Great Leadership With Jacob Morgan

Ali Abdaal is a former doctor turned productivity expert after he started posting videos online about how to study for medical exams. Today his Youtube channel has around 5.5 million subscribers and people from around the world tune in to hear his productivity tips. Today Ali is going to share how to identify productivity bottlenecks and ways to solve them, why intrinsic motivators are more powerful than extrinsic ones, the importance of NICE goals, and how to make work more enjoyable so that you can stay productive. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Most people want to get into a leadership role, yet few are actually able to do it. What’s the secret to success? I’ve interviewed and worked with thousands of leaders over the years and there 5 simple yet effective strategies that the world’s top leaders use to get ahead. In today’s leadership spark, I’ll break down what these strategies are including: taking initiative by tackling tough jobs, showing vulnerability to build trust, excelling at your current duties, shifting your focus on tasks to supporting your team, and being mindful of your self-image. Mastering these tips will help you stand out as a leader and move up in your career. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Every leader aims to maximize their potential and that of their teams, but mastering the complexities of human psychology is a formidable challenge. Dr. Michael Gervais is considered by many to be the world’s #1 performance psychologist focused on unlocking potential during high-pressure environments. From working with three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh and daredevil spaceman Felix Baumgartner who jumped from 120,000 feet, his techniques have proven effective across a spectrum of disciplines. In today’s episode we talk about why fearing others’ opinions can keep you from reaching your full potential, the dangers of tying your self-worth to performance metrics, and I’ll also share the things that make leaders feel most vulnerable at work and why. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

In today’s fast-paced work environment, the question of where to work from—home or office—can significantly impact your career trajectory. While remote work offers comfort and flexibility, spending time in the office could be your secret weapon for career advancement. In this episode of Leadership Spark, let’s talk about why office presence is crucial for those aiming for leadership roles and substantial career growth. Based on insights from my recent conversations with business leaders and polls I conducted on LinkedIn, we explore the differences between mere productivity and true innovation and how being physically present in the office can enhance your visibility, foster meaningful connections, and open up leadership opportunities. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

It’s one thing to talk about turning around a company, a team, or a person, but how do you actually do it? Oscar Munoz is the former CEO and Chairman of United Airlines and is responsible for one of the greatest turnarounds in airline history! In this episode he gets into the details and strategies he used to achieve success during his tenure. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

When Oscar Munoz took over as the CEO of United Airlines, the company was in complete chaos. There were issues with unions, the financials weren’t looking good, customer complaints were damaging the brand reputation, and the company had gone through 8 CEOs in 10 years! During his time as CEO he managed to turn things around, securing employee and customer loyalty and putting the airline back on track. In this episode we talk about what he did to make that turnaround happen including: going on a company-wide listening tour, involving employees in the decision-making process and getting rid of leaders who didn’t align with company values. He’ll also share the terrifying story of his heart attack and how a flight attendant’s breakdown made him realize that things weren’t working. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Believe it or not you can have TOO MUCH EMPATHY. I know, it sounds strange to think about but after listening to today’s podcast you’ll see why. Even though your empathy is well-intentioned, doing it excessively can blur personal and professional boundaries. This can only make tough decisions harder and lead to personal burnout. It begins by differentiating between empathy and sympathy and then dives into the dangers of over-empathizing. I’ll also tackle the solution: practicing empathetic concern without absorbing others’ emotions and distributing empathy across your team to create a healthier, more sustainable work culture. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Every leader is trying to driving innovation inside of their organizations, but that’s easier said than done. Uri Levine is the co-founder of Waze, which sold to Google for $1.1 billion. He’s also the first board member and investor of Moovit (Waze but public transportation) which Intel acquired for $4 billion! It’s safe to say that Uri knows a thing or two about innovation and building great products and companies. In today’s episode we will explore why it took Waze 4 years to reach “good enough” product market fit, why it’s more important to fall in love with a problem instead of a solution, how to manage the impact of fear on corporate innovation, how to apply an entrepreneur mindset inside of your company, and why firing is so crucial to business success. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

You’ve heard of IBM, but did you know that it was once on the verge of bankruptcy? One man, a cookie salesman, was able to turn the company around and keep it from collapsing. In today’s leadership spark, we’ll explore the remarkable turnaround of IBM in the 1990s under the leadership of Lou Gerstner, Former CEO of IBM. Lou, an outsider with a background in consumer goods and financial services, took the helm and transformed the company. He restructured IBM, shifting its focus from hardware to services and software, and revitalized its corporate culture, steering it from near bankruptcy to becoming a global leader in technology services. This story is a powerful example of how visionary leadership and strategic decision-making can navigate a company through trying times and lead it to success. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Do you feel like people don’t want to work anymore? In today’s episode Jason and I have a friendly spar on what’s going on with today’s workforce and if the our work ethic is in collective decline. We also explore how social media trends are shaping the workforce, the importance of focusing on career growth, and four phases of change that we all go through: panic, adaptation, accepting a new normal, and a reluctance to go back to the status quo. Jason is the Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine and author of “Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career.” ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Have you ever wondered why good employees leave, even when they’re well-paid? It’s a puzzle many leaders face. In today’s leadership spark, we’ll dive into the three key factors that drive employees away, beyond salary: lack of growth opportunities, poor relationships with their leaders, and inadequate work-life integration. It’s important to address these issues within our organizations, and leaders should provide clear paths for growth, foster positive relationships with their teams, and establish guidelines for work-life balance. At the same time, it’s also the employees’ responsibility to seek growth opportunities and set boundaries for work-life integration. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

What’s the secret behind the communication strategies of successful leaders? Unlocking your ability to recognize different conversation styles, will leave you best equipped to face challenges ahead. Today I am joined by Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and bestselling author of “The Power of Habit” and “Smarter Faster Better,” who dives into the intricate world of effective communication through his latest work, “Super Communicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection.” In this episode, Charles will reveal how leaders can become super communicators through understanding the different types of conversations—practical, emotional, and social—and the dynamic interplay between them. You will learn to navigate these conversational types with agility, enabling you to foster deeper connections, enhance your decision-making, and cultivate a culture of empathy and understanding within your teams. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Are you struggling to build trust within your team? Trust is crucial for effective teamwork. In today’s leadership spark, I explore four key strategies to enhance trust, drawing insights from expert CEOs, researchers, and psychologists. I’ll explore the power of vulnerability in trust, sharing your own challenges, acknowledging emotions, and the importance of demonstrating competence. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Why did Blockbuster really go bankrupt and what did Google have to do with it? Today I'm joined by James Keyes who is the visionary CEO behind three mega successful companies: 7-Eleven, Blockbuster, and Wild Oats. He's also the author of "Education Is Freedom: The Future Is In Your Hands." Today we're exploring how Jim increased the shareholder value at 7-Eleven by 10x, the challenges of navigating Blockbuster through the 2008 financial crisis and the rise of streaming platforms, and why Jim's philosophy of "Change Equals Opportunity" has yielded so much success. Discover the critical role of effective communication, how to genuinely engage with your team, and the secrets to cultivating a culture of relentless positivity and innovation. James Keyes lays bare the foundational pillars of leadership that not only build empires but also foster the growth of those who make them. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Do you ever question your own abilities and feel like a fraud, despite your achievements? You're in the company of many, including top executives, who grapple with imposter syndrome. In today's leadership spark, we delve into four effective strategies to conquer this challenge: bolster your confidence by supporting actions with data and stories, use the syndrome as a motivator to enhance interpersonal skills, leverage the Dunning-Kruger effect to acknowledge your true capabilities, and engage in positive self-talk and self-compassion to reshape your internal dialogue. These techniques are pivotal in recognizing your worth and transforming impostor syndrome into a powerful tool for personal growth and empowerment. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Is your leadership journey marked by ongoing growth and self-improvement? Embracing continuous learning signifies your path towards becoming an even more impactful leader than you were the day before. Today I am joined by Guy Kawasaki, the Chief Evangelist at Canva and former evangelist at Apple where he worked with Steve Jobs to market the Macintosh. He’s also the author of “Think Remarkable” where he reveals the three foundational pillars of successful leadership: Growth, Grit, and Grace. Discover how these concepts can revolutionize your leadership style, helping you to face challenges with resilience, pursue continuous self-improvement, and extend your success to elevate those around you. Leaders will gain practical strategies for anyone looking to make a lasting impact in their field. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

How do you make sure your voice stands out in any setting? Being a great communicator is a core leadership skill yet it’s also one that many people struggle with. In today’s episode I’m going to go over 8 strategies you can use to make sure that your message gets across regardless of who you are speaking with. I’ll go over everything from mastering the pace of your speech to engaging your audience with compelling stories. Whether you’re addressing a large audience or a small group, these strategies will help you speak confidently and persuasively and help you excel in your leadership career. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Today’s episode is actually courtesy of the Stanford Graduate School of Business that just released a new podcast called If/Then. This is an episode from that program and it features professor Jonathan Levav exploring hybrid work vs in-person work and what approach generates the best ideas. Leaders will learn about the tradeoffs managers must consider when determining workplace modalities and what the best practices are for adapting processes and connections to a distributed environment. Tune in to learn strategies for maximizing innovation and engagement as you navigate the future of work. Listen to more episodes of If/Then here: https://link.chtbl.com/cjXV4SRE?sid=GreatLeadership ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

Overwhelmed by work stress and unsure how to tackle it? You’re not alone. This common challenge can lead to anxiety and panic attacks, with unchecked stress wreaking havoc on both our mental and physical health. It can diminish our productivity and overall happiness. Today’s leadership spark is here to help, offering 5 powerful strategies to fight back: meditation for mental clarity, healthy habits for physical strength, self-compassion for stress management, and hobbies for relaxation. Identifying whether stress stems from a temporary challenge or a toxic environment is crucial—and sometimes, the healthiest choice is to walk away. Let’s dive in and transform how we handle work stress. ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

How can the strategic principles of chess be applied in a professional environment? By developing similar critical thinking skills, leaders will be prepared to address challenges with nuanced and anticipatory responses, strategizing five steps ahead in true chess fashion. Today I am joined by Danny Rensch, Chief Chess Officer of Chess.com and international chess master, as we explore how the game’s principles can be translated into effective business strategies. Listeners will gain tips on innovation, team building, and the importance of self-reflection, drawing parallels between mastering chess and excelling in leadership roles. Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/