Welcome!

The Keep the Line Moving podcast and this newsletter focus on giving you a leadership and inspirational edge as seen through our core principles in curiosity, storytelling and self-awareness. These principles are also featured in our workshops, coaching, content creation and consulting.

Let’s make 2024 a year to learn and grow as leaders.

This Month’s Focus

The Memorable Qualities of Leadership

Which bosses do you remember and why? For many of us, they were humble, attentive, trustworthy, and took their roles seriously, but not themselves.

What about you? I’m sure your answer resonates with these qualities. They guided your growth, supported you, and defended your interests. We all aspire to be such influential leaders. However, as author Stephen R. Covey once said, “What is common sense isn’t common practice.”

It’s common sense to treat those you lead with respect, to listen to them, and to trust them. Yet, many leaders lack the self-awareness needed to connect with their team. While most mean well, they fear that connecting and empowering others will undermine their authority, make them appear weak, or hinder their ability to fulfill their duties. This perspective is misguided.

Yes, this requires more time and effort to listen and connect with your team, but the results are undeniably rewarding. So, how can you achieve this?

I’ve recently engaged in enlightening conversations on this topic with clients, former colleagues, podcast guests, and business owners. It all starts with one of the most memorable qualities of a leader – humility. Humility, coupled with confidence, is a leadership superpower because it paves the way to self-awareness.

If you believe you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re unable to see or hear anyone else. This isn’t leadership. On the other hand, humility allows you to recognize that you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. Instead, you become a student of leadership, welcoming new ideas, viewing yourself as a collaborator, and, most importantly, becoming someone worth remembering.

If you’re in a position to promote someone to a leadership role, take a moment to consider whether they’re merely focused on getting the job done or if they’re willing to put in the effort to become someone worthy of being remembered.

Leadership Observation

Speaking of memorable leaders, we hosted some remarkable guest speakers in our Senior Seminar in Leadership Course at NYU this past month.

Dana Marineau, the CMO of Rakuten , stressed the importance of open communication, accountability, and owning your mistakes. She also highlighted Rakuten’s partnership with the Golden State Warriors and the recent Q&A session she hosted with Head Coach Steve Kerr, where they discussed the significance of living and leading with your values.

Next, we had Jared George, the Vice President of Strategy & Analytics at the New York Islanders/ UBS Arena. Jared emphasized the value of taking calculated risks and learning from successes and failures, all made possible with the support of various bosses throughout his career.

Finally, Ethan B. Greenberg, Team Reporter/Producer at the New York Jets, shared his insights on becoming a leader without a formal title. He emphasized mentoring, controlling emotions, continuous learning, and valuing different perspectives.

What We’re Working On…

Does your company or organization prioritize employee learning and development? I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with some organizations that get it. They recognize that this commitment to improvement gives them a competitive edge, particularly in leadership development.

Gallup’s research into well-being at work finds that having a job you hate is worse than being unemployed (2022). Leadership is challenging, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. People require different styles of leadership. Understanding each individual’s needs, how they process information and learn, and what motivates them, requires skill. We all agree that our most valuable resource is our people. Why would we leave the leadership of our most valuable asset to chance or rely solely on our “natural abilities”? People need effective leadership, and it makes good business sense.

Here are three tactics that can help you today:

1. Be curious! Ask questions and dive into curiosity mode. The first step to connecting with and understanding your team is asking questions. Learn about their goals and what motivates them.
2. Practice active listening. Truly listen to your team members without the intent to reply or prove a point. Instead, repeat back their words. Remember, you’re not paid by the word. Talk less, listen more.
3. Maintain an open mind and be adaptable. Don’t accept the status quo. Continuously observe and evaluate both the group’s dynamics and your leadership approach.

I want to thank all of you for following The Gargano Leadership Group!

Chris Gargano

Founder of The Gargano Leadership Group

#career #emergingleaders #leadership #inspiration #courage

Lastly, we would love to know who you want to hear from on the podcast. If you know a leader and someone who can inspire us, please email our Marketing Coordinator, Savin Narwal at savinn@garganoleadership.com.

How to Work with The Gargano Leadership Group:

If you lead people and want to maximize your impact – The Gargano Leadership Group is here to guide you. Whether you are a senior executive or an emerging leader, we all need help with our self-awareness and to examine how we are leading. Check out our coaching services here. To book a call, please visit https://calendly.com/garganoleadership or to get more information, email me at chrisg@garganoleadership.com.

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