Stuck in the Middle – What to do About it | Episode 278
In this episode of Peak Performance Leadership, host Scott McCarthy dives into the challenging situation faced by a middle manager who is dealing with a problem employee. Scott addresses the struggles of protecting the rest of the team while dealing with a disruptive individual and provides valuable insights on how to handle such situations effectively. With advice from a mastermind member and a focus on documentation, Scott explores the importance of holding the problem employee accountable and ensuring the concerns of the team are heard. Tune in to this episode to discover strategies for maintaining leadership during challenging times.
Soft Skills to Steely Leadership | Leah Mether | Episode 277
In uncertain times, leaders face the challenge of guiding their teams through change while inspiring confidence and maintaining accountability. In our latest episode of Peak Performance Leadership, guest speaker Leah Mether sheds light on the importance of clarity, communication, and emotional intelligence during times of uncertainty.
Leah emphasizes the need for leaders to acknowledge the uncertainty that their teams may be experiencing, while also expressing their commitment to leading them through it. By setting clear expectations and having conversations about baseline behaviors, leaders can create a foundation for accountability and navigate potential conflicts that may arise during change.
Understanding the human experience and caring about the emotions and feelings of team members is vital for effective leadership. Leah highlights the role of emotional intelligence in achieving results and discusses the significance of genuinely caring for employees and supporting them throughout change. This approach leads to smoother transitions and more resilient teams.
The episode also delves into the differences between leadership and management, debunking the misconception that they are interchangeable. Leah explains that while management is task-oriented and hierarchical, leadership is about empowering people and investing in the “people part” of leading. By focusing on building strong relationships and creating a culture that promotes accountability, leaders can unlock their team’s peak performance.
Additionally, Leah shares insights from her upcoming book, “Steer Through the Storm,” which explores the art of leading through change that is not necessarily within the leader’s control. Whether it’s responding to government decisions, adapting to new regulations, or navigating shifts imposed by the parent organization, leaders at all levels can benefit from the strategies shared in this invaluable resource.
Join us in this transformative episode as we explore practical strategies for leading through change, promoting positive intent, and creating a culture of accountability and peak performance.
Is Keeping Your Door Open a Trap? Shocking Truth Revealed! | Episode 276
In this episode of the Peak Performance Leadership Podcast, host Scott McCarthy tackles a controversial topic that has been gaining attention lately. He addresses the misconception surrounding the phrase “my door is always open” and challenges the idea that it is a trap for employees. Drawing from his 20 years of military experience and expertise in leadership, Scott passionately defends the importance of open communication between leaders and their teams. He emphasizes the need to establish psychological safety within an organization and encourages leaders to actively listen and foster a culture that values input and challenges the status quo. Don’t miss this thought-provoking episode that will reshape your perspective on effective leadership. Tune in now!
The Power of Transformative Leadership: Creating Meaningful Experiences for Team Growth | Brad McLain | Episode 269
In this episode, there were many powerful statements made by the guest, Brad McLain. One notable statement that stood out was when McLain said, “Leaders who recognize and address the social and emotional aspects of their teams will better serve their people.” This statement encapsulates the core message of the episode, which highlights the importance of taking a holistic approach to leadership. McLain emphasizes the need for leaders to prioritize the social and emotional well-being of their team members, as it directly impacts their performance, creativity, and overall success. By acknowledging the significance of social and emotional involvement in a team and understanding the difference between fitting in and belonging, leaders can create a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters growth and development. McLain’s statement serves as a powerful reminder that effective leadership goes beyond accomplishing tasks and achieving goals, and it is essential to nurture the human connection within a team to drive peak performance.
The B-Suite: Middle Managers With Executive Impact | Rebecca Houghton | Episode 266
Rebecca has been in the business of building better talent and enabling awesome careers for over 25 years. She has led large teams and significant business units, won brilliant awards, and totally stuffed things up, just like others. Rebecca earned her stripes leading large teams in complex organizations and built quite a reputation for ‘doing business differently.’ She knows that without the B-Suite, businesses fail.
Compassionate Accountability in Action: Transforming Team Dynamics and Achieving Success | Nate Regier | Episode 265
According to DDI’s 2023 global leadership forecast, the top skills of leaders who boost engagement, retain great employees and create cultures that thrive is interpersonal communication skills. When it comes to interpersonal communication skills, one of the most common questions we get asked is, “How do you balance kindness, care and concern with attention to outcomes?” Everyone struggles with this tension. Yet, it’s the holy grail for safe, thriving cultures. Here’s the conundrum. Compassion without accountability gets you nowhere. Accountability without compassion gets you alienated. You can’t win if you pick sides, and trying to perform a balancing act between them is no better. The good news is that leaders no longer have to choose.
Aspire to be a Leader | Reiner Lomb | Episode 236
Whether you are in a formal leadership role or are a rising leader, entrepreneur, or changemaker driven by a desire to use your voice to create change. The essence of leadership is creating a vision of an aspirational new future and then influencing people to change their behavior to make that vision a reality. Your inspiration to create aspirational change may come from your dissatisfaction with the status quo, joyful anticipation of an aspirational new future, or a new insight. To create such a vision and bring it into reality requires an emotional shift from hopelessness to optimism and inspiration, which then can mobilize any group – from dozens to millions.
Work-life Balance, Looking Ahead, Dealing with High-Performers and More! | Episode 229
In this gripping episode of the Peak Performance Leadership podcast, host Scott McCarthy delves into the challenging aspects of leadership, discussing how to handle team members with poor attitudes, address missed deadlines, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. From observing the impact of negative attitudes on team productivity to advocating for realistic deadlines, Scott McCarthy […]
Show up, Speak up, and Inspire Action | Heather Hansen | Episode 221
Heather is an outspoken advocate for global voices. She raises awareness around microinequities related to language and accent in international teams and helps companies build UNMUTED communication cultures where every voice is heard. Her 2018 TEDx talk titled 2 Billion Voices: How to speak bad English perfectly has had over 150,000 views and is used by university professors and English language specialists throughout the world in their own teachings.
Heather’s views on global communication have been featured in national media outlets across the globe: National Public Radio (NPR) in the USA, ABC Radio National in Australia, and multiple print and radio outlets in Singapore, including The Straits Times and CNA 938 (93.8 FM). She often appears on global podcasts and webinars
How to Lead with Questions | Bob Tiede | Episode 219
Bob Tiede has been on the staff of Cru for 48 years. He currently serves on the U.S. Leadership Development Team and is passionate about seeing leaders grow and multiply their effectiveness. He is committed to helping leaders shift their paradigm from the pressure of having to have all the right answers to simply having a few of the right questions. In 2006, while browsing in a bookstore, he came across Leading With Questions by Michael Marquardt. He only had to peruse a few pages before declaring, “This is a keeper.” He then launched Leading With Questions—a blog with a companion ebook, Great Leaders Ask Questions—with the goal of changing forever how he and others look at leadership. Bob and his wife, Sherry, live in Plano, TX, and are blessed with 4 incredible children and 6 remarkable grandchildren.