Host Christi Scarrow interviews Tara Greenwood, CFO at GoCold Solutions, about leadership lessons and coaching techniques. Tara emphasizes the shift from directing to coaching, highlighting the importance of asking questions to understand and empower team members. She advises leaders to model desired behaviors, provide feedback, and foster open dialogue. Tara stresses the need for authentic leadership, recognizing personal strengths and weaknesses, and surrounding oneself with complementary skills. Influencing organizational culture involves rewarding desired behaviors and fostering accountability. Tara concludes that effective leadership is about becoming the best version of oneself.

Action Items

-Practice asking team members “Why?” to uncover the reasons behind actions

-Observe and listen instead of providing ‘direct’ guidance

-Be authentic in your leadership and supplement your weakness with the strengths of others.

-To build accountability, role model and recognize the behaviours you want to see.

-Recognize and reward actions that align with the culture you want to build

Outline

Lessons in Coaching vs. Directing

-Tara reflects on an early career lesson, emphasizing the shift from being an expert to trusting her team.

-She explains how listening and asking questions helps the team find solutions, crucial for growth and future roles.

-Christi notes the challenge of shifting from a “doer” mindset to coaching and asks Tara about her go-to coaching questions.

Effective Coaching Techniques

-Tara recommends asking “why” to uncover the reasons behind actions.

-She highlights how questions aimed at understanding often help team members identify their own obstacles.

-Christi agrees, saying good coaches help people discover their own solutions.

-Tara adds that not knowing all the answers naturally pushes her into a coaching approach.

Helping New Managers Transition

-Tara stresses observing, giving feedback, and holding open conversations with new managers.

-She notes that managing people is a continuous learning process and personal growth journey.

-Christi calls it “messy leadership” and asks about Tara’s current challenges and strategies.

Managing Diverse Teams

-Tara discusses managing teams with varied styles and motivations.

-She values bringing together people with diverse approaches to challenge and build ideas.

-Tara shares she asks what’s important to each person, observes reactions, and keeps open conversations.

Advice for New Managers

-Tara advises being comfortable with one’s authentic leadership style, focusing on strengths, and being honest about weaknesses.

-She suggests surrounding oneself with people who complement your strengths and clarifying roles accordingly.

-Christi agrees, noting the importance of recognizing strengths and areas for improvement.

Influencing Organizational Culture

-Tara emphasizes modeling the right behaviors and rewarding actions aligned with the desired culture.

-She explains that a true culture of accountability involves individuals owning their actions.

-Christi shares her passion for accountability and agrees with Tara’s insights.

Final Thoughts on Leadership

-Tara emphasizes the importance of knowing your authentic leadership style and leaning into it.

-She believes authenticity is the key to becoming the best leader.

-Christi thanks Tara for her insights and encourages listeners to explore more leadership resources and connect with Tara.

Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: GoCold Solutions

Lighthouse NINE Group: Website

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74

Host Christi Scarrow talks to Scott Lorimer, VP of Sales at Campbell's. Scott shares leadership insights rooted in his early work at McDonald’s. He emphasizes how combining hard work with fun has been foundational in shaping his career. Lorimer reflected on the challenges of team motivation and giving feedback. He advocates for strategies that "create flight, not drag" and tailoring support to individual motivations. He underlines the importance of authenticity, consistency, humility, and humor in effective leadership. While humor can ease stress and boost morale, he noted the need for sensitivity to different personalities and situations.

Action Items

-Intentionally add humor and positivity to your leadership, while being mindful of timing and tone.
-Take time to understand individual team member motivations and provide tailored support.
-Give direct feedback in a way that encourages growth—“creating flight, not drag.”
-Stay humble and consistently seek feedback to evolve as a leader.

Outline

Scott Lorimer’s Early Career Lessons

-Scott reflects on his first job at McDonald’s, where he learned the value of working hard and having fun.
-He recounts his journey from crew to swing shift manager and how that shaped his leadership.
-He shares their mantra of “If you have time to lean, you have time to clean” which encourages people to find something to do, work hard and provide value

The Importance of Fun in Leadership

-Scott shares how humor helps him manage stress and maintain a positive team culture.
-He discusses the delicate balance between humor and sarcasm and being mindful of how humor is received.
-Christi adds her perspective on dark humor and the complexity of respecting different senses of humor.

Balancing Stress and Leadership

-Scott emphasizes staying calm and lighthearted during tough situations.
-He quotes, “Leaders get the behaviors they exhibit or tolerate,” highlighting the power of example.
-He stresses the importance of giving timely feedback that uplifts rather than demoralizes.
-A personal story illustrates how direct feedback helped him grow.

Motivating Teams and Providing Feedback

-Scott explores the difficulty of motivating teams and giving effective feedback in fast-paced environments.
-He suggests a feedback approach that blends directness with positivity.
-He stresses the importance of understanding individual motivations and investing time in team relationships
-He champions authenticity, consistency, humility, and the value of seeking feedback as a leader.

Advice for New Leaders

-New leaders should focus on enabling others to achieve results—not doing all the work themselves.
-Scott shares how early feedback helped him see the value of empowering his team.
-He stresses authenticity, self-awareness, and consistency.
-Finally, he encourages leaders to seek feedback and stay thoughtful and curious in team interactions.

Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: Campbell’s

Lighthouse NINE Group: Website

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74

Host Christi Scarrow and Judy Whittaker explore the challenges and lessons of leadership, with a focus on people management. Judy shares her evolution from entrepreneur to corporate leader, emphasizing the role of coaching and vulnerability. A pivotal conversation between the two—over 20 years ago—sparked Judy's commitment to better leadership. The discussion highlights emotional intelligence, mental health, and aligning leadership with personal values. Judy encourages leaders to embrace mentorship, ongoing learning, and open communication..

Action Items

-Read "Atomic Habits" by James Clear, "Think Like a Monk" by Jay Shetty and "The Atlas of the Heart" and "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brené Brown

-Recognize that dropping people into people roles will not set them up for success. Invest in building coaching skills for your managers and yourself.

-Develop emotional intelligence by finding a mentor that shares the same values as you

-Embrace vulnerability and ask the right questions to learn what your team needs to feel valued

Outline

Judy Whittaker's Early Leadership Challenges

-Christi introduces Judy, noting her extensive background and their long professional relationship.

-Judy reflects on moving from entrepreneurship to corporate leadership, shifting from self-reliance to managing a team.

-She recalls a key conversation with Christi that launched her journey to become a better coach and motivator.

-Christi also shares her own growth and takeaways from their shared experiences.

The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership

-Judy discusses how embracing vulnerability helped her connect with her team and grow as a leader.

-Christi highlights the difficulty of leading without prior experience and understanding team motivations.

-Judy notes many leaders are promoted for technical skills, not people skills, underscoring the need for coaching and mentoring.

-Both agree vulnerability builds trust and respect within teams.

Emotional Intelligence & Mental Health in Leadership

-Judy shares her journey of self-awareness, emphasizing emotional intelligence and mental health.

-Christi observes that younger leaders are more open to these topics than previous generations.

-Judy encourages therapy, coaching, or mentorship for leaders seeking growth.

-Both highlight the importance of self-care in balancing personal and professional responsibilities.

Building Trust & Supporting Team Members

-Judy recounts helping a volunteer feel valued, showing the power of listening and understanding.

-She stresses avoiding assumptions and instead seeking to understand what drives team behavior.

-Judy advises creating safe spaces for open dialogue.

-Vulnerability, again, is seen as key to fostering a supportive and trusting team culture.

Practical Tips for Effective Leadership

-Judy recommends staying curious, always learning, and finding trusted mentors.

-Christi shares her success with peer coaching and the value of walking meetings for authentic communication.

-Judy urges leaders to align their values with their leadership style and choose mentors who reflect those values.

-Authenticity and vulnerability are highlighted as core elements for motivating others.

Final Thoughts & Recommended Resources

-Judy reinforces the value of vulnerability and lifelong learning, sharing her go-to leadership reads.

-Christi thanks Judy, reflecting on their progress and growth over the years.

-They close by affirming the ongoing journey of leadership and the enduring importance of vulnerability.

Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: TBD

Lighthouse NINE Group: Website

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74