Host Christi Scarrow is joined by Tracy Nolan, Senior Vice President at Humana and Board Member at Dress for Success, who discusses her leadership journey, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual motivations and respecting different career goals. She highlights the value of listening and asking questions to foster understanding. Nolan shares a story about a goose that illustrates how you might be missing what truly matters to people. She also stresses the significance of providing and receiving feedback, noting that tough conversations are crucial for growth. Nolan advises leaders to balance their time between doing, managing, and leading, and to have regular check-ins with their teams for better performance and development.

Action Items

-Reflect on where you are spending your time as a leader - doing, managing, or leading.

-Allow time to truly listen to, hear and act upon employee concerns, especially during times of change.

-Schedule regular 1-on-1 check-ins with your team members, even if you don't have specific agenda items.

-Seek out feedback, including 360-degree feedback, to identify areas for your own personal growth and development.

Outline

Early Career Lessons and Initial Leadership Challenges

-Tracy shares an early career lesson from her time in retail, emphasizing the importance of understanding different motivations within a team.

-Tracy recounts a story about pre-judging a colleague's work ethic, learning that not everyone has the same career ambitions.

-Christi relates to Tracy's experience, discussing the challenge of judging others based on personal ambitions.

The Importance of Listening in Leadership

-Tracy discusses the importance of listening as a key leadership skill, emphasizing the need to seek understanding.

-Christi agrees, noting the common mistake of new managers who feel they need to set the scene and give directions.

-Tracy shares a story about holding weekly open calls during a company transition, highlighting the value of listening to team concerns.

-She recounts a specific example where a team's concern about a goose in the parking lot led to a positive outcome, illustrating the impact of listening.

Handling Tough Conversations and Feedback

-Tracy talks about the challenges of having tough conversations with senior leaders, sharing a story about a leader with a temper.

-She explains how providing feedback can lead to positive changes, even if it is initially met with resistance.

-Christi and Tracy discuss the importance of feedback as a gift, even if it is initially difficult to accept.

-Tracy shares her experience with a recent 360-degree feedback process, emphasizing the value of continuous learning and development.

Balancing Doing, Managing, and Leading

-Tracy advises leaders to assess where they are spending their time between doing, managing, and leading.

-She suggests using a simple exercise to track time spent in these areas and adjust accordingly.

-Tracy emphasizes the importance of regular one-on-one check-ins with team members to ensure open communication.

-Christi agrees, noting that reflecting on time allocation can help improve team performance and reduce dysfunction.

Final Thoughts on Leadership Journey

-Tracy concludes by emphasizing that leadership is a continuous journey, requiring continuous learning and self-improvement.

-She encourages leaders to help their teams learn and grow, which will lead to better results and a more fulfilling experience.

-The conversation ends with a mutual appreciation for the importance of effective leadership and continuous improvement.

Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: TBD

Lighthouse NINE Group: Website

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74

Host Christi Scarrow talks to Preet Makkar, the Head of Human Resources at Haleon, who emphasizes authenticity in leadership. She discusses managing personal and professional stressors, advocating for emotional regulation and self-awareness. Preet highlights how leaders' emotional states impact employee retention, noting how negativity can increase turnover. She stresses candid conversations, prepared feedback, and continuous growth through self-reflection and mentorship. She underscores vulnerability in building trust and effective leadership.

Action Items

-Engage in personal reflection and understand your triggers to get “out of the box”

-Prepare for difficult conversations with specific examples and clear impact.

-Schedule feedback when the recipient is in the right frame of mind.

-Follow up after feedback to address questions or concerns.

-Embrace positive feedback to identify strengths.

-Reflect on triggering feedback for growth.

Outline

Lessons in Authentic Leadership

-Preet stresses being an authentic leader and staying true to oneself.

-Christi notes leadership's complexity due to maintaining an image.

-Preet discusses challenges of staying present amid pressures.

Emotional Regulation and Triggers

-Preet highlights how personal struggles impact leadership and the importance of being present as a leader.

-Preet explains the concept of "going into the box" and its negative emotional effects and the financial and engagement risks of prolonged negativity.

Building Trust and Self-Awareness

-Preet emphasizes self-awareness and self-reflection in leadership.

-Preet stresses work-life integration and self-investment post-pandemic.

Vulnerability and Emotional Trust

-Preet shares a personal story, drawing leadership parallels to parenting. She highlights the need for openness and vulnerability's role in building trust.

-Preet reflects on generational attitudes toward vulnerability and stresses that vulnerability fosters emotional trust.

-Christi shares lessons from good and bad managers.

Handling Difficult Conversations

-Preet stresses the importance of candid conversations at work and at home.

-She shares the quote that “avoiding difficult conversations is trading in short term discomfort, for long term dysfunction.”

-Preet advises preparing for conversations with clarity and timing.

Balancing Support and Psychological Safety

-Christi and Preet discuss balancing support and psychological safety.

-Preet critiques the "s*** sandwich" feedback approach and dvocates for clear, specific, and prepared feedback conversations.

-She emphasizes follow-up and continuous discussions for growth.

Receiving and Embracing Feedback

-Christi asks about making feedback easier to receive.

-Preet stresses embracing positive feedback and strength and shares a story about a triggering word and dealing with unresolved issues.

-She advises thanking people for honest feedback and using it for growth.

Self-Awareness and Continuous Development

-Christi asks her to discuss the role of self-awareness in development.

-Preet highlights learning through experiences and mentorship and encourages embracing feedback for self-improvement.

-She warns against treating feedback as mere theory without action.

Final Thoughts on Leadership

-Emphasizes leadership as a responsibility and a chance for growth.

-Encourages leaders to take their role seriously and be memorable.

Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: Haleon

Lighthouse NINE Group: Web page

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74