Moving Forward Leadership: Inspire | Mentor | Lead

If you’re in a leadership role today, you surely didn’t get there by accident. You have vision. You’re confident. And you’re at the ready to offer support and lightning-quick responses. But if you don’t effectively communicate these qualities to your people, how will they know you embody them? Frankly, they won’t. Despite leaders giving themselves gold stars in communication, only 13% of U.S. employees say their leaders communicate well, according to Gallup research. And that’s a colossal problem: 93% of workers surveyed by the Brunswick Group report that “leadership that communicates directly and transparently” is what keeps them on the job, bested only by pay and the ability to move up. The most powerful tool you have as a leader—to inform, engage, and inspire—is your voice, says veteran leadership communications coach Joel Schwartzberg. Yet all too often, our words fall flat; we get caught in our head, fail to truly understand our audience, or simply flub the landing. But it’s our words and awareness of th

The burden of command can place a huge kink in your leadership journey. It will affect every aspect of your life and not just your team. Furthermore, this is not just a military phenomenon but rather one for all leaders everywhere. Therefore, it's critical for all leaders to understand the burden of command and know how to overcome it. Topics During this episode I discuss: What the burden of command isThe affects it has on leadersHow to overcome the burden of command for all leaders For the complete show notes be sure to check out our website: https://movingforwardleadership.com/191

Today, our nation is like a ship being tossed in tumultuous seas. The winds and waves of change have divided and distanced our society, threatening to wash away the very principles our nation was founded upon. Now more than ever, our nation needs leaders with the moral courage to stand strong and steady—leaders capable of uniting people in support of a shared purpose by building the trust and respect necessary for organizations and their people to thrive.   Admiral Sandy Stosz started out in the US Coast Guard as an ensign serving aboard polar icebreakers, conducting national security missions from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Her forty- year career was filled with leadership lessons gleaned while breaking ice and breaking glass as the first woman to command an icebreaker on the Great Lakes and to lead a US armed forces service academy. Along the way, Sandy served for 12 years at sea, commanding two ships, and led large Coast Guard organizations during times of crisis and complexity. She finished he

Marc Polymeropoulos retired in June 2019 from the Senior Intelligence Service ranks at the CIA after a  26-year career in operational headquarters and field management assignments covering the Middle East,  Europe, Eurasia, and counter terrorism. He served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and he is one of the  CIA’s most decorated field officers. Marc is the recipient of the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal,  the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the Intelligence Medal of Merit, and the Intelligence  Commendation medal. His last position was overseeing the CIA's clandestine operations in Europe and  Eurasia. He is a respected commentator on foreign policy and intelligence matters and is widely quoted in  both the US and international media.  Topics During this interview Marc and I discuss the following topics: What drew him to the CIAWhy he went into intelligence operationsLessons he learned from his first mentorHow he was drawn to become a leader within the CIAHow to face adversity and overcome itHo

The importance of hiring the right people can’t be emphasized enough. However, too many organizations out there, simply hire people to “fill the holes” without actually thinking through the problem that they are trying to solve. What capabilities are required for the organization to move forward in the right direction, as well as processes which require human input need to be determined. But most importantly, how will the person actually fit into the organization’s culture and dynamics.    Jennifer has developed her expertise in Talent Strategy & Leadership Professional Development over her exciting 20+ year career as an HR Professional. She’s led international teams across Greater China, Mexico, the U.K., and the U.S. to expand into new markets, managing franchise retailers, and developing key strategic partnerships – all while exceeding business objectives and financial results. The rapid growth of her consulting firm 304 Coaching has been largely due to Jennifer’s unconventional approach to building

Organizational alignment is not accidental. Leaders define their organization’s mission and vision and are responsible for creating the roadmaps to get there. Attaining alignment is dependent on the leader’s ability to inspire his or her followers to pursue a common purpose with energy and zeal. It’s up to the leaders to help employees see the vision clearly. Leaders need to develop their skills to include a variety of ways to communicate, encourage teamwork, and drive accountability. They need to set clear and ethical goals for themselves and others. And they need to give honest and timely feedback with the objective of enabling individuals to increase their own performance levels — not criticize or lay blame when plans fail. When leaders have done their work of alignment well, the organization runs like a well-oiled machine and there’s little need for the leader to be in the trenches. Instead, leaders remain accessible and allow the work to flow.   Art serves as CEO of Orgametrics and works with clients ac

Who hasn’t had to deal with a jerk at work? Whether it’s a toxic team member who loves nothing more than to suck the life and excitement out of her colleagues, the difficult coworker who isn’t happy unless the office is filled with mayhem and drama, or a bad boss who causes his employees to constantly dream of telling him to “Take this job and shove it!”, we’ve all had to deal with people on the job we would rather not. Peter Economy is the bestselling author of Managing for Dummies (more than 600,000 copies sold globally), Wait, I'm the Boss?!? and is The Leadership Guy at Inc.com, which averages over 500,000 page views a month for his more than 1,500 columns published to date. He routinely works with C-level executives, executive coaches, and business consultants worldwide. Topics During this interview Peter and I discuss the following topics: The amount of drain jerks can have on the workplaceThe impacts of the “Credit Thief”Why micromanaging is so destructiveHow to find, hire, and retain talented wo

A highly sought-after keynote speaker, educator and author, Gabrielle has worked with thousands of high-profile leaders from around the world and helped countless of Australia’s top 50 companies and multinationals to humanise their communications - Telstra, EY, Accenture, VISA, Australia Post, National Australia Bank, Amazon, Vodafone and the Obama Foundation to name drop a few. She holds a master’s degree in management and leadership from Swinburne University, an associate diploma in education and training from the University of Melbourne, and is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education in both the Art and Practice of Adaptive Leadership and Women and Power: Leadership in a New World. Gabrielle is also the bestselling author of Real Communication: How to be you and lead true, a finalist in the Australian Business Leadership Book Awards for 2019. Her other published books include Stories for Work: The Essential Guide to Business Storytelling (2017), Storytelling for Job Interviews (

It happens commonly in all organizations. You've been promoted. Congratulations! However, now you are no longer a peer with your subordinates, you are their supervisor. The relationship has changed, you are still the same person who you were earlier but they no longer see it that way. It's a tricky situation to navigate which if done wrong can result in a lack of respect and trust, and ultimately broken relationships. However, it does not have to be that way. Former peers now subordinates and you can have a healthy relationship moving forward, it will just take a little bit of time and a whole lot of effort on your part. Topics During this episode I discuss the following topics: How to overcome impostor syndromeSetting expectations with friends who are now subordinatesDealing with former peers who wanted your position as wellHow to earn trust and respect of your team For the complete show notes be sure to check out our website: https://movingforwardleadership.com/183

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported an estimated 840,000 blind spot accidents occur in the United States each year, resulting in around 300 fatalities. If that is what occurs while driving an automobile, an activity which many of us do everyday, imagine what it is doing to your organization. Blind spots can sink an organization as fast as a car can get into an accident. It’s time to bring the death of those blindspots and your BS along with it.    A sought-after keynote speaker, Likky Lavji is passionate about helping others “break barriers” to unleash their human potential. In fact, his middle name, Madat, translates to ‘help’ and he channels this into providing value in every relationship he has – personal and professional. With over 25 years as a CEO of a top IT company, Likky’s extensive experience in executive leadership has given him a unique perspective that remains unchartered by leaders and organizations in understanding the layers beneath human behavior and how it i

Most leaders don’t know what organisational culture is. They know it’s the defining factor in performance, but are unsure how to identify or change it, despite the profound impact it has on every single aspect of the organisation. Culture is the rules of belonging. Change those rules and you’ll change your culture. Change your culture and you’ll change your results.   Fiona Robertson is an expert in organisational culture, leadership and teamwork who holds an MBA from London Business School and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership. She is the former Head of Culture for the National Australia Bank, has worked in and consulted to dozens of blue- chip corporates and all levels of government in Australia, and coached numerous senior executives in large and small organisations. Other clients have included the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), ANZ Bank, NCR, Monash College, Swinburne University, RMIT Online

If America were an NCAA basketball team, we’d be looking at a 0-32 season. Employees are missing crucial shots as job worries spike to levels we haven’t seen in years. Our co-workers and communities have split into politically polarized shirts vs. skins, and as a result, we’re fouling out and fumbling mission-critical assists. The answer, say authors Lynn Guerin and Jason Lavin, is to unify our teams like legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden did. Wooden wasn’t only a record-breaking coach who won 38 straight NCAA tournaments and 10 championships in 12 short years. He was a beloved mentor and teacher, and his lessons are more relevant today than ever.   Lynn Guerin is CEO of The John R. Wooden Course and president and “Head Coach” of his family-owned coaching, training, and performance development firm, Guerin Marketing Services. For the past 20 years, he has had the unique privilege of partnering with legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden and the Wooden family.  Topics During this interview

Welcome to the Monday Leadership Minute. This just a quick and dirty weekly segment where I talk about whatever leadership topic is ongoing or in my mind. If you have something you would like to hear during this segment, be sure to reach out to me via: scott@movingforwardleadership.com There are no show notes for these, just enjoy. Subscribe to Moving Forward Leadership Love the Moving Forward Leadership Podcast?  Follow Moving Forward Leadership FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn Join our Leadership Community Tired of not having a community to discuss leadership with? Well then join our FREE online community where we discuss leadership on a deep and daily basis.  Get in touch Need help and want to discuss options with me? Then simply book a discovery call and lets talk on how we can move you forward! Have Ideas?  If you have ideas for guests, topics for Monday Leadership Minute, or simply to say hello, then shoot me an email.  Leadership to your Inbox! Sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and see w

Feedback is a crucial took to ensure that your team and organization are on the right course. Like a plan flying from Toronto to London, UK, regular feedback is required to keep everyone on the right path. Yet so many leaders and organizations fail to either provide this crucial information or to do it in a manner which is beneficial. It's time to fix that! Topics During this episode I discuss the following topics: How feedback helps to achieve peak performanceThe different types of feedbackWhat feedback should beWhat to avoid when giving feedbackA framework when giving or accepting feedback For the complete show notes be sure to check out our website: https://movingforwardleadership.com/179

In many areas around the world, women still struggle to reach the same level as their male counterparts. Even in the western world, we just celebrated the election of the first female Vice President of the United States. Yet there is an ever increasing number of women in the workplace. It’s time for us as leaders to recognize this inequity and help women to reach the levels which they deserve.  Mandy Cavanaugh’s passion for leadership, entrepreneurship, and helping people thrive has fueled her roles as CEO, consultant, and facilitator. Her businesses have spanned global lodging logistics, land development, manufacturing, corporate leadership seminars, and turnaround consulting.  Mandy succeeds in highly competitive environments by connecting each of her team members to their best future self. She holds various coaching certifications and has conducted seminars on high performance, authentic success, conscious language, imagination activation, conflict resolution, corporate soul retrieval, CEO-ship for start

Welcome to the Monday Leadership Minute. This just a quick and dirty weekly segment where I talk about whatever leadership topic is ongoing or in my mind. If you have something you would like to hear during this segment, be sure to reach out to me via: scott@movingforwardleadership.com There are no show notes for these, just enjoy. Subscribe to Moving Forward Leadership Love the Moving Forward Leadership Podcast?  Follow Moving Forward Leadership FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn Join our Leadership Community Tired of not having a community to discuss leadership with? Well then join our FREE online community where we discuss leadership on a deep and daily basis.  Get in touch Need help and want to discuss options with me? Then simply book a discovery call and lets talk on how we can move you forward! Have Ideas?  If you have ideas for guests, topics for Monday Leadership Minute, or simply to say hello, then shoot me an email.  Leadership to your Inbox! Sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and see w

Culture is the biggest topic in the world right now - and the number one determinant of organizational success - yet it’s often put in the ‘too hard to change’ basket. For too long leaders have applied lip service responses or quick-fix solutions to culture change that don't actually affect behaviour change or else provide any improvements to people’s working lives. This needs to change. Workplace culture specialist and best-selling author Colin D Ellis provides a practical culture toolkit of 26 tried and tested ideas that you can put into practice right now, regardless of where people are based. It’s through these simple and actionable ideas that over time can transform the way that work gets done. From emails to book clubs and meetings to podcasts, Ellis shows readers how to take regular steps to build a fantastic work culture that everyone wants to be a part of. Changing your culture doesn’t need to be hard, and Culture Hacks empowers you with the actions needed to transform your working day so that you’

Welcome to the Monday Leadership Minute. This just a quick and dirty weekly segment where I talk about whatever leadership topic is ongoing or in my mind. If you have something you would like to hear during this segment, be sure to reach out to me via: scott@movingforwardleadership.com There are no show notes for these, just enjoy. Subscribe to Moving Forward Leadership Love the Moving Forward Leadership Podcast?  Follow Moving Forward Leadership FacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn Join our Leadership Community Tired of not having a community to discuss leadership with? Well then join our FREE online community where we discuss leadership on a deep and daily basis.  Get in touch Need help and want to discuss options with me? Then simply book a discovery call and lets talk on how we can move you forward! Have Ideas?  If you have ideas for guests, topics for Monday Leadership Minute, or simply to say hello, then shoot me an email.  Leadership to your Inbox! Sign up for our Monthly Newsletter and see w

Trust isn’t something we typically think of as having an economic value. But scratch the surface behind the numbers appearing on any company’s balance sheet and trust — or a lack of it — appears everywhere. When trust increases, so do output, morale, retention, innovation and loyalty. Conversely, a lack of trust is a company’s single biggest expense.  At the core, problems are never about leadership, communication, sales, marketing or even finances. Every issue falls under one or more of the “8 Pillars of Trust.” These pillars correspond to eight specific traits that the most trusted leaders, brands and organizations have in common. The good news is that trust can be learned, practiced and profitable — with astonishing results.  David Horsager, MA, CSP, CPAE, is the CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute, Trust Expert in Residence at High Point University, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Trust Edge. David has advised leaders and delivered life-changing presentations on six continents, with

Leadership and leaders can stagnate just like companies. From time to time we leaders must challenge ourselves in new ways to ensure that we are still growing as a leader and person. From 1 February 2021 and for 75 days straight I did just that. I and a group of 15 men took on Andy Frisella's "75 Hard Challenge." For a total of 75 days straight we had to: Drink no alcoholcomplete 2 x 45 minute workoutsFollow a meal plan with no cheatingDrink a US Gallon of waterRead 10 pages of a self-improvement bookTake a progress picture To say that this was a challenge would be an understatement, after all it was not "75 EASY" but 75 Hard. In this episode I go through the lessons I learned through this journey. Topics During this episode I discuss the following topics: What 75 Hard isWhy having a plan is crucialImpacts of decisions and actionsSupport a team is crucialManaging your own expectationsLearning to fail gracefully For the complete show notes be sure to check out our website: https://movingforwardleadershi