Leading Saints Podcast

Leading Saints Podcast


Part 2: What About Our Culture is Holding Us Back? | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson

November 30, 2024

Watch Part 1: What About Our Culture is Holding Us Back? | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson


Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D. is a cutting-edge leadership development author, researcher, and consultant. He helps organizations vertically develop their leaders primarily through a focus on mindsets. Ryan is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author of Success Mindsets: The Key to Unlocking Greater Success in Your Life, Work, & Leadership and The Elevated Leader: Leveling Up Your Leadership Through Vertical Development. He is also a leadership professor at the College of Business and Economics at California State University-Fullerton.


Ryan Gottfredson


Links

Watch on YouTube

Part 1: What About Our Culture is Holding Us Back? | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson

RyanGottfredson.com

Is There a Correlation Between Losing Faith and Moving? | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson

The Research Behind Becoming Christlike | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson

Is Your Mindset Limiting Your Leadership? | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson

What Every Leader Should Consider About Community in Their Ward | An Interview with Ryan Gottfredson

Ryan’s articles at leadingsaints.org

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Highlights

This is the second of a two-part podcast conversation on effective church leadership. The discussion continues with a reflection on the value of open communication and the need for leaders to encourage their team members to express their thoughts and feelings. Ryan emphasizes the significance of establishing a culture where individuals feel safe to share their vulnerabilities, which can lead to deeper connections and trust within a group.


The conversation delves into the challenges leaders face when balancing the need to cover prescribed topics versus allowing for authentic, vulnerable discussions that may arise organically. Ryan suggests that leaders should prioritize creating conditions conducive to growth rather than merely focusing on outcomes. He explains the concept of “gardener-minded leadership,” where leaders cultivate an environment that fosters development and flourishing among their team members.


Kurt and Ryan next consider the role of ego in leadership. Ryan defines ego as the part of ourselves that prioritizes self-preservation over value creation for others. He highlights the importance of self-awareness and the need for leaders to confront their insecurities and limiting beliefs to elevate their leadership effectiveness. The episode also touches on the necessity of vulnerability in leadership, illustrating how it can lead to more meaningful relationships and a stronger sense of community.


Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their leadership styles, consider how they can create a more supportive environment, and recognize the importance of healing their relationship with themselves to become more effective leaders. The episode concludes with practical suggestions for leaders, including the importance of developing a clear purpose and fostering a culture of learning and openness. Overall, this episode serves as a valuable resource for leaders seeking to enhance their effectiveness and create a thriving community within their organizations.


02:09 – Encouraging Open Communication

02:39 – Establishing Psychological Safety

03:37 – Balancing Doctrine and Values

04:37 – Teaching Dilemmas in Church Settings

05:43 – Creating a Psychologically Safe Culture

06:36 – The Gardener Mindset in Leadership

07:16 – Continuous Improvement in Leadership

08:51 – The Challenge of Self-Preservation

11:15 – The Human Element in Leadership

11:58 – The Role of Ego in Leadership

20:18 – Redefining Ego for Value Creation

22:21 – The Importance of Vulnerability

26:30 – The Cost of Self-Preservation

29:37 – Healing Relationships for Better Leadership

31:30 – The Impact of Vulnerability on Trust

35:06 – Practical Steps for Being Vulnerable

39:17 – Creating a Supportive Environment

41:30 – Final Encouragement for Leaders


The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.


Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.


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