Most people want to get into a leadership role, yet few are actually able to do it. What’s the secret to success? I’ve interviewed and worked with thousands of leaders over the years and there 5 simple yet effective strategies that the world’s top leaders use to get ahead. In today’s leadership spark, I’ll break down what these strategies are including: taking initiative by tackling tough jobs, showing vulnerability to build trust, excelling at your current duties, shifting your focus on tasks to supporting your team, and being mindful of your self-image. Mastering these tips will help you stand out as a leader and move up in your career.

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Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Every leader aims to maximize their potential and that of their teams, but mastering the complexities of human psychology is a formidable challenge. Dr. Michael Gervais is considered by many to be the world’s #1 performance psychologist focused on unlocking potential during high-pressure environments. From working with three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh and daredevil spaceman Felix Baumgartner who jumped from 120,000 feet, his techniques have proven effective across a spectrum of disciplines. In today’s episode we talk about why fearing others’ opinions can keep you from reaching your full potential, the dangers of tying your self-worth to performance metrics, and I’ll also share the things that make leaders feel most vulnerable at work and why.

 

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In today’s fast-paced work environment, the question of where to work from—home or office—can significantly impact your career trajectory. While remote work offers comfort and flexibility, spending time in the office could be your secret weapon for career advancement.

In this episode of Leadership Spark, let’s talk about why office presence is crucial for those aiming for leadership roles and substantial career growth.  Based on insights from my recent conversations with business leaders and polls I conducted on LinkedIn, we explore the differences between mere productivity and true innovation and how being physically present in the office can enhance your visibility, foster meaningful connections, and open up leadership opportunities.

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Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

It’s one thing to talk about turning around a company, a team, or a person, but how do you actually do it? Oscar Munoz is the former CEO and Chairman of United Airlines and is responsible for one of the greatest turnarounds in airline history! In this episode he gets into the details and strategies he used to achieve success during his tenure.

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When Oscar Munoz took over as the CEO of United Airlines, the company was in complete chaos. There were issues with unions, the financials weren’t looking good, customer complaints were damaging the brand reputation, and the company had gone through 8 CEOs in 10 years! During his time as CEO he managed to turn things around, securing employee and customer loyalty and putting the airline back on track. In this episode we talk about what he did to make that turnaround  happen including: going on a company-wide listening tour, involving employees in the decision-making process and getting rid of leaders who didn’t align with company values. He’ll also share the terrifying story of his heart attack and how a flight attendant’s breakdown made him realize that things weren’t working.

 

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Believe it or not you can have TOO MUCH EMPATHY. I know, it sounds strange to think about but after listening to today’s podcast you’ll see why. Even though your empathy is well-intentioned, doing it excessively can blur personal and professional boundaries. This can only make tough decisions harder and lead to personal burnout. It begins by differentiating between empathy and sympathy and then dives into the dangers of over-empathizing. I’ll also tackle the solution: practicing empathetic concern without absorbing others’ emotions and distributing empathy across your team to create a healthier, more sustainable work culture.

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Every leader is trying to driving innovation inside of their organizations, but that’s easier said than done. Uri Levine is the co-founder of Waze, which sold to Google for $1.1 billion. He’s also the first board member and investor of Moovit (Waze but public transportation) which Intel acquired for $4 billion! It’s safe to say that Uri knows a thing or two about innovation and building great products and companies. In today’s episode we will explore why it took Waze 4 years to reach “good enough” product market fit, why it’s more important to fall in love with a problem instead of a solution, how to manage the impact of fear on corporate innovation, how to apply an entrepreneur mindset inside of your company, and why firing is so crucial to business success.

 

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You’ve heard of IBM, but did you know that it was once on the verge of bankruptcy? One man, a cookie salesman, was able to turn the company around and keep it from collapsing. In today’s leadership spark, we’ll explore the remarkable turnaround of IBM in the 1990s under the leadership of Lou Gerstner, Former CEO of IBM. Lou, an outsider with a background in consumer goods and financial services, took the helm and transformed the company. He restructured IBM, shifting its focus from hardware to services and software, and revitalized its corporate culture, steering it from near bankruptcy to becoming a global leader in technology services. This story is a powerful example of how visionary leadership and strategic decision-making can navigate a company through trying times and lead it to success.

 

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Do you feel like people don’t want to work anymore? In today’s episode Jason and I have a friendly spar on what’s going on with today’s workforce and if the our work ethic is in collective decline. We also explore how social media trends are shaping the workforce, the importance of focusing on career growth, and four phases of change that we all go through: panic, adaptation, accepting a new normal, and a reluctance to go back to the status quo. Jason is the Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine and author of “Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career.”

 

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Have you ever wondered why good employees leave, even when they’re well-paid? It’s a puzzle many leaders face. In today’s leadership spark, we’ll dive into the three key factors that drive employees away, beyond salary: lack of growth opportunities, poor relationships with their leaders, and inadequate work-life integration. It’s important to address these issues within our organizations, and leaders should provide clear paths for growth, foster positive relationships with their teams, and establish guidelines for work-life balance. At the same time, it’s also the employees’ responsibility to seek growth opportunities and set boundaries for work-life integration.

 

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What’s the secret behind the communication strategies of successful leaders? Unlocking your ability to recognize different conversation styles, will leave you best equipped to face challenges ahead. Today I am joined by Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and bestselling author of “The Power of Habit” and “Smarter Faster Better,” who dives into the intricate world of effective communication through his latest work, “Super Communicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection.” In this episode, Charles will reveal how leaders can become super communicators through understanding the different types of conversations—practical, emotional, and social—and the dynamic interplay between them. You will learn to navigate these conversational types with agility, enabling you to foster deeper connections, enhance your decision-making, and cultivate a culture of empathy and understanding within your teams.

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Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/