Are you comfortable in your own shoes? This is the first in a two-part conversation about five characteristics of exceptional leaders.
Podcast Transcript
Joshua MacLeod:
People who are not comfortable in their own shoes, spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about themselves and thinking about what they need to do to fit in. So rather than just being who they are going to school, rocking their styles, or going to the office, being their own person, not really worried about what everybody else thinks. They have enough energy then to focus on the problems they’re focusing on at work, the customer needs that they’re trying to serve. If you’re not comfortable in your own shoes, you’re spending all your time worrying about keeping up with the Joneses and what everybody else is doing. How can you lead others? You don’t have enough mental space.
Podcast Announcer:
Welcome to the Growability podcast, teaching business and nonprofit leaders. A more excellent way to run a business. Visit growability.com for your leadership, coaching consultation and business collaboration needs. Are you comfortable in your own shoes? This is the first in a two-part conversation about five characteristics of exceptional leaders. Here are your hosts, Joshua MacLeod, and Bernie Anderson.
Bernie Anderson:
You said something about there being 5 S’s of what makes a great leader. Tell us about the 5 S’s that make a great leader.
Joshua MacLeod:
So the first S that makes a great leader is someone who is comfortable in their own shoes. We live in a society where everybody is trying to be somebody else. And so when somebody just shows up on the scene and they are not trying to be somebody else, they’re not trying to prove a point. They’re not trying to do something they don’t believe in. They’re not trying to wear this fashion or that fashion, or drive this car or that car. Just somebody who actually is comfortable in their own shoes is such an important key to not only being a great leader, but becoming a great leader. So Bernie, I have a confession to make. This is hard for me to say on a public platform on our podcast here, I have a confession. I hate golf. Like I really…golf, This is even worse because I’m Scottish.
Joshua MacLeod:
Like, you know, MacLeod, I’ve got the Scottish name here. I, and I hate golf. In fact, it’s like the Scots realized that they couldn’t dominate the world. You know, this Viking heritage, they realized we can’t just take over. So they decided to do two things. They were going to ruin sports and they were going to ruin music. So to ruin music, they invented the bagpipes and then to ruin sports, they invented golf. And so they have frustrated millions and millions of people. Even if you can’t take over the world in a Viking ship, you can at least frustrate millions of people. What’s crazy here Bernie is I used to think if I don’t play golf, I’m going to lose so many opportunities. I’m not going to have good business deals. And the best decisions happen out on the golf course. And you’re trying to make the big deal.
Joshua MacLeod:
And the big client comes in from out of town. So I’ve got to go and I’ve got to learn golf. So I’m at the golf course and I’m spending like my first thousand dollars learning to stick my butt out and keep my head down. And even though it feels like I’m going to hit my knee, keep my knee popped out and swing the club.
Bernie Anderson:
Right.
Joshua MacLeod:
And so then I go out on the golf course and they’re going left. They’re going right. I’m putting my butt out. I’m doing all of this stuff. But at some point in time, I have to realize like, wait a second. I don’t really like this.