Grow Great - A City Government Leadership Podcast Randy Cantrell

 

Compassion is the high point in our leadership recipe. Simply put, compassion is a focus on others. That’s congruent with our definition of leadership…

A focus on others, influence and doing for others what they’re not able to do for themselves

This podcast – every episode – is our endeavor to add to the conversation – a conversation about pursuing high-performing cultures made possible by great leaders. 

It begins and ends with a focus on others! That’s the real stuff of extraordinary leadership.

Be well. Do good. Grow great!

 

A lack of understanding is never an advantage. Now armed with facts, figures, and other forms of knowledge, leaders need to use that knowledge in making wise decisions. That’s impossible if we don’t understand. 

Understanding answers many questions, most importantly, “Why?” 

Today, Lisa and I talk about the power of understanding with stories from our own leadership experiences. Share your insights with us. We’d love to hear them.

Be well. Do good. Grow great!

 

The 3rd leadership ingredient is knowledge. Leaders today face unprecedented challenges with knowledge. We’re smothered with data, numbers, intel and other forms of “knowledge.” But we’re also challenged with reality and truth. Welcome to the world of deep fakes – some intentional and much of it likely unintentional. We see data and connect dots. What if the dots don’t connect? Or shouldn’t be connected? 

Knowledge must be vetted. Leaders can verify knowledge – facts, data, etc. One of the best methods for doing that is to rely on others. Humility affords us the opportunity to practice curiosity (asking questions) as we pursue the insights and knowledge of others. 

Perspective matters. That’s why great leaders rely on the perspectives other people can provide to vet knowledge. 

Be well. Do good. Grow great!

 

Steve Dye is the City Manager of Grand Prairie, Texas, the 15th most populated city in Texas. Today, he joins us to discuss his experiences, insights, and wisdom in city government leadership. We also talk about the power of putting up tables and chairs!

Click the image below for a FREE downloadable PDF of the principles Steve uses and promotes.



Be well. Do good. Grow great!

 

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it built the extraordinary leader. The quality of our questions determines the quality of our leadership – and most other positive things, too! 

Curiosity may be the most fun and contagious ingredient of all. Asking questions and questioning answers is energizing. Exhilarating even! 

Avoid jumping into TELL mode and get in question mode. Remain there long enough to help the entire team (or group) fully engage. As the leader, work hard to make the entire room smarter by leveraging the power of the collective.



Be well. Do good. Grow great!

 

Humility is the first and most essential leadership ingredient. Without it, everything else fails. 

Bosses and leaders may be one and the same, but they may not be. Every boss is a leader (they’ve got influence; it may not always be positive though), but not every leader is a boss (somebody with a title, authority or power). 

Pretense. Pride. Ego. They’re killers to our leadership because they corrupt the humility that could best serve us. 



Be well. Do good. Grow great!