In this episode, Rob Adams emphasizes the critical role of people development in effective leadership. He discusses how great leaders prioritize the growth of their team members, sharing insights from Rosalind Brewer's leadership journey. The conversation highlights actionable strategies for fostering development, such as creating learning moments and providing real-time feedback. Ultimately, Adams encourages leaders to focus on building a legacy through the empowerment of others.

takeaways

• Leadership is about building people for the future.
• Great leaders prioritize the development of their team.
• Rosalind Brewer exemplifies effective people development.
• Diversity in leadership leads to stronger teams.
• Development is a continuous process, not a one-time event.
• 94% of employees prefer companies that invest in their growth.
• Feedback and trust are essential for growth.
• Small steps in development can lead to significant impact.
• Leadership is about leaving a legacy of empowered individuals.
• Investing in others multiplies your impact.

titles

• Grow People, Grow the Future
• The Legacy of Leadership

Sound Bites

• "Grow people, grow the future."
• "Feedback equals incredible growth."
• "Start small, but start now."

Chapters

00:00

The Importance of People Development in Leadership

03:41

Rosalind Brewer: A Case Study in Leadership Development

06:37

Actionable Tips for Developing Your Team

07:51

A Student of Leadership Outro.wav

In this episode of A Student of Leadership, Rob Adams discusses the critical role of feedback in leadership. He emphasizes that feedback should be constructive and aimed at helping individuals grow rather than pointing out flaws. Using Pixar's Brain Trust as an example, he illustrates how a culture of open and honest feedback can lead to greater creativity and success. Adams provides practical strategies for giving effective feedback, encouraging leaders to be specific, balanced, and to create a safe environment for dialogue. He concludes with a challenge for listeners to practice giving and receiving feedback as a means of continuous learning and development.



takeaways

• Feedback is about helping people get better.
• Great feedback builds trust and support.
• The Brain Trust at Pixar exemplifies effective feedback.
• Feedback should focus on the work, not the person.
• Specific feedback is more effective than general comments.
• Balance positive feedback with areas for growth.
• Creating a safe space for feedback is essential.
• Feedback is a two-way street; invite responses.
• Leaders should always be curious and eager to learn.
• Feedback is a behavior that improves with practice.

titles

• Mastering the Art of Feedback
• Building Trust Through Honest Conversations

Sound Bites

• "Feedback fuels your growth."
• "Great leaders never stop learning."
• "Help others rise through feedback."

Chapters

00:00

The Importance of Feedback in Leadership

03:38

Creating a Culture of Trust and Honesty

06:58

Practical Strategies for Effective Feedback

07:03

A Student of Leadership Outro.wav

In this episode, Rob Adams discusses the critical role of sponsorship in leadership, emphasizing its transformative power compared to traditional mentoring. He shares insights on how sponsorship can significantly impact career advancement, particularly for underrepresented groups. The conversation includes actionable steps for leaders to become effective sponsors, highlighting the importance of advocating for hidden talents and creating opportunities for others.

Takeaways

Sponsorship is a crucial leadership behavior that can change careers.

Mentoring is helpful, but sponsorship is transformational.

Performance alone won't lead to promotions; advocacy is essential.

Great leaders create opportunities for others.

Sponsorship requires intentionality and effort from leaders.

People with sponsors are significantly more likely to advance in their careers.

The absence of sponsorship creates systematic barriers in organizations.

Leaders should actively seek out hidden stars in their teams.

Sponsorship involves advocating for others in key situations.

Building a culture of sponsorship fosters collective growth and leadership.

Sound bites

"Sponsorship is transformational."

"Your influence is meant to be used."

"Pick one person you believe in."

Chapters

00:00 The Power of Sponsorship

03:43 Transformational Leadership: Beyond Mentoring

06:21 Practical Steps to Become a Sponsor

06:50 A Student of Leadership Outro.wav

In this episode, Rob Adams discusses the transformative power of mentoring in leadership. He shares a poignant story about a cafeteria worker, Denise, who mentored a struggling student, Maria, helping her realize her potential and achieve her dream of becoming a nurse. The conversation emphasizes that mentoring is about investing in others, building confidence, and fostering relationships rather than merely providing advice. Rob outlines key habits for effective mentoring, encouraging leaders to notice potential in others, ask insightful questions, and maintain consistent support.

takeaways

• Mentoring is about investing in someone else's future.
• Great mentors transfer wisdom, build confidence, and shape character.
• Mentoring is a mindset, not just a program.
• Focus on those who doubt their potential.
• Mentors call people up to become more than they believe they can be.
• Mentorship benefits both the mentor and mentee.
• Effective mentoring involves noticing, inviting, and supporting.
• Ask questions rather than giving advice.
• Consistency is key in mentoring relationships.
• Great leaders multiply their impact through mentoring.

titles

• The Power of Mentoring in Leadership
• Transforming Lives Through Mentorship

Sound Bites

• "Mentoring isn't about giving advice."
• "Great mentors don't just teach skills."
• "You just don't know it yet. But I do."

Chapters

00:00

The Essence of Mentoring

04:09

The Impact of Mentorship

06:16

Habits of a Meaningful Mentor

08:56

A Student of Leadership Outro.wav

In this micro-podcast, Rob Adams discusses the transformative power of coaching in leadership. He emphasizes that coaching is not about fixing people but unlocking their potential and fostering growth. Through the story of Coach Taylor and Eli, he illustrates how trust and presence can lead to significant change. Adams distinguishes coaching from managing, highlighting the importance of intentionality and empathy in coaching practices. He shares practical habits for effective coaching and underscores the human element of coaching and mentoring in developing future leaders.

takeaways

• Coaching is about unlocking potential, not fixing people.
• Presence and trust are key components of effective coaching.
• Coaching is slower and more deliberate than managing.
• Great coaches support and challenge without rescuing.
• Coaching leads to higher employee engagement and retention.
• Asking questions is more effective than giving answers.
• Microfeedback can enhance coaching effectiveness.
• Investing time in individuals fosters growth and connection.
• Coaching is a human leadership behavior that impacts lives.
• Great leaders are made through consistent habits.

titles

• Unlocking Potential: The Art of Coaching
• Transformative Leadership Through Coaching

Sound Bites

• "Coaching isn't about fixing people."
• "Ask before you tell."
• "Invest in one person a week."

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to Leadership and Social Connection

02:14

The Power of Coaching in Leadership

05:40

Distinguishing Coaching from Managing

08:07

Practical Coaching Habits for Leaders

10:54

A Student of Leadership Outro.wav

In this episode of the Micro Podcast, Rob Adams discusses the critical leadership habit of decisiveness. He emphasizes that effective leaders do not wait for perfect clarity but take timely and confident action, even in uncertain situations. Through a real-life story of a school principal who made a bold decision during a storm, Rob illustrates the importance of decisiveness in leadership. He also addresses the negative impact of indecision on teams and provides practical habits to cultivate decisiveness, encouraging leaders to own their decisions and communicate clearly to build trust and momentum.

takeaways

• Decisiveness separates passive managers from confident leaders.
• The best leaders don't wait for perfect clarity.
• Decisiveness is about timely, confident action.
• Indecision spreads fast and can erode team trust.
• Visibility in leadership is crucial, even when quiet.
• Decisive leaders drive momentum and direction.
• Define your filters to guide decision-making.
• Own your decisions to build accountability and trust.
• Even imperfect decisions are better than indecision.
• Great leaders are made one habit at a time.

titles

• The Art of Decisiveness in Leadership
• Leading with Confidence: The Decisive Leader

Sound Bites

• "Are you leading with clarity or fear?"
• "Indecision spreads fast."
• "Decisiveness drives momentum."

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to Decisiveness in Leadership

02:35

The Power of Decisive Leadership

06:10

Visibility and Credibility in Decision Making

08:17

Building Daily Decision-Making Habits

09:45

Action, Challenge and Conclusion

10:26

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In this episode of the Student of Leadership Micro Podcast, Rob Adams discusses the essential habit of collaboration, emphasizing its role in multiplying talent, building trust, and achieving extraordinary outcomes. He shares a compelling story about the Miracle on the Hudson to illustrate the power of teamwork under pressure. The conversation delves into the difference between real collaboration and mere compliance, offering actionable habits for leaders to foster a collaborative environment. The episode concludes with a call to action for leaders to embrace collaboration as a mindset and culture.

takeaways

• Collaboration is about building something together that no one could build alone.
• Great leaders bring people into the conversation, not just the room.
• Real collaboration requires trust, openness, and valuing diverse voices.
• A team that can disagree and respectfully debate can solve anything together.
• Organizations that prioritize collaboration perform significantly better.
• Model shared credit and celebrate team success publicly.
• Schedule time for collaboration to ensure it happens.
• Invite differing views early in the decision-making process.
• Listening to quieter voices can enhance collaboration.
• Collaboration is a habit, mindset, and culture that transforms teams.

Sound Bites

• "That's collaboration under pressure."
• "Shared effort creates shared success."
• "Model shared credit, use 'we' more than 'I'."

Chapters

00:00

The Power of Collaboration

03:10

Real Collaboration vs. Compliance

05:12

Habits for Collaborative Leadership

07:10

Collaboration as a Mindset and Culture

07:49

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In this episode of A Student of Leadership, Rob Adams discusses the critical role of innovation in leadership. He emphasizes that innovation is not just about groundbreaking ideas but about fostering a culture where teams feel safe to experiment and learn from their mistakes. By creating an environment of psychological safety, leaders can encourage their teams to share ideas and take risks, ultimately leading to continuous improvement and growth. Adams provides practical strategies for leaders to cultivate innovation within their teams, highlighting the importance of celebrating attempts and fostering curiosity.

takeaways

• Innovation is about making things better every day.
• Great leaders build environments where curiosity beats comfort.
• At WD-40, they call failures 'learning moments'.
• Psychological safety is crucial for innovation.
• Leaders should respond positively to new ideas.
• Innovation requires a safe space for creativity.
• Teams often have ideas but lack permission to pursue them.
• Celebrate small risks and attempts, not just wins.
• Curiosity can be developed as a routine.
• Innovation is a leadership habit, not a genius requirement.

titles

• Fostering Innovation in Leadership
• Creating a Culture of Curiosity

Sound Bites

• "They call them learning moments."
• "Innovation isn't about being brilliant."
• "Celebrate attempts, not just wins."

Chapters

00:00

The Essence of Innovation in Leadership

03:45

Creating a Culture of Psychological Safety

06:45

Encouraging Continuous Improvement and Experimentation

07:25

A Student of Leadership Outro.wav