Enlightened Executive Podcast

Leaders like to be in complete control. Every action you take is toward a tangible goal. When you cannot see the way forward, you step back and reassess where you veered off the path. But often we focus too quickly on “the how.” What happens when you start to ask why?

What skills are most important in being an effective leader? Is it the ability to inspire? The ability to be innovative or master strategic decision making? Jim Hotaling believes that while all these attributes matter greatly, they’re nothing without the skill of resilience.

The only true power you have isn’t changing others; it’s shifting how you show up as a leader. That shift starts with music… and updating your soon-to-be old playlist. Music can do more than soothe you; music has the power to heal your trauma and allow you to triumph.

Michael Jackson said it best: “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change.” Are you curious about the playlist you currently have running in the background of your mind, and you’re perhaps starting to wonder how to change that playlist?

There is no denying that music has the power to transform us. We often listen to music that matches our emotional state, but can we also leverage music to alter our state to the level of happiness we seek? And can we get our newfound happiness to stick? Yes we can!

Early childhood experiences can impact how we currently interact with others, particularly in stressful situations. The reality is, your wounds and habits, if not addressed, will become exposed while you try to run the marathon of scaling an organization.

What if I told you, that regardless of your age or experience, the impact that you have as a leader is limited by an internal story, that replays itself over and over in the background of your life? That story is a repeating record, imprinted with a playlist of songs, and it influences everything you do.

Is your team overwhelmed by the pace of change? Are you feeling a sense of burn out? Or maybe you feel that you can’t delegate or trust your team to deliver. The impact of your current playlist shows up in many insidious ways. But in this episode we discuss a way to change that. 

How do you accelerate change? We all have this playlist running in the background of our lives that—whether we know it or not—acts as a ceiling on our leadership effectiveness. And the good news is you can change it. I’ll show you how in my upcoming book, The Leader’s Playlist.

Leadership looks pretty nice for the Tim Cook and Warren Buffetts of the world. They’re widely recognized for their contributions, and by every account, they’ve attained success. But what about the leaders climbing the ladder and making a conscious impact away from the public eye? 

As you rise through the ranks of leadership, experiencing setbacks and failure is inevitable. But as many successful leaders will share, what we often judge as failures are merely opportunities to grow and learn. How you respond to the tests you face will make the difference.

As leaders, we’re taught that our opinions and feedback drive our business’s success. That we must be at the head of all decision-making and take a stead-fast and assertive approach to our teams in the way we motivate them. But what if we were to turn that on its head? 

Deep tech can only be created when we are deeply human. Ready or not, web 3.0 is upon us. With it brings a new network of virtual worlds focused on social connection. So, how will this change the way we do business and how can we, as leaders, prepare ourselves?

As leaders, it’s natural to strive for excellence. If something is broken, you want to fix it. Should you just leverage your strengths or work on your weaknesses?
Rather than worry about weaknesses, David Rendall believes leaders must lean into personal strengths. 

The next thirty years will bring advancements we can’t imagine. From augmented reality and the metaverse to enhancements in technology and automation, the sky isn’t the limit anymore. Whether we like it or not, the world continues to change. So how can you prepare yourself?

Most executives and entrepreneurs look to hire employees who have a certain amount of existing experience. Even for entry-level jobs, it’s not uncommon for companies to ask for one to three years of experience. What if there’s another way to find and retain capable talent? 

When it comes to sales, most executives and entrepreneurs understandably want instant gratification. You want that ROI today. But what if slow progress leads to more growth in the long run? What if being selfless, not ruthless, is in fact the key to long-term success?  

Are entrepreneurs the main leaders of innovation? Conventionally, the most groundbreaking ideas are thought to come from entrepreneurs and executives. But innovative ideas come from passionate and driven employees as well, if you know how to unleash the power of their creativity.

For most executives and entrepreneurs, the four-day workweek feels like a pipe dream.  When you’re working 50-60 hours a week, it’s hard to picture eliminating an entire workday. There’s not enough time in the day to be successful. What about revenue? Employee productivity?

What if finding joy outside of work is one secret to finding joy at work? Think of the last time you felt true joy. So often, your career, family, and responsibilities prevent you from feeling connected to your dreams for your life. But dreams aren’t meant to be forgotten.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing aren’t just buzzwords anymore. Today, mental health is an essential component of the enlightened workplace, and employees understandably want to limit the amount of stress and anxiety they carry, both in and outside of work.