Last Week's Leadership Lessons - February 17, 2025
John M. Jaramillo, MBA, MSOP
Leadership Performance Coach & Consultant | Leadership Design & Branding | Podcast Host??| Executive Advisor | Freelance Writer ?? | Speaker
Lessons From The Week of February 10th
?? Last Week's Leadership Lessons (LWLL) - Like, Share, Subscribe! ??
This Week: 1. What's Holding You Back? / 2. Phrases Of The Mentally Strong / 3. Be Kinder To Yourself
Reader's Heads-Up! If you've been here before, you know the drill. Please feel free to jump right on ahead to the numbered list of stories. If not, read from here on to understand what I'm trying to capture in the Last Week's Leadership Lessons (LWLL) series.
Talking about leadership can be repetitive and boring as hell!
We're always seeing and hearing the same old definitions, constructs, and formal tips related to and regurgitated about the leadership field, every so often punctuated by a perpetually rotating door of the latest industry buzzwords.
Even with all its great energy and intention, the themes and hopes of the leadership discipline, admittedly, can become a little monotonous -- without great stories and living examples to wake them up.
(Granted, I post about them as well. Guilty. So I guess maybe I mean "overkill." The?overkill?of your run-of-the-mill leadership ideas is what I'm trying to supplement -- and maybe unlock -- here through more unique takes and lenses.)
Hence why I launched this series.
The way the world is going, I think it's essential to think about and take in more lessons on humanity in general than leadership specifically.
In this series, I want to capture themes and ideas for leadership -- while being particularly cautious that they not be necessarily conveyed as leadership lessons in the articles or sources I cite. I want to find examples that demonstrate more lessons about HUMANITY than the usual script of clichéd leadership building blocks.
The way the world is going, I think it's essential to think about and take in more lessons on humanity in general than leadership specifically. And it's not like I'm forsaking one for the other; the former should inform and be the foundation for the latter. (That's just me. That's just my take.)
And to be clear, these valuable lessons, as I express them, aren't carved in stone. My translations aren't absolute. They can't be. It's not that simple. I think that's what gets us in trouble when it comes to learning (or not) about society and each other: Most issues are typically seen as black and white, left and right, up and down, one side or the other. But again, it's not that simple. Not everything can be. We force it to be that way.
In most instances -- not all, but in most -- there is room for interpretation and different ideas and views to be exchanged somewhere on the middle ground. More nuance exists than we typically see -- or will admit.
And in that nuance there's beauty. Because in that nuance we can learn from each other. And because of that nuance, each of my interpretations is just one option for consideration in that middle ground of learning.
All that being said, below are three articles I came across last week that have valuable lessons for leadership, purpose, and expression. In reading these pieces, you may find the lessons for leadership do not immediately stand out or reveal themselves -- and that's because lessons can range from the loud, obvious, and obnoxious to the subtle, unassuming, and hidden. In my breakdowns below I'll first cover the idea In General and then it's applicability In Leadership.
...it never hurts to continue learning from your fellow human beings, whether you know them or not.
And although the source materials are not all leadership-related per se, they can all apply to leadership -- in terms of how you present yourself, navigate through life and work, and move, impact, inspire, and appreciate others.
Even if you feel you've already crafted your leadership to where you want it to be and the results clearly show it -- where others can get behind them and vouch for you -- it never hurts to continue learning from your fellow human beings, whether you know them or not.
Gestures, speeches, action, inaction, decisions, announcements, etc. They all tie in.
So bear with me. Some of them might seem like a stretch. But have some faith that I may be crazy -- but not?too?crazy.
This practice is merely effort to learn about ourselves, where we can improve, and how we can evolve.
Lessons are everywhere
1. What’s Holding You Back?
In General
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I've made the realization that the scariest thing to face in life is yourself. It's not someone else, any organization you work for, or the competitor you're performing against. It's you. Nothing else can bring upon you as much as you fear in your mind.
COVID, for me, was the main marker of that realization because everything was upended and uncertain. Because of that uncertainty, our conversations were deeper, more meaningful, and very transparent -- if each of us was open enough. Due to the nature of my podcast, The Book Leads, I couldn't help but be open with people who were open with me. And that cracked the flood gate of emotion and understanding about my past wide open.
"They were timid, unsure, not confident, self-sabotaging, or gave themselves no credit."
In Leadership
Don't get me wrong, bosses and organizations can hold you back. They may lack the vision to see what you bring to the table, opting not to invest in you (or promote you) as much as you feel they should. But most of the issues clients have brought up in their leadership coaching sessions, in the end, turned out to be them holding themselves back.
They were timid, unsure, not confident, self-sabotaging, or gave themselves no credit. They were caving to their insecurities. They were stopping themselves. Most times, it was merely a matter of them realizing that and determining they were not going to operate under those feelings, deciding instead to get out of their head to get ahead.
How much of what is holding you back really YOU?
Check Out The Article HERE!
Applicable Past LWLL Editions: Below are three applicable editions that tie into the article and topic above through the bolded/italicized topic in each. If you're not sure how the topic below ties into the concept above, reach out to me and let me know.
2. Phrases Of The Mentally Strong
In General
We always think we know ourselves well. We operate in survival mode. We believe, if we've made it to the current moment in pretty good shape, we must be doing something right. So, if it ain't broke...
But there's always space to work on and understand ourselves. Even though we might be successful, we could be asking questions of ourselves--going back and debriefing on our actions, mindsets, and thoughts that have lead to now, whether they're conscious or subconscious--to re-evaluate how our thoughts have impacted our progress.
"We can either talk ourselves into the winner's circle or back to the end of the line."
In Leadership
This list is a good reminder to check those inner conversations with yourself and consider what they sound like and what comes out of them. This article is just one set of examples, and it's based on the mentally strong. It doesn't hurt, though, to consider which ones resonate with us from this list and ask Why?
Again, we move through life, work, and leadership so quickly in reactive mode, we rarely, unless prompted, stop to break down our thinking and how we're assessing and addressing ourselves. How we talk to ourselves dictates what results we get out of ourselves. We can either talk ourselves into the winner's circle or back to the end of the line.
What kind of language do you use with yourself? What kind of results does that get you?
Check Out The Article HERE!
Applicable Past LWLL Editions
3. Be Kinder To Yourself
In General
In the same vein as Who's Holding You Back? and Phrases Of The Mentally Strong is Be Kinder To Yourself. All three can go hand in hand...in hand. It's all about how you address -- and what you think of -- yourself.
This isn't about being extra easy on yourself, with no accountability or checks to get you motivated to your best performance. This is about merely respecting yourself and avoiding overbearing negative self-talk. There's an unintended but powerful undercurrent to these three items in this edition: You are the one who decides whether you move forward or fall back.
"You are the one who decides whether you move forward or fall back."
In Leadership
Leadership is high-pressure. There are a lot of eyes watching us, in addition to pressure to overcome. So much of that outside pressure we feel we put on ourselves, internalizing it, which only weakens us for the next call-up we get when we're asked to deliver more.
This isn't about taking the easy road or giving yourself a pass. What doesn't work out should be analyzed in order to learn what can be done differently to achieve a better outcome. After a goal is missed, a presentation botched, or a ball dropped, the hard work of recovery and learning begins. You can wallow in the disappointment for a bit; it's whether you stay there for long or not that helps determine what you achieve next.
How do you make sure you're not disrespecting or degrading yourself in your self-talk?
Check Out The Article HERE!
Applicable Past LWLL Editions
Honorable Mention - The Red Flag Of Insecurity
In Leadership
Leaders need to make known what they've accomplished and what they're good at. So many clients of mine perform for their organizations without taking credit for the value they bring to the table. Even if the performance is a fact (and not opinion), where the numbers are speaking to success achieved and goals met, some leaders still feel uncomfortable mentioning their role in that win.
The right kind of brag hits a balance between taking our place in the circle of contribution and taking too much credit from others. For leaders, the power of the right brag later can be seeded in the culture leading up to it today, where credit is always given where due, the right environment is created for celebration, and each person is encouraged to take pride in their wins. People need to share how good they know they really are while also understanding their part in the bigger mission and group.
What might be the red flags (in this case, of insecurity) you're waving from your point of view in the circles where you operate?
Check Out The Article HERE!
Applicable Past LWLL Editions
Honorable Mention - Work Flow Design
In Leadership
The state of Flow is amazing. I highly recommend everyone try to look for it. I can't say there's any other feeling like it. Here's how I describe it in an upcoming book: "Through the power of Flow I achieve while writing--when I’m in that ultra-focused, unstoppable, and unrelenting zone of creation--I get lost in the words and story I'm weaving." It's like the debate scene in the movie Old School. In it, Will Ferrell's buffoonish character, Frank, comes out of a trance-like state after a winning debate performance, asking his teammates what happened, telling them he had blacked out -- while all the time he was on point in his argument against his debate stage opponent James Carville.
Flow is one of those experiences where, if you pay attention to what's happening, you realize how much untapped power we have. That's what it feels like--you're plugged into an energy source for production where you can achieve so much more than you can when you're just reacting to what's taking place around you. It's can be intentional, raw, exhilarating.
What's your process for intentionally seeking and achieving your own state of flow?
Check Out The Article HERE!
Applicable Past LWLL Editions
That's it! Those are the main articles for this week.
What other examples of leadership lessons – maybe even those that aren’t so apparent and obvious – do you come across in your everyday life and work?
What have you read lately that offers some insight on being human and navigating life -- and yes, by default, leadership.
Reach out to me and let me know what you think of these. Please share your own if you've found articles or stories with great lessons or insights that can contribute to how we carry ourselves through our lives and work.
Okay...A Leadership Article (Or Two)
Okay, yes. I had to include an article or two I came across last week that are focused on leadership. From this section down, anything is game.
Welcome To The New Abnormal
Everything really is changing so much -- and at a fast pace. The kind of change we're seeing today uproots most if not all of the rules we've ever known. Its force is so strong in its execution that many don't know what to do with it or how to respond in kind.
It looks like it's time to create a new playbook, one that operates with agility to meet unpredictability and is less dependent on tradition and stability. There's no prescription or safe action plan to share here. Each industry has to move within its own unique periphery. This is where the true leaders will shine -- those who are flexible, open-minded, and creative with their resources.
How do you respond when your system is changed so much the landscape looks so different from what you've prepared for?
Check Out The Article HERE!
Failed Risks & Lessons Learned
A great list of reminders, especially one resulting from the failures and obstacles of others, is very valuable. We don't have to fear all of these issues will hit us at once; it's just advantageous to keep in mind the broad range of considerations.
So many of these are applicable to leadership. It's good to shake up one's thinking and mindset with new ideas as seen through someone else's lens and experience. They can bring in fresh perspective to scenarios that weren't even on your radar.
How do you learn from someone else's failed risks and lessons learned?
Check Out The Article HERE!
Last 10 LWLL Editions...
February 10, 2025 - 1. Confirmation Bias / 2. Unproblematic Competition / 3. Control Over Emotion
February 3, 2025 - 1. Relaxing After Work / 2. Wasting A Good Mistake / 3. What Do You Do?
January 27, 2025 - 1. Consume Less To Create More / 2. Doing Things Alone / 3. Rejection Sensitivity
January 20, 2025 - 1. Boosting Your Writing Skills / 2. Boundaries For Mental Health / 3. Stay Busy, Stay Useful
January 13, 2025 - 1. Neutralizing Negativity / 2. Brightsiding-Weary / 3. MURA The Clunky
January 6, 2025 - 1. Choosing Wonder Over Achievement / 2. Mental Health In The New Year / 3. Following Your Passion vs. ???
December 16, 2024 - 1. The Importance of Followership / 2. Traits of Success / 3. Disagreement Without Disrespect
December 9, 2024 - 1. Learning From Others' Mistakes / 2. Questioning Your Communication Skills / 3. At Risk of "Boreout"
November 25, 2024 - 1. Storytelling Techniques / 2. Reacting To Negative Feedback / 3. Building Self-Discipline
November 18, 2024 - 1. Stop People Pleasing / 2. Creating Your Dreams / 3. Highest Achievers, Painfully Unhappy
What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on these topics? Again, like everything else in this newsletter, the ideas here may not come to mind immediately when you think of leadership, but there's a place for them. These stories and questions ask us to consider how we see, interact with, and influence people -- and leadership is all about people. Sometimes, all it takes is a great prompt or a simple question to have us think about (or rethink) areas of our lives.
The 3-Question Rule
Check Out The Article HERE!
What A CEO Must Do Themselves
Check Out The Article HERE!
Marketing Tactics
Check Out The Article HERE!
AI vs. Burnout
Check Out The Article HERE!
Graphic Finds
Here are some graphics I came across this week that painted a great picture of a topic, breaking down information and bringing to life great considerations clearly for our understanding. A visual helps make an idea pop, allowing us to see multiple moving parts at once. As always, it may not be perfect -- including everything we'd like to see or possibly including some things we'd rather not consider. But, at the very least, it gets us thinking and talking about the topic.
The Skill/Will Matrix
I found this graphic on Infographic Insights LinkedIn group feed, posted by Zac Goodman .
Even though this matrix is labeled as a tool for teams, when I came across it, I automatically envisioned its use by an individual. How often do people say they want something, but they never go for it? They don't take any steps or make any moves in the direction of what they want.
This matrix can be considered by someone to determine where they really stand on their goals when it comes to ability versus will. This exercise, if handled honestly, can help someone discover how much they either want to move forward or need to walk away from something.
How do you REALLY work through what it takes to get what you want?
8 Stages Of A Toxic Culture That Ruin Your Company
I found this graphic on Infographic Insights LinkedIn group feed, posted by Victoria Repa .
It's incredible how leaders can become a party to these toxic environments, actions, and behaviors in the graphic. They don't work to identify the issues and change them. They seem to believe that, as long as the work is getting done (the end), the way it's getting done and the toxicity experienced along the way don't seem to matter (the means).
Even if you don't look at these and address them through a lens of common courtesy, respect, and humanity, from the business side of things, your bottom line is going to suffer. People get sick of this shit real quick. These are all textbook. People know they don't deserve them and shouldn't stand for these forms of toxicity they'll be exposed to every day.
Which of these stages is your work environment operating in?
Follow-Up On Past Editions
Here are some follow-up articles that build on, supplement, or intersect with topics covered in previous editions.
There's always a different take or angle to help us refine and build upon a discussion we've had in the past. We can bring either some reinforcement, clarity, or questions to past understandings. Because I just give you the articles and how they connect to previous editions, I leave you to figure out, much how I break down the lessons above, how to extract the lessons for your own leadership.
The Book Leads Podcast - Season 3, Episode 107: James Hipkin
Episode 107: James Hipkin & His Book, Journey to Success: Digital Marketing for Small Business Owners
James, CEO of Inn8ly and Red 8 Interactive, was a music major in college who ended up supporting and promoting bands on their national tours, including Canada rock royalty Rush. Following his work in the music industry, and after having a seed of wisdom planted in his mind by Rush's lead singer Geddy Lee, James went into advertising, eventually founding his companies specializing in digital marketing.
From music to marketing. The connection may seem random and obscure, but both are forms of expression and storytelling. From musical studies to touring promotions and operations, to advertising and digital marketing, each of those fields is about demonstrating the best of who you are and what your craft is.
Some Conversation Highlights
The MAIN QUESTION underlying my conversation with James is, Whether in your leadership or marketing, how are you stepping away from the message you want to share to ensure you're conveying it in the most thoughtful and intentional manner?
Find James
Next Up!
Episode 108: H. Jackson Calame & 5 Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni
This series has become my Masterclass In Humanity. I'd love for you to join me and see what you take away from these conversations.
Learn more about The Book Leads Podcast.
The Ultimate Guide To Leaving Your Legacy
The Ultimate Guide To Leaving Your Legacy: 22 Powerful Lessons On Leading As A Soul Professional
This is the 3rd book in the series, and my chapter (Chapter 13) entitled A Legacy Before Death: How Stories and Everyday Moments Can Inspire Us to Live Our Best Life Today, builds on what I shared in my chapter in the 2nd book.
My Legacy chapter taps into the deep conversations and powerful storytelling that have come out of my podcast, The Book Leads: Impactful Books For Life & Leadership.
Every time I finished one of my episode conversations, I'm more motivated by seeing such humanity at work all around us.
It inspires me to galvanize my legacy every day, even in the little moments and interactions.
Some might not see legacy the way I do. (I still love you, Mike!)
Thank you to Camille L. Miller, MBA, Ph.D. ABD for the invitation to join the amazing roster of authors, to Laura Di Franco and her staff on the publishing side, and to all the great authors sharing their great insights in this book.
Here's my podcast conversation with Camille covering my chapter.
About The Book Leads Podcast
On The Book Leads podcast, I speak to specialists and experts across various industries and from varied backgrounds to learn about the book that made an impact and left an impression on their work, life, and leadership. In the course of my conversation I also learn about my guest's background, experience, and work they're carrying out today.
This series has become my Masterclass In Humanity. I'd love for you to join me and see what you take away from these conversations.
Learn more about The Book Leads and listen to past episodes:
About Me
I'm a Leadership Performance Coach and Consultant at coachitout.com.?In addition to coaching, and as you can see above, I enjoy writing, podcasting, and speaking about leadership. Specifically, I work with clients to realize what they're all about when it comes to (1) new positions they've been hired or promoted into; and (2) rediscovering what they want out of their leadership, development, and career.
My signature talks include Design Your Leadership! Nine Ways to Sharpen Your Leadership Brand In The Everyday, and Platinum Networking: Designing A Unique Experience For Others In A World Of Disconnection.
Please subscribe to my newsletter Last Week's Leadership Lessons, if you haven't already!
For a FREE leadership coaching consultation call, reach out to me at [email protected].
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Storyteller | Proud mom of twins
1 周John M. Jaramillo, MBA, MSOP, be "Kinder to Yourself" resonated with me. That's a hard one to practice when you results-driven.
I help 6 and 7-figure business owners create value for their customers and their businesses by providing professionally designed websites and digital marketing grounded in strategy. ?? Experienced team
1 周Thank you for the shout-out.
Leadership Performance Coach & Consultant | Leadership Design & Branding | Podcast Host??| Executive Advisor | Freelance Writer ?? | Speaker
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