IT Leaders Expedient

In this episode of IT Leaders, Adam Prior discusses transforming team culture at Subaru of Indiana. With over 20 years in IT, Adam shares key moments in his career, such as managing a ransomware crisis and deploying a VDI environment during COVID-19.

Adam emphasizes the importance of communication and collaboration, detailing how he implemented regular team meetings, daily stand-ups, and a structured on-call rotation. He highlights the value of cross-training and building foundational skills across his team.

Vendor relationships and continuous improvement are also focal points. Adam leverages assessments to identify gaps and enhance processes, stressing the importance of strong partnerships for accessing valuable resources.

Adam has restructured one-on-one meetings to build stronger connections with team members, advocating for proactive issue resolution and transparent communication.

Listeners will learn strategies for effective team management, proactive leadership, and improving team performance, making this episode essential for IT leaders aiming to drive cultural change.

In this episode of IT Leaders, Kevin Kujawa, a seasoned IT executive, shares his insights on evaluating IT leadership performance, especially within private equity contexts. Kevin discusses his background at Allied Benefits, where he scaled the IT team from zero to 47 full-time employees and led significant technological transformations.

Kevin highlights the evolving role of IT as a core driver of business value rather than a mere support function. He explains the importance of demonstrating IT’s impact on profitability and company valuation, emphasizing strategic hiring, vendor management, and cost optimization.

The conversation also covers effective risk communication and project prioritization in board meetings. Kevin provides practical advice on balancing immediate project demands with long-term goals, underscoring the necessity for IT leaders to articulate their department’s value to executives and board members.

Listeners will gain valuable insights on metrics and strategies for evaluating IT leadership, making this episode essential for IT leaders aiming to enhance their strategic impact and drive organizational success.

In this episode of the IT Leaders podcast, we delve into the art of team optimization with our guest experts Craig and Terry, seasoned leaders with a rich history in IT and organizational development. They share their journey from being competitors to collaborators, co-founding and leading innovative companies, and their passion for building well-rounded, high-performing teams.

Craig, who co-founded Conoco’s Microsoft ERP and CRM division, reflects on their transformative approach to leadership. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the whole person in career development, advocating for balancing personal and professional growth to achieve optimal team performance. Terry, with his extensive experience in team building and leadership development, highlights the significance of aligning individual strengths with team roles to prevent burnout and enhance productivity.

A key focus of this episode is the Working Genius assessment, a tool that has revolutionized their approach to team dynamics. Craig and Terry discuss how this assessment helps identify six distinct types of working geniuses—Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, and Tenacity—and how these traits contribute to a team’s success. They share real-world examples of how recognizing and leveraging these geniuses can lead to more cohesive, efficient, and motivated teams.

Listeners will gain insights into the practical application of the Working Genius model, including how to foster better communication, manage cognitive dissonance, and ensure that team members are operating in their sweet spots. The discussion also covers strategies for addressing common leadership challenges, such as motivating diverse team members, managing introverts, and dealing with toxic high performers.

By the end of the episode, technology leaders and managers will have a deeper understanding of how to use the Working Genius assessment to enhance their team’s performance and create a more harmonious work environment. Craig and Terry’s experiences and actionable advice will inspire listeners to rethink their leadership strategies and invest in the holistic development of their teams.

Key Takeaways:

 1. Whole Person Management: The importance of addressing both personal and professional aspects of team members’ lives.
 2. Working Genius Assessment: An introduction to the six working geniuses and how they impact team dynamics.
 3. Optimal Team Performance: Strategies for aligning individual strengths with team roles to prevent burnout and enhance productivity.
 4. Leadership Challenges: Practical solutions for motivating diverse team members, managing introverts, and handling toxic high performers.
 5. Self-Awareness and Team Awareness: Enhancing leadership effectiveness through self-awareness and understanding of team dynamics.

Tune in to discover how you can optimize your team’s performance by understanding and leveraging their unique working geniuses.

In this compelling episode of the IT Leaders podcast titled "How Authentic Are You," Shane Rodabaugh, an experienced leader at Baptist Health, unpacks the critical importance of authenticity in leadership. With over three decades of experience across major organizations like GE, Yum Brands, and UPS, Shane brings a treasure trove of insights and stories that illuminate his journey and the lessons learned along the way.
Throughout the episode, Shane delves into the essence of authentic leadership, which he describes as a blend of integrity, transparency, and self-awareness. He emphasizes the significance of being genuine and consistent in one’s actions and decisions, which he argues is fundamental to cultivating trust and respect within a team. Shane also touches on the nuanced balance between vulnerability and strength, challenging the notion that showing vulnerability is a weakness, instead framing it as a cornerstone of courageous leadership.
Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of authentic leadership through Shane’s exploration of its various dimensions, including self-management and the ability to genuinely value others' opinions. He provides practical advice on how leaders can enhance their authenticity and discusses the long-term benefits of being authentic, both in personal growth and in fostering a positive organizational culture.
This episode is not just a discussion; it's an invitation to reflect on one’s own leadership style and to embrace authenticity as a vital component of effective leadership. Shane’s candid sharing and the engaging discussions provide a roadmap for IT professionals and leaders aiming to enhance their influence and impact through authenticity.

In this episode of the IT Leaders podcast, "How to Build Rapport," Laura Mattingly, a seasoned IT leader with a rich background in development and database design, explores the nuanced art of building rapport within technology teams. Transitioning from technical roles to leadership, Laura brings a unique perspective on nurturing relationships across various IT disciplines. Throughout the episode, she shares her insights and experiences with the "Rapport" program, which emphasizes understanding and leveraging different learning styles—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic—to enhance interpersonal connections.
Laura’s approach is both practical and transformative, offering listeners actionable techniques to improve communication and relationship-building skills that apply to both professional environments and personal life. Through engaging storytelling and relatable examples, she illustrates how adapting to diverse communication styles can lead to more effective and fulfilling interactions. The episode not only highlights Laura’s expertise in IT leadership but also underscores the critical importance of empathy and adaptability in today’s tech-driven workplaces.
For technology professionals looking to deepen their leadership capabilities and for anyone interested in the interpersonal dynamics of team management, this episode provides valuable lessons on the power of understanding and adapting to individual differences to foster a cohesive and collaborative work culture.

In the IT Leaders podcast episode "How Does Trust Affect Your Team," Mike Eaton, Director of Operations at Genesis, delves into the transformative power of trust within team dynamics, sharing his personal journey through significant organizational change. Leading the operations within Genesis' education department, Mike navigates a range of responsibilities, from support and sales to data analytics and technology management, against the backdrop of restructuring. His leadership approach, marked by inclusivity, active listening, and engagement, underscores the episode's central theme: the indispensable role of trust in fostering team unity and performance. Mike offers insights on practical strategies for cultivating trust and buy-in, such as consistency, transparent communication, and recognition of contributions. The episode also highlights the challenges and opportunities of leading a globally distributed team, emphasizing servant leadership as key to unlocking team potential and driving success. This IT Leaders podcast episode provides technology professionals and leaders with a compelling narrative on trust's critical role in achieving cohesive teams and organizational excellence, showcasing Mike Eaton's experiences as a testament to trust's foundational importance in leadership.