The Messy Leadership Podcast

Messy Leadership Host Christi Scarrow and guest Nima Fotovat (President and Co-Founder of Riverside Natural Foods) discuss effective leadership styles and approaches, emphasizing the need to balance holding people accountable, while also providing support and engagement. Christi and Nima highlight the distinction between reacting and responding in a leadership role, and share their journey of learning to balance these aspects.

Action Items

-Continue working on self-awareness to recognize instinctual reactions versus considered responses.

-Practice techniques like noticing "early volcano signals" of impending reactions and pausing to breathe before responding.

-Lead by example in personal growth and change to potentially inspire similar curiosity in others.

-When providing feedback, use the SBI (Situation, Behavior, Impact) model to deliver messages in a well-received way.

-Focus on the “Why?” to get to the “How?”

Outline

Leadership lessons and managing people with a focus on accountability and finding the right balance.

-Nima shares an important lesson learned early in his career: managing people requires a softer, gentler approach, but also accountability.

-Nima acknowledges that an approach of being forceful and demanding did not lead to improved performance, but rather created frustration and a lack of accountability.

-Nima describes his leadership journey as a pendulum of firmness and softness, striving for balance between accountability and support.

-Nima emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in recognizing and managing the pendulum swing in leadership.

Leadership challenges and self-awareness.

-Nima shares personal struggle with finding balance between being too critical and not providing enough feedback.

-He reflects on his first nature and how it impacts his leadership, recognizing it as a deeply ingrained defense mechanism.

-Nima emphasizes the importance of leading by example in inspiring desire for growth and curiosity.

-Nima believes that seeing the positive and negative consequences of change can motivate individuals to put effort into personal growth.

Leadership, motivation, and emotional intelligence.

-Nima emphasizes personal motivation and shared experiences as keys to inspiring others.

-He acknowledges the struggle to avoid reacting impulsively, seeking to respond thoughtfully instead.

-Nima seeks to cultivate mindfulness and self-awareness to improve decision-making.

Leadership, managing vs influencing, and the importance of understanding why.

-Christi discusses the importance of recognizing and managing one's physical reactions, as they can impact leadership and relationships.

-Nima emphasizes the responsibility of managing people, as their choices can have a trickle-down effect on careers and lives.

-He advises against taking on management responsibilities without proper mentorship and resources.

-Nima emphasizes the importance of aligning on the "Why?" before focusing on the "How?" and "What?"

Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: Riverside Natural Foods

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74

Guest Luc Mongeau, President and CEO of eSolutions Furniture, and Host Christi Scarrow discuss the importance of combining emotional intelligence with intellect for effective leadership. They emphasize the need for authenticity, courage of conviction, and self-awareness to lead with heart and mind. Luc offers strategies for younger leaders to overcome their fear of vulnerability and discusses the challenges of leading in difficult times, including managing one's own ego and the fears of others.

Action Items

-Consider taking micro risks or gradual steps to show vulnerability if feeling unable to take big steps

-Continue introspection and self-reflection to better understand inner motivations and reactions

-Read spiritual chapters or seek guidance from non-business sources for new perspectives

Outline

Leadership lessons learned early in career, emphasizing the importance of heart and mind.

-Luc Mongeau emphasizes the importance of leading with both heart and mind.

-Luc emphasizes the importance of authenticity and courage in leadership.

-Mongeau shares a personal journey of introspection and growth, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence.

-Christi Scarrow resonates with Luc's message, acknowledging the challenge of balancing intellect and emotional intelligence for younger leaders.

Leadership, authenticity, and balancing different leadership styles in challenging situations.

-Luc shares their personal experience with being openly gay in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of gradual approach to inclusivity.

-Both speakers agree that engaging a committed, inclusive workforce is crucial for organizational success, especially during challenging times like COVID-19.

-Christi Scarrow asks about how to be authentic while also flexing your leadership style.

-Mongeau discusses the importance of self-awareness and introspection for effective leadership.

Leadership challenges and personal growth.

-Leaders must tame their own egos and work with others to achieve a unified destination.

-Luc reflects on their personal growth and leadership development journey.

-Mongeau reflects on overcoming fear and unlocking potential for growth and success.

Leadership, motivation, and self-reflection.

-Christi Scarrow believes that leadership is a journey of self-discovery, trial & error.

-Luc Mongeau shares that leadership divides, making decisions, going somewhere new.

-Leaders must balance ego with conviction and thick skin to succeed.

-Christi and Luc discuss leadership and creating an environment where people can be their best.

-Luc emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting individuals' strengths and potential, rather than simply pushing them to work harder.

Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: eSolutions Furniture

Lighthouse NINE Group: Website

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74

Guest Bruce Tunnicliffe of VEI Contracting shares his insights on effective leadership, emphasizing the importance of communication and vision in leading a team. Bruce highlights the importance of task management, delegation, and fostering a positive culture. Host Christi Scarrow added to this by emphasizing the need for open communication and a supportive leadership style in navigating toxic workplace cultures and leading growing companies. Both speakers stressed the significance of a positive culture in achieving a well-functioning team and leader.

Action Items

-Discuss culture more with new hires to ensure they understand expectations around boundaries like the no email after hours policy.

-Work with individual team members to jointly define expectations and accountability, addressing any gray areas caused by evolving roles.

-Continually evaluate team members' strengths and passions to ensure they are optimally positioned.

Outline

Leadership lessons from his early career and the importance of connecting to purpose..

-Bruce Tunnicliffe shares lessons from his 20+ year career, emphasizing the importance of communication and seeing the big picture.

-He how while doing his masters, his supervisor challenged him to think about the purpose in his writing. This has shaped how he leads others.

Leadership, culture, and delegation for high-performing teams.

-Bruce shares his perspective on effective leadership, prioritizing tasks, and delegation.

-He emphasizes the importance of identifying important and urgent tasks, and delegating non-urgent tasks to team members.

-Bruce emphasizes the importance of culture in a high-functioning team, citing open communication, mutual respect, and supportive leadership as key components.

-Christi Scarrow seeks advice on addressing a culture of "what have you done for me lately?" in a high-performing team, with a focus on managing up and creating a more supportive environment.

Workplace culture and leadership challenges in a growing company.

-Bruce shares how to Identify a problematic culture by understanding its impact on workplace morale and productivity.

-He encourages people to communicate concerns respectfully to promote positive change

-Bruce Tunnicliffe shares challenges of doubling in size, new people, and how to set guidelines for respectful working practices.

-Christi Scarrow agrees, highlighting leadership growth and potential new challenges.

Leading and managing a growing team with accountability challenges.

-Bruce Tunnicliffe recognizes the struggle with accountability in a rapidly changing work environment.

-He encourages leaders to “know your people deeply to work with them individually in a growing environment.” and avoid structuring people too much, let them excel in their own way.

Leadership skills and self-awareness.

-Bruce Tunnicliffe advises self-reflection for those struggling in leadership positions, suggesting continual education and learning are important.

-Tunnicliffe believes in leveraging strengths, rather than improving weaknesses, for maximum success as a leader.

Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: Vertex Environmental Inc.

Lighthouse NINE Group: Website

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74

Host Christi Scarrow sits down with Pina Melchionna, President and CEO at CITT Canada's Logistics Association, and shares insights on leadership with an emphasis on authenticity and inclusivity. Pina recounts a pivotal moment in her career where asking for clarification led to positive feedback, teaching her the value of vulnerability and authenticity. She highlights the importance of mindful language to avoid exclusion, suggesting leaders use inclusive terms like "you all" instead of "you guys." She also advocates for a coach-like approach to feedback and the need to tailor leadership styles to individual employees' needs and cultural sensitivities.

Action Items

-Be willing to speak up in support of yourself and others. -Be mindful of exclusionary terminology as a leader. -Explore different coaching techniques to provide constructive feedback, such as asking reflective questions. -Reinforce positive behaviors more frequently to balance out corrective feedback. Outline

Early Career Lessons in Leadership

-Pina shares her early career lesson about showing up authentically, especially as a female leader in a male-dominated field. -She recounts a specific incident where she asked for clarification in a boardroom, which led to positive feedback from colleagues. -Pina emphasizes the importance of asking questions and being vulnerable as a leader, which can lead to better understanding and engagement. Inclusive Leadership and Language

-Christi and Pina discuss the challenges of being a minority in a male-dominated room and the importance of inclusive language. -Pina highlights the need for leaders to be mindful of their language to avoid exclusion, even if it means using more inclusive terms like "you all" instead of "you guys." -She shares a personal experience where she provided feedback to a speaker about using inclusive language during a presentation. -Pina stresses the importance of leaders taking responsibility for correcting exclusionary language and being open to feedback themselves. Challenges in People Management

-Pina identifies the difficulty in balancing the role of a coach with the need to address underperformance as a challenge. -She discusses the importance of maintaining a positive intent when providing feedback and the struggle with people not always receiving constructive feedback well. -Pina shares tips for giving feedback, such as starting with positive reinforcement and framing feedback as a way to help the person improve. Situational Coaching and Cultural Sensitivity

-Christi and Pina delve into the concept of situational coaching and tailoring leadership styles to meet individual employee needs. -Pina explains that different employees respond to feedback in different ways, and leaders should adapt their approach accordingly. -She emphasizes the importance of cultural sensitivity and being aware of how different backgrounds and biases can influence communication. -Pina shares examples of how she has adapted her coaching style to better resonate with employees from diverse cultural backgrounds. Final Thoughts and Resources

-Christi thanks Pina for sharing her insights and emphasizes the importance of situational coaching and cultural sensitivity in leadership. -Pina reiterates the importance of recognizing that most people genuinely want to do a good job and the need for change management principles. -Christi provides resources and links for listeners looking for help with people management and leadership challenges. -The conversation concludes with mutual appreciation and a reminder of the ongoing challenges and opportunities in leadership. Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: CITT Canada

Lighthouse NINE Group: Web page

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74

Host Christi Scarrow and Guest Ryan Labong (Chief Commercial Officer at Nature’s Path) have a conversation centered around the importance of executing strategy and fostering an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns. Ryan shares how performance culture can negatively impact long term growth and the importance of empathy to counterbalance this. Christi and Ryan discuss the importance of developing high performing teams supported by non-judgemental leaders.

Action Items

-Focus the team on no more than three clear strategic priorities. -Continue holding regular one-on-ones, bi-weekly check-ins, and quarterly milestone reviews -Invest in team-building activities like volunteering together to foster collaboration and camaraderie. -Lead with empathy and compassion for sustainability Outline

Leadership lessons, challenges, and strategies for keeping teams motivated and driven.

-Ryan Labong emphasizes the importance of execution in business, citing a high-performing team as crucial to achieving common goals. -He believes leaders should be situational and adaptable to bring out the best in their team members, fostering collaboration and connectedness. -Ryan discusses challenges in leadership, including maintaining drive and engagement over time. -He shares strategies for keeping things fresh, such as setting ambitious goals and breaking them down into smaller milestones. Leadership, empathy, and finding balance in managing a high-performing team.

-Ryan Labong emphasizes the importance of clear operating models and priorities to drive habits and focus for the team. -He advises newer managers to prioritize and make hard choices to achieve success, even in an ambitious organization. -Ryan emphasizes the importance of empathy and flexibility in leadership, citing the need to understand and support team members' personal challenges. -He advocates for a balance between driving results and building a high-performance team through collective support and rallying around individual needs. Leadership, team building, and overcoming challenges.

-Ryan emphasizes the importance of team building and investing in activities that foster collaboration and camaraderie. -Christi agrees and suggests that team building can be a cost-efficient way to reset the mindset and have fun with the team. -Leaders should foster an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. -Effective leadership is not a guarantee, but it's fulfilling when teams perform well due to the leader's influence. Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: Nature's Path Organic

Lighthouse NINE Group: Web page

Contributors

Music: All The Fixings by Zachariah Hickman

Editing: tribe74