Practical Leadership: Life and Leadership Nuggets

Did you know that empathy is tied to an organization's profits?  It's also not measured or managed effectively...which may be a significant contributing factor in company lay-offs.  Empathy builds trust, trust builds high-performing teams, and high-performing teams deliver value and increase profit.  Join me on this episode as I make a case for empathy to become a KPI...after all, it's been a great ROI input for thousands of years!Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Projects across the world, and especially in the US, are sinkholes for cost; creating unnecessary and preventable waste.  And the organizations that run them are breeding pools for team member disengagement.  But they don't have to be!In this episode, I combine work from Martin Seligman, Stephen Devaux, and April K. Mills in an effort to address an issue in the fight against poor project management and dismal employee effort levels.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------References for this episode were taken from:1. Stephen Devaux's Critical Path Drag (Critical path drag - Wikipedia)2. SageJournal : https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614543022 3. April K. Mills's book - Change Tactics: 50 Ways Change Agents Boldly Escape the Status Quo4. Martin Seligman's work on Learned Helplessness5.  HSI's article The True Cost of Poor Project Management - HSI6. Gallup research done in 2016 on employee engagement levelsCheck out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

It's a new season and today we kick it off with some insights and ponderings about MVB.  I'm grateful to have two individuals on the show to share their experiences about this topic and I hope you find it enlightening.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

We are changing things up for the podcast with a new look, new name, new guests, and new content for Season 4.  Stay tuned and thanks for all the support!

In today's episode, I discuss the importance of organizational values in their role to select and execute projects.  All too often projects fail as a result of unclear goals and objectives, but I submit that this is because organizations can lose sight of how these projects align with company values.  I also introduce the concepts of 'failure tripwires' and 'caution zones' as they relate to projects and organizational values.As always, your support is IMMENSELY appreciated.  Please leave a Like, comment, or review and enjoy the episode.

Stakeholders are critical to the effective completion of any project, but organizations often miss the mark in leveraging them appropriately.  In this episode, I discuss how to properly identify and communicate with stakeholders, suggest a new categorization model for stakeholders, and how to keep lines of communication open with stakeholders after a project is complete.Additionally, I'd like to give a small plug for a new podcast out there called "The Exit Row".  If you're interested in all things aviation, check it out at https://linktr.ee/theexitrowpod?fbclid=PAAabY3M2uqqfqkHKvAl2xRj_8RgdIep1JmiDQBuxHNkUy6v5F4yx05otaE7c !

Managing risk is not a complex process, but it does need to be thorough.  Leveraging the right people with the right attitude at the right time can pay dividends for your organization.  You just have to start with the basics.

Time is the ultimate currency; so much so that references to it have weaved their way into our vernacular.  In this episode, I discuss why we equate time with monetary value, the 8 Wastes of Lean, and tips on how to better manage your time to improve not only yourself, but also your team and organization.

It's the Season 2 Finale!  I provide what I think will be the Top 5 focus areas for leaders in 2023....DEI, ESG, etc. notwithstanding.

The project economy is here to stay, but that doesn't mean it'll look the same in future years as it does currently.  In this week's episode, I ponder the different types of project management, the future of the project economy, and how the role of project manager will evolve. I also ruminate on the skills that will become more needed and widespread than they are today.

This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Austin Kerr, Founder of Humanagement and current digital nomad working and living abroad in Europe.  He's accumulated 15 years of experience in leading and managing small and large teams.  This has allowed him to create a team management and collaboration software to help improve organizational efficiency, day-to-day operations, and collaboration. Throughout the interview we discuss the growth of small businesses leading into the next 5 years, the importance of having disparate experience levels on teams, the future of work as it relates to the growing global and project economies, and how HR can benefit from the integration of new IT programs being developed.Don't forget to check out the Humanagement software at https://humanagement.io!

Mid-level leaders live in two realms: the day-to-day operations of their teams and the world of their organization's business strategy.  But so many of these under-represented individuals are often forced to learn the hard way of doing their jobs.  Their organizations often don't have formalized (or at least adequate) development roadmaps to help them be successful.In this episode I explore the FACT model of skills I believe any mid-level leader needs to be successful.

Educators play a critical role in our society.  They are uniquely positioned to lead, grow, and develop others who, in turn, have the potential to go on and lead, grow, and develop others across many industries.  In this week's episode, I have the honor of speaking with Lisa Sambat, a program coordinator, education professional, and project manager.We discuss her role as a teacher and leader, the importance of play in the workplace, key aspects of being a good citizen, and try to glean some nuggets of wisdom for future leaders.

So many people don't love being, nor are they good at being, a leader.  They just love the IDEA of it.  What we need is real talk on the subject...not just tools and training programs.In this episode, I take off the rose-colored glasses and reflect on what it's been like for me as a leader, the lessons I've learned, where I feel organizations get it wrong when choosing what it means to be a leader, and some general tips for current and would-be leaders.

The definition of success can and does vary widely across different sectors, cultures, and even at different points of your life.  How you choose to define success, face adversity, and help those around you do so will help shape the future.

The requirements elicitation phase of any project is crucial to ensuring the right product, service, or process is delivered.  Many organizations often focus on elicitation techniques while forgetting to account for the cognitive and cultural differences of the team...and that can make all the difference when it comes to scope management.

Actively listening to someone is important, but listening empathetically is crucial.  So often we listen to others in the hopes of solving their problems. Worse yet, we simply hear what's going on around us and don't engage.But what if the key was not listening to solve someone's problem?  What if the key was listening to connect with that person who struggles?

Sometimes the pursuit of something has bigger, longer lasting returns than actually achieving it.  Why settle for something temporary?

Is that project you're wanting to start really worth it?  Have you calculated ALL the costs and benefits?  What about the intangible ones?  This week, I discuss the importance of conducting a cost-benefit analysis for your projects.  Sometimes, even the good ideas aren't worth doing.*BONUS* - For a project management or process improvement consultation, check out milvetconsulting.squarespace.com.  I'd love to help answer any questions you have!

Project managers are leaders and, inevitably, leaders will in some fashion be a project manager.  In order to be effective at both, you need to ensure that a project is aligned with your organization's values, mission, and vision.

We should all know by now that how we say something is a critical part of conveying an effective message and that body language is a key driver in this.  But have you ever considered that the culture from where a person comes plays a key role in how they prefer to interact?In this Sunday Snippet, I give a quick thought to high and low-context cultures and how leaders need to take into account these differences when interacting with their teams.

Are you as good as you think you are?  How often have you felt like your skills and abilities are just a sham and you have NO idea how you got to your current position?  Imposter syndrome and general feelings of inadequacy at work are nothing new.  This week, I discuss what imposter syndrome is, the personal and professional effects, and how to better manage those feelings.....and remember, you got this!

Effective leaders are only as good as those they lead.  Conversely, followers are only as good as those they choose to follow.  In this week's episode, I discuss the importance of followership with Mr. Andrew Costa, a US Air Force veteran and father of four amazing kids....so he's knows a thing or two about leadership and followership.

Accountability is the social glue that holds our organizations together and created from trust and psychological safety.  It's integral to any team operations, project, and organizational culture.  This week, I touch on why we value it so much, what happens if our organizations do and don't have it, and how to build it up.

Happy Sunday, folks!  All I have for today are some updates on the podcast, my book, The Unrelenting Leader, and how the events in Afghanistan over the past week may affect those around us.  Keep checking on each other!

Resolving conflict in the workplace can be downright nerve wracking.  But it doesn't have to be if we step back to find common ground with the other person and work toward a team-oriented solution.  This week, I discuss interpersonal conflict, being a mediator within a workplace conflict, and basics steps to help you navigate through those times.

The type of mindset you have and cultivate on your teams ultimately dictate how well you perform, the overall wellbeing of your employees, and the long-term health of your organization.  Which type of mindset do you strive for?

Time is a non-renewable resource.  Once we spend that currency, that particular bit is gone forever.  How we choose to spend it can make this game called life a little easier for others.  Take a bit of time this Sunday to reflect on the week ahead and decide how you want to spend a little of that currency for others.

This week I talk about measuring performance to include its origins, different methods, what leaders get right, and what they can do better.  Too often leaders and organizations hyper-focus on the wrong KPIs (the 'what') and forget about others (the 'who' and 'how').  As leaders, it's imperative that we not only measure things right in an organization, but that we also measure the right things in an organization.

We've all had really crappy feedback from our bosses.  The session can be awkward with vague inputs on an infraction that happened weeks ago and we leave the session without a clear path for improvement.  This week, I attempt to provide some quick nuggets on why feedback is important and how to do it right!

This week I reflect on four aspects of great leaders....and, of course, I've distilled them down to an easy-to-remember acronym.

Change management is a conceptually easy thing to understand, but many organizations seem to royally mess it up.  In this week's episode, I break down the change management process into 3 easy-to-understand phases and give insight on how to excel in each!

When everything is a priority, nothing is.  It's imperative we do our best to devote time and effort to those activities and actions which bring value to the organization.  Learning to say 'no' in practical ways can help us with this and even help keep the organization on track...but it must be done smartly.

Today's guest is the wonderful Elizabeth Childress; an amazing leader, mom, and wife.  We discuss what it means to be a woman in a leadership position, the challenges, and the wins both in her life in the military and in the civilian sector.  Also, we talk about the importance of mentorship and deliberate development of teams.As always, your comments and questions are welcome!  Hit me up on Twitter @JoeRuss2005.

Happy Fourth of July to all the Americans out there.  Remember, freedom doesn't come with a pass on responsibility or sacrifice...in all its forms.

When onboarding team members, organizations should keep in mind future skill diversification and training with employees' life goals in mind.  This keeps team members engaged and feel like they are contributing positively to the organization.

It's imperative that we learn to celebrate others' achievements sincerely.  Not because it only helps build them up, but because it helps the team be better.  Acknowledging someone else's success does NOT diminish your own.

Being a leader is a lot like being a father.  It takes patience, goal setting, and helping others discover and set their values.

Striving for continuous learning and showcasing a gap in your knowledge as a leader isn't a sign of weakness.  Nor is it a weakness to not always have the answer for a problem.  It shows trust in your teams and their capabilities to grow as well as a desire to prepare them for increased responsibility.Deliberate team development is key to building future leaders.

Sometimes we all need to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of life before moving forward.  This is especially true as we try to come back to some form of normalcy from COVID lockdown.However, taking a break to cool off doesn't mean being lazy in front of the TV.  Just as with personal and professional development, we should be deliberate in how we choose to unwind.

This inaugural episode briefly touches on the development of leadership in society and how it has evolved over time.