"Leadership isn't just about making decisions and giving orders. It's about building resilience, mental strength, and guiding your team through adversity.” In this episode of Executive Evolution, host Craig Anderson sits down with leadership speaker and author, Scott Mautz, to discuss the essentials of becoming a mentally strong leader. Join us as Scott shares invaluable insights from his extensive research and new book, The Mentally Strong Leader. You’ll learn how to stop chasing approval, start chasing authenticity, and develop the mental strength you need to lead effectively. Tune in to learn practical tools for building resilience, making smart decisions, and maintaining a positive presence.

After You Listen:

Get your copy of Good to Great by Jim Collins

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn

Get Scott’s book, The Mentally Strong Leader

Check out Scott’s website

Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

Check out Craig’s monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

Key Takeaways:

1. Quit chasing approval and embrace your authenticity and trust you were chosen for a reason
2. Build mental strength by regulating emotions, thoughts, and behaviors even in tough situations
3. Prepare for difficult conversations by imagining sitting next to the person, not across

Things to listen for:

[02:40] Lightning round with Scott

[06:55] The importance of mental strength in leadership

[11:12] The balance between confidence and vulnerability

[21:31] Advice Scott would give to his younger self

[24:08] Craigs takeaways

Leadership isn't just about telling people what to do. It's about inspiring them to achieve their full potential and creating a sense of belonging and trust within your team.

In this episode of Executive Evolution, our host, Craig Anderson, is joined by Grant Calder, CEO and founder of Flyt Coaching. Grant discusses the importance of emotional connections in the workplace, how they strengthen business success, and the transformative power of asking the right questions.

Discover why building close relationships with your team matters and how coaching can lead to success.

After You Listen:

Get your copy of Coaching for Performance by John Whitmore

Connect with Grant on LinkedIn

Check out Flyt Coaching

Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

Check out Craig’s monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

Key Takeaways:

1. Building emotional connections with employees and colleagues is crucial for business success
2. Leaders should embrace diverse communication styles and personalities within their teams to enhance decision-making
3. Consistently showing care, support, and presence for team members can foster loyalty and a sense of belonging

Things to listen for:

[01:33] Lightning round with Grant

[11:57] Leaders empower others

[15:04] Everything gets done through people

[21:02] Establish a sense of trust and safety in your leader

[23:36] Every leader is different, and that’s okay

[29:16] Advice Grant would give to his younger self

[34:23] Craigs takeaways

Leadership often requires stepping out of your comfort zone. And once you do this, you’ll find growth.

In this episode of Executive Evolution, our host Craig Anderson is joined by Jason Barnaby, Founder and President of Fire Starters Inc., to dive deep into a candid conversation that peels back layers of personal and professional growth, focusing on the role of discomfort in leadership.

Join us as Jason discusses his most challenging leadership moments and why he believes being uncomfortable is not just inevitable but essential for growth.

After You Listen:

Get your copy of Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Check out Fire Starters Inc.

Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

Check out Craig’s monthly free training on holding difficult conversations

Key Takeaways:

1. Prioritize mental health and seek help early to prevent burnout and maintain leadership effectiveness
2. Foster collaboration by valuing team input and allow collective ideas to shape big initiatives
3. Admit when you're unsure and encourage your team to do the same

Things to listen for:

[02:15] Lightning round with Jason

[06:14] Embrace discomfort for personal and business growth

[18:36] Disc profiles impact leadership

[21:20] Exceed expectations, learn, adapt, become subject

[24:11] Assess sales meetings and hold one-on-ones for accountability

[27:59] Mental health and well-being matters

[29:14] Checking in on others is important

[37:31] Advice Jason would give to his younger self

[40:18] Craigs takeaways