Ultra Leadership With Greg Giuliano

Join Greg in a thought-provoking conversation with Dvir Shapira, Chief Product Officer at Venn, as they explore the intriguing world of influencing without authority.  Gain valuable insights into the challenges of leading without hierarchical power, and discover practical strategies for fostering collaboration and teamwork across different functions in an organization. Learn about the critical role of emotional intelligence and effective measurement techniques in leadership success.  Don't miss this engaging discussion that will leave you with actionable takeaways to enhance your leadership skills. Show Highlights: Why exercise a long view beyond workers’ hard skills? [00:02:47] Benefits of teams associating as horizontal partners. [00:06:10] Discover how to foster cross-functional collaboration. [00:09:44] Learn about radical transparency with customers. [00:10:58] Top strategies to drive positive employee behaviors. [00:13:02] Find out how to leverage this “offer team” concept. [00:18:04]

In this episode of Ultra Leadership, host Greg Giuliano engages in a compelling conversation with guest Shawn Wing, Vice President of People Experience at Western Digital.  They uncover the challenges of leading organizations through transformation. Discover the essential skills for the future of work shared by Shawn, including fostering curiosity, empathy, and resilience. Gain valuable insights into the power of open communication, inclusivity, and adaptability in driving positive change.  Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on cultivating effective leadership behaviors to shape the future and navigate transformation with empathy and gratitude. Show Highlights: Explore the hard part of leading organizational change. [00:03:00] Discover the secrets to empowering leadership. [00:07:01] How do leaders maintain authenticity during change? [00:10:58] Techniques to foster trust vs. command and control. [00:14:00] Tips for continuous development as a leader. [00:16:35] Unlock the eight vital skills for the future of work. [00:18:54]

In today’s episode, Greg Giuliano sits down with Brian Sherman, the executive vice president and chief people officer for Delta Dental of California and its affiliates.  They discuss the impact of leaders, the challenges of leading change, and the practices that can elevate team performance. Brian shares his journey of growth as a leader and his deep gratitude for his family and team.  It's a conversation filled with wisdom and valuable takeaways for leaders at every level. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights and be inspired by an ultra leader just like you. Show Highlights: The true work of a positive leadership impact on worker lives. [00:05:08] The power of shared vulnerability for productivity. [00:05:53] Explore the biggest change-management challenge. [00:09:35] The art of creating space for individual employees. [00:14:02] Tips for personal growth as an effective leader. [00:17:08]

Join host Greg Giuliano as he sits down with Dan McAllister, the SVP for Global Alliances and Channels at Boomi. Together, they peel back the layers of Dan's impressive 20-year career, uncovering the invaluable lessons he's learned while steering through organizational change.  With Dan's unique insights on providing value, leading through change, and fostering a culture of feedback, this episode is guaranteed to inspire and inform leaders at every level.  Tune in now.  Show Highlights: Discover this industry leader’s central lesson on acquisitions. [00:02:46] How to lead with customer-centricity for a virtuous cycle of value. [00:04:31] The power of personality assessments in teams. [00:08:53] Key tips to adapt to person variables as a leader. [00:13:08] Uncover core insights for fostering young leadership. [00:17:02]

Get ready for an engaging and insightful episode of the Ultra Leadership podcast. Host Greg Giuliano engages in a fascinating conversation with Tony Chimera, the Chief Talent Officer at Westfield Specialty.  They discuss the challenges of leading organizations through change, strategies for maintaining alignment and engagement in a hybrid work environment, and the importance of intentional leadership in building and maintaining relationships. Tony also shares valuable insights on empowering team members to be autonomous and his personal journey of continuous growth as a leader.  This episode is packed with practical wisdom and real-world experiences that will resonate with leaders at all levels.  Show Highlights: Learn about the key challenges in change leadership [00:02:56] How to expertly regulate the hybrid work model [00:06:52] Why a leader must adapt to the era of work [00:09:37] What modeling autonomy in a worker’s role requires [00:11:06] Discover the golden path to growth and wellbeing as a leader [00:16:01]

In this episode of Ultra Leadership, Greg Giuliano sits down with Karen Clark, the Chief People Officer at Viably, for an in-depth exploration of leading change and cultivating ultra leadership.  Get ready to uncover the keys to successful organizational transformation and how to navigate the dynamic landscape of change. Karen's insights into aligning the human and technological elements of change are a game-changer for any leader.  Tune in now and learn how to stay true to your passion and purpose.  Show Highlights: The three keys in a successful change initiative [00:02:32] How to ensure company-wide change agility, top-down [00:04:46] Tips to train executives in effective change communication [00:10:25] Do this to supercharge your transformational leadership [00:13:33] How your personal space links with leadership resilience [00:21:43]

Get ready for an insightful episode on the Ultra Leadership podcast. Greg is joined by guest, Diana Massaro, Chief Marketing Officer at Skyhigh Security. With over two decades of experience in global SaaS organizations, Diana discusses the nuances of leadership and the common mistakes of first-time leaders. She shares her approach to fostering an authentic and empowering team culture, emphasizing the value of transparency and feedback. Tune in to gain practical advice and inspiring leadership insights that will reshape your approach to leading in today's fast-paced business landscape! Show Highlights: What great leadership looks like on the daily [00:04:07] How to become an efficient first-time leader with EQ [00:07:02] The art of facilitating feedback conversations [00:11:16] Tips to quit micromanaging, and get your team to do the same [00:18:19]  Is this the key to being a manager your team talks to? [00:21:17]

Navigating Change and Building Strong Teams in Cybersecurity with Ron Kuriscak In this episode, Greg sits down with Ron Kuriscak, a cybersecurity executive and change leader with over 20 years of experience. Ron shares insights on leading organizations and teams through transformation, the importance of empathy and honesty in leadership, and building strong, diverse teams.  He also discusses the role of mentors in nurturing future leaders and the value of learning and gratitude in personal and professional development.  This episode is packed with wisdom and practical advice for leaders at all levels. Tune in to gain valuable insights from this conversation and elevate your leadership practice. Show Highlights: Discover the secret to transformational leadership [00:4:00] Why it’s crucial to answer the “why” in change management [00:7:30] The downstream impact of the ethics of top leadership [00:11:04] Find out the common denominators of successful teams [00:14:52] The critical role of mentoring to build up futures [00:17:04]

In this episode, Greg sits down with Dr. Jeremy Gartner, founder and CEO of Career Propulsion, to explore the power of taking control of your professional journey.  Dr. Gartner's mission? Helping leaders stand out in a cutthroat job market. He spills the secrets of using data, storytelling, and networking to ace your career game. Get ready to be inspired as Greg and Dr. Gartner discuss the pitfalls of drifting, emphasizing the extraordinary impact of being deliberate and intentional in your journey. Ready to supercharge your leadership journey? Listen to these inspiring insights from Dr. Gartner, Ultra Leader. Show Highlights: Learn to consciously shape your career path and set intentional objectives for personal and professional growth [00:02:02] Proactively navigate your career instead of passively drifting from one opportunity to the next [00:04:45] How to set boundaries for your success and ensure that your next step aligns with your aspirations and values [00:07:35] How your unique experiences, objectives, and network can catapult you to the success you really want [00:09:03] Be the CEO of your career and take ownership of your career journey [00:11:58] Discover how to use your current role as a testing ground to build the skills and strengths required for career acceleration [00:16:13] Learn the importance of owning your unique and authentic experiences and strengths, leveraging them as valuable differentiators in your career [00:17:38]

In this episode, Greg Giuliano talks with Chad Baugh, the Chief Revenue Officer at Referwell.  Chad shares the importance of authentic, intentional leadership and the behaviors that make high-performing teams.  Learn Chad’s strategy of time blocking and the importance of aligning priorities and delegating when necessary. Hear powerful insights on finding passion, empowering teams, and embracing vulnerability. Tune in to unleash your leadership potential. Show Highlights: How becoming an expert in your field can lead to passion and enjoyment in your work (2:27) The power of analogies and storytelling in shifting mindsets (6:26) What is the secret to high-performing teams? (9:45)  How to create an environment that promotes vulnerability and  curiosity (11:43) The importance of building a team that embraces openness and empowerment (13:48) How a leader's energy can impact performance (15:10) How to excel in customer support by practicing powerful attention management  (17:50)

Who do you think should come first when you want feedback to grow? Customers or Teammates? Chances are… You take advice only from your customers, neglecting your teammates in return. The result?  Your company culture collapses, and nobody feels comfortable providing valuable feedback or taking the initiative to improve the organization. In this episode, Fintech CEO Rocky Scales shares his insights on how you can transform your collapsed company culture from a closed off one to one where everyone happily shares their feedback to improve each other. Listen now! Show Highlights Include: Fresh out of MBA? Here’s one piece of advice from a Fintech CEO on leadership that you must hear (6:33) The “CE” mindset shift that helps you virtually guarantee consistent quality work & creativity from your employees (8:18) How to detect “hidden” problems that silently plague your team (This’ll help you overcome countless constraints, discover bad actors and remove bottlenecks) (11:24) Want to foster a company culture where people speak up? Here’s how you can transform even the most introverted teammates to be bold and take initiative on their own (12:02)

The ONLY barrier that stops good teammates from functioning as a great team is not what you’d expect. It’s not… Ineffective leadership Poor communication Or even lack of trust Sure those 3 play a crucial role. But even with them your team will not be able to perform to it’s max potential if it lacks one single component… I’m talking about clarity… Think of it like having a clear map of where you're going. This blueprint acts as a guide, helping your teammates gel together smoothly. The result? A happier team and more impressive results.   In this episode, Elaine Richards, COO of 37Signals, shares how you can elevate your team's performance by adding clarity. Listen now! Show Highlights Include: New to your leadership role? Here’s a crucial mindset shift that keeps you from performing poorly in the first 6 months (3:05) Do THIS to make your team eager to take on more responsibility and generate quality work (6:25) The only way to communicate effectively in larger organizations (Doing this makes your teammates less likely to make wrong decisions & Increases motivation to be creative) (7:20) Remote or Office Work? Here’s a pain-free method to decide the right worktype for your organization (11:32) Use this “End Vision” method to make your team 10x more productive  (Note: This leads to higher work satisfaction, creativity & no micromanagement) (13:27)

Leading a team from afar is like trying to cook a meal without being in the kitchen. You can't just pop over and ask what's on the stove or if someone needs an extra spoon. That's why there are two key ingredients you must know to keep your remote team's spirit flavorful and strong. Miss out on these, and your team might feel like a pizza with only one topping. Join us in this episode as CMO Ellen Sluder discusses these two essential ingredients that can make or break your team's culture, even in a remote work environment where face-to-face interactions are rare. Listen now! Show Highlights Include: Try this “Easy Transparency” hack to double work output for WFH employees within 7 days (2:37) Hiring remote employees? Make sure they have this one underrated trait (This guarantees they’ll get work done with minimal guidance) (3:55) Use this “P.P.P” structure to make sure your team always hit deadlines and constantly improves their performance (4:10) The key to instantly doubling, tripling or even quadrupling the productivity of your remote workers and making sure they never quit (11:12) How to communicate problems with your most shy & introverted remote team members so they stay on top of their performance (11:59) The secret to growing rapidly as an effective remote leader regardless of how scarce opportunities are (Hint: It isn’t a coaching or goal-setting guide…) (14:21)

Do you think you could effectively lead a team, even when they’re spread across 16 different time zones?  Well, that’s where the future of leadership lies. Having a globally dispersed team helps you attract the best talent, but the best talent gets wasted without an effective leader.  That’s the bad news.  The good news?  I invited Wayne Haber, director of engineering at GitLab, onto today’s show. Not only does he have 20+ years of experience being an ultra leader, but his GitLab engineering team of 80 is spread over 16 time zones.  In this episode, you’ll discover how you can effectively lead a team you’ve never met, counterintuitive insights for making meetings more effective, and how even new leaders can lead a global team.   Listen now! Show highlights include: How reading this book, originally published in 1936, transforms you into an ultra-leader (even in 2023) (2:24)  Are you new in your leadership role? Here’s how to cut years off your leadership learning curve in only a few minutes (3:27)   The simple, but wildly effective “Document Everything” approach that lets you lead a team spread out in 16 different time zones without missing a beat (4:14)  How the “Meetings as Conversation” strategy makes your meetings more effective (even if a team member can’t make it) (5:27)  The counterintuitive way making meetings optional extracts the best from your team (7:06)  3 pieces of software which entirely eliminate time-wasting meetings throughout your company (7:19)  How to facilitate a company culture where everyone in your company feels comfortable speaking up during meetings—from the CEO to the newest hired teammate (9:32)  The “DRI” secret for meetings which ensures every member of your team is heard and every opinion matters (12:36)  The “next year” mindset shift that helps you overcome stressful decisions like firing a teammate or having your company get acquired (16:45)  Want to dive deeper into how to lead a globally dispersed team? Head to https://about.gitlab.com/teamops/ to understand the framework for the future of work.  Sign up for the Ultra Leadership newsletter at https://www.ultraleadership.com/ and discover how to engage, empower, and activate your team to enable positive transformation. 

It may sound cruel, but a leader’s priority is not to give answers. It’s to ask the right questions… Why?  Because the best way to learn skills is not by being handed a solution but it’s when you come up with it by yourself… So your priority is to create an environment with roadblocks you know your team can overcome with next to no help. An easy way to do that is by sharpening your listening skills, so you know the right questions that make your team better. In today’s episode, Scott Gainey, CMO at Nile shares how treating your teammates  like customers uplifts their performance. And why saying less helps your team grow more than giving them advice. Listen now! Show highlights include: Ever heard that competition is for losers? Peter Thiel’s books help you become a monopoly - without worrying about your competitors (2:15) The “Value Over Product” method to breakthrough your team’s resistance to new ideas (so that you get more time to implement them) (4:10) How giving your marketing team a day off to go on a field trip gives them unlimited new ideas (Note: This’ll help your team get twice the amount of work done in half the time) (5:33) How you can get your team to come up with killer solutions by ignoring their problems (11:19) A weird (but powerful) way to get more work done by lazing around the workplace and chatting with your colleagues (15:12)  

60% of change initiatives fail. And while every organization is different, there is one common mistake that runs through the change process from idea to execution. Most leaders know what is possible and what they can’t do, but they focus too much on measurable outcomes. What you need to do is go one step further and plan how you communicate the change with the people who will make it a reality. You don’t need to master the craft of storytelling, but there are ways to gain the necessary insight, so you know what your team needs to hear from you.  In today’s episode, change leader Sam Berman shares how most change initiatives fail in the planning stages, the hazards of postponing hard decisions, and how good communication can save your organization during a transformation. Listen now!  Show highlights include: The “Part-Timer” framework to avoid change management failure due to miscommunication (2:39) One overlooked planning mistake that dooms 60% of change initiatives to fail  (4:04) 3 ways to communicate and build confidence in your team (even if the change process overwhelms them) (5:25) How bad leaders turn their people against them by making things “easy” (and what to do instead) (8:57) The “Selfish Altruism” method to convince unagreeable high achievers to work together (13:43)

Many companies become too big, and collapse under their own weight. Because when you try to grow an organization, you are responsible for decisions of people who don’t report to you. If you can’t have long one-to-one talks with everyone, you have to set the right tone in every group conversation you have. People water down your words as they spread from person to person, no different than a game of telephone.  But there’s a trick to ensuring most of what you stay sticks…  How?  By developing a sense for what your team needs to hear right now.  In today’s episode, Julie Guest, Principle Partner Development, AWS, shares how to tell what your team needs to hear from you, what to keep in mind whenever you explain a change operation, and an underrated way being responsible for a team makes you happier.  Listen now! Show highlights include: One word that helps your team make more decisions for themselves (2:24) The “Why-How” method to take away the fear of tearing up a familiar workflow (4:03) 3 communication principles to “ethically force” even your biggest dissenters to agree with your every word  (5:59) How to reverse the risk of bad teamwork and miscommunication among your people with one sentence (9:20) The real reason “nice” people don’t succeed in business (and how you can lead with authenticity without being “nice” ) (12:07) How to skyrocket the effectiveness of your next virtual meeting by sacrificing 3 minutes (16:44) How your team helps you shut your inner critic up (without underestimating the problems that need solving) (17:55)

Disappointments lurk behind every corner of a business. Whether a client stops working with you, or the competition poaches one of your most promising talents. Recurring setbacks instill a fear of making change in the mind of many CEOs. But even though most change initiatives fail, it’s far deadlier if your company stays the same.  Why? Because change means there is a problem you can solve.  And if there are no problems to solve, your business becomes extinct. With that in mind, you can build your skill of managing change, so you can use it to your advantage. In today's episode, Steve Kietz, CEO at Reliant Funding, shares how to let go of the fear of change, a popular business practice that leaves your company worse off, and the simplest way to build a team that acts together. Listen now! Show highlights include: 70% of business transformations fail—this book shows how to manage change and succeed regardless of your industry (2:00) The counterintuitive reason why the weak points of your business keep it alive more than anything else (3:12) How to create a friendly atmosphere in the workplace (without letting your team become complacent) (4:17) Why "Skip Level Management" destroys years of team building for short-term goals (7:10) A simple, yet effective emotional discipline strategy to unite a team around a common goal (15:55)  

Politics and business go hand in hand. Whatever happens in the economy affects the political landscape and vice versa. You can even compare your role as a leader to that of a mayor: As the representative of your business, you solve conflicts, and enable your team to make it grow.  And there is one lesson both the politicians in power and successful CEOs take to heart. Their true power depends on their reputation. Just as important as your leadership skills, is your ability to display them. Most CEOs ignore this vital aspect of leadership, and miss out on a team that is eager to follow them. But a good reputation gives you the ability to help others reach their highest potential. So, if you can harness this power of empowering others, you'll spend much less time running the business, and free up time for strategies to grow it. In today’s episode, my brother Neil Giuliano shares what business leaders can learn from political events, a little habit that can skyrocket the success of your next meeting, and what baseball teaches us about setting high but realistic goals.  Listen now! Show highlights include: How most businesses depend on the mercy of the political landscape (and what to do against it) (2:50) The “Core” template to identify and solve any problems with a team member (6:38) 6 words that turn a short talk into a timeless lesson for your team member (7:49) How most leaders actively discourage people from doing their best in the workplace (9:37) The counterintuitive way setting overwhelming goals calms your nerves (and opens your eyes for new business opportunities) (15:32)

One of the biggest mistakes new leaders make is trying to be original too hard. They hop from one leadership trend to another without getting the results they want. But, look at the people with the highest net worth in the world. You’ll see that none of them became successful as inventors. Elon Musk and the like all tweaked existing ideas, and convinced people to invest in them. What makes them successful is the ability to sell. Be it coaching a team member, or implementing large scale change in your organization. Every professional interaction you have depends on your ability to sell yourself. So, in today’s episode, sales leader Chad Regnier shares the sales methods to coach your staff better in less time, how group dynamics make you a more effective leader, and the one quality that will make you an elite best seller.  Show highlights include: How you can live out your competitiveness (and not turn your team against you) (2:33) Three questions to end repeat mistakes from each team member (4:51) The “Class Rep” method to form a team out of a horde of individuals (6:29) How to get out of a professional rut in an instant (without taking an extra class) (10:13) Why 95% of salespeople fail (and how to get into the top 5%) (12:42) The counterintuitive way playing favorites makes you more likable (14:49) How to hire new talent for your sales team (before your competition even knows them) (18:22)