On this episode of the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Cassandra Goodman about being true at work, having clear goals and aspirations, and finding purpose in life.
We also dive deeper into facing certain challenges in order to improve personally, grow as leaders in the workplace and how we could build a relationship with our employees.
Cassandra Goodman – Being True At Work
Cassandra Goodman is the founder of The Centre For Self Fidelity and the author of the groundbreaking book, “Self-Fidelity – How Being True To Yourself Uplifts Your Working Life,” released in 2020, and “Being True” published just last year.
With three decades of international business experience across multiple industries, she’s worn many hats. From being the first Global Director of Employee Experience at a major healthcare corporation to her role as a part-time Chief Talent Activator, a Thrive Global program facilitator and executive coach, and an Associate at Monash Business School. Her influence extends to some of the world’s most renowned organizations, including NBN, ANZ, Cisco, Ralph Lauren, Adobe, Mastercard and many more.
Cassandra talks about:
Having a clear aspiration
Being true at work
Having your own vision and purpose
Getting lost to find ourselves
The definition of ordinary
Surveys in the workplace
Two kinds of improvement loops
Building a culture for non-negotiables in the workplace
Authenticity in leadership
How belongingness affects the workplace
No one size fits all
Tweets
“It’s not enough to love what you do unless you love who you’re being while you do it.” Cassandra Goodman talks about finding ourselves on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.
“We can get lost by finding ourselves in a job that we suddenly realise is becoming soul destroying. You know, we can get lost in a relationship that doesn’t respect and honor who we are. We can get lost in so many different ways. It’s the waking up to that reality that we have lost.” Getting lost in finding ourselves by Cassandra Goodman on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.
“In order to be enough, I needed to be a high achieving, low maintenance machine.” Cassandra Goodman talks about her family’s expectations on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.
On this episode of the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Yamini Naidu about X Factor, business storytelling, unleashing your speaking superpower and finding a sense of purpose in life.
We also dive deeper into meaning-making exercises, how to find your X Factor, and providing world-class learning experiences for individuals, teams and organisations.
Yamini Naidu – X Factor
Yamini Naidu’s impressive educational background includes a BA in Economics & Sociology from St. Xavier’s College, an MA in Economics from the University of Mumbai, and an MSc in IR & Personnel Management from The London School of Economics and Political Science. She has worked with some of the world’s top businesses such as Google, Ford Motor Company, Atlassian, Tiffany&Co, Adidas, ANZ, and national banks.
Beyond her work in the business world, Yamini is also deeply committed to social enterprise and pro bono work. She supports the High Resolves Global Citizenship and Leadership Programs, and Pollinate Energy, and is a volunteer guide at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Yamini talks about:
Having an X Factor statement
How thought-leadership is provided to the world
The search for meaning
Co-creation between speakers and listeners
Ensuring to provide world-class learning experiences
X Factor
Business Storytelling
Evolution of speakers
Speaking with influence
Belonging and the misfits of the world
Individual circles
Meaning-making exercise
Tweets
“We moved into a space where it’s very much about co-creation, an experience with our audience, and drawing on the wisdom in the room.” Yamini Naidu talks about the evolution of speakers on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.
“The purpose of my X Factor is I want my message to be memorable. It happens at the intersection of the purpose of value. So what value are you providing for your audience.” The purpose of having an X Factor with Yamini Naidu on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.
“I have a quest to help everyone find their X factor and articulate it. I think the world will be a better and happier place when people realize that each of us is truly special.” Helping others find their X Factor with Yamini Naidu on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.
Legacy, we have all been put on planet earth for a reason. Why not leave it in a better place than you found it?
Having a purpose in life and aligning it to the work that you do is important if you wish to enjoy what you do, be productive and perform at a high level. Some people have a desire to go beyond the world they work in and leave a legacy for future generations to benefit from. CEO Legacy is all about finding a greater purpose through a project or movement that creates a ripple effect across an area, industry or the world.
A great example of this is Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is guided by the belief that every life has equal value. They wish to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.
What mark do you want to leave on the world?
What is a person’s legacy?
part of a person that lives on long
story of a person so they are not forgotten.
path ways or the future
make better decisions in life.
transmitted, inherited or received from a predecessor.
creates meaning in our lives.
Everyone leaves behind a legacy after they die, but only few people leave behind a legacy worth talking about.
Examples of legacies that impacted humanity:
Martin Luther King jr. left behind his legacy of positive and selfless actions.
Adolf Hitler left behind a legacy of negativity, and destruction.
A grandmother’s legacy may be important her family
Actresses and actors legacies inspire people to do great things
Alexander the Great, whose conquering spirit changed the face of the ancient world
Marie Curie, multi-Nobel Prize winner and pioneering physicist
Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid revolutionary and South Africa’s first black president
Albert Einstein created the theory of relativity
Mother Teresa was a Roman Catholic nun and founder of the Missionaries of Charity.
Oprah Winfrey pillar of kindness and has stood for truth, education, and giving back.
A legacy is
the story of some ones life,
the things they did,
places they went,
goals they accomplished,
their failures,
a path that guides people in decisions with what to do or what not to do
A lasting legacy is all about the actions you take during your life and the way those actions affect how people remember you.
Everyone has a choice between leaving a positive legacy or a negative one. Most people never consciously choose one or the other — it just happens. But the goal for you is to make a conscious decision about the legacy you’ll leave.
DESIGN A PATH TO YOUR LEGACY
What intrinsically drives you?
What matters to you the most?
Who do you want to impact
How can you achieve this through helping and serving others?
The legacy of successful leaders lives on through the people they touch along the way. The only things you can change permanently are the hearts of the people you lead.
Think how you can Make the World a Better Place, One Life At a Time
Want To Learn More?
Check out the Break The CEO Code whitepaper. It provides an overview of Break The CEO Code and showcases the 6 key phases. We also go a little deeper into the 2nd phase PERFORMANCE, where we discuss the 3 P’s of the Leadership Performance Formula.
#144 – LEGACY #143 – Vulnerable Open Honest COMMUNICATION Link #142 – Penny Locaso (Hacking Happy) Hacking Happiness Link #141 – IMPACT Through Clear Outcomes Link #140 – Dr Amir Rashidian (Mid-Atlantic Chiropractic) The Stressproof Life Link #139 – TRUST Through Healthy Confrontation Link #138 – Kine Corder (Presidential Lifestyle) Finding Your Money Mission Link #137 – Clarify PROCESS For Commitment Link #136 – Steve Rodgers (IGI Principles) Overcoming The Indulgent Life Link #135 – Reward, Recognition & Reflection Link #134 – Julie Masters (Inside Influence) How Gravity Shifts Influence Link
Why is it important to create DIRECTION & meaning through SHARED mission, vision, values & beliefs? Not setting direction can easily lead to conflict, apathy and poor productivity within your team or organisation.
To set a great direction, you must be able to set a course toward a destination that others will recognize as representing real progress for everyone involved.
Setting direction helps:
Hold people accountable as the team has no doubt what they need to achieve.
ClarifyPriorities & reduces busy work, so people can start to focus their attention and effort towards achieving the direction.
Motivate your team by giving them purpose and a “reason for being”.
Essential components that Create Direction includes:
Being developed collaboratively.
Brings them along the journey providing a clearly understood why and significance.
Is specific, limits interpretation and everyone knows when you have arrived at the destination
Is time-bound as deadlines equal pressure, which enable set priorities, managing workload and negotiate competing priorities
Acknowledges uncertainty and remove the idea of perfection
MEANING – what is the significance of what we are collectively doing
SHARED MISSION – reason for pursuing the focus
SHARE VISION – your future focus of “our vision” or “the team’s vision.”
SHARED VALUES & BELIEFS – What you believe in and how you behave
Want To Learn More?
Check out the newly Breaking The CEO Code whitepaper. It provides an overview of Breaking The CEO Code and showcases the 6 key phases. We also go a little deeper into the 2nd phase PERFORMANCE, where we discuss the 3 P’s of the Leadership Performance Formula.
#123 – TEAMS 10 Elements Of Leading High Performing Teams Link #122 – Matt Sweetwood (LUXnow) Reimaging Business Link #121 – PIONEER Life Is An Experiment Link #120 – Ron Coury (Tenacity) Tenacious Las Vegas Entrepreneur Link #119 – PASSION Influence From The Heart Link #118 – Annie Gibbins (Lipstick Consulting) Biography Of A Curious Woman Link #117 – PERSONALITY Unlock Your Limiting Beliefs Link #116 – David Lindsay Knocked Down Snap Into Action Link #115 – PERFORMANCE Productivity Starts With Happiness Link #114 – Paul Dunn (B1G1) Moments That Change Lives Link
Craig Johns talks about PURPOSE, create a ripple effect and the importance of knowing your WHY, VISION, MISSION and VALUES.
Have you ever wondered what the most successful people in the world have in common? They have absolute clarity on their vision!
It is very difficult to find your destination, when you don’t know what it is. To be able to gain clarity on your vision, you first need to understand your purpose in life.
Why do you get up each day with a spring in your stride, what fuels your fire, what brings a smile to your face?
Today we are going to explore why you need to understand your purpose so you can be a world class leader who is creating a ripple effect.
Why – Vision – Mission – Values
Let’s start with your Why, your Purpose in life
What is your reason for existence as a human being? What is your intention and objective that you want to achieve in life? Why have you been put on this planet?
How can you create a ripple effect through your employees, team members and people of influence?
Focus on something bigger than just yourself. Determine what your companies or your own real purpose is in life. Your why or your companies why?
What work can you do to serve that purpose and leave a positive mark or dent on the world? The WHY is the purpose, cause or belief that drives every one of us.
Vision
What is your destination? What does the future look like? What does success look like in 5, 10, 20, 30 or 100 years time?
Does your vision inspire you, challenge you and make you feel a little bit or a whole lot uncomfortable? (for the right reasons?)
My vision:
“DEVELOP HIGH PERFORMING LEADERS WHO POSITIVELY IMPACT PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD”
Mission
What is the reason and path you will take to get to your vision? What is your intention and how you will do it?
The mission must be simple and easy for people to understand the path that you will take and why you will take it to achieve the vision.
My mission:
“TRANSFORMING INFLUENCERS INTO BEING HIGH PERFORMING LEADERS”
Values
What is your DNA? What are the core values that you will base decisions and beliefs on?
What will you be consistent with so your are congruent with your message and who your are?
My values:
Want To Learn More?
Check out the newly Breaking The CEO Code whitepaper. It provides an overview of Breaking The CEO Code and showcases the 6 key phases. We also go a little deeper into the 2nd phase PERFORMANCE, where we discuss the 3 P’s of the Leadership Performance Formula.
#111 – PURPOSE Create A Ripple Effect Link #110 – Dr Paul White (Workplace Appreciation) 5 Languages Of Workplace Appreciation Link #109 – 6 Principles To Be A World Class Leader Link #108 – Fiona Robertson (Entrepreneur) Culture Is The Rules Of Belonging Link #107 – Create Your Own MBA Link #106 – Kathy Robinson (Athena Wellness) The Athena Principles Link #105 – Own Your OWN SPACE Link #104 – Mark Weatherall (Te Araroa Trust) Leading The Great Outdoors Link #103 – Be Your OWN CEO Link #102 – Scott Leggo An Eye For Detail Link #101 – Own Your OWN VULNERABILITY Link #100 – Sandhya Shetty (Public Figure) Supermodel To Global Influencer Link
Craig Johns – CEO NRG2Perform, active CEO Podcast Host
On this episode of the active CEO Podcast we talk aboutthe four basic fundamentals of being a high performing leader, on the second episode of Breaking The CEO Code. It is a short podcast episode where host Craig Johns decodes a new aspect of being a high performing leader each week.
Craig talks about the four basic fundamentals of being a high performing leader:
Exercise daily
Fuel the body with the right food
Free your mind
Recover with purpose
These four components are the fundamental, non-negotiable, building blocks to determine how high your performance ceiling is. Talent will only set your minimum height, whereas the four basic fundamentals will determine how high you can raise your ability to perform at your absolute potential.
Check out the newly Breaking The CEO Code whitepaper. It provides an overview of Breaking The CEO Code and showcases the 6 key phases. We also go a little deeper into the 2nd phase PERFORMANCE, where we discuss the 3 P’s of Leadership Performance.
#72 – Azran Osman Rani (Naluri) – Power Of The Human Mind Link #71 – How To Be A High Performing Leader In 2020 Link #70 – Miles Stewart (Triathlon Australia) A Lifetime Chasing Results Link #69 – Deepthi Bopaiah (GoSports Foundation) – India’s Next Olympic Gold Link #68 – Abraham Kamarck (True Made Foods) – Leadership Lessons From The Sky Link #67 – Liz Volpe (Ambisie) – Dare to Dream Link #66 – Bill Coletti (Kith) – Reputational Resilience & Transformation Link #65 – Todd Greenberg (NRL) More Than A Game Link #64 – Gabrielle Dow (Green Bay Packers) Green Bay Packers Experience Link #63 – Charles Fairlie Unsung Business Heroes Link #62 – Amanda Jacobs (Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron) She Leads With Empathy Link
You are finishing up your well-deserved Christmas and New Years holiday, and if you got it right, you will feel fresh, recharged, and have the passion to lead with purpose.
Now, works commences in a few days and you want to bring you’re A-Game and start 2019 with the intent and energy you wish to continue all year.
Last year, you
probably came out with all guns blazing, without much thought, and within a few
weeks, days or in some cases a couple of hours, were back to your old habits,
routines and potentially mistakes.
There is a much smarter way, if you want to deliver a high performance environment for both your team and yourself.
Those closest to you
will appreciate it!
Before we get started, did your plan of having a holiday that allowed you to relax, rejuvenate and forget all about the stresses of work come to fruition?
I would expect not for
many of you as you were unable to switch off an allow yourself the time and
space, from work, to fully recharge.
So lets take a look at some proven ways to ensure that you are being your best possible self, every single day, through the decisions you make, habits you create and mindset you start with when you walk into the office on day one:
Approach
Eat a healthy meal, hydrate yourself and go to bed early the night before your first day back in the office. Allow yourself the opportunity to get at least 8hrs sleep, leave the phone or any other electronic devices tucked away, and wake up and do at least 30 minutes of exercise and/or meditation. Wait until after you have had a healthy breakfast, which includes fruit, with your partner or family. Make sure you are present with those you choose to have breakfast with.
Groom yourself so that you present the image that creates a positive feeling for both yourself and the people you interact with. Take a deep breath, clear the mind and walk into the office with positive energy, a smile and posture that breaths confidence. Acknowledge everyone, be present and actively listen to their exciting holiday adventures.
Clear
Many people fly out the door in a rush on the last day before their vacation. In a perfect world, you will ‘wipe the table’ so to speak before you depart so that you can come in fresh on day one, without the stresses that have built up in the previous year. If not, clear your desk, remove any unwanted documents and ‘reset the table’ that will allow you to work with clarity, focus and without distraction, before you commence anything else.
Plan
Before you turn on a compute or check your phone for emails, you should write a plan. It will be the best 30minutes spent all year, because your mind will have greater clarity and broader perspective following a holiday. This will allow you to brainstorm what is important to your role; design and create a strategy; and put an action plan in place so you can commence your work with less stress and more than likely increased productivity for 2019. You may want to do this in nature or somewhere with a great view, before you sit down at your desk.
Priorities
What will really make a difference in 2019? Being able to reset your priorities is so valuable after a break as what you thought was important prior to the break, may not have such urgency anymore. Setting priorities that create a quick win, to get the team energised and pumped up early in the year, are just as important as creating the priorities that will bring long-term benefits to both you’re the company and your performance.
Today
Something that I have
found really useful over many years is to create a simple weekly spreadsheet,
with five columns:
Urgent – Today
Important – Tomorrow
Valuable – By the end of the week
Useful – Next week
Completed – Everything that has been
completed this week
What it does is allow you to prioritise and reprioritise daily to ensure that you are being the most productive. In general there will only be 3-5 items in each column. Anything more than that and you will become overwhelmed and stress levels will gradually build and take command of your mindset and actions.
Habits
Creating positive habits and routines that allow you to deliver performance in the work you do and with the people you lead requires both great self-discipline and self-control. Taking breaks every 45-60minutes, even for just 1-5minutes, allows your mind to recharge and focus. This doesn’t mean checking emails on your phone and talking about work to a colleague. It means switching off and giving your mind a break.
Constantly checking emails and having alerts going off on phones, is the greatest distraction of productivity that effect most people. Try checking your emails only 2 or 3 times per day. I find I am most effective when I check emails at 10am and 3pm. It allows me to focus my time on projects and important meetings, rather than cluttering my head with too many thoughts and ideas. You will also find that many problems are solved and questions are answered by the time you check the email.
Make
After you have had breakfast, make your lunch, fill a couple of bottles of water, and grab some snacks like fruit, nuts and health bars to take to work. One you will save money and time going out to get food throughout the day, and two you will eat a lot healthier.
This doesn’t mean that
you continue working while eating as you need to give yourself a longer break, especially
during the middle of the day, you recharge and refocus so you can be productive
right until you leave the office.
Fun
This year, you need to ensure that you are having fun, laughing and being inspired by the people you work with. This type of environment starts with how you arrive each day and ensuring you bring energy and a positive attitude.
Looking for More?
To perform you need CLARITY, PURPOSE, DIRECTION and ENERGY. It’s that time of year when you reflect on 2018 and think about what you want to achieve in 2019. Use our FREE active CEO Performance Planning tool.
Do you need a coach to help you focus your attention, setting the right goals and enhancing your personal development in 2019? Then find out more on what we offer by visiting the COACHING section
