Strategic Edge: Applying Transformative Leadership

“Effective communication is always about shared understanding, not necessarily shared agreement.” - Ted Davis

Episode Summary:

How do grace and truth apply to leadership?
This week, your host delves into the concept of leadership and how it relates to grace and truth. Ted shares the background of his company Grace Strategic Services, and how he came up with the name for his company and explains the importance of grace and truth in leadership. Ted explores the behaviors that makeup grace, such as empathy, kindness, patience, poise, and humility, and the attributes of truth, including honesty, transparency, integrity, and accountability. Using case studies and real-life examples, Ted emphasizes the need to harmonize grace and truth in leadership.

In this episode:

• 2:20 The history and foundation of Grace Strategic Services.
• 3:50 Leadership as a relationship.
• 4:20 The definition of grace and truth: the relationship vs the facts.
• 5:30 The 5 dyads of grace.
• 11:00 The 3 dyads of truth.
• 14:30 Blending grace and truth: a visual representation of the spectrum of grace and truth.
• 18:30 Case study #1 on applying a blend of grace and truth.
• 20:00 Case study #2 on applying a blend of grace and truth.
• 21:50 Action items.

Today’s Action Items:

1. Develop an attitude of gratitude to blend grace and truth.
2. Read “The Five Graces of Life and Leadership” by Gary Burnison.
3. Read the article “This May be the Most Powerful Trait of Great Leaders” on the crowdspring website.

Get a free PDF of today’s action items! Podcast Action Items - Grace Strategic Services (grace4success.com)

Recommended Reading:

• The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes/Posner
• Good to Great by James Collins
• The Five Graces of Life and Leadership by Gary Burnison

Resources:

• This May Be The Most Powerful Trait Of Great Leaders - crowdspring Blog

Connect with Ted Davis:

• Website - Grace Strategic Services (grace4success.com)
• LinkedIn - Ted Davis
• Facebook - Ted Davis
• Instagram - @tedavisgrace

Podcast management and production by Jazzy at Premier Podcast Promotions

“We put people first. Profit is important, but we put our people first.” - Chris Dyer

Episode Summary:

Join your host Ted Davis as he discusses positive leadership with Chris Dyer, a successful entrepreneur and company culture expert. Chris shares his journey in transforming company culture, and the importance of appreciative inquiry, and outlines the seven pillars for building a great organizational culture. Ted and Chris also touch on time management, team dynamics, and radical humility.

About Chris Dyer:

Chris Dyer is a recognized company culture and remote work expert. As a former CEO managing thousands of people, his companies consistently were named a best place to work. They have also been named a fastest growing company by Inc Magazine 5 times. Chris routinely consults and speaks, and Inc Magazine ranked him as the #1 Leadership Speaker on Culture. He has three bestselling books The Power of Company Culture and Remote Work, and has been named #5 on the Leadership Power List, a Top 50 Voice in Leadership, a Top 40 Change Management Guru, a Top 50 Global Thought Leader, and a Top 50 leadership podcast, Top 50 HR Leaders Shaping the Future of Work, and a Top 101 Global Employee Engagement & Experience Influencers by Inspiring Workplaces and Work Buzz, just this year.

As a keynote speaker, his goal is to inspire audiences with a straightforward delivery, insightful candor, and engaging humor. His talks leave audiences permanently transformed, offering innovative perspectives on leadership to improve company culture, and empower organizations to discover new successes. Countless companies have unlocked productivity, performance, and profits by implementing his 7 Pillar Strategy.

In this episode:

• 2:25 Putting people first.
• 3:30 Recognizing the need for change.
• 5:20 The power of appreciative inquiry.
• 6:00 Building a positive culture.
• 8:30 Focusing on the success for growth.
• 12:00 Dealing with underperforming employees and the importance of design.
• 17:40 Leading with curiosity.
• 20:50 The seven pillars of a strong company culture.
• 23:19 Focusing on the positive and growing your company culture.
• 20:45 Action items for building a great company culture.

Today’s Action Items:

1. Deeply consider saying yes to every question that's asked of them. Don’t tell anyone that is what you are going to do, but instill your own internal practice of saying “yes” more. Try to be more open-minded, approach new concepts with “let's see", "let's try", "maybe we can make that happen", or "how do we figure that out?”.
2. What you focus on grows, be intentional with your focus and energy, if you unintentionally focus on the negative things, that is what will grow.
3. Design what you want or deal with what you get. To get a great company culture you must design it first by hiring the right people.

Get a free PDF of today’s action items! Podcast Action Items - Grace Strategic Services (grace4success.com)

Recommended Reading:

• 4, 000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
• The Power of Company Culture by Chris Dyer
• The Six Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni
• Radical Humility by Urs Koeing

Connect with Chris Dyer:

• Text “Chris” to 33777 for free resources

Connect with Ted Davis:

• Website - Grace Strategic Services (grace4success.com)
• LinkedIn - Ted Davis
• Facebook - Ted Davis
• Instagram - @tedavisgrace

Podcast management and production by Jazzy at Premier Podcast Promotions

“Every leader we have, good or bad, we learn from them.” - Lee Van Arsdale

Episode Summary:

Cultivate a strong team, and gain actionable insights on building a lasting foundation!

In this episode of Strategic Edge, retired military officer Lee Van Arsdale joins Ted to delve into the essence of effective leadership. They emphasize the golden rule of treating others as you wish to be treated and the invaluable lessons gleaned from both exemplary and flawed leaders. Lee and Ted explore the concept of leading from the front, stressing the delicate balance between humility and unwavering determination essential for impactful leadership. They underscore the critical role of trust and accountability in fostering team cohesion, alongside the significance of meticulous planning for success. Join them on this insightful journey into the heart of leadership.

About Lee Van Arsdale:

Lee A. Van Arsdale has served as a Soldier and business executive. As a Soldier his assignments were primarily in Special Forces, with 11 years spent in the First Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Airborne). In the course of his 25-year Army career, Lee served in three combat zones in leadership positions, and was decorated for valor with the Silver Star and with the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat. Additionally, he participated in numerous classified operations, on a global scale, while in a leadership capacity. Following his military career, Lee was the Assistant General Manager for National Security Response at the Bechtel Nevada Corporation; he incorporated Unconventional Solutions, Inc., a private

consulting firm; he was the founding Executive Director of the University of Nevada Las Vegas Institute for Security Studies; he was the Chief Executive Officer of Triple Canopy, Inc., an integrated security solutions company, and the Chief Executive Officer of Creative Radicals, a software company. Lee was designated a West Point Distinguished Graduate in 2022, and now serves on the boards of select companies and does volunteer work for veterans’ organizations.

In this episode:

• 3:45 Embracing the Golden Rule: a model for ethical leadership.
• 4:40 Putting learning into action.
• 6:50 A paradoxical leader: mixing humility and strong will.
• 13:25 Strategies for cultivating a strong team.
• 16:30 Establishing a trustworthy foundation: the keys to building a team.
• 19:00 Empowering your team to succeed: the importance of accountability, responsibility and authority.
• 21:10 Key insights and episode takeaways.

Today’s Action Items:

1. Make every decision and take every action on a foundation of integrity and trust.
2. Lead from the front.
3. Don’t shy away from planning.

Get a free PDF of today’s action items! Podcast Action Items - Grace Strategic Services (grace4success.com)

Connect with Ted Davis:

• Website - Grace Strategic Services (grace4success.com)
• LinkedIn - Ted Davis
• Facebook - Ted Davis
• Instagram - @tedavisgrace

Podcast management and production by Jazzy at Premier Podcast Promotions

“I hope to be a better leader today than I was yesterday, and the day before.” - COL (RET) Alan D. Landry

Episode Summary:

This week, Ted engages in a profound conversation with Al Landry, a distinguished military veteran and esteemed leader in the corporate world. Drawing from his extensive military background and subsequent career at Raytheon, Al shares invaluable insights on the transformative power of mentorship and lifelong learning.

Al's journey, from his formative years at West Point to his current role as the founder of Altuitive Holdings, epitomizes a commitment to leadership excellence and continuous growth. Through candid reflections and personal anecdotes, Al articulates his foundational leadership principles, underscored by duty, honor, and accountability.

Central to the discussion is the concept of mentor intelligence—a skill honed through deliberate relationships and a foundation of integrity. Al elucidates the nuances between mentoring and coaching, emphasizing the profound impact of relationship-based mentorship on individual and team development.

Listeners will glean actionable strategies from Al's book, "Growing Mentor Intelligence: A Field Guide to Mentoring," as he outlines practical steps for cultivating effective leadership and mentorship practices. From setting the example through actions to enforcing standards with humility and empathy, Al offers a roadmap for aspiring leaders to navigate the complexities of today's business landscape with confidence and integrity.

About COL (RET) Alan D. Landry:

In this enlightening episode, Ted engages in a profound conversation with Al Landry, a distinguished military veteran and esteemed leader in the corporate world. Drawing from his extensive military background and subsequent career at Raytheon, Al shares invaluable insights on the transformative power of mentorship and lifelong learning.

Al's journey, from his formative years at West Point to his current role as the founder of Altuitive Holdings, epitomizes a commitment to leadership excellence and continuous growth. Through candid reflections and personal anecdotes, Al articulates his foundational leadership principles, underscored by duty, honor, and accountability.

Central to the discussion is the concept of mentor intelligence—a skill honed through deliberate relationships and a foundation of integrity. Al elucidates the nuances between mentoring and coaching, emphasizing the profound impact of relationship-based mentorship on individual and team development.

Listeners will glean actionable strategies from Al's book, "Growing Mentor Intelligence: A Field Guide to Mentoring," as he outlines practical steps for cultivating effective leadership and mentorship practices. From setting the example through actions to enforcing standards with humility and empathy, Al offers a roadmap for aspiring leaders to navigate the complexities of today's business landscape with confidence and integrity.

COL (RET) Alan Landry is a dynamic, innovative leader with a proven track record spanning over 50 years in both public and private sectors. Alan is the owner and founder of ALtuitive Holdings, LLC, an independent consulting company focused on leadership, strategy, and mentorship. He is the author of “Growing Mentor IntelligenceTM – A Field Guide to Mentoring” and the “Companion Workbook”, both important contributions to the field of growing and sustaining effective organic mentorship programs. He currently presents workshops to organizations based on his original work and enjoys a robust mentor practice.

Alan retired from Raytheon Missile Systems on 31 July 2012, after serving as Director of Business Development for the Land Combat Product Line in Tucson, Arizona, for over 4 1⁄2 years. During his 10 years with Raytheon, Alan served in a variety of leadership positions in strategy and business development, to include 2 1⁄2 years as Director of Strategy for Raytheon Missile Systems, a $6B annual revenue business. While at Raytheon, Alan proved himself to be an expert leader, strategist, mentor, innovator, and diversity/inclusion advocate. He created a mentor organization for over 50 emerging leaders and sustained the organization for over 5 years. In recognition of these efforts Alan was awarded the Raytheon Excellence in Mentorship Award for 2012, an award limited to 30 recipients across the 70,000-employee base. Alan also served as a Raytheon Diversity and Inclusion “Game Changer” for over 5 years, a leadership position within the company to create positive change in this critical area. Alan supported numerous audiences across the organization with presentations on leadership, mentorship, strategy, strategic planning, and diversity/inclusion. He offers a unique ability to leverage his extensive military, industry, and non-profit experiences to personalize these critically i...

“Every organization exists to deliver something of value to the marketplace.” - Ted Davis

Episode Summary:

Join your host, Ted Davis, as he explores the essential principles from the renowned book 'Leadership Challenge' by Kouzes and Posner. In this insightful episode, Ted highlights the paramount significance of credibility and trust in leadership, along with other key elements like setting a shared vision, challenging processes, and enabling others. Drawing from real-world examples and practical advice, Ted offers actionable steps for assessing your credibility as a leader and advancing your professional growth through intentional reading habits.

In this episode:

• 03:45 Kouzes-Posner’s Laws of Leadership.
• 07:41 The 5 behaviors of exemplary leadership.
• 09:33 Modeling the behavior you expect of others.
• 10:11 Leadership is always about the relationship.
• 12:48 Aligning actions and shared values.
• 14:40 Inspire a shared vision: envisioning the future by imagining ennobling possibilities.
• 19:43 Challenging the process: challenge is the crucible for greatness.
• 24:50 Enabling others to act: fostering collaboration by building trust and facilitating relationships.
• 28:15 Establishing competency.
• 30:21 Encouraging the heart: Recognizing contributions and celebrating values and victories.

Today’s Action Items:

1. Develop a personal, professional reading program. Set a goal of reading at least six professional books annually.
2. Read the Leadership Challenge
3. Assess your level of credibility. Self-assessment and feedback from others.

Get a free PDF of today’s action items! Podcast Action Items - Grace Strategic Services (grace4success.com)

Recommended Reading:

• Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner

Connect with Ted Davis:

• Website - Grace Strategic Services (grace4success.com)
• LinkedIn - Ted Davis
• Facebook - Ted Davis
• Instagram - @tedavisgrace

Podcast management and production by Jazzy at Premier Podcast Promotions