the land of Oz, you can still dehydrate even in the winter! If you are not drinking enough water, you might be wilting from the inside out. Drinking enough of […]
The post LTL 070: Wilting From The Inside Out: Get More Of This Critical Element! appeared first on Mark Slemons.
There is one capability that you must develop as a leader. This ability, more than any other, will determine your success as a leader. The best news: this trait can be developed by the most experienced or the newest leader. No matter how well you have demonstrated this ability in the past, you can improve […]
The post LTL 069: This Ability Will Determine Your Success As A Leader appeared first on Mark Slemons.
This is Part Two of Reflect and Respond: Don’t React. If you missed Part One, you can listen to it here: LTL 067: Reflect and Respond: Don’t React Part One. Respond Or React Leaders don’t just lead at the office. They lead well in all areas of life. In my opinion, the reason why many […]
The post LTL 068: Reflect and Respond: Don’t React Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Reflection isn’t typically a part of our day; however, a moment to reflect might mean you are able to thoughtfully respond and don’t react to your circumstances. It doesn’t happen accidentally or by coincidence and requires intention. You aren’t going to magically identify an unused 30, 15, or even five minutes of time in a […]
The post LTL 067: Reflect and Respond: Don’t React Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you stopped to think about why emotional intelligence is important to you as a leader? What is it about emotional intelligence that brings any benefit to your team or your workplace? I’m going to share with you my answers to that question today. You may have heard of Marcel Schwantes. He’s the principal and […]
The post LTL 066: Questions That Will Reveal Your Emotional Intelligence appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Today’s episode offers some practical tips you can implement today on how to improve your emotional intelligence. Even if you think you have it under control, I recommend that you visit these tips and choose one to practice this week. In last week’s episode of the Leader to Leader podcast, I talked about rating your […]
The post LTL 065: How To Improve Your Emotional Intelligence appeared first on Mark Slemons.
As a leader, you know the importance of being able to demonstrate emotional intelligence. But answer this question honestly: when was the last time you stopped and evaluated your emotional quotient? On A Scale Of zombie To Oprah Where Do You Rate Your Emotional Intelligence? It’s a funny question when you think of how much […]
The post LTL 064: On A Scale Of Zombie To Oprah Rate Your Emotional Intelligence appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I know – when you see the title, you’re like oh man, another podcast on sleep?! And besides, if you are like me, you have heard some great tips on managing your sleep already…but I’m always surprised at how many people need a reminder or don’t know some of the fundamentals about sleep. There are […]
The post LTL 063: Sleep Facts You Can Use appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I came across this article in Fortune magazine by Fran Hauser, who’s the author of The Myth of the Nice Girl. The article title was actually what caught my attention. The article title was How to Address Inappropriate Behavior Without Making Enemies at the Office. That article connected nicely to conversations I had with people […]
The post LTL 062: A Great Response To An Offensive Comment appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I’ve had several conversations recently regarding the disappointment and pain that comes with lots of effort and little gain. I’m not a doctor, psychologist, or mental health professional and I don’t play one on TV or the internet; however, I do think there are some things you can do to reverse the tide when you […]
The post LTL 061: Recommit To The Battle Against Discouragement appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I like to think that I try to avoid wasting time and admittedly, there are instances when my self-control is lacking. Sometimes I can redeem these moments by being intentional, even in my “down” time, to fuel some creativity or insight. I’ll give you an example. I watched a very tense Game Six between the […]
The post LTL 060: Do You Have Control Of Yourself appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Doesn’t today’s episode title sound like a meme? Community service: it’s not just for hardened criminal on parole anymore. I love it and it makes me laugh every time I read it! Now, I can’t take credit for the title. That honor actually goes to a gentleman named Jeremy C. Holm. If that name sounds […]
The post LTL 059: Community Service: It’s Not Just For Hardened Criminals On Parole Anymore appeared first on Mark Slemons.
So you know you have some problems with your thought life. You can’t seem to shake those nagging sensations that you aren’t enough. Like somehow you don’t measure up physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially, intellectually, relationally – you name it, you have a deficit. Well, the battle against self-limiting beliefs is not for the faint […]
The post LTL 058: The Battle Against Self-Limiting Beliefs: An Interview With Val Brown Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you ever found yourself thinking something about yourself that just isn’t true? Or have you caught yourself believing something someone else said, or told you, about yourself that was an absolute lie? If so, you aren’t alone. You won’t be the victor in the battle against self-limiting beliefs without some serious effort. In Part […]
The post LTL 057: The Battle Against Self-Limiting Beliefs: An Interview With Val Brown Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
It seems like the world has come to an end. Everything you worked for has been flushed down the proverbial toilet. 13 years of your life have just vanished before your very eyes. You thought you were building sweat equity but now you are on your own and it doesn’t feel like you have anything […]
The post LTL 056: Four Steps To Restore Calm After Losing Your Job appeared first on Mark Slemons.
You’ve been hearing the rumors for weeks. Another round of cuts is coming. Unfortunately, they weren’t just rumors – its bad news and you’re on the receiving end. When your boss started the meeting with “I have some bad news…” you thought you were going to faint. Your head is spinning and your heart is […]
The post LTL 055: I Have Some Bad News… appeared first on Mark Slemons.
This is Part Two of my interview with Marty Liccardo. Part One can be found here. He’s here today to help us understand what a leader’s response to abuse should be and how to deal with a serious, complicated, and critically important topic. While it might make you uncomfortable, please press past this and learn how […]
The post LTL 054: A Leader’s Response To Abuse: An Interview With Marty Liccardo Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Today’s topic might seem unusual to you. Because it is unusual, I hope it makes you think seriously about something we don’t often talk about. It is likely that you will find yourself uncomfortably close to a situation you never imagined whether in your organization, your community, or your home. What should be a leader’s […]
The post LTL 053: A Leader’s Response To Abuse: An Interview With Marty Liccardo Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you ever found yourself saying “Wow, he/she is so lucky.” Most of the time, luck had little to do with it. Think of a personal goal that you have. I’m not going anywhere – I’ll wait. Maybe you want to lose ten pounds, start a business, get a degree, buy a home, get a […]
The post LTL 052: Why Consistency Is King appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Are you really making progress, moving forward, if you aren’t failing? What if failure is a necessity? I know this is going to sound strange, maybe even illogical, but failing and surviving will actually prepare you to take bigger risks and fail less often. If you are caught in a trap of continually seeking security, […]
The post LTL 051: Failure Isn’t Final appeared first on Mark Slemons.
This is Part Two of my interview with Tom Jackson. Part One can be found here. Tom is the President of Steel Encounters, Inc (SEI). SEI is a specialty contractor and structural steel supplier headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, with annual revenues exceeding $100 million. Tom has 35 years of construction industry experience. He […]
The post LTL 050: Journey From Work Site To Corner Office: An Interview With Tom Jackson Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Tom Jackson is the President of Steel Encounters, Inc (SEI). SEI is a specialty contractor and structural steel supplier headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, with annual revenues exceeding $100 million. Tom has 35 years of construction industry experience. He has filled many roles from job site worker, up the ranks through the field and […]
The post LTL 049: Journey From Work Site To Corner Office: An Interview With Tom Jackson Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Influence anyone in seven minutes or less. Now that’s a provocative sounding title, isn’t it! C’mon man, really? Seven minutes? Seven minutes and I can get them to do anything I want? Uh…NO, that’s not what I said. There is a line that we have to draw between influence and manipulation. We know that leadership […]
The post LTL 048: Influence Anyone In Seven Minutes Or Less appeared first on Mark Slemons.
You might be wondering why we should even discuss maintaining momentum when harassed by hardship. After all, it sounds…you know, hard! Can’t we talk about something lighter? Something fun? The simple fact is that all of us are going to experience challenging times during various stages of our career. You know the likelihood for dramatic […]
The post LTL 047: Maintaining Momentum When Harassed By Hardship appeared first on Mark Slemons.
What is the number one priority for every leader? How do you create an environment that facilitates maximum productivity? A place where people give maximum effort, feel outstanding levels of job satisfaction, where deep currents of trust and cooperation flow strongly every single day. It sounds like a workplace utopia and it’s closer than you […]
The post LTL 046: The Number One Priority For Every Leader appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Well, it’s that time of year. Another podcast rehashing the same stuff that comes up every January. What are you going to do differently in 2018? What’s your one word, your three words, your paragraph? This is the year you will write your book, right? The year you are going to get 1,000 clients, 10,000 […]
The post LTL 045: How To Get The Feedback You Need appeared first on Mark Slemons.
The topic of initiative and service has come up frequently for me recently and I thought it would be appropriate to share some insights with you that I have gained over the last couple months. It seems rare to see folks take initiative. Maybe even extremely rare. About ten years ago, I was given a […]
The post LTL 044: Four Perspectives On Service appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Are you able to be content in your current circumstance? Can you learn to be content in your current context? It’s tough for driven leaders to experience a deep sense of satisfaction. “How can I do this better?” or “How can I improve this?” are all too familiar questions. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting […]
The post LTL 043: Why Looking Forward Can Be As Distracting As Looking Back appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I know. Seriously, did you really need to do a podcast on listening? Recent experiences indicate that some of the people I interact with (including myself!) could use a refresher. A senior leader in our organization recently reminded me of how critical it is to really stop and listen to what someone is telling you. […]
The post LTL 042: Leaders Listen appeared first on Mark Slemons.
When it comes to establishing your credibility, you have to talk about yourself. This is difficult, especially for those who subscribe to the theory that you let your work speak for itself. In an ideal world, everyone would automatically be able to figure out how great you are because your work speaks volumes while you […]
The post LTL 041: Brag, Swag, or Sway: Why You Must Talk About Yourself – Part Two appeared first on Mark Slemons.
When was the last time you took credit for a job well done? You know, you gave a little toot to your own horn? For many, this is a decidedly challenging step to take. We don’t want to brag. No one wants all swag with no substance. But I’m talking about the kind of credit […]
The post LTL 040: Brag, Swag or Sway: Why You Must Talk About Yourself – Part One appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Who’s the most difficult person you ever had to lead? Maybe you immediately think about someone at work or a difficult customer. But you know that leadership isn’t about position or title, it’s about influence and you are doing that every day with a myriad of people. If you think about it that way, maybe […]
The post LTL 039: The Most Difficult Person To Lead appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Respect is a funny thing. Sometimes it’s hard to know if you have earned it, but it’s pretty obvious when you don’t have it. Merriam Webster defines respect as high or special regard, the quality or state of being esteemed. How is it that a person who is disrespected, uneducated, has an upbringing that is […]
The post LTL 038: Respect: Stop Building Your Resume And Start Building A Legacy appeared first on Mark Slemons.
We ended episode #36 on optimism with a key point: you must learn to work with, not against, those with whom you disagree. So doesn’t disagreement mean you aren’t unified? Unity is not a lack of disagreement – today, we look at how your team can achieve its maximum potential. Unity is a primary ingredient […]
The post LTL 037: Unity: Primary Ingredient For Producing Exceptional Results appeared first on Mark Slemons.
What if I told you that you could boost productivity, increase potential for success, build endurance, improve morale (yours and others), reduce or prevent conflict, and boost value (yours and your company’s) by focusing on a single character trait? Would you want to know what it is? I would. It’s optimism – the mighty miracle […]
The post LTL 036: Optimism: Greatness Awaits You appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Suffering is a part of life and life presents us with agonizing events – things we would never have intentionally chosen. Sometimes it’s the result of bad choices that had consequences, but often, it’s simply because the world isn’t perfect. Things are broken. The law of entropy says that things tend toward disorder. It’s never […]
The post LTL 035: Fortitude: Six Steps To Increase Your Ability To Endure appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I guarantee that today’s episode will inspire you. If it doesn’t, you can have your money back! We all aspire to be great leaders. So, if there was one thing that we could work on to grow our influence, what would you choose? I’ll bet you think of your speaking skills or networking. Maybe you […]
The post LTL 034: A Consistent Trait Found In Great Leaders appeared first on Mark Slemons.
If you’ve ever wondered why you are here, or where you are headed in life, then you understand why purpose is so important. Today, I am joined by Kevin Monroe. Kevin is a leadership consultant and executive coach. His mission? To help high achievers connect with their higher purpose. He also hosts the Higher Purpose […]
The post LTL 033: Your Higher Purpose: An Interview With Kevin Monroe appeared first on Mark Slemons.
CEO, Jean-Sébastien Dominique Francois Jacques, has a saying: “The markets won’t save you. Commodity prices won’t save you.” His point is that high prices and great markets have the potential to hide a multitude of evils. Your customers won’t save you either. So think about this for a moment: your customers default to price when […]
The post LTL 032: No Excuses: Never Count A Great Leader Out appeared first on Mark Slemons.
I know you’ve heard it and you may even have said it yourself: it’s lonely at the top. Well today, we are tearing down this popular leadership myth. On the surface, it doesn’t seem so damaging, right? In fact, it’s understandable. The most common use of the phrase is when we are empathizing with the […]
The post LTL 031: Lonely At The Top: Tearing Down A Popular Leadership Myth appeared first on Mark Slemons.
There are no shortcuts through life’s grinding moments. I know you have experienced many. Maybe you have had, or are currently having, a tough time with a relationship – a spouse, child or parent can weigh heavily on you. They are often the most important thing to us and when things are going south, it’s […]
The post LTL 030: Leading Through The Pain appeared first on Mark Slemons.
As a leader, one of your roles is drawing the absolute best out of the people on your team. There’s nothing specific to a particular industry or business that makes this easier or more difficult. Humans are amazingly complex and beautifully individualistic which means when you are addressing challenges, one size does not fit all! […]
The post LTL 029: How To Cope With Difficult People appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Episode 27 was fun. I really enjoyed the learnings from looking at Saroo Brierley, Ray Kroc and the McDonald brothers. In this episode, I address concerns I have about distinct character flaws I noticed in the last one. After much contemplation, I landed on several key questions and comments. What does success look like to […]
The post LTL 028: The Floundering Founder: Character Matters For Great Leaders appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Life is stranger than fiction. You hear it a lot and then you experience it or witness it and you can hardly believe it. This episode is kind of like that. You might recognize that the title, Your Leadership Ability Determines Your Effectiveness, is John Maxwell’s first irrefutable law of leadership: the Law of the […]
The post LTL 027: Your Leadership Ability Determines Your Effectiveness appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you ever wondered what separates success from failure? There are lots of components and intricate moving parts. I’d argue that one of the most important is the power of purposeful connection. If you listened to last week’s episode, you will know that I shared a story about my grandparents, June and Lola Slemons, and […]
The post LTL 026: The Power Of Purposeful Connection appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you ever noticed how tempting it can be to talk yourself out of pursuing your passion? There are many reasons why you must resist the urge to settle. Listen close. Scoot your chair up, this is really important. Now lean in and get this critical point: I settle and accept significantly less than I […]
The post LTL 025: Why You Must Resist The Urge To Settle appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Think about training for a moment. It sounds so parochial. But it’s critical to expanding our skill set. Are you willing to invest in your own education? If your employer stopped paying for your training, would you be willing to invest in yourself? Today, I’m going to talk about five things I learned at Influence […]
The post LTL 024: Five Things I Learned At Influence & Impact appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Can you recall someone sharing a hateful or hurtful opinion about your dream? Maybe it’s an aspiration from childhood or something that came to you at work one day. When you step out and dare to share it, it’s almost like you wince with just one eye open! Opinions are shared frequently, especially online, and […]
The post LTL 023: Dream Stealers: Handling Encounters With Those Who Do Not Get You appeared first on Mark Slemons.
This is the last in a series of episodes dedicated to building trust in your team. Last week in Episode 21, we looked into building team trust by being vulnerable. Today, we answer the question “Are you my type?” and give you more tools for building team trust. Three tools you can start using today […]
The post LTL 022: Are You My Type? More Tools For Building Team Trust appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Last week in Episode 20, we looked at the four dimension of interpersonal trust and talked about the biological differences between female and male leaders. It’s one thing to understand the barriers to trust, but have you considered building team trust with vulnerability? It’s hard to build trust! You might think that it takes a […]
The post LTL 021: Building Team Trust With Vulnerability appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Last week in Episode 19, we discovered that more than anything, your team wants to trust in leadership. I mentioned that according to a survey run by ToleroSolutions, Scott Span found that 45% of respondents believed that a lack of trust in leadership was impacting their work performance. Have you taken a look at the […]
The post LTL 020: The Science Of Trust: Characteristics Of Male And Female Leaders appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Can you guess what your team wants more than anything? The answer may surprise you. You wouldn’t be wrong for guessing recognition, empowerment, more pay, the opportunity for advancement, better benefits, etc… The list is endless, but none of those things are most important. So what is this mysterious desire of the masses? Trust. More […]
The post LTL 019: Can You Guess What Your Team Wants More Than Anything? appeared first on Mark Slemons.
The inspiration for today’s episode was a little odd. A friend watched a mockumentary about multi-level marketing (MLM). They thought it was humorous, so I checked it out. Wow – it actually was pretty full of important lessons, not the least of which is today’s topic of leading without manipulating. You’ve heard it said that […]
The post LTL 018: Leading Without Manipulating appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Leaders face many challenges. Of all the challenges they face, one frustrates me more than others. That challenge is leading when no one else is. I don’t mean things aren’t as good as they should be. I mean there are no examples of good leadership around me. Immediately, you should be questioning my last statement: […]
The post LTL 017: Leading When No One Else Is appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Few things are more important, or more difficult, for leaders than communicating clearly. With so much riding on being able to get your message across, it’s a common struggle for your message to be misunderstood, or missed entirely. Believe it or not, improvement is possible. In this episode, we are going to discuss five familiar […]
The post LTL 016: Five Familiar Communication Challenges: Which One Will You Commit To Avoid? appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Since the purpose of this podcast is to share information about leadership, it’s fun to look at the leadership journey of executives as they reflect on their careers. Sometimes, they are obnoxious, arrogant, and full of themselves. Other times, they are humble, contrite, and wish they could do some things differently. Jacques Nasser is a […]
The post LTL 015: Leadership Advice From 30 Years In The Corner Office appeared first on Mark Slemons.
The results were not as expected. The disaster has hit close to home or within it. Real events present real choices about how we are going to respond. But the key word is “choice” and you have one. So, what do you do when your attitude is causing you to implode? When your response could […]
The post LTL 014: What To Do When Your Attitude Is Causing Your Implosion appeared first on Mark Slemons.
It’s so easy to allow our focus to be consumed by tasks. Whether it’s making sales calls, updating a budget, filing reports or just doing our best to lead well, it’s easy for our attention to slip to tasks. Isn’t there more than preparing the next speaking topic, the next podcast, the next sales seminar […]
The post LTL 013: At The Roots: Leadership Lessons From A Charter High School appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Is good good enough? Do you yearn for something better? Have you thought that you needed to come up with something new to get noticed? Sometimes new isn’t improved. Imagine climbing Mt. Everest and telling a sherpa “I do not need you.” Imagine thinking “If I take their advice, then somehow, this won’t be my […]
The post LTL 012: I Do Not Need You appeared first on Mark Slemons.
How many of us have ever thought “there’s nothing very exciting about me?” Like someone is standing beside you directing traffic around you saying, “Nothing to see here, move along please…” Do you imagine that you have little to contribute? Is there a voice in the back of your head that’s always reminding you of […]
The post LTL 011: Nothing To See Here…Move Along Please appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Are you overwhelmed by fear? Does the economy, disruption in your industry or aggressive competition leave you with a knot in your stomach? Do you feel isolated and vulnerable? As a result, these feelings disorient and cause panicked or irrational decision making. Surprisingly, there are many similarities between operating a business and the devastating, often […]
The post LTL 010: Brand vs Wild with Jonathan David Lewis appeared first on Mark Slemons.
This episode is all about the challenge of getting started. Have you ever heard this question: you want to do what? Are you crazy? Some of you might have been asked this by a stranger, friend, coworker, spouse, or a child…and honestly, as parents, who hasn’t asked their child that question?! There are moments when […]
The post LTL 009: You Want To Do What? appeared first on Mark Slemons.
If I told you that you could have a rich life, one that you loved without sacrificing your own happiness, would you believe me? You might of if I told you before you got your job, got married, or had children. Maybe that seems a bit impossible now. But today’s guest believes that it’s not […]
The post LTL 008: Helping Women Live A Rich Life appeared first on Mark Slemons.
When was the last time you were tempted to compromise your integrity? If you are human, it had to be recent because we are all subjected daily to alter who we are in response to the pressure to “get ahead.” It’s hard enough dealing with the personal temptations to compromise, but what do you do […]
The post LTL 007: What To Do When You Are Asked To Compromise Your Integrity appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you looked at your life recently and said something like “uhh, this does not look like I thought it would!” Welcome to the club! Life often has a way of turning out differently than we expected. Sometimes better, sometimes worse. Too often, we get wrapped up in what we can’t change: the past. We […]
The post LTL 006: Uh This Does Not Look Like I Thought It Would appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Have you ever felt like you couldn’t give another ounce of effort even if your life depended on it? Does it seem like the demands in your current job are so overwhelming that you are on the verge of a crackup? Do the words overworked and underappreciated describe exactly how you are feeling? Maybe you […]
The post LTL 005: What To Do When You Are Overworked And Underappreciated appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Many of us don’t work in the same office as our manager or leader. Maybe you work from home, work in a satellite office or possibly on a different floor than where your boss / manager / leader sits. It’s true, there are not very many good substitutes for spending time face-to-face with your leader […]
The post LTL 004: How To Get A Promotion When Your Boss Doesn’t Even Know Your Name appeared first on Mark Slemons.
There are so many causes for low morale. Some of them are outside of your control: layoffs, outsourcing, “rightsizing” – and it might not even be within your team – it could be your co-workers in finance or tax or IS&T, projects that get canceled or have funding stripped, the sale of a business (or […]
The post LTL 003: What To Do When Team Morale Is Lower Than Congress Approval Rating appeared first on Mark Slemons.
Most of us, at some point in our career, will wind up reporting to someone who is younger than we are. Have you ever had a boss who is part of another generation? Six steps to take when reporting to a younger manager: #1 Stop trying to get him to see it your way #2 […]
The post LTL 002: What To Do When Your New Boss Is 20 Years Younger Than You appeared first on Mark Slemons.
How many times have you blamed others or maybe your circumstances for failing to reach your potential? We’re all human and there is no question that our context has impacted us; however, in order to move forward from here, we have to acknowledge and own our contribution to our current condition. We have a choice […]
The post LTL 001: Five Signs You Are Self-Sabotaging Your Success appeared first on Mark Slemons.