Leadership Chalk Talk

What if the key to personal development, confidence, and inspiration was right under your nose, waiting to be discovered? Our special guest, Nick Hutchinson, author of the upcoming book "Rise of the Reader," unveils the power of reading as a formidable tool for self-improvement. A former athlete, Nick's journey from the sports field to the library is a captivating tale, revealing how podcasts during hour-long commutes morphed into a passion for reading hundreds of books. Drawing parallels between the worlds of books and sports, Nick discloses how he applies his learnings from literature to real-world scenarios. He highlights the importance of reading and setting SMART goals to extract the most from each book. He shares intriguing leadership lessons from NFL coaches like Bill Belichick and Dan Campbell, comparing their styles to concepts of authentic leadership. Nick and Nate play a fun game of draft-style "NFL Comps" where Nick makes comparisons between book and the NFL.  You won't want to miss his takes on Mindset, Atomic Habits, Start with Why, and many more.They close the episode with a simple challenge and a generous offer from Nick to get you started as  Book Thinker, and to  Rise as a Reader.  Learn more about Nick and connect with him using the links below:Buy the book Rise of the Reader on Amazon: https://a.co/d/c9dE0lnLearn more about Nick: www.nickhutch.comLearn more about Book Thinkers: www.bookthinkers.comComplete the Episode Challenge by receiving a personalized book recommendation: DM Nick at www.instagram.com/bookthinkersSupport the showConnect with Nate and Leadership Chalk Talk: Website: https://www.leadershipchalktalk.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-prosser/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipchalktalk Twitter: https://twitter.com/LDChalkTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipchalktalk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadershipChalkTalk Join the community #theworldneedsmoreleaders

Want to discover the secret link between pop culture phenomenons, like the captivating relationship of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey, and navigating through added responsibilities in life? We've got you covered as we delve into this fascinating intersection, enlightening you on why work-life balance matters, how it can be disrupted, and how to regain equilibrium. Your work-life balance is vital to prevent burnout, increase productivity and maintain happiness and health. We also uncover the powerful concept of 'golden time', a crucial tool to unplug and recharge to achieve this coveted balance.Join us as we welcome our energetic guest, Lily Prosser, who shares her invaluable insights on the impact of the Swift-Kelce relationship on the younger generations.  She also gives her Dad some feedback about staying off his phone and giving the family Golden Time. So, get ready to immerse yourself in this lively, insightful episode brimming with leadership, work-life balance, pop culture, and much more - you won't want to miss it!Support the showConnect with Nate and Leadership Chalk Talk: Website: https://www.leadershipchalktalk.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-prosser/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipchalktalk Twitter: https://twitter.com/LDChalkTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipchalktalk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadershipChalkTalk Join the community #theworldneedsmoreleaders

What does it take to fuel the competitive spirit in the NFL? Find out as we dissect the leadership style of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin with our esteemed guest, Nick Angelo. Together, we explore the significance of Tomlin's approach in setting high standards, his uncanny ability to communicate with impact, and the steadfast commitment he holds towards his team. Immerse yourself in the fascinating conversation as we delve into the art of consistently maintaining high expectations, fostering continuous growth, and the essential role of accountability in a team's success. We examine how Tomlin's vivid language, metaphors, and analogies strengthen the team's resolve to uphold their standards. You'll be intrigued by our discussion about his use of body language and tone to supplement his message, and his emphasis on building relationships and future opportunities. Come along on this journey of discovery as we dissect Tomlin's tactics in motivating his players, his unique approach to handling excuses, and his power to inspire a culture of success in the Steelers' locker room.We wrap up our episode with a walk down memory lane, reminiscing the illustrious careers of Steeler greats like Troy Palamalu, Greg Lloyd, Alan Faneca, and ... John Whitman (!!).  The long time friends, Nate and Nick, had a blast recording this episode about their favorite team, and we think you'll enjoy listening just the same.To hear more of Nick Angelo and his takes on the NFL, fantasy, and so much more, tune in to his podcast, That Football Show!Support the showConnect with Nate and Leadership Chalk Talk: Website: https://www.leadershipchalktalk.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-prosser/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipchalktalk Twitter: https://twitter.com/LDChalkTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipchalktalk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadershipChalkTalk Join the community #theworldneedsmoreleaders

Do you ever wonder how a college football coach builds a program culture? In our latest episode, we team up with Zac Phillips (returning from the Joe Paterno Episode) and Andrew Kennedy to dissect the leadership style of Penn State Football coach James Franklin. We dive deep into the coach's background, his journey to Penn State, and the next steps he needs to take to elevate the program even further. We analyze his actions so far, what's worked and what could be improved, and focus on five core leadership topics in relation to Franklin's impact on Nittany Lion football.Sportsmanship, hard work, sacrifice, competitiveness and a positive attitude are not just buzzwords, but values that are deeply entrenched in the Penn State Football program. We take a closer look at how these principles are applied not just on the field but also in off-field scenarios like the classrooms and team dinners. Coach Franklin's 1-0 philosophy is dissected to understand how it inspires his team to approach each game with the same focus, regardless of the opponent. We also look at how Franklin builds authentic relationships and fosters a family environment , and discuss ways you can easily do that within your company or team.Later in the conversation, we debate the risks and potential benefits of his polarizing post-game press conference after a crushing home loss to Ohio State in 2018. Tying it all together, we analyze the importance of creating a positive culture in the workplace, and offer a simple challenge for you to elevate your leadership through culture. Lastly, we can't let Zac and Andrew go without getting their predictions for the upcoming Penn State Football season. So, gear up for an enlightening discussion that not only explores leadership in the realm of sports but also offers valuable insights for the business world.Support the showConnect with Nate and Leadership Chalk Talk: Website: https://www.leadershipchalktalk.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-prosser/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipchalktalk Twitter: https://twitter.com/LDChalkTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipchalktalk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadershipChalkTalk Join the community #theworldneedsmoreleaders

In this episode, we tee off on a journey through Change Leadership using Golf's earth-shattering merger as the focal point.   The craziness of this announcement provides a unique backdrop to explore the art of effective change leadership.  Using clips from Rory McIlroy, Jay Monaghan, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, you'll hear a powerful narrative of successes, challenges, and essential leadership lessons.Join your host Nate Prosser as we tee off with eight key tips for leading through change, inspired by Golf's transformative merger. From sizing the impact of change to celebrating success, we provide practical strategies any leader can use to lead others through change. Key Topics Covered:1. Sizing the impact of change: Assessing the scope and implications of change to lay a strong foundation.2. Stakeholder assessment: Understanding the needs and concerns of stakeholders for effective engagement.3. Effective communication: Mastering the art of clear and transparent communication throughout the change process.4. Compelling vision: Crafting an inspiring vision to rally teams and unite them towards a common goal.5. Enable co-creation: Empowering teams to contribute their ideas and collaborate in shaping the change.6. Manage resistance: Addressing resistance with empathy and strategic approaches to overcome challenges.7. Invest in training and communications: Equipping teams with the skills and knowledge needed for success.8. Build advocates and celebrate success: Cultivating change champions and acknowledging milestones along the journey.Through this episode, we offer a playbook of change leadership strategies, combining the excitement of golf with the wisdom of business transformation. Tune in to learn valuable lessons applicable in any domain, and gain insights to lead with confidence during change and uncertainty.Immerse yourself in the world of leadership and golf by visiting Leadership Chalk Talk's website at . Whether you're a golf enthusiast, a change practitioner, or anyone leading through change, this episode can help you level up.Support the showConnect with Nate and Leadership Chalk Talk: Website: https://www.leadershipchalktalk.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-prosser/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipchalktalk Twitter: https://twitter.com/LDChalkTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipchalktalk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadershipChalkTalk Join the community #theworldneedsmoreleaders

Nate shares the personal news contributing to a pause in Chalk Talk episodes, and then welcomes his daughter Lily (11 years old) onto the podcast for the first time.Lily offers up the leadership lessons she's learned as a gymnast, basketball player, and huge football fan.  She emphasizes the importance of building relationships, supporting teammates in moments of triumph and disappointment, and tells her story from the Kindergarten Talent Show that started her on the journey towards a growth mindset.Later in the episode, Lily talks about what it's like having a Leadership Development guy as a Dad before giving her predictions about her two favorite football teams: Penn State and the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Finally, she wraps up with an episode challenge that everyone should do!  EnjoySupport the show

Nate's favorite book is Mindset, by Carol Dweck.  He's brought up this important concept many times before but has never dedicated a full episode to it -- until now.Following the Bucks shocking first round exit, a reporter asked Giannis if he viewed this season as a failure and his answer surprised a lot of people.  Ernie Johnson described it as a "breath of fresh air" but Kendrick Perkins asked "Is Giannis serious right now?!"  Giannis's response, and the conversation he stirred up, provided the perfect context for discussing Growth Mindset.Nate breaks down the 5 dimensions from the book:  Challenges, Obstacles, Effort, Criticism, and Success of Others, and then shares a personal story of his own Fixed Mindset from childhood, and how the book helped him to break through.To close the show, Nate shares a few "signals" of a Fixed Mindset -- both in yourself and in your team -- and some practical tips to shift your mind into Growth.  Tune in to take your first step towards a better you.Support the show

Following up from one of the show's most popular episodes, Productive Conversations, Nate takes on the challenging topic of Racial and Gender bias using content from the Women's Basketball Championship game which was won by LSU over Iowa.Nate uses comments from Dave Portnoy and Emmanuel Acho to illustrate the "two sides" of this argument, and then explains his bold point of view that many media members and media companies are *claiming* to use their platform to advance the efforts of Diversity & Inclusion, but their actions may actually be counterproductive to that very mission.  He gives an impassioned plea for influencers to stop calling people OUT, and instead to start calling people IN, so that the conversation can truly be productive towards advancing equality. Next, Nate takes a deep dive into his view on trash talk ... by creating his own Trash Talk Mendoza Line, with a 4 dimension rubric.  He then analyzes several famous instances of trash talk to uncover his own bias, finding that he exhibits several of the over 200 cognitive biases, including one that he just made up:  The Michael Redd Shooting Mechanics Bias.  You're probably thinking about bias all wrong -- it's not something to avoid, it's something to seek out.  Nate teaches you how to move from feeling guilty (or defensive) about your biases, to wanting to learn from them and interrupt them to be a better version of yourself.  Finally, Nate examines the trash-talking actions of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, and evaluates whether they stay above or fall below his expectations ("The Trash Talk Mendoza Line").  He engages in a fictitious conversation with Nick Wright from Fox Sports, and shows you three simple steps to completely disagree with someone in a productive way, even when the argument centers around the emotional topics of racism and sexism.If you want to see the clips of Caitlin and Angel he refers to during the show, you can find them at the links below:Caitlin tells Louisville Player "You're down 15 points, Shut Up" Caitlin does the John Cena "Can't See Me" gesture during the Louisville Elite 8 gameCaitlin waves off a South Carolina player, daring her to shoot in the Final 4Angel does the "Can't See Me" towards Caitlin with about :50 seconds left while they're on the foul lineAngel follows Caitlin for most of the last :15 seconds of the gameThis is the most challenging and thought-provoking episode Leadership Chalk Talk has published to date.  If you want to be a better leader, don't miss it.  Support the show

Nate welcomes special guest Dr. Benjamin Ritter, the founder of  Live for Yourself Consulting (www.liveforyourselfconsulting.com), onto the show.  Ben specializes in career coaching by helping leaders to find their career sweet spot -- that intersection between your super powers and your passions.  Ben was a former Division I and aspiring professional soccer player.  A journey that taught him a number of life lessons about confidence, becoming your own best self champion instead of self critic, and how to learn from setbacks.  If you feel stuck in your career, or just want to take things to the next level, tune in to hear a bunch of specific and actionable tips that you can put into practice right away -- and all the soccer analogies that come with it!Support the show

"Coach Nate" has a double meaning in this episode.  Nate shares his 12 Leadership Lessons from his time coaching 2nd Grade basketball, including a few special guest appearances from the stars of the season. If you're coaching youth sports, you might pick up on a few tips, like the three types of passes (bounce pass, chest pass, and terrible pass) or Nate's best friend "Mr. Square."  Of course, anyone leading a team could benefit from the 12 tips, such as Create Success in Context, Exposure is Great but so is Consistency, and Have a Singular Goal and make it Speak-able.Tune in for a fun episode, filled stories and key nuggets you can implement in your day-to-day.Support the show

Nate welcomes Resiliency expert Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal on to the show to offer her advice and wisdom to athletes, leaders, and parents.  Tune in to learn more about "The Three C's," a life of abundance, vicarious joy, and bouncing forward (and not backwards) -- a must listen for any parent that has ever experienced a "meltdown."  Taryn offers practical tips that you won't want to miss, including her first sports analogy (!!) which she draws from her time as a competitive swimmer.  She wraps the show with a challenge that will require you to truly be honest with yourself, and when you do, will set you on a path of improved happiness and amplified leadership.To learn more about Dr. Taryn and the great work she is doing around resiliency, including her upcoming book, The 5 Practices of Highly Resilient People: Why Some Flourish When Others Fail, check out her website:  Home - Dr. Taryn Marie - Resilience Leadership Institute (resilience-leadership.com)Support the show

Nate and Zac finish analyzing Joe Paterno's Leadership by discussing the 1987 season through his eventual firing in 2012.   The ongoing thread of their discussion is The Grand Experiment and Paterno's stated values, which his actions start to deviate from later in his life.The guys discuss succession planning, Joe hiring his son Jay as the Offensive Coordinator, and the dangers of cutting corners during the selection process, and much more.  They pull in some of Joe's later interviews, including his comments on the BCS, his shift from being too conservative to too aggressive, and the season of "Restore the Roar."Next, in the most difficult portion of the episode, Nate and Zac discuss the tragic events surrounding Jerry Sandusky's crimes and offer Joe some feedback regarding his actions and inactions.  Finally, Zac wraps things up with two awesome Episode Challenges that you won't want to miss.  #weareSupport the show

Nate is joined by his longtime friend, and Penn State super fan, Zac Phillips to analyze Joe Paterno's Leadership over his 46 career as a head coach.  In this Part 1 of 2, they cover the "Early Years" (1966 - 1981) and the "Prime Years" (1982 - 1986).The guys breakdown the famous "Grand Experiment" and tie that to the concept of identifying and living by your personal values.  They go on to discuss what to do when you do everything right, and it still doesn't work out, as Penn State multiple times went undefeated for the season but did not with the National Championship.Next, they take a deeper dive into the championship winning 1986 season, including the underdog victory against the Miami Hurricanes and Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde.  The episode concludes with a trip to the Whitehouse, and high praise for Paterno's leadership ... "not just on the field, but in life."Support the show

Damar Hamlin faced one of the scariest scenarios we've ever seen on a football field.  But thanks to emergency responders -- and their crisis leadership -- the result was a best-case scenario.Now, you might never face a crisis like that ... but as a leader, you might face more crisis than you think.  Some big, some small, and some so micro you might not even realize they're happening around you.  Tune in to this episode of Leadership Chalk Talk to prepare for the unexpected, because as your high school coach probably once told you, failing to prepare, is preparing to fail.Nate outline five key behaviors and attributes of leaders when facing as crisis.  He analyzes the actions of Bills Coach Sean McDermott and Bengles Coach Zac Taylor who exemplified many of those behaviors, and then wraps up with a simple but powerful episode challenge.Let's all offer an Attitude of Gratitude for everyone's leadership  in supporting Damar If you want to do that by contributing to Damar's Toy Drive Charity, the link is posted below:  Fundraiser by Damar Hamlin : The Chasing M's Foundation Community Toy Drive (gofundme.com)Support the show

Nate talks to Executive Coach and Psychotherapist Mollie Eliasof about the Power of Coaching.  Mollie offers practical advice around how to be the best version of yourself, by starting with a deep understanding of your true goals and intentions.  She goes on to share stories and insights -- without breaking any confidences-- about her time as an executive coach and as a learner herself.  Mollie preaches the importance of being both coach-able and determined, drawing on her many years as a dancer, as Nate sprinkles in a recent story about Tua.  Finally, Molly offers up the episode challenge which Nate commits to completing with all of the listeners.  Tune in to learn more about the power of coaching.Support the show

Nate kicks off this New Year's edition episode with some reflection and gratitude for a terrific 2022.  Then, he plays the first two listener voicemails and offers his leadership advice for the challenges of aligning a team with different motivations, how to lead when you're having a bad day, and what to do about "quiet quitting."Next, Nate closes the book on 2022 and looks ahead to 2023.  He offers practice advice on how to set effective goals, including the common pitfall of focusing on your deliverables and ignoring the outcomes they intend to achieve.  Tune in to hear about the original story of the "Play Like a Champion Today" sign at Notre Dame, the misconception that Ohio State started the helmet decal concept, and Coach K's tips for goal setting.  Finally, Nate closes the episode by disclosing the goals for Leadership Chalk -- and asks for your help! -- before issuing the episode challenge.  Happy New Year!Support the show

Nate speaks with former Penn State All-American Offensive Lineman turned Serial Entrepreneur EZ Smith.  EZ shares a bunch of leadership tips, starting from the time he grew up with a highly successful football coach Dad and educator Mom, to the "Culture Deck" and "Standard Operating Procedures" he's implemented in his various businesses today.  He drops a few nuggets he learned from Joe Paterno, Coach Franklin, and things he's observed in other highly successful coaches that he feels are important in leadership.  In true Servant Leadership style, EZ reflects on things we wished he learned sooner, and leadership challenges he is still working through and continuing to develop.Before closing Nate and EZ combine to issue an Episode Challenge -- one that everyone can do and could have a significantly positive impact on your team.  Tune in!Support the show

Over 15 years ago, Oklahoma State Football Coach Mike Gundy gave a press conference where he famously said "I'm a Man!  I'm 40!"  It's been quoted, memed, and analyzed hundreds of ways ... but never like Leadership Chalk Talk.  Nate breaks the 3:00+ press conference into 10 different segments and teaches us the leadership lessons we can learn from Mike's powerful words.Following the press conference break down, Nate shares a personal story of a recent professional struggle and the challenges of being introverted in what sometimes feels like an extroverted world.  Nate provides his 5 tips for success for introverts, and illustrates them through his own personal stories.  Finally, he wraps up with a call to action (for both introverts and extroverts).   Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!Support the show

With World Cup season upon us, Nate finds some leadership lessons from the world of Soccer.  He provides helpful tips on bouncing back from setbacks, preparing for a big presentation, coming together as a cross functional team (or National Team!), and effectively declining a strong candidate in a positive way.  Next, Nate counts down his top 8 leadership lessons from the first two seasons of Ted Lasso.  Find out about the importance of accountability, why it's important to surround yourself with people better than you, and how curiosity is the key to inclusion.  Support the show

Employee retention feels more important than ever.  Since the pandemic, new terms like “The Great Resignation,” “The Great Reshuffle,” and “Quiet Quitting” have all emerged.  If you aren't re-recruiting your team, you probably aren't doing enough as a leader. To teach this important leadership topic, Nate dives into the fascinating story of  The PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf.   This Civil War highlights 8 tips for employee retention, ranging from innovation, to work-life-balance, to stay interviews, and of course … money!  Managing compensation is an important component of employee retention (and golf tours!), but it's critical to understand that it is definitely not the only thing. Tune in to learn the 8 retention tips and brush up on your golf game (knowledge) along the way. Support the show

Learn the art and science of giving effective feedback with Nate's 10 tips for success.  In this episode of Leadership Chalk Talk, Nate walks through the decorated 20+ year career of Lebron James … giving him effective feedback at every stop along the way.  From his rookie year, to “The Decision,” to the loss to Dallas, to the 3-1 comeback, the Bubble Championship, and many stops in between, Nate shows how a consistent feedback framework will enable your team to truly hear your, to trust you, and to improve their future performance.    We relive Lebron's career across his four main chapters — Cleveland, Miami, Cleveland II, and Los Angeles — and “exchange” feedback on the highest highs, and lowest lows.  If you've been avoiding giving your team feedback, or have been doing it, but not effectively, this is a must listen to elevate your Leadership Game.  You'll walk away with both practical tips, and the confidence you need to give your team feedback like a highly effective leader.  Many leaders never master this skill: get ahead now by learning the secrets to giving effective feedback. Side bar:  here is the Rust Belt Rivals Podcast I mentioned in the show for NFL and Fantasy Football fans. High recommend!Support the show

Servant Leadership is one of the highest forms of leadership, and in some cases, an unattainable aspiration.  In this week's episode, Nate provides a simple definition of Servant Leadership, then pulls in relevant examples from businesses and sports to bring it to life in a practical way.  Featured "guests" include Bo Ryan of the Wisconsin Badgers, Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Mike Tomlin and Dan Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers.Servant Leadership is a journey that requires a "reconditioning" of the brain that is naturally wired to be self-serving.  Tune in to take your first step towards a better career, and a better life.Support the show

Without leadership consistency, it's hard to build trust within your team.  In the first "Emergency Podcast" edition of Leadership Chalk Talk, Nate examines the recent events surrounding Deshaun Watson's suspension and compares that to other suspensions levied during Roger Goodell's tenure as commissioner of the NFL.   The inconsistencies in previous cases led to strange precedents which were the basis for the 6 game suspension and subsequent appeal.  As Rich Eisen explains in a radio interview, "it's a mess."Nate points out several missed leadership opportunities throughout this situation:  First, the challenges of Authoritarian Leadership.  Next, creating a reactive vision for an organization (i.e. "Protect the Shield"), and lastly the interplay between leadership consistency and transparency.  You might be able to skip one of the two, but definitely not both!  This was a challenging episode to maintain Ground Rule #2:  Learn don't Burn.Finally, Nate wraps up with a simple episode challenge that will improve your consistency and the trust within your team.   Subscribe and listen to become a better leaderSupport the show

If you want to learn how to be a great leader, there's no one better to listen to than Tiffany Haley.  Nate interviews and converses with his mentor, former leader, and friend about a wide range of  leadership topics, and draws out the nuggets you can put into practice right away.Nate reveals how one of their conversations from almost a decade ago planted the seed for what would eventually become Leadership Chalk Talk.   The LCT Origin Story began in Tiffany's Office. In this free-flowing conversation about how to be a great leader, Nate and Tiffany touch on ...Knowing you are ready for the momentA higher order empathy skill, and how Tiffany developed it in a most unusual way Lessons from Serena Williams, including both emotional control and graciously allowing others to have *their* momentSimon Biles's leadership moment, and a reminder to "be curious, and not judgemental"Being authentic, even when you're Shaqin' a FoolQuick Pick, featuring Tom Brady vs Aaron Rodges, feedback vs coaching, MJ vs Lebron, and moreAthlete and leadership advocacy on social issuesWomen in leadership and an incredibly practical and powerful tip for all Ally'sAnd finally, Tiffany gives the Episode Challenge Tune in to be inspired and learn how to be a better leader.Support the show

Situational Leadership is an easy concept to understand.  It's about adapting your style to meet the needs of the situation, and more importantly the people.  But if it's so easy, then why do so many College Football coaches struggle to adapt to the NFL?  And why do so many first time leaders struggle to adapt from peer to manager?  Because there's a big difference between knowing, and doing. Nate begins by defining situational leadership for you in a personalize way -- by asking you to look internally at your own preferred style, and then challenging you to think about how difficult it would be to flex out of it.  From there, he illustrates how Urban Meyer struggled to do just this, and how a comment in his introductory press conference might have tipped us off.Later in the episode, Nate examines Steve Nash's transition from player right into Head Coach, and compares that to the transition from a peer to leader.  He then drops his 3 best tips for successfully transitioning into a leadership role, before leaving you with the episode challenge.Tune in to hear more and learn how to become a situational leader.Support the show

Coaching in sports and coaching in business are two completely different things.  If you grew up around sports like Nate did, it might have taken you a much longer time to truly understand professional coaching than it should have.  In fact, you still might not even know. But don't worry, we have your back.  We'll teach you what professional coaching is, and how to get started doing it today.We start off the episode by examining a clip between John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson where the coach actually asks the player if he wants to go for it on 4th down.  This serves as an analogy to professional coaching: instead of telling someone what to do, you ask them questions and guide them to their own solution.  This doesn't happen often in sports, but when it does, it's usually a big deal.  Like in Superbowl LII when Nick Foles famously called "Philly Special" to catch a touchdown at the end of the first half.  In the next segment, we listen to Steve Kerr talk about not calling a timeout at the end of a game down one.  Steve explains that they knew they wanted to run action with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, and didn't need to call timeout to go over it.  This was an interesting analogy to coaching someone to be autonomous without needing their help -- one of the ultimate goals of professional coaching.Finally, Nate walks through the G-R-O-W model for effective coaching, and provides an example to bring it to life for you.Tune in to finally understand professional coaching once and for all, and set yourself on a path to being a coach.Support the show

Self-development can feel like a lot of extra work.  That's why Leadership Chalk Talk uses interesting stories and sound bites from the world of sports to make leadership development fun.  Whether you're an avid sports fan, or just someone that occasionally gets drawn into a sports movie, tune in to Chalk Talk to grow your career and become a better leader. The world needs more leaders.  And it's never been easier for you to become one of themSupport the show

Feedback is the gift that guides us on the path to our full potential.  So why do so many of us reject it, get defensive about it, and leave valuable information like that just sitting on the table?The episode kicks off by giving some background around feedback and why we tend to dismiss it.  Nate explains "Truth Triggers" and "Relationship Triggers" thanks to the great work of Sheila Heen and Doug Stone in their book Thanks for the Feedback.  He also talks about the psychology of "wanting to be accepted" and how feedback can often fly in the face of that.  To help you baseline your starting point, you assess yourself on a 5-point scale of how well you receive feedback:Level 1:  ScrubLevel 2:  Back-upLevel 3:  StarterLevel 4:  All StarLevel 5:  All Pro / MVPIn the next segment, we analyze Kevin Durant's twitter feed to illustrate the impact of truth triggers.  In short, if you want to learn how to receive feedback like an all pro, you have to avoid the temptation to explain your truth ... even when it really is the truth.  In segment three, we examine Michael Jordan's reaction to Charles Barkley's feedback from 2012 ... and make the case that The GOAT is actually ... a Scrub (when it comes to receiving feedback).Finally, Nate uses ground rule #3 (Attitude of Gratitude) to commend Draymond Green and his "new-media" podcast, which enables us to examine his reaction to the "feedback" he received in the 4th quarter of game 4 of the NBA Finals.Tune in to learn more about these NBA Legends as they teach us how to receive feedback like an all pro. Support the show

Allen Iverson famously said "Practice" over twenty times during his press conference in May of 2002.  It's been listened to, quoted, analyzed, written about, and debated millions of times.  There have even been stories and books written to explain why the press conference wasn't really about what we all thought it was.  But never before have those 30 minutes been carefully dissected to identify the leadership lessons we all would benefit from learning.  Until now.To set the stage, Nate gives the full context of what led up to the press conference.  The year after the Sixers made the NBA Finals, they only managed to grab a 6 seed, which led to a first round loss to the Boston Celtics.  After the loss, speculation about Iverson leaving the team and increasing frustration between he and Coach Larry Brown began to percolate.  The press conference was meant to squash all those rumors and begin the anticipation for a bounce-back year in 2003.  But things didn't go exactly according to plan.Nate carefully analyzes Iverson's quotes, and the questions and reactions of the reporters in the room at the time to draw out the learnings.  He counts down his list of eight leadership lessons that were hidden in plain sight.  You'll learn about the importance of vulnerability, feedback equity, creating a compelling vision for your team, and so much more.  Allen Iverson may have said "Practice" 22 times, but if you listen closely enough, he was really talking about psychological safety and load management.  And he was doing it a whole decade before the rest of the world was.Tune in to learn how Iverson was a visionary ahead of his time, and the 8 leadership lessons you probably missed when he was talking about practice.  As Nate explains in the episode's conclusion, the world needs more leaders right now.  It's never been easier or more fun to join the movement than listening to this episode.Support the show

What do you do when you disagree with someone?  Whether that is about a project at work or a political point of view with a family member?  Do you avoid the conversation completely, or argue your point until you win?Many people avoid conversations all the time because they don't want to create conflict.  Or, they boldly and recklessly speak their mind using the protection of "just being honest."    Leaders don't do either.  They run towards the conflict they see, and disarm it using a combination of empathy and skillful technique.  They have productive conversations.In this episode, Nate examines one of the most challenging conversation in sports right now -- the inclusion of transgender athletes -- to prove the point that true leaders can hold productive conversations, with anyone, about anything.  Specifically, he dives into the situation around Lia Thomas, the first transgender athlete to win a Division I NCAA National Championship.  This landmark moment has some people celebrating advancements in inclusion, while others are crying foul in the spirit of fairness.  Tune in to learn the Ask-Share-Ask framework, which will enable you to have a productive conversation even when the topic is as challenging as this one.  Step up to the plate for this week's challenge, "Three Swings," and you'll be prepared to have any conversation ... with anyone ... about anything.Support the show

Have you ever heard someone say "We have to hold people more accountable?"  or "We need to be more accountable around here?" A lot of leaders mistakenly confuse accountability for "Getting people in trouble when they do something wrong."  In reality, accountability is the process of aligning what was expected with what occurred.  And to the surprise of many, this also includes the scenarios when your team meets or exceeds your expectations.To teach this lesson through the unique lens of Leadership Chalk Talk, Nate analyzes post game comments from Joel Embiid and James Harden following their season-ending loss to the Miami Heat.  He also uses quotes from Steelers' Coach Mike Tomlin, and breaks down Russell Westbrook's first seasons with the Lakers to creatively teach you how to establish a culture of accountability within your team.  It all starts with clear and realistic expectations. Tune in to learn how to be an accountable leader, starting with a simple 10-minute activity that can immediately set you on a path to success.  Support the show