Aim Higher: The podcast with purpose

Self-Awareness: Revisiting This Important Leadership Starting Point

Skip updates this season one episode with a reminder that self-awareness is key to leadership, to teams, success, and to good relationships. Because this subject is so important, he revisits the conversation he had with leadership experts Tammi Spayde, Drew Bordas, and Elyse Wampler as they discuss practical techniques for improving self-awareness. 

How To Get Along With Difficult People

As one of our regular panelists, Drew Bordas, reminds us this week, there is a wide range of “difficult people,” and a wide range for how to get along with them. On the one hand, it’s not worth confronting a family member with a slightly irritating habit whom you only see once a year. But if you work closely, every day, with someone whose attitude and habits are challenging? It’s better to deal with the situation than put up with behavior that could be damaging both to your well-being and team productivity. Our group of experts dissects a few tricky situations like this and points out some great ways to move forward constructively. If you know any difficult people – or maybe even are one yourself—I suggest you listen in. 

The Power of Vacations

Why do Americans work so hard, so long, and vacation so little? The health, creativity, social, and productivity benefits of time off are well documented. Yet many of us feel guilty for taking a day off here-and-there, to say nothing of a week or two. In this week’s episode, my expert guests talk about why we don’t take the vacation we need and provide some strategies for how to get better at doing so. 

Handling Conflict

Nobody really enjoys conflict. But there are times it is unavoidable and even important. As a leader, you won’t be able to make positive changes, in many cases, without some conflict. But if you avoid conflict rather than dealing with it as a necessary part of business? You can make it much, much worse. My panel of leadership experts helps get to the root of problematic conflict this week, and we come to some conclusions that will help you turn conflict into contributions. 

Building Leadership Presence

How do you define “leadership presence?” How can you tell from meeting someone, working with them, listening to them speak—this person is a great leader? Ask around (as I did) and I think you’ll find that there are many different definitions. Which is OK, because there are many kinds of successful leaders. But, as my panel of experts and I discussed, there are some very similar traits that seem to be common among great leaders. Listen in and see how you can apply their ideas to your own leadership journey. 

Dealing With Fear in the Workplace

Is fear always bad? How can we safely approach and examine our fears? Can fear be useful in the workplace? How should leaders deal with fear? These are some of the questions my panel of experts discussed this week. Our conclusion? That, as a leader, you have the power to recognize that fear is often based in reality, but then quickly apply yourself, and your team, to accomplishing something because of it. In short, don’t let fear rule your leadership style, but let it inform how you approach changes and challenges.

Five secrets to lasting love with John and Ana Mann

This week I had the pleasure of talking with John David Mann and Ana Gabriel Mann, MA, co-authors of, “The Go-Giver Marriage: A Little Story About the 5 Secrets to Lasting Love.” It’s a lovely, helpful book in two parts. First, a parable about a couple who learn all about the 5 secrets duringone day. Then “the practice,” a guidebook that walks us through how the secrets work and how to practice them in your relationship. We discussed their joint writing process, and how their work together actually illustrates some of the principles in the book. They have a lot of great advice that can help with all your relationships, not just a marriage, and I know you’ll enjoy listening in.

Mail Bag Questions: Hiring and Interviews

It’s one of the most stressful parts of work for many people—the interview process. And not just for the new hire! Finding, attracting, interviewing, and bringing on new team members is a crucial and challenging role for good managers and leaders. This week, my expert panel answers questions from our listeners about interview preparation, rehiring staff who’ve left, the importance of research, and even... what to do when a new employee's parent calls in with questions!

Mail Bag Questions: Stress, Persuasion, and Blame

Have you ever had a boss who stresses you out? Do your ideas seem to fall on deaf ears? Or do you feel like you get blamed for things you didn’t do? Tune in to this week’s episode where we review questions from our listeners. My panel of business and HR experts helps unpack some tricky situations and provides insightful suggestions on how to move forward.  

Growing Your Influence with Becky Robinson

This week I got the chance to sit down with one of my favorite people, Becky Robinson, CEO of Weaving Influence. Her digital marketing agency partners with authors and other thought leaders to grow their influence online. She’s also the author of “Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message.” She shares some great advice on how to make sure that your online and offline brands are supporting each other in ways that are true to your values. If you’re looking to expand your digital presence, I highly recommend tuning in.