Legal Grounds | Serban Mare
12/13/23 • 51 min
When it comes to any sort of formal training, it’s easy for leaders to lose sight of the fact that there is an unavoidable power dynamic.
And as the person who ‘knows’ what they're doing, having to correct or explain what seems obvious is a recipe for frustration - no matter how good the leader.
But while getting frustrated is a natural emotion, for leaders there is the added complication of turning that difficult moment into a teachable one.
Or at least, that should be the goal
Unfortunately, when that power dynamic is forgotten, some observation or suggestion the leader may intend to be constructive can come off as judgment.
Now there are plenty of practical things we as leaders can do to make sure we’re helping people fail-forward, many of which we’ve talked about on this podcast.
Things like using an appropriate tone of voice, asking questions instead of declaring our opinions as fact, and of course, putting ourselves in the other person's shoes.
But as my guest today so wisely points out, when it comes to criticism versus judgment, oftentimes the only thing separating the two is Trust.
Does the person receiving the advice trust that it’s coming from someone who wants them to succeed?
And vice versa, does the person giving the advice trust that the person receiving it is in fact doing their best?
This is one of the many topics we tackle with this week’s guest.
Serban Mare is an Engineering Program Manager with 18 years of experience leading cross-functional teams in the semiconductor industry through multimillion-dollar projects.
He came to the United States from Romania at the age of 23 with $200 and within 10 years he had the red-brick house, a job he enjoyed, and a wife he loves.
But despite achieving the “American Dream,” Serban realized he craved deeper meaning and fulfillment.
Today we’ll discuss that journey; one which has led Serban to become a Professional Speaker, Certified CBT Practitioner, frequent podcast guest, and Life Coach who believes in continuously refining his communication and leadership skills to connect with diverse audiences effectively.
Enjoy the Show!
When it comes to any sort of formal training, it’s easy for leaders to lose sight of the fact that there is an unavoidable power dynamic.
And as the person who ‘knows’ what they're doing, having to correct or explain what seems obvious is a recipe for frustration - no matter how good the leader.
But while getting frustrated is a natural emotion, for leaders there is the added complication of turning that difficult moment into a teachable one.
Or at least, that should be the goal
Unfortunately, when that power dynamic is forgotten, some observation or suggestion the leader may intend to be constructive can come off as judgment.
Now there are plenty of practical things we as leaders can do to make sure we’re helping people fail-forward, many of which we’ve talked about on this podcast.
Things like using an appropriate tone of voice, asking questions instead of declaring our opinions as fact, and of course, putting ourselves in the other person's shoes.
But as my guest today so wisely points out, when it comes to criticism versus judgment, oftentimes the only thing separating the two is Trust.
Does the person receiving the advice trust that it’s coming from someone who wants them to succeed?
And vice versa, does the person giving the advice trust that the person receiving it is in fact doing their best?
This is one of the many topics we tackle with this week’s guest.
Serban Mare is an Engineering Program Manager with 18 years of experience leading cross-functional teams in the semiconductor industry through multimillion-dollar projects.
He came to the United States from Romania at the age of 23 with $200 and within 10 years he had the red-brick house, a job he enjoyed, and a wife he loves.
But despite achieving the “American Dream,” Serban realized he craved deeper meaning and fulfillment.
Today we’ll discuss that journey; one which has led Serban to become a Professional Speaker, Certified CBT Practitioner, frequent podcast guest, and Life Coach who believes in continuously refining his communication and leadership skills to connect with diverse audiences effectively.
Enjoy the Show!
Previous Episode
Legal Grounds | Bunny Young
We talk a lot on the show about the risks we have to take if we want to develop ourselves both professionally and personally.
We use phrases like "taking a leap of faith" or "hit the ground running" to describe the uncertainty and urgency that comes with those risks, but for most of us they don't carry any actual physical danger.
Now sure, you may have been on a retreat where you participated in something like a trust-fall.
But my guest today has a unique insight into the teamwork and preparation needed to take EXTREME risks.
Like lighting-someone-on-fire-and-pushing-them-off-a-building risks.
Bunny Young is a former stuntwoman turned serial entrepreneur and the founder of A Better Place Consulting.
She earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and has gone on to help clients of every size or level tackle dissatisfaction by creating the spaces needed for positive change.
A Licensed Professional Counselor, Bunny is now a business coach and retreat facilitator whose clients include Fortune 50 companies and C-suite leaders.
This is one of those conversations that I never could have planned and included meditations on the nature of work, leadership, and parenthood.
At the end of the day, I would say this conversation is about how leaving a legacy involves building a much different kind of capital than you might think.
Enjoy the show.
Next Episode
Legal Grounds | Holiday Light-Roast
As we come up on the Holidays, there’s a good chance you’re scrambling for at least one last-minute gift.
It’s such a cliche that it’s become a comedic trope, but behind the joke is the very heartfelt fact that we don’t want others to feel left out.
But instead of thinking about the things we get from others, I want to reflect on what we can give ourselves when we decide, not to add, but to SUBTRACT from our lives.
So for this week’s episode, let’s talk about the art of letting go.
Happy Holidays and enjoy the show.
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