Aim Higher: The podcast with purpose: Recent Episodes
Skip Prichard
Reach your full potential by joining a conversation with Skip Prichard and his array of guests as they share stories of their own leadership journeys.
As we wrap up this season of "Aim Higher," it reminds me of how much "summer" has come to be synonymous with "vacation," even decades after we move beyond school semesters and summer breaks. We think of summer and we think of fun, travel, family, and relaxation. And that's great! But many times we forget to really disconnect and recharge. As leaders, we need to care for ourselves. And that includes a healthy commitment to living and experiencing life outside work. In this final, 5-minute mini-episode, I share some thoughts on how we can all get the most out of summer—even if that means taking some time to just do nothing. Thank you for listening this season, and I look forward to seeing you online, in the comments, on social media... and maybe even at the beach!
In this episode, my panel of business experts and I discuss the importance of resilience. Not just for leadership—though we focus most of our time on that aspect—but to each of us within our business and personal lives. Nothing important was ever accomplished without making mistakes, without trial-and-error, without pushing through practice to get to performance. Weathering those storms successfully requires resilience—and it’s a skill that can be learned. Tune in for some great advice about how to do so as part of your leadership journey.
There are so many traits of great leadership that aren’t, in my opinion, optional. Honesty, curiosity, integrity, drive, determination all come to mind. But you can certainly have many different types and styles of leaders who each embody all those characteristics. You can be an extrovert or an introvert. You can focus more on managing relationships or processes. You can favor creativity or analytics. In this episode of “Aim Higher” my expert panel and I discuss how your unique style of leadership can be a big part of your success. Just as long as it’s authentically “you.” Listen in for some great ideas.
In this episode, Dan Rockwell and John David Mann join Skip to discuss their latest book collaboration, “The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership,” a parable that explores ideas of self and success in an intriguing, compelling way. The book begins with a seemingly simple incident—the main character trips over a homeless man. But this one moment leads to a journey of self-awareness and personal growth. Why should you tune in? Because this isn't just a leadership “theory.” It’s a way of thinking that can transform how you lead and live. I hope you'll join me for this lively, enlightening conversation that will challenge your perceptions and inspire your planning.
On this week’s episode, my expert panel and I talk about how to move from single, short-term goals to a focus on long-term, sustained success. Because sustained success isn’t just about a series of individual accomplishments. It’s about maintaining a core identity of what makes you successful today, combined with stimulating progress towards the future. How do you combat complacency when things are going well? How does customer feedback fit into this kind of mindset? What kind of leadership is required to create sustained success? Hint: it takes more than planning—it takes real vision. Join us as we explore this important topic.
For many people, hearing that a manager or peer wants to “provide feedback” brings negative expectations. “They just want to complain,” or “What did I do wrong now?” may come to mind. That’s because, in many cases, leaders don’t take a holistic, long-term, organized approach to feedback. Doing so is important, because great employee feedback lowers turnover and improves everything from process to profits. Join me and my expert panel and we discuss how to create a culture where feedback—both positive and critical—is seen as an important part of work all the time.
In this panel discussion, my guests and I discuss the importance of listening. Obviously, it’s a skill we all need to improve—but it’s especially vital for leaders and those who aspire to leadership. I share 10 ways that listening can improve results for you and your team, and the panel reacts with their own insights and tips. If we don’t listen, we can’t learn, and great leaders never stop learning. If you “listen in” to this episode, I guarantee you’ll come away with a renewed appreciation for this skill... and with a few ideas on how to improve it during your own leadership journey.
I joke with my friend Scott McKain that he needs to write more books, because that gives us an excuse to get together—and our conversations are always a good time. He’s truly a gifted writer and speaker, and in today’s “Aim Higher” interview we talk about his new book, “The Ultimate Customer Experience.” While many of Scott’s books are primarily aimed at business leaders, this one is for everyone—and I do mean everyone. As Scott points out, everyone in your organization needs to be able to take responsibility for any customer’s experience. Pushing it off on someone else? Saying, “That’s not my job?” Failure to follow through? Those don’t get you to “ultimate.” Join us for a fast-paced, fun conversation on this important topic.
A colleague of mine once said, “If you don’t set measurable goals and you fail? You’ve lost any chance to learn. And if you succeed but don’t know why? It might as well have been luck.” We often mistake, as panelist Drew Bordas says, “activity for progress.” We’re doing stuff! We’re working hard! Things are happening! But are they the right things? If you haven’t set good, measurable goals, you just won’t know. Remember: you can get your heart pumping by running in place, but you won’t get anywhere. Listen in and get some good tips on how to set goals in different situations, and how to ensure buy in from your team.
We often use the word “love” when referring to our favorite sports team. But we don’t often hear it used by elite college coaches to describe their coaching style. Tom Ryan, though, isn’t your usual coach. He preaches—and practices—a leadership style rooted in truth, trust, and—most of all—love. As a Hall of Fame wrestling coach for OSU, Tom led his team to many victories because of a belief that we do our best work when we suffer for the things we love most deeply. Listen in as we discuss how that philosophy has helped him in the high-stress world of top-tier college athletics, and as he dealt with a devastating personal tragedy.
As you know, I believe very strongly in the power of motivation, the importance of planning, and the role that a positive attitude plays in our success. So, if you—like so many people—start your Mondays with fear, loathing, and a sigh of resignation, guess what? It's time to cut that out. How you start your week will have a huge impact on how it ends. So, it’s time to give Mondays the love they deserve, plan for how you can start your week with positive energy and move forward with intention.
This week on "Aim Higher,” my panel and I talk about how to be successful during the critical, initial phase of a new job, new department, or new manager. Drew Bordas, Tammi Spayde, and Brian Berry bring up dozens of great pointers on the subject. Not only have they had to be the new person in some high-level roles, but they’ve managed many people through the process. If you want a crash course in how to land on your feet, make a great first impression, and get moving quickly in a new situation, this is the episode for you.
I don’t know anyone who hasn’t thought about “reinventing” themselves. That desire can be pushed on us by an unexpected job loss, or we may want to proactively reach for a new dream. The bad news is that it’s hard to reinvent yourself without a plan. The good news is that my guest this week, Richard Bliss, can help you make that plan. Richard has worked in the military, in executive marketing roles, and as an author, speaker, and LinkedIn expert. We discuss how he’s reinvented himself—and how he analyzed that process so that he can help others accomplish extraordinary, new things.
In previous episodes of “Aim Higher,” we discussed how to leave a job well, and how, as a manager, you can deal with someone who doesn’t. This week, based on a listener’s request (“for a friend...”), we’ll tackle the thorny problem of how to recover from a bad exit that you now regret. I share 7 tips that can get you through this difficult moment, using it to grow and rebuild trust. It’s always better not to burn bridges. But if you do, don’t despair—bridges can be rebuilt.
We’ve talked before on “Aim Higher” about the importance of leaving a job with grace and positivity. A move made for the right reasons shouldn’t create friction or enmity, even if the change brings challenges. However, as a leader and manager, you will at some point need to deal with staff whose exit behavior is less than exemplary. How do you handle “bad good-byes" without making the situation worse? If you prepare for this eventuality—and I’ll give you seven areas to consider—you can turn many of these situations around, earning gratitude from the outgoing employee and better results for your organization. It’s not easy, but it can be done.
It’s “mailbag” time again! I love these episodes, as they give us a chance to hear about what’s top-of-mind for our listeners. This week, my panel of experts addresses a variety of questions, including how to keep up with the amazing pace of change in technology, managing remote teams, and how to quantify a vague “transformation” project assignment. I’m sure that at least one of these will resonate with you, and I hope you’ll give us a listen.
There are books and articles galore about how to start a new position successfully. What to do in your first days, weeks, and months to establish your expertise and make a great initial impression. Less discussed—but no less important—is how to leave a job successfully. We’re somewhat indoctrinated into thinking of departures as failures. Yet we know that sometimes we need to leave one situation to take our next logical steps. My expert panel for this episode—Cathy King, Bart Murphy, and Tammi Spayde—has some great advice on how you can make this uncomfortable situation much more proactive, painless, and productive. Remember: you also only have one chance to make a last impression.
My guest for this episode of “Aim Higher” is research-based thought leader, Ford Saeks. Ford is known for his marketing prowess and for helping businesses grow and succeed. His book, “Superpower: A Superhero’s Guide to Leadership, Business and Life” is a must-read if you're looking to make a positive change in any area of your life. Don’t worry, though—you don’t need to leap tall buildings in a single bound to make dramatic improvements. As Ford says, "A superpower is the ability to expand your critical thinking skills, take action, and produce the results you desire in your life.” I completely agree. And I believe that you can be the superhero of your own story. Listen in for some good ideas on how to get started.
Previously, we looked at the “death of ambition,” and why so many people seem to be less interested in pushing for high achievement. In this episode, my expert panel and I tackle the topic of ambition from a positive standpoint. What does “good ambition” look like? How can you distinguish it from things like greed or pushiness? How can you help identify and encourage appropriate ambition in your staff? And what can you do when they try to move too far, too fast? It’s a fascinating discussion, and my guests have some great advice that will help you harness your ambition more successfully.
A recent survey indicated that around one-third of people do not trust their employers. Now, that might mean “in general,” without applying to a specific manager or leader. But it’s an extraordinary statistic, nonetheless. As Drew Bordas, one of my panelists this week, puts it, “A lack of trust drags down our ability to get the job done.” He’s right! Trust isn’t just “a feeling.” A lack of trust hampers creativity, kills honest feedback, discourages respectful dialogue, and can negatively impact commitment and teamwork—an entire suite of qualities that are essential to success. Listen in as my expert guests and I discuss what builds trust, what erodes it, and how you can get it back.
I’ve been having conversations about creativity and writing with my next guest for almost ten years. Now you get to listen in as we discuss the topic more fully. Andy Havens is a content marketing expert, an adjunct professor of marketing and advertising at the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD), and the author of, “The Side Ways,” an urban-fantasy trilogy I very much enjoyed reading. We discuss some of the myths surrounding creativity, definitions and descriptions, and how you can be more creative in any endeavor. If you’ve ever wanted to be more creative or foster it in others, this discussion is a great place to start.
In our last episode, we talked about the concepts of “quiet quitting,” the “death of ambition,” and how they relate to our post-pandemic working world. In this week’s roundtable discussion, my panel of leadership experts and I take it up a level and ask: what can leaders do about quiet quitting? How can you prevent it? How do you recognize the signs? And how do you help restore a team member’s enthusiasm and motivation? As always, we share some thoughts about the broader trend, but then get into specific, actionable ideas that you can bring back to your team.
The term “quiet quitting” has been all over the news. It’s generally used to describe workers who have decided to do the minimum required at their jobs. No “going the extra mile,” no overtime, no volunteering for stretch assignments. In short: no ambition. What are the causes of this trend? Is it really something new, or are we just re-labelling a phenomenon that once might have been called “retiring in place?” Are there generational or geographic differences within the "quiet quitting" cohort? My panel of business experts and I discuss the trend in this episode of “Aim Higher.” We put it into context, talk about causes, and suggest some ways to move forward.
Our world is filled with all kinds of distractions. And we carry the source of many around with us—our smartphones—because they are also necessary for work and great productivity tools. But we also know how important it is to put those distractions aside and focus on what’s important. As Steven Covey said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” How can we do a better job at that? Join me and my panel of business experts as we talk about how to overcome distraction, find better focus, and even support that value within the teams we lead.
In this, the second of a two-part panel on leadership coaching, we continue with Tammi Spayde, Drew Bordas and Janet Walls, President of Delta Blvd. In the first half of our discussion, we covered some basics: who should get leadership training, what it can do for you, when you need a coach as opposed to a mentor. Now we get into some more advanced topics, including the idea of getting a coach for your entire leadership team. That can be a very different situation and call for a very different dynamic. In addition, we talk a bit about when—or if—it might be time to move on from one coach to another. It’s a great session, and vitally important for anyone who wants to continue improving their leadership skills.
In this first of a two-part panel on leadership coaching, two of our regular guests—Tammi Spayde and Drew Bordas—join me and Janet Walls, President of Delta Blvd, a leadership consulting and executive coaching company she founded in 2007. Together, we get into the basics of leadership coaching: who it is for, how it can help you your leadership development, the difference between coaching and mentoring, and how to include your manager in the process. Sometimes, as leaders and executives, we forget that learning should never cease. We always have something new to discover, about our industries, business, and ourselves. And a leadership coach can help accelerate those discoveries. Listen in for some great practical advice.
Patricia Fripp is an expert on how to give better presentations, and she shares some of her secrets with me on “Aim Higher” this week. She just recently co-authored the book “Deliver Unforgettable Presentations,” and it’s filled with step-by-step instructions on how to become a world-class public speaker. During our talk, she makes the great point that everyone can benefit from being a better presenter, even if you’re just leading a team meeting. How people remember what you say depends as much on your delivery as on the content itself. And Patricia’s advice can help you dramatically improve the way you deliver information.
Today’s “Aim Higher” interview is an absolute must-listen. If you haven’t heard Inky Johnson’s story before, you need to do so now. Coming from a home that, in his words, was “poor in material wealth, but rich in spirit, love, and peace,” he was a rising star in college football, until a life changing injury shattered that path to success. But rather than succumb to despair, Inky went on to finish college, earn a master's degree in Sports Psychology, and become an international speaking sensation. Beyond inspirational, Inky’s story—and his philosophy—are truly motivational. As he says, “The one thing we all have in common is adversity, opposition, and challenge. But we can survive, moment by moment, and then capture peace... and share it.”
We all know the obvious “suck up” type. The obsequious, fawning sycophant who only gives the boss good news, is always complimentary, and who (probably) is disliked by everyone—including the boss. In real life, the distinction between “managing up” and “sucking up” is rarely that black-and-white. How can you be the kind of employee your boss wants and needs without simply slathering on empty praise? Hint: it’s all about honest communication. Listen in as my three leadership experts on this week’s panel share how they like to be “managed up to,” and how you can improve your relationship with your boss without becoming a shallow flunky.
We're in a difficult, stressful time in the world. That's why it's a good moment to go back and review Skip's interview with Amy Blankson, bestselling author of “The Future of Happiness.” One of the first guests on "Aim Higher," Amy teaches us how to achieve more happiness even in the midst of difficulty. She is a co-founder of the Digital Wellness Collective and most recently has shared her thought leadership as a speaker at TEDx and as a regular contributor for Forbes on Women, Technology, and Leadership, and as a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course.
Skip updates this season one episode with a reminder that self-awareness is key to leadership, to teams, success, and to good relationships. Because this subject is so important, he revisits the conversation he had with leadership experts Tammi Spayde, Drew Bordas, and Elyse Wampler as they discuss practical techniques for improving self-awareness.
As one of our regular panelists, Drew Bordas, reminds us this week, there is a wide range of “difficult people,” and a wide range for how to get along with them. On the one hand, it’s not worth confronting a family member with a slightly irritating habit whom you only see once a year. But if you work closely, every day, with someone whose attitude and habits are challenging? It’s better to deal with the situation than put up with behavior that could be damaging both to your well-being and team productivity. Our group of experts dissects a few tricky situations like this and points out some great ways to move forward constructively. If you know any difficult people – or maybe even are one yourself—I suggest you listen in.
Why do Americans work so hard, so long, and vacation so little? The health, creativity, social, and productivity benefits of time off are well documented. Yet many of us feel guilty for taking a day off here-and-there, to say nothing of a week or two. In this week’s episode, my expert guests talk about why we don’t take the vacation we need and provide some strategies for how to get better at doing so.
Nobody really enjoys conflict. But there are times it is unavoidable and even important. As a leader, you won’t be able to make positive changes, in many cases, without some conflict. But if you avoid conflict rather than dealing with it as a necessary part of business? You can make it much, much worse. My panel of leadership experts helps get to the root of problematic conflict this week, and we come to some conclusions that will help you turn conflict into contributions.
How do you define “leadership presence?” How can you tell from meeting someone, working with them, listening to them speak—this person is a great leader? Ask around (as I did) and I think you’ll find that there are many different definitions. Which is OK, because there are many kinds of successful leaders. But, as my panel of experts and I discussed, there are some very similar traits that seem to be common among great leaders. Listen in and see how you can apply their ideas to your own leadership journey.
Is fear always bad? How can we safely approach and examine our fears? Can fear be useful in the workplace? How should leaders deal with fear? These are some of the questions my panel of experts discussed this week. Our conclusion? That, as a leader, you have the power to recognize that fear is often based in reality, but then quickly apply yourself, and your team, to accomplishing something because of it. In short, don’t let fear rule your leadership style, but let it inform how you approach changes and challenges.
This week I had the pleasure of talking with John David Mann and Ana Gabriel Mann, MA, co-authors of, “The Go-Giver Marriage: A Little Story About the 5 Secrets to Lasting Love.” It’s a lovely, helpful book in two parts. First, a parable about a couple who learn all about the 5 secrets duringone day. Then “the practice,” a guidebook that walks us through how the secrets work and how to practice them in your relationship. We discussed their joint writing process, and how their work together actually illustrates some of the principles in the book. They have a lot of great advice that can help with all your relationships, not just a marriage, and I know you’ll enjoy listening in.
It’s one of the most stressful parts of work for many people—the interview process. And not just for the new hire! Finding, attracting, interviewing, and bringing on new team members is a crucial and challenging role for good managers and leaders. This week, my expert panel answers questions from our listeners about interview preparation, rehiring staff who’ve left, the importance of research, and even... what to do when a new employee's parent calls in with questions!
Have you ever had a boss who stresses you out? Do your ideas seem to fall on deaf ears? Or do you feel like you get blamed for things you didn’t do? Tune in to this week’s episode where we review questions from our listeners. My panel of business and HR experts helps unpack some tricky situations and provides insightful suggestions on how to move forward.
This week I got the chance to sit down with one of my favorite people, Becky Robinson, CEO of Weaving Influence. Her digital marketing agency partners with authors and other thought leaders to grow their influence online. She’s also the author of “Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message.” She shares some great advice on how to make sure that your online and offline brands are supporting each other in ways that are true to your values. If you’re looking to expand your digital presence, I highly recommend tuning in.
We can’t really escape stress. Even positive life events – weddings, a new job, new kids, travel – often cause “good stress.” But 8-out-of-10 people say that they experience stress regularly at work. That’s not the good kind. How can you, as a manager, help your team recognize, analyze, and deal with stress? This week on Aim Higher, my panel of leadership experts provides some excellent advice. They’ve got some tips on how to deal with your own stress, and how to lower the stress level for the people you manage, too.
Henry David Thoreau famously said, “Things do not change; we change.” Certainly, there are events and circumstances we can’t control. But as leaders, we must embrace the fact that change is not only inevitable—but often desirable. In fact, leadership is almost always about change: we don’t “lead” into areas we’re already familiar with. In this week’s podcast, my panel of experts reviews seven key change management skills I think are important for leaders to understand and master. If you want to do a better job leading and managing teams through tough—and exciting—changes, there’s some great ideas for you here.
What makes a smart leader? In this episode of “Aim Higher,” Skip sits down with Mark Miller, Chick-fil-A Vice President of High-Performance Leadership. Mark’s brand-new book, “Smart Leadership: Four Simple Choices to Scale Your Impact,” presents research-based “smart choices” that the best leaders make. In this fast-paced discussion, Skip and Mark talk about the “quicksand” that can encompass leaders unless they decide to make the decision to get out. Too many leaders flail around in the quicksand trying, impossibly, to swim in it. And many then fail. Find out what you can do as a leader to get smart, make better decisions, and transform your leadership.
This week, my panel of experts and I discuss how a negative attitude can impact your career, your coworkers--and even your lifespan! It’s well known that a consistent, negative attitude can create health problems. That holds true for organizations as well as individuals. What can you do to help “heal” a negative attitude in others or yourself? My guests bring some really great, practical suggestions for why, how, and when you can best achieve the leadership benefits of a more positive outlook.
As Peter Drucker said, “Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else.” In this episode of “Aim Higher,” my panel of business experts asks some tough questions for leaders at all stages of their careers. Are you more intentional about budgeting time than money? What would your “credit score” be for how you spend your time? How do you assess whether a future activity (especially a meeting) is a good investment of your time? What tools do you use to evaluate how well you’ve spent your time in the past? As always, my guests have some great advice on this absolutely critical leadership topic.
One of my favorite podcasts is Jeff Brown’s, “Read to Lead.” He’s been doing it for around eight years, and I’m so pleased that he’s taken the time to write a book of his own, all about the power of reading and lifelong learning. “Read to Lead: The Simple Habit that Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career” is a wonderful guide to better and more effective reading as part of your leadership discipline. I was excited to ask Jeff about his journey as a reader and how it led to a lifelong passion he’s now passionate about sharing. There are some great tips here for all of us.
Along with his panel of business experts, Skip confronts the top challenges waiting for leaders over the next year. While we’ve all made monumental shifts because of the pandemic, those changes aren’t done and neither are the ways we’re all reacting to them. Be a better leader by anticipating these challenges and confronting them directly. Because your biggest challenge may be keeping up your enthusiasm for the long haul.
It's been nearly two years of living and working in a world shaped by COVID-19. And I think we’re all beginning to see that some of the ways we’ve adapted to this environment will linger after the pandemic is in our rearview mirror. But is it all bad? Throughout history, shifts brought on by seismic world events have driven some very important, positive changes. Join my expert panel this week as we consider the ways COVID-19 has shaped current workforce realities, and how leaders will need to adjust in the future.
In this wrap-up panel episode of "Aim Higher," season three regulars Drew and Tammi join Skip to talk about some of their favorite moments from the past year. While they touch on a variety of high points, one theme becomes apparent: the importance of feedback and continuous communication. This, they agree, is vital for leaders to do themselves and emphasize with teams during the pandemic. They also hope you'll provide feedback on what you liked best about the podcast (and what can be improved!) so that when we come back next season, "Aim Higher" can provide even more value for you on your leadership journey.
I'm a huge fan of this week's guest on "Aim Higher," Joann Lublin. Her first book about women business leaders, "Earning It," had insights from 52 women executives, and her latest, just out in 2021, is "Power Moms: How Executive Mothers Navigate Work and Life." I've been reading Joann in the Wall Street Journal for years, as she created its first career advice column, which she wrote until May of 2020. And she shared a Pulitzer Prize at the Journal in 2003 for their work on corporate scandals. I've learned so much from her writing and I know you'll enjoy hearing from her in this episode as much as I did in our conversation.
On this episode of "Aim Higher," Skip speaks with longtime friend Kary Oberbrunner--author, coach, and speaker who helps people and organizations clarify who they are, why they're here, and where they're going so that they can share their message with the world. Skip and Kary delve into the topic of clarity and why it can be something people seemingly avoid, even while saying they value it so much. Why can clarity be so frightening, especially for leaders? Kary says it's because, "Once you have it, you're dissatisfied with anything less." This isn't a discussion for the faint of heart and it's not an easy topic. Come prepared to do some hard thinking.
In this episode, Skip talks with Scott McKain about his Forbes Top 10 Pick, "ICONIC: How Organizations and Leaders Attain, Sustain and Regain the Ultimate Level of Distinction." Scott is the author of four #1 business bestsellers on Amazon and has delivered over 2000 presentations in 36 countries. Their discussion about moving past distinction -- being top within your industry -- to becoming a true icon that stands out across categories is a must-hear conversation for leaders looking to stretch the boundaries of success.
Patrick Donadio, MBA, is a Certified Speaking Professional and Master Certified Coach who teaches others how to lead more effectively, communicate clearly, present more powerfully, and positively impact the lives of others. In this interview, Skip and Patrick break down some of the lessons from Patrick's book, “Communicating with IMPACT," a process he's developed to help leaders improve interpersonal and organizational communications skills. Listen in to learn how to be more focused and mindful about all your communications and reap some compelling leadership rewards.
In this episode of "Aim Higher," Skip talks with leadership development experts Karin Hurt and David Dye about their most recent book, "Courageous Cultures." In their first book, "Winning Well," they set the stage with lots of practical advice on creating a business while, as Karin says, "maintaining your soul." Their new book builds on that, helping leaders create a strategic framework to leverage your most important assets: employee knowledge and innovation. Why are your people holding back their best ideas? And what's preventing you from acting on them? Listen as Skip, Karin, and David ask -- and answer -- some tough questions about the benefits of creating courageous conversations with your employees.
When Skip was diagnosed with COVID-19, his initial thought as CEO was to be transparent about it to his team and employees. That was one thing he'd learned long ago: the importance of honesty in building bridges and maintaining clear communications. But throughout his illness and recovery, Skip also made discoveries about openness, appreciation, and vulnerability. This has been a challenging year for us all. But in the end, as Skip says, it offers us all lessons in shared humanity, because the whole world has been impacted. Listen in for some very personal, yet still practical thoughts on what leaders can take away from this difficult experience.
In the previous episode of "Aim Higher," Skip and his panel discussed how you can cultivate approachability as a leadership skill. In this follow-up, the group talks about why this is an absolute necessity for successful leaders. Ask yourself: why do you think a good leader needs to be approachable? Employee engagement? Transparency? Sharing ideas? Whatever your reason, Skip says -- and his leadership experts agree -- that it's all about building bridges. Listen in and renew your commitment to building a culture of approachability today.
Skip and his guests often discuss qualities of leadership that you can work on by yourself; organization, planning, delegation... even gratitude can be something you reflect on personally. The thing about approachability, though, is that it's entirely dependent on other people's perceptions. In this episode of "Aim Higher," Skip and his panel of leadership experts discuss ways that you can chip away at habits that might make you unapproachable, and then get proactive about this vital leadership component.
Legendary sports announcer and author Bob Rathbun has been observing successful athletes, coaches, teams, and leaders for decades. In this interview, Bob shares some great tips from his remarkable career on how to do well yourself and inspire others on their journeys. One of the most important things, Bob says, is to start with a dream... but then find someone who can teach you the steps. That way, once you make a decision, you can "be ready for what comes with it."
Most of us say we want to improve our performance, and most employees report that they want more feedback from their managers. But very few of us actually prepare for (or are trained in) how to receive feedback well. In this episode of "Aim Higher" Skip and his panel of leadership experts go over some lessons they've learned in how to be more effective "feedback takers." They also reflect on 7 tips Skip has for getting better at it yourself. Are you ready to get some feedback on your feedback skills?
As a leader or manager, you're going to be called on to give feedback more often than most people. How can you make sure that the critiques, comments, and assessments you provide to your team are helping them improve as much as possible? In this episode of "Aim Higher," Skip and his panel of leadership experts explore this vital skill and dig into some very necessary--and sometimes thorny--issues you'll need to address if you want to create a culture where sound, solid feedback is part of a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
What is a "performance culture" and how do you transform your organization to get there? In this episode of "Aim Higher," Skip and his expert panel take on that challenging subject and discuss Skip's "7 Steps for Creating a Performance Culture." From an initial definition, through the importance of communication and internal selling, all the way to celebration... the group brings their insights and real-world examples to this complex question. Listen in for some tips to get started today with your team.
Leadership, by definition, requires at least some minimal level of delegation. Yet we all know leaders who seem to feel as if their success is defined not by how well their team or organization does as a whole, but by their own individual performance. That's an obvious failure of both leadership and delegation. In this episode of "Aim Higher," Skip and his panel take you through his "7 Rules for Successful Delegation." It's a no-nonsense look at a tricky skill set that can mean the difference between being a truly successful leader and a mediocre micromanager. Listen in for some unique tips and down-to-earth wisdom.
How, as a leader, do you model the benefits of self-confidence without falling into the trap of arrogance? In this episode of "Aim Higher," Skip sits down with his panel of experts to discuss the importance of self-confidence to leaders, both in terms of their own work, and as a leadership skill itself. As Skip says, "Confidence sweeps people to you, arrogance drives people away." Listen closely for some great tips on how culture, gender, body-language, health, and even vocal tone can affect self-confidence and make a difference in your leadership style.
The COVID-19 crisis has touched every aspect of our personal and professional lives, and leaders are certainly not exempt. How are you helping your team cope? And how are you taking care of yourself during this difficult time? Join Skip and his panel of experts as they discuss key aspects of leadership during this unique era, including stress, trust, vulnerability, and the role of technology. They all touch on some aspect of how COVID-19 has affected their own lives, while also providing specific recommendations for how you can lead yourself, and your teams, through this pandemic and come out the other side stronger and more resilient.
Our panel of executive experts discuss Skip's most recent interview with John Baldoni and dig deeper into "leading with grace".
In many areas of life -- business, politics, finance -- we think of power as a "zero sum game." If one person or side has it, the other doesn't. My guest on this week's episode of "Aim Higher," John Baldoni, turns that assumption on its head, with a philosophy of leadership based on grace: the idea that doing something for others and for the greater good can result in better outcomes for everyone. While it's obviously a theory rooted in ethics, it's also surprisingly efficient, especially as a leadership model. Why? Because when leaders model behavior that's good for others, that creates an environment that's good for the company, shareholders, and customers. Listen in, as John and I discuss some very practical ideas that start from a place in the heart.
In this episode of "Aim Higher," Skip and his panel of leadership experts discuss the importance of gratitude. We know that gratitude can be great for us at a personal level: lowering blood-pressure, reducing stress, calming tension, and improving personal relationships. But Skip points out that effective leaders practice gratitude intentionally. While saying, "Thank you" and providing end-of-project kudos are important, leaders need to cultivate both a personal awareness of gratitude as a leadership quality, and to encourage a leadership culture among all employees. As always, Skip's guests share real-world examples and tips to help you put their ideas into practice. Listen in... you'll be grateful for their thoughts.
Our panel of executive experts discuss Skip's most recent interview with Kary Oberbrunner and dig deeper on the idea of making your brain unhackable.
We spend a lot of time, money, and effort on keeping our computers, bank accounts and even our phones from being hacked by malicious actors. But this week on "Aim Higher," I talk to my good friend Kary Oberbrunner about a type of hacking that's even more important and more insidious: the hacking of our brains. A computer hack is simply "unauthorized access" to your systems. Have you asked yourself, though, "To whom and what do I give access to my thoughts and attention?" Are you deliberate and careful about that? Kary's new book, "Unhackable" provides a great blueprint for taking back your attention and intentions and creating a mindset for success. Listen in as we discuss this important topic.
Our panel of executive experts discuss Skip's most recent interview with Jason Dorsey and dig deeper on the subject of generational context.
Every generation has its strengths--and the role of leaders working with diverse generations is to leverage those strengths, make space for them to build bridges and engage with each other. That's the main message from Jason Dorsey, generation expert, author, and research guru. In this episode of "Aim Higher," Jason and I talk about how every generation has something to offer your business... if you take the time to learn from them. And since he's the foremost researcher on Gen Z, I know you'll want to hear what he has to say about this cohort who, at ages 16-24, are just now starting to enter the labor pool in full force.
In this last session of the season, as I sat down with two of my regular “Aim Higher” guests—Tammi Spayde and Drew Bordas—we realized how many of my guests noted that excellence is more about sustained, steady growth than any single, massive change. My hope is that, during this challenging year, our podcasts have been part of your ongoing, weekly commitment to rising above mediocrity. That whether it’s in your person life, your career or your leadership journey, you’ve enjoyed the challenge to “aim higher” as much as I have. Stay safe, and I hope you’ll join us next season.
In this episode of “Aim Higher,” my panel guests and I discuss a previous interview I did with golf legend Annika Sörenstam. She shares two ideas that are important for both individual accomplishment and success as a leader. The first has to do with how a simple phrase, shared at a key moment while she was very young, made a huge impact on her attitude. And the second is about how she overcame a fear— totally unrelated to the game of golf! —that might have derailed one of the greatest athletes the sport has ever seen. Please join Drew, Tammi and me as we talk about how you can use what Annika learned in her extraordinary career to help in your leadership journey.
Many successful people start from humble beginnings. But country music star Jimmy Wayne’s early life can only be described as horrific. As a child he was abused, abandoned and caught up in a foster care system that did him more harm than good. On this episode of “Aim Higher,” Jimmy and I talk about how these experiences shaped both his music and writing careers and his desire to raise awareness about foster kids—since the elderly couple who finally fostered him provided him the chance to complete his education. In his bestselling book, “Walk to Beautiful,” Jimmy says that his foster mom “changed every cell in my body.” His story inspired me, and I think it will inspire you, too.
Very few people have done as much speaking and writing on the topic of leadership as my friend and guest on this episode of “Aim Higher.” Mark Sanborn has written 8 books, one of which, “The Fred Factor,” has sold over 2 million copies. He’s been ranked the #5 leadership expert in the world by GlobalGurus.org and I always learn something new from him whenever we get together. Mark shares a number of great points in this discussion. One all leaders need to take to heart is the ability to turn customer service failures into fantastic recoveries. He and I agree that you never get a better chance to impress a customer as when you respond to a problem. Listen to what Mark has to say on this vital subject.
On this episode of “Aim Higher,” I talk with Eric Zimmer, a behavior coach, podcast host and author who came back from being a homeless heroin addict to build a successful career and an extraordinary life. He and I discuss how some of our most important changes start with small, measured steps and daily habits rather than trying to “do it all at once.” That way, we can have a little success, build on it… and move forward. He uses the board game “Risk” as a metaphor to make this point, and it’s a great way of thinking about personal change. I very much enjoyed our talk, and I think you will, too.
On this episode of “Aim Higher,” Skip talks with author and career advisor Steve Herz about three keys to becoming a powerful connector: authority, warmth and energy. Steve is President of The Montag Group, a sports and entertainment talent and marketing consultancy. Skip makes the important point that while connecting to others is incredibly important in our careers, it’s not really taught in college or business school. Steve agrees! And his book, “Don’t Take Yes for and Answer,” seeks to help fill that gap. Listen in as Skip and Steve talk about some ways that you can use authority, warmth and energy to help increase your ability to connect and succeed.
For 25 years, Tom Ziglar was CEO of the company that existed, in his words, "to put dad on the stage." His dad -- world famous author, speaker and motivational trainer, Zig Ziglar -- trusted Tom to take care of the business and "create the platform" for the company's success. But in this episode of "Aim Higher," Tom tells Skip how he set out on his own leadership journey, found his own unique speaking style, stopped reading others' leadership books... and emerged with a simple, yet compelling formula for success. Listen in on a frank, friendly conversation between two master storytellers who discuss how choosing to win, one choice at a time, truly can make all the difference.
This week on “Aim Higher,” Skip’s panel focuses on the importance of physical health and wellness for leaders. Are you eating right? Exercising regularly? Getting enough sleep? In the words of Skip’s regular guest, Drew Bordas, “Working out helps me be the best version of myself as a leader.” Listen in as the panel goes over some simple steps for setting goals, staying on track and getting healthier.
What does it really mean to be a mentor? Or be mentored? In this episode of “Aim Higher,” Skip’s panel gets into some great details and specific recommendations that are often overlooked. If you want to find a great mentor, be a better mentor, or develop a successful mentoring program for your workplace, you owe it to yourself to listen in.
This week on “Aim Higher,” I share my conversation with NBA All-Star Mark Eaton about what makes a winning team. After a 12-year basketball career filled with awards and records, Mark pivoted to share the lessons he’s learned through motivational speaking and his book, “The Four Commitments of a Winning Team.” The book is so packed with great advice that I actually read it twice, and I was intrigued by his personal story as much as his principles for teambuilding. During our talk, Mark shares the path he took from auto mechanic to professional basketball player, his struggle with fitting in due to his height, and the life-changing advice he got from Wilt Chamberlin. And we discuss ways that you can learn from his life experience to lead your own winning teams.
This week on “Aim Higher,” I got the chance to sit down and talk with Dr. Max McKeown, author of “The Strategy Book.” Dr. Max, as he’s sometimes called, is also a researcher on culture and behavioral science, and he’s written several other books including “NOW: The Life Changing Psychology of Always Moving Forward,” “The Innovation Book,” and “Adaptability: The Art of Winning.” Max and I spoke primarily about what distinguishes his book – and my ideas about practical strategy – from a lot of writing and teaching about strategy from a kind of “theoretical, MBA” kind of standpoint. We agree that strategic leadership needs to make things happen, and it needs to engage with as many people on your team and in your organization as possible. As Max says, “Strategy is not a solo sport.” He’s got a lot of specific, actionable ideas in his book, and in our talk, for you to take back for your own leadership notes on building successful strategies.
This week on “Aim Higher,” Skip and his panel take on the topic of leading remotely, which many managers and executives are dealing with for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What steps can you take to be more effective as a remote leader? Skip, Tammi and Drew have some good, solid advice and, as always, some personal anecdotes to share as well.
In this episode of “Aim Higher,” Skip and his panel of experts discuss some of what they’ve learned during the first two months of providing leadership during the time of COVID-19. While they agree that “everything has changed,” they also agree that some core principles of leadership remain more important than ever. Tune in to hear their thoughts and see if you agree.
This week on “Aim Higher,” I had the chance to sit down with longtime friend Shep Hyken, a man who is a legend in the field of customer service research and training. Shep is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and has also been inducted into the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame. We talked about his book, “The Cult of the Customer,” and how it fits in with his overall work on creating amazing experiences for customers. Shep has a great passion for keeping the customer at the center of every business discussion, and that holds true for leaders looking to improve their performance, of course. He shared some great, practical suggestions that you can use every day, and I think you’ll really enjoy what he has to say.
On a recent trip to Nashville, I got a chance to sit down for a great talk with my friend Rory Vaden. He invited me into his home for our discussion, which is a great metaphor for something he and I both believe and teach—that people inherently want to do business with people, not companies. We want real, personal relationships not just business contacts. He’s a living example of that ideal, and it was great to catch up with him and get his thoughts on personal branding, which he summarizes as “the digitization of reputation.” Along with his wife, AJ Vaden, Rory is co-founder of Brand Builders Group, a leader in the study of reputation management. Rory’s team works with entertainers, influencers and entrepreneurs to find their true voices, and become the kind of people that, as he says, “everyone wants to do business with.” If you’re looking to improve your personal brand, you couldn’t spend a better 30 minutes than listening in.
Talk about a jack-of-all-trades. This week on “Aim Higher,” I sat down with James Altucher. James is a stock trader, investor, writer, and entrepreneur. He’s worked for Showtime and HBO and newspapers. He owns a comedy club and he’s been a stand-up comedian himself. He’s a chess master. What’s the one thing that ties it all together? James says, “I focus on what I love doing, and make sure the idea is sustainable.” That’s it. And to do that, he told me that he takes many small, survivable risks. He describes risks as “the wall between the comfort zone and success.” Risk feels uncomfortable, he told me, because we can sense that there are failures on the other side of that wall. But that’s why success is there, too—because it’s not a crowded place. I’m grateful for having had such a wide-ranging conversation with James. In fact, we discussed gratitude and how we need to set ourselves “difficult gratitude problems” in order to build a capacity for more gratitude. James has a unique, powerful and always helpful view on leadership and life. Listen in. You won’t be disappointed.
This week on “Aim Higher,” my panel and I discuss the importance of resilience, both as a personal quality and for leaders. Personally, of course, we all need to be able to bounce back from life’s hardships. For leaders, though, it’s especially important to be able to find a balance between minimizing losses– sugarcoating a bad situation, as we say—and allowing a setback to turn into a disaster. Establishing a “resilience equilibrium” is a major factor for successful leaders, and my guests have some great thoughts on how you can find yours.
In this week’s episode of “Aim Higher,” I sit down with my panel of experts and we tackle the tough issue of leadership during a time of crisis. It’s not a topic that anyone really wants to talk about ahead-of-time. But if you leave it until the crisis hits? It’s too late. As we all deal with the many serious implications of the COVID-19 crisis, leaders in particular are looking for ways to help guide their organizations through this time of uncertainty and rapid change. My guests, as usual, have some helpful, practical advice for you to take back to your team.
On this week’s episode of “Aim Higher,” my panel of experts answers three “mail bag” questions from our listeners. We tackle the issue of a self-described “non team player” who tries to sharpen those skills but hits a roadblock. We hear from a new mom who is challenged by a boss who expects more late-night work than fits into a reasonable schedule. And, last, we take a look at the really interesting situation of someone who gets their dream promotion… only to find it may be a nightmare. As always, Tammi Spayde, Drew Bordas and Rebekah Kilzer provide great insight from a variety of perspectives. Have a listen.
I’ve known Michael Hyatt for years, have interviewed him before, and have written for his blog several times. It’s always a pleasure to sit down for a conversation with him, and this week on “Aim Higher” is no exception. Michael really differentiates between the idea of “having a vision” as a kind of nebulous, nice-sounding concept vs. a useful, real-world tool for guiding your organization. As a fellow fan of practical guidance and advice, I very much appreciated his thoughts on this topic, and I think you will, too.
How can you master your personal energy, presence and intention? Anese Cavanaugh, author of “Contagious You” and Skip’s guest on this week’s “Aim Higher,” suggests that the “how” may not be as important as the “when.” And the when is always… now. It is always the moment to start. Take a breath. Examine how you feel. What intentions are you brining into the room you’re in right now and to your leadership journey. Because that energy is going to be what is contagious about you. Skip and Anese talk about how leaders who are conscious of that energy can then take command of themselves and make much more of an impact. That’s what it means to be positively contagious. If you listen, you’ll get some good, practical advice on how to start with your inner game – taking care of your health, your self-talk, your self-kindness – and then move outward to being “positively contagious” towards others.
My guest for this episode of “Aim Higher” is Bruce Daisley, Twitter Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa. He joined the company in 2012 having previously run YouTube UK at Google. Bruce is the author of a terrific new book, “Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat: 30 Hacks for Bringing Joy to Your Job.” I also highly recommend his previous book, “The Joy of Work.” Bruce has so many good ideas about how we can get away from the toxic treadmill of “more hours = more productivity.” He calls that mindset a “superhighway to burnout.” Part of the problem, he says, comes from leaders themselves, who claim that their secret to success is working 60, 80 even 120 hours a week. That’s just not possible for most people… and is actually counterproductive for almost everyone. I hope you’ll listen as we discuss the importance of sleep, how the “default mind mode” of boredom and relaxation can be our best creativity booster, the importance of building teams from the ground-up, and how to get back to the “magical creative version of ourselves” that existed before work environments began demanding so much of our time.
This week on “Aim Higher” my guests and I discuss the power of focus. So many people try to do too much all at once… and end up getting nothing done at all. The cure for that is an improved focus… on focus. In this episode I’m thrilled to welcome back to the studio Tammi Spayde, Drew Bordas and Rebekah Kilzer, and they each have some great advice on this important topic. What we agreed on was that, for us, improving our focus came down to three specific areas: eliminating distractions, remembering to focus on people as well as productivity, and the ability to shift focus as priorities and situations change. As always, we shared some humor as well as some very practical, day-to-day advice. So put down your second and third screens, and focus on this week’s “Aim Higher.”
Welcome to season two of “Aim Higher!” Our goals with this podcast are to help you tip the scale towards positive thinking and propel you towards greater success as a leader and in every aspect of your life. We’ll cover topics like focus, handling stress, getting more business, setting boundaries, wellness… and more. I’ll share the wisdom of great guests like serial entrepreneur James Altucher, wellness and leadership expert Anese Cavanaugh and Twitter vice-president Bruce Daisley. And we’ve got a mailbag section where we’ll take your questions from Facebook, at SkipPrichard.com, or anywhere where you can contact me—don’t be shy! I really hope to hear from you. And I hope you’ll join us for season two of “Aim Higher.”
This week on Aim Higher, Skip talks to author and researcher Tom Rath, who has spent more than 20 years studying how work can improve human health and wellbeing. His latest book, “Life’s Great Question: Discover How You Contribute to the World,” addresses a new way of thinking about the contributions we make through our life’s work. Skip asks Tom some important questions about how to change from a self-focus to an other-focus mindset. Tom’s answer? Think about how your talents can be applied to have a positive impact and influence on others—on what the world needs, more than what you think you want. It’s a powerful conversation: not just for leaders, but for anyone looking to find more meaning in their work.
Over the past few months, Skip and his guests have explored “The Nine Traits of Servant Leaders.” This week on “Aim Higher” they review the most important moments of the series, focusing on details, stories and advice that can really make a difference in your servant leadership journey. Don’t worry about “spoilers” here: if you’re new to the series, this is actually a great place to start. Then return to the first episode and follow along as this group of experts unlock the tools you need to become a truly effective servant leader relying not on “positional” but “personal power.”
William James, often cited as the “Father of American Psychology,” brings us today’s Wednesday Wisdom: “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” As a leader seeking to “Aim Higher,” I’d like you to flip that around, and think about it from other people’s point-of-view. What do you do to show appreciation and send it out into the world? Every day, try to start a note or an email with, “Thank you for….” and go from there. Be a person who gives appreciation freely, and it will make a huge difference in the lives of people you interact with, and I promise it will come back to you.
What one trait of servant leadership is absolutely crucial to the other eight? Humility. And in this episode of Aim Higher, Skip and his panel talk about why that is. In a nutshell, it’s because humble leaders understand that their ideas, goals, strengths and concerns aren’t the only ones that go into the mix of a high-performing team. In fact, when leaders aren’t humble – when they’re arrogant or proud – they shut down the traits that make for the strongest teams: creativity, good worth ethic, entrepreneurship, selflessness. Because a leader who takes all the credit and only thinks of his or herself won’t inspire great performances in others, only the bare minimum. How do you model humility for your team? Skip, Tammi, Drew and Jenifer have some great, practical advice.
Today’s “Wednesday Wisdom” comes from my friend Bob Burg. He’s a wonderful speaker and a great writer, author of “The Go-Giver,” book series, rated #10 on Inc. Magazine’s list of the “Most Motivational Books Ever Written.” Bob says, “The single greatest people skill is a highly-developed and authentic interest in the other person.” Such a great quote. Let me ask you: what does it take to be interested in another person? I’d say it’s valuing other people, judging less, understanding more. When you’re interested in others, you’re curious, caring, and supportive. And I love that he says this trait can be “highly-developed,” because this means it’s a skill and can be worked on. You need to be conscious of it and make an effort. Ask people, “Tell me more.” Make your interest in others a daily discipline. The second part of this important rule is that it must be authentic; it has to be sincere and from the heart. This isn’t a sales tactic. It has to be something you do because you believe. I recommend you put this quote from Bob on a piece of paper and leave it somewhere you’ll see it every day as a reminder.
In this episode of Aim Higher, Skip interviews Patty McCord, former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix. While there, she created and continuously updated what has become a famous presentation about Netflix culture called “Freedom and Responsibility.” She wrote a book about that experience, “Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility,” and discusses with Skip some of the most important lessons she learned at Netflix, and in the seven years since she left. Many of which can be summed up in her algorithm for success: “Is what you love to do—that you’re extraordinarily good at doing—something this company needs someone to be great at?” She and Skip touch on some tough subjects, including how to approach radical honesty with grace, incorporate listening into leadership and how doing hard things is often more important than being happy at work.
We’re looking to Scott McKain, a personal friend of mine and wonderful author, for today’s “Wednesday Wisdom.” Scott says, “Make the customer the star of the show,” and I think that’s a fantastic way to focus your energy. Who’s the star of your show? Your showroom? Your product? You? Maybe shift that thinking. People love to talk about themselves… Give them the chance, and they’ll remember the conversation much more positively!
In this episode of Aim Higher, Skip and his panel discuss the benefits of long-term thinking, the 8th of 9 traits of servant leaders. While any leader must acknowledge the importance of short-term goals, Skip emphasizes that you can’t simply forget about long-term thinking if you want to be a great leader. If you do? You’ll find yourself spinning out-of-control, following yearly, quarterly and even daily routines with no way to tell if you’re making any true progress. Worse, the people you’re trying to lead won’t have a firm grasp of your organization’s direction. This powerful mindset has implications for hiring, investment, training and other aspects of leadership, and Skip’s guests take us through some great ideas of how to apply long-term thinking to your leadership journey.
Today’s “Wednesday Wisdom” comes from Max DePree, who said, “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant.” Leaders, I’ve found are often good at the first and last. Having a vision is often what inspires us to become leaders. After we achieve our goals? If we’re any kind of a decent person, we will take time for gratitude. But as I speak and write about all the time, it’s that in-between time that really makes great leaders. The servant leader’s reality is defined every day, and that leads to multiple rewards.
In this episode of Aim Higher, Skip interviews Paul Smith, one of the world’s leading experts in business storytelling. Paul was one of “Inc. Magazine’s” Top 100 Leadership Speakers of 2018. He’s a storytelling coach, and he shares with Skip some of the secrets from his new book, “The 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell.” Paul explains that we don’t make most of our decisions entirely logically; we make them in our subconscious and then we rationalize them. To influence people, we need to reach them at both levels, and good storytelling does that. He and Skip talk through several of the most important stories that great leaders should master, including “Where We Came From” (A Founding Story), “Why We Can’t Stay Here” (A Case-for-Change) and “Why You Should Want to Work Here” (A Recruiting Story). In the end, Skip and Paul agree… storytelling is a critical skill for leaders, and if you want to be good at it you can’t just “wing it.” You need to learn from an expert, and masters of the art – like Paul and Skip – can help.
This week’s “Wednesday Wisdom” quote comes from John Patrick, an early internet pioneer, a former IBM executive, and a friend and colleague of Skip’s. John is the author of a series of “Attitude” books, the latest of which is, “Robot Attitude.” John says, “Think big, act bold, start simple.” Skip walks through this great quote and reflects on some personal stories that speak to these simple, yet important ideals.
In this episode of “Aim Higher,” Skip and his panel discuss how servant leaders think: “you, not me.” This is the 7th of 9 traits of servant leaders, and it helps bring about a culture of empowerment. This week, Skip is joined by his regular contributors Drew Bordas and Tammi Spayde, and first time panelist Rebekah Kilzer, a leader in information technology and learning. While it may seem obvious that a servant leader “puts others first,” Skip and his guests put that assumption to the test. They discuss how true servant leaders influence through service rather than position, while still maintaining a balance of self-care and planning.
In today’s “Wednesday Wisdom” Skip quotes the Australian poet Erin Hanson, who wrote, when quiet young, “What if I fall? Oh but my darling, what if you fly?” Skip reminds us that all growth takes place outside of our comfort zone. Watching birds, we know this. They move out of the nest—sometimes with a push from mama bird!—and learn that by flapping hard, they cushion a fall. And then, they learn to fly. Our best success, likewise, often requires that we conquer our fears and take a leap today.
Over the past few decades, “authoritarian” style leadership – boss commands, workers obey – has, thankfully, been going out of style. Remnants of that behavior, though, still remain in many companies and for many leaders, especially in times of stress and for many people new to their leadership roles. In this episode of “Aim Higher,” Skip and his panel discuss how servant leaders get more from their teams by “selling the why” behind ideas, rather than just “telling people what” to do.
Today’s “Wednesday Wisdom” comes from Bruce Lee: “The successful warrior is the average man with a laser-like focus.” How do we go from average or mediocre to successful? Skip says that daily discipline can make all the difference. Have a picture of what success looks like for you, and make small steps, every day, towards that goal. That kind of laser-like focus on your dream is what it takes.
In discussing the 5th of 9 traits of servant leaders, Skip and his panel remark on how we live in an “encouragement desert.” Even if we were to give 6-9 times more encouragement, research tells us that it still wouldn’t be enough to fill the need we have to hear that we are worthy and valuable. How can you, as a leader, develop the habits – and a culture – of encouragement? Listen and find out.
Today’s “Wednesday Wisdom” comes from legendary basketball coach, John Wooden: “Reputation is what you are perceived to be, character is what you really are.” Skip talks about how, while many of us think that our character is something fixed and permanent, it really isn’t! You can work your reputation, and you can also take control of your character. They’re both important! Find out how, and start today.
In this, the 4th of 9 panel discussions about the traits of servant leaders, Skip and his panel talk about how important it is for leaders to recognize “the whole person.” Because even at work (perhaps especially at work), we’re not just workers. As Skip points out, we are more than “human capital” or other degrading terms like “head-count” or “warm bodies.” Servant leaders recognize that the best leaders respect, trust and care for the whole person. Listen for some good tips on how to do just that, while still respecting some important boundaries.
Today’s “Wednesday Wisdom” comes from Eleanor Roosevelt: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Belief is foundational to everything we do. It’s the power that connects our dreams, which may feel unreal, to a future in which we do what it takes to make them happen.
Tim Sanders is a tech pioneer, NYT best-selling author and the former Chief Solutions Officer of Yahoo! In this interview with Skip, he shares the three keys to creating a sales leadership mindset. First, be intensely curious. Second, commit to delivering value with every interaction. Third, answer every question with a “Yes!” Tim also talks about the value of diversity of thought, and why “four is the magic number” when you’re looking for diverse perspectives.
In this, the 3rd of 9 panel discussions about the traits of servant leaders, Skip and his three guests talk about how true leaders don’t just lead—they build up other leaders. Why spend time training others to lead? Because the only other option is to be, as Skip puts it, a “superhuman leader” yourself. That’s bad for several reasons. First, it puts all the pressure on you, leaving no room for error. Second, it provides no growth for new leaders. And lastly, it means that your organization won’t benefit from other leadership styles. The panel goes on to provide some great, actionable tips on how to help “lead leaders” within your team.
Amy Blankson is bestselling author of “The Future of Happiness.” A graduate of Harvard and Yale, she focuses on how to achieve happiness in a digital era. She is a co-founder of the Digital Wellness Collective and most recently has shared her thought leadership as a speaker at TEDx and as a regular contributor for Forbes on Women, Technology, and Leadership, and as a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course. She and Skip discuss how leaders can use technology to help improve happiness outcomes for their teams, and for themselves.
In this, the 2nd of 9 discussions about the traits of servant leaders, Skip and his panel talk about the importance of building a culture of trust. The conversation touches on the components of trust and how you can quickly identify which cultures are based on trust… and which are based on fear. Why worry about trust? Because, as panelist Drew Bordas puts it, “Trust gives you a shortcut to efficiency.”
A servant leader is not one who does all the work or who is mild and easily swayed. Servant leaders provide strong guidance and direction by understanding what motivates customers, employees and shareholders. In the first of nine parts on this topic, Skip and his panel discuss how valuing diverse opinions is absolutely mandatory for a successful leader.
In one of the most personal and wide-ranging interviews he’s done, Skip talks with former Dollar General CEO Cal Turner, Jr. Under Turner’s leadership, this global powerhouse grew to 14,000 stores and over $20 billion in sales each year. He’s a servant leadership expert who talks frankly about succession planning and the value of empowering others to set their own goals. And he shares personal stories about his inspirational journey, including one about how he learned everything he needed to know about leadership... from two very different piano teachers.
In this episode, Skip and his panel discuss the ways in which courage is necessary for successful leaders and successful organizations. Tammi Spayde (Expert in Human Resources and Marketing), Drew Bordas, (Operations Expert and Customer Service Leader) and Elyse Wampler (Leadership Trainer) discuss the ways that leaders can inspire courage in others and find it within themselves. They share some tips on how seemingly mundane activities—like feedback and reviews—can hinge on how courage is supported or punished within your organization. You may, personally, be quite brave—but are you willing to take the risks necessary to motivate courage across your whole organization?
In this episode, Skip responds to comments and questions from as far away as Dublin, Ireland. The episode on self-awareness resonated strongly with several listeners on a couple levels. For one, it was a question about how to help someone else be more self-aware. To which Skip replies... focus on your best-self, first. Other listeners commented on the power of the question “what brings you joy?” and asked... how many questions are too many in a self-assessment? Skip covers a lot of ground quickly... so buckle up!
In this interview with Maureen Metcalf, CEO of the Innovative Leadership Institute, Skip Prichard discusses her company’s approach to succeeding in a world where the workplace is changing very rapidly. In her “Innovative Leadership Handbook,” Maureen says that when you look at the stresses that businesses are facing, ideals of leadership really have to change. What’s the answer? She and Skip discuss how authenticity and openness are the key to leadership success in today’s new workplace.
July 24th marks the anniversary of Apollo 11 astronauts returning safely to earth after successfully landing and walking on the moon. In today's quick-hit bonus episode of Aim Higher, Skip discusses how President John F. Kennedy's famous "moonshot" speech that lead to that historical moment uses attributes of classic goal setting by a leader.
“I believe that this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.”
It was specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. Skip explains why the seven most important words that President Kennedy uses in his famed speech are often overlooked.
What one thing can you do to guarantee failure? Destroy the trust of the people who rely on you. Sometimes the key to getting better at something is first understanding how people fail at it. Skip and his guests—Tammi Spayde (Expert in Human Resources and Marketing), Drew Bordas, (Operations Expert and Customer Service Leader) and Bruce Rhoades, CEO and Strategic Business Adviser—talk through an insightful list of ways in which leaders destroy trust among their teams. Listen carefully… are you making any of these major mistakes? The panel also discusses how we can rebuild trust after a bad situation.
Cameron Mitchell sits down with Skip to discuss his “people first” model for leadership. A highly-successful, serial restaurant entrepreneur, Mitchell goes into detail about how acknowledging and learning from mistakes is an important ingredient to creating and leading an exceptional enterprise. It’s a values-based leadership success story with some important lessons for anyone seeking to rise above their competition. His “milkshake story” is also a great model for how to quickly encapsulate your personal leadership vision into a compelling, easily relatable story.
In the last episode, Skip and his panel talked about how important it is for leaders to ask great questions. In this quick-hit bonus episode, Skip points out that asking great questions of yourself is important across all fields of endeavor. Do you have a list of questions that you ask yourself regularly? Not just about work, but about your health, home life, spiritual journey and creative outlets? If you don’t… you should! Take five minutes and get some quick, practical tips for great questions you can ask yourself that will help you aim higher and achieve more.
Across several dimensions, all of today’s panelists agree that asking questions is a key skill needed by great leaders. Tammi Spayde (Expert in Human Resources and Marketing), Drew Bordas (Operations Expert and Customer Service Leader) and Bruce Rhoades, CEO and Strategic Business Adviser join Skip to talk about both the practical and personal benefits of asking questions. They touch on using questions to clarify strategy, to identify areas of expertise, to strengthen ties within a group and to build confidence.
Richard Sheridan is CEO & Chief Storyteller of the award-winning software development company, Menlo Innovations. He is also author of “Chief Joy Officer,” a book about human-centered values. In this interview, Skip and Richard discuss how authenticity is the key to developing connections between leaders and teams. They also discuss the need to pass along leadership skills, and how teaching became a key part of Richard’s leadership vision.
Doing what you say you’ll do is critical to leadership and success. In this episode, Skip is joined by Tammi Spayde (Expert in Human Resources and Marketing), Drew Bordas, (Operations Expert and Customer Service Leader) and Elyse Wampler (Leadership Trainer). They all agree that if you can’t be trusted to follow-through on even the small things, why would anyone believe you’ll be dependable on larger issues? With some specific techniques on how you can improve your own performance in this area, their discussion is a great reminder of why personal accountability—while often overlooked—is a critical capacity for leaders.
In this interview with author and former Starbucks President Howard Behar, Skip asks, “What’s the most important ingredient when creating a successful coffee empire?” Howard says that it’s not, in fact, making a great cup of coffee. First comes people. Then performance. Then the coffee. Putting people first and defining the purpose of the organization are the keys to his highly successful leadership style.
In this panel discussion, Skip leads a conversation about the importance of self-awareness to any personal success journey. For this topic, Skip is joined by Tammi Spayde (Expert in Human Resources and Marketing), Drew Bordas, (Operations Expert and Customer Service Leader) and Elyse Wampler (Leadership Trainer). They discuss some practical techniques for improving how you can learn about yourself—and motivate your coworkers to do the same. Self-awareness, they agree, is a key factor for leaders to build in their teams. Because it leads to trust, which allows colleagues to play to their strengths and not be afraid to acknowledge areas where growth is needed.
How can we rethink… the way we think about success? Skip Prichard introduces his new podcast, “Aim Higher,” which will offer advice, discussions, techniques and tips to help you reach your full potential. Skip is a leadership blogger who has interviewed more than 1,000 business, political, entertainment and sports leaders. He is the CEO of a global non-profit. And he is author of the recent bestseller, “The Book of Mistakes: Nine Secrets to Creating a Successful Future.” Join Skip as he explores creative and surprising ways to “aim higher” in your own leadership journey.