Aim Higher: The podcast with purpose

Aim Higher Summer Challenge: Rediscover life outside work

As we wrap up this season of "Aim Higher," it reminds me of how much "summer" has come to be synonymous with "vacation," even decades after we move beyond school semesters and summer breaks. We think of summer and we think of fun, travel, family, and relaxation. And that's great! But many times we forget to really disconnect and recharge. As leaders, we need to care for ourselves. And that includes a healthy commitment to living  and experiencing life outside work. ​In this final, 5-minute mini-episode, I share some thoughts on how we can all get the most out of summer—even if that means taking some time to just do nothing. Thank you for listening this season, and I look forward to seeing you online, in the comments, on social media... and maybe even at the beach!

There is no success without resilience

In this episode, my panel of business experts and I discuss the importance of resilience. Not just for leadership—though we focus most of our time on that aspect—but to each of us within our business and personal lives. Nothing important was ever accomplished without making mistakes, without trial-and-error, without pushing through practice to get to performance. Weathering those storms successfully requires resilience—and it’s a skill that can be learned. Tune in for some great advice about how to do so as part of your leadership journey.  

Discovering Your Leadership Style: The Importance of Being You

There are so many traits of great leadership that aren’t, in my opinion, optional. Honesty, curiosity, integrity, drive, determination all come to mind. But you can certainly have many different types and styles of leaders who each embody all those characteristics. You can be an extrovert or an introvert. You can focus more on managing relationships or processes. You can favor creativity or analytics. In this episode of “Aim Higher” my expert panel and I discuss how your unique style of leadership can be a big part of your success. Just as long as it’s authentically “you.” Listen in for some great ideas.  

Interview with the authors of “The Vagrant,” a leadership parable

In this episode, Dan Rockwell and John David Mann join Skip to discuss their latest book collaboration, “The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership,” a parable that explores ideas of self and success in an intriguing, compelling way. The book begins with a seemingly simple incident—the main character trips over a homeless man. But this one moment leads to a journey of self-awareness and personal growth. Why should you tune in? Because this isn't just a leadership “theory.” It’s a way of thinking that can transform how you lead and live. I hope you'll join me for this lively, enlightening conversation that will challenge your perceptions and inspire your planning.  

A long-term focus on sustained success

On this week’s episode, my expert panel and I talk about how to move from single, short-term goals to a focus on long-term, sustained success. Because sustained success isn’t just about a series of individual accomplishments. It’s about maintaining a core identity of what makes you successful today, combined with stimulating progress towards the future. How do you combat complacency when things are going well? How does customer feedback fit into this kind of mindset? What kind of leadership is required to create sustained success? Hint: it takes more than planning—it takes real vision. Join us as we explore this important topic. 

Exceptional feedback—why it lowers turnover and improves profits

For many people, hearing that a manager or peer wants to “provide feedback” brings negative expectations. “They just want to complain,” or “What did I do wrong now?” may come to mind. That’s because, in many cases, leaders don’t take a holistic, long-term, organized approach to feedback. Doing so is important, because great employee feedback lowers turnover and improves everything from process to profits. Join me and my expert panel and we discuss how to create a culture where feedback—both positive and critical—is seen as an important part of work all the time.  

10 reasons to increase your leadership listening skills

In this panel discussion, my guests and I discuss the importance of listening. Obviously, it’s a skill we all need to improve—but it’s especially vital for leaders and those who aspire to leadership. I share 10 ways that listening can improve results for you and your team, and the panel reacts with their own insights and tips. If we don’t listen, we can’t learn, and great leaders never stop learning. If you “listen in” to this episode, I guarantee you’ll come away with a renewed appreciation for this skill... and with a few ideas on how to improve it during your own leadership journey. 

Interview with Scott McKain: customer experience is horizontal

I joke with my friend Scott McKain that he needs to write more books, because that gives us an excuse to get together—and our conversations are always a good time. He’s truly a gifted writer and speaker, and in today’s “Aim Higher” interview we talk about his new book, “The Ultimate Customer Experience.” While many of Scott’s books are primarily aimed at business leaders, this one is for everyone—and I do mean everyone. As Scott points out, everyone in your organization needs to be able to take responsibility for any customer’s experience. Pushing it off on someone else? Saying, “That’s not my job?” Failure to follow through? Those don’t get you to “ultimate.” Join us for a fast-paced, fun conversation on this important topic.  

Why setting goals is a crucial leadership skill

A colleague of mine once said, “If you don’t set measurable goals and you fail? You’ve lost any chance to learn. And if you succeed but don’t know why? It might as well have been luck.” We often mistake, as panelist Drew Bordas says, “activity for progress.” We’re doing stuff! We’re working hard! Things are happening! But are they the right things? If you haven’t set good, measurable goals, you just won’t know. Remember: you can get your heart pumping by running in place, but you won’t get anywhere. Listen in and get some good tips on how to set goals in different situations, and how to ensure buy in from your team. 

Interview with Hall of Fame wrestling coach Tom Ryan

We often use the word “love” when referring to our favorite sports team. But we don’t often hear it used by elite college coaches to describe their coaching style. Tom Ryan, though, isn’t your usual coach. He preaches—and practices—a leadership style rooted in truth, trust, and—most of all—love. As a Hall of Fame wrestling coach for OSU, Tom led his team to many victories because of a belief that we do our best work when we suffer for the things we love most deeply. Listen in as we discuss how that philosophy has helped him in the high-stress world of top-tier college athletics, and as he dealt with a devastating personal tragedy.