To a More Humane Leadership with Ricardo Castelhano

In today's fast-paced and demanding work environments, stress has become an inevitable part of leadership roles. Leaders carry significant responsibilities, face constant challenges, and must make critical decisions that can affect their team's success. However, if left unmanaged, stress can have detrimental effects on both the leader and the team. In today’s episode, we will explore the importance of stress management skills for individuals in leadership positions, the impacts of stress on the leader, team dynamics, and team health, as well as the leader's everyday life. #leadershipdevelopment #mentorship #coaching  #leadership  #selfmastery #personaldevelopment  #selfawareness #selfmanagement  #stressmanagement #anxietymanagement #podcast  Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

If you belong to the club of those people to whom there are not enough hours in the day, or those whose daily tasks list is always increasing and reaching a mile long, or even those always putting out fires and struggling to keep up with the demands of work or school. … you're not alone. Welcome to the club!! #leadershipdevelopment #mentorship #coaching  #leadership  #selfmastery #personaldevelopment  #selfawareness #selfmanagement  #podcast  Resources Mentioned Eisenhower's Matrix for Time Management Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

Have you ever wondered how great leaders encourage innovation in their organizations? Or how to foster innovation in teams? Maybe you're even wondering how coaching and mentoring can help individuals encourage innovation in their teams? Well, wonder no more because we have got all the answers for you! #leadershipdevelopment #mentorship #coaching  #leadership  #selfmastery #personaldevelopment  #selfawareness #selfmanagement  #podcast  Resources Mentioned Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

Have you ever been part of a team that just didn't work? A team where everyone had different ideas and goals, and no one seemed to be on the same page? I'm sure we all have. That's why building effective teams is so important, and we're here to help you do just that. #leadershipdevelopment #mentorship #coaching  #leadership  #selfmastery #personaldevelopment  #selfawareness #selfmanagement  #podcast  Resources Mentioned Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

Have you ever tried motivating someone by constantly criticizing or pointing out their mistakes? Does it work? Perhaps not as well as we would like it to. But what if we focused on positive reinforcement instead? In this episode, we will explore the effectiveness of positive reinforcement in leadership, how to incorporate it, and how coaching and mentoring can help individuals develop this technique. #leadershipdevelopment #mentorship #coaching  #leadership  #selfmastery #personaldevelopment  #selfawareness #selfmanagement  #podcast  Resources Mentioned The Power of Small Wins: Amabile, Teresa M.; Kramer, Steven J. - Harvard Business Reviewhttps://hbr.org/2011/05/the-power-of-small-wins Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're faced with a conflict and you don't know how to resolve it? Well, you're not alone. Conflict is a part of life, and it's essential to learn how to manage it effectively, especially in leadership roles. n this episode, we'll explore the importance of conflict management in leadership, how to improve conflict resolution skills, and how coaching and mentoring can aid individuals in managing conflict. #leadershipdevelopment #mentorship #coaching  #leadership  #selfmastery #personaldevelopment  #selfawareness #selfmanagement  #podcast  Resources Mentioned Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

Have you ever felt like you're not being heard or understood? Or struggled to get your message across to others? If so, you're not alone. In today's episode, we'll be discussing the significance of communication in leadership, how to become a better communicator, and how coaching and mentoring can help develop communication skills. So sit back, relax, and let's dive in. #leadershipdevelopment #mentorship #coaching  #leadership  #selfmastery #personaldevelopment  #selfawareness #selfmanagement  #podcast  Resources Mentioned Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

Are you curious about how emotional intelligence can help you become a more effective leader, improve your relationships, and enhance your overall well-being? If so, you've come to the right place! #leadershipdevelopment #mentorship #coaching  #leadership  #selfmastery #personaldevelopment  #selfawareness #selfmanagement  #podcast  Resources Mentioned “Emotional Intelligence 2.0” https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emotional-Intelligence-2-0-Travis-Bradberry/dp/0974320625 Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

Have you ever felt like you're running in circles? You're working hard, but you don't seem to be getting anywhere? You may be struggling with setting realistic goals. Setting goals is an important part of leadership development, and it's essential to have goals that are achievable and measurable. Setting goals is a critical component of leadership.  #leadershipdevelopment #mentorship #coaching  #leadership  #selfmastery #personaldevelopment  #selfawareness #selfmanagement  #podcast  Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

Let me ask you, have you ever heard the saying, "You can't see the forest for the trees"?  It's a common metaphor that means you are too close to something to see it objectively.  Well, self-awareness is the key to stepping back and seeing the bigger picture. #leadershipdevelopment #mentorship #coaching  #leadership  #selfmastery #personaldevelopment  #selfawareness #selfmanagement  #podcast

Have you ever made a decision without much thought and later regretted it?  Or perhaps you made a choice that seemed good at the time, but left you feeling unfulfilled?  Well, in today's episode, we're going to explore the fascinating world of stress mechanics and how our limbic system influences our decisions. #leadershipdevelopment #mentorship #coaching  #leadership  #selfmastery #personaldevelopment  #selfawareness #selfmanagement  #podcast  Key Points Our limbic system is responsible for our emotions and social behavior, and it includes the "all-powerful" amygdala. The amygdala is always ready for action, while our neocortex, which is where logical thinking resides, takes time to process information. As a result, we often jump to conclusions and make decisions based on our emotions rather than logic. While this can be helpful in dangerous situations, it can also lead to regrettable decisions when emotions overrule rational thinking. To avoid making hasty decisions, it's important to take a step back, breathe, and allow time for logical thinking to catch up with our emotions. Ultimately, our decisions define who we are and what we become, so it's essential to approach them mindfully and intentionally. Resources Mentioned "The Role of the Amygdala in Decision-Making" by Agustin Ibáñez et al. (Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2011) "The role of the amygdala in emotional processing: A quantitative meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies" by Paul J. Whalen et al. (Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 2008) "Emotions and Decision Making, Revisited" by Jennifer S. Lerner et al. (Annual Review of Psychology, 2015) "The Influence of Emotion on Cognitive Control: Relevance for Development and Adolescent Psychopathology" by Monique Ernst et al. (Frontiers in Psychology, 2015) "Emotional Decision Making in Neurodegenerative Disease" by Jennifer C. Walter et al. (Neurocase, 2011) Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

Have you ever seen yourself in that awkward moment when people are arguing, and you will say something when, all of a sudden, everybody stops talking right before you speak?  That moment where your statement will sound loud as loud can be, even if you speak in a low voice? I will share with you some easy-to-follow tricks to better decide when to speak. Key Points Learning when to speak is all about self-management. To be able to self-manage yourself, you should develop your self-awareness. Evaluate if your thought needs to be shared. Evaluate if you are the right person to speak. Evaluate if the moment is proper. Evaluate how much time can you postpone that message. Resources Mentioned Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

Silence! In today’s society, this is, without a doubt, a privilege. Can SILENCE be harmful, or should we fight vigorously to have it? We cherish silence, but sometimes noise is the best way to understand what is happening. So…in today’s society, what should we strive for? To have quiet times with silence, or should we look for more noise to work as a reality check? Key Points Silence is good. Silence is also dangerous. In a new formed team, silence is a sign that something is not well. Resources Mentioned “Using the Stages of Team Development”; MIT https://hr.mit.edu/learning-topics/teams/articles/stages-development Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme  "Slider" by Mr Smith

Since several leadership styles exist, how can we know them by heart at such a tender age? We can have some traits that our current society associates with a Leader, but there is more to it than that. A leader should be adaptable, switching their leadership style accordingly with the teams, the organisations and the living moment. Key Points Using DiSC to know more about profiles helps to understand how to be adaptable. There are many leadership styles, but none is THE best. Authoritarian Leadership Participative Leadership Laissez-Faire Leadership Transactional Leadership Transformational Leadership Charismatic Leadership Bureaucratic Leadership Servant Leadership Study all leadership styles and understand where and when to use them. “Leaders aren’t born, they are made” - Vince Lombardi Resources Mentioned Episode9: A Team is Made Up of People Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme "Slider" by Mr Smith

When it is time to analyse our staff performance, three questions demand an answer. Which employees were above the standard performance and should be promoted or deserve a bigger bonus? Which employees had a standard performance and deserved the standard bonus as well? Which employees were below standard and deserved an action plan? Unfortunately, some companies don’t give much thought to this process. Managing underperformance is always a stressful situation. Pushing someone to success sometimes fails, and we should be expecting that to happen. It is always a possibility. And sometimes, even the more humane approaches hurt people. When you have a clear, transparent, and humane process, the harsh parts of managing underperformance should be minimised. It will not become easier with time, but nothing is wrong if you need to “share your employee with the competition”. Key Points Have your employee write a Game Plan. Schedule follow-up sessions for steering. Have a proper deadline. What is at stake if the game plan fails should be crystal clear to both parties. Please just keep the entire process written; it will be useful if you need proof of accountability. Resources Mentioned Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme "Slider" by Mr Smith

There’s an old thought that a person to be a good employee must always be busy, always running, and always putting out the next fire. For an Engineer Manager, we expect that person to switch contexts easily and recurrently. That context switch happens multiple times daily with today's comms' velocity. Sometimes even at the same hour. And you, as a good employee and a strong professional, are always busy. You might think that no one can throw a stone at you. No one will ever catch you off-guard. Is that so? As an Engineer Manager, you wear two pairs of shoes, the Manager and the Leader. Both roles demand some thought process happen, with full intention recurrently. Are you asking the right questions about what is happening? Are you blocking your “thinking time” in your schedule and guarding it in an almost religious way? Key Points An Engineer Manager needs to have a weekly time slot to think and ask these questions: What happened this week? Where are we struggling? Can we improve something? Should we try a new approach? How is the team? How to bring out the best in each individual? Do I have the right people in the correct positions? What does the team need to be stronger? Is the definition of success well understood by everyone on the team? Is the team in a strong and good place? Resources Mentioned Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme "Slider" by Mr Smith

What does it mean to provide feedback? This is not something we think about on a daily basis. I have seen too many managers using feedback to complain about something or request course corrections. But it seems to me that they don’t see the real meaning of feedback. Our primary and sole purpose as a leader is to grow our people, enabling the entire team’s success. That said, I will share seven tips to help you improve your feedback moments, and in between, I will do callouts to some hidden dangers. Key Points Three feedback types: Positive, Constructive and Negative Four Hidden Dangers: Danger #1: The sole deliverer Danger #2: The public criticism Danger #3: the loose-lipped Danger #4: The sandwich Seven Tips to Supercharge your Feedback Tip #1: Timely feedback Tip #2: Be ready. Tip #3: Be precise Tip #4: Be mindful of the receiver. Tip #5: Keep a positive “bank account”. Tip #6: Watch out for hidden bias Tip #7: Keep yourself humble Resources Mentioned E3 - What is the biggest trait of a leader? - learn more about the Johari Window Experience sampling mood and its correlates at work - Andrew G. Miner, Theresa M. Glomb, Charles Hulin Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - Verywell Mind Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and a newsletter Opening theme "Slider" by Mr Smith

We can do a great service to our teams if we only try to learn more about each person as an individual. Applying personality tests to our people is something that we should be cautious about. The biggest risk is putting someone into a specific box and thinking that the person IS that. The person is not that. The person can be showing that trait at that moment in time because multiple reasons. nderstanding that each trait demands a different way to communicate or a different way to handle a conflict, is key. That will help you as a leader to navigate the team dynamics. This show will provide an easy and fast way to detect where the other person is coming from, using a small framework of questions. Key Points People has the four personality types at any given time DiSC: Dominance / inducement or influencer / Submission or Stable / Compliance or Conscientious Select by Elimination: is the person more Extroverted (D, I) or more Introverted (C, S)? Is the person more prone to be Task-Oriented (D, C) or People-Oriented (I, S)? Seinfeld and the TMNT TV shows can show us these traits at play. Resources Mentioned https://www.tonyrobbins.com/disc/ (free DiSC assessment) https://discpersonalitytesting.com/free-disc-test/ (free DiSC assessment) “Emotions of Normal People”, a book by William Moulton Marston Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for free tools, courses and newsletter Opening theme "Slider" by Mr Smith

“There is no amount of time I could say is enough. And with all my demands, my teams could improve to give fewer worries. That’s the bare minimum. If only I could have a 48h day.” The higher you get, the higher the pressure. And I can sense that in some way or another, you, too, one day had a similar internal monologue. And that’s common. At least it was something that the Daniel Goleman’s team discovered in one of their studies: “Many leaders told us they don’t have the time in this high-pressure economy for the slow and tedious work of teaching people and helping them grow.” - Daniel Goleman Key Points Coach your people to help them learn how to solve the situation. Mentor your people if they want to learn through your experience. Resources Mentioned “The Coaching Habit”, a book by Michael Bungay Stanier. https://www.mentoring-club.com/ The Mentoring Club is a free online mentorship platform for various professions, connecting over 3500 mentors with mentees from various organisations worldwide. Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for courses and newsletter Opening theme "Slider" by Mr Smith

When, for the first time, we land the role of team leader or engineer manager, we are en route to a great trap. You see, that opportunity probably appeared because: a) you were probably the best individual contributor from that team; or b) you found yourself looking at the pitfalls of the systems in place and you wanted to be part of the solution None of these options implies that you have the right tools or the right mindset to start leading people. So we fall into the first big leadership trap: to be a people-pleaser. Key Points You should be friendly with your people. But you shouldn’t need to be a pal. See yourself as a fatherly figure, a teacher, a mentor and a coach A Servant-Leader knows how to love his people To love is to fulfil their needs and not their wants Resources Mentioned Discover More To a More Humane Leadership for courses and newsletter Opening theme "Slider" by Mr Smith