This week on the Lead to Win Podcast, we visit Lauren Cruz. Lauren graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2006 and spent the following 5 years as a Naval Flight Officer on board the P-3C Orion aircraft, hunting submarines and Somalian pirates (including those who took Captain Phillips captive in 2009), and flying surveillance and reconnaissance missions in the Persian Gulf. She then served for 3.5 years at the White House as a communications officer (alongside Atlas Aultman, another guest of the show). In 2015, Lauren left the Navy and began a career in Financial Crimes Compliance and Fraud Prevention in NYC. She has worked for EY (Ernst & Young), PayPal, and recently accepted a position with Goldman Sachs. Throughout her career, Lauren has enjoyed great success employing what she now knows is called “compassionate leadership”. In short, she makes it a point to be curious about and empathetic toward the individuals she works with. Not only does she find work much more enjoyable this way, but the results she has gotten have been overwhelmingly positive.

Episode Takeaways:

• Compassionate leadership involves being curious and empathetic towards employees, which leads to happier and more loyal team members.
• Leaders should balance compassion with accountability and drive results by being curious about their employees' lives and experiences.
• The five Cs of compassionate leadership are consciousness, compassion, curiosity, competence, and courage.
• Leaders should be aware of biases, such as the fundamental attribution error, and strive to avoid judging others unfairly.
• Leaders should practice active listening and empathy to better understand the people they lead.

Lauren's Links:

Atlas Aultman's website - https://leaders-kit.com/laurencruz

Lauren's LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-cruz-cams-74819ab4?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Email - Lauren.cruz.coaching@gmail.com

*Music by Alex Grohl on Pixabay

Rob Bier, a seasoned expert in building high-performance organizations, discusses the sources of organizational friction and how they impact team dynamics and productivity. He emphasizes the importance of clear communication, addressing power struggles, and aligning conflicting goals to minimize friction. Rob also highlights the role of leadership in facilitating smoother transitions during periods of change and fostering a culture of transparency. His book, 'Smooth Scaling,' is targeted towards founders and CEOs of growth companies, providing practical insights and rituals to build high-performing organizations.

Episode Takeaways:

• Organizational friction can arise from miscommunication, interpersonal conflicts, and structural issues that hinder collaboration and alignment within teams and across departments.
• Leaders can minimize friction by promoting clear communication, addressing power struggles, aligning conflicting goals, and fostering a culture of transparency.
• During periods of change, effective leadership involves providing a clear vision, addressing fears and resistance, and facilitating open and constructive conversations.
• Rob Bier's book, 'Smooth Scaling,' offers practical insights and rituals for founders and CEOs of growth companies to build high-performing organizations.
• The most rewarding part of Rob's career has been being part of truly high-performing teams and helping others experience the same.

Rob's Links:

LinkedIn

Book Retail Link

https://www.robbier.com/

*Music by Alex Grohl on Pixabay

In this episode of the Lead to Win podcast, Bo Bergen interviews Dave Nordel, a retired United States Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant. Dave shares his experiences and insights on leadership, veteran transition, and creating impact within organizations. He discusses the importance of self-leadership, seeking out mentors, and learning from mistakes. Dave also talks about his consulting company, Max Fab Consulting, which focuses on veteran transition and creating supportive environments for veterans in the workforce. In this conversation, Dave Nordel discusses the importance of being present as a leader and the impact it has on motivating and leading a team. He emphasizes the need for leaders to be transparent about their aspirations and goals, as well as the importance of consistent and ongoing feedback to sustain motivation. Nordel also highlights the significance of addressing the soft skills and intangible needs of employees.

Episode Takeaways:

• Self-leadership is crucial for personal and professional development. Take initiative, seek out mentors, and continuously work on self-improvement.
• Informal leaders within an organization can provide valuable insights and guidance. Build relationships with them and defer to their expertise.
• Learning from mistakes is essential for growth. Embrace failures as learning opportunities and strive to make better decisions in the future.
• Creating a supportive environment for veterans in the workforce is crucial. Companies should focus on understanding and meeting the unique needs of veterans during their transition.
• Leadership is about leading people and processes. Prioritize building strong relationships with the people you lead and focus on their well-being.
• To increase impact within an organization, leaders should identify informal leaders, seek their input, and collaborate with them to implement strategies and initiatives. Being present as a leader is crucial for creating a positive work environment and motivating employees.
• Leaders should be transparent about their aspirations and goals, as it helps build trust and alignment within the team.
• Consistent and ongoing feedback is essential for sustaining motivation and keeping employees engaged.
• Addressing the soft skills and intangible needs of employees is just as important as providing the necessary tools and resources.
• Making a positive difference every day should be the ultimate goal for leaders.

Dave's Links:

Max Fab Consulting Website

LinkedIn

Purchase Dave's Books

*Music by Alex Grohl on Pixabay

This week on the Lead to Win Podcast, we sit down with Atlas Aultman. Atlas helps proven leaders focus on who they are, who their teams are, and who their mission serves by providing master-courses, books, and keynotes designed to produce faster successes, retain talent, and attract high-value teammates.

Atlas’s military career established him as a highly decorated senior-ranking military leader. He was awarded two Bronze Star medals from leading teams in various combat zones located in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a technology leader, he was recognized as an international “Top 40-under-40” from the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association after being named White House Junior Officer of the year. His official military record holds an additional 21 Air Force, Navy & Marine Corps medals.

Atlas’ TEDx talk in SouthLakeTahoe exposes exactly how elite leaders make huge decisions quickly and continue to win. His books have been featured on FOX, NBC, ABC, Google, and other major news outlets. Atlas has five international best-selling books, and his most recent book became #1 in personal transformation, memoirs, and motivation categories.

Episode Takeaways:

• Leaders should focus on listening and understanding, rather than just trying to respond.
• Authenticity is crucial in leadership, and leaders should avoid trying to be someone they're not.
• Leaders need to make decisions and not be afraid of failure.
• Self-reflection is important for recognizing mistakes and improving as a leader.
• Effective time management and preparation are key to success in leadership.
• Leadership and management are not the same, and it's important to understand the difference.
• Creating a culture of continuous improvement and learning involves understanding team members' passions and providing opportunities for growth. Align individual passions with learning objectives to fuel growth and learning.
• Effective leadership requires strong communication skills and active listening.
• Measure leadership effectiveness through personal reflection and accountability.
• Empower team members to reach their full potential and contribute to organizational success.
• Build trust and credibility by being trustworthy and delivering on commitments.

Links:

leadtowin (leaders-kit.com) - Free tools

(8) Atlas (Joshua) Aultman | LinkedIn - Atlas' LinkedIn
https://a.co/d/bRTXkcc - Rule of 3 book on Amazon
Start with WHO - How Elite Leaders Win | Atlas Aultman | TEDxSouthLakeTahoe (youtube.com)

*Music by Alex Grohl on Pixabay

On this Bonus Episode of the Lead to Win Podcast, I have the privilege of visiting with someone that I’m very familiar with and have learned a lot from through a very formative time in my life—my former pitching coach—Jason Immekus–better known as “Kus”. Kus is the head throwing trainer and partnership liaison at Premier Pitching Performance. He has 19 years of college baseball coaching experience, working with pitchers, catchers, game planning and college recruiting. He also currently serves as an Associate Scout for the Tampa Bay Rays. During his coaching career he has also made stops coaching summer baseball in the Northwoods and Coastal Plain Leagues. Kus plays a role in player recruitment, player acquisition, and designing throwing programs for players inside of Premier Pitching HQ and remote clients. Kus has coached many players that have signed to play professionally and his goal is to help connect the dots from data to pitching development to in-game success for the players he comes into contact with. Episode Takeaways: •Using past experiences to guide and develop the next generation is crucial in leadership and coaching. •The mental aspect of baseball is essential and can help with the transition to life after the sport. • Coaches need to adapt to new techniques and trends while maintaining the same standards and expectations. • Focusing on the development of the individual and their character is more important than their achievements on the field. Premier Pitching Performance Website: https://premierpitching.com/ *Music by Alex Grohl on Pixabay

This week on the Lead to Win Podcast, we visit with keynote speaker, author, and former basketball performance coach Alan Stein Jr. At his core, Alan is a performance coach with a passion for helping business leaders change behaviors. He spent 15+ years working with the highest performing basketball players on the planet—including NBA superstars Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Kobe Bryant. Through his customized programs, he transfers his unique expertise to maximize both individual and organizational performance. Alan is a dynamic storyteller who delivers practical, actionable lessons that can be implemented immediately. He teaches proven principles on how to utilize the same approaches in business that elite athletes use to perform at a world-class level.

Episode Takeaways:

• Defining winning in business requires clarity and simplification.
• Adapting the vision of an organization involves involving stakeholders and considering diverse perspectives.
• Communication is key in reinforcing the mission, vision, and core values of the organization.
• Aligning goals and initiatives with the vision helps the organization operate more efficiently and cohesively.
• Focusing on the process increases the chances of achieving goals and leaving a legacy of excellence.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

04:26 Books and Personal Development

07:00 3 Commonalities Among High Performers

12:30 Questions Every Leader Should Ask

16:20 Holding Team Members Accountable

20:41 Aligning Behavior Changes with Organizational Goals

22:21 Defining Winning in Business

23:27 Adapting the Vision

24:33 Including Stakeholders in Decision-Making

26:36 Maintaining a Relevant Vision

31:18 Importance of Communication

33:44 What Winning Looks Like/Trading Me for We

36:38 Aligning Goals with the Vision

40:07 Focusing on the Process

42:08 Leaving a Legacy

Alan's Website: https://alansteinjr.com/

Alan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-stein-jr/

Alan on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/AlanSteinJr?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Alan's Book Retail Link: https://www.amazon.com/Raise-Your-Game-High-Performance-Secrets/dp/1546082859/ref=sr_1_1?crid=H94CP74Y91D0&dchild=1&keywords=alan+stein+raise+your+game&qid=1610712828&sprefix=alan+stein%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1%20

*Music by Alex Grohl on Pixabay